THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE 360SWIM BUOY: SAFETY WITHOUT DRAG

Review Summary: 360swim Buoy

Overall Rating

5/5

Buy on 360swim

The essential safety device for every open water swimmer. It provides visibility and rest without creating drag. The dry bag feature solves the problem of leaving valuables on the beach.

✅ Pros

• Zero drag while swimming
• High visibility for safety
• Waterproof dry bag for valuables
• Durable TPU/Nylon material

❌ Cons

• None (essential gear)

Detailed Score Breakdown

Safety

5 / 5

Material

5 / 5

Comfort

5 / 5

Value

5 / 5

Safety often takes a backseat in swimming. We have life vests and armbands for non-swimmers, but for competitive or fitness swimmers, there was nothing that didn't ruin your stroke, until now.

The 360swim Buoy is a revolutionary device that keeps you safe without hindering your performance. It's a bright orange buoy that trails behind you, offering visibility and a place to rest, plus a dry bag for your gear.

Dive Into: The 360swim Buoy Review

• What Is It and How Does It Work?
• The Physics of No Drag
• The Dry Bag: Keep Your Stuff Safe
• Material Matters: PVC vs. TPU
• How to Use It (Step-by-Step)
  • 🎥 Watch: Assembly Guide
  • 🎥 Watch: Switch Strokes with the Buoy
• 8 Ways to Use Your Float
• Care Instructions
• Summary: The Verdict
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Is It and How Does It Work?

The 360swim Buoy is an inflatable float attached to your waist by an adjustable belt. It floats in the current behind you.

Safety Function:

• Visibility: Its bright orange color makes you visible to boats, jet skis, and lifeguards. Open water swimmers usually wear a colorful swim cap to be seen, but caps are small and often hidden by waves. The buoy makes a much bigger statement in the deep blue.
• Rest: If you get a cramp, get tired, or just need a break, you can grab onto the float and rest.

The Physics of No Drag

You might think dragging a balloon behind you would slow you down. It doesn't.

When you swim, your body creates a turbulent wave (wake) behind you. The buoy floats on top of this wake. Because the water in the wake is already moving in the direction you are swimming, the buoy creates virtually zero resistance.

It's the same principle as drafting in cycling. You won't even feel it's there.

The Dry Bag: Keep Your Stuff Safe

There is more though. The buoy features a built-in waterproof dry compartment.

This solves the biggest problem for open water swimmers: "What do I do with my keys?" Instead of hiding them under a car tire or leaving them on the beach, you take them with you. You can store your towel, phone, keys, sunglasses, or running shoes. Your mind can focus on swimming instead of worrying about thieves.

For longer swims, you can use the Grab Bag model, which allows you to access nutrition and hydration while you are in the water.

Material Matters: PVC vs. TPU

Not all buoys are created equal. Cheap imitations use PVC, which degrades quickly and is bad for the environment.

The 360swim Ultra Buoy model uses TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane).

• Stronger: More durable and resistant to salt and sun.
• Eco-Friendlier: TPU is biodegradable.
• Better Value: It lasts much longer than PVC versions.

How to Use It (Step-by-Step)

To assemble the buoy and put it into use is as simple as 1,2,3. It takes about 1 minute of your time, including filling the dry bag with your desired items.

1. Fill: Put your items in the dry bag compartment.
2. Seal: Roll the top down 4 times towards the inflator tube and clip the buckle.
3. Inflate: Blow into the valve to inflate the air chamber.
4. Clip: Attach the waist belt and go swim!

🎥 Watch: Assembly Guide

In the below video, you can see how the drybag buoy is used:

🎥 Watch: Switch Strokes with the Buoy

The waist belt is adjustable and fits well even over wetsuits. If you position the buckle to the side, you can easily switch between freestyle and backstroke without the belt getting in your way.

8 Ways to Use Your Float

The tow float is versatile. Here are 8 distinct ways you can utilize it:

1) Open Water Safety: If you are an avid ocean, sea, lake, or river swimmer, you never know what currents, cramps, or other irregularities could occur. As they say, better safe than sorry.

On top of that, you have to remember that most of the time you are not alone and the marine traffic does need to be aware of your while you swim.

2) Swim Lessons: If you are a novice or a beginner swimmer who is afraid of water, this device is the answer. Simply attach it to your waist and do your exercises. When you feel scared or tired, just grab onto the buoy, roll on your back, and float to gather composure.

3) Children Safety: Safety around the pool is basic education. If you are worried about letting your kids swim, the 360swim buoy is a good backup solution. It does not hinder your child's body positioning like arm floaties, though you should never let kids swim unsupervised.

4) Snorkeling: Now everyone can enjoy floating above the coral reef without the fear of fatigue or drowning. Just strap the safety product around your waist and get lost in the wonders of the underwater world without worrying a boat will run into you or that you are far from shore without the ability to take a small break.

5) Swim Trekking & Island Hopping: Even if you are an advanced swimmer pushing the limits, taking the float is smart. Even if it is just for the sake of having some dry items with you. Some of the larger buoy models can fit a sleeping bag, trekking shoes and even a small tent.

6) SwimRun: When you train for SwimRun races, it is important to keep hydrated and fed. The smaller version of the swim buoy is a perfect solution. It can even be attached over the shoulder during your runs.

Alternatively, you can opt-in for a buoy with backpack straps, but that is a bit of an overkill.

7) Kayaking & Boating: The float has air inside, so it will trail behind a kayak or canoe just as easily as a swimmer. If you are running out of space in the boat or simply want to keep your beer cool in the water, tow the float behind you!

8) Group Swimming: If the leader and a few other people in a group wear these tow floats, it is easy for everyone else to navigate. The fastest swimmers know where the end of the group is, and stragglers can see how far ahead the leaders are.

9) Race Management: Open water swimming and triathlon races have risen in popularity in recent years and with it also the danger of someone not judging their skills properly and entering a race they should not be in.

The 360swim buoys are a good tool for the organizers to help keep a certain aspect of safety for the event as well as a nice memory product for the participants to take with them home after the race.

I'd urge all event organizers to consider using these safety buoys to promote safe swimming.

The buoys can be easily custom printed with event and sponsor logos.

10) Vacation: Keep your valuables with you while swimming at the beach.

Care Instructions

Storing the SaferSwimmer is easy. If you swam in salty water, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water to prolong the life of the material. Deflate it, dry it (ideally not in direct sunlight), and fold it up.

Summary: The Verdict

All and all, the 360swim buoy is a great addition to the swimming or snorkeling gear kit for anybody who wants to feel safer in the water. It basically serves as a cycling helmet for open water swimming. It's an essential piece of safety gear that no open water swimmer should be without.