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The Best Gifts for a Summer Slacker

Beach bums, backyard pool-goers, and sun worshippers—if you know someone who loves to take full advantage of long, hot summer days, these are the perfect gifts.

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Some people truly come alive in the summer. Plentiful sunshine, longer days, and warm weather make it easy to see why it’s a favorite season for many. If you’re shopping for someone who just adores summer, why not get them something useful for their sunny day activities? With products to cool them down, keep them protected from the sun, and help them enjoy time in the great outdoors, there are plenty of gifts summer slackers will love. From misting fans to inflatable loungers, here are some gift ideas for ultimate summer relaxation. 

1. Inflatable Lounge Pool

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Inflatable Lounge Pool
Photo: amazon.com

Our top choice for the best inflatable pool with seats, the Intex Swim Center Inflatable Lounge Pool is perfect for those who need a spot to cool off in their backyard. Built-in seats make this pool extra comfortable, and it has a couple of convenient cup holders. We found this pool very easy to set up in our testing, so it’s a low-hassle way to keep cool in the warmer months. 

Get the Intex lounge pool at Amazon for $51.38.

2. Folding Backpack Beach Chair

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Folding Backpack Beach Chair
Photo: amazon.com

The Tommy Bahama Folding Backpack Beach Chair is comfortable enough to use beyond the beach. It has five seating positions, including a lay-flat position for tanning, so it’s equally great for relaxing poolside. It’s designed with portability in mind, so it folds up nicely and has backpack straps to make it easy to sling over a shoulder to carry to the beach. 

Get the Tommy Bahama beach chair at Amazon for $67.05.

3. Insulated Can Cooler

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Insulated Can Cooler
Photo: amazon.com

Keep drinks icy cold with the BrüMate Hopsulator 3-in-1 Insulated Can Cooler. This can cooler combines three functions in one: It’s suitable for 12-ounce cans (using the included freezable adapter) as well as 16-ounce cans, plus it converts into a tumbler with the included lid. It comes in several appealing colors, so it’s the perfect summer accessory to keep drinks cool in style. 

Get the BrüMate insulated can cooler at Amazon for $29.99.

4. Beach Towel

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Beach Towel
Photo: amazon.com

The Dock & Bay Beach Towel doesn’t just look nice—it’s ultra beach-friendly. This towel is made from a 100 percent recycled polyester and polyamide blend, creating a fast-drying material that repels sand. Better yet, this towel comes in several bright and charming designs that appeal to beach lovers. 

Get the Dock & Bay beach towel at Amazon for $29.99.

5. Inflatable Lounger

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Inflatable Lounger
Photo: amazon.com

Lounging outside is extra comfortable with the Wekapo Inflatable Lounger, an easy-to-inflate lounger that you can bring almost anywhere. Just move it quickly through the air to inflate, and it turns into a lounging spot for the pool, park, or beach. Though portable, this product is also useful to keep at home since it makes a great extra seating spot that can be easily packed away. 

Get the Wekapo inflatable lounger at Amazon for $39.98.

6. Floating Beer Pong Table

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Floating Beer Pong Table
Photo: amazon.com

A pool party instantly becomes more fun with the GoPong Floating Beer Pong Table, which is as practical as it is entertaining. It has a full 10-cup beer pong setup and a convenient built-in cooler with space to keep up to 18 beverages cold. This floating unit isn’t just for beer pong either; you can always use it as a family-friendly floating lounge when the games are done. 

Get the GoPong beer pong table at Amazon for $39.99.

7. Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold
Photo: amazon.com

Frozen treats and hot summer days go hand in hand. Give your loved one the freedom to make any popsicle flavor with the Onyx Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold. Made of stainless steel, this is a pricier mold, but it should last a lifetime. It’s possible to remove and refill one mold at a time (a great feature for young adults living alone), and it won’t absorb flavors like some plastic and silicone molds do. 

Get the Onyx popsicle mold at Amazon for $40.29.

8. Outdoor Fan

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Outdoor Fan
Photo: amazon.com

Bob Vila staff writer and product tester Glenda Taylor tested the Shark FlexBreeze with InstaCool for our best quiet fans guide and loved it so much that she wrote a stand-alone review. This fan is quiet, can be made cordless, and has a cooling mist function that’s perfect for outdoors. These features set it apart from a regular old fan, and according to Taylor, it’s “a winner for both indoor and outdoor use” with “just about everything I could want in a fan.”

Get the Shark fan at Amazon for $199.99.

9. Bucket Hat

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Bucket Hat
Photo: amazon.com

One of our favorite gardening products for the summer is great for anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun. The Mission Cooling Bucket Hat provides UPF 50 sun protection to shade wearers from ultraviolet (UV) rays. It’s also made from a material that feels instantly cool when activated with water, offering welcome relief on those sweltering summer days.

Get the Mission bucket hat at Amazon for $19.99.

10. Portable Sun Shade Umbrella

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Portable Sun Shade Umbrella
Photo: amazon.com

The JoeShade Portable Sun Shade Umbrella is another versatile gift that the sun lover in your life will appreciate. It’s a large, portable umbrella with a stand that can be set up anywhere—poolside, at the park, or at the beach. The umbrella is lightweight and packs up relatively compactly, so it’s easy to bring along when extra sun protection is needed. 

Get the JoeShade umbrella at Amazon for $59.95.

11. Cotton Hammock With Stand

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Cotton Hammock With Stand
Photo: homedepot.com

Few things say summer relaxation more than lounging in an outdoor hammock on a sunny day. One of the best freestanding hammocks can be set up anywhere with enough space. Our favorite is the Vivere Double Cotton Hammock With Stand since it’s durable and comfortable. It accommodates up to 450 pounds, so two people can cuddle at once. 

Get the Vivere hammock at The Home Depot for $119.99.

12. Hard Cooler

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Hard Cooler
Photo: acehardware.com

A top-performing cooler is always appreciated by those who spend a lot of time in the great outdoors, particularly through the hotter months. The Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler came out on top in testing for our best coolers guide. It’s practically indestructible, has a dry goods basket to prevent items from getting soggy, and has comfortable handles for hauling across a park or beach. 

Get the Yeti cooler at Ace Hardware for $300.

13. Umbrella Shelter

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Umbrella Shelter
Photo: amazon.com

Easy-to-setup sun shade is a must for sunburn-prone adults, people with children, or anyone who prioritizes sun protection. The Sport-Brella Premiere UPF 50+ Umbrella Shelter is useful for most outdoor situations. It has a middle bar with an oversize auger end to secure the shelter onto sand, grass, or dirt. The 80-foot canopy provides UPF 50+ sun protection. 

Get the Sport-Brella umbrella at Amazon for $64.50.

14. Scalp and Hair Mist

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Scalp and Hair Mist
Photo: amazon.com

Summer-loving sun chasers can never have enough UV protection. One often-forgotten spot? The scalp! Make sure your loved one is protected from the very top of their head with Sun Bum Scalp and Hair Mist, which provides SPF 30 protection. Since it comes in mist form, it’s nicer to apply to the hairline than traditional sun creams. It doesn’t weigh hair down or make it too greasy.

Get the Sun Bum scalp and hair mist at Amazon for $16.49.

15. Inflatable Beach Pillow

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Inflatable Beach Pillow
Photo: amazon.com

A beach pillow takes outdoor lounging to the next level. Designed for the beach but just as useful at a park or in the backyard, the Ballast Inflatable Beach Pillow makes it more comfortable to lie in the sun. It’s inflatable and packs down into an included compact carrying case that is easy to tote around. 

Get the Ballast beach pillow at Amazon for $35.

16. Instant Beverage Cooler

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Instant Beverage Cooler
Photo: amazon.com

It’s not always possible to chill drinks before get-togethers and outdoor time, which is why your recipient will appreciate the Chill-O-Matic Instant Beverage Cooler. This nifty battery-powered device chills a 12-ounce canned drink in only a minute. All it needs is some ice. It’s fairly compact too, so you can bring it camping, tailgating, or to the beach. 

Get the Chill-O-Matic beverage cooler at Amazon for $29.99.

17. Portable Speaker 

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Portable Speaker
Photo: amazon.com

The perfect summer’s day usually involves some music. Get the party started with a portable speaker that’s easy to carry to the backyard, beach, and beyond. We recommend the crowd-favorite JBL Flip 6. It’s waterproof, offers over 12 hours of playtime, and boasts an impressive sound given its small frame. 

Get the JBL portable speaker at Amazon for $99.95.

18. Outdoor Adjustable Chaise Lounge Chair

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Outdoor Adjustable Chaise Lounge Chair
Photo: amazon.com

A comfortable lounge chair is a must-have for those who love to spend time in the backyard. Our upgrade pick for the best lounge chair, the Best Choice Products Acacia Wood Chaise Lounge Chair is adjustable down to a lying position with comfortable armrests and a pull-out wooden tray for placing cold drinks, sunscreen, and other summer day accessories. 

Get the Best Choice Products lounge chair at Amazon for $179.99. 

19. Picnic & Beach Blanket

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Picnic & Beach Blanket
Photo: amazon.com

A charming picnic blanket is a lovely gift for the outdoorsy person in your life. The Little Unicorn Picnic & Beach Blanket is an excellent choice to bring on summer adventures. It’s designed with families in mind, so it’s water-resistant, simple to clean, and lightly padded. It appeals to trendy parents (and singles, too), and it comes in a few gorgeous designs. 

Get the Little Unicorn blanket at Amazon for $59.95.

20. Pool Float

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Pool Float
Photo: amazon.com

Included in our popular pool floats list, the Big Joe Captains Pool Float is one of the most comfortable floaties on the market. Instead of air, it’s filled with buoyant beans, so it never goes flat. It’s also extra large, so it will fit anyone in the family, from kids to adults. A built-in cup holder makes it extra adult-friendly, perfect for your next pool party. 

Get the Big Joe pool float at Amazon for $83.99.

21. Inflatable Pool and Hot Tub Drink Holders

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Inflatable Pool and Hot Tub Drink Holders
Photo: amazon.com

Give drinks a spot to float and keep your bevies within close reach with an adorable floating drink holder. The GoFloats Inflatable Pool and Hot Tub Drink Holders come highly rated, and it’s easy to see why. Each design is fun, budget-friendly, and reusable. 

Get the GoFloats drink holders at Amazon for $7.99.

22. Wicker Serving Bar Cart

The Perfect Gift for a Summer Slacker Option Wicker Serving Bar Cart
Photo: target.com

Entertaining outdoors is a pleasant experience with the Best Choice Products Wicker Bar Cart, our expert-approved outdoor bar cart. Synthetic wicker makes the cart look lovely while also ensuring it’s durable enough to weather the outdoors. A built-in ice bucket and dedicated spaces for bottles and wine glasses ensure items stay in place, even when the cart is rolling.

Get the Best Choice Products bar cart at Target for $249.99.

 
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Jasmine Harding Avatar

Jasmine Harding

Contributing Writer

Jasmine Harding is a freelance writer specializing in home products. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2020 and covers a range of product-related topics, from the best household appliances and tools to the latest gadgets and tech for the home.

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