Float tubes - Which Mouth inflate?

[Dan Reynolds]

Which float tubes allow you to easily deflate and Mouth inflate while sitting in them?

I posted a similar post a while back, but let me narrow down my qwest.

I'm looking to do fish some hike/mtb in lakes this spring.

The caddis navigator IV looked decent, light and has a mouth tube. What else do you guys use? Weight is not the primary concern. My fishcat4 is a bit heavy and i don't trust the boston valves for deflation while fishing....a half turn too much and you would be sinking fast!!

[LeakyTiki]

I can't imagine why you would want to deflate a tube while you are in it? Am I missing something?:dunno
Happy Mothers Day,
LT

[Dan Reynolds]

Start fishing and the temp is 60....80 mid day...fish at night, temp down again. Those things can pop if you aren't careful.

Plus...I want the option not to have to take a pump if i'm packing light.

[Wayne Jordan]

All of the TU tubes do, to my knowledge anyway. I'll give you a ring this week sometime...:thumb

[Scott Salzer]

My Caddis does, U-tube. Emporium is having a sale later this month, you might get a deal.

[Curtis]

I will second the caddis U-tube. However after about 5-6 years of having it, it has developed a small leak.

[Old Man]

If I tried to blow up a float tube by mouth. I would hyper-ventilate(SP)(What a big word). And just pass out. I have trouble blowing up balloons.

Jim

[Jason]

I have a GI Joes Tube (North X Northwest I believe) It is easy to blow up by mouth. It has 4 areas to blow up. I only deflate the main bladder between trips. Very light weight.

[Kent Lufkin]

I've got both TU and Caddis tubes and they all have a light blue twist value that allows them to be inflated either by mouth or with a pump.

Since one of them has a slow leak, I keep a two-foot piece of 3/4" ID clear plastic tubing in that one's pocket. I can slip the tubing over the outside of the blue value, put the other end in my mouth and twist the valve to open it, thus allowing me to inflate the tube on the water.

Measure your value to be sure of the exact size then go to Home Depot and buy a chunk of tubing for about $1.00.

[bhudda]

i have the caddis navigator and like the feature of having the mouth piece, ive used it a couple times when i m out on the water to blow back up, mostly on the hot days. good tube, ihave a caddis v tube that has boston valves and it went low on me a couple weeks ago and i couldnt do anything while i was on the water. just my 3 cents - B


"Dont let your dreams be dreams" -Jack Johnson

[PaulE]

Not to hi-jack this thread or anything, but does anyone know where I can get info on North x Northwest float tubes? I have one that needs a new bladder and I'm having a lot of trouble tracking one down. :beathead:

Thanks.
pe

[Tony Mull]

those nXnw tubes have the option of mouth inflation and even came with a tube and attachement that makes it pretty easy. i have used mine to top off when inflating with an electric blower to get them nice and tight. you will never find a new bladder though i'm afraid. gijoes still sells them cheap, i got two for 70 bucks on sale years ago. i also had a bladder fail but because of a leaky bottle of deet, not the bladder. there's a chance any u shaped tube would work though. best to take it to a friendly shop and find out before buying one or test out a friends.