The AquaPlane

Review Score

Our Score: 9/10

We've given the The AquaPlane the Thumbs Up award.

Value for MoneyQuality

The good

• This really does work
• Helps keep your child in the correct position for learning to swim, unlike armbands

The not so good

• Another item to take to the pool, and takes up more space than deflated armbands

This was a hands-on product review. The product was supplied to us to test and conduct the review.

Price Guide

The AquaPlane has a recommended retail price of £29.99.

The best price we've found so far is £29.99.View at Decathlon

AquaPlane

£29.9910/03/2024

Decathlon

£29.9909/03/2024

The AquaPlane Videos

The AquaPlane Photos

Our Review

Now my youngest would like to think he is the world's best swimmer. In reality, he's not.  He can get from one end of the pool to the other in his unique way ( no marks for technique!! ), so when we were approached by AquaPlane to try out a new swimming aid, we couldn't wait to give it a go.

So, what is the AquaPlane?

"A multifunctional swimming aid designed to help children learn to swim at every stage of their development."

It's very similar to the SwimFin we reviewed previously, but a slightly different design that may be more versatile.

We headed off to the local swimming pool to give it a try.

Using the AquaPlane

The AquaPlane is very easy to set up. You don't have to spend ages blowing, as you have to with armbands.

Just place on it on your child's back in the correct position then adjust for size using the adjustable straps.

There were no complaints from my youngest that it was uncomfortable to wear.

The device is quite streamlined so not too bulky or restricting for little ones to wear.

There are three ways to use the AquaPlane:

1. Attached to the child's back, as a back float, which is useful in the early stages of swimming to build confidence and improve ability.
2. Removing the straps using for training stroke development.
3. A performance tool to build stamina and strength.

We found it to be really versatile.

My little tester thought it would just be strapped to his back, so I was pleasantly surprised at all the things you could do with it.

Using it as a back float didn't restrict arm movement or cause any obstruction to body movements.

Learning to swim and development of stroke technique is achieved over a period of time, so it's difficult to comment on just one use on how well it has helped him progress with his swimming.

But the AquaPlane did its job very well.

We took off the straps and had a go at just using it as a float, practising arm movements and leg kicks ( which need a lot of work on!!! ).

Kids have short attention spans, and if you want them to enjoy swimming, you need to add fun, and the aquaplane came up trumps. We had fun playing with it, pretending it was a rocket or shark, and pulling my little one around on it.

Here are a few words from my little tester:

It was quite light. I liked all the different games we could play with it. I really liked jumping in and trying to land on it.

Unfortunately, we could not take photos of us in the pool with it due to photography restrictions by the venue. This video explains how to get the most out of using the AquaPlane.

To conclude, we were very impressed with the AquaPlane. It is good quality and very versatile.

Though more expensive than a pair of armbands, its multifunctional and innovative design adds to its use and extends the life of this product. These would be a useful addition to any swimming club and for personal use.

We will carry on using ours and hopefully get a little someone swimming across the pool with more of a technique and less splashing!

Details