Meet the Designer of the 2-in-1 Reversible Tow Float Backpack

Meet Katie…

I’ve been working at Red Equipment for over eight years. After studying design at university, I joined Red straight away and have grown with the business ever since. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to learn from experienced designers, including Phil, our Head of Design, as well as other talented members of the design team over the years. Their guidance has helped shape both my skills and my approach to product design.

As Senior Designer, no two days are exactly the same. My role involves everything from researching user needs and developing new product concepts to prototyping, testing, refining designs, working closely with our suppliers, packaging and more.

It’s important to me to create user-centred products that are practical and designed with empathy for the user. The design of any product should start with understanding the user and their real needs. Looking at how people interact with a product, the challenges they face, and what would genuinely improve their experience helps guide the design process from start to finish.

Because our products are designed for life by the water, material selection and durability are always key considerations. Ultimately, the goal is to create products that solve real problems and help people spend more time enjoying the outdoors.

Why We Reimagined the Tow Float

When we started developing this project, the goal was simple: we wanted to create something that combined safety and convenience in a way that genuinely made a swimmer’s life easier.

To understand the challenges swimmers face, we spoke to all kinds of people, from casual dippers to Olympians. We also had plenty of input from members of the Red team who regularly swim and run themselves, which helped us understand the practical challenges people face before, during and after a swim.

Despite their different experiences, many shared the same frustrations with existing products. Swimmers told us they didn’t trust leaving their belongings on shore, that some floats created drag, and that certain products simply didn’t last long enough. We also recognised that carrying a separate bag, dry bag and tow float added unnecessary hassle to the overall experience.

That’s when we knew there was an opportunity to create something better. We analysed competitor products, reviewed customer feedback and listened carefully to the open-water swimming community. The idea was to create a single product that could carry kit to the water, keep essentials protected during a swim, and comfortably transport wet gear home afterwards.

Designed With Swimmers, Not Just for Them

The development process started by speaking directly with swimmers and understanding the challenges they face before, during and after a swim. But a lot of insight also came from simply watching swimmers. You can often spot things people don’t even realise they do: how they’ve adapted existing products to make them work, what they carry with them, where they store their belongings, and the little frustrations they’ve just come to accept.

We worked with swimmers across a wide range of experience levels, from casual sea dippers to experienced open-water swimmers and ambassadors within the Red Equipment community (an absolutely fantastic group of people). Being based by the coast also gave us plenty of opportunities to observe how people use their kit in real-world environments and spend time swimming ourselves.

Throughout the project, we gathered feedback through conversations, product reviews, competitor analysis and prototype testing. Early concepts and prototypes were shared with swimmers who used them in a variety of environments, including the sea, lakes, rivers and point-to-point swims. This helped us understand how the product performed across different conditions and use cases.

One of the biggest themes that came back throughout testing was convenience. Swimmers wanted a simple solution that made getting to and from the water easier, while still providing the visibility, storage and reassurance they expect from a tow float. Comfort, sizing, durability and reducing drag were also recurring areas of feedback that helped shape the final design.

Real-world testing also highlighted details that are difficult to predict before people start using a product in their everyday routines. Seeing how people packed the bag, adjusted the straps, transitioned from carrying it to swimming with it, and used it after their swim helped us refine the design and improve the overall user experience. Those small observations often had just as much impact as the feedback people gave directly.

One thing I learnt throughout the project is just how different swimmers are. Everyone has their own routines, preferences and reasons for swimming, which reinforced the importance of creating a product that works for a wide range of people. At the same time, I know there are many different types of swimmers – and this product won’t suit everyone, and that’s okay too. Every conversation and piece of feedback gives us more ideas and helps shape future products.

From Prototype to Final Product

Creating a product that could function equally well on land and in the water required a very different approach to traditional tow float design.

The key innovation is the reversible design. On land, it’s a backpack. When you get to the water, you flip it inside out and it becomes a fully functional tow float. The concept sounds simple, but making that transition intuitive, durable and reliable took a lot of development and testing. I’m probably going to make this sound far easier than it actually was.

One of the biggest challenges was finding the right material. We needed something that was durable, lightweight and flexible enough to be repeatedly reversed, while also holding strong welded seams, performing well in the water and remaining comfortable as a backpack. Did we test materials and designs that didn’t work? Absolutely. We went through lots of rounds of prototypes and samples.

The final product uses a high-quality TPU film. It’s durable, pliable, lightweight and PVC-free. The material has undergone both saltwater and UV testing to ensure it performs well over time. Choosing TPU wasn’t just about performance, it was also important to us to select a material with a lower environmental impact than traditional PVC alternatives.

Welded seams help maintain waterproof performance, eliminating potential weak points, while the soft-touch finish provides durability without compromising comfort.

Keeping belongings dry was another challenge. It’s important to be clear that this is a waterproof dry bag, but it is not designed to be submerged underwater. We spent a lot of time refining the roll-top closure and reinforcing key areas to help prevent water ingress during normal swimming use. The goal was to create a storage compartment that swimmers could trust without compromising the overall design.

As the prototypes evolved, every feature was questioned, tested and refined. The adjustable tow tether was developed to reduce drag and minimise interference while swimming, although one thing we quickly learnt was that every swimmer has a different preference for where they want the float to sit. The waistbelt was refined to work comfortably across a wide range of body shapes and sizes, while features such as the external pocket, reflective detailing, attachment points and integrated whistle were all included to solve specific problems raised during research and testing.

What Makes This Tow Float Different?

The Reversible Tow Float Backpack was designed to simplify every stage of an open-water swim, not just the time spent in the water.

One thing we noticed during research was just how much kit swimmers often carry with them. It can quickly become a tow float, a dry bag, a backpack and various other bits and pieces. We wanted to see if we could combine some of those functions into a single product and make the overall experience a little easier.

The reversible design was the result of that thinking. On the way to the water, it’s a 28-litre backpack that allows you to comfortably carry everything you need. Once you arrive, it reverses into a tow float with approximately 19 litres of waterproof storage for your swim. Afterwards, wet kit can be packed away and carried home again without needing multiple bags.

While there are other tow floats on the market that offer storage, the focus for us was creating a product that reduced the amount of kit swimmers needed to bring with them in the first place. Ultimately, the goal wasn’t just to create a tow float or a backpack. It was to create a product that made the whole swimming experience simpler, from leaving the house to getting back home afterwards.

Colour was another important consideration. We wanted something that would stand out in a variety of open-water conditions, which is why we chose a bright chartreuse yellow-green. We also added orange detailing throughout the design. My view was, why use one colour when you can use two? Using both creates more contrast and helps the tow float stand out that little bit more on the water.

What We Learnt Through Development

One of the biggest things I learnt throughout the development process was just how different swimmers are. Everyone has their own routines, preferences and reasons for getting in the water, which made it clear that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

What surprised me most was how much insight came from observation rather than direct feedback. Watching how people packed their kit, adapted products to suit their needs and transitioned between swimming and everyday life often revealed challenges they didn’t even realise they had.

The theme that consistently came through during testing was convenience. Swimmers wanted products that fitted naturally into their routine and removed unnecessary hassle. That feedback had a huge influence on the final design and reinforced our goal of creating a product that simplified the whole swimming experience, not just the time spent in the water.

Built For Simpler, Safer Swim Adventures

The Reversible Tow Float Backpack was designed primarily for open-water swimmers, whether they’re training regularly, exploring new swim locations, or simply enjoying time in the water. It’s equally suited to dippers, adventure swimmers and those newer to open-water swimming who want a solution that helps them feel safer, more organised and more confident.

More than anything, I wanted to create something that people could use without really having to think about it. Swimming is a relatively accessible sport, often all you really need is swimwear, a towel and somewhere to swim. I didn’t want to create something that added complexity or became another piece of kit to manage.

My hope is that the Reversible Tow Float Backpack simply makes the experience easier. Less stuff to carry, less to organise and one less thing to think about before and after a swim. If I had to describe it in one sentence, I’d say it’s a product designed to simplify the practical side of open-water swimming so people can focus on enjoying being in the water.

It has genuinely been designed with swimmers for swimmers.