GEAR | Open Water Swimming With The Swim Secure Floating Dry Bag Tow Float – Review

September 28, 2020 Shell Robshaw-Bryan

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For open water swimming a tow float is an essential bit of safety kit. Over the last few weeks I’ve been putting the Swim Secure floating dry bag to the test. Find out how I got on with it…

What is it?

Swim Secure Floating Dry Bag £27.99

Overall Rating (5 / 5)

Stockists

Drybags.co.uk

Features

Available in pink or orange
A variety of sizes are available, size small up to XL
Double airbag system
Tow float with an integrated dry bag
One way valve

What we thought

I took up open water swimming during lockdown and haven’t looked back since. I’ve steadily been amassing kit and a tow float was something I was delighted to finally get my hands on.

I was sent a Swim Secure dry bag from drybags.co.uk which doubles up as a float in bright pink, (to match my swimming gear). I’ve had the opportunity to use it several times and have been extremely happy with its performance.

*Swim Secure Floating Dry Bag used on a very dull, foggy day in Cornwall*

Blowing up the float is quick and easy. It takes less than a dozen breaths and the valves are one-way, which means you don’t have to worry about air leaking out, so there’s no awkward mad panic to try and screw the cap on to stop air escaping.

When using any new dry bag I’m always a little cautious, starting off with my car keys and eventually trusting it enough to put my phone inside. This dry bag works like any other, pop anything you want to keep on you and safe inside, then roll the top down a few times before clipping it securely in place.

Pros

Quick to blow up
Thick and sturdy
Drybag function works very well
One way valve for easy inflation
Very bright colour for great visibility even in very dull conditions
Easy to attach around the waist
No drag that I noticed

Cons

None that I can think of!

The verdict

Our Rating

Quality 5/5

Practicality 5/5

Looks 5/5

Value 5/5

Overall Rating (5 / 5)

This being my first ever a tow float, I have nothing to directly compare the Swim Secure float to, but I do have plenty of dry bags so I can draw comparison in that respect and this is sturdy and capable and keeps anything you put inside bone dry and safe.

Having swum in really dull and foggy conditions, I can confirm that the float is highly visible and really does stand out even from quite some distance, so from a safety point of view, it’s brilliant and does exactly what it needs to do.

As a relatively novice open water swimmer, it did make me feel more confident in the water and although I occasionally felt the bag knock my leg as I swam, I didn’t notice any drag from it.

Although relatively buoyant in my winter wetsuit, I did stop swimming momentarily to hold onto the float, and it was extremely capable at keeping me afloat whilst I repositioned my goggles mid-swim.

Having used this on my last few open water swims, I don’t ever intend taking to the water without it! It’s excellent value, reassuringly sturdy and well-made and the colour really stands out, so from a safety point of view, the float makes me feel safer and more secure when out in the water, making it a must for open water swimming.