Best Pull Buoy for Swimming 2025 (Tested by a World Championship Swimmer)

Pull buoys have been part of my training since I started competitive swimming at age 8. From building upper body strength through age group and college swimming all the way to the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and earning a silver medal at the 2008 FINA World Championships as part of the 4x100 medley relay team, pull buoy sets have been essential to developing the catch and pull mechanics that drive my butterfly. As an American Record holder in the 100 yard butterfly for ages 35–39 and a Deboer Swim Team Elite member, I still incorporate pull buoy work weekly to reinforce proper stroke mechanics and build upper body endurance.

When evaluating a pull buoy, I look for the right buoyancy level to keep hips elevated naturally, a comfortable shape that stays secure between the thighs, durable closed-cell foam that resists waterlogging, and a size that suits different body types. After testing across all my training cycles, here are my top five pull buoys for 2025.