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POOL POWER
I tested 7 budget paddling pools with my 2 sons – Tesco’s £9 buy was brill but Asda’s pirate ship was the winner
One pool is perfect for babies
SUMMER is in full swing – and what better way to cool off than a dip?
I hit the local high street looking for the best value supermarket paddling pools.
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With the help of my sons Leo, five, and James, eight, we tested pools – the ones available to buy in-store on the day – marking each out of ten.
SPACESHIP PADDLING POOL
B&M £16 SIZE: 1.52m
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THIS pool is easy to set up, took just under 20 minutes to fill and looks like a silver flying saucer, which the boys loved.
Size-wise it was too small for them to swim around in but there was nothing to stop the water-pistol fight.
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James says: “I like the design and colour but I wish it was bigger.”
RATING: 7/10
BESTWAY THREE-RING POOL
Aldi £3.99 SIZE: 1.22m
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YOU can choose from three designs – animals, dinosaur or whale, and the boys went for the dinosaur-themed pool.
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While it was small, they still managed to have fun and played a game of catch.
James says: “This pool is more for babies and there wasn’t a lot of room.”
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RATING: 4/10
PIRATE SHIP PADDLING POOL
Asda £40 SIZE: 3.4m x 1.6m
AHOY there matey – we have a winner!
This pirate ship pool has everything you need for a fun afternoon in the garden.
Not only does it come with an inflatable steering wheel and flag post, it also has an inflatable water cannon.
Leo says: “Best pool ever! I liked squirting James with the cannon and steering the boat.”
RATING: 9/10
AVENLI INFLATABLE POOL SET
Home Bargains £19.99 SIZE: 8ft
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THE great beauty of this pool is there is very little to inflate.
With an 8ft diameter, there was loads of space for the boys and I could fit in too, for a cool down.
Leo says: “I had lots of room to swim around like a shark. It was a lot of fun.”
RATING: 8/10
BESTWAY 4FT FUN ODYSSEY POOL
Argos £12 SIZE: 1.22m
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THE packaging boasts “rigid, heavy-duty sidewalls” but we found them to be weak.
In fact, more water was on the grass than in the pool after a few minutes of the boys playing.
James says: “This one was rubbish. It was too small and the sides were all floppy.”
RATING: 5/10
JILONG GIANT FAMILY RECTANGULAR POOL
Morrisons £14 SIZE: 2m x 1.5m
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ONE of the more robust pools we tested, which is probably thanks to the extra-wide side walls.
It’s also a good size, meaning both boys could get in and comfortably play.
Leo says: “I liked lying down in it and kicking my feet to splash James.”
RATING: 7/10
FUNSICLE SUMMER BLOCK POOL
Tesco £9, down from £20 SIZE: 2m x 1.5m
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A super-sturdy, decent size pool at a bargain price.
This was very similar to Morrisons’ pool, but the two handy cup holders means it gets a higher rating.
Also, the aquamarine colour gave off Ibiza vibes.
Filling time was around 30 minutes, but it’s worth the wait.
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James says: “I like that I can take my drink in the pool and it won’t fall over.”
RATING: 8.5/10
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