How to correctly inflate your tube!!

Inflation is the single biggest thing you control in how long a towable tube lasts. Get it right and you get low drag, a tube that tows the way it was designed to, and no punctures. Get it wrong and you either plough through the water or split a seam in the sun. Reuben goes through the full routine, including the step almost nobody does.

Reuben on correctly inflating a towable tube — 5 minutes 3 seconds.

What you need

• A high-volume tube pump. We use the KD Sports cordless tube pump — 600 litres a minute, USB-C rechargeable, and you are not tied to a car, boat or battery.
• A cleared patch of grass.
• Water to soak the tube in before you tow.

Inflating your tube, step by step

Lay it out on a clean grassy patch

Pick a grassy spot and clear it first — no sticks, stones or anything sharp that could pop the tube while you are pumping it up. Spread the tube out, check the valves line up with the holes in the cover, and make sure the bladder is sitting in there correctly.

Reset the Boston valves before you pump

This is the one that matters most. Thread each Boston valve all the way out, then thread it back in, making sure it is not cross-threaded — that is what stops air leaking out through the valve threads later. Then do the valve up nice and tight.

Inflate the main chamber to 2 PSI

Main chamber first. You want it very firm. 2 PSI is what we recommend, especially on a two or three person tube. The quick check: you should be able to stand on it and have it only slightly depress around your feet.

Inflate the upper chamber

Once the main chamber is firm, do the upper — on the tube in the video that is the backrest.

Soak it for two to five minutes, then top it up

The step nearly everyone skips. Check every valve is sealed and the covers are over, then put the tube in the water for about two to five minutes and pull it back out. The water is colder than the air, so it cools the air inside and the volume drops — the tube will feel noticeably softer than it did on the bank. Top it back up to firm. That is your real towing pressure, at the temperature it will actually be at.

Let some air out when it comes off the water

When you stop for lunch or finish for the day and the tube goes back on the bank, let a bit of air out. The sun heats the air inside and expands it, and an already-firm tube can over-inflate and stress the seams. A little air out prevents heat damage.

What correct inflation actually buys you

• Lower drag — a firm tube sits on the water instead of ploughing through it.
• It tows as designed — the shape the manufacturer built only exists at the right pressure.
• Less damage — soft tubes flex and load the seams; over-inflated tubes split them.
• Longer life out of the tube overall.

Common questions

What PSI should a towable tube be?

2 PSI, especially on a two or three person tube. It should be very firm — stand on it and it should only slightly depress around your feet. Towable tubes are low-pressure inflatables, so 2 PSI is a lot firmer than it sounds.

Can I over-inflate my tube with an electric pump?

Not with a volume-type tube pump. The KD Sports cordless pump tops out at 2 PSI — once it reaches that, the motor and battery physically cannot push any more air in, so there is no risk of popping the tube. High-pressure pumps built for SUPs and kayaks are a different thing entirely and should not be used on a towable.

Why does my tube go soft as soon as it hits the water?

Because the water is colder than the air. Cooling the air inside reduces its volume, so a tube that was firm on the bank feels flat a few minutes into the day. It is not a leak. Soak the tube for two to five minutes before you tow, pull it out, and top it up — then you have the right pressure at the temperature it will be at.

Which chamber do I inflate first?

The main chamber, until it is very firm. Then the upper chamber — the backrest or seat section, depending on the model.

Why does my tube keep losing air through the valve?

Almost always a cross-threaded Boston valve. Thread it all the way out and back in so it runs cleanly, then do it up tight. If it still leaks, our leak-finding guide covers how to test the valve with a cup of water.

Should I leave my tube inflated between sessions?

Not fully. Let some air out whenever it is sitting on the bank or in the sun. Heat expands the air inside and over-inflates it, which stresses the seams — that is one of the most common ways a tube gets damaged without ever hitting anything.

What surface should I inflate my tube on?

Grass, cleared of sticks, stones and anything else sharp. Concrete, gravel and boat ramps are where covers and bladders get punctured before the tube ever gets towed.

Does inflation pressure affect how the tube tows?

Yes. A properly inflated tube has low drag and tows the way it was designed to. A soft tube ploughs, drags and puts load through the seams.

Related guides

• How to locate a leak on your tube — if it is going down faster than temperature explains.
• How to patch your tube
• The Breakdown: tubes — styles, ropes and what suits your crew.

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• Ski tubes

Not sure which pump suits your tube? Get in touch — or come and see us in the Brisbane store.