Our Backyard Pool Adventure: The Good, the Bad, and the Honest

I still remember that sweltering summer day when my kids were tiny, and I thought to myself, 'We need a pool before they grow up.' Why did I think that? Well, a frame pool with all the extras - the pump, the heater, the cleaning kit, and tools - is a pretty pricey investment. I'm a sucker for sitting by the pool with a cup of coffee or juice, watching the water, and just relaxing. But let's be real, that's not exactly a compelling reason to buy a pool (it's way easier to just book a beach vacation).

So, while my youngest was still little, we decided to set up a pool in our backyard, and we chose this model because it's huge - 4x2x0.8 meters - and has a frame. Even the adults can fit in. By the way, the pool walls are made of super-durable DuraPlus material, which is a big deal because there are always rocks and sticks on the ground, and it's a nightmare to keep an eye out for debris that might puncture your pool. Plus, the aluminum frame is a game-changer when it comes to stability.

Key specs:

Dimensions: 4 x 2.11 x 0.81 meters. Capacity: 5700 liters (90% fill rate) Three-layer side walls made of tough PVC and polyester. Pump performance: 1249 liters per hour (330 gallons per hour) Water consumption in the integrated pool system (system consumption rate): 1060 liters per hour (280 gallons per hour) Compatible replacement filter: #58093 (I) Repair platform for underwater repairs Corrosion-resistant metal frames. Three-layer tape adds extra support to the walls.

What came in the box:

The package included the pool itself and the filter-pump (58381), plus a hose adapter:

The filter-pump works well, pushing water and filtering it. But it's clear that wasn't enough (see below for 'cleaning').

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Installation:

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I love how the instructions say it's easy to assemble:

Easy to assemble

Yeah, we had a good laugh about that...

It started off okay, I guess. The instructions said to install the pool on a solid, level surface:

The pool must be installed on a solid and level surface.

We had a wooden platform in our backyard that was the perfect size. And we didn't need to level it out at all:

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The instructions were way too vague on what to connect and in what order:

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Our guys were about to give up and go to bed:

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But after working till dark, they finally got the thing assembled:

Filling:

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This is the real challenge. The pool holds an astonishing 5700 liters of water. We filled it with a hose and topped it off with buckets. We even used the hose as a makeshift weight to keep it from floating:

It took us 9 hours to fill the thing! And I'm seriously worried about the environmental impact...

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Usage:

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The kids loved it. The adults were a bit perplexed.

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- my kids love it - you can have a pool that you can watch from your kitchen window with a cup of coffee in your hand

- it's perfect for cooling off on a hot day - you can relax your muscles after a home workout by combining it with a sauna - even adults can really swim forward and backward in it.xa0

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- you need a spot in your yard or house to set it up - you need a water supply with a hose attached and a nearby electrical outlet - it takes a guy in the household, preferably two, to bring it home and assemble it - not all families can make that work - it's a real pain to clean and maintain - I'll write about cleaning separately - emptying it is a whole other story - we haven't tried it yet, but 5700 liters of water is a lot to just drain - we're lucky to have a nearby sewer access, but if you don't...? There is a drain valve, but where do you drain that much water to...? - storing it is a whole other headache, as even when it's disassembled, the parts take up a lot of space - it's expensive - you think you're just buying a pool, but you need a set of cleaning chemicals and a water heater too... - you can only use it one at a time, as the water splashes out if two people are swimming at once.

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Cleaning:

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People think a pool is just a big bathtub, fill it up and go for it...

But no.

Debris from trees and elsewhere is constantly floating in, so you need to clean it - and you'll need a skimmer to do it, otherwise forget it.

I was expecting some buildup after a few uses, but the water started getting cloudy after the third time I used it. I guess that's just the reality of having living creatures around - in this case, bacteria and algae. The walls started developing a slimy film, and before I knew it, the pool was infested with mosquito larvae. That's why I highly recommend getting some chlorine-based cleaning products and test strips to check if the water's safe for swimming. And trust me, after I started using chlorine, the mosquito problem disappeared. The only thing that saved me from the slimy mess was a mini vacuum cleaner.

At the end of the day, it's up to you to decide. I'm recommending this product because I got it for my kid, and they're absolutely loving it.