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Exiting the open water swim in Triathlon

Thinking about trying buoyancy shorts? If you’re a triathlete with sinky legs, these shorts could be your new best friend in the pool! Imagine this: during the open water swim of a triathlon, you’ll be in a wetsuit, so why not get used to that feeling in training?

Buoyancy shorts can really help lift your legs and hips, letting you swim more horizontally and efficiently—just like a wetsuit does! For those with low body fat and high muscle density, floating can be a bit tricky since denser bodies tend to sink faster. But this doesn’t mean you can’t learn to swim fast! Beginners might find the front crawl challenging at first, but that’s where buoyancy shorts can help, especially if you have a challenging goal and not very much time.

Buoyancy shorts are a better option than pull buoys! Unlike pull buoys, which keep your legs still and can affect your balance and rotation, buoyancy shorts let you use your legs, promoting a more efficient swimming pattern.

I once worked with a swimmer who came from a bodybuilding background and had impressive muscle mass. They struggled to swim even a single length of front crawl while training for a 70.3 Ironman triathlon in just 20 weeks. By adding buoyancy shorts to their training, we sped up their learning process, improved their balance in the water, and helped them master the front crawl. They ended up completing the swim in 50 minutes!  And while this isn’t particularly fast, to go from struggling through a length to this is pretty impressive.

However, here’s the thing: relying solely on buoyancy shorts during all your training might hide some underlying balance issues. You don’t want to end up depending on them instead of learning how to swim effectively on your own. Remember, it’s not just high muscle mass that causes legs to sink; things like head position, arm stroke timing, and high arm recovery can also affect your balance and streamlining. These can easily be overlooked when you’re wearing buoyancy shorts.

These shorts offer extra flotation and neoprene around your hips, which helps with rotation. If you find yourself relying too much on them, it could mean you’re not rotating effectively on your own.

Some triathletes argue that since they’ll always race in a wetsuit, training in buoyancy shorts makes sense too. But think about how much faster you could improve if you learned to swim without them! Plus, what if you show up to a race with a non-wetsuit swim? That’s becoming more common with changing weather patterns.

Like any training aid, think of buoyancy shorts as a helpful tool—not a crutch. Mix it up by swimming with and without them to really feel the difference. This approach will boost your awareness in the water and take your swimming skills to the next level! Have a go and let me know how you get on! 🏊‍♂️✨


I can help

If you’re wondering if I could help you to learn or improve your front crawl then why not book a taster session here or if you have lots of questions then get in touch and book a FREE 15min Lets chat here.


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I’m Penny and I’m a triathlete and wild swimmer with a passion for outdoor adventures. I’m a triathlon coach and Total Immersion Swimming Teacher and I help people feel more comfortable in the water so they can swim further, discover the joy of swimming or finish a triathlon without feeling exhausted.