From looking at the product online, I thought this set was like the pop-up, twist tents, tunnels, etc. where after you assemble them initially, you twist them to put them away. When it arrived I was briefly thinking I made a mistake because I thought this would have to be disassembled each time we used it, which I did not want, & was not like the other pop-up, twist things we have.
After I assembled the goals (which, by the way, was much easier than I thought after I looked at the pile of pieces I dumped out of the box.. lol), I found it was actually SO much EASIER to fold them up than our other tents, tunnels, etc.
To fold them up, it is just as EASY as the directions say. Flip the goal upside down, grab each handle on each side, do a figure 8 with your hands, & the sides fold in SO easily. To unfold, you do the opposite (you can watch my video to show you how SIMPLE it truly is).
When folding them, there is NO snapping back in your face as the goals do NOT snap back open like a prank "can of snakes" explodes, which is what happens when I am fighting to fold up our other tents, tunnels, etc. When I fold those other things up, my kids have to stand back in case they snap back open, & I have hit myself in the eye, mouth, etc. with those contraptions, so my kids are not allowed to fold them up for their own safety.
THESE soccer goals are SO EASY & SAFE to fold up, even my KIDS can do it. The kids can clean up after playing & put their soccer goal nets away. No husband grumbling the kids left their nets in the yard when he has to mow.
WIN-WIN!
The frame pieces are all linked together, so they won't get lost. The corner pieces are all metal, so they are very durable, especially where it counts, as the corners are vulnerable in our other twist-up play items & some of them are duct taped.
The net material itself is VERY sturdy. The goals come with a longer, tube shaped bag & a big triangle shaped bag for the goals. They actually fit into the bag, & no fighting to get them in there either (unlike the tents, tunnels, etc. we have.. those things NEVER fold up the same way twice & I can't get them back into their "storage bags")... it is so EASY to keep them up & out of the way. I hang the bag on the garage wall, & the goals themselves are kept clean & dry inside the storage/carrying bag. Sometimes we slip them behind a desk or something just to get them out of the way until they can be put away in the garage.
These goals are the perfect size for kids from walking age (1) to about 8-10, depending upon the child's height. Even though they are smaller, they are still enjoyed by adults playing with their kids (like me), & the smaller size net (compared to someone the size of an adult), makes the goal harder to hit with a goalie standing in front of the net, which my kids LOVE when I miss the goal because they are blocking the goals.
For reference, the photos show kids of various heights 34", 44", 48" & 62" by the goal nets. It is an adult in the video folding up the goal net.
The set comes with 4 metal anchors to fasten the goals down to the ground. We end up using just 2 of the anchors to fasten just the front end of the goals because it makes it easier to lift the net should the ball get stuck in the goal from one of mama's super kicks (lol).. it prevents me from having to bend down into the goals to retrieve the ball. But you can certainly use all 4 anchors should you desire to.
These goals have entertained my kids & family for hours outside, & now that the weather is changing, we have been bringing them into our basement for fun indoors too. For indoor use, we are using a more rubber-like kickball, & have to kick more gently because the nets can't be anchored down in our house, but it keeps the kids busy & they LOVE playing inside too.
This set is FABULOUS! It is DURABLE, EASY to assemble, VERY quick & easy to fold it up, & SIMPLE to store it.
My kids love their soccer goal nets, & we love that they are happy. For birthdays, I am going to look into the company who sells these to see if they have any other pop-up type activities for kids, after seeing how easy these goals are to use & safe for them to put away without my help. Our kids are getting older, and want more independence, but we are not willing to risk safety; with these nets, we don't have to. I would like to replace some of our other pop-up things with others from this company.
LOVE these nets! We RECOMMEND these & would purchase them again.