White Water Swimming and Tubing

Gearing up for whitewater swimming

Whitewater swimming, better known as hydrospeed, means riding a river face-down on a float while propelling yourself with fins through the rapids. It is a demanding board-riding sport that calls for gear built for propulsion, thermal protection and safety. Here are the essentials.

The float: foam or inflatable

The float is the centrepiece: unlike a plain inner tube, its streamlined shell lets you glide and steer while shielding your chest, hips and arms from impacts against rocks. We offer two approaches: the Splash, a rugged, reassuring foam hydrospeed for lessons and club use, and the SQUAL RACE, a compact and lively inflatable hydrospeed for swimmers chasing performance.

Fins

In whitewater the legs do all the work, so fins must deliver power without wearing you out. Our Speeder mid-length full-foot fins and the Esterel full-foot models strike a good balance of propulsion and control, while the open-strap Speeder Ajustable fins are ideal for rental and loan thanks to their quick adjustment over a neoprene bootie.

Neoprene protection

A full Long John wetsuit protects against cold and impacts and adds buoyancy. Pick your thickness by season and water temperature:

• 3 to 4 mm (Moby 4.0mm, plus the Moby Junior and Zip Junior kids' versions) for temperate water and summer fun;
• 5 mm (Iceberg 5.0mm) for regular use in cool water;
• 7 mm rubber-reinforced (Nagual 7.0mm) for cold water and mountain torrents.

Round it off with Rapid 3.0mm neoprene booties, Nub Titanium socks and Redstuff or Greydown gloves to keep your extremities warm and scrape-free.

Helmet, buoyancy aid and safety

A certified whitewater helmet and a buoyancy aid are non-negotiable: they are part of every swimmer's mandatory kit. Never go out alone, and always carry rescue accessories (whistle, knife, floating rope).

River tubing: the inflatable float descent

More playful and accessible than hydrospeed, tubing is done sitting in an inflatable ring down calm stretches and gentle rapids. It is the perfect activity for families, summer camps, leisure centres and water parks. Our Doonut 110, Doonut 120, Reign 110 and Tubing 125 models are built for heavy use: tough materials, solid handles and a comfortable base for one descent after another.

Our whitewater safety range

Safety is never up for negotiation on a river. Find everything you need to secure a descent or a centre:

• Our floating safety ropes (15, 20 and 25 m, with or without belt) and the lifeline for throw rescues;
• Essential safety accessories: whistle, Everguard knife, wide-gate carabiner;
• Certified whitewater helmets and 70 N buoyancy aids;
• The full neoprene range, neoprene socks and shoes and gloves and pogies.

Clubs, rental operators and outdoor centres

We equip many whitewater clubs, rental operators, summer camps and local authorities. For these intensive uses we favour rugged models (foam hydrospeed, adjustable fins, reinforced tubes) and offer tiered professional pricing, advice on sizing your equipment fleet and after-sales service handled directly by the manufacturer. Get in touch for a fleet quote tailored to your centre.

Why Aquadesign

Since 1988, Aquadesign has designed and manufactured its whitewater and inflatable gear in its own factories. We know the river because we paddle and swim it: our products are tested on our own torrents, built from durable materials and CE-compliant. Buying from the manufacturer means genuine technical advice, spare parts and responsive after-sales support, a world away from low-cost standards.

Frequently asked questions about whitewater swimming and tubing