Has anyone tried the Lava pants from Xterra? Offering a good bundle (pants, booties, bag, race belt) and was thinking about getting a pair. Supposedly replaces a pool buoy for pool swimming. Wondering if swimming in them would be too much of a crutch or seeing as I only swim for triathlon purposes and mainly wetsuit swims they would make sense. Thoughts?
They used to be $99 when they came out. Maybe wait for a sale? I don’t know why they’re $150 now.
I got a pair on clearance from the Xterra tent last year at a triathlon. I like em - but they’re kind of a pain to use in the pool on a daily basis. I’ve used them for pull only sessions and they’re good for that - more comfortable than a pull buoy, but also like 1000 times more expensive. Go smaller than you think.
I think they’ll be great for “non wetsuit” practice swims.
If you really want to improve your swimming, buy yourself one of these instead of $100 Lava pants & use the remaining $90 on a couple swim lessons.
Hmmmm thats funny didn’t mention anywhere about me asking if these would make me a better swimmer. Simply wanted to know if anyone had them and what they though of them. Was actually going to use them during the summer months open water swimming to stay cooler but still simulate the full wetsuit buoyancy.
I use them mainly for the warmup and drills sets.
Not good for breaststroke, butterfly or kick. I remove the pants when it is time for that. I also don’t use them for main sets because I feel it is not fair.
Has anyone tried the Lava pants from Xterra? Offering a good bundle (pants, booties, bag, race belt) and was thinking about getting a pair. Supposedly replaces a pool buoy for pool swimming. Wondering if swimming in them would be too much of a crutch or seeing as I only swim for triathlon purposes and mainly wetsuit swims they would make sense. Thoughts?
I have a couple athletes that really like them and have found them useful. Seems to me they would suit you well for your described usage.
they are great, I use them on a daily basis, they really help in getting the legs parallel to the water and you can really focus on your swim stroke.
They used to be $99 when they came out. Maybe wait for a sale? I don’t know why they’re $150 now.
Probably so they can offer them at big “sale” prices. Xterra’s famous for offering huge discounts on their “retail” prices.
If you really want to improve your swimming, buy yourself one of these instead of $100 Lava pants & use the remaining $90 on a couple swim lessons.
I have to agree with this. There’s a whole thing about muscle development in the core to enable you to keep the feet up. The lava pants will only hinder you from this. They seem like a shortcut, but really, they’re not.
Hmmmm thats funny didn’t mention anywhere about me asking if these would make me a better swimmer. Simply wanted to know if anyone had them and what they though of them. Was actually going to use them during the summer months open water swimming to stay cooler but still simulate the full wetsuit buoyancy.
Hi! Welcome to Slowtwitch! Have you met us?
Triathletes: buying things we really don’t need for over 3 decades…
(Marketing people love us as a group).
I have been using them for about 3 months and actually really like them.
I race 2 or 3 long races a year with a wetsuit. (double, triple iron stuff). I always get a sore back from the wetsuit and swimming in that slightly different position since I just don’t use one that often. The Lava pants have allowed me to train with my legs more buoyant, more like they would be when I’m racing without wearing a full suit. Anyone that says a pull buoy is the same hasn’t tried them. I hate swimming with a buoy. I spend more time focusing on keeping that thing in place than my stroke. They’re not for everyone and I do feel like a tool wearing them but I just don’t care 
Agree with the poster above, if you’re in-between sizes, go smaller.
Has anyone tried the Lava pants from Xterra? Offering a good bundle (pants, booties, bag, race belt) and was thinking about getting a pair. Supposedly replaces a pool buoy for pool swimming. Wondering if swimming in them would be too much of a crutch or seeing as I only swim for triathlon purposes and mainly wetsuit swims they would make sense. Thoughts?
When you reach for the pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “I would rather take 5 minutes to squeeze into a pair of pants right now?” When you are using a pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “gee it would be nice if this worked better at keeping my legs up while I swim”. If so, you might love the Lava pants. If not, use the pull buoy.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
Lava Pants look like a reinvention of the wheel. A really expensive reinvention.
Has anyone tried the Lava pants from Xterra? Offering a good bundle (pants, booties, bag, race belt) and was thinking about getting a pair. Supposedly replaces a pool buoy for pool swimming. Wondering if swimming in them would be too much of a crutch or seeing as I only swim for triathlon purposes and mainly wetsuit swims they would make sense. Thoughts?
When you reach for the pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “I would rather take 5 minutes to squeeze into a pair of pants right now?” When you are using a pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “gee it would be nice if this worked better at keeping my legs up while I swim”. If so, you might love the Lava pants. If not, use the pull buoy.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
Disclaimer - the below is the opinion of a B/MOP Adult Onset Swimmer. Weight accordingly.
I have not used the Lava pants, do do use the Roka shorts (same concept, shorter legs). If, when you use Roka Sim shorts or Lava pants, you only treat them as a pull buoy and drag your legs behind you, then I would say the above is an accurate assessment.
However, for me, the advantage of the Roka shorts is that I still get to work on my kick while the shorts help put me in a better body position overall. This has helped my awareness of what feels “right” re: my hips and legs and also helped me use my lower back muscles more. I can’t work on my kick with a pull buoy.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
At least as far as ITU rules go, that would be an illegal piece of equipment. You can’t wear wetsuit bottom only. Don’t know about USAT or WTC though.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
At least as far as ITU rules go, that would be an illegal piece of equipment. You can’t wear wetsuit bottom only. Don’t know about USAT or WTC though.
That is incorrect. If the race is wetsuit legal, you can wear these in ITU, USAT, and WTC. If the race is not wetsuit legal, you cannot.
Has anyone tried the Lava pants from Xterra? Offering a good bundle (pants, booties, bag, race belt) and was thinking about getting a pair. Supposedly replaces a pool buoy for pool swimming. Wondering if swimming in them would be too much of a crutch or seeing as I only swim for triathlon purposes and mainly wetsuit swims they would make sense. Thoughts?
When you reach for the pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “I would rather take 5 minutes to squeeze into a pair of pants right now?” When you are using a pull buoy, do you ever say to yourself “gee it would be nice if this worked better at keeping my legs up while I swim”. If so, you might love the Lava pants. If not, use the pull buoy.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
Disclaimer - the below is the opinion of a B/MOP Adult Onset Swimmer. Weight accordingly.
I have not used the Lava pants, do do use the Roka shorts (same concept, shorter legs). If, when you use Roka Sim shorts or Lava pants, you only treat them as a pull buoy and drag your legs behind you, then I would say the above is an accurate assessment.
However, for me, the advantage of the Roka shorts is that I still get to work on my kick while the shorts help put me in a better body position overall. This has helped my awareness of what feels “right” re: my hips and legs and also helped me use my lower back muscles more. I can’t work on my kick with a pull buoy.
I am in same boat as you. Older guy that picked up swimming. I still consider myself a beginner. Althought I understand why you would use the Roka shorts this way, I wonder if this actually benefitting you in the long run. It is hard to work on body position when something mechanical does it for you. That said, it is no worse then swimming in a wet suit. The problem comes when you have to race without a wetsuit and you wonder why you are a lot slower without it.
Anything in moderation and when used properly I suppose.
That being said, if you like the idea of racing in a pair of pants vs. a wetsuit, it might be an option. If it is a wetsuit legal swim, why would you opt for pants alone though?
At least as far as ITU rules go, that would be an illegal piece of equipment. You can’t wear wetsuit bottom only. Don’t know about USAT or WTC though.
That is incorrect. If the race is wetsuit legal, you can wear these in ITU, USAT, and WTC. If the race is not wetsuit legal, you cannot.
That is odd since it specifically says that •Wetsuit bottoms only are illegal equipment. I guess I misinterpreted that? At least the ITU 2013 rules states that.