So my question is, are there any rules against using a pull buoy in a triathlon? The reason I ask is that I’m faster using one under all circumstances… like a lot faster. For example, in a recent swim meet I swam the 1000 and 500 and didn’t break 1:20/100yd pace in either event. Yesterday at practice we did a set of 24 X 100 on the 1:20 and I pulled every one of them between 1:12 and 1:15… I know the reason why I’m slower swimming but after many, many years of trying to fix my stroke I’ve come to terms that I’m just faster pulling. There would be obvious benefits besides going way faster pulling. So is it illegal?? Anyone ever done it?
completely illegal, DQ for you. It’s considered a swim aid.
Does anyone know of certain wetsuits with more or less neutral buoyancy?
Just stuff your wetsuit with styrofoam cut into the shapes of MONSTROUS quad muscles.
HAHA! I’ll start the stuffing process immediately!
That is pretty much the point of the wetsuit, right? The rules say “no swim or propulsion aids”, so I would assume that would qualify.
Is there some reason you would prefer a buoy to a wetsuit? I am not faster with a buoy, but, I can go a lot longer. However, like most people, I am a lot faster and can go a lot further with a wetsuit. Why would you not just wear a wetsuit?
There’s something the pull buoy does to my stroke that keeps my core very streamline that I can’t duplicate with a wetsuit. I’m definitely faster with a wetsuit than without. I’m just the fastest with a pull buoy.
That’s kinda odd, but, I can see how that could happen.
Emilio posted earlier that DeSoto was coming out with a “wet suit pant” for lack of a better word. It is “pants” that go from hip to mid-calf. That might work for you. Check out DeSoto’s website.
Are you basically saying that you “let your legs sink/drag”?
I would ask the swim gurus here some questions about “pressing the T” or possibly increases lower back/stabilizer muscles so that your legs stay closer to the top of the water.
Count me in as one who doesn’t swim much faster with a buoy … but swims with less effort.
Tell you what, you can use the pull buoy on the swim if I can use roller blades on the run. I’m much faster on them. I’ve tried to fix my run but…
The new QR Superfull has the VPB (Virtual Pull Buoy). It basically builds a pull buoy into the wetsuit (not a real one - done with different kinds of neoprene), so it lifts your butt right up in the air. Sounds like exactly what you are looking for. Bad news, you’ll have to wait until early next season to buy it…
Nothing against QR, but that is BS. Maybe next year Orbea can add a virtual gas pedal to my bike. Wetsuits are supposed to keep you warm, not turn you into Michael Phelps.
So my question is, are there any rules against using a pull buoy in a triathlon? The reason I ask is that I’m faster using one under all circumstances… like a lot faster. For example, in a recent swim meet I swam the 1000 and 500 and didn’t break 1:20/100yd pace in either event. Yesterday at practice we did a set of 24 X 100 on the 1:20 and I pulled every one of them between 1:12 and 1:15…
Were you leading the lane during those 100s?
Does anyone know of certain wetsuits with more or less neutral buoyancy?
It seems strange that you’d want to use a pull buoy but then look for a wetsuit with neutral buoyancy. I’d think you’d be looking to float your legs with the wetsuit just like the pull buoy does.
Nothing against QR, but that is BS. Maybe next year Orbea can add a virtual gas pedal to my bike. Wetsuits are supposed to keep you warm, not turn you into Michael Phelps.
Hmmm, you need to go hang out with some marketing folks some more. The purpose of a wetsuit now is to make me swim faster, so people like you have less of an advantage… 
A wetsuit can be a huge body position aid; whether or not that is “right” is something for other people to discuss…
It’s like bike helmets. They are supposed to keep your brains inside your head, but they’ve evolved into something that also makes you faster…
If Orbea added a virtual gas pedal, or Asics added a virtual Gebresellasie, would you not use it? 
I know the wetsuit guys are trying to make the wetsuits faster, and I guess they are playing by the rules. But, I still think it’s crap.
I’m in the same boat you are iheartfestina.
If I had a choice between a wetsuit,or a pull buoy for an IM swim I would choose the pull buoy.
I am really that much faster with a PB.
But as TT said you/me need to work more on our form(pushing the T,etc.),instead of having to rely on swim aids to make us faster.
A question for the swim Gurus.
Would swimming with a band around my ankles help ?
A fellow high school swimming, Josh Ries, was a lot faster when he swam with a pull buoy. Wierd but true. Sounds like you’re the same. You’re right, you’re not going to change.
Use the wetsuit.
swimming with the band would tend to make your legs sink a few inches and drag…have you ever used a band in the pool?
You’ll notice that if you use a pull buoy without a band you are significantly faster than if you use the band, just from the small kicks you do that help keep your legs on the surface on the water.
wetsuit companies making wetsuits faster by making people float in their hips just sounds like pharmaceutical companies making PEDs that are untestable.
I’m with keundig on this argument.