8' x 30" Easy Set Pool Set (with Filter pump and DVD) Reviews

• A great summer investment...if you make a few modifications

  
  By A34G279C9A18GF on 2007-08-16
  I bought this pool after my disasterous experience with the first one I purchased, which was an Intex 90" x 22" Swim Center Color Whirl Pool (please read the review I wrote about it before you consider buying that product). I purchased the pool alone (without the filter or other accessories) after reading several poor reviews about the quality of the filter that comes with the set. Instead of purchasing the 300 gallon/hour filter, I bought the Intex Easy Set 800 GPH pool pump/filter, which has been keeping the water clean without difficulty. If you are considering purchasing this pool, I would recommend that you do the same. In addition, I would also recommend buying the following items (many of these can be found at local stores if you would like to save money on shipping and handling):
  
  1) a ground cloth...you can save some money by purchasing a Southern Camp 10' x 10' Blue Tarp (available at Amazon for a fraction of the price you'll spend on one that's labeled as a "swimming pool ground cloth" and it works just the same);
  
  2) a pool cover...you can also use the tarp mentioned above for this purpose (just make sure you buy 2; one for use as a ground cloth and the other for a cover), but I would recommend buying a round pool cover that's made for this type of pool because it stays in place better (it has drawstrings to help secure it to the inflatable ring);
  
  3) pool chemicals...specifically: chlorine (in granular form), pH increaser (soda ash), pH decreaser (pool acid), algaecide/clarifier, conditioner, and pool shock (many of these chemicals are sold together in pool maintenance kits; just make sure the kit you purchase in suitable for use in inflatable pools)...also, you will need a chemical test kit for measuring pH and chlorine levels (these are usually included in pool maintenance kits, as well);
  
  4) a pool skimmer net, a nylon pool brush, and a pole that can be used with both;
  
  5) a package of spare filter cartridges for use with the pool pump/filter you purchase;
  
  6) an Intex Pool Surface Skimmer/Leaf Basket (this is optional, but it does help keep the pool surface free of leaves and bugs) NOTE: THE SKIMMER CAN ONLY BE USED WITH A 500 GALLON PER HOUR INTEX POOL PUMP/FILTER OR LARGER (IT WILL NOT WORK WITH SMALLER MODELS)...AS I STATED BEFORE, I RECOMMEND BUYING THE 800 GALLON/HOUR MODEL; and
  
  7) a pool ladder (this is also optional; you'll only need it if you have children who are too short to step over the sides of this pool).
  
  I bought all of the items mentioned above and I couldn't be any happier with the end result. I haven't had any of the water leakage or air leakage problems that I had with the first pool I purchased, even though I set it up in exactly the same spot. I was also able to set it up the entire system without any assistance. From start to finish, it took about 3 hours until it was ready to swim in. This pool seems to be quite durable; the whole family has been playing and splashing in it almost every day this summer, without any problems arising. It does cost more to buy the extra maintenance supplies and the pool parts separately (rather than buying the set with a filter that won't do the job), but it has been worth the investment. And, unlike the Intex 90" x 22" Swim Center Color Whirl Pool, with a little bit of daily maintenance (checking the pH and chlorine levels, and using the skimmer net when needed), the water has remained clean, clear, and most importantly, IN THE POOL!
  
  
  
  

• It's just a blow-up pool

  
  By A2QDEV5IB8K66D on 2005-08-22
  OK, the filter is lousy, but consider what it is...a BLOW-UP Pool! My daughter is three years old, and this is perfect for her to gain confidence without having to wear floatation devices, plus...it's been one doozy of a hot summer and this functions for the occasional cool off. Expectations should not be high. After all, you can empty it, deflate it, and store it in the garage. Great for what what it is.
  
  

• Kids love it !!!

  
  By A1G9N9FR8A0H8R on 2004-06-18
  My family and I bought this pool a week ago at our local Target store. The pool comes with everything you see in the picture. The only tools you need are a flat head screw driver to loosen and tighten the clamps for the hoses...other then that it is very simple and fast to set up. This pool is great for anyone who has a small yard, or would just like a small cool, refreshing pool to relax in on hot summer days. For my family...i can't seem to get my three kids out of the pool. They have a great time playing and just simply cooling off on our hot and sunny days. I would defiantly recommened to buy this pool....
  
  

• Best $60 I ever spent!

  
  By A3USCJN66L0F72 on 2005-07-13
  Last year I bought an Aero pool that was not worth the $100+ I spent for it, and was a huge pain to boot. This year I bought this pool, and yes it takes more than 30 minutes to put together, yes 2 people to set up is better than one, and yes I have to air up the ring pretty much before each use. But you get terrific value for price. My 8 year old, 6 year old and 4 year old and up to 2-3 friends have all used it. They're even able to swim under water which is great. And it's terrific for kids learning to swim. It's not as great as an inground pool, but for someone with a small backyard, it's great. My kids want to swim every day now. I don't usually write reviews but considering the price and the use we're getting out of it, it's great!
  
  

• Lasted 3 weeks.

  
  By A2BF52EY82R80X on 2005-09-11
  This was a great pool for my 5 year old daughter to play in. She also was learning how to swim, so it was perfect. The problem was that within a week it started to roll to one side and this was on our flat concreted patio with ground cover down to prevent scratching the pool plastic. As soon as it started to roll and the bottom was exposed to pressure it started leaking. For the first few days it was just a little bit and then suddenly it just ripped a seam open into a 6 inch hole that drained the whole pool in about 5 minutes.
  
  Do not buy this pool. It is great for a week or two and then it is gone.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By ACT964MIKNOV4 on 2004-08-10
  We bought this pool and really enjoyed it, at least for 3 weeks. One morning, we found the pool deflated and water all over the yard, however, the top ring was still inflated and there was about 7 inches in the bottom of the pool. So, that ruled out a punctured hole in the bottom. Also, every other day I had to fill the top ring with air, which always seemed to seep out. As for the filter, it didn't really catch any of the bugs, etc.
  
  
• This pool is great!
  By on 2004-06-07
  We bought this pool for our son who loves it! According to another review on the site, the reviewer states it does not come w/the items it shows in the picture and the ad, however it does. She must have looked at a different brand. We bought the 8' model, and it has the filter, and hoses, and everything works great. It was easy to assemble, keep clean, and provides our young son w/a great summer activity.
  
  
• You get what you pay for...
  By A1PNPOAS1ENJG7 on 2004-08-01
  I bought the 12 ft pool on sale for $78. All the filter seems to do is just move the water around, I really don't think it cleans it. It certainly doesn't catch any of the bugs. And I have grass growing up through the vinyl in mine. It should have included a ground cover. So much for the super-tough vinyl. Bottom line is, I don't think it was worth it.
  
  
• Great pool for a great price!
  By A1OTURIYNZR2SS on 2008-07-13
  We have a smaller yard, and a 2 year old little guy, so this pool was perfect! We wanted something a little bigger this year, and something that we wouldn't have to dump out every time we used it. I would suggest getting the floatie thing to place chlorine tablets, extra filters, and either a tarp or cover. I see this lasting at least another summer!
  
  
• great set!
  By A17EQLOUV828YM on 2008-07-13
  Great pool for the price. comes with everything you need to set it up but a hand pump for the ring - that will cost you about $4.
  My 4 year old loves it because she can stand up and not be afraid...
  It is big enough for one adult and 2 little kids.
  Next year I'll buy the 10'.
  
  
• About 8' pool
  By A1V6DJWRP13HS4 on 2004-05-09
  In the Target ad online it shows the the white hoses going into the side of the 8' pool. but when i went to the store to purchase the 8' pool it did not have the hoses. Only the bigger pools had these white hoses for filtering water. The 8' pool only had a small filter that hung on rim. Can you get back to me on this matter. for I only have a small yard and would like to buy the 8' with hoses for filtering and stand alone filter.
  
  
• grandmas opinion
  By A329GJA04LBXL7 on 2008-07-18
  I'm sorry but I do not really consider this pool a "toy" and of course not educational. It just makes life a little more enjoyable for me and gives my granddaughter something to do when she comes over.
  
  
• Awesome pool at an awesome price!!
  By A3K16LC1951BQN on 2008-07-20
  This pool is great. The thing you have to remember is the size of it before you order it (8ft diameter/ 30 in. height). As long as you are aware of that then you can't possibly have any complaints. Its wonderful for cooling off on a hot day or for small children to actually swim around and play in (we've had a 4, 7, and 9 yr old in it playing, swimming and splashing and also three adults and a baby at one time cooling off and I think more would even fit). It is super easy to set up with two people, but its even doable with just one person. We have had ours up for a month now and no problems... the air ring needed a little more air only once so far and the filter works like a charm. As long as you have a tarp underneath, proper cover, keep your chemical and pH levels properly adjusted, and run the filter, this pool can last awhile without being emptied/refilled. Great fun at a bargain price (we got ours for $[...]).
  
  
• great product
  By A2J7L59SEUXKM0 on 2008-07-22
  This pool was very easy to setup. Just the right size for our patio. The filter works great. It's big enough for the adults to cool down in and great fun for the kids too. I would definately recommend this to others. Great price, free shipping.
  
  
• Water fun is worth it, especially for the price !
  By A3P5WM3X5H1G1N on 2008-07-26
  I have had this pool for about a month, so now I can give it a proper review. It took me some time to get the pool chemical situation just right, and work out the kinks (with out city's water, NOT the pool, however !).
  
  We have a very uneven backyard, patchy grass, and quite "lumpy," so I was worried about using a quick-set pool. Thus far, I have had no issues, other than yes, you can feel the bumps under the pool, but it doesn't bother me or the kids, so no big deal ! It was much easier to set up with 2 people - stand on opposite sides and stretch the pool out into a GOOD circle, then start filling, and make adjustments to it, moving around the edge, keeping opposite of your helper to ensure a good circle. You will need to get it just right BEFORE the water covers the whole bottom, as it gets to heavy, but I feel some water in it helped it keep the shape better while we made minor adjustments.
  
  I've read reviews that the filter doesn't do much - I agree that it doesn't get out the bugs, but from experience, I can tell you how it DID work for me. Our city's water is VERY hard, and we have a softener but it is not connected to our outside spigots, so the pool water is still hard. After setting up the pool, and being gone for 2 days after, I came home to find water the color of RUST ! After trying to "shock" the pool, algaecide, etc. I checked the filter (it said change every 2 weeks, and it had only been a few days) - it looked like a rusty old car ! I figured out that it was catching all the things in the water that make it so hard, but then the water just kept circulating through it, and the "rusty" stuff went back in (so in a sense, it wasn't a GREAT filter, but it can only filter and hold SO much, right ?). So I went out every day and changed the filter (I had 5, at about $2.50 each), and then proceeded to wash the used oned in the washer with detergent and bleach, and they came quite clean and had no damamge. After a week of this process, I came out one morning to find the water crystal clear, the bad parts of the water had finally been filtered. So while it may sound like not a great filtration system, I have my mind set to think it's really 90% the fault of our water issues, and only 10% a not-so-hot filtration system. The good news is, the water has been crystal clear ever since.
  
  Now I go out every 2 days, and drop in a new chlorine tablet, and check the levels daily - that one tablet has kept the water clear - no cloudiness and no algae, and I change the filter at least once a week. I am still washing them (3 at a time), and they aren't looking brand new anymore, but still holding up well, and I will replace them as needed.
  
  While this isn't a typical "review," I want people to know that paying about $50 for a pool, and "getting what you pay" for don't necessarily apply. I am hard-headed, and think "If I paid for it, it WILL work, I just have to figure out what I'm doing wrong !"
  
  So I advise you to stick to it. A pool of ANY size requires maintenance. Kiddie pools you have to dump and refill, and to me, that's maintenance (and water waste) too, so this is no different. I spend about 5 minutes a day on mainting the pool, and that's chemicals AND netting the bugs, so to me it's not much time at all.
  
  All in all, I consider it money well-spent, and a welcome break from the scorching summer heat !
  
  
  
• Good Value
  By A2LYFLVWIZINWS on 2008-08-13
  This is the only 8 foot pool I could find with a filtration system. And for $50, was well worth the money. My kids have played in it every day this summer. With proper water chemistry, everything stayed nice and clean all summer and I only had to change the water once (just too much grass and dirt collected). The vinyl held up well to the pool chemicals and -- while noisy -- the circulation pump seems to be lasting a long time too. I assume this pool will last at least one more season and my hope is maybe a few more!
  
  I have the pool sitting on a wooden deck and the bottom is strong enough to span the decking boards (no more than a quart inch between boards) without being an issue.
  
  At 30" deep, the kids have gained a lot of confidence in the water. It's deep enough where they can dunk their heads but not so deep that I have to constantly worry about someone falling. Plus, with the floating pool rim, you can fill it high or as low as you want (as long as the intake for the circulation pump is submerged which is about 20 or so inches off the ground) and the rim rises or lowers accordingly.
  
  Only thing that I can't seem to get to work right is the drain plug. It drains so slowly into a 50-foot garden hose that after an hour, the water level dropped about an inch. I scrapped that technique and used a utility pump to drain the pool.
  
  Would definitely recommend.
  
  
• Perfect for what we need
  By A258F2EPH39WZN on 2008-08-13
  This pool is perfect for our small yard. We have 3 kids 6 and under and it works out great.
  
  
• A Pool We Could Afford!
  By A19FEIRW4RVFGX on 2008-08-25
  We've wanted a small, backyard pool for years, but also needed something affordable, easy to set up & take down, not looking for a permanent fixture. We also weren't looking for something to take up a lot of space, just something to cool down in. It's not QUITE as easy to set up as the video says - 10 min. if you're a PRO at it! But it did set up just fine by following the directions, & we're very pleased with it! It seems to be very sturdy, & you DO need to have a FLAT, EVEN place to put it! Once it's set up, the care & maintenance are easy!
  
  
• intex pool
  By A37S51D6WE3YFO on 2008-08-26
  This is a perfect pool for a small backyard. Easy to take care of and lots of fun for my daughter & me. The price is GREAT. with free shipping it cost me less than the local walmart and the return & help amazon provides is the best
  
  
• EASY
  By A28AJVEW6XN4ZK on 2008-08-27
  THIS POOL IS A GOOD SIZE. MY THREE KIDS LOVE IT AND ARE IN THERE EVERY DAY.IT IS SO EASY TO SET UP AND DOES NOT TAKE ALONG TIME TO SIT UP.
  
  

• 18' x 48" Intex Easy Set Pool Package
• Sevylor Bean Bag Chair
• Super Rock 'N Lounge
• Intex Above Ground Swimming Pool (Complete Set ) 15' x 48"

• Easy Set Pool Cover for 8' Easy set pools
• Replacement Filter Cartridge For Easy Set Pool Pump
• Pool Ground Cloth - For 8'/10'/12'/15' pools
• Ladder For 30 Easy Set Pool
• INTEX RECREATION CORP 68615-E HIHGH OUTPUT HAND PUMP 19"