Endless Pools Product Review in American Tri Magazine

by Rachel Sears
Fall 2002

I took the plunge in an Endless Pool at Ironman USA's expo in June. I had no idea what to expect, but with a borrowed pair of goggles, my swim suit and the support of athletes who were about to compete in the race the following day, I went Endless.

Once I got in, it was clear that the standard 8' x 15' pool was plenty big for swimming any stroke. With my goggles secured and the current activated I swam freestyle. Immediately the current caught me off guard.

I found myself off balance. I teetered off to one side, out of the main flow of the current. It was a challenge to stay balanced and centered in the pool. I stopped, adjusted my goggles, and with a nervous laugh, started swimming again. This time I was ready for the 5,000-gallon-per-minute push of water generated by the pool's 16-inch propeller. I swam with determination, found my rhythm, and got acclimated to the current for my warm-up.

For testing purposes, I swam at various speeds. At the slower currents, I would get ahead of the current and catch my fingertips on the front of the pool. At the faster currents, I had to work hard to keep from being shoved to the pool's rear. However, adjusting the current was easy. In a few minutes I found a pace that suited me.

The presence of the current offered a formidable training stimulus. It was strong and even. The current also helped me feel imbalances in my swim form. The flow of the water over my body emphasized the points of drag in my stroke and body position. In no time, I was self-correcting to swim more efficiently and balanced.

A mirror on the pool's bottom is another unique feature. Initially I found my reflection to be distracting-it was strange to be able to see myself swimming from underneath-but ultimately I like the additional perspective. The mirror reveals the reality and removes the guesswork. The visual feedback is nice, especially since a coach on deck isn't always an option.

The Lowdown: If you prefer to swim without marine life, or the "creatures" that may share a lane with you, the Endless Pool is the way to go. Assuming you have the dough and space for installation, it can eliminate virtually every excuse to avoid your daily swim. Swim whenever you want, with a current and water temperature you choose. Use the pool for therapy or pool running. The money you'll save in pool/gym fees, and time saved, can make swimming endlessly an enticing option. If that's the case for you, drop me a line. I'd love to come by and take a dip.

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