Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set Review: The Ultimate Backyard Upgrade or a Summer Disappointment?

There’s a universal summer daydream: the sun is high, the air is warm, and a sparkling pool is just steps away. For years, we’ve associated this vision with the staggering cost and permanent commitment of an in-ground pool. But what if you could capture that magic for a fraction of the price and without excavating your entire yard? This is the promise of the modern above-ground pool, a solution that has transformed countless backyards into personal retreats. Yet, the path to poolside bliss is fraught with potential pitfalls. Flimsy liners, rust-prone frames, and complicated instructions can quickly turn the dream into a frustrating, water-logged nightmare. The challenge isn’t just finding a pool; it’s finding one that delivers on durability, ease of use, and genuine family fun, season after season. It’s this very challenge that led us to put the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set to the test.

What to Consider Before Buying a Framed Swimming Pool

A framed swimming pool is more than just a large container for water; it’s a key solution for families and individuals seeking affordable, accessible aquatic recreation. They bridge the gap between inflatable kiddie pools and expensive permanent installations, offering a substantial and refreshing swimming experience. The primary benefit is transforming any suitable backyard space into a hub for entertainment, exercise, and relaxation during hot weather. They promote family bonding, encourage kids to be active outdoors, and provide a perfect venue for social gatherings. Without a durable and well-designed pool, you risk leaks, structural instability, and a constant, frustrating maintenance cycle that saps all the joy out of ownership.

The ideal customer for this type of product is a homeowner or renter with a reasonably sized, level patch of land who wants the full pool experience without the five-figure investment. They are perfect for families with children old enough to swim safely, or for adults who want a place to cool off and lounge. However, a framed pool might not be suitable for those with severely sloped or small, constrained yards where the required footprint is unavailable. Likewise, individuals seeking a deep pool for diving or serious lap swimming will need to look at larger, more permanent options. For those with very young toddlers, a smaller, shallower inflatable pool might be a more appropriate and safer starting point.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: It’s not just about the pool’s size, but the total footprint. You must account for the out-rigging legs which can add a foot or more to each side. Measure your space carefully, ensuring you have a clear, level area away from trees, overhead wires, and septic systems. An improperly sized pool can overwhelm a yard or, worse, be impossible to install correctly.
• Capacity/Performance: The pool’s water capacity, measured in gallons, directly impacts maintenance. A larger pool like the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set, with its 1,915-gallon capacity, requires a capable filter pump to keep the water clear. Pay close attention to the pump’s Gallons Per Hour (GPH) rating; experts recommend a pump that can cycle the entire volume of water in 4-6 hours.
• Materials & Durability: The two most critical components are the liner and the frame. Look for multi-ply, reinforced PVC liners, like Bestway’s Tritech material, which resists punctures and UV degradation. The frame should be made of corrosion-resistant coated steel. Systems like Bestway’s Seal & Lock™ are designed to create strong, rigid connections that prevent warping and rust at the joints.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Assembly should be straightforward and ideally tool-free. Consider the long-term commitment: how easy is it to clean? Does it come with necessary accessories like a ladder and chemical dispenser? A complete set can save you significant time and money, but be prepared for daily tasks like skimming debris and checking chemical levels to ensure a healthy swimming environment. Learning about this product and its setup process is a wise first step, and you can see its full feature set and user reviews here.

Choosing the right pool is the first step towards a perfect summer. While the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing and Assembling the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set

The arrival of the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is an event in itself. The 111-pound box is substantial and hints at the sturdiness of the components within. We were immediately impressed upon opening it; contrary to the chaotic jumble you might expect, every part was neatly organized and labeled. This thoughtful packaging, a detail one user happily noted, saved us from a frustrating pre-assembly sorting session. Laying out the thick, gray Tritech liner, its quality was palpable. It felt significantly more robust than standard single-ply vinyl. The steel frame components had a smooth, powder-coated finish designed to resist rust, and the plastic T-connectors of the Seal & Lock System felt dense and durable. While Bestway suggests a 30-minute assembly, our real-world test, performed by two adults, clocked in closer to 90 minutes from unboxing to being ready for water. This aligns perfectly with customer experiences, confirming that while “30 minutes” is optimistic, the tool-free process is logical and achievable without professional help. The unique oval shape immediately stood out as a smart design, offering a more lap-friendly layout than a round pool while being more space-efficient than a rectangle.

A Deep Dive into the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set’s Performance

After weeks of extensive testing, which included everything from leisurely floats to boisterous splashing with the whole family, we’ve developed a comprehensive understanding of where the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set excels and where it has room for improvement. It’s more than just a temporary summer fixture; it’s a well-engineered piece of backyard equipment that, with proper care, can provide years of enjoyment. Our analysis focuses on the three pillars of the owner experience: the build quality and setup, the in-pool experience and liner durability, and the crucial ecosystem of filtration and maintenance.

The Foundation: Assembly and Structural Integrity

The bedrock of any good above-ground pool is its frame, and this is where Bestway’s Power Steel line truly shines. The assembly process, centered around the brand’s proprietary Seal & Lock System™, is impressively intuitive. Each corrosion-resistant steel tube slides into a heavy-duty plastic T-connector, which then clicks into place with a spring-loaded pin. This creates an incredibly secure and rigid connection without a single screw or bolt. We found the process to be straightforward, and as one user noted, even a mother-daughter team could figure it out despite lackluster instructions for accessories like the ladder. The real key to a successful build, however, happens before you even open the box: ground preparation. We cannot overstate the importance of a perfectly level surface. We followed the advice of seasoned owners and built a packed sand base, placing solid paving stones under each of the U-shaped support legs to prevent them from sinking into the ground. This extra step is non-negotiable for ensuring the pool’s longevity and structural stability.

A common point of anxiety for new owners, which we also experienced, is the significant inward bowing of the long sides as the pool begins to fill. It can look alarming, as if the structure is about to fail. However, as confirmed by several user reviews, this is a normal part of the process. As the water level rises, the immense pressure (over 15,000 pounds of it when full!) pushes the flexible liner outwards, straightening the walls perfectly. Watching this transformation is a testament to the intelligent engineering behind the design. Once full, the frame is rock-solid, exhibiting minimal wobble even with active swimmers inside. The complete structure is a feature that really sets it apart, demonstrating a level of sturdiness that instills confidence for the entire season.

The Heart of the Pool: Tritech Liner and In-Use Experience

The element you interact with most is the liner, and the Tritech material used in the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is a standout feature. Comprised of a polyester mesh core sandwiched between two layers of high-gauge PVC, it feels remarkably thick and resilient. We intentionally put it through its paces, and it held up against the inevitable bumps from pool toys and the claws of a curious family dog who took a peek over the edge. Its puncture resistance gives us confidence that it can withstand the rigors of family use, a sentiment echoed by users who report it holding up “strong all summer” and even lasting for three or more years of seasonal setup and takedown. The interior features a realistic mosaic tile print, a premium touch that makes the water look incredibly inviting and blue, elevating the aesthetic far beyond a simple utility pool.

With dimensions of 14 feet long by just over 8 feet wide and a water depth of about 36 inches, the pool hits a sweet spot. It’s compact enough for smaller city backyards but large enough for several adults to lounge on floats or for a group of kids to splash and play without constantly bumping into each other. It’s not a lap pool, but the oval shape provides a longer axis for short-distance swimming and games. The 39.5-inch height is approachable, making it easy for adults to supervise and for older children to get in and out safely using the included ladder. For many families, this is the “perfect size”—not a gigantic commitment, but far more substantial and enjoyable than a simple kiddie pool. It truly becomes the main attraction for any backyard gathering. You can check the latest price and availability for this popular size.

The Ecosystem: Filtration, Chemicals, and Long-Term Maintenance

This is the one area where our expert opinion aligns squarely with the overwhelming consensus from user reviews: the included 530 GPH cartridge filter pump is the pool’s Achilles’ heel. While it technically functions, its flow rate is insufficient to effectively circulate and clean the pool’s 1,915 gallons of water. To maintain crystal-clear water, this pump would need to run for an excessive number of hours daily, and the small cartridge would require frequent cleaning or replacement. Like many savvy users, we made the decision to upgrade from the start. We swapped the included unit for a more powerful 1500 GPH Bestway pump (a sand filter is an even better, though more expensive, option). This single change transformed the maintenance experience from a daily chore into a manageable routine.

That said, Bestway includes a fantastic accessory that simplifies chemical management: the ChemConnect™ dispenser. This device attaches directly to the pool’s water return valve, allowing you to load it with 1-inch chlorine or bromine tablets. It dissolves and disperses the chemicals evenly as water flows through it, eliminating the need for a floating dispenser that can get in the way or potentially rest against and bleach the liner. We found it incredibly effective at maintaining a stable chlorine level. With the upgraded pump and the ChemConnect system, daily maintenance was reduced to about 10 minutes of skimming leaves and checking the water with test strips. This ease of maintenance is a huge selling point, confirming one owner’s experience that they were “pretty amazed at how easy it is to maintain.”

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is overwhelmingly positive, particularly regarding the core product itself. One owner, delighted after 30 days of use, stated, “I was impressed with the overall quality of this inexpensive pool. The grandkids absolutely love it.” This feeling is common, with many highlighting the durable liner and sturdy frame as standout features. Another user, now in their second year with the pool, confirmed its longevity: “It survived being packed away for the winter and set up 2nd year was even easier.”

However, the praise is almost universally followed by a significant caveat regarding the included accessories. The most frequent and consistent piece of feedback, as one reviewer put it bluntly, is that the “pump and filter that came with the pool was a very cheap cartridge filter.” Many, like us, chose to upgrade immediately, with one person stating, “After reading so many reviews stating the included pump was insufficient, I didn’t even bother with it.” Others pointed out that the instructions, particularly for the ladder, are vague and “nonexistent.” While these are valid criticisms, they are directed at the peripheral components of what is otherwise viewed as a high-value, durable, and perfectly-sized pool for family fun.

How Does the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set Compare to the Competition?

While the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is a strong contender, the above-ground pool market is competitive, with Intex being a major player. To provide a complete picture, we’ve compared it against three popular alternatives, each catering to slightly different needs and budgets.

1. Intex 12ft x 30in Metal Frame Pool Set

The Intex 12ft x 30in Metal Frame pool is a direct competitor for those with smaller spaces or budgets. Its key difference is the classic round shape and shallower 30-inch depth. This makes it a great starter pool or an option for yards that simply cannot accommodate the Bestway’s 14-foot length. It holds slightly less water (1,718 gallons) and comes with a comparable 530 GPH pump, meaning it shares the same weakness as the Bestway set. If your primary goal is a simple place to cool off and space is at an absolute premium, the Intex is a solid, cost-effective choice. However, the Bestway’s oval shape and deeper walls provide a more versatile and spacious-feeling swimming experience for families.

2. Intex 9.8′ x 79″ x 29.5″ Rectangular Frame Pool

This Intex model is a step down in size and is sold as a “pool only” package, without a pump or ladder. Its compact rectangular footprint makes it ideal for very narrow spaces, like a side yard or a small patio. It’s best viewed as a significant upgrade from an inflatable pool, perfect for young children to splash in or for two adults to sit and cool down. For anyone looking for a true family pool for swimming and playing, the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is a much better investment. The Intex model suits a niche need for a small, simple soaking pool, but it lacks the scale and all-in-one convenience of the Bestway package.

3. Intex Ultra XTR Deluxe Swimming Pool 20ft x 48in

The Intex Ultra XTR represents a significant upgrade in nearly every category. At 20 feet round and 48 inches deep, it’s a much larger pool designed for bigger yards and bigger families. The frame is a step up in quality, and most importantly, it includes a powerful 2,100 GPH sand filter pump, which is vastly superior to the cartridge filters included with smaller sets. This is a choice for someone looking for a more permanent-feeling seasonal pool and is willing to invest more upfront for size and premium filtration. While it’s an excellent product, it’s in a different class than the Bestway. The Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set offers the better value and is more practical for those with moderate space and budgets.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set Worth It?

After extensive hands-on testing and analysis of owner feedback, our conclusion is clear: the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is an exceptional product that delivers tremendous value. Its core strengths—a remarkably durable Tritech liner, a robust and easy-to-assemble steel frame, and a smart, space-saving oval design—make it a standout choice in the crowded above-ground pool market. It provides the perfect middle ground for families who have outgrown inflatable pools but aren’t ready for the commitment of an in-ground installation. The pool’s only significant weakness is the underpowered filter pump, a common cost-saving measure in this category. We strongly recommend factoring an upgraded pump into your budget to ensure a low-maintenance, crystal-clear swimming experience.

If you’re looking for a reliable, fun, and well-built pool that will be the centerpiece of your family’s summer for years to come, this is an excellent investment. The quality of the pool itself far outweighs the shortcomings of its included accessories. For an affordable entry into true backyard swimming, the Bestway Power Steel Oval Pool Set is a choice we can confidently recommend. Ready to transform your backyard into a summer oasis? You can find the best price and order your pool today.