BackTow Explained

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BackTow is TeamO’s patented lifejacket harness system, built into our lifejackets to change the way you’re pulled through the water if you go overboard when you're clipped onto a vessel. Instead of dragging you face‑first through the waves, BackTow moves the towing point so you’re towed backwards, with your head turned away from the oncoming flow.

 

Traditionally, conventional lifejacket harnesses had a fixed attachment point on the front of the jacket. When you’re clipped in and go overboard, that front point can leave you being dragged forward, face‑down, in the water. Even at low speeds - around 4 knots - tests have shown that breathing can become almost impossible, dramatically increasing the risk of drowning.

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BackTow turns that on its head. If someone goes overboard and is tethered, pulling the BackTow handle releases the front harness point and moves it into a seated‑style position behind them. That means they're being towed backwards, with their face turned away from the water and their head in a more stable, safer position. That simple shift buys critical seconds for the crew to slow the boat and begin recovery, giving the person overboard a much better chance of survival.

How BackTow Works

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In normal use, BackTow looks and functions like a standard lifejacket harness. You clip your safety line to the front attachment point, just as you would with any conventional system. 

 

If you enter the water, the jacket will inflate (assuming your lifejacket has a ProSensor, Hammar, or Mk5i inflation system - if you have a manual lifejacket you'll still need to inflate it) and the BackTow handle becomes available over the left bladder lobe. Pulling the handle releases the front attachment and moves the harness into the BackTow seated position.

 

Why BackTow Matters

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As you can see from the diagram below, conventional harnesses can drag a person who has gone overboard face-down in the water, which can result in the head being pushed down into the oncoming flow. That position makes breathing and self-recovery much harder and reduces the time available for rescue. 

 

BackTow changes that by towing the wearer backwards. The face is turned away from the water, the body is placed into a more stable recovery posture, and the crew gains valuable time to respond.

Once in the BackTow position, the jacket forms a strong structural A-frame behind the wearer’s head. This can be used as a lifting and recovery strop, allowing a halyard or multi-purchase system to be attached for a safer recovery from the water. 

Proven Technology

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BackTow was developed after a number of fatal accidents highlighted a failing in conventional harness technology. After four years of development, testing, and patent applications, the design gained ISO approval and  was launched in Spring 2017. The first TeamO BackTow jackets were widely recognised for innovation and design, and the system is now our leading harness solution.

BackTow: Frequently Asked Questions

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What is BackTow Technology?

BackTow is a harness that tows you backwards through the water instead of forwards.

 

BackTow was developed after a fatal accident highlighted a failing in conventional harness technology. After four years of development, testing, and patent applications, the design gained ISO approval and launched in Spring 2017. 

 

The first TeamO BackTow jackets were widely recognised for innovation and design, and the system is now our leading harness solution.

How is BackTow different from a standard harness?

A standard harness keeps the towing point at the front. BackTow allows the towing point to move into a safer rearward position once it has been activated.

Does BackTow work automatically?

No. The BackTow handle is then pulled manually if it is needed by the wearer going overboard. 

 

Our lifejackets can inflate automatically on water entry if they are fitted with an automatic inflator - the ProSensor Elite, the Hammar, or the Mk5i - but they do not deploy the BackTow automatically.

Can I self-recover with BackTow?

Yes. If you can self-recover, there is no need to deploy the BackTow handle.

Will a BackTow lifejacket definitely save a person who has gone overboard?

Let’s be realistic: when you’re out on the water - and especially if you're in the middle of the open ocean - there’s no guarantee that any piece of safety gear will save a life. Marine safety is about reducing risk to give the users the best possible chance of survival. BackTow is not,  never has been, and cannot be a failsafe promise that it will save a life. 

 

What BackTow does is reduce the risk of drowning by changing the way a clipped on person overboard being towed in the water and improving the recovery position. It still relies on the person in the water being conscious to pull the BackTow handle.

Which TeamO lifejackets have BackTow?

All TeamO lifejackets have BackTow except for the Micro. The Micro doesn't have a harness as is is specifically designed for shorter trips and inshore activities. 

 

If you need to be clipped on and want BackTow on your TeamO lifejacket, then you need to choose either Coastal, Offshore, or Ocean. 

Is BackTow patented and approved?

Yes. The design gained patent protection and ISO approval before we launched the first one. 

 

You can see details of approvals, certificates and ISO standards that each of our products meet on our Declaration of Conformity page. 

Are TeamO developing new BackTow lifejackets?

We're always innovating and investigating ideas that could lead to increased safety on the water. 

 

At the time of writing (April 2026) the only thing we can share is that we're currently in the process of finalising the Offshore Hi-Lift 150N to bring that to market. This is the lifejacket that won both the category and the overall competition at the DAME Awards in 2024. 

 

Why the delay? Unfortunately, designing new products, gaining approval, and securing supplies to bring safety products to market can take significant amounts of time - often significantly more time than expected, which has been the case with the Hi-Lift. 

 

All that said - we don't currently have plans to redevelop the BackTow element on our lifejackets. 

Which is the best BackTow lifejacket for me?

It depends on what type of sailing you're doing. We've intentionally named our lifejackets to help make it clear which type of sailing they are suitable for, but if you're finding it hard to decide between two different styles, then our Choose Your Lifejacket quiz should help you. If you still have questions, then contact us - our team are always happy to help. 

BackTow: Looking Back, It's Obvious

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There’s nothing quite like the freedom of being out on the ocean - the challenge, the thrill, the sense of possibility that comes with every passage, every crossing, every mile offshore. But adventure on the water always carries risk, and that risk never disappears just because the conditions currently look calm. 

 

BackTow was created to help reduce the risk that comes with life at sea, so you can focus on the adventure ahead with greater confidence and the reassurance that your safety system is working with you, not against you.

EXPLORE BACKTOW LIFEJACKETS HERE