I own one of ISHOF ones and use it every time I go out in the lake, the dry storage is great. Maybe it is the fault of my open water stroke but the only problem I have had is with my hand hitting it when exiting the water at the end of a stroke. I highly recommend it :)
I used the Safe Swimmer float (large size) for the first time last night, and it is as great as many have stated. I purposely filled it with more stuff than I plan on usually storing in the dry pack (sandals, shirt, shorts, small towel, keys, and phone - I hope to only use it for the last three items), then inflated it and clipped it on. I actually had to check a few times to be sure the thing was still bobbing behind me! No issues with the dry stuff staying dry, which is a really great feature. It only tugged a little bit when I swam some fly and ***, due to my diving below the surface. Otherwise, not an issue.
With the storage and also the extra viability it provides the OW swimmer, I would definitively recommend folks getting one for their next splash. I ordered the Kiefer version when there was free shipping. :)
I'm thinking of getting one. Anyone recommend one size over another? Does it just depend on how much storage you want?
I own both sizes. I'd go for the bigger one. It makes you that much more visible to others, and it does have a little more storage room. It's no more difficult to tow. As the previous poster said, when it's inflated you don't even know it's there (as long as you're not in big waves).
To the one responder's comment that says they swim on a lake and boaters are cautious about swimmers in the water . . I will tell you that I have a 45-foot aft-cabin that has a flybridge where I pilot from about 25 feet high above the water. My visibility from there is outstanding!! (I can't image what it would be low to water in a run-about). Anyway when I'm in, out or around San Diego Bay (and even though I'm cautious) I still do not like just how quick and easy it is to "miss" seeing a swimmer, or kayaker, etc. in the bay water. San Diego Bay is an accident waiting to happen (and yes it will happen I don't care how cautious you are . . the number of swimmers and kayakers is ever increasing). I started seeing these swim buoys occasionally, probably about a year or so ago, and I'm an open water swimmer myself . . so I'm just now looking at this thread to see if there were any "cons" to having one. I certainly don't see one that outweights the absolute "pros" of making yourself more visible to boaters. I can tell you first hand that piloting a 50,000 lb craft at about 15 - 20 knots (not half the speed of some of the guys on the bay) AND after seeing one of these things in the water as I'm going by that I ALWAYS praise the swimmer as I go by and thank him/her for wearing it . . although they'll never know it. So thanks to all of you that do wear them . . and I'm buying mine right now.
Been using my swim buoy since late July and love it. I don't worry about my keys and I even carry my cell phone, so the guy who slices me with his boat can call my ICE numbers when he pulls my body out.
:drown:
Cons:
I got the XXL size buoy, which I don’t believe is currently available. Loaded with 3-4 water bottles it seemed to add 30-60 seconds to my training mile time. The drag is slightly noticeable, which is not a big deal on a training swim.
I've got one of the large ones also... its a drag.
The smaller units were provided and required for all the swimmers in this 21k swim I did in Sweden on Aug 4. We had a bit of a head wind, but everyone wore them. They do add a bit of time, but are hardly noticeable.
I've got one of the large ones also... its a drag.
The smaller units were provided and required for all the swimmers in this 21k swim I did in Sweden on Aug 4. We had a bit of a head wind, but everyone wore them. They do add a bit of time, but are hardly noticeable.
do you mean the drag is hardly noticeable or the buoy itself? Cheers!
do you mean the drag is hardly noticeable or the buoy itself? Cheers!
the small buoy adds little drag to the swimmer, but does add a significant degree of visibility
Just used mine for the first time yesterday, on a lake with a significant amount of boat traffic. Not only did it make me feel safer, but it made my husband, on the shore, feel MUCH better.
When we travel, I often do open water swims in relatively unknown areas. Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, etc. I plan on taking this with me and using it every time. I love that he can see where I am and that the boats will be more aware of me out there.
It took a bit to get used to be but after that, I loved being able to have a water bottle with me and found that I barely noticed it behind me.
