TEKRASPORT TEKRA POD

£115 Swim aid revolutionising open-water safety?

Many of us will be familiar with tow floats for openwater swimming now. A brightly-coloured inflatable, they tie around your waist and bob after you to show where you are in the water and be there for you to lean on if you need a breather or some assistance. Developed in Ireland by a keen Ironman athlete, Tekra Pod aims to move the swim buoy concept to a higher level by offering more versatility and features.

One key point is that you wear this like a harness with the ‘inflatable’ on your back, out of the way. It’s then operated by a CO2 canister should you need it. Not only does this take away the ‘embarrassment factor’ (which some feel) of using a tow float, but it also means you don’t notice it when swimming, even in choppy water where a tow float would often be irritating or impede your stroke. Once inflated, the pod releases a three-foot-long yellow float that you can hold onto, pass to someone in trouble, or wave in the air to attract attention. There’s also a whistle, which will undoubtedly help with that last point.

We initially wondered if the lack of every-swim visibility was a pitfall, but TekraSport points out that the benefit of a float only inflated in an emergency is that it’s immediately apparent you need support. Also, if you’re using a tow float for visibility in an area populated by watercraft, you should probably consider looking for a safer spot to swim! The other key benefit is that the Tekra Pod is race legal. tekrasport.com