iGarden Swim Jet X Pro 10 Review: Endless Pool
The second piece of the kit is effectively an enormous battery with a few simple controls onboard. Three different battery sizes are available, each one
The second piece of the kit is effectively an enormous battery with a few simple controls onboard. Three different battery sizes are available, each one offering more wattage and more power than the last. I received the top-level battery, denoted the X Pro 10, which weighs 26 pounds on its own and is rated for a whopping 60 amp-hours (Ah) of capacity. That provides a maximum running time of 10 hours—albeit on the device’s slowest setting. (Two lower-capacity models are available with 30 Ah and 15 Ah of capacity, respectively; note that these also have lower GPM throughput power in addition to shorter maximum running times.) Photograph: Chris Null Photograph: Chris Null The two components connect via a thick cable; when not in use, this wraps around the jet unit’s handle for storage. The only other item of note is the inclusion of a metal tethering cable on the jet unit, designed to be wrapped around a pool ladder or another anchor fixed topside to prevent the jet from falling into the water (and taking the battery into the drink with it). In practical terms, I doubt many pools have a suitable anchor point. I was never able to use the tethering cable and, for what it’s worth, never felt any concern that the jet would slip and fall. Aside from charging the device (which can take up to seven hours), the only real setup required is adjusting the height of the jet in the water.
iGarden suggests one of two settings: If the top of the jet is 2 to 4 inches below the water’s surface, the current is smoother and more stable, best for lap swimming. Alternately, you can set the top edge of the jet at or slightly above the water line, which creates a much bolder surface spray but less current—ideal for splashy playtime. The height is adjusted by a somewhat crude system of knobs and brackets attached to a movable frame on the backside of the device; the design is awkward but ultimately works well enough. Dial-a-Swim Operationally, the Swim Jet is simple—your main decision being at which power level you want to run the device. Four standard power levels are available through a button on top of the power pack, plus a turbo mode that runs the jet at its maximum speed—but only for five minutes. A final mode, coded “PF” on the battery pack’s display, is designed to mimic open water, cycling through various speeds to evoke the ebb and flow of the ocean. The only other real option is a timer that shuts down the jets after anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes. (In the iGarden app, which pairs via a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection, the same options are available but are considerably more intuitive to choose from.) I did most of my testing with the Swim Jet in the below-water swimming mode rather than the above-water play mode, in large part because it’s easier to quantify its performance this way.
The BriefWire