Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoors

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

5 Best Above-Ground Swimming Pools to Buy for Your Backyard

By

The temperatures now are perfect for outdoor activities without getting scorched. One of those activities is lounging around in your very own personal flotation device in your brand new swimming pool.

Your backyard should be your own personal space where you can relax, unwind, and recharge. It’s great for the mind and the body as well. You can get plenty of exercise from swimming laps — much better than doing all that cardio in the gym. It’s not always about relaxing, however. Maybe you want to throw a lavish pool party. In that case, here’s a list of the best above-ground swimming pools on the market today. Set up is easy and you can be enjoying your day by the pool in less than 24 hours. Not too bad if you ask me. We even found an inflatable hot tub that is perfect for those cooler nights or sore muscles.

Recommended Videos

Related Reading:

Intex Ultra XTR Frame Round Swimming Pool Set with Sand Filter Pump

Intex above ground swimming pool
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This 20-foot-wide, 4-foot tall Intex above-ground swimming pool will keep everyone cool. It is made from a powder-coated steel frame and laminated PVC siding material. It has 3 layers of material for added strength and durability to last several years. The easy-to-assemble pieces fit together without any locking pins and could be ready to fill with water in about an hour. The Intex pool holds almost 8,000 gallons of water. It includes an Intex Krystal Clear 110-120 volt, 2,100 GPH sand filter pump, pool ladder, ground cloth, and debris cover. There is a drain plug that connects to your garden hose for draining the pool and a dual suction outlet fitting to help improve water circulation.

Related: 
Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

Coleman Power Steel Frame Swim Vista II Round Swimming Pool Set

Coleman Swim Vista II Round Swimming Pool Set
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Coleman Power Steel Swim Vista Series II is a big pool at 22 feet wide and a little over 4 feet deep. It’s a second-generation pool with built-in portholes. The Vista Portholes are reinforced and fortified into the sides of the pool, allowing parents to keep an eye on children or so you can wave at people like an aquarium. The pool doesn’t require any tools for setup and is made of a  rust-resistant steel frame with Coleman’s Seal & Lock System for a sturdy and secure frame connection. The puncture-resistant liner is made from ultra-durable Tritech material and the exterior design is a natural-looking rattan wicker print. The Coleman pool set comes with a filter pump, step ladder, and pool cover.

Intex Metal Frame Round Above-Ground Pool

Intex above ground swimming pool
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Intex Metal Framed Above Ground Pool Set will let you beat the heat for the season. This above-ground pool is 18 feet wide and 4 feet tall and is the perfect size for cooling off. The easy-to-assemble and maintain swimming pool is made of durable PVC material and is an affordable alternative to steel-walled pools. The swimming pool includes an Intex 1500 GPH filter pump, filter cartridge, ladder, pool cover, ground cloth, and instructional DVD. Intex has designed this pool for easy assembly and is ready for water in an hour. When it comes time to drain the water, the convenient drain plug works with your garden hose.

Bestway Steel Pro Max Above-Ground Round Swimming Pool Set

Bestway Steel Pro Max swimming pool
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Bestway Steel Pro Max swimming pool is an easy-to-set-up pool with a corrosion-resistant steel frame and DuraPlus enhanced three-ply reinforced PVC material. The swimming pool is 14 feet wide and the water depth is 4 feet, enough to cool off the entire family. The set includes a filter pump with a 1,000 GPH flow rate, extra filter cartridge, safety step ladder, and a pool cover to keep out leaves, bugs, and whatever else may be floating around. Best of all, no tools are needed for set up and when the season is over, the built-in flow control valve attaches to a garden hose for easy draining.

Intex Oval Above-Ground Pool

Intex oval above ground swimming pool
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The oval-shaped above-ground swimming pool by Intex is 16.5 feet wide and 4 feet tall. This swimming pool is everything you need for backyard pool parties. The pool is made with a metal frame constructed of steel tubing and puncture-resistant three-ply liner material. This durably swimming pool takes up to an hour for installation and includes a 1,000-gallon pump, pool ladder, ground cloth, debris cover, and instructional DVD for setup. It is also equipped with a Hydro Aeration Technology pump for improved circulation, filtration, improved water clarity, and increased negative ions at the water surface.

If the swimming pool isn’t enough, you can also pick up this highly rated and recommended inflatable hot tub.

Coleman SaluSpa Four-Person Hot Tub Spa

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 4-Person Coleman SaluSpa is equipped with 60 AirJets, digital button controls for temperature, bubbles, and an auto-lock setting when you find the right temperature and bubbles. The hot tub heats up quickly and is made from durable Tritech 3-ply material with inflated walls for durability and cushioned floor with a convenient drain valve. The Coleman comes with the AirJet system, pool liner, cover, spa pump, chemical floater, 2 filter cartridges, an air pad protector, and repair patch kit.

Joe Morales
Joe Morales
Former Former Food, Drink, & Culture Writer
Joe Morales is a trained chef with over five years of experience working in fine dining and Michelin recommended restaurants…

Editors’ Recommendations

Do golf balls go bad? Here’s how to know when it’s time to toss them
Sketchy golf ball? Here's how to see if it's still playable
Golf ball near the hole

Maybe you've found a box of old golf balls in your garage, or an unclaimed one out on the fairway. You might be wondering, do golf balls go bad? Modern golf balls are actually pretty robust, lasting as long as five or ten years or more without significant degradation, but it's always good to check. Golf balls can degrade over time, and the signs aren't always obvious. Here's everything you need to consider when teeing up with old golf balls.
How to tell if your golf balls are bad

Look for structural damage
The first thing to look for is structural damage. If your golf balls have visible scuffs, cuts, or cracks from play, they aren't going to serve you well out on the fairway. These deformities, even if they are small, can affect the aerodynamics during flight. You might be okay with very minor dings, but use your best judgment.
Checking the health of the core
If your golf ball has no structural damage, now it's time to check the health of the core. I like to give them a gentle squeeze to see if they are firm and consistent all the way around. A bad one will feel softer or even squishy in places. Then, gently bounce the golf ball on a hard surface and compare it to a new one. If it bounces almost as high, that means that it's likely still good.
The saltwater test
Epsom salt isn't just great for getting rid of sore muscles. A while ago, Bryson DeChambeau made some waves for his creative method for testing the balance of his golf balls. Golfers have been doing this for a while, but he went on to win the U.S. Open with this golfing hack.

Read more
Lectric’s XP4 is the year’s best new folding electric bike under $1,000
With more power and a clever, feature-packed, folding design, it's the best two-wheeler at this price point.
Two men riding Lectric XP4 folding electric bikes in a neighborhood.

Lectric is among the most popular electric bike brands in the country, with more than 400,000 riders, and it's indeed one of my personal favorites. Dollar for dollar, there's arguably no better value model than its XP series of eBikes. This month, Lectric debuted the long-awaited XP4, the next iteration of the entry-level two-wheeler that improves upon its predecessor in every way.
Get the details on the XP4, Lectric's newest entry-level folding electric bike

Like the previous generation XP3, the XP4 boasts a solid list of essential features — more than any bike I'm aware of in the sub-$1,000 price range. In its "standard" configuration, that means a 500W motor (with a 1,092-watt peak) and a 10.4Ah battery. The combined setup makes for a top speed of 28 miles per hour and a range of up to 50 miles. With the available upgraded battery, the XP4 maxes out with 50% more power and 68% more range. Either configuration is available as a traditional step-over or a step-thru model. The latter is designed with a lower center frame height, making it easier for shorter riders to mount and dismount.

Read more
These Xero Shoes saved space in my travel bag—and strengthened my feet
Three pairs of Xero Shoes best suited for travelers
A man wearing Xero shoes while standing on a mossy rock

Zero-drop minimalist footwear was once considered a niche specialty, but has gained popularity among enthusiasts of foot health and natural movement. And I'm one of their biggest fans -- as a full-time traveler, their packability and ability to increase foot strength is a win-win on the road. I've crafted a Xero Shoes review guide based on three pairs I've traveled with, so you can decide if any are worthy of your suitcase.

Why Xero Shoes? They've been in business for over 15 years, have engineered more than 50 unique pairs of shoes, and offer a whopping 5,000-mile sole warranty. In short, they've been in the barefoot game for a while, and balance reliable quality with innovation nicely.

Read more