What's a Tow-float and Why Is It Essential? | Open Water Swimming Tips

You’ve seen the water dotted with them, but why should swimmers use a tow-float? First of all, let’s explain what they are.

A tow-float is a small, brightly-coloured inflatable that you attach to your body via a waist band and leash. It floats along behind you as you swim, making you more visible to other water users, particularly boats and jet skis.

You can also use a tow-float to rest on while you’re waiting for your friends to catch up, or even as a pillow to lay back and enjoy the sunshine!

There are a few different types of tow-floats, ranging from the standard inflatable, to a tow-float that is also a drybag that you can store valuables or even clothes in.

Drybag tow-floats come in a range of sizes from just big enough for a phone and keys - which is the most popular and useful for every day swims - to big enough for all your clothes, a towel and a few snacks – you can use these for point-to-point swims.

These days, with so many people using the water, we recommend all swimmers always wear a tow-float in open water. Small ones really do not slow you down - they float along behind you minding their own business and keeping you safe while you swim.

If you have any questions about tow-floats, pop them in the comments below.

#swimming #openwater

[peterah]

I've just ordered one ! I have tried my friends first and they're great ...I was able to swim between small islands off the coast of Finland while being able to rest without anxiety. My only advice is always check for leaks before setting off and ofc buy a good quality one .

[think-islam-channel]

Are they useful for people who get into trouble when swimming.
How long can you hold onto them as a float?

[qwerrweterterhrhry]

0:47 I am using OWS 500 NABAIJI tow float sold by Decathlon shown in this frame for 2 years now. It is truly amazing - holds air for the whole summer, offers great visiblity for speedboats (essential if you don't wear a bright swimming cap), can be used for storing my house keys while swimming, it also has a whistle in case you got stranded in open water and its dark. The storage compartment is not really watertight though, so I would not put a smartphone in it without an additional bag. My weight is about 70kg (150lbs), it can buoy my weight for a long time without any issues.

[tomospark]

These questions are amazing. How have you got this far in life? 😂

[luc]

Just got one, but wondering how to best position it (vis-a-vis legs; length of cord; etc) to minimize drag and bothering my swim overall. Any tips? Thanks!

[FloOfContact]

I wanna use it to swim across the lake after a swim. Would it be suitable to put running shoes in it?

[orangestoneface]

float with a sail to get to land would that work ...double barrel float u shaped or how ...and for sport...or flat shaped, sail pole up by neck if lying on it or two poles two sails or hm or one up in front of head, or sail on strings but thats kinda hard and cant go against wind. or floats for sail on string in front of swimmer that hold s it or tied to belt.

[elalza]

can rescue cans be used as tow floats ???,
is it practical.

[PabloGreg]

Hello! Are those float bags useful for swimming Butterfly Stroke?

[cory]

Mmm would this work on my marine battery in case i tip my canoe

[Bravevanguard]

Hi, if I kept my phone in the tow float dry bag and needed to make an emergency call, how should I take the phone out and still have something to hold on while making the call?

[jameslewis]

What size would be better for some who is 200lbs? 35L or 20L?

[arbanaskocudo]

I have this and problem is when wind lifts it in the air and hit you in your shoulders and head making swimming impossible?

[patgilmartin]

I’m on a mission to end the use of tow floats in competitive environments. I have a theory that they’ve only become popular through some sort of shaming campaign, that almost views these things as mandatory. I have never once in my several hundreds of hours of open water swimming benefited from using a tow float. I’ve finally made the decision that these things are more trouble than they’re worth and don’t actually provide any practical benefits for me. Jerk boaters are jerks. They will cross 10 meters in front of you with or without a bouy. I’m suggesting if you need one of these for the flotation, or to rest, you haven’t done enough work yet in the pool and shouldn’t be in the open water. Bouys get holes and fill up with water and it’s like dragging an anvil. It can be very dangerous.

They absolutely create drag. What is minimal drag to you? If it’s more than you’re used to it can be dangerous. These should only be used by beginners in a pretty controlled environment or extremely busy boating areas, and should never be allowed in races.

[jesuspikin]

Can someone who can't swim use a tow float?

[KM-cnpl]

So it will hold me up lol my stamina is not the best 😂😅

[whatsup_viral]

Does towfloat protect you from undercurrent???