I waited a bit to write this review so I could give as much information as possible. As of the time of posting, we’ve had the pool up for about a month. I would recommend it to anyone, especially in the time of social distancing. There are a few things you need to know, though, if you (like me) are new to the world of large inflatable backyard pools. Oh, I do need to insert a quick bit of information. When you inflate the pool, obviously it’ll be empty. You’re going to over inflate it. Once you fill it, you’ll get an air leak the first night. Add a bit more air (don’t over inflate it though) and then you’re set. As long as you don’t over inflate it the second time and you get the plug in all the way (not an easy task), you won’t have to fill it again. Now, you need some things beyond just the pool, including something to put down (I mowed, raked, then put down a blue tarp with plastic tent pegs). I also got a tarp to cover, but have since seen a round pool cover here on Amazon, though I haven’t ordered it and can’t say if it fits or how good it is. If you don’t want to refill twice a week (it cost about $8 in my area to fill it once), you need a few other items. After totally emptying and refilling the pool, we decided we didn’t want to do that again if we could help it, but also as of the time I’m writing this, the price on pumps and filters has skyrocketed to beyond what I’m willing to spend on it ($400 ish). Time for Plan B. We picked up a scum sponge, a chlorine bobber, a Clorox small pool chemicals kit, a hand dipper, and a small pool vacuum for way less than the cost of the filter/pump. It requires a bit of physical work, but I am fat and chronically ill and it wasn’t too much, so don’t let that put you off. The pictures I posted were taken today, one month in. We bailed about 15 partial 5 gallon buckets to give us room to work, because the pool vacuum we bought adds water. Then I climbed in with the pool vacuum and went all over the surface on the bottom until the pool was filled back up, occasionally dipping with the hand dipper as well. When that was done, I used a test strip and adjusted with chemicals from the Clorox small pool kit, and you’re looking at the result. The only thing I would add is that where we live (southern WV), this pool seems to attract some tiny orange bugs that bite. They seem to hate vinegar, so I took a spray bottle I already had, filled it with vinegar, and I spray the outside of the pool whenever we are out there. It works pretty well. Final note: keep the cup holder guards in whenever you aren’t using the cup holders. I do wish I had done that, and I am starting now.
