Mesh pool floats exist—buy one

Yes, there are pool floats with mesh panels or drain holes that let water out so the surface doesn’t turn into a hot puddle.

The problem with standard vinyl floats is that water gets trapped between your back and the float. Then the sun heats that thin layer of water until it’s borderline soup. Mesh fixes it because water drains straight through and air actually circulates. Look for floats with a mesh insert in the middle or a full mesh top. The ones with just a few drain holes work okay, but mesh is better because it also dries faster when you’re done.

You’ll find these mostly on lounger-style floats and raft-type floats. They’re not as common as the cheap vinyl ones, but they’re not hard to find—search for “mesh pool lounge float” or “drain