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As a parent of two active kids, I’m always looking for ways to wear them out. This summer, we decided to see if an above-ground pool would be a good fit for our family. We chose the Bestway Steel Pro Max, which is a 15-foot round pool that holds just under 4,000 gallons of water. It comes with a separate ladder that you can easily remove when the pool’s not in use for added safety. Here’s how it performed over 3 weeks during the peak of summer.
Best Above Ground Pool
Photo: Amazon
What We Like
- Quick and easy assembly
- Sturdy steel frame and PVC liner
- Perfect size for small families
- Ladder and pool pump included
What We Don’t Like
- Pool cover is cumbersome
- LED light feels cheap
Product Specs
- Type: Steel frame
- Material: Tritech enhanced 3-layer liner
- Size: 15 feet in diameter by 42 inches tall (tested size; additional sizes available)
The pool itself was very easy to set up. The Tritech liner is durable and easy to maneuver. The steel frame is durable and clicks together easily—no tools required. My husband and I set up the pool in just 30 minutes, which I appreciated because neither of us is very handy. It also bodes well for the end of summer, when we will need to empty and disassemble the pool. Filling the pool with water took the longest—in all, we probably spent 15 or 16 hours running the hose to fill the pool properly.
The Steel Pro Max comes with a pool filter pump, which was easy to set up once the pool was filled with water. You can set the pump up to run for 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours; experts recommend running pool pumps for at least 8 to 12 hours per day, so I set mine to 10 hours. The pump also helps mix the chemicals into the water, keeping it clean and safe for swimming.
Now to the important part: the pool’s performance. Both my kids (age 8 and 11) gave it two mighty thumbs up. The pool was easy for them to get in and out of, and just big enough to dive down and swim from one side to the other. They invited a friend over to test it out with them, and they found the pool a little small for a proper game of Marco Polo, but that was to be expected with a temporary above-ground pool. Overall, the kids and their friends loved having a pool to splash in during the hottest part of the summer.
To maintain chlorine levels and keep the pool clean, I found that it was necessary to cover the pool when not in use. Putting the cover on the pool is a two-person job, so I couldn’t do it while my husband traveled for work. The cover is fairly basic and came unattached during a windstorm, since it just has a drawstring to fasten it around the pool’s rim.
Bestway sells several Steel Pro Max models in different sizes, and the 15-foot version we received came with an LED light that sits in a pocket in the liner and makes the entire pool light up. The light itself is basic and requires an electrical outlet to work, so we didn’t get much use out of it. The concept is neat; it has seven different colors, eight modes, three speeds, and five brightness levels. But I’m not convinced this gimmick is worth the extra $27 over the basic model.
Overall, this pool is a great option for anyone looking to add an above-ground pool to their yard without spending a lot of money. It’s easy to set up, fun to use, and can be taken down and stored during the winter months. It’ll definitely become a summer staple in my backyard for (hopefully) many years to come.
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Photo: Catherine Hiles for BobVila.com
