Cowboy Pool Covers
Cowboy Pool
Covers
A covered pool stays cleaner, holds its heat, and keeps the critters out. Here's everything about choosing, using, and caring for your cover — straight from the crew.
Which Cover Is Right for You?
Both keep leaves, debris, and unwanted pests out of your pool. The difference is how they sit — and what else they do for your water.
Soft Cowboy Pool Cover
A lightweight fitted cover that secures with built-in magnets, with an optional 6-point strap kit for extra hold. Easy on, easy off — the everyday workhorse.
- Magnets hold it in place; straps are optional
- Fits true to size — measure before you order
- Lightweight: one person can handle it (two after rain)
Inflatable Hard Cover
An inflated dome that sheds rain and debris, insulates your water, and — in the sun — actually warms it. Ships nationwide.
- Inflates in minutes with the included hand pump
- Sun on the cover raises your water temperature — a favorite for fall, winter, and spring swims
- 90-day warranty + patch kit included
Inflating & Caring for Your Hard Cover
Inflating Your Cover
Use the included hand pump to inflate your cover to the PSI range printed on the valve — typically 2–4 PSI, or up to 6 PSI in colder weather. Watch: how to use the hand pump →
Pro tip from the crew: inflate in the morning while it's cool. Air expands in the midday heat, so a cover inflated cool will firm up on its own — and if it ever feels drum-tight on a hot afternoon, release a little air. It'll return to optimal pressure in the evening.
Losing Air? Check the Valve First
If your cover is losing air with no obvious hole, it's most likely a loose valve — not a leak. Grab the plastic valve wrench from your repair kit and give the valve a quarter turn to the right. That solves it nearly every time. Make sure the valve is fully closed after inflating (the valve button is the small white piece inside the valve opening).
For actual punctures, every cover ships with a patch kit — and leaks from shipping or manufacturer defects are covered by the 90-day warranty. To keep your warranty eligibility, fully inflate your cover within 90 days of delivery.
It Warms Your Water, Too
With sun on the cover, the inflated dome works like a greenhouse for your pool — especially useful in fall, winter, and spring to nudge water temps up for a comfortable swim (and it makes any heater's job easier). In the hot months, keep the pool shaded as much as possible if you're trying to keep water cool.
✓ Do
- Use your cover to keep leaves, debris, and pests out
- Shake it off after rain — use a squeegee or broom to push off water and debris if it feels weighed down
- Keep it inflated within the PSI range on the valve
- Use it on a filled pool — the cover is designed to sit over water
✗ Don't
- Over-inflate past the range printed on the valve
- Use it on an empty pool — heavy rain or snow over an empty tank strains the cover
- Leave children or pets unattended around the pool, covered or not
Using Your Soft Cover
Sizing: Measure First
Our covers run true to size and aren't stretchy — they'll only fit a tank up to about 1.5–2 inches wider than the listed size. Measure your tank's width from multiple angles before ordering. Because fit matters this much, covers aren't returnable — full details on our shipping & returns page.
The Strap System (Optional)
Your cover secures with built-in magnets and works great without straps. The optional 6-point strap kit adds extra hold — a better option when you want to keep kids and pets from accessing the pool.
- Bottom straps: a web of seat-belt-style polyester straps with six metal D-rings. It sits flat under your tank with just the D-rings sticking out. If you're using straps, place the bottom web under the tank before filling your pool — it's part of setup day.
- Side straps: connect the six D-rings on the cover to the six on the ground straps.
- Pool already filled? No need to drain — six canopy ground stakes (16" spiral anchors work great) at the base of the tank do the same job.
- Snug, not tight: never over-tighten the straps. Overtightening strains the cover's seams.
Decks & Covers
Built a deck flush around your pool? A fitted cover likely won't work unless there's space between the deck and tank to slide the cover's sides down. If you're planning a deck, ask your builder about a custom cover solution — and remember, the pool goes in before the deck goes up.
✓ Do
- Shake off the cover after rain — grab a second set of hands if it's heavy with debris
- Float a solar cover underneath to help keep your cover riding on top of the water
- Keep your pool filled to a few inches from the top when covered
✗ Don't
- Strap a cover over an empty tank — rain pooling on an unsupported cover strains the seams
- Over-tighten the side straps
- Leave children or pets unattended around the pool, covered or not
A word on safety: no Cowboy Pools cover — soft or inflatable — is childproof, and none is a substitute for a pool fence, adult supervision, or other safety measures. Please keep eyes on kids and pets around your pool at all times, covered or uncovered.
We've Got You
Valve tricks not cutting it, or something arrived damaged? Send us photos and we'll troubleshoot, walk you through a patch, or handle a warranty claim.
Get Help → Shop Covers