What is the purpose of a tow float?
While a tow float is not intended to keep you afloat indefinitely, it can provide temporary support when you need to rest during your swim. Remember, its main function is to enhance visibility rather than serve as a lifesaving aid. They have several benefits for open water swimmers, such as: Safety: Swim buoys can help you stay afloat if you get tired, cramp, or injured. They can also act as a flotation device for other swimmers in distress.Tow floats, also known as swimming buoys or open water swimming buoys, are essential safety devices for open water swimmers. They’re inflatable devices that are attached to a swimmer via a leash around the waist and it float behind them, providing increased visibility and buoyancy.Safety: Swim buoys can help you stay afloat if you get tired, cramp, or injured. They can also act as a flotation device for other swimmers in distress. Additionally, swim buoys can help you signal for help by waving them in the air or blowing a whistle attached to them.A pull buoy is a foam buoy that is designed to provide extra buoyancy in the hips and force swimmers to focus on the pulling motion of their swimming. Pull buoys are excellent for upper body training, reinforcing better body position, and mixing things up in swimming workouts.
What is a tow float?
The term ‘Tow floats’ is generally used as an umbrella term that encompasses both regular tow floats and drybag floats. Regular Tow Floats Tow Floats are bright bubbles of air these are great for safety and rest stops but don’t have any waterproof storage. All Puffin regular tow floats are called ‘bubbles’. Essentially an open water swim tow float is a high-visibility bubble of air the swimmer tows with them and its main purpose is to help keep the swimmer safer in the water.A highly visible tow float with waist strap and an open top slot for bottles up to 750ml. The floor of the float inflates, with a drain hole, so that any water going into the float self drains. Ideal for swimmers that want to put in a long training swim but stay hydrated while in the water.They’re inflatable devices that are attached to a swimmer via a leash around the waist and it float behind them, providing increased visibility and buoyancy.If you haven’t guessed already, tow floats provide extra buoyancy, a crucial safety feature for open water swimmers. The extra buoyancy can be a lifesaver in emergencies, providing immediate support and helping keep the swimmer’s head above water.
How to wear a tow float?
A tow float is designed to float behind you while swimming, keeping you safe and seen. Once inflated it attaches to your waist with a waist belt & leash staying out of range of arms and kick zone. The three types of float discussed are the survival float (also called turtle float), back float, and treading. The survival float has a swimmer wrapping their arms around bent knees. The back float involves leaning back in the water while holding the poolside.Align your body with the surface of the water spread your arms and legs to your sides like a star fish. This distributes your weight across the surface of the water making it easier to float. If your legs start to sink you can gently kick your legs to keep them higher in the water.BACK FLOAT- Lay on your back, press down to the bottom with your shoulders and chest, allow your belly button to float as if it is being pulled by a string. Body is completely relaxed. FRONT FLOAT- Lay down face first in the water.