Want a New Float Tube

[flyfishnevada]

I have two old Caddis U-Tubes and I love them. But they are getting old and the seams are beginning to show some wear. So, I'm looking for a new tube. I have a Scadden Skykomish Sunrise pontoon, but it is a little big, heavy and hard to transport and store. I am going to sell that (PM me if you want it) and invest in a new float tube. I am looking at two or three. The Outcast Super Fat Cat for about $400, the Outcast Prowler at about $500, the ODC 420 for about $250 and maybe the HC Bullet at $440, but its a dated design, though it's similar to my Caddis tubes. All claim to support 300 pound or more and since I am about that, that's good. I want something I can carry reasonable well, but that still offers comfort and storage for stuff.

Anyone have those tubes or have any experience with them? I'm leaning towards the Prowler. Ya, it's expensive, but it holds 325, gets great reviews that I can see but if anyone has anything good to say about the others, I'm willing to spend less

Thanks!!

[flyfishnevada]

I like the double, but you'd have to find a left handed partner so the wouldn't hook you while casting. The beer hole ain't bad either.

[Milt Spawn]

I have two old Caddis U-Tubes and I love them. But they are getting old and the seams are beginning to show some wear. So, I'm looking for a new tube. I have a Scadden Skykomish Sunrise pontoon, but it is a little big, heavy and hard to transport and store. I am going to sell that (PM me if you want it) and invest in a new float tube. I am looking at two or three. The Outcast Super Fat Cat for about $400, the Outcast Prowler at about $500, the ODC 420 for about $250 and maybe the HC Bullet at $440, but its a dated design, though it's similar to my Caddis tubes. All claim to support 300 pound or more and since I am about that, that's good. I want something I can carry reasonable well, but that still offers comfort and storage for stuff.

Anyone have those tubes or have any experience with them? I'm leaning towards the Prowler. Ya, it's expensive, but it holds 325, gets great reviews that I can see but if anyone has anything good to say about the others, I'm willing to spend less

Thanks!!

I would opt for the Super Fat Cat or a Fish Cat 4 D, the one with the inflatable seat. milt.

[briansII]

These might be on the upper end of "carry reasonably well", but they have some comfort and features of a pontoon boat in a float tube size. Scadden Escape, and the Super Cat.

http://www.northforkoutdoors.com/2011catalog/page8.html

http://www.supercat.us/

These are not float tubes, but the people that I know that have them, love them.

http://www.waterstrider.com/

or

http://www.bigskyinflatables.com/

For straight up float tubes, I like the Super Fat Cat or Prowler that you mentioned.

I've migrated to using my float tubes for pond and small lake fishing. Anything I want to cover water, I use my Skykomish.

briansII

[flyfishnevada]

Actually, just looking at the Outlaw escape, but those others are good too. I mean realisitically, if I am going to pack very far I might use the Caddis or by a new Creek Co U-Boat or similar. Honestly, the weight limits are more important in the high riding tubes because the center of gravity is so high. Flipping is unlikely when half your body is in the water, not to mention you're effective weight is much less. I am proof. Been in those Caddis tubes for 20 years. Have always been way over capacity. Less now since I lost weight. Never felt unstable or tippy, though I do sit a little lower than lighter guys.

Those smaller toons and tubes are so much easier to store and move around than the Skykomish and its 10 foot toons and 65 lbs and could be packed if deflated though not far.

[trouterfan1]

I have the Outcast super fatcat and am very happy with it. I almost pulled the trigger on the prowler when I was looking for a new tube but purchased the super fatcat instead. I am 6' 4'' and weigh 250lbs. and it floats me well, with that being said... the prowler is a cadillac! and if I were to do it over again I would have bought the prowler. You can't beat the warranty service from Outcast either it's second to none.

[flyfishnevada]

I gotta do some thinking. I like the Prowler and the Outlaw Escape. They are about 5 lbs difference stripped down (16 vs 21 lbs). The Prowler claims 325# capacity, the Escape 600#. However the Escape costs $200 more, but I should be able to afford either after selling my Skykomish. I guess the question is do I want a small light tube for day hikes or a bigger more stable and safer tube for drive to lakes. How often am I going to pack it into a lake vs using it on the drive to lakes?

Who here packs a float tubs in to back country lakes often vs just wading or fishing from shore? I've done it and it's kind a of a pain even with my very light Caddis and that was only to Blue Lake above Virginia Lake. You're not going to be trolling down 40-50 feet through the middle of a big back country lake with a fly rod, you're going to be fishing the edges and shallows. If I wanted to do that, I'd buy a boat and some downriggers (oh yeah, I did and ended up selling those ).

I'm leaning towards the Scadden. Easy to breakdown and store on a shelf, easy to set up and easy to get to the water. Light enough for short hikes, but still will hold me, all my gear, lunch and the portable grill to cook it on. Plus it will be safe. No worrying about tipping because I exceed the max capacity with me and my gear. Besides, its got a lifetime warranty and I really like the Scadden designs. I love the Skykomish, just not the size and complexity.

But as I write this I am looking around the internet (short attention span) and suddenly the idea of an inflatible kayak piques my interest...

...or maybe not.

[Dry Fly Rie]

Dan-

I picked up a Creek Company ODC 420L two years ago, and I have loved it. The specs say it can hold up to 300lbs. I've weighed as much as 250 while using it, and I've always felt very stable it it. I'm sure there are some more expensive models that sit a little higher, but I actually like the fact that I'm a little lower, because most of the time I use it in warm water ponds during the summer time, so it keeps me cooler. I've never packed it anywhere, but it does have 4 D-rings on the bottom to attach straps to it. The storage compartments aren't huge (at least in my opinion) but they've always been more than enough for my gear. It folds up nicely and fits inside a large plastic tub that I keep in the garage. It's my first tube, so I probably don't know what I'm missing with the higher-end models, but I have definitely been satisfied with its performance.

The best part was that I got it brand new (in the package) on eBay for $110 shipped, and it included fins and the hand pump. I don't know if they're still that cheap, but I still see them on eBay quite often.

[greenbug]

Hey FlyFishNevada,

I own the Outcast Prowler......... love the thing! Although its kind of a sail when it gets windy, but what Float Tube isn't. I'm 6'4" and 225lbs and it floats me fine.

Paul

[Rob909]

Hey Dan.....I have the Outcast Super Fat Cat.

I am by no means a float tube expert being that I just started float tubing last year. In the couple times I have used it, I have no complaints. But I also have nothing to compare it to.

I can tell you I had some apprehensions about being in a tube on my first trip, but those went away very quickly. It feels very durable and moves well in the water. I liked riding high in the inflatable seat. I also like that the seat is two seperate ibladders, so in case you had a major malfunction with the main bladder, you still had the two bladders of the seat to keep you afloat.

I have packed it in to a lake for a Big Fish Hunt, and I simply rolled it up and threw it in my backpack with the air pump strapped on. It was no big deal.

It also has lots of compartments for storage.

I have no regrets buying it, I just wish I was able to use it more aften.

Just my $.02


Rob

[flyfishnevada]

I can tell you I had some apprehensions about being in a tube on my first trip, but those went away very quickly. It feels very durable and moves well in the water. I liked riding high in the inflatable seat.

Yeah, at first it seems a little strange, but pretty soon you're pivoting and turning without even thinking, paddling to stay in place in the wind etc. My caddis tubes are so comfortable, I've almost fallen asleep when we were out all day and had gotten up early. Like lounge chairs.

It is the riding high that concerns me. I will put the weight rating to the test. When I am in my Caddis, I'm up to nearly my waist in the water. Not only is my center of gravity low, but I am lighter since some of me is in the water and therefore buoyant. In the newer design only my lower legs will be in the water and the center of gravity is much higher. That being said, the Outcast tubes are wide and longer so probably more stable. I am pretty sure those weight limits are theoretical and the tubes can handle much more. In fact, more might be OK to a point as it lowers the center of gravity and more body is in the water. If you've seen all the crap some guys outfit those tubes with, PVC rod holders, live wells, ice chests, etc., I bet many are over stated weight capacity.

[stanbery]

Dan

I float tube ALOT!!!

I weight a good 250 and for packing in a tube look at the trinity float tube.

For a float tube that is very good for no hike in fish cat 4 stuff will last you a long time.

Jon

[briansII]

I gotta do some thinking. I like the Prowler and the Outlaw Escape. They are about 5 lbs difference stripped down (16 vs 21 lbs). The Prowler claims 325# capacity, the Escape 600#. However the Escape costs $200 more, but I should be able to afford either after selling my Skykomish. I guess the question is do I want a small light tube for day hikes or a bigger more stable and safer tube for drive to lakes. How often am I going to pack it into a lake vs using it on the drive to lakes?

Who here packs a float tubs in to back country lakes often vs just wading or fishing from shore? I've done it and it's kind a of a pain even with my very light Caddis and that was only to Blue Lake above Virginia Lake. You're not going to be trolling down 40-50 feet through the middle of a big back country lake with a fly rod, you're going to be fishing the edges and shallows. If I wanted to do that, I'd buy a boat and some downriggers (oh yeah, I did and ended up selling those ).

I'm leaning towards the Scadden. Easy to breakdown and store on a shelf, easy to set up and easy to get to the water. Light enough for short hikes, but still will hold me, all my gear, lunch and the portable grill to cook it on. Plus it will be safe. No worrying about tipping because I exceed the max capacity with me and my gear. Besides, its got a lifetime warranty and I really like the Scadden designs. I love the Skykomish, just not the size and complexity.

But as I write this I am looking around the internet (short attention span) and suddenly the idea of an inflatible kayak piques my interest...

...or maybe not.

Just like rods, there's no one option that will cover everything best. IMHO, your thinking is spot on. Depending on if you plan to pack a tube to a lake, is a BIG factor. If that would be a rare case, I personally would go with the Scadden Escape. Even though it's a tad heavier, you have a high capacity, and you have the options of oars. That's huge on bigger bodies of water. Before I bought the Skykomish, I tubed a LOT on big water. It sure would have been nice to give my legs a break, by using oars.

As for the kayak, there's a lot of pluses there. The one big drawback, and why I have not bought one, is boat control. Your feet are out of the water, and any movement has to be done with a paddle. That means more time positioning the yak, and less time fishing. Wind(even a slight breeze)will be your worst enemy in an inflatable. Having said that, I know a few people who use them regularly.

briansII

[flyfishnevada]

Just like rods, there's no one option that will cover everything best. IMHO, your thinking is spot on. Depending on if you plan to pack a tube to a lake, is a BIG factor. If that would be a rare case, I personally would go with the Scadden Escape. Even though it's a tad heavier, you have a high capacity, and you have the options of oars. That's huge on bigger bodies of water. Before I bought the Skykomish, I tubed a LOT on big water. It sure would have been nice to give my legs a break, by using oars.

That's the rub right now. I am trying to decide if I want to pack into lakes regularly with the darn thing. I haven't in the past, but that doesn't mean I won't in the future. I hadn't hiked into a lake more than 10 minutes from the parking lot in close to 10 years until last Monday but I want to do it more. Right now it's either the Outcast Predator for an all around tube or the Outlaw Escape and an inexpensive u-tube exclusively for packing in. Something tells me that, weight capacity rating aside, the Predator is a serious tube that can more than handle what I want to do. I may be over thinking this a little. Maybe I should just buy both from Cabela's and utilize their generous return policy.

I just need to see them in person. The Cabela's in Reno had the next one up from the Escape and it didn't look all that big. Much smaller than my Skykomish. I'd still get the Escape, but they aren't as big as I pictured. In fact, the Escape is only 2 inches wider and 8 inches longer than the Predator which is 4' 2" wide and 5' 4" long. These are not you daddy's belly boats to be sure.