A tow float is a bright, buoyant bag that trails behind you on a line. The RNLI says to take one with you when sea swimming or dipping, because it helps you be seen and can act as extra buoyancy, and you can hold onto it to rest. It supports a safe swim. It does not replace swimming with other people, choosing a lifeguarded beach or knowing your limits.
What the safety bodies actually say
The RNLI's open water swimming page says to take a tow float, wear a brightly coloured swimming hat so you are easier to see, and consider a wetsuit for warmth and buoyancy. It also advises arranging to go with a buddy, telling someone onshore where you are going and when you will be back, and choosing a lifeguarded beach.
A joint seasonal dip appeal from the Irish Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI, published on 22 December 2025, repeats the pairing. Its list for winter dips includes wearing bright headwear and using a tow float so you are easier to spot, swimming with others and staying within your ability, and calling 999 or 112 and asking for the Coast Guard if you or someone else is in trouble.
What a tow float is and is not
| It can | It cannot |
|---|---|
| Make you more visible to boats, other swimmers and people on shore | Rescue you or call for help on its own |
| Give extra buoyancy and something to hold while you rest | Be relied on as a lifejacket; the sources consulted do not present it as one |
| Carry small items such as a key or phone if it has a dry compartment | Protect a phone from every leak; check the maker's description |
| Mark your position for a buddy on shore | Replace a lifeguard, a buddy or a plan |
Because the sources describe a tow float as extra buoyancy, not a flotation device with a rated capacity, it is worth being honest about the limit. If you feel unable to cope, the RNLI's Float to Live advice, covered in cold water shock and Float to Live, still applies: stay calm, lean back and breathe until the shock passes.
Choosing a tow float
No sourced product standard for tow floats was found for this article, so the practical checks below are common-sense points, not regulatory requirements.
- Colour: bright, such as orange or yellow, so it stands out against grey water and white spray.
- Attachment: a waist belt that you can release quickly, and a line long enough that it does not tangle with your kicks. Check how the clip works with cold hands.
- Size: large enough to be seen, small enough not to drag you in a current.
- Seams and valves: look for sturdy seams and a valve that closes firmly, if it inflates.
- Dry compartment: if you plan to carry a phone, check the maker's claims and test with a dry tissue before going near deep water.
Compare euro prices including delivery and read the return policy, as many swimmers buy on the strength of reviews that cannot be checked. A float that fails when you need it offers no value, so buy from a retailer with clear returns.
A short list of other safety kit
The RNLI page names the hat, tow float and wetsuit. Beyond that, the sources consulted do not set a mandatory kit list, so check Swim Ireland's open water safety guide for the current recommendations. As a reasonable baseline:
- Bright (hi-vis) swim hat, plus a spare hat for afterwards (the Swim Ireland guide suggests one or two bright silicone hats, as spares help).
- A whistle clipped to the float, a flask of something warm, a non-slip changing mat and swim socks for slippery entries.
- Tow float.
- A watch or stopwatch to track your time in the water, as the Swim Ireland winter guide advises.
- A phone kept somewhere dry onshore, with someone who knows your plan. A phone left in a bag on the beach cannot help a swimmer in the water, so give it to your shore watcher or carry it in a pouch on the float.
- Post-swim warmth: robe, dry clothes, hot drink. See changing robes and post-swim kit.
How a tow float fits into a safe swim
A tow float is one layer among several. The first layers are the decisions made before you enter: checking the weather, wind and tide, telling someone your plans and choosing a location you know. The second is how you enter, slowly, splashing your face and neck first, never jumping or diving in, according to the RNLI. The third is how you swim, staying within your depth and parallel to the shore, and watching your exit point because wind can push you off course.
The fourth is what you do if something goes wrong. In a rip current, the RNLI advises not swimming against it, wading if you can stand, or swimming parallel to the shore until you are free and then heading for shore. For more on currents, see sea swimming tides and currents in Ireland, and for what to do if you see someone in difficulty, see what to do if someone is in trouble in the water.
Group practice
Nominate a shore watcher who stays dry and keeps eyes on the group, count swimmers in and out, and agree that the whole group leaves when the coldest swimmer leaves. Swim failure, where cold weakens your arms and legs, comes on with little warning, so get out before you cannot. Stand up slowly when you leave the water. More in sea swimming group etiquette and shore watchers.
The RNLI's advice is that if a swim does not feel right, you should get out of the water straight away. Visibility kit helps others find you, but only your own judgement keeps you out of trouble.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tow float a lifejacket?
No source consulted presents it as one. The RNLI describes it as helping you be seen and as extra buoyancy you can hold to rest.
Do I still need a buddy if I use a tow float?
Yes. The RNLI and the joint seasonal appeal both advise swimming with others and telling someone onshore your plans.
What colour should my hat and float be?
Bright. The RNLI advises a brightly coloured swimming hat, and the Swim Ireland guide suggests bright orange for neoprene hats.
Who do I call if someone is in trouble?
Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.