I've used Polaris floats for 3 years or so now and think they are really good, in fact I bought another this lunch-time (No.1 straight waggler).
For close range the canal type are very good with a really fine stepped down stem, for distance the straight or bodied wagglers are better, due to them being thicker and easier to see.
Don't be put off by the thickness of the heavier floats as they are a lot more sensitive than you would expect, especially wound down with 10mm or so showing in calm conditions.
I usually fish straight through the float with the smallest drilled bullet required to sink the float, then a rubber drennan float stop, then a tail as long as required on the day(I start at 8"). A feeder can be used instead of a bomb / bullet, but it must be sufficient to sink the float empty. This is because too light a weight allows the float to drag the bait along the bottom with undertow / wind.
I have found that when reeling in with a fish and the float gets to the rod tip the line easily comes through the float, a mate of mine uses the loc slide floats and has had problems as the line will not easily pass through with a heavy fish.