Why more people are splashing in stock tanks
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Some people build decks around their stock tank pools. Photo: Courtesy of Cowboy Pools
A galvanized metal trough could be the coolest way to beat the summer heat.
Why it matters: Typically meant to store water for horses and cattle, stock tanks are making a splash in backyards across the country.
- They're less expensive than a swimming pool and sexier than other above-ground options, according to Amanda Shaftel, co-founder of Cowboy Pools.
- "Cowboys would hop in the pool after a long day at work," Shaftel tells Axios.
The big picture: The Austin-based company, which ships stock tank pools starting at $3,450 nationwide, reports pool sales are up roughly 30% year-over-year.
- It's one of several businesses, including Stock Tank Love and Gypsy Pools, that launched in recent years (most in Texas or Florida) as the pandemic kept people home.
What they're saying: "It was the best thing I could do for myself for a Texas summer," Dallas content creator Kenzie Elizabeth said on Instagram about the stock tank pool she bought last year.
Some in colder climates are also jumping in. Suburban Chicago homeowner Diane Poehler slotted her pool into a deck, near a row of stock tank planters.
- Upkeep is easy, Poehler says. She uses a floating chlorine dispenser and some pool clarifier, scoops out debris and changes the filter yearly.
What's next: A small but swelling number of social media posts are tagged #StockTankPool and #StockTankPools.
- Posts using those hashtags jumped nearly 12% during the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to TikTok.
Reality check: The swimming pool industry is drowning, largely due to the same factors cooling the U.S. economy, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports.
- New pool construction could be down as much as 20% from last year, distributor Pool Corporation reported in late June, pointing to "cautious consumer spending on big-ticket items."
Between the lines: In-ground pools cost between $28,000 and $66,500 on average, per HomeAdvisor.
How it works: Cowboy Pools come pre-assembled, ranging in size from 6 to 10 feet in diameter.
- They need a completely level surface and access to outdoor electricity for a filter pump system that's included, along with other maintenance supplies.
- The company says most cities don't require permits to install the 2-feet-deep pools, but homeowners considering one should check local rules.
People can set up the pools themselves or hire pros. They can be taken apart in the winter and packed up during a move.
- Some savvy homeowners DIY the whole thing, buying tubs from farm supply stores. (Cowboy Pools and Stock Tank Love supply kits with everything but the tank for under $1,000.)
- Cold plunge fanatics, who say it's good for the immune system and muscle recovery, can get in on the trend by filling the troughs with hose water and bags of ice.
The intrigue: There are also plastic stock tanks, which some people prefer because they don't rust, and kids are less likely to get hurt if they hit their heads on them, a national sales pro told Wirecutter.
The bottom line: Move over, farm animals — we're taking a dip.
