Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
About this site, and about the gear questions we get asked most.
Last updated
About this site
Who writes it and how it is funded
Who writes Lap & Lake?
Every page is written and every product selected by Janet H., the owner and editor of Janet Media Group, which publishes this site. There is no anonymous staff byline here, and she is contactable at janet.hoyo@yahoo.com. More at about.
Do you test the products you recommend?
No, and we never claim to. Our picks come from published specifications, aggregated public buyer feedback, and verifying each product is currently sold. We state that plainly at how we pick rather than leaving it to be inferred, because an unverifiable testing claim is the easiest way to lose your trust.
Why are there no prices on this site?
Because we have no live price feed, and a price typed in by hand goes stale within days. Rather than print a number we cannot stand behind, every buy button reads "Check price on Amazon" and takes you to the retailer's page where the price is whatever it is today. See affiliate disclosure.
How does Lap & Lake make money?
Affiliate commissions, principally through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through a link here we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Commission never decides a pick — where the cheaper option is better for the buyer, we recommend the cheaper option.
Why are there no customer reviews or testimonials?
Because we do not have any. Lap & Lake is a new publisher with no customer reviews, no awards and no stated tenure, and inventing a wall of five-star quotes is the fastest way to deserve none. A clean page beats a fabricated one.
How often is the site updated?
Every roundup is reviewed before May 1 each year ahead of the season. Safety and health guides are spot-checked quarterly. Discontinued products are replaced within 30 days of us finding out. Every page shows a real last-updated date, and we do not bump dates without a substantive change.
How do I report an error?
Email janet.hoyo@yahoo.com or use the contact form. We check it against the source, correct it, re-date the page, and where the correction is material we note it on the page rather than editing silently. See editorial policy.
How big is the site?
9 categories, 72 guides and roundups, and 79 researched products. Every page is listed on the site index.
Gear questions
The ones that come up most
Why do my child's swim goggles leak?
Almost always because the gasket is sized for an older face, not because the strap is loose. Press them onto dry eye sockets with the strap out of the way: if they do not hold by suction for three seconds, the shape is wrong and tightening will not fix it. See goggles that do not leak.
Do swim caps keep your hair dry?
No. Water gets in at the hairline on every cap ever made. A thick silicone cap keeps hair damp rather than soaked, which is worth having, but no cap is watertight. See do swim caps keep hair dry.
How do I know a life jacket is Coast Guard approved?
Read the inside label. An approved jacket carries a printed US Coast Guard approval statement and number, plus the certified weight range. No approval text means it is a swim aid, not a life jacket, however similar it looks. See USCG life jacket types.
Is a puddle jumper a real life jacket?
The Stearns Puddle Jumper is genuinely USCG approved and its label says so. Many similar-looking arm-float products are not approved at all, so check the label on the specific item. See puddle jumper vs life jacket.
What size life jacket does my child need?
Size by weight, not age, using the band printed on the label — then verify with the lift test: fasten everything including the crotch strap and lift by the shoulders. If it rises past the ears it is too big. See life jacket sizing by weight.
Do swim diapers hold urine?
Essentially none. They have no absorbent core, because an absorbent core is exactly what fails in water. Their only job is containing solids, which is what pools require them for. See swim diaper vs regular diaper.
Is UPF 50 much better than UPF 30?
Marginally — UPF 50+ blocks about 98% of UV and UPF 30 about 97%. Both are effective, and fit matters far more than the difference. A loose shirt rides up and exposes the lower back regardless of its rating. See UPF ratings explained.
Do kids really need water shoes?
It depends on the bottom. On a rocky or weedy lake bottom they prevent the cuts and stubbed toes that end a swim, and there they are close to essential. On sand or a pool deck they are a convenience. Wade your own swimming area and you will know. See do kids need water shoes.
How fast should you tow kids on a towable tube?
10-15 mph, and 8-12 mph for a first ride. Every rider wears a properly fitted USCG-approved life jacket with a leg or crotch strap, and most states legally require a designated spotter. See towable tube safety.
What is swimmer's itch and how do I prevent it?
An allergic skin reaction to a parasite larva found in some fresh water. It is not contagious and not caused by dirty water. The CDC's main advice is to towel off briskly as soon as you leave the water and shower afterwards. See swimmer's itch.
How do you prevent swimmer's ear?
Get water out of the canal afterwards: tilt the head each way and dry the outer ear with a towel. Never put cotton swabs in the ear — they push water in and scratch the canal. A cap does not help; ear plugs do. See swimmer's ear.
Which swimsuits actually survive a chlorinated pool?
Ones made of PBT or polyester, sold as Speedo Endurance+ or TYR Durafast Elite among others. Chlorine attacks elastane, so a suit listed as 80% nylon and 20% elastane is a fashion fabric whatever the marketing says. See chlorine resistant swimsuits.
Why do my child's swimsuits always ride up?
Torso length, not chest size. A child can fit perfectly around the chest and still be too long in the body for a standard cut, and going up a size just gives you a loose suit that still cuts in. See swimsuit fit problems.
What should I buy first when outfitting a whole family?
Approved life jackets for anyone who needs one, then swimsuits and goggles, then sun cover, then water shoes if the bottom is rocky, then floats. Towables last, and borrow one before buying. See family swim gear on a budget.
Not answered here? Email janet.hoyo@yahoo.com or use the contact form. Every message is read by a person.