10 Best Swim Buoy For Open Water 2025 in the United States

The New Wave Swim Bubble offers excellent buoyancy, making it a reliable safety option for open water swimmers and triathletes. With its bright Fluo Green color, it significantly enhances visibility, ensuring you're easily spotted by boats and other watercraft. Weighing just 8 ounces, this buoy is lightweight and easy to tow without adding drag, which enhances comfort and ease of use during swims.

However, it lacks a storage compartment, meaning you can't carry items like your phone or keys with you while swimming. The material, polyvinyl chloride, contributes to its durability, ensuring it can withstand regular use in open waters. While it's not a replacement for a life vest, it provides a good balance of safety and convenience. Ideal for those who prioritize visibility and buoyancy over storage capacity.

The HIEMAL32 Swim Buoy for Open Water with Dry Bag 15L is designed to enhance safety and convenience for open water swimmers. One of its major strengths is its high visibility; the bright 'Furnace Orange' color and reflective elements make it easy to spot in various conditions, which is crucial for safety. The buoyancy support is impressive, accommodating up to 190 lbs, and the robust recovery handle allows for easy rest periods, adding to its comfort and ease of use.

The 15L storage capacity is ample for carrying essentials like clothing, keys, and a phone, and the dry bag feature ensures your items remain completely dry, thanks to the waterproof interior and durable nylon PVC exterior. This makes the buoy particularly useful for one-way swims where you need to carry your belongings with you. Durability is another highlight, with the toughened nylon material designed to withstand extreme conditions and rigorous use.

At 0.43 kilograms, some might find it slightly heavy compared to simpler buoys without storage capabilities. Additionally, while the dual direction valve aids in easy inflation and deflation, it might require some practice to use efficiently. The buoy comes with a waist tether leash, which adds to its practicality but might feel restrictive to some swimmers. This buoy is well-suited for all-season swimmers who value visibility, durability, and the ability to keep their belongings dry during swims.

The New Wave Swim Buoy stands out in several key areas for open water swimming. Its bright neon green color ensures high visibility, making it easy to spot by boaters, paddlers, and other water users. This is crucial for safety, especially in busy or low-visibility waters. The buoy is also designed to serve as a flotation device, providing swimmers a safe place to rest if they need a break or experience cramps. This buoyancy feature adds an extra layer of safety for long swims or triathlon training.

The buoy is lightweight at just 10 ounces, making it easy to bring along without adding significant weight or bulk. It fastens comfortably to the waist with a belt and tether line, which helps with ease of use and ensures it stays securely attached during the swim. The New Wave Swim Buoy also offers practical storage capacity, with a separate compartment for personal items like goggles, sunscreen, or even small electronics in waterproof bags. This feature is particularly useful for point-to-point swims where you need to carry your essentials with you.

Made from durable polyvinyl chloride, the buoy is designed to withstand harsh water conditions and regular use, contributing to its longevity. However, it's important to note that while it provides added buoyancy and visibility, it is not a replacement for a personal flotation device (PFD) or life vest. For those engaged in activities like kayaking or paddleboarding, additional flotation gear should still be used. The New Wave Swim Buoy is a highly visible, practical, and durable option for open water swimmers, triathletes, and other water sports enthusiasts, offering both safety and convenience.