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The 7 best swim buoys 2024?

by Tim

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Whether for a triathlon, open water swimming or to keep an eye on the children. Swimming buoys prove to be extremely useful. The signal colors make the buoys easy to spot even from a distance.

Which buoys are good?

Use our checklist to find out what to look out for when buying. Our recommendations provide an overview of the 7 best models 2024 and reviews them against each other. Nothing stands in the way of a safe summer in the water.

Contents:

  1. Recommendation: The best swimming buoys 2024 in review.
  2. Checklist: These features are important.
  3. Bestseller: Overview of the most popular pull buoys.
  4. FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about floating buoys.

Review of the best swimming buoys 2024

How do we rate? Our experts thoroughly research and evaluate each recommendation. We take into account the most important product features, adherence to quality standards, prices, customer reviews, our own experiences, and much more. Learn more about our process.

1st best swim buoy with drying compartment

Premium security
Restube floating buoy*

    The restube 12.5L buoy offers excellent safety and practicality for open water swimmers and water sports enthusiasts.

    What we like:

    • Ready-to-handle buoyancy
    • Dry bag for safe storage
    • Easy to inflate with 3-4 breaths
    • High-quality, robust workmanship
    • Versatile and expandable
    • Very visible in the water
    What we don’t like:

    • Higher price in review to simple swimming buoys
    • Long-term durability test still pending

    Why we like it:

    In our test, the restube 12.5L buoy proved to be an indispensable safety device for open water swimmers. Particularly impressive is the reliable buoyancy, which is quickly to hand in an emergency.

    Inflating the buoy is effortless with just 3-4 breaths. The buoyancy force is sufficient to keep an adult person safely afloat. With my 80 kg, I had no problem keeping my head above water.

    We tested the buoy in the open sea off Portugal and were impressed by its stability and the protection it offers, and another highlight is the integrated dry bag, which kept our valuables safe and dry.

    The buoy is characterized by a robust and high-quality workmanship and is made of PVC-free material. This clearly distinguishes them from many competing products.

    The self-closing valve and the safety break point offer additional safety and confidence in the buoy.

    Recommended for:

    The restube 12.5L buoy is ideal for anyone who regularly swims in open water, be it in triathlons, kayaking or other water sports.

    Thanks to its high visibility, it offers additional safety, which makes it particularly attractive for beginners and amateur swimmers. This buoy is also an excellent choice for experienced athletes who value high-quality equipment.

    The option to expand the buoy with various add-ons such as camera mounts or LED lights makes it a versatile companion for any water sports activity.

    2nd best swimming buoy with dry bag

    Spacious
    LimitlessXme floating buoy & dry bag*

      This swim buoy has a capacity of 28 liters and is made of durable PVC. If problems do arise, customer support is always on hand to help. However, the cell phone case supplied is not as high quality as the buoy itself.

      What we like:

      • Capacity
      • Fastening strap
      • Service
      • Pack size
      • Weight
      What we don’t like:

      • Cell phone case

      Why we like it: Swim safely and take the most important things with you? No problem with this swimming buoy. The buoy is divided into a dry bag and an air chamber. Cell phone and keys or a small towel can be safely stored in the dry bag. The filled air chamber keeps the buoy afloat.

      Recommended for: This buoy is suitable if you are also looking for a spacious drying compartment for valuables or clothing.

      3. best floating buoy two air chambers

      Safe
      PENGDA swim buoy 25L*

        The Pengda brand swimming buoy has a volume of 25 liters and thus offers enough space for shoes or additional clothing. The buoy can be rolled up to save space during transportation. In order not to lose it, it has a cord with a hip belt, which is only 1 meter long.

        What we like:

        • Robustness
        • Size
        • Security
        • Pack size
        What we don’t like:

        • Cord length

        Why we like it: Safety comes first here: the two air chambers make this swimming buoy particularly safe. If one air chamber is damaged and loses air, the second still holds enough air and keeps the floats afloat.

        Recommended for: This buoy is suitable if you are looking for a particularly safe model with a waist belt for attachment.

        4. best highly visible swimmnig buoy

        Light
        ProCase swimming buoy*

          This buoy measures 19 x 15 x 1 cm and is made of high-quality PVC with nylon. It has 2 air chambers, which makes it float particularly well. It has a volume of 28 liters for stowing equipment. A hip belt with a maximum length of 127 cm ensures that the buoy does not get lost.

          What we like:

          • Hip belt
          • Signal color
          • Longevity
          What we don’t like:

          • Price

          Why we like it: The neon color of the swimming buoy makes it easily visible from afar. Out of the water, the buoy can be carried as a bag using a shoulder strap. There is enough space in the buoy’s dry compartment for all the small items you need and a waterproof cell phone case is also included in the set.

          Recommended for: This buoy is suitable if you are looking for a light and reliable buoy.

          5th best swimming buoy with whistle

          Two-colored
          Dippy WILD swimming buoy*

            The Dippy floating buoy itself weighs only 25 g and is very safe thanks to the 2 air chambers. It is made of PVC and nylon, which makes it very robust and durable. Although its size means it offers little storage space, it can also be stowed away to save space.

            What we like:

            • Optics
            • Security
            • Longevity
            • Weight
            What we don’t like:

            • Storage space

            Why we like it: No more power? Then this swim buoy is our recommendation. The buoy not only offers support through buoyancy, but is also easily recognizable in white water sports thanks to its two-tone signal look.

            Recommended for: This buoy is ideal if you are looking for a two-color and safe buoy for beginners and advanced riders.

            6. best swimming buoy for children

            Compact
            Joto swim buoy*

              The Joto swim buoys can be easily inflated and quickly deflated using the nozzle. They are made of high-quality PVC but, according to customer reviews, show signs of wear after 1 to 2 years. Nevertheless, they are safe and can be worn comfortably around the hips with a belt.

              What we like:

              • Security
              • Structure
              • Pack size
              • Color selection
              What we don’t like:

              • Longevity

              Why we like it: The children have disappeared from view again? Not with these swim buoys from JOTO. Available in a two-pack and in different colors, these swimming buoys are just the thing to keep children in sight even in the sea.

              Recommended for: Due to their size, these buoys are particularly suitable for children.

              7th best swimming buoy with handle

              Practical
              Naturehike 28L swimming buoy*

                The Naturehike swimming buoy is available in green, pink and orange signal colors and is made of environmentally friendly and durable PVC. The swim bladder offers a buoyancy of 18 kg, but according to customers, it takes longer to inflate this buoy than other models.

                What we like:

                • Robustness
                • Security
                • Portability
                • Weight
                What we don’t like:

                • Inflate

                Why we like it: This swimming buoy from Naturehike features a sturdy handle on the side of the buoy. If you become exhausted during the swim, simply hold on to it and rest briefly. They also have an adjustable hip belt.

                Recommended for: This buoy is suitable if a buoy with handle and waist belt is preferred.

                Swimming buoy checklist: These features are important in the test

                • Bag: Many of the buoys offer a dry compartment for taking small items into the water. So your cell phone and wallet don’t have to be left on the beach. Some bags are even big enough for shoes or towels.
                • Color: One of the main tasks of the buoys is to be clearly visible. Make sure that the color is intense and bright so that it is clearly visible in the water.
                • Air chambers: The volume of the air chambers determines how much buoyancy the buoy provides. A larger volume provides buoyancy for more weight, 25 to 28 liters should be enough for an adult. Some buoys have two air chambers, so if one breaks, the second will continue to provide protection.

                Did you know? These are the best automatic lifejackets at 2024.

                Bestsellers: The most popular swimming buoys

                What do others buy? In our bestseller list, we present the TOP 11 most purchased offers. The selection is updated daily.

                (**Last update 2024-12-03)

                FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers

                swimming buoys-faq

                How does a swimming buoy work?

                Swimming buoys are air-filled plastic bags that are fastened around the upper body with a belt. When swimming, the bag remains above the water. The bright color of the bag makes it easier to see swimmers in the sea. In the event of fatigue, the buoy serves as a buoyancy aid.

                What do good swimming buoys cost?

                Good buoys cost between 10 and 60 $. Even items with a low price are extremely useful and fulfill their purpose.

                Where can you buy good buoys?

                Online suppliers such as Amazon offer a wide range of swim buoys. There is also a seasonal selection of models at empty or Lidl.

                What is the best swimming buoy?

                Which is the best buoy depends on what your personal requirements are. Some have integrated drying compartments or whistles, which can be useful, but are not a must. Our checklist highlights important features that should be taken into account.

                Is there a test from Stiftung Warentest or Ökotest for swimming buoys?

                Stiftung Warentest and Ökotest have not yet published a review of swimming buoys and have therefore not chosen a test winner. Our bestseller list contains the most popular models among buyers.

                What alternatives are there to swimming buoys?

                As an alternative to a buoy, a life jacket is also recommended. This also offers good buoyancy and is also available in signal colors for better visibility in the water. However, buoys often have an additional drying compartment for valuables or clothing.

                Editor's note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author alone. The content has not been endorsed, reviewed, approved, or in any way financially supported by any advertiser. We only include products we believe to be useful. How we work

                *Price includes VAT, plus shipping. Customer reviews, prices, delivery times and costs may change in the meantime. By linking to selected online shops and partners, we may receive a small affiliate commission. There are no additional costs for you.

                Tim

                Tim has been surfing and paddling for over 20 years and is known from FitForFun, FreshSurf, and Zeitjung. Whether surfing in Portugal, snorkeling in Greece or wakeboarding in Germany ... one thing is certain: you'll definitely find him in the water!

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