Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

2010 Just purchased 2 "Big Slice" tubes to replace 2 identical tubes we have had for a few years. I've purchased dozens of tubes over the years and these have been my favorite. Minus one star for long term durability. Pros: 1) Nice soft handles with neoprene to protect your knuckles. 2) Neoprene pad for your knees. EDIT 2022 Neoprene pad is smaller now. 3) Fully covered with few seams to catch on and hurt yourself (unlike open donut style tubes). 4) Nice screw on, quick fill, "Boston" valve. EDIT 2022 bladder no longer has a threaded valve. The new style just pushes in, I prefer the old style threaded type. 5) Thicker in front, thinner in the rear for easy boarding. EDIT 2022 The new bladder is of lower volume. The kid's couldn't get started no matter how far back they got. Should be fine for adults. The kids did fine on the previous versions, it is just this new version that holds less air, so much so the skin is loose. I don't know, maybe they will stretch into shape but for now they are worthless for the smaller kids. 6) Special hook makes it easy to hook to a rope. 7) Price is reasonable. Cons: 1) They don't last forever, maybe 3-5 years. This is fine with me considering the abuse they suffer. 2) There is no neoprene where your elbows hit. The canvas is fairly soft so this is not a big deal to me. 3) The webbing where the rope hooks up could be more durable. I reinforced mine so this never became an issue. EDIT 2022 The webbing is plenty strong enough stock. Notes: 1) If your kids are sinking this tube it is because they are riding too far forward, not because of where the rope hooks up. Have em lean back till the tube planes out. (See also #4) EDIT 2022 Our kids had no trouble with the old version of this tube once they learned to lean back at the start, however none of them can ride the new version because it holds less air. 2) The handles are important. I've had tubes with hard plastic handles (no good), and really durable coarse fabric handles which were too rough on your knuckles (no good). The handles on this tube are a nice compromise between comfort and durability. 3) The Boston valve is the best. Quick to inflate, quick to deflate, and secure. Our Walmart tubes have press in valves that pop loose and then the tube goes flat. One of my old tubes uses a car type Schrader valve which takes forever to pump up. Boston is the way to go. EDIT 2022 Slice no longer comes with a Boston value. 4) The Big Slice is for going fast with adults or big kids. Small kids might prefer the open style tubes they can climb down inside and maintain a low center of gravity. Smaller kids can successfully ride fully covered tubes but the open style tubes are easier for the little ones. 5) The Slice sits low in the water and is not bouncy like taller tubes. The Slice is like a sports car while the taller bouncy tubes are like top heavy 4 wheel drive trucks. 6) I've got other tubes but never ride them anymore because I prefer the Big Slice. Reducing rating from 4 to 2 stars because the updated 2022 version has a smaller bladder, a cheaper valve and a smaller section of Neoprene. Will be looking for a new tube for the kids. If you have all adults