Quick-up pools compared

A quick-up pool consists of a liner with an inflatable ring around the top edge. You lay the liner on the prepared ground, inflate the ring and let the water in. As the water level rises, the ring lifts and the pool raises its own wall. Intex calls the principle “Easy Set”, Bestway “Fast Set”, other brands “Prompt Set” or “Quick Set”.

Setup takes about an hour; filling takes several hours depending on size. You don't need any tools.

Quick-up pools have clear strengths, but also limitations:

Because the wall is held up only by water pressure, perfectly level ground is especially important for quick-up pools. Even a slight tilt makes water push over the edge on one side. Only fill the pool to the marked height, usually just below the air ring. From around 3 m in diameter, a set with a cartridge filter pump is worthwhile; from around 4.5 m, a more powerful pump or a sand filter.

Children should not sit on the edge or pull themselves up on it – the pool can then give way and water can gush out.

A quick-up pool is ideal for families who only want to set up a pool for one summer or a few weeks, for tenants, and for anyone who wants to try out whether a pool works for them in everyday life. If you use the pool for months every year, a frame pool is usually the better choice.

Check the air ring daily for the first few days after setup. With large temperature swings the air expands or contracts – top it up if needed, but don't overinflate it, or you'll put unnecessary strain on the seams.