What Does A Tow Float Do?

{Ad/Gifted partnership with Swim Secure Tow Floats}

As an open water swimmer this a question I get asked a lot. It’s not uncommon to see wild swimmers attached to these small brightly coloured floats, but what does a tow float actually do? Believe it or not they are not just a colourful fashion accessory, and not just something to make you look like a serious open water swimmer.

A tow float’s primary use is to help keep you safe and visible whilst wild swimming in open bodies of water. However the humble tow float has many uses, which makes it an essential piece of kit for open water swimming.

So What Is A Tow Float?

A tow float or swim buoy is an inflatable, brightly coloured float often made from PVC that is towed behind you on a short leash when swimming in open water. They are not meant to be buoyancy aids and the main reason for using them is to increase your visibility to others either in the water, or spotting you from the shore.

There are many different types and models available, all relatively inexpensive, and they are an extremely versatile piece of kit with many additional uses.

How Do You Swim With A Tow Float

Tow floats are attached to your body by a short leash to a belt that you can fasten around your waist. They float behind you, and the short leash means they keep well out of the way of your arms and kick zone. They are often lightweight enough to have minimal or zero drag, and good quality tow floats often have dual inflation chambers as extra insurance in the unlikely event that one fails.

I have tried several Swim Secure inflatable tow floats, and haven’t experienced any noticeable drag to slow me down. Most of the time you don’t notice the tow float behind you, however if it is windy, or you are towing extra weight (for instance in a packed dry bag) you may notice it’s presence a bit more.

Who Are SWim Secure

Swim Secure are the market leaders in open water tow floats and dry bags, and cater for open water swimmers, triathletes, recreational swimmers, families and everyone in between. Their moto #BeSaferBeSeen illustrates their mission to equip open water swimmers of all ages and ability to swim safely in open water.

You can see the full range of their products on the Swim Secure website.

So What Does A TOw Float Actually Do?

Be Safer Be Seen

Swim Secure‘s moto, and in a nutshell exactly what a tow float’s primary use is. They come in a variety of bright neon colours to increase your visibility to others.

This includes making you more visible to other water users. This is particularly important if you are swimming in a body of water that is also used by boats, anglers, kayaks, paddle boards or jet skis. It also makes you more visible to other swimmers, and to those that may be spotting you from dry land such as lifeguards or supervisors of commercial venues. For this reason they are often compulsory to wear during open water swimming events.

Should the worst happen, and you run into trouble then they also make it easier for the emergency services to locate you.

The picture above illustrates this. Both these photos are me swimming at the same point in the lake. The large buoy is only 100m from the jetty. The picture on the left you can clearly see 3 swimmers with their brightly coloured tow floats (I’m the one to the far left). The picture on the right is also me swimming, but even zoomed in I have become a dark dot on the lake surface. For someone spotting from dry land I would become invisible further away, and other water users may not see me until it’s too late.

In Case Of Emergency

I swim with lots of different people who I’ve met through swimming. The vast majority however would not know who my in case of emergency contact was or how to get hold of them.

Hopefully it will never be needed, but it is a good idea to have a contact telephone number of your ICE contact written on your tow float. That way if there are any problems the right person can be contacted quickly. All Swim Secure tow floats have an area on the base to prompt you to do just that.

You can also attach a whistle to your tow float which, should things not be going to plan, you can use it to attract attention. For just a few pounds, this little plastic whistle just clips on to your tow float belt and you don’t even notice it is there.

Storing Valuables

Sometimes it is necessary to take valuables such as a car key, phone or even medications such as inhalers with you on a swim. Swim Secure have a tow donut which incorporates a little dry bag in the middle that’s easily accessible even whilst you are still in the water. You can even store drinks and snacks in the pouch.

However, I would advise also using waterproof bag inside the donut if you want to take non waterproof items with you like an electronic car key or mobile phone. The dry bag component can get condensation and occasionally tow floats can fail, so you want to make sure those valuables are protected.

Gives You A Moment To REst

Tow floats, although not buoyancy aids, can help you take a pit stop by leaning on them. You may want to take a photo, or have a quick snack, so they are perfect for just taking a moment. However, I must stress that you shouldn’t rely on them for this purpose, and they should not lull you into a false sense of security. Tow floats should only be used by competent open water swimmers, and you should never attempt to try and swim beyond your limits just because you have a tow float with you.

Allows You To Refuel

Some tow floats are designed to allow you to take drinks and snacks with you. Whether that be for a long leisurely social swim, or perhaps you are taking on a marathon or endurance swim.

You could use the swim secure donut float as mentioned before, which allows snacks and drinks to be easily accessible during your swim. My preference for endurance swims or events where I want a quick drink without wasting too much time is the Swim Secure Tow Float Elite. It has an integrated mesh bag which I use to store a hydration pack with an attached bite valve (the sort that hikers use). It means I can have a quick sip without wasting to much time, which is important to me if I am doing a long distance swim event. THe mesh pocket is also perfect to store a few gel packs in for extra nutrition if needed.

Great For Swim Hikes and One Way Swims

Some tow floats are actually full on dry bags. This means you can literally take all your belongings with you on your swim. This is invaluable if you are planning a one way swim, or if you want to take part in the upcoming trend of Swim Hikes which can combine hiking with multiple swims, or where the swim is actually part of the adventure.

Swim hikes are a relatively new passion of mine, and my preference is to use Swim Secure’s Wild Swim Bag. This is effectively a 30L dry bag that has removal, adjustable straps that make it into a convenient backpack for ease of carrying whilst on your hike.

A Bit Of Fun

As well as the many uses mentioned before, a tow float with the leash and waist belt gives you the option of attaching all manner of items so you can concentrate on swimming and not worrying about anything else. I use my waist belt to attach my GoPro to on a floaty handle. That way it doesn’t impede my swimming at all, but is there if I want to use it, and it know it’s safe and secure. I have also seen people fashion carabiner clips to their tow float to carry other swim adventure essentials such as maps, and even footwear. It is also possible to attach lights to it if your plan a dawn, dusk or night swim.

Whilst a tow float is predominantly a safety item, you can see they have many more uses which can complement your open water swimming experiences. An invaluable piece of kit and I certainly wouldn’t be without mine!

If you are new to open water swimming then you may want to check out my Beginner’s Guide to Open water Swimming, and other Essential Kit for Open Water Swimming.

Happy Swimming!

Kerry x

Disclaimer: We were gifted some products for the purpose of this post, but all words and opinions are my own.