Update: One year in and I'm still going strong with this swim buoy. Unfortunately water seeped in the air hole so it always looks like there's water in it, but the dry compartment remains reasonably water-free. I still recommend putting vulnerable items like phones and car keys inside waterproof pouches no matter what. The New Wave Swim Buoy basically covers most safety precautions when you're out in the open water. With the buoy tied to your waist and one arm holding it, you are able to transition into a sitting position and easily stay afloat without expending a significant amount of energy you normally require while treading water. The bright color will significantly increases the chances that you will be seen from boaters and other watercraft. Finally, the dry compartment will allow you told personal items, such as your phone and car keys, so you won't get the anxiety of any shenanigans going on land while you're a half mile out in the water. Even when the buoy is inflated, folded, and locked in, water droplets will eventually find its way inside the dry compartment. Make sure every vulnerable item in the dry compartment is also inside a waterproof pouch. 15L is the right size. Not much use to carry a 20L size unless you intend to tow a lot of gear for some reason or you're in very rough conditions. And if you're in very rough conditions I sincerely hope you know what you're doing and you have support around you. Survival floating is an essential skill for all swimmers of all ages and skill levels. DO NOT SUBSITUTE SKILL WITH SAFETY DEVICES. Read more
First of all, hardly even knew it was on. Had to stop a couple of times to look back to make sure it was there. The few times it bumped my legs was because of stopping or turning around to check for boat traffic. The pouch side is pretty big, but NOT waterproof. The pouch rolls up quite nicely and clips, but it does not seal. I used a waterproof cell phone case to make sure my key fob stayed dry. Easy to inflate and deflate. Rolls up into about the size of a sandwich - easy to transport. I wanted to get the neon green, but in hindsight the yellow was probably better. There are all kinds of shades of green foliage around the lake. When I got back from swim of about 800 yards out and back, a lady sitting on the dock said she saw me the whole way. Great product and peace of mind when open water swimming. Read more
Wonderful! I swim open water and this has given me a way to stop and take a short breather plus it is very visible to boaters! I feel more secure knowing if I get into a problem, I can float if necessary. Great product and made well without being heavy. Update: After using this device I like it even better than ever. I had some great open water swims this summer and twice now, I was so grateful that I had this buoy. I swam one day that was very hot and I was without water after swimming across a lake. Not good. So I ordered a small 8oz. water bladder to place inside of the buoy pocket. It was a little heavier but it saved me from dehydration and was of course lighter on the return swim. On another day, the wind picked up so strongly that I was struggling to get back to the other side of the lake. My buoy was a lifesaver! I could hold on to it and catch my breath! I do not swim open water without it! I also need to be more aware of risk! I recommend this to anyone that swims in open water! Great product. Read more
The group I swim with actually requires a swim buoy for safety because we swim in a lake with boat traffic in the summer. This buoy has been great for me. High visibility and I never even realize it is trailing behind me since there is virtually zero drag. I weigh 175 lbs. and this buoy totally supports me if I need a break while out in open water where I cannot reach the bottom. I now swim with this even if not going with the group because of the peace of mind it gives me. Folds up very compact, super easy to inflate and holds valuables while keeping them dry. If you do OWS, this is a must have. Great product!! Read more
I love using my swim buoy. I feel so much safer in the water (though someone on shore mistook me for a duck yesterday evening???). I like it that I can bring a couple of items along with me in the "dry" bag (which gets wet inside whether or not you open it in the water). I've found very little drag as I swim--it's more like a slight tug once in a while, probably because of water current interference. I also find no trouble switching from one stroke to another while I swim--breaststroke, back, butterfly, freestyle, and sidestroke. Once in a while I need to slide the buoy along the belt (which is very easy to do while swimming) when switching to backstroke. I love using the float to support my arms whenever I need to make goggle adjustments or rest for a few seconds. My only complaint is clean up. The dry bag ALWAYS ends up with some moisture in it, so you have to be able to dry it out after each swim. There's no convenient way to do this. I would love to see the swim buoy with a tab (with a hole in the tab) at the rounded end of the buoy--that way you can hang the buoy up to let air in. However, I'm still working on a solution for keeping the sides from sticking together while the buoy is drying out. I live in hot, arid Utah, so getting the buoy dry (in summer at least) between swims isn't that great a problem, but it's still awkward. What do the rest of you do? Read more
Used it for the first time at the Upstate Splash at Lake Jocassee in South Carolina. It was a 1.2 miles and my first swim in open water. . This product was great. I never felt it behind me when I was swimming. Very very easy to inflate and it holds the air very good. A bright yellow color made it easy to be seen. There were about 100 swimmers in my group and I was surprised the number of inexperienced swimmers (like me) that had a buoy. I felt very confident when 100 feet fom the shore in 50 feet deep. JT Read more
