HOMSHIAM Above-Ground Pool Pillow, 5 ft

If your winter pool setup needs more than a cover stretched across the water, a center pillow can create a raised point that helps limit pressure from expanding ice and keeps rain or snow from collecting in one spot. The HOMSHIAM is a round, inflatable pillow intended for above-ground pools, with four cords to help hold it in place. If you prioritize a simple cover-only setup, this adds an extra piece to inflate and secure, if you prefer support beneath the cover, its design is aimed at that job. Keep in mind that its listed 5-foot diameter is measured before inflation.

Getting the most from it

Inflate the pillow to about 70%, as recommended in the product information, rather than filling it tight. That leaves room for expansion as water freezes. Use the four included cords, each listed as 4 meters long, through the pillow’s edge holes to anchor it near the center of the pool. For a practical winter closing routine, place the pillow in the water first, secure the cords, then position the cover so the pillow sits beneath its center. The raised middle is intended to help rain or melting snow run away from the cover’s low point instead of pooling there.

An electric air pump is not included, so you’ll need a compatible pump you already own or obtain one separately. Avoid overinflating: the directions specifically warn against it, and the recommended partial inflation is meant to leave room for ice expansion.

Why it’s worth it

The main reason to choose a pool pillow is to add a buffer between winter conditions and the pool structure and cover. As water freezes and expands, the pillow is intended to absorb some of that pressure, under the cover, it also creates a central rise that may reduce the chance of snow or rain weighing down the middle. That gives it a different role from simply covering the pool and leaving the surface unsupported.

The pillow is made from 0.3 mm cold-resistant PVC, with a double-sealed edge. Its stated cold-weather rating is -10°F (-25°C), on the spec sheet. Those details make it purpose-built for seasonal use, but they don’t remove the need to secure the cover and follow the inflation guidance. You’ll appreciate it if your closing routine includes protecting both the cover and pool walls from winter pressure.

The essentials

Before inflation, the round pillow measures 5 feet in diameter. The product information gives its inflated size as about 3.8 feet across and 2.2 feet high, so plan around the inflated dimensions when considering how it will sit under your cover. Four holes around the edge provide attachment points for the included cords. The listing describes it for above-ground pools, but doesn’t provide pool-specific fit guidance beyond that.

It may not suit you if you want a ready-to-use kit with an air pump, or if you need a pillow that stays 5 feet wide after inflation. The listed 5-foot size is the pre-inflation diameter, and the inflated footprint is smaller.

When it makes sense

This is most relevant when closing an above-ground pool for winter and you want a raised support point beneath the cover, rather than relying on the cover alone. Picture a covered pool after rain: the pillow sits under the center, helping create a slope instead of leaving the middle as a flat collection point. Its cords are there to help keep that support from drifting out of position.

Choose it if those winter-cover needs match your setup and you can supply an air pump. Look elsewhere if you need a different size, want a pump included, or expect the pillow alone to handle every part of pool winterization.