Description
The Elite features a perimeter rope to make holding the float easier while accessing the contents of the mesh bag. The hydrodynamic shape results in virtually zero drag and the air valves are high up the float to further reduce friction.
With marathon and endurance swims becoming more popular the Elite is the perfect way to access hydration and nutrition during a swim, and to safely store empty packaging.
PLEASE NOTE: The Elite has an external mesh storage pocket only, and will not keep items dry. Heavy items like water bottles may cause the Elite to flip pocket-side down. To minimise the likelihood of this happening space contents evenly in the pocket – towards the sides and bottom if possible – and release some air from both chambers.
Peter –
Prior to my purchase, I spent a lot of time trying to work out how there was bias to make the mesh side stay on top. All the pictures and videos had it down. However, the description claims that “Heavy items like water bottles may cause the Elite to flip pocket-side down”, implying that it should stay up.
The truth of it is, a few evenly spaced gels will flip it pocket-side down. On inspection of the tow-float itself, this is exactly as one would expect. There is nothing to suggest that the mesh should stay on top. On testing, I tried to start off slowly with it pocket-side up, but it just flips every time.
It is very easy to get to the gels (comparing to the doughnut).
I can’t say whether this is a major downside without measuring the difference in drag. Secure swim claim that “it is said the bow wave that is created by your shoulders and upper body creates an eddy behind you, which actually pushes the buoy forward, so it virtually eliminates any possibility of drag”. However, on watching videos of someone swimming with a tow-float, it’s clear that this is not true – there is a wake caused by the tow-float itself – hence there is drag. This observation was subsequently confirmed by chatting to someone with experience in swim tours who allows weaker swimmers to swim without tow-floats to help them keep up.
Conclusion: Expect the pocket to flip down every time. I can’t say exactly how bad that is, but it does contradict the description.