Skip to main content

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

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.

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.

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Joe Morales
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joe Morales is a trained chef with over five years of experience working in fine dining and Michelin recommended restaurants…
Learn to tie the clove hitch for when you need a secure, adjustable knot
The clove hitch is one of the most useful knots to have at your disposal in the outdoors
A clove hitch tied to a fixed point

The clove hitch knot is among the most useful outdoor knots you can learn. This fully adjustable bind has endless uses and can be tied either freestanding or around an object. Being fully adjustable means you won't have to completely retie the knot in your system if you want to adjust the tension of your rope.

Read more
8 healthy benefits of hiking you need to know
Start hiking and enjoy the mental and physical benefits right away
Two people hiking together

Hiking is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the U.S. However, it’s more than just a full-body workout; it’s also an excellent opportunity to spend time in nature, clear your mind, and improve your sense of well-being. In addition, hiking is a fully adjustable workout, and you can start on an easy trail and work your way up to full-blown mountain hiking no matter how long your progress takes!

It’s an activity that can be done just about anywhere. Because the prime hiking season in the national parks around the U.S. varies based on climate and affordability, you can easily adjust your hiking plans to match the seasons and see some beautiful areas throughout the country. It’s a great way to meet nature at its level and a perfect excuse to shut out the noise of the modern world.

Read more
ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 is the first real off-grid AC and it’s discounted right now
Zero Breeze Mark 2 real off-grid AC being carried

Last summer, and most of last year, really, was one of the hottest on record. This year looks to be just as hot, so you'll need a reliable way to cool down. The problem with that is that air conditioners are expensive. They're expensive to install and run, and if you're living off-grid, you can pretty much forget about AC at all — until now, anyway. ZERO BREEZE has introduced the first truly off-grid air conditioner that's ultra-portable — at only 16.5 pounds — and battery-powered. The 24-volt battery can last up to eight hours in sleep mode, perfect for extended off-grid use or van-living. You can even connect solar panels or plug it into DC or AC outlets to boost battery life, if and when available. The handheld and lightweight design works exceptionally well for easy transportation and travel, so you can bring the Mark 2 wherever your adventures take you. Use code SPRING15 at checkout through ZERO BREEZE for a limited time to get 15% off your purchase — good from March 15 to March 21.
Buy Now
 
What can the ZERO BREEZE Mark 2 do for you?

Summer can be hot and clammy, and it can even get miserably wet if you live in a humid climate.  One of the trade-offs of staying off-grid is that you're living more efficiently, which also means you're interested in cutting down on power usage and comparable utilities. Even if that's not your goal, and you're just out for an adventure, you'll have to make the same concessions. The wilderness is, well, the wilderness. But with the Mark 2, a portable, battery-powered AC unit, you can cool off anytime, anywhere.

Read more