This is the essence of boating… People are thrown into the frigid water after being flipped around on tubes at breakneck speed until they can no longer handle the fright.
Few things delight children more than being tossed around the lake in a tube, but having the wrong tube may be a disastrous experience. My children were initially introduced to a classic donut-shaped tube, which required them to lie down on their stomachs and hang on to the ropes. That made the tube trip far more terrifying for them than it needed to be, and I’ve since realized that there are many better options.
Older or more daring youngsters, on the other hand, like a towable with more air, therefore they’ll need a different tube.
I’ll tell you about my favorite towable tubes, but first, a few pointers on how to pick the appropriate towable…
- If your children are afraid of tubing, use a tube that allows them to sit on their butts rather than laying down.
- Nervous children will also benefit from riding in a tube with two people, so they may go with a sibling or friend.
- Please consider the hazards of multi-rider tubes if you want to travel quickly and whip the boat around for more daring youngsters. When there’s a chance that two people’s heads may collide, the risk is always higher.
- Invest in a tube with an excellent rapid release mechanism. Extra effort is inconvenient when you’re trying to enjoy a day on the water.
- If you don’t have a high-quality, high-capacity pump, you’ll wind up spending a lot more money on tubes over time! It will not work with a conventional air mattress pump! The tube will wear out considerably faster if it is under-inflated in any way. This is the pump that I suggest.
- Even if your children are experienced tube riders, bear in mind that they will bring their friends and cousins who may be new to the sport. You can’t expect an adventurous tube to work for everyone.
- Don’t expect to buy a single towable to use in every occasion. It’s a good idea to keep two or three towables in the garage so you can switch things up to keep things interesting for the kids, or to use a different towable if you’ll be bringing novice riders out with you.
- If your pontoon boat has trouble getting up to speed while it’s full of people and dragging a tube, a booster ball is a must-have. I was doubtful before purchasing mine that it would make much of a difference, but it did. The booster ball just lifts the rope out of the water, and it’s a great way to get the rider out of the wake and moving faster. It’s a wonderful choice if you have a slower boat yet want to use it for towing tubes as well. Here’s where you can acquire one.
I’ve categorized 15 of the most popular tubes by my rating and the age category (small kids, intermediate kids, or more daring kids) they’re excellent for…
21 Best Towable Tubes for Kids
5 Best Towable Tubes for Children Who Are Younger or More Shy
I prefer the cockpit type tubes or the sit-up tubes for younger children since they provide them a sense of security. It also means you may raise the boat’s speed to get them acclimated to moving quicker while reducing the risk of them slipping overboard. For younger children, I would never propose a one-person tube. They appear to always prefer going with a sibling, cousin, or acquaintance.
1. Sportsstuff Chariot Warbird 2-Person
This is my favorite towable for younger children since it is incredibly stable due to the large wings, it has a high back so the children have little danger of falling off, it has strong handy grips, and it accommodates two children, which is important for newer riders. All of the tubes on this list are of high quality, but in this category, I believe this is by far the finest tube available, and other boaters’ evaluations back me up.
This tube may also be towed forwards or backwards, which I appreciate. The enormous “wall” of a rear seat between them and the water in front of them can sometimes make youngsters feel more secure while they are going backwards.
If you’ll have any newer or intermediate riders on the boat, this is the finest tube you can get. It’s a fantastic design that will most likely endure a long time. It’s not inexpensive, but it’s the best option available. The current pricing of this tube may be seen on its Amazon.com page.
2. Sportsstuff Big Mable 2-Person Towable
This towable is quite similar to my #1 pick, however it does not have the large wings, making it somewhat less stable in tight turns. However, it lowers the price by $100 while maintaining a very well-made, long-lasting tube.
3. Airhead Mach 2 Towable
If you’re on a tight budget and want a nice, basic tube for beginning or intermediate riders, I recommend this towable. Airhead has done a lot of good in the business by providing low-cost, high-quality goods. I’ve had nice experiences with them and have a few of their tubes.
While I like the Sportsstuff tube listed first, it is somewhat more costly, therefore this is by far the most popular option.
4. Airhead Hot Dog 3
For many years, the hot dog has been a popular towable because it allows a large number of passengers to enjoy the journey. They’re also ideal for pontoon boats with lower-powered motors, as their streamlined shape makes it simple to get up to speed even with four riders on the tube.
The only drawback to this type of towable is that you must drive with additional caution to avoid going too fast. Remember that there is nothing to keep the riders in place and that they are crammed in close quarters, so even if the youngsters don’t mind being thrown off the tube and into the water, heads can easily collide and inflict catastrophic damage.
Another advantage of the hot dog-style tube is that it is quite affordable when compared to some of the other tubes on the list for children. Tubes for younger children are frequently more expensive since they are bigger and broader, allowing for better stability and many riders.
5. WOW World of Watersports Bingo Cockpit 1 or 2 Person Inflatable Towable Cockpit Tube for Boating
This is an intriguing tube idea, but I have yet to put it to the test. I believe it has potential for children because it can be ridden backwards, which may put them at ease.
5 Best Towable Tubes for Intermediate Kids
1. Airhead Mach 2
This is now the most popular tube on the market. It can accommodate two riders and, because to its small/medium footprint, can be rapidly towed behind a pontoon boat, but it’s not an adventurous tube. The cockpit design keeps youngsters in the tube steady and lets them to sit up, giving them greater confidence. This tube is included in both the beginning and intermediate sections for a reason: it’s a fantastic all-arounder.
Another positive aspect of this tube is its cost. It’s less costly than many of the other tubes on our list while yet being a high-quality, long-lasting tube. On Amazon, you can get the Mach 2 Towable.
2. SportsStuff Frequent Flyer
If you’re looking for a conventional tube design that can carry 2-3 riders and lasts a long time, it’s tough to choose between #2 and #3 on this list, but the Sportsstuff brand consistently receives really positive feedback from actual users, so I’m putting it up slightly above the Airhead.
Also, rather than the heavy-duty plastic on the Airhead, I like the metal fast connect on this. I’ve never had a problem with the plastic on my Airhead tube bending or breaking, but having the metal is a nice bonus.
3. Airhead G-Force
Look no farther than the G-Force if you’re searching for a more conventional tube type for throwing your kids and their buddies around the lake. It has a somewhat longer form on the edges to provide it a bit more stability for carrying numerous riders without sinking down in the front.
4. Airhead Slash II
With neoprene knuckle guards (good to have for intermediate and adventurous tubes where you’ll be riding quicker) and a well-constructed outer layer, this is a really well-made tube.
The novel design is ideal for pontoon boaters who are used to maneuvering and getting up to speed in slower boats. Traditional donut-shaped tubes have a significantly smaller footprint, which makes them much more hydrodynamic. This is an excellent option.
5. Airhead Hot Dog 3
For many years, the hot dog has been a popular towable because it allows a large number of passengers to enjoy the journey. They’re also ideal for pontoon boats with lower-powered motors, as their streamlined shape makes it simple to get up to speed even with four riders on the tube.
The only drawback to this type of towable is that you must drive with additional caution to avoid going too fast. Remember that there is nothing to keep the riders in place and that they are crammed in close quarters, so even if the youngsters don’t mind being thrown off the tube and into the water, heads can easily collide and inflict catastrophic damage.
Another advantage of the hot dog-style tube is that it is quite affordable when compared to some of the other tubes on the list for children. Tubes for younger children are frequently more expensive since they are bigger and broader, allowing for better stability and many riders.
5 Towables for Older, More Adventuresome Kids
I only recommend one or two person tubes for older and more daring riders. Why? Because pontoon boats aren’t recognized for their speed or agility, a tiny tube will provide more fling in the turns and more speed by lowering drag. Look at the intermediate tube list above if you want something daring but can handle at least three riders.
1. Obrien Super Screamer
This tube is quite nicely constructed. The wide areas of neoprene on the top protect cyclists from being rubbed on their forearms after a long day of riding are the first thing you’ll notice.
The really adventurous, can’t-go-fast-enough youngsters might like #2 because of its speed and slimness, but this Obrien is a little bit better made and thicker, so it can easily take 1-2 people or kids, making it more adaptable. You don’t want to have to haul two or three tubes to the lake every time, and this one solves that problem.
2. Airhead Super Slice
This tube is designed to deliver pure, unadulterated SPEED! It has a low profile and is contoured from the front to the rear, from very thin to fatter. You can feel every bump in the water because to the thin design.
Beginner riders should avoid this tube since leaning too far forward would completely sink the front end. For the ultimate ride, the cyclist must slide backwards in this tube.
3. Sportsstuff Frequent Flyer
This is a lot larger tube than #1 and #2, but if you’re certain you’d want the capacity to hold three riders on occasion, this is a terrific adventure tube.
Also, rather than the heavy-duty plastic on the Airhead, I like the metal fast connect on this. I’ve never had a problem with the plastic on my Airhead tube bending or breaking, but having the metal is a nice bonus.
4. Airhead Slash II
With neoprene knuckle guards (good to have for intermediate and adventurous tubes where you’ll be riding quicker) and a well-constructed outer layer, this is a truly well-made tube.
The novel design is ideal for pontoon boaters who are used to maneuvering and getting up to speed in slower boats. Traditional donut-shaped tubes have a significantly smaller footprint, which makes them much more hydrodynamic. However, because this tube is a little larger than some of the others on the daring list, it will have a tiny drop in top-end performance.
5. AIRHEAD AHBL-1 Blast Towable
For the really frugal boater (wait, does that even exist?). In any case, I propose the Airhead Blast (have you seen the price of boats these days?!?!). It’s a conventional donut-style tube with long-lasting coatings.
Because of its low price and good quality, this tube has been highly popular for a few years.
Comments are closed.