Pool Noodles

[ChuckDickerson]

Just a friendly reminder that now is the best time of year to stock up on those pool noodles you know we are all going to need next January/February. The Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer so stores are putting summer pool toys on clearance. I've seen pool noodles as low as $0.25 on clearance this time of year. I checked 2 local Walmarts today and neither had any left. Target had a few on clearance for $0.98. Get 'em while they are cheap and still available!

[Hallry]

The GDC probably bought out those two Walmarts' pool noodles for the game elements for next year's water game.

[Colin P]

Last year we had to try to find pool noodles in the middle of winter in the U.P.... NOT FUN
We'll be getting em earlier this year

[Phyrxes]

We bought a box from a pool supply company two years ago, I suspect we will be buying another box this fall. It was nice to have extras to take to events, since someone always ends up needing some.

[akoscielski3]

This may be a good time to get pool noodles for next year, as pool supplies are coming out and the stores are loaded with them.

[FrankJ]

In typical First style, Bill specifically refused to speculate on the need of noodles for next years bumpers in Bills Blog. Or was that a back handed way of suggesting to buy some?

Anyway noodles are cheap. Buying them now is cheap insurance.

[JonathanZur1836]

Pool noodles are stocked at pool supply stores more or less year round; I bought about 12 at my local Leslie's Pool Supplies in January and it was rather cheap if I remember correctly. But yeah, if you get the chance, getting them earlier can be cheaper and ensures that you have them for the coming build season.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by JonathanZur1836

Pool noodles are stocked at pool supply stores more or less year round;...

Most of us don't live in southern California, Jonathan. Pool supply stores in north central Indiana probably do always have stock, but they're not open year round.

[JohnBoucher]

And for those that wait, AndyMark has them

AndyMark

[mlantry]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

And for those that wait, AndyMark has them

AndyMark

Ah AndyMark and your $2 a piece pool noodles

[yarden.saa]

Originally Posted by JohnBoucher

And for those that wait, AndyMark has them

AndyMark

We bought this year 2 pool noodles(in the winter) in the same price of 6 in andymark

[Littleboy]

And if you can't find any, steal the ones off your bumpers from this year, or another previous year. Just make sure they are long enough.

[dag0620]

I know our team purchased a bulk box of pool noodles a few years ago. We store them in our loft and just take from them when we build our bumpers of use them for nicer astetchic bumpers in the off-season. Although Bill can speculate back and forth, it's safe to assume bumpers are here to stay, in some way or form.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by dag0620

Although Bill can speculate back and forth, it's safe to assume bumpers are here to stay, in some way or form.

That's using your noodle.

Jane

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

In typical First style, Bill specifically refused to speculate on the need of noodles for next years bumpers in Bills Blog. Or was that a back handed way of suggesting to buy some?

He's been explicit the past two years about buying pool noodles.

2010

Robots will be required to have bumpers, so buy your pool noodles now while they are still in season.

2011

We know enough about what the game will look like to want to remind everyone, “’tis the season to buy pool noodles”.

I suspect the reason he isn't saying anything this year is because of the rethinking of the bumper rules that was mentioned at FRC Live this year.