I live in front of a lake and swim often alone. I am just off the shore in a roped in area but its early and no one is out…so still exposed to a super random boat drive by or a cramp/cardiac moment.
Any advice on a buoy that night be a good idea for visibility and or to grab on to? Swim it looks lame and doubt should a cardiac moment happen that is going to work…the pull behind bouy dry bag would not hold me up should I need it hold on…
Should I call up Baywatch for one of their buoys? thanks.
We bought one fron kiefer that we blow up and trail behind us. We use for all non-race open water swimming. You can get it online.
Yep. This one may do
http://stores.ebay.com/Kiefer-com-Welcome-All-Swimmers/Triathlon-Gear-/_i.html?_fsub=751258012
Good lord, triathletes aren’t happy unless they are spending big bucks for some specially designed product. Go to your local dollar store and buy a pack of balloons. Blow one up and tie it to your wetsuit zipper.
Smart asses drown too. Look at’’ The Swim It’’ I have one. I actually got it for Kona. Doing practice swims in the ocean there, there are no life guards. You get into trouble you are SOL!
Thanks for the chuckles on the smart ass answer…I am a strong swimmer but a long time ago I got a calf cramp in the middle of a lake alone. No problem and I worked it out, but I saw how things could go…and once you have kids you start to plan more for contingencies. Appreciate the comments, train safe.
Thanks for the chuckles on the smart ass answer…I am a strong swimmer but a long time ago I got a calf cramp in the middle of a lake alone. No problem and I worked it out, but I saw how things could go…and once you have kids you start to plan more for contingencies. Appreciate the comments, train safe.
I also live on a lake an train solo most of the time. I actually wear a pink or red cap and drag a bright (usually pink I have girls) boogies board behind me. Last weekend I had a jet ski headed straight at me and I held the Boogie board up to get the drivers attention, it actually was a police on early patrol. He complemented me on my safety awareness. Note for all the smart asses, I do have my “man card” but believe in training safely…good luck!
Good lord, triathletes aren’t happy unless they are spending big bucks for some specially designed product. Go to your local dollar store and buy a pack of balloons. Blow one up and tie it to your wetsuit zipper.
While normally I tend to agree with you, this seems like a sensible purchase. Not to mention that party balloons aren’t exactly made to be relied on as a safety device.
I’m in the same situation–I live along a lake and swim alone. Some years ago, I bought from Kiefer.com a “rescue can” (the common name for the orange thingies on Baywatch). I highly recommend getting one. It comes in handy when you need to stop to fix your goggles or take a break. I also wear a white swim cap. And to top it off, I wear a life vest that will instantly inflate (from an attached CO2 cartridge) if I pull a safety cord. All of this may sound excessive, but I feel about as safe as one can while swimming in open water. I’ve never had a problem being visible to boaters, as far as I know. Of course, this stuff will slow down your swimming significantly, but I always viewed the additional resistance as beneficial in making me a stronger swimmer.
Check out the safer swimmer buoy from ishof.org. I’ve used it for years and it works great. I’ve grabbed onto it for fun and it holds me just fine. It adds an additional visibility marker for others and doesn’t get in the way. There is also a dry area so I can have my keys with me in case there are people on shore that I just don’t feel like trusting. Great product at a great price.
Scott
I also live on a lake an train solo most of the time. I actually wear a pink or red cap…
About 5% of males are red-green color blind and don’t perceive red as the same vibrant color as the rest of the population. Yellow may be a better “look at me” color.
The two main choices cover different areas. The Swim It is technically a life-saving device, but as you noted doesn’t do anything for you as far as getting hit by a boat. It’s there in case you need to create a life-jacket for yourself.
The Safer Swimmer buoy is there to try and keep you from getting hit by a boat. It also has the handy benefit of being able to stuff items inside (wallet, cell phone, etc…).
Having both (but not used them together), I swim with the Safer Swimmer buoy if I’m swimming someplace boats could hit me (i.e. across a lake). I don’t bother using it if I’m on a buoy’d area where no boat traffic would be. There’s not really any drag that you’re likely going to feel in an openwater setting (vs waves). And it’s cheap.
I live in front of a lake and swim often alone. I am just off the shore in a roped in area but its early and no one is out…so still exposed to a super random boat drive by or a cramp/cardiac moment.
Any advice on a buoy that night be a good idea for visibility and or to grab on to? Swim it looks lame and doubt should a cardiac moment happen that is going to work…the pull behind bouy dry bag would not hold me up should I need it hold on…
Should I call up Baywatch for one of their buoys? thanks.
I highly recommend using a rashie in a bright color and I use the Safer Swimmer thingie. I’m sure someone will link it but I’ll link to Rob’s review as it absolutely rocked. My experience in swells, crashing waves and calm (not yet this year, but there is hope) is that you will definitely ALWAYS feel the tug of it but I figure that is just more drag and better for training. Mine has started leaking and they are apparently shipping out a replacement that I hope to get muled down here so the customer service is great also.
Also like the Kiefer Safe Swimmer. Originally bought for my Mother in Law who does solo lake swims - she’s almost 80 and still loves to get out and swim. After I saw it and used it once, I bought one for myself. Here is the link - I prefer the medium size. http://www.kiefer.com/kiefer-safer-swimmer-buoy-products-279.php
that’s what I use but I find this statement to be wrong “The Safer Swimmer swim safety device will not interfere with swimming,”. I’ve had the bouy hit me in the head, get wrapped up in my arms and sometimes I kick it. i do swim in swells and crashing waves though.
I went to the swim director at my local YMCA and asked him if he had any old life guard rescue tubes they do not use any more and if so, could I get one. I explained that I wanted one to tow behind me when open water swimming so I had something to rest on if I needed it and for some extra visibility. He gladly went to the storage room and brought back an older rescue tube they no longer used. It had a couple crackes in it, but I just got some yellow duct tape and wrapped the cracks. The tube is life guard red and now the yellow duct tape gives it some extra contrast for visibility. I have a total of $3 into it.
If by safety device you mean something to keep you from drowning - you’re wearing a wetsuit. If I do no swimming at all my entire head stays above water. If you’re calling into question the possibility of the balloon popping, sure that’s possible, but I’ve been using one for years with no pops. Feel free to splurge on the deluxe balloons if ya like. To each his/her own.
I used a red kick board with surgical tubing tied to my waist . This was years ago when wetsuits were just for diving! You can also get your kick set in while your out there