Nothing is better in the summer than hitting the lakes and shredding water on an amazing tube. It’s a great way to have some family fun while enjoying the sunshine out on the water. However, it can be difficult to know which towable is right for you and your situation, especially if you're new to boating. Here at Pontoon & Deck Boat, we had the opportunity to test the latest towables first-hand to help save you some time. We enlisted professional water toy testers, aka neighborhood kids, to help provide insight on which tubes the kids liked best. Let’s dive in!
WOW Beach Bubba
The first one on our list that comes gliding through the waters is the fabulous WOW Beach Bubba. This tube is custom built to allow two people to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Because it has a high comfortable backrest, it provides comfort and security for everyone. So when there are bumps or quick turns on the water, you’ll stay on the tube. Not only is the siding and backrest comfortable but the entire tube is fashioned with enhanced HI-VIS graphics and smooth material so you don't have to worry about scratching, rubbing or chipping off the lettering through use. This tube is long-lasting and will stay looking good all summer long and for years to come.
It features many options for handle grips with double webbed foam inside. There are two places to attach the tube: in the front and in the back near the bottom of the backrest. Allie said, “I like the sides, and the handles are everywhere. It makes me feel like I’m not going to tip over.” Allie and fellow tester Toby loved how many ways you can ride the Beach Bubba. “You can ride backwards, sitting back, leaning forward, or laying down if you want,” said Toby.
Radar Chase 4
The Radar Chase 4 not only comes with a comfortable back seat and siding, but this beauty can also hold up to four adults comfortably! Designed for comfort and fun, this tube also includes up to three cupholders. “This is the first tube I’ve seen that has cupholders,” Payton pointed out. “I really like it. You can take this sweet ride on the waves or just tie up and float with a drink and have yourself a picnic.”
The tube comes with a 30-gauge PVC bladder, neoprene knuckle guards and seating, and is made to last for a good long while. It's simple to use and easy to blow up, and an overall joy for any age range. One of things our friend Addie mentioned was, “It’s cool. The tube feels really safe when you go over waves.”
It also comes equipped with a camera mounting port, so you can take photos and videos right from the tube. Talk about action! It comes in the neon bright color blue with some yellow highlights on the side. This is the tube for you if you want to bring the whole family, plus friends, and cruise around the lake. We noticed in our testing that it tends to sit higher on the water than other tubes, which can help to take on the bumps and fast turns with ease.
Airhead Space Shuttle
Mission Control we are ready for launch in three…two…one…Liftoff! Although the Airhead Space Shuttle looks like it belongs on its way to navigate Mars, it won’t get you too far into space. It takes you somewhere much better: a wholesome family fun day out in the sun!
The Airhead Space shuttle is a sporty three-person towable tube, or a great solo ride. There are six foam handles that ensure comfort and security. It is equipped with the heavy-duty nylon on the body, self-draining vents on the bottom and a speed safety valve, making it easy to fill and easy to drain at the end of the day. The unique design includes bolster fins for stability and a narrowed nose gives riders the confidence to fly over turbulent waves and maybe even take on more risky turns. Did we mention it's an ideal thrill ride for those looking for a rush?
It's recommended for anyone who wants an adventurous ride out on the waves. “I like how wild this ride was. You really have to hold on tight so you don’t fall off,” Bode mentioned when asked why he liked it. “You just kind of go where it goes.” Take that, NASA. Not even you could have come up with such a wild and sleek design.
Airhead Shield
If you’re looking for a great and reliable beginner’s tube for younger kids look no further than the Airhead Shield. This tube comes with four double-stitched nylon straps for comfortable handles that are designed for long-lasting durability. Since this tube is geared toward youth, we recommend either two small children or one adolescent. It also comes equipped with two extra cushions in the back to help the kiddos stay on easier as well as lessen the amount of flopping around as they shred over the bigger waves.
Kaitlin really liked this feature because, “it’s a nice cushion for my legs so I’m not flopping all over the place.” This tube is also outfitted with a heavy gauge PVC bladder, making it easy to inflate along with the Speed Safety Valve to ensure convenience. The Airhead Shield comes with RF welded seams throughout the entire toy, which translates to this super fun tube lasting for many summers to come. Durable, safe, and comes in bright colors of blue and green, this tube is worth a second look.
Connelly Big Easy 3
The first thing to note about the Connelly Big Easy 3 is how comfortable it is to ride. Allie said, “The material is really comfortable; I liked riding on it a lot.” It has a shape similar to that of a big recliner, which makes riding this tube both fun and relaxing. The best part about this tube is that it can hold comfortably three people either lounge style, or with the 12 handles front and back, you can ride it chariot style.
Where you sit with this tube makes a big difference. “My friends were on the sides and were almost falling off but in the middle, I was just fine,” Allie said. Clearly you have the option to live more on the wild side and feel the waves brushing past you, or you can play it safe by staying in the middle. Luckily it comes with plenty of anchor straps on the inside providing extra safety measures just in case. The tube also comes with a Boston valve for quicker inflation and comes with a whopping 840D heavy-duty bladder. Overall, this is a high-quality tube that is fun for the whole family. As our friend Toby proclaimed, “I’d recommend this tube because it’s comfortable.” We couldn’t agree more, Toby.
O'Brien Baller 3
Coming down the line is the totally rad O'Brien Baller 3. This bright blue and yellow colored tube comes with two-way towing capability to provide riders the option of riding forward sitting down or chariot style kneeling for up to three riders. The cover is made of premium slick Softec with a total of 14 handles, making any twist or turn fun and comfortable.
“We just went out on the O'Brien Baller and it was insane! Such a cool ride,” said Hanna when asked how riding this tube went. “It was even so riding over bumps was fun without tipping over.”
Kaitlin added, “It has really nice sides to keep me in, so I felt safe.”
Such great praise from our testers as they each had a lot of fun. Did we mention this tube is durable? It can handle even the craziest waves with its heavy-duty nylon shell that covers the entire tube. Investing in this tube, you’re not only buying it for fun out on the lake this summer, but for many years to come. “This is a definite 10 out of 10 tube all around,” Payton exclaimed, and the other testers quickly agreed.
HO Sports Formula 3
The HO Sports Formula 3 is a ride you don’t want to miss! This one-of-a-kind tube is designed to seat up to three people and ensures a quick and easy inflation and deflation with its Boston tube valve. Designed with comfort in mind, the nylon covering and foam handles promise ease and durability through all waves and high bumps. The high sidings on the back and in the middle give riders extra support so they aren’t unceremoniously ricocheted out. During our testing of this tube every kid was smiling as they went careening through the water. Allie said, “It was super fun. I liked the high siding in the front that kept me from falling out.”
The high middle siding (that inflates separately) is especially ideal for younger kids who are just starting out with boating or may be a little timid.
HO Sport Shark
Don’t be alarmed seeing the HO Sport Shark out on the water with its fins and pointy teeth. The only thing this shark has on its mind is shredding the water for all-out fun. The tube can handle up to three people, with two lying down on the fins and one sitting on top ‘steering the beast.’ It comes with nylon webbing on the handles for easy hand holds that won’t cause any uncomfortable rubbings or slipping.
Here’s what our friends had to say about the Shark. “I like that it has fins on the side as a kind of bumper to keep you from falling off,” said Hanna. Toby, who rode in the middle said, “You sit up more and so it feels like I am the shark.”
Payton added, “Compared to other lying down tubes, this one is super comfy and fun to ride.” Each comment shows how in any position this tube is a fun ride indeed. With its family-friendly design, kids will feel secure with a boost of confidence that only a shark can muster up.
ZUP YouGotThis 2.0 Board
Now the ZUP YouGotThis 2.0 isn’t a tube, but it is such a fun board we wanted to add it to the list. It is an all-in-one, fun in the sun board that is user-friendly for a variety of ages and skill levels. You can lie down on the board while gripping onto the provided handle that makes for easier transitions and the ability to cut through waves. The body is made of a comfy non-skid EVA foam for quick foot position and it comes with ZUP’s tow handle and rope.
“You can holster the handle to the board if your arms get tired or you want to relax or quickly change positions,” explained Payton. “There are a lot of different ways you can ride this board and it’s easy to transition from a knee board to standing.”
There are footholds and knee pads built into the board too for a multi-faceted fun experience. What makes this board all the better is its stable hydrodynamic molded body that is super buoyant and dependable.
Island Hopper Patio Dock
Finally, rounding out our top 10 is the Island Hopper Patio Dock, which isn’t a towable but it does inflate and attach to your boat. This must-have patio is an inflatable dock extension that can hook up to the side of your pontoon to give you more space. It is easily attachable with the 12-sided rings for tethering or anchoring.
When fully inflated it is 15 feet by 6 feet and 6 inches tall and can comfortably carry over 2,000 pounds, which is truly impressive. The Island Hopper Patio Dock is the perfect addition to your fleet of inflatables with ample room to sunbathe, jump off into the water, or simply just relax and enjoy the lake view with the sunset on the horizon. The inflatable dock can be inflated and deflated within 10 minutes each using the provided 12-volt electric 15 PSI auto-set Power Pump.
It is made with rigidity and stability in mind with its heat-welded seams all around. It also comes with 12 long web-loops for when you want to secure a cooler or other tubes and essentials for later use. The Island Hopper Patio Deck was ideal in helping our water tube test run smoothly, as you can never have too much dock space.
