Zoggs Float Bands

I have tried the cheaper brands, but in my experience, this is money down the drain, as they are liable to tear and puncture easily, and in many cases, the seams have quite a sharp edge. Zoggs bands, on the other hand, have many good features, which make them my brand of choice. Here is a rundown of the main features of these armbands:

1: High visibility

The bands, as you can see in the picure, are a very bright orange colour. If your kids like to be quite independent when they go swimming, it is easy to keep an eye on them if they are wearing these brightly coloured bands, whereas cheaper bands usually just have patterns or TV characters on, and are not particularly bright. The pool lifeguards will also be able to keep a better eye on your child, although obviously, the child's safety is primarily your responsibility.

2: Durable

These bands are made from a patented material called Vylux, which will not puncture or tear easily. This also means that the mands will last for many years, if looked after, and can be passed on to other children when your child has finished with them. This is a lot more cost effective than buying lots of cheap pairs of armbands. This said, I did have a problem with the bands when my curious cat got hold of them and decided to stick her sharp claws in one of them. Even heavy duty Vylux, is not designed to withstand cats claws, so pet owners, be warned! I can hardly mark the bands down for this though, as it was my fault for not keeping them out of reach of the cat. As I say, these will last a long time if you are sensible with them!

3: Nice fit

Unlike some bands that inflate all the way around, and can chafe the child's arms, the Zoggs bands have a flat part that goes under the arm, and just the upper part of the bands inflate. Obviously, this is a lot more comfortable for the child to wear over a prolonged period in the water. The seams are not sharp.

4: Double air chambers

Each band has two seperate air chambers, so this gives you a lot of control over how much you inflate them. If your child is improving with swimming, you could just inflate one of the chambers. The bands also have the non return type air valve, which means that when you blow into them and stop to take a breath, you don't lose all of the air back out of the hole. As I have asthma, this is a big benefit for me, and I have never got breathless inflating these bands!

These armbands have really helped my children with their confidence in the water. My two oldest kids are now competent swimmers, despite the fact that we don't really go swimming very often. The bands give excellent buoyancy in the water, and the child doesn't have to worry about sinking if you let go of them. My youngest still uses the bands occasionaly, but I have recently bought him a swim jacket, in the hope that he will take the next step towards being more confident in the water. The Zoggs bands have served me well and lasted a long time, so I consider them a worthwhile investment for young kids earning to swim. They are easy to clean with just a wipe, and easy to deflate, though I found it more practical to keep them inflated. I would recommend these highly.

These armbands are far too big for my 20 month old daughter and she is in the 91st centile for weight and height. My sister has found the same problem with her 2 year old. I think these bands are more suitable for 3 years +. The smaller size zogs are not suitable due to weight restrictions.

Bought for DC aged 6. Worked perfectly. Finds them comfortable and they are helping gain confidence in the pool. Hopefully we won't need them for long.