9 Items On Our Pool Bag Packing List 2025

Summer vacation is a few days away, and I'm counting down to the minute when our local pool opens. This pool bag packing list is a run through of everything we're bringing on pool day outings, and what we make sure to bring each time we go swimming.

Items On Our Pool Bag Packing List:

My pool day packing list is pretty short, because in general I only plan for the essentials. I don't plan on spending the entire day at the pool when we go, and in general I'm find just staying for an hour or so each visit.

I keep all of these items in our pool bag ready to go so we can grab and go at a moments notice when we get the urge to head out. Our pool bag resides in our laundry room all summer long and its prepped and ready for all the spontaneous outings that pop up.

My Go-to Pool Bag:

I've been using this pool bag for several summers and I LOVE it. It's less than $25 on Amazon, fits all four towels that our family needs, and has plenty of room for sunscreen, sunglasses, goggles, etc... It has a zipped pouch for small items like our wallet, pool pass, and car keys that we don't want to go missing, and it's lined so it wicks away water quickly.

Goggles:

Keeping track of goggles will be the death of me, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to purchase this three pack before summer gets here and pray they survive the 10 weeks our pool will be open. They're an annual purchase and a must have for every trip to the pool.

Body Glove Life Jacket:

I have very strong opinions about life jackets and these Body Glove branded ones from Walmart are my favorite. They're made of neoprene so they're not very scratchy. They're more slim fitting and not overly bulky, and they're significantly less expensive at Walmart than a sporting good store like Dick's. For $30 I could not be more please, and it keeps our daughter with cerebral palsy happily swimming independently all summer long.

Snacks:

I'm not a huge snacks to the pool kind of person, but I will throw some fruit snacks, granola bars, and apple sauces into our bag for emergencies... I've also been known to just buy snacks at the concession stand too so...

Clean Ingredient Sunscreen:

This is only making the list because I feel like the internet will roast me if it's not on here. We honestly don't use sunscreen that much, when we do its a spray one, such as this Sun Bum option. I try to look for one with high SPF and cleaner ingredients.

Swimsuits:

This is a no brainer, but we typically just wear our swimsuits to the pool. I just bought Kyle this one for this summer, and I'm eying this rashguard one with these bottoms for Kinsley.

The Best Pool Towels:

Something I am very opinionated about is beach towels. If they are not huge and cozy I do not want it. I bought this four pack from Amazon last year and they're our favorite for pool days. They fit everyone perfectly and are great for getting warm and dry after a swim.

Affordable Polarized Sunglasses:

I am pretty unpassionate about sunglasses, but I am passionate about having them on hand. We lose them like crazy but have ordered these ones from Amazon multiple times. I think we're finally at the point where we have six pairs of these floating around our house right now. I love that they're cheap, work well, and they fit everyone in the house without complaint.

Crocs:

Crocs have become the shoe of the summer in our home. I just got the kids new ones in their Easter baskets. Kinsley will be rocking these blue ones, and we got Kyle these charcoal ones.

That is everything on our pool day packing list, I would love to know whats on your list that we missed!