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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 90 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 found the following review helpful:
 SWIMMER SNORKEL vs FREESTYLE version Apr 06, 2011
By Clay Walker Smith
"ireadtomakemoney"
SUMMARY: BUY this Swimmer Snorkel (a.k.a. Center Mount) and DO NOT buy the FREESTYLE version!
I first bought the FINIS Swimmer Snorkel (I will now refer to this as the Center Mount)from Amazon. I left it at the YMCA on accident and it disappeared. I accidently bought the FREESTYLE version as a replacement. Here is what I learned...
1. You DO NOT Need a nose plug with either style, contrary to other reviews.
2. The Center Mount has a purge valve in which any excess water falls below the breathing apparatus and is pushed out on the exhale. The Freestyle DOES NOT have a purge valve.
3. Both snorkels work best with your head straight down. You shouldn't be turning your head with your body when you swim anyways, so this is nothing new.
4. NEITHER worked well with flips or diving under water. Clearing these snorkels with a strong exhale didn't seem to work comfortably or
5. BEGINNER swimmer...you can focus on technique without having to worry about self-preservation. Once you have a good balance/body roll, catch & release, and comfort level. You can slowly focus on swimming without the snorkel and maintaining a steady breathing pattern.
6. Great tool for kicking. You can kick while face down and arms to your side, reducing back injury from overextending on a kick board. This alone sold me.
CONS: The FREESTYLE swimmer continuously flooded with water and was very unpleasant. I believe it will work with A LOT of effort such as Holding your breathe to increase buoyancy instead of exhaling at will. You will have to try a head straight down or slightly forward approach to find the right head placement. It is my opinion that this snorkel is way too tough to work with and should consider utilizing a purge valve and increased length. It may work well for a professional accustomed to this snorkel at fast speeds, but for 95% of people you will not like the FREESTYLE product.
49 of 51 found the following review helpful:
 Great for training. Buy a nose clip. Jul 20, 2009
By T. Schardt
I bought this to help me speed up my swim training by allowing me to work my muscles more without running out of breath. It works great, and is really letting my get in better workouts. I have only two minor complaints. It should come with a nose clip, as it is nearly impossible to inhale without getting at least a little water up your nose, I suggest buying one with the snorkel. Also, the plastic of the snorkel becomes pretty soft if exposed to heat, which can cause the snorkel to bend. Make sure you don't leave the snorkel in your car on any warm day, or it will almost definitely be twisted or curved, and is very difficult to get back to its original shape.
34 of 35 found the following review helpful:
 Great Concept That Doesn't Quite Hold Water Jul 12, 2010
By Giant of the Woods
"Giant of the Woods"
First, let me say, swimming with a snorkel is absolutely addictive. 5 months ago I fell and seriously damaged my knee. So much so that I was bed ridden for almost three of those months and lost nearly all of my muscle and respiratory fitness. I went from biking 60 miles a weeks to complete inactivity gaining 40 lbs in the process. Once I COULD walk, the ONLY aerobic exercise I was capable of... was swimming. Even though I use to swim competitively when I was young, I was so out of shape, I could hardly swim a lap without gasping for air. So I decided to try the Finis Snorkel. WOW what a difference! I went from barely swimming 20 laps in a workout to swimming almost 200 in just under 2 months. I've lost 20 lbs swimming 2 hrs 3-4 times a week. The snorkel is the only main reason. Since the snorkel allowed me to swim much longer and much harder than I would otherwise, my knee recover was likely cut in half... (my surgeon was amazed).
I like the facing forward design and have had no trouble with the "on the forehead" strap. The mouth piece is comfortable even during a two hour swim. BUT! (and yes this is a big BUT), the purge valve leaks forcing you to clear the water almost every lap. The speed at which you swim does effect the leakage rate as does the how hard you are breathing. You have to swim exactly at the optimum speed to keep the leakage to manageable minimum. Originally, I thought maybe I just got a lemon, so I went out and bought a second one. Same problem. Having to constantly clear the snorkel, really does interrupt my work out.
Again, snorkel swimming truly has been a life changing experience for me, and I can't imagine swimming without one, but the purge valve problem has forced me to give this product only 2 stars. I'm back on the market looking for an alternative, probably one without a purge valve. GREAT in concept, just falls short with respect to design and/or construction. Hope they can correct it.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
saved my neck Oct 28, 2009
By Frank Day
I have fibromyalgia and arthritis of the neck. The FINIS snorkel works great. It allows me to extend my time in the pool and be pain free during and afterwards. Takes a little time to adjust to breathing thru the device. It allows me to focus on being long in the pool and on my stroke mechanics. Don't know how I lived without it. Ordered thru Amazon w. free shipping and it arrived 4 days later.
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
My swimming improved!!! May 16, 2010
By S. Cheng
This snorkel was recommended by the coach at the master swim team. I have always had a hard time smoothing out my breathing in free style, so this has been an excellent supplementing tool to develop my lungs. My head position has been adjusted while wearing this.... which cause my strokes to be fixed, which caused my hip rotation to be better.... so I got so much faster in 3 weeks!
Highly recommended.
See all 90 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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