There’s no better way to beat the heat of summer than hitting the water with your friends and family. Whether you’re relaxing at a family lake house, chilling at the beach or kicking it at the river, adding a floating island raft into the mix is a surefire way to inject more fun into your afternoon.
Smaller rafts can be fun, but you get what you pay for. The small flotation devices can usually only accommodate one body and even then, they aren’t known for being very luxurious or durable. Every year you find yourself spending more money to replace the leaking, deflated inflatable pool rafts, but that’s not necessary anymore.
Floating island rafts are becoming all the rage. These rafts are built to last and can hold more than one person and on top of that, they can actually move you around as well. They can be pretty expensive, but here’s a sneak peek at the six best and affordable floating island rafts to improve your summer of fun.
1) SPORTSSTUFF 54-1920A Cabana Islander 
The SPORTSSTUFF 54-1920A Cabana Islander is a great floating island raft that can hold up to 6 people. At 102 inches by 76 inches when deflated, the one of a kind raft is great for larger families and groups of friends. It really has the potential to help take a relaxing day at the lake house to the next level.
This floating island raft is built to last. Constructed of sturdy K80 PVC, this raft will stand the test of time for multiple seasons. It also comes with a 16 quart cooler with a zippered lid, cup holders, rope grommet and boarding platform.
While enjoying your day in the water, the included anchor system will keep you from floating away. It also has a center swim porthole to make it easy to slip in and out of the water or splash around. In addition, while it offers the shelter of shade, if you are looking to soak in some Vitamin D and enjoy the sun, it comes with a detachable wind-resistant nylon cabana top.
Another great feature of the SPORTSSTUFF 54-1920A Cabana Islander is that it comes with a convenient carrying bag. You just need to deflate the raft and slip it into the bag. With inflating and deflating the raft a breeze, all in all there isn’t much this nifty floating island raft can’t do!
2) Tropical Tahiti Inflatable Floating Island 6-Person Capacity
This is another raft that can let you comfortably enjoy the rippling waters of the lake. The Tropical Tahiti Inflatable Floating Island can hold up to six people. With four seats and a lounging platform, you’ll definitely be able to find a comfortable position.
To add to the fun, the Tropical Tahiti Inflatable Floating Island 6-Person Capacity also offers a wading pool. With the area between the two couches being mesh, you can dip your feet in the water. You can enjoy the water without being completely submerged, which is definitely a great feature to have.
This raft also comes with 2 built in coolers with zippered lids and six cup holders. No matter where you’re lounging, there will be room to keep your drink and the built-in boarding platform makes it very easy to get on and off the raft. You won’t need to worry about struggling to get on! The anchor bag also keeps the floating raft rooted in place, or you can tie it off with by one of the handles.
Another great thing about the Tropical Tahiti Inflatable Floating Island is that is it very durable. The floating island raft is sturdy when it’s in the water and it won’t fold under the weight. As an added bonus, it can be filled up with a simple 12V DC pump and within twenty to thirty minutes you can have it ready for use.
3) WOW World of Watersports, 13-2060 Tube A Rama, 10 Person Inflatable Floating Island, 12 Foot Diameter
If you are looking for a massive floating island raft, the WOW World of Watersports, 13-2060 Tube A Ramais definitely a great option. This enormous raft has a 10 person capacity and is over 12 feet in diameter. This floating raft is great for entertaining at parties on the lake.
There are 8 seats in this raft. 4 of them contain mesh and there are 4 without mesh. While there are only 8 tubular seats on this raft, the entire middle portion is made from mesh and provides additional seating. Each seat also has a recessed cup holder next to it and there are even 2 built in coolers in the sides of the raft.
If you’re looking to float about in the water with little fanfare, you can use the included anchor bag and tie rope to keep you rooted in place.
The great thing about the colorful WOW World of Watersports, 13-2060 Tube A Rama, 10 Person Inflatable Floating Island is that it is made to last. This one if constructed from 100% heavy duty PVC material. It’s so strong that you can even tow this raft behind a boat.
With an air pump, you can have this awesome floating island raft ready for use in as little as 5 minutes. It doesn’t get much better than that!
4) Intex Inflatable Key Largo Party Island Float with Built-In Coolers & Cupholders
When it comes to inflatable island rafts, the Intex Inflatable Key Largo Party Island Float with Built in Coolers and Cupholders is certainly a great option. This white and lime green inflatable raft is an impressive choice and can hold up to six people. The middle of the raft is mesh so you can enjoy the water without being completely immersed.
The fun raft comes with 6 cup holders and that means no matter where you are sitting, you’ll have a place to keep your drink secure. With 2 built in coolers and secure storage chambers, you can pack up and float the day away. It also comes with an anchor bag to keep you in place throughout the day.
There is no cover, but this piece of paradise is great for those looking to soak up some rays on the lake. There are lots of areas to situate yourself, from couches to lounging platforms. The Intex Inflatable Key Largo Party Island Float with Built-In Coolers & Cupholders is pretty easy to get on an off of, but larger adults might need some assistance.
One thing that is important to note is that this durable raft is not for towing behind a boat. If that’s what you’re looking for, there are many other great options out there. All in all, for the price, this is a great floating island raft for those looking to tie off or anchor down and enjoy floating.
5) SPORTSSTUFF Fiesta Floating Island Raft
If you are looking for a floating island raft, SPORTSSTUFF has a great option. The SPORTSSTUFF Fiesta Floating Island Raft is constructed from heavy duty PVC. It is meant to last season after season and has an impressive 8 person capacity. You’ll love how comfortable this inflatable raft is with contoured back and armrests. The middle portion has a floor comprised of mesh, so you can splash in the water while still maintaining buoyancy.
The floating raft also comes with a 16 quart floating inflatable cooler that is detachable so it can be used anywhere. With built in molded cup holders, you can even tote your drinks around. In addition, this model comes with a PVC anchor bag and molded PVC boarding handles. This means you can anchor down or tie the raft off.
Another great feature about the SPORTSSTUFF Fiesta Floating Island Raft is the patented speed safety valve that allows you to inflate and deflate the raft very quickly.
6) Intex Pacific Paradise Relaxation Station
Last but not least, the Intex Pacific Paradise Relaxation Station is another great option when it comes to purchasing an inflatable island raft. With durability always on your mind, you won’t need to worry with this raft. The Intex model is constructed of 18 gauge vinyl and is built to last you multiple seasons.
The Intex Pacific Paradise Relaxation Station comes with a mesh lounging area to keep your feet cool. It is rated to hold up to four people at once, but most people report being able to put many more than that on the raft. The occupants will also have somewhere to stash their drinks because this raft has 4 built in drink holders.
For those worrying about ease of access, the raft comes with a rope ladder with hard plastic steps to make getting on easy. With other inflatable rafts users report struggling to climb on, but this ladder makes it easy for adults and kids to get on it from the water. Though it isn’t built for towing, with a tie off rope included you can easily keep the raft stationary.
Overall, the Intex Pacific Paradise Relaxation Station is a durable, affordable option when it comes to inflatable island rafts. Grab some friends, fill it up and enjoy your day on the water!
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