TYR Aquatic Resistance Belt

The more I use the Tyr swim belt, the more I appreciate the benefits that it provides to my swimming technique, endurance, and power. At first I found the backward pull of the bungee cord to be awkward and a bit discouraging. But I was able to adjust to that new kind of resistance after the first few workouts, by improving and maintaining my posture and technique in the water--i.e., by lying straight and fully extended in the water, by reaching forward from the ribs and waist belt area and not just from the shoulders, by relaxing my core and lower back area but maintaining an overall firmness, by keeping my neck and head relaxed and low in the water, aligned with my entire body from head to toe, by kicking from the hips and not from the knees, feet close together, and by maintaining a relaxed and steady rotation from the downward-and-forward movement of the hips with each stroke. In short, the resistance of the bungee cord has actually improved my overall technique by forcing me to be much more attentive to all of its aspects, in order to work with the resistance cord and maintain a long extension forward and an efficient technique in the pool for the entire duration of my swim. The swim belt has also improved my overall swim-specific strength and upper-body musculature, allowing me to swim with greater ease, endurance, and speed in open water. (It's equivalent to the strength and improved technique I develop from running on soft, grassy, and hilly terrain in a park, which makes for a much faster and easier run on flat, hard pavement.)I just wanted to share some key insights that I've learned through trial and error: (1) it really helps to tie the end piece of the cord at a high position, on a pole or tree trunk near the pool. I extended the cord by attaching a long piece of thick clothes-line rope to the end of the cord, and then tying the clothes line several feet high on a tree near the deep end of my pool, at about my full height (5'6"). Otherwise, the bungee cord will start pulling your legs and hips down and causing you to struggle to remain high and flat on the water, adding to drag and unnecessary exertion. (2) I find that the swim belt should be just slightly loose around my waist area, so it rests just above the hips but doesn't constrict my gut area. If the waist belt is too tight, it will cause discomfort to your intestines and feel like it's knocking the wind out of you a bit, especially as you extend further forward in the pool. But if the waist belt is too loose, it will sit too low on the hips and constrict your hip flexors as you try to maintain a steady and relaxed kick. (3) Above all, relax! I can't emphasize this enough. When I first used the swim belt, my immediate instinct was to "fight" the new sensation of the bungee cord and struggle against it, which caused me to swim poorly, with thrashing, choppy strokes and jerky movements. I find that when I let my body relax and work with the resistance, I start extending further forward in the pool during the course of the swim and maintaining that long extension throughout the swim. That always reassures me that I'm doing something right.

I've never been much for water sports but a leg injury left me with no other options... I bought some Swimming Goggles with FREE Stylish Case - Ear Plugs & Nose Clip - Anti-Fog Mirror Color Lens - 100% UV Protected - Adjustable Silicone Head Strap - Leak proof Seal - Expert Unisex Adult Swim Goggles and Adult Swimmer's Snorkel with Comfortable Silicone Mouthpiece and One-way Purge Valve | Center Mount Design | Blue along with the resistance belt and am using them every time I swim, which is a few times a week. Together, they let me just keep my face down and get in good workouts.Another reviewer (a real swimmer) accurately reviewed this belt by explaining it leaves you lower in the water than normal swimming w/o a belt. And I'm sure that it could bother real swimmers who want to work on swimming technique. But I am not a swimmer and was just looking for a way to use my small pool to get in a workout. I tied a rope to a tree branch near the pool and then attached the 6' stretchy tether to the rope. Having the anchor-point above the pool keeps the tether away from my legs while swimming. I put on the (comfortable) neoprene-wrapped belt and attach the carabiner to the stretchy tether and I get in my workout. It might be nice to float higher in the water, but I still give this 5-stars because it works great and is so affordable compared to many other options out there!My leg is now healed and I'm back doing other sports but have kept with the swimming.

I have only done a handful of reviews on Amazon in my life. There are a few reasons. First, Most things don't impress me enough to take the time. Second, is that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (I'm only 37) in my hands which makes it difficult and painful to type. The second reason is what brought me to purchase this resistance belt. My doctor recommended I take up swimming as a low impact alternative to the type of exercise I prefer (Football, wrestling, and heavy weights). The problem was that the pool I have access to wasn't big enough to really get my heart rate up. Just about the time I get going I have to turn around. Enter this little device! I was super skeptical but it turned out to be a great tool that allows me to get a good workout in! I did feel a little silly with it on at first until everyone was wanting to try it out and get one themselves! It's easy to take on and off even with my hand issues. I attach it to an umbrella that's anchored in the deck but a ladder or handrail would work also. I purchased some goggles and ear plugs so that I could really go hard without burning eyes and water sloshing in my ears. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

This is a truly awesome product to help with keeping in shape in a small area. It was very comfortable and easy to get on and off. The reason for the 3 star rating is because I purchased the belt in July 2018 and the belt broke today. I only use it during the summer and only 4 or 5 times a week for short periods of time. I just started using it this year so I got only 2 years of summer use. Because I liked it so much I thought I would bite the bullet and order again. However, when I purchased this same product two years ago I paid $25 for this exact item through Amazon and today when I was going to order it again it is $70. I will search for something comparable.