How do I choose my Float Tube?

pêcheur sur un float tube

Le Float Tube is surely thefishing boat the most popular recent model in recent years. It's easy to launch, accessible and lets you explore uncharted waters, making it a great ally when you're looking for fish with your legs in the water.

Like a boat, when making a purchase, it's important to look at quality. The fabric, the inner tubes or the file are elements of both comfort and safety. Not to be overlooked when you find yourself several hundred metres from the edge.

Criteria of use will also play a role in your choice of function. You don't choose the same size when you want to be very mobile or when you're tackling large bodies of water. The amount of space it takes to transport can also be an argument for one side or the other.

Equipment and accessories are now an integral part of your choice of float. Le lifejacket, pockets for storage, the rod holders, the pump or the motor support, these are all factors that need to be taken into account.

We now offer a collection offloat tubeDedicated to wide-ranging fishing. Whatever your budget, you should easily be able to find a model to suit your needs. All the fishermen, will have to, fishing rod in hand, safe and easy to handle so you can practice your chosen fishing technique.

With your legs ready to paddle for hours on end, you'll be ready to slide the paddles across the water to get closer to the most coveted spots.

The quality of the materials used

It is important to say that fishing at float tube is not as trivial an activity as it might seem. It's worth bearing in mind that you'll be out on the water, at a depth of several metres, most of the time in waders. Safety must therefore be your priority, because it will be essential if you are ever to say "never again".

The fabric and the inflation technique used for the bladders must be carefully examined. If you can, you should compare models, to select only the safest. To help you choose your float tube, we've put together a selection of the most popular modelsTop 10 float tubes available on our website.

Preferably, select models without chambers. It's perfectly possible to decide between this type of craft and kayaks. If you're interested, you'll find all the information you need in our article Float tube or kayak: how do you choose ?. The gluing technique for PVC fabrics is often much stronger and thicker on these models. You'll be able to get into tricky places more easily, without piercing or tearing your float.

Don't forget your lifejacket. Compulsory, but above all very useful, it's the only bulwark against you going overboard or worse if your float tube develops the slightest problem. This should be your first purchase... It's essential.

Choose a model to suit your fishing areas

The size of your boat must take into account the bodies of water or rivers you intend to explore. Getting around isn't always easy, and it's something we covered in our articleHow do you move forward and steer a Float Tube ?. There are models weighing in at just a few kilos and products capable of supporting you upright and loaded with a electric motor with battery.

This is one of the most important criteria when it comes to choosing a boat once you're on the waterwater. Just like the choice of its flippers, read our articleWhich fins should you choose for Float Tube fishing ? if the subject interests you. If, for example, you're going to be walking for hundreds of metres, you need to choose a lightweight model that's easy to transport without having to keep going back and forth.

Handling is also a determining factor. When you fish on small areas, so it's important to be able to position yourself easily and manoeuvre with ease. A compact float tube will be preferred.

Larger bodies of water offer other perspectives. There are plenty of spots to choose from, and they're often far apart. You'll probably need more than one fishing rod, you'll need more than one to cover the various items correctly. You'll also need comfort, so you can spend whole days on the water looking for predators.

It's important to base your choice on a wider range of models that can easily be fitted with equipment to make life easier. Tubeless models are best suited to this type of riding.

Accessories and compatibility of your float tube

Another point that can help you decide is the accessories. Some models are delivered fully equipped. We covered the subject of inflating boats in our articleHow do I inflate a float tube ?, it's a laughable subject, but it's more complex than you might think. You can count on the pump, the rod holder or even multi-purpose supports. This makes it easy for you to adapt your purchase according to your experience and your desires.

Be careful, though, as brands may reserve unique systems that will prevent you from installing accessories from another manufacturer. As with a boat, it's often wiser to stick with the same brand so you don't need to tinker. It always saves precious time on the water.

The last point to look out for is the storage space provided, which is bound to be an essential. If you can't take boxes of lures out on the water, you'll be bored. Remember to check the sizes against your boxes.

Major brands of trust

Like all fishermen, you want your purchase to be an investment. A float tube has a cost, and it's essential that you don't feel like you've wasted money when you receive your purchase. Today's major brands are trustworthy, both in terms of quality and after-sales service.

You can rely on Seven Bass which has a wide range of choices, adapted not just to one fishing technique, but to several. There's something to suit every taste, in every colour, and for every type of water.

Sparrow is not to be outdone, offering a new quality alternative in direct competition with the highly acclaimed Seven Bass.

The more generalist brands are also getting in on the act, with strong guarantees of quality. These include Rapala, , Abu Garcia, , Illex or in Madcat who have a limited choice but reliable products.

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