If you are looking for a way to maintain your swim fitness when pools are closed or you need a convenient swimming option for when you are crunched for time, here are my tips (based on our recent experience) for purchasing and installing an above ground pool.
What pool did we purchase?
Bestway Power Steel 16' x 10' x 42" Oval Frame Swimming Pool Set with Pump, Ladder and Cover. I selected this pool based on internet pool reviews. I wanted a rectangle pool (to feel more like a swimming pool and using less water than circular) and one that was big but not massive. The depth of 42" was perfect - not too deep but certainly not too shallow. Because we plan to use this pool for more than one season, I choose a steel frame for durability.
What was the cost of the pool?
$515 (+ shipping)
How long did it take to receive the pool after ordered?
We originally ordered the pool in early April from Amazon. However, that order was cancelled a few days later because the shipper cold not pick up the item due to Covid-19 restrictions (it was not an "essential" item). We then ordered the pool from Walmart.com. The pool was delivered in about 10 days.
What came with the pool?
Ladder, cover, pool and pump.
What steps were needed before assembling the pool?
Karel did everything from getting the ground ready to assembling the pool. Because we wanted the pool on the side of our house where the yard slightly slopes down, Karel has to even the surface of the ground. He removed the sod and dug to create a smooth base level for the pool. He purchased some gardening/digging tools for this process. He also purchased and used a long 2 x 4 piece of wood to put a level on to help with leveling the ground. Lastly, he purchased an outdoor green "carpet" to use as a smooth/sturdy base on top of the soil. He also added a few flat pieces of wood under the pool legs to help spread the weight load so it wouldn't dig into the softer ground (the ground is pretty sturdy but soft in terms of the heavy pool).
How long did it take to assemble the pool?
According to Karel, the assembly itself was pretty quick. Around 90 minutes.
How long did it take to fill the pool with water?
About two days (not filling overnight). We used a garden hose to fill the pool.
How do we keep the pool clean?
We are still learning but we purchased bromine tabs to put into a floating dispenser w/ thermometer and a testing kit. We still need to purchase a net for cleaning and a few more things to control and adjust the pH level. We have been covering the pool every evening to prevent debris (leaves) from getting into the pool.
How do you swim with resistance?
We purchased the TYR aquatic resistance band (currently out of stock) and connected it to a shepard hook that we planted into the ground at the end of the pool (our friend/athlete Alvaro gave us the shepard hook - painted it pink and modified it for us to hold the resistance band).
Total cost of everything we invested into the pool?
~$750
How often are we swimming in the pool?
We've only had the pool for a week and we've completed three ~45-60 min swim workouts in the pool in the past seven days. Normally we would swim (in a real pool) 5-6 times per week with our triathlon training. The water is still a little chilly (~64 degrees) so we are wearing a wetsuit when we swim. The first swim I used my booties as the water was really cold from just filling it up. I have a feeling once the water warms up over 70 degrees, we will include more frequent short swims. We used the first swim to just get comfortable to swimming with the tether (it's not like normal pool swimming) and now we are completing actual swim "workouts" that we have created for swimming with the tether. We use a snorkel when we swim as it can get choppy and this helps with body alignment and to keep us from getting dizzy from the waves that are created from swimming in place. We are lucky to have safe access to a lake for swimming (~45 minutes away) so we are swimming open water once a week (we also do a workout in the open water instead of continuous swimming).
Any other tips?
Our pool is close to our house and the length of the cord from the pump to the eletrical socket is long enough for us to plug in for daily filtering. We run the filter for a few hours during the day when we swim. The pump doesn't need to run all day. We ran it in the first 24 hrs after setting up the pool (and adding chemicals to the pool. In learning from others, we suggest to attach the tether cords above the pool - not at the same level of the pool (the pool frame). It works better for swimming when the cord is tight and elevated. If Karel would have done this again, he would try to make the base (ground soil) a bit more sturdy. Because of our ground is sloped, he had to dig quite a bit on one side but the other side was still a bit soft. Next time he will dig deeper and use crushed gravel to put an extra layer on the top of the soil, before placing the carpet over it and assembling the pool. As of now, and because of the recent heavy rain, one side of the pool is sinking into the soil about an inch. The pool is extremly heavy when it is filled with water.
Ladder, cover, pool and pump.
What steps were needed before assembling the pool?
Karel did everything from getting the ground ready to assembling the pool. Because we wanted the pool on the side of our house where the yard slightly slopes down, Karel has to even the surface of the ground. He removed the sod and dug to create a smooth base level for the pool. He purchased some gardening/digging tools for this process. He also purchased and used a long 2 x 4 piece of wood to put a level on to help with leveling the ground. Lastly, he purchased an outdoor green "carpet" to use as a smooth/sturdy base on top of the soil. He also added a few flat pieces of wood under the pool legs to help spread the weight load so it wouldn't dig into the softer ground (the ground is pretty sturdy but soft in terms of the heavy pool).
How long did it take to assemble the pool?
According to Karel, the assembly itself was pretty quick. Around 90 minutes.
How long did it take to fill the pool with water?
About two days (not filling overnight). We used a garden hose to fill the pool.
How do we keep the pool clean?
We are still learning but we purchased bromine tabs to put into a floating dispenser w/ thermometer and a testing kit. We still need to purchase a net for cleaning and a few more things to control and adjust the pH level. We have been covering the pool every evening to prevent debris (leaves) from getting into the pool.
We purchased the TYR aquatic resistance band (currently out of stock) and connected it to a shepard hook that we planted into the ground at the end of the pool (our friend/athlete Alvaro gave us the shepard hook - painted it pink and modified it for us to hold the resistance band).
Total cost of everything we invested into the pool?
~$750
We've only had the pool for a week and we've completed three ~45-60 min swim workouts in the pool in the past seven days. Normally we would swim (in a real pool) 5-6 times per week with our triathlon training. The water is still a little chilly (~64 degrees) so we are wearing a wetsuit when we swim. The first swim I used my booties as the water was really cold from just filling it up. I have a feeling once the water warms up over 70 degrees, we will include more frequent short swims. We used the first swim to just get comfortable to swimming with the tether (it's not like normal pool swimming) and now we are completing actual swim "workouts" that we have created for swimming with the tether. We use a snorkel when we swim as it can get choppy and this helps with body alignment and to keep us from getting dizzy from the waves that are created from swimming in place. We are lucky to have safe access to a lake for swimming (~45 minutes away) so we are swimming open water once a week (we also do a workout in the open water instead of continuous swimming).
Any other tips?
Our pool is close to our house and the length of the cord from the pump to the eletrical socket is long enough for us to plug in for daily filtering. We run the filter for a few hours during the day when we swim. The pump doesn't need to run all day. We ran it in the first 24 hrs after setting up the pool (and adding chemicals to the pool. In learning from others, we suggest to attach the tether cords above the pool - not at the same level of the pool (the pool frame). It works better for swimming when the cord is tight and elevated. If Karel would have done this again, he would try to make the base (ground soil) a bit more sturdy. Because of our ground is sloped, he had to dig quite a bit on one side but the other side was still a bit soft. Next time he will dig deeper and use crushed gravel to put an extra layer on the top of the soil, before placing the carpet over it and assembling the pool. As of now, and because of the recent heavy rain, one side of the pool is sinking into the soil about an inch. The pool is extremly heavy when it is filled with water.
Does Campy like to swim?
Nope! :)
Here are a few videos that I did explaining more about the pool and our swim workouts:
If you have any other questions, feel free to send us an email. Happy swimming!