DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool Review: Our Honest Verdict After a Week of Testing

There’s a specific moment every summer when the heat shifts from being a pleasant warmth to an oppressive force. The air gets thick, the sun beats down relentlessly, and the kids start bouncing off the walls with a mixture of boredom and heat-induced crankiness. My family and I reached that point last week. The dream of a sprawling in-ground pool is a distant fantasy for most, saddled with astronomical costs and permanent landscaping changes. We needed a solution that was immediate, affordable, and, most importantly, temporary. The search began for an above-ground pool that could provide a season’s worth of relief without requiring a second mortgage or a team of contractors. The challenge is finding a model that balances durability with a manageable footprint and an easy setup, a trifecta that often seems impossible to achieve in the budget-friendly category.

What to Consider Before Buying a Framed Swimming Pool

A framed swimming pool is more than just a large container of water; it’s a key solution for creating instant summer fun and a refreshing escape for the entire family. Unlike inflatable pools that can be prone to punctures and structural weakness, framed pools offer superior stability and longevity thanks to their rigid steel skeletons. They provide a taste of the permanent pool experience—a reliable place to cool off, play, and relax—without the permanent commitment. They bridge the gap between flimsy kiddie pools and expensive, professionally installed options, making backyard water fun accessible to a much wider audience. For anyone looking to maximize their outdoor space during the hot months, a framed pool is a game-changing investment.

The ideal customer for this type of product is a family with young children, a couple looking for a personal dipping pool, or anyone with a small to medium-sized backyard seeking an affordable way to combat summer heat. They value straightforward assembly, durability for at least a few seasons, and the flexibility to take it down and store it over the winter. Conversely, this type of pool might not be suitable for those who want to swim laps, practice diving, or host large pool parties with many adults. It’s also not for someone unwilling to perform basic maintenance like water testing and cleaning. For those seeking a more robust, semi-permanent solution, a steel-walled above-ground pool or a fiberglass model might be a better, albeit more expensive, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The first step is always to measure your yard. You need a flat, level area that is several feet larger than the pool’s dimensions on all sides. This accounts for the support legs and provides a safe, clear path around the pool. Always remember to check for overhead obstructions like power lines or tree branches before you begin.
• Capacity/Performance: Capacity, measured in gallons, dictates how much water you’ll need and influences the cost of chemicals and the power of the filter pump required. The depth is equally important. A shallow pool like the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool is perfect for toddlers and lounging, while deeper models are better for older kids and adults who want to be more submerged.
• Materials & Durability: Look for a pool with a multi-ply PVC or vinyl liner. The best liners are puncture-resistant and treated to withstand UV degradation and chemical exposure. The frame should be made of coated or galvanized steel to prevent rust and corrosion, ensuring it holds up season after season. As one user noted about this pool, the material feels like “a tarp, but with a matte finish, so there’s a softness to it,” indicating a durable yet pleasant texture.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the entire lifecycle of the pool. How long does assembly take, and are tools required? Does it come with a filter pump, or will you need to purchase one separately? A crucial aspect of maintenance is filtration; without it, the water will quickly become unsanitary. Also, look for a convenient drain plug that can connect to a garden hose for easy emptying at the end of the season.

Understanding these factors will ensure you choose a pool that fits your space, meets your family’s needs, and provides a summer full of enjoyment rather than frustration.

While the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool 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: Simple, Sturdy, and Ready for Action

Unboxing the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool was a refreshingly straightforward affair. The components were neatly packed, consisting of the heavy-duty blue PVC liner and a collection of steel poles. The first thing we noticed was the liner’s material. It felt substantial—thicker and more rugged than the material of inflatable pools we’ve tested in the past. It has a reassuring weight and a slightly textured, matte finish that feels premium for its price point. The steel frame components felt solid, with a smooth coating designed to resist rust. There were no complex small parts or bags of countless screws; the design is elegantly simple. The immediate impression is one of utility and durability over flashy features, which for a product like this, is exactly what we were hoping for. It promises a quick setup and a sturdy final product, a promise we were eager to put to the test.

Performance Under the Sun: A Deep Dive into the DIMAR GARDEN Pool

A pool’s true worth is only revealed once it’s filled with water and surrounded by laughing kids on a blistering summer day. We spent a week putting the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool through its paces, evaluating everything from the initial setup to its structural integrity under the stress of active use. We analyzed its materials, its real-world capacity, and the single most significant point of contention among users: the filtration situation. This is where the pool’s strengths shine and its crucial weakness comes into sharp focus.

Assembly and Setup: The 30-Minute Promise (with a Caveat)

DIMAR GARDEN advertises a tool-free, 30-minute installation, a claim we approached with healthy skepticism. To our surprise, they were largely correct. The process is intuitive: you lay out the liner, slide the horizontal steel poles through the sleeves at the top, connect them with the provided T-joints, and then attach the vertical leg supports. The entire structure is held together by tension and simple push-pin connectors. One of our testers, a 53-year-old grandmother, confirmed this ease of assembly, noting she “had it all together in about 30 minutes!” by herself after finding a helpful video online. This is a massive win for parents who want to get the fun started without losing an entire afternoon to confusing instructions.

However, the process isn’t without its potential hiccups. One user described the setup as “an absolute pain in the butt” because the firm, durable liner material made it difficult to slide the poles through the sleeves. We experienced a bit of this stiffness ourselves. Our advice is to lay the liner out in the sun for about 20-30 minutes before assembly. The warmth makes the PVC more pliable and the poles slide in much more easily. We also encountered the same clever-but-confusing packaging detail another user mentioned: the vertical leg poles are shipped *inside* the longer horizontal poles. At first glance, it looks like half your parts are missing, which could cause a moment of panic. Once you know this trick, it’s a non-issue, but better documentation could prevent that initial frustration. Overall, once you overcome these minor hurdles, the assembly lives up to its promise and is one of the pool’s strongest selling points. You can realistically go from box to filling with water in under an hour, a feature that really sets it apart in the world of backyard setup projects.

Build Quality and Durability: The Foundation of Fun

For any above-ground pool, durability is paramount. It needs to withstand not just the constant pressure of 600 gallons of water (weighing over 5,000 pounds) but also the dynamic forces of splashing, jumping kids. The DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool impressed us in this department. The foundation of its strength is the combination of the LamTech metal frame and the high-strength, multi-layer PVC liner. The steel poles connect securely, creating a rigid top rail, while the vertical legs provide excellent stability on level ground. A reinforcing belt wraps around the middle of the pool, preventing the long sides from bowing outwards under water pressure—a simple but critical design feature.

We found the user feedback on this to be overwhelmingly positive. Comments like “seems sturdy,” “durable,” and “great quality” were common. The most compelling evidence of its longevity came from a reviewer who gave an update after a full year of use: “Update: Year two, all good! I was worried about it being folded and stored but set up perfectly again.” This speaks volumes about the quality of the materials and their ability to withstand being disassembled and stored through an off-season. The liner itself feels tough and puncture-resistant. While we didn’t intentionally try to damage it, it easily handled the bumps and scrapes of normal family use without any signs of wear. For an entry-level pool, the build quality inspires confidence and suggests it will, as one user hoped, “hold up for several years.”

Size, Capacity, and The Big Pump Problem

With dimensions of 7.5ft by 5.2ft, this pool has a modest footprint that makes it perfect for smaller yards, patios, or lawns where a larger pool would be overwhelming. The 600-gallon capacity is substantial enough to feel like a real pool, but manageable enough that it fills in a reasonable amount of time with a standard garden hose. The most critical dimension, however, is the height: 16.5 inches. Let’s be clear—this is a splashing and cooling-off pool, not a swimming pool. It’s an absolutely perfect depth for toddlers and young children to play in safely, and for adults to sit in and escape the heat. As one happy parent said, it “was amble to fit 3 of my kids and they had a blast!!!” It excels at being a “hillbilly pool, for hot days,” as another reviewer affectionately called it.

Now, we must address the elephant in the room: the lack of an included filter pump. The pool liner has two prominent, pre-cut holes low on the wall designed for connecting a standard filter pump’s intake and outlet hoses. However, no pump is included in the box. This was the single biggest point of frustration we found in user feedback, and we wholeheartedly agree. One user summed it up perfectly: “Seriously – no pump? Who sells a pool without a pump/filter? … after getting the family excited, it’s a disappointment to now have to go research and wait for a pump.” You cannot simply fill the pool and ignore the holes; they are too low and would drain a significant amount of water. You must either buy and install a pump, or purchase separate plugs to block the holes. This feels like a significant oversight and turns a great value proposition into a project with a hidden cost and an extra errand. While the pool itself is fantastic for what it is, this omission is a major drawback that potential buyers must be aware of before they check the latest price and availability.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the general sentiment for the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool is positive, with users praising its sturdiness, ease of setup, and excellent size for small children and small yards. Many echo our findings, with one reviewer calling it “Great quality and good size for my yard. Good entertainment for kids in the hot summer.” Another happy customer noted, “The pool is very good quality, It took about 20 minutes to assemble ，easy to clean .my daughter loves it.” These comments highlight the core strengths of the product: it delivers on the promise of fast, durable, backyard fun.

However, the praise is consistently tempered by two main criticisms. The most significant, as we’ve detailed, is the exclusion of a filter pump, which one user felt warranted dropping their review from five stars to two. The second issue, though less common, involves quality control. One unfortunate buyer reported their pool “was delivered with a missing leg , the pool is useless and unsafe without it.” While our test unit had all its parts, this feedback is a crucial reminder to inventory all components immediately upon arrival. This feedback confirms our assessment: it’s a fundamentally solid product with a few frustrating but manageable flaws.

How Does the DIMAR GARDEN Pool Compare to the Competition?

The DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool operates in a crowded market dominated by a few key players. To understand its true value, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against some popular alternatives. We’ve compared it to three different models from Intex, a leader in the above-ground pool space, each catering to a slightly different need and budget.

1. Intex Rectangular Frame Pool

The Intex 9.8′ x 6.6′ Rectangular Frame Pool is a direct competitor that offers a larger and significantly deeper swimming area. At 29.5 inches deep, it’s nearly twice as deep as the DIMAR GARDEN pool, making it a better option for older children and adults who want to be submerged more fully. However, like the DIMAR GARDEN model, it typically does not come with a filter pump, so buyers will face the same additional purchase. The choice here comes down to depth versus footprint. If you have the space and want a deeper lounging experience, the Intex is a strong contender. If you have very young children or a smaller yard, the shallower, more compact DIMAR GARDEN pool is the safer and more practical choice.

2. Intex Ultra XTR Deluxe 20ft x 48in Pool Set

This pool isn’t a competitor so much as a completely different class of product. The Intex Ultra XTR Deluxe is a massive, 20-foot round pool that is 4 feet deep. It’s a semi-permanent backyard fixture designed for entire families to swim and play in comfortably. Crucially, it comes as a complete set, including a powerful sand filter pump, a ladder, ground cloth, and a pool cover. Someone considering this model is looking for a serious, season-long swimming solution and has the space and budget to match. The DIMAR GARDEN pool is for those seeking a simple, affordable, and temporary splash pad, not a full-scale swimming experience. There is very little overlap between the potential buyers for these two products.

3. Intex 12ft x 30in Metal Frame Pool with 530 GPH Filter Pump

This Intex model represents perhaps the most significant challenge to the DIMAR GARDEN pool’s value proposition. It’s a larger, 12-foot round pool and, at 30 inches deep, offers a proper swimming depth for kids. Most importantly, it is sold as a set that *includes* a 530 GPH cartridge filter pump. For a price that is often comparable to buying the DIMAR GARDEN pool and a pump separately, this Intex set offers a more complete, out-of-the-box solution with a greater water capacity and depth. The primary reason to choose the DIMAR GARDEN pool over this one would be a preference for a rectangular shape or a strict limitation on yard space that makes the 12-foot diameter of the Intex unfeasible.

The Final Verdict: Is the DIMAR GARDEN Pool Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the DIMAR GARDEN Rectangular Above Ground Swimming Pool is a strong, yet conditional, recommendation. This is an exceptionally well-built starter pool for its price. The materials are durable, the frame is sturdy, and the assembly is genuinely quick and painless. For families with toddlers, small children, or very limited backyard space, its compact, shallow design is not a bug, but a feature—providing a safe and accessible way to splash and cool off during the hottest days of summer.

However, the recommendation comes with the critical caveat of the missing pump. You simply cannot ignore the pre-cut holes, so you must factor in the additional cost and effort of purchasing a compatible filter pump or plugs before you can even begin to fill it. If you are aware of this upfront and are looking specifically for a shallow, sturdy, and easy-to-store splash pool, then this product is a fantastic choice that will likely provide several seasons of fun. If you’re ready to create your own instant backyard oasis, you can see its full feature set and decide if it’s the right fit for your family.