Bestway Power Steel Pool Review

Given their relatively high price point, Bestway Power Steel pool sets aren’t something most people would buy on a whim. Despite that and unlike with the Intex Ultra XTR, the frame of the Bestway Power Steel isn’t a clear cut above this company’s next least expensive version, in this case the Steel Pro Max.

The more expensive Power Steel uses the same “Seal & Lock” fittings as the Steel Pro Max, while the Ultra XTR’s inside-and-out powder coating also prevents your frame from corroding from the inside. This leads to rust becoming a potentially serious problem especially in humid climates, near the coast or with a saltwater chlorination system.

The plastic lining may be a little more sturdy than normal, but is not really comparable to the significantly upgraded composite fabric of Intex’s Ultra XTR. It’s still pretty tough, though, with multiple layers for added strength and a thickness of about ⅔ mm or 0.025″. It also stands out from most collapsible above-ground pools by having a decorative mosaic tile design printed on the inside instead of plain blue, and a discreet white or gray exterior.

Taking all of this into consideration, the Bestway Power Steel range should really be weighed against the Prism Frame pools from the company’s major rival, Intex. These two options are roughly similar in price.

A Good Pool with Disappointing Accessories

One factor that makes the Bestway Power Steel range of pool sets worth a second look is the wide variety of sizes it comes in. Whatever space you have available, at least one of them will fit.

When measuring the area, you should keep in mind that the frame adds another two feet or so in all directions for the rectangular pools and to the longer sides for oval models.

The improved structural design means that these pools can be deeper than most, topping out at 52 inches high. The frame is reassuringly sturdy, though it’s normal for it to creak a little when multiple people are playing in the pool. It will not, however, come crashing down unless it has rusted through.

You will receive a ground cloth, ladder, and cover with the 48″ and 52-inch-deep models. However, it’s unclear which sellers on Amazon offer which extras.

Some models also come with a sand filter instead of the less capable cartridge type, but it takes some work to figure out which you’ll actually get – again, depending on the seller. This makes it essential to carefully check exactly what you’re buying. It’s unclear whether these discrepancies are the fault of Bestway or third-party sellers, but we do wish Amazon would resolve the situation somehow.

In any case, the groundsheet is inadequate considering the cost of the pool it’s supposed to protect, and in fact not much larger than the pool’s footprint. Given that the base of the pool’s liner is not much sturdier than the side walls (if at all), this is a pretty major shortcoming that would have been easy to fix.

That having been said, the instructions do make a point of reminding you to prepare your site properly, including removing all twigs, rocks, and similarly pointy debris. The supplied pool cover is flimsy and difficult to fit over the rim of the pool. The ladder basically works, but is also clearly inferior to the one that comes with Intex pools of 48 inches high and larger.

No-Hassle Assembly

The estimated 30 minutes to get a pool of this kind upright, as printed on the box, seems way, way too optimistic unless you’ve erected a pool like this before and have a couple of people to help you. The instructions are seriously lacking, too, but common sense and a little trial and error should show you the way.

That having been said, setting up this pool is far from difficult when you’re methodical about it. Just make sure that you push the vertical posts through the support belt near the bottom of the pool (or the wide straps that lie on the ground for oval and rectangular versions) before you slot them into their matching T-shaped connectors.

Here’s an example of a Power Steel installation for a rectangular pool:

No tools are required to do this, as locking clips inside the fittings should create both a strong joint and a reasonably watertight seal. You may want to attempt this task on a weekend: it’s a good idea to tug the poles into position as the pool fills and the distribution of weight shifts; bear in mind that the larger pools will take about 10 hours to fill using a garden hose.

This type of pool is also very easy to take apart for storage, which is one point in its favor compared to Intex’s Ultra XTR. The exception to this is if you live in a very warm, sunny climate: the vinyl liner may actually melt to the frame, making it nearly impossible to remove without tearing it. As winter looms closer, you can also choose to simply empty the water from the filter and hoses, slap on the cover and hope for the best

As this pool is both on the expensive side and durable enough to go the distance, you will probably want to take extra care with preparing the base. Ordering a few cubic yards of sand will make it much easier to construct a smooth, level, firm base for it to rest on. You may place the included ground sheet, a better-quality tarp or some dedicated padding on that for additional protection.

Depending on how soft your soil is, it can also become a problem that the legs digg themselves in. This can be prevented by placing them on some paving slabs, which will have to be sunk into the earth so their tops are at the same level as the pool base.

Decent Quality, But Don’t Expect Miracles

As with less expensive Bestway pool sets, the Power Steel series comes with a 1 year warranty on the filter pump and 90 days’ coverage on the liner. A couple of underwater self-adhesive patches are included to take care of minor punctures, which is hopefully all you’ll need.

If you experience a bigger problem, you may be out of luck: the quality of Bestway’s customer support comes down to the luck of the draw. Some people report amazing service while others were left contemplating murder after several fruitless interactions.

Another source of frustration is that many people find it necessary to upgrade the pump, which may set you back another $200 or so. It seems like most above-ground pool manufacturers try to bring the apparent price of their products down by including an inferior filter pump and actually cause their customers to end up spending more money.

The best policy is probably to make a special effort to keep your pool clean. This means using a skimmer net and perhaps a pool vacuum as often as necessary. Unless you have a sand filter, you’ll also want to wash the cartridge every day using a garden hose and replace it at least once a month (and that’s assuming that your water remains clear).

On the plus side, the Power Steel’s hose attachment includes a chemconnect dispenser, which slowly releases cleaning chemicals to keep your chlorination levels stable. The pool lining and pump are also compatible with a saltwater system. Changing the filter pump, unfortunately, requires a bit of DIY unless you can find a compatible Bestway product or at least one that uses 1¼” hose connectors. If not, you’ll have to cut a larger hole in the lining and may end up ruining it.

One point of particular concern is that the steel pipes making up the frame are bound to rust once the 12-month warranty has expired. It’s difficult to predict how quickly or slowly this will happen, though it’s certain to become unusable sooner or later.

Even so, and despite the fact that we prefer the Intex Ultra XTR, this pool should last you about 5 years if installed diligently and treated with care, making the Bestway Power Steel a good investment compared to cheaper pool sets that are likely to disappoint you much sooner.