I am looking to buy a used Halo swim trainer. If anyone has one they’d like to sell let me know.
Has anyone on here used one for training? If so, do you feel it helped with your stroke? Did you notice an decrease in your swim time after training with one?
Thanks in advance, Emmaelvis
love.triathlon1@gmail.com
I almost bought 1, then saw on their website that they have a package to convert a regular workout bench to a halo system. I already had a bench and some quality resistance bands, so I did it on my own. I use it for training all the time! With the exception of my recovery days, i’m either in the pool or using the bench and noticed some great improvements.
So go to your local Academy, Sports Authority, etc and buy a regular weight bench for around $100.
Then go here http://www.bodylastics.com/allproducts/ for some quality resistance bands(make sure to get a door anchor and handles).
Put that together and you have your “made-at-home” version for around $150 or so! The only thing you won’t have is the “halo template” that goes on the front of the bench, but if you pay attention to your form you really don’t need it!
Good luck!
Thanks Clyde. Yeah I don’t have a bench. I seen they sell kits on their website, but I wasn’t sure about the bench size. I would hate to buy a bench that was too wide. If I cannot find it used I will just get the kit for a more affordable option. That’s great to hear you had gains in using the system. I’m really hoping to get significant gains this winter, so I can come back really strong next season.
Thanks again, Andrea
I added some blocks to raise the height of the bench so that my hands clear the floor.
The issue I have with resistance bands is that the resistance increases dramatically the farther that you pull back so you end up working hardest at the end of the stroke. I don’t think this replicates what happens in the water. During the last pool shut-down, I took the arm unit from an old Nordic Track, added some paddles and bolted it to my bench.
That’s a pretty awesome idea.
Regarding resistance, I think the resistance ramps up too dramatically if you have short bands. Most of the retail bands are shorter than stretchcordz. What I wound up doing was buying two at target and it makes a big difference in terms of having an even intensity.
Now to actually use them…
as was pointed out, try to use longer bands. shorter ones definitely get more difficult at the end of the stroke. or if you have short bands you can always move you’re bench closer.
i will also say that the working hardest at the end of the stroke isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Not only does it help build good shoulder strength, which is good in helping prevent injury, but it also helps teach you to keep good form while tired…even though my bands are longer i still do sets with light and heavy resistance to get this effect
The HALO “kit” is the economy model home swim trainer at $125. It includes a bracket that will fit almost any flat workout bench. The bracket holds any of the six personal-sized HALO clear templates. The templates guide you into a Catch (EVF), help maintain a High Elbow through the stroke and have orientation-lines to help with Hand Pitch. The HALO tubing is 10’ long in order to best simulate the resistive forces of water - from the catch to the finish. It works much better for swim work than the short tubes in box-stores. The fact that tubing is “progressively resistive” is important in the swim equation - because you want to “hold” water and accelerate your arm through the stroke path. Accelerating allows you to always push on water that is moving slower than your arm. You have some options with a kit - you can choose the new designed Halo Hand grip or the new Halo H.E.A.T (High Elbow Attached Tubing). The hand grip tends to focuses on shoulder strength development and the HEAT focuses on the back and lats - OR use both! Last you get a metronome to address turn-over/cadence. You can upgrade to the FINIS tempo trainer Pro at a discount too and take the metronome right in the water. Technique, strength, tempo: all in all - less than $150 gets you on your bike faster !! http://lanegainer.com/products/HALO-KIT-%252d-converts-any-bench-into-a-HALO-swim-bench.html
(Obvious disclaimers - I designed the thing !)
I too would love to hear from folks who use a halo bench regularly and can comment on whether it truly subs for pool time or is really an additional training on top of pool time. Results of halo training are also appreciated!
Great ideas. Thank you
I purchased one over a year ago and have been using it since. I feel it has helped me and forces me to keep my elbows up and strengthen the correct muscles. While it can only help you so much it does help me feel smoother in the water especially when you are using it constantly. I use the swim cords solo to simulate the hal bench often also. While its just one piece of figuring out the swim puzzle I tell everone whos not a swimmer about swim cords and halo.
Mack thanks for the insight. I swim 3 days a week now, and although I’m not super slow. I’m in the bottom 40% to get out of the water. I’m hoping to fix this for next year. I’m really thinking this trainer will take me to the next level.
Well, ive read this thread and last comment was at october. Now i want to know, did you improve your swim time from training at your Halo?
Thanks…