Best Pool Skimmers 2022 – Top Picks & Reviews

Everyone loves swimming in a pool, especially a clean one. Sadly, outside pools are deemed to get dirty, as various undesirable things fall in them, such as leaves, twigs, pet hair, insects and so on. Floating nasty things makes pool not attractive, but the opposite, and swimming becomes not an option. Fortunately, these days there are numerous pool skimmers which do their job perfectly. They make it possible for you to enjoy swimming in a clean pool, by removing unwanted material from the water.

1. Solar Breeze- Automatic Pool Skimmer NX2 Cleaning Robot

This automatic pool cleaner by Solar Breeze is amongst the most unique and ingenious design on the whole market. It can remove up to 95% debris floating around your pool, such as dead leaves, dog hair, dust, and insects. The first thing that should strike everyone’s eyes is that this is a cleaning robot which is automatic. You no longer have to tediously fish out the debris out of your pool, or hopelessly hope that installed pool skimmer will catch up all unwanted material from your pool.

When designing NX2 Cleaning Robot, Solar Breeze thought about everything and they designed this pool cleaner to be solar powered, by putting solar batteries on top of it. The result is that this device can clean your pool continuously for almost 24 hours during the mid-summer period. Usually though, this robot can run for up to several hours after the sun is set. It ensures that your pool is always crystal clear.

This product has a large debris collection tray, which ensures that you can be worry-free about cleaning the debris out of this robot for a good while. In addition, it is also armed with a dispenser tray of chemicals, which can hold two 3-inch trichlor tablets. NX2 Cleaning Robot will not only protect your pool from physical debris, but it will also guarantee that your pool is free of dangerous bacteria.

2. SkimmerMotion – Automatic Pool Skimmer, Skimmer & Clarifier

SkimmerMotion offers one of the best pool cleaners on the market. This device is all in one, as it offers cleaning, skimming and clarifying of your pool. It works by creating a whirlpool effect on the surface, which sucks in even the tiniest particles of debris. Your pool surface will be free of undesirable organic material in it.

In addition, this automatic pool cleaner was designed carefully and it resulted in an aesthetic look. Its unique design makes it look more like a pool decoration rather than a sturdy pool cleaner. Unlike with most other pool skimmers, you will no longer have to stress that your pool is not looking as great as it should, even though it is free of debris.

One slight disadvantage of this Automatic Pool Cleaner, Skimmer & Clarifier by SkimmerMotion is that it requires a bottom vacuum cleaner to work. Fortunately, it is compatible with most existing pool vacuum cleaners on the market. You do not have to think about getting a specialized bottom vacuum cleaner to use together with this device, as it will work as intended with any vacuum cleaner of your choice. You are in luck if you already own one, as it means that combining it with this product by SkimmerMotion will ensure in pristine clean pool water.

3. INTEX Deluxe Wall Mount Swimming Pool Surface Automatic Skimmer

The final product on our list is the leader of its niche. It mounts on a pool wall and connects to the filter pump to ensure automatic pool skimming. This pool surface skimmer is made out of high-quality polypropylene plastic, which is safe to use if you also use pool chemicals.

The collection basket holds more debris than it looks like. It results in two great things. First of all, you will rarely have to clean it from caught debris like dead insects, fallen leaves or pet hair. Another advantage it gives is that it is easy on the eyes. Most other similar pool skimmers are large and not only decrease the attractiveness of your pool, but they also deteriorate the swimming experience. With this product by INTEX, you are guaranteed that most people will hardly even notice it.

INTEX Deluxe Pool Surface Skimmer requires a water filter pump with at least 800 gallons/hour (3,028 liters/hour) flow rate to work as intended. Fortunately, most pools nowadays have this type of filter pumps installed. You will be surprised by how well this pool skimmer works!

Finally, this product must offer one of the best cost to performance ratios on the whole market. If you are on a tight budget, or simply do not want to spend a lot of time on high-technology and automatic pool cleaners, this device is sure to meet your expectations.

4. PoolSkim Pool Skimmer and Pool Cleaner

This pool skimmer has won the prestigious International INPEX Award, and its quality and features surely live up to the award it has received. Its ingenious design creates a small but powerful whirlpool on the surface of a pool, which collects debris, leaves, bugs, and other larger particles into an easy to clean bag.

PoolSkim Pool Skimmer is sure to last for a long time as it is made from durable PVC connectors. In addition, it is easy to install, you just have to connect it to one of the turn jets which are usually located on the side of the pool. Both, female and male adaptors for a fit of 1 and 1/2 inch come with this pool skimmer. Keep in mind that this product by PoolSkim does not attach to the pump filter. You should have no problem installing it in your pool.

This is a great all-around option for pool skimming. It can work throughout the day and night, to ensure that your pool is always clean. Besides, unlike most other pool skimmers, it will not damage your pool pump, because it uses a return flow.

5. ProTuff Pool Net Leaf Skimmer Rake

This is one of the best products of its niche because the frame is made out of quality aluminum alloy, and the net is made from double-stiched nylon. Such materials ensure that this pool skimmer rake will stay in this prime shape for many years to come, and in case it does break, ProTuff offers a free and unlimited replacement guarantee.

This product come in 4 different sizes. 13 inches, 17 inches, 19 inches, and 23 inches in size. You have to choose the rake size depending on your pool size. Bigger pools require bigger nets for more convenient cleaning. No matter which size you choose though, this product by ProTuff will offer everything you desire for such a tool. It has plastic rims, which protect your pool from scratching and accidental damage caused by skimming it from leaves and other unwanted floating objects. In addition, the frame is of a unique shape, which has straight sides with slight angles, which makes it a perfect tool to clean even the corners of your pool.

In addition, the net is very deep and can hold large quantities of debris, up to 50 pounds! You will not have to shake the contents of a net out frequently. This results in a very fast pool cleaning speed which is unmatched by any other product on the market. Finally, most other pool skimming rakes have uncomfortable drag, which tires the user and the cleaning of even the smallest pool can become a daunting task. With this rake though, pool skimming will not be a tedious exercise for your body, because its special net design offers low drag through the water, which will greatly ease the physical strain on you.

6. Hayward SP1091LX Dyna-Skim Pool Skimmer

One of the newest pool skimmers by Hayward guarantees that your pool will remain perfectly clean during the year. The first thing that catches the attention is its build quality, as it is made from heavy-duty UV resistant ABS material. Such build quality is a pinnacle of durability and longevity, so you are free of worry that you will have to repair or replace this pool skimmer often.

It comes with a huge debris collection basket, which can be comfortably accessible from the front of and the top of this skimmer. You will no longer have to spend a lot of time cleaning your pool skimmer because such access allows for a quick and easy clean up of the basket.

This pool skimmer usually takes only 30 minutes to install, and you will be free of worry that your pool is filled with nasty leaves and debris. Unlike other pool skimmers, it picks up even the tiniest of particles, like pet hair and dust. Dyna-Skim ensures a quick and extensive pool skimming, and your friends and neighbors are sure to be impressed by the cleanliness of your pool water. This product also includes removable weir and female tube threads of 1.5 inch in diameter.

7. Dunnrite Hydro-Net Remote Controlled Pool Skimmer Review

This is one of the most unique pool skimmers on the market. It not only does its job well, but it makes it fun to clean your pool, as it is remote-controlled. You can move this pool skimmer from up to a distance of 100 feet. Moreover, its nickel-metal hydride battery can hold for up to 5-hours, thus you will be able to clean your pool numerous times between each recharging session.

In addition, it is geared with high power motor, which makes it efficient at swimming around the pool and collecting various debris, like leaves, twigs, and fallen insects. Not only that, but it is equipped with a large net, which ensures that you will only have to empty the net out once after all the cleaning is done.

These features make Dunnrite Hydro-Net Remote Controlled Pool Skimmer one of the most attractive products in its niche because many other similar remote controlled pool skimmers have short battery life, which usually means that you have to charge it every time after you are done skimming your pool. Besides, they have small nets, which require emptying it out before you even manage to clean your whole pool. What is left unmentioned about this pool skimmer is its build quality. This product was made using the highest quality plastics, which are free from water erosion, and guarantees that it will hold up for many years of usage.

In brief, this product by Dunnrite checks all the boxes of a remote-controlled pool skimmer. High control range, long battery life, huge debris collection net, and a sturdy build. A perfect choice if you want to have fun while skimming your pool!

8. Pooldevil Pro Swimming Pool Automatic Dirt and Leaf Skimmer

Pooldevil Pro is one of the best and the simplest solutions to your pool’s surface debris problems. Its design enables it to catch leaves, grass clippings, insects, and even pollen before any of these sinks to the bottom. Used alongside your pool’s filter system, not only maintains the surface of your pool clean, but it will also take a noticeable burden off the filtration system.

Simplicity & Efficiency of Pooldevil Pro Skimmer

The Pooldevil skimmer is a perfect combination of simplicity and efficiency. Its simple design allows you to put it in place fast and without any problem, You simply connect it to the inlet nozzle of your pool and the laws of physics will do the rest.

As mentioned above, the reason behind the Pooldevil skimmer efficiency lies in its use of natural laws of physics. Its hose is directed along the pool’s wall and as such creates a steady circulating flow alongside the pool’s wall. Thanks to the centrifugal force all debris located on the surface get pulled toward the pool’s wall. Since the skimmer head with its Ventury system and filter bag is also floating on the surface right next to the wall, it will efficiently catch all the dirt that is coming its way thanks to the constant flow.

Pros & Cons

Besides the very obvious fact that a Pooldevil skimmer will keep your pool a lot cleaner, it will also lengthen your circulating pump’s lifespan, as it will prevent the filter and leaves traps from clogging.

As mentioned above, the skimmer head uses a floating technology that enables it to always follow the water level accordingly.

Another major advantage of the Pooldevil Pro is its lifetime warranty. Here, we must add that this doesn’t cover filter bags. Furthermore, the Pooldevil skimmer is fully automated, you only need to empty a filter bag once it gets full.

Like with everything in this world, there are a few cons that we must mention. The skimmer’s filtration bags don’t last very long and it won’t work too well with stronger pumps. Further, it is not the best choice for larger pools, as the circulating flow might not be strong enough to pull all debris towards the wall.

Considering the Pooldevil skimmer’s price, it is definitely a great option if you are looking for an automated skimmer.

Pool Skimmers Buying guide – How to choose the best pool skimmer?

What Type is Your Pool?

This is the first question to answer prior to buying a pool skimmer, as there are either above-ground or in-ground pools. Pool skimmers for different pool types are designed differently and have varying features and are also installed differently. Let’s first talk about above-ground pools,

Skimmers on this type of pools can be either mounted on the wall of the pool, or in the wall, by cutting a hole in it. If you choose the second option and already had a pool skimmer, but want to upgrade there is an important thing to note. You have to check its mouth size. Then, you have to buy either the same mouth-size pool skimmer or a bigger one. The reason is that if you would buy a pool skimmer with a smaller mouth, there would be no practical way to stop leakage from your pool. It is so because the hole left from the former pool skimmer would be larger, than the area a new one covers, and water would flow through the uncovered area.

If you have an in-ground pool, there is also one important thing to take care of. There are three most common in-ground pool types, each of which requires a differently designed skimmer. The types are gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl. Knowing which type is your in-ground pool is a very important thing because if you buy a pool skimmer for a different pool type from your own, installation problems will arise. It will not be possible to easily install a pool skimmer, that is why knowing your in-ground pool type is necessary before buying a pool skimmer.

Now, if you have had a pool skimmer for above-ground pool and measured its mouth size, and if you have an in-ground pool and know its type, it is a time to choose which pool skimmer to buy. This quick buying guide will ensure that you know what to look for when shopping for a pool skimmer.

What Skimmer Do You Want?

There are three main types of pool skimmers. First of them is manual skimmers. These are usually a long pole connected with a mesh net. You have to manually skim your pool with it, thus it has many disadvantages, compared to the other two types of pool skimmers. Another type is built-in skimmers, which we have discussed when talking about a pool type. This type of skimmer is usually attached on the wall of the pool and connected to the pool’s water flow system. The third type of pool skimmers is robotic, which is the newest engineering feat in the market. They are either solar or battery powered, can run autonomously and clean the pool effectively.

Here is brief pros and cons of each type:

Manual

Pros:
+ Straight-forward to use
+ No need for installation
+ Cheap

Cons:
– Requires physical effort
– Usually cannot skim small debris
– Cannot clean constantly

Built-In

Pros:
+ Efficient skimming
+ Can run autonomously

Cons:
– Puts a strain on the pool’s plumbing system
– Not aesthetically pleasing

Robotic
+ Some models can work 24/7
+ Cleans the most efficiently
+ Saves money on electricity

Cons:
– The most expensive type

Looking at these cons and pros should give you a brief idea on what pool skimmer you should get, but there are a few more specific details we should overview. First of all, you should think about your budget, and how much you can spend on a pool skimmer. Then, you should look at your pool size. Manual pool skimmers are really hard to use for big pools, as they are physically tiring. Finally, if you are buying built-in or a robotic cleaner, you should think about whether its design fits your pool. Choose a model which colors will not clash with the colors of your pool, and you will get the best results.

In brief, choosing a pool skimmer is an easy task, you just have to know and think about a couple of things. First of all, know your pool type and buy accordingly. Then, look over the pros and cons and choose which pool skimmer type is the most attractive to you. Finally, end on the easiest note and think about how a pool skimmer will fit with your pool aesthetics.