Setting up a pool without a pump is the whole point here. The walls are carried by eight stable triangular supportive side panels locked at a 40 degree steady angle, a non-inflatable structure that stands on its own and cannot deflate mid-afternoon the way a ring-top pool can. Filled, it holds 238 gallons at a 12 inch water level and supports 881 pounds, and the widened bottom gives up to eight people ample splashing space across the 99 by 52 by 19 inch footprint.The wall itself is a 5-layer composite PVC, chosen to stay tear-resistant and wear-resistant where feet, elbows, and pool toys make constant contact. Four repair patches come in the box for the day something does get through, so a small puncture is a five-minute fix rather than a trip out for a kit.Emptying is usually the tedious part of a pool this size, so drainage runs through three points: two outlets in the base and one in the side wall, clearing the water quickly instead of leaving a shallow pond to tip out by hand. An included drain hose connects up to route that water where it should go.When the season ends the pool folds rather than deflates. It collapses to 22 by 21.5 by 5 inches at 43 pounds, compact enough to store on a shelf or carry along on camping trips. Beyond swimming, the same basin serves as a pet bathing tub, a sand box, or a ball pit for indoor and outdoor fun.