TOWABLE TUBE TEST!

OUR ANNUAL WATER-TOY EXTRAVAGANZA!

Wakesurfing is undoubtedly cool, wakeboarding lets you experience the thrills of big air, and good oldfashioned water-skiing will forever be fun. But the most versatile towable remains the inflatable. Once made from literal tire tubes, which is how we still refer to them, today’s versions are more durable and maneuverable, and they amp up the thrill level far beyond the tubes of old. Yes, in the process some offerings have gotten a little, shall we say, unique. (Did we really see a four-passenger stand-up model that looks like a giant traffic cone?) But overall, inflatables have gotten a lot more fun—which, after all, is the point.

How do you choose the best inflatable for your friends and family in this sea of durable, maneuverable, thrilling—and occasionally downright weird— blow-up toys? We’d argue the answer is in the twoto-three-passenger range, where you can find an inflatable that still delivers a fun ride for nearly all ages and skill levels but doesn’t cost more than your monthly car payment—or require a dedicated storage closet just to stow it when not in use.

The five inflatables we rounded up for 2021 fit that description to perfection on paper. Here’s how they shook out on the water.