Pool Swim Trainer?

There was a discussion last year about this so Im going off that memory.  I couldnt find it doing a search.

There's one system that some people like and that was the ones that are attached to shoes.  I remember watching a video and thought it was a good system.  The con was that shoes can become loose in the water so you'll need to size down. 

The belt and cords seem to be OK, but someone suggested you can be frugal and get the same stretch and give w/ 3 or 4 old bike inner-tubes.  Looping them together, wrapping one end around the ladder or diving board an the other end around you waist (feeding the loop into itself and stepping into it, thus creating a 'reverse' loop)  That seemed like it was worth a try (free vs any expense)  but never got around to try it.  I was interested in this as an option too last year b/c my pool is only 50 ft long and thought a trainer would be better to simulate an OWS.  But really, I have access to a great OWS area so it seemed moot to try and imitate something that I can do for real.  So now I just swim in circles in my pool and forgot about the trainer.  I don't do flip turns.  I tell myself its 'sight and buoy turn training'

Something too think about:  The problem w/ trainers like this, and endless pools is, its hard to judge how far you are traveling.  You will only be able to estimate your distance using your average pace.

Sorry I didnt have a better answer for you.