Pool float

<h2 id="swimming-board">Swimming board</h2>
<p class="note">"Kickboard" redirects here. For the type of two-wheeled vehicle commonly known as "kickboard" in South Korean 'Konglish', see <a href="/facts/Kick_scooter/nPEbotF1">Kick scooter</a>. For the motorized versions, see <a href="/facts/Motorized_scooter/aDWLdj1p">Motorized scooter</a> and <a href="/facts/E-scooter/aDWLdj1p">E-scooter</a>.</p>
<p>Swimming boards (often referred to as kickboards or flutter boards) are a flotation aid used for fun or to develop a swimmer's kicking action. They can be used on all strokes but are primarily used on <a href="/facts/Freestyle_swimming/flz6GQFL">Freestyle</a>, <a href="/facts/Butterfly_stroke/GGDGnHm4">Butterfly stroke</a> and <a href="/facts/Breaststroke/pdeGTa5o">Breaststroke</a>.
</p><p>Swimmers of all ability can use them.  Young swimmers can develop their kicking action while elite swimmers can refine their kick. They are also used to strengthen a swimmers' legs.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a>
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<h3>Construction</h3>
<p>Kickboards are usually made from <a href="/facts/Ethylene-vinyl_acetate/kYxe810A">EVA foam</a>. Some are made of more durable <a href="/facts/HDPE/9mUm98TQ">HDPE</a>. The EVA foam boards can break easily and become very worn after long use, meaning the board can slowly disintegrate over time.
</p><h3>Variations</h3>
<p>There are some variations of kickboards from the traditional form with two hand grips. Some can be used as a kickboard and a <a href="/facts/Pull_buoy/XToDKtQs">pull buoy</a>. These are often oddly shaped so they can be used for both of the training aspects.
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<h2 id="other-floats">Other floats</h2>
<p>Especially-large floats can be used as seats to float or sit on top of a pool for the user to stand on top in the manner of a <a href="/facts/Raft/F3WPhFWK">raft</a>.
</p><p>A variation known as the "<a href="/facts/Pool_noodle/3eg4Qbox">pool noodle</a>" is a long, thin cylinder, measuring 3–5 feet (90–150 cm) long and 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter, sometimes with a hollow core. It can be used to aid in floating or stretching exercises.
</p><p>A <a href="/facts/Pull_buoy/XToDKtQs">pull buoy</a> or "leg float" is used to focus exercise on the arms.
</p><p>Pool dumbbells are used for strength training where muscles push down against <a href="/facts/Buoyancy/9dIQwlrh">buoyancy</a>.  This is the opposite of conventional <a href="/facts/Dumbbell/0er7hPfC">dumbbells</a>, which are used to force muscles to pull up, against gravity.
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Swimming floats.

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Air_mattress/8zXbDNkN">Air mattress</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Inflatable_armbands/KAs1gf9h">Inflatable armbands</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Lifebuoy/zhpJgf6e">Lifebuoy</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_inflatable_manufactured_goods/1QGE6U06">List of inflatable manufactured goods</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Personal_flotation_device/XQYxAemL">Personal flotation device</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Swim_ring/dEKYXWhQ">Swim ring</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>BBC Sport Academy - Swimming equipment guide <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/swimming/equipment/newsid_3727000/3727438.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/swimming/equipment/newsid_3727000/3727438.stm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Pool float open-in-new

Pool float