$50 for an Aquajogging Belt is Outrageous – here’s how to make your own

I paid that much for one of these, and I use it a ton, and I still think it’s a rip off. I wanted a water running buddy, but couldn’t bring myself to recommend an overpriced piece of custom-cut foam, so I got a little creative.

I used to do my water running without a belt, but I’m convinced that it is a less productive exercise that way. Sure, it’s much harder to water run without floatation, but the extra effort goes into downward thrusts, which really don’t simulate running as much as marching. With a belt you can still go just as hard, but you have to think about it, and you can really focus on form (like front to back movement and a high recovery.

Belt or no belt, however, water running is among the most boring forms of exercise. It’s great cross training, and wonderful for muscle balance and as a supplement to running or for injury rehab – but it’s slow, wet and lonely. Which is why I needed a second belt: to commiserate.

Courtenay has begun water running because it’s 100 degrees in Seattle and nobody has A//C here. She has been going alone in the afternoons because we only have one belt. Until today anyway. I made myself a new water running belt for next to nothing. Here’s how:

Step 1: get one of those awful lifejackets they made you wear in summer camp. They’re super cheap at any boating store, and the cheaper the better.

 

Step 2: cut the seam along the top of the jacket and pull out the foam from the head support.

 

Step 3: pull the strap out of the loop on the non-clipping side.

 

Step 4: sew or safety pin the two chest pieces together fairly close. Your making one linear piece (see picture) you want the foam to wrap around your hips, but have most of the floatation in the back.

 

 

Step 5: run the nylon strap through a safety pin in the back, and another one near what is now the front right of  the belt (used to be the bottom left). This is to keep the strap straight.

Step 6: put it on, adjust the strap so it feels a little “too” tight, then go (water) run.

I like the feel better than the $50 version. With the blue one I feel like I’m going to topple over backwards if I go too hard or really accentuate my stride. When that happens I tend to bend at the waist, which is horrible technique. I’ve adjusted this belt to lift more in the back, forcing me to use good powerful strides to stay upright.