Tow Float Elite

Are all tow floats created equal? This Elite makes a splash because it’s one of very few with an external mesh pocket (to hold a small water bottle or those all-important jelly babies). And for this reason alone, it’s an excellent choice. But there's a better alternative.The mesh pocket will only hold a minnow-like water bottle. If you have a whale-sized bottle, it will cause the Elite to flip pocket-side down. If you want to carry a better amount to drink, the  Orca Safety Buoy with Hydration Bladder  excels, and this Orca is significantly better built too.While the build quality doesn’t feel high, Swim Secure avoids using any metal clips. My previous Ulu tow float was beautifully built but used a metal carabiner to hold the strap to the float. After a year’s sea swimming, the Ulu's carabiner fell apart (mid-swim!) due to corrosion. Swim Secure Elite has no rusty worries because it avoids metal parts. However, the Elite drops one star because it lacks a watertight compartment for storing your keys, phone, etc.While the Elite is a great choice among a sea of alternative tow floats, it loses out to the  Orca Safety Buoy with Hydration Bladder . The latter has the higher build quality (incl. no rust-prone parts), a better hydration system, plus a watertight storage compartment. It's the one to buy.