For what it's worth, I think it is a Bad Idea.

I would suggest finding someone to swim with in open water or sticking to the pool. All it takes is one bad cramp and you will be at the bottom of the lake. I consider myself to be a strong swimmer (best Ironman swim 1:01:32) I once got a bad cramp in my calf while swimming laps in the pool. If the lane line had not been in reach I don't think I could of stayed above water.

Best scenario obviously is to find someone who can go with you. Check with local master's swim clubs or tri clubs and find out if they have any regularly scheduled open water swims. For instance, all of the local clubs here meet at the same lake on Saturday mornings, so there's always at least one time each week when you know a dozen or so people will be swimming.

If you can't find someone to swim with you, you might see if you can talk a friend into kayaking or canoeing as a safety net.

If not, well I can't say don't swim alone because I do it all the time. I've even swum in shark and crocodile-infested waters in the south pacific by myself for miles, LOL. So I'm not the biggest in the self-preservation department, obviously. I'm very excited this year because my son has started kayaking with me while I swim, and is asking for a kayak for Christmas.

I have known people to drill a hole in a kickboard and tow it behind them. Not a bad idea!

You could also have someone watch you from the shore and just loop or do out and backs. I don't often get the chance to OW swim, but when we visit my wife's parents lake house I just go out while there are people up on the deck reading, sunbathing, etc... I just have them keep an eye out for me and stay close. You can still get some good work in that way.

Those are good ideas, products. I saw a product once and as typically happens I don't recall the name of the product or where I saw it. But it was a small life 'ring' that you wore around your waist with a ripcord and CO2 cartridge. Anyways, bottom line is that solo OWS is a bad idea but people do it anyways if they take precautions and have some neat-o toys with them. Still, it creeps me out. My fear is getting run over by a drunk redneck on a lake here in Texas and the last thing I hear is, "Hey, hold my beer. Watch this!"

i like the swim can.
alot of advice here points to the "don't swim alone advice".
i have thought about this for several days and with the exception of a guy in a boat or a life guard on the shore, i don't think that a partner or group even, would be of much help.
for one thing, if i were in trouble during a swim with a partner or group, honestly who would know?
if anyone did know, without a flotation device, what could they do?
so i think that if i have a flotation device that is visible to boaters, and i stay relatively close to shore i should be all right... ???

Our lake has a 1/3 of a mile beach with no-boat-buoys around it. So, I feel safe swimming alone inside of the buoys (water depth is only 6.5 feet), but I still wear a brite-orange swim cap and a red UnderArmor sleveless top when swimming alone. Pretty weird for a guy, but at least I can be seen. I would not swim in open water outside the buoys except on race day: too many crazy boaters and jet skiers. Would there maybe be a no-motor lake near you? Stay safe! --Sam