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That’s tubular: Building the perfect river tube

Eugene Buchanan







Think your river ride is sweet? Try the new Tubular Tube being launched through Kickstarter by former Steamboat resident Sebastian Schleicher.

Schleicher, a Yampa-tubing regular who lived in town from 2005 to 2008 while working for BOA, launched a $25,000 campaign to fund his creation this fall. The result: what he calls the Cadillac of tubing comfort.

Retailing for $99, the Tubular is made with heavy duty, 6mm PVC and comes with bluetooth speaker, drybag, cooler and electric pump. He calls it the most comfortable and durable tube on the water today. 



“It became an obsession once we used some of the market’s current tubes on Utah’s Weber River,” he says. “It wasn’t really the best experience. We wanted something better.”

Enter the Tubular, which is perfect for the Yampa, he says, because it’s big enough to handle the rapids yet when the water’s low you won’t be dragging your butt. “You can also enjoy your tunes and favorite beverage until you hit Sunpies for a slurricane,” he says, “and the cooler will hold your trash to keep it out of the Yampa.”



To create the perfect tube, he adds, he first listed what was missing from traditional floaties: a bigger seat; a removable flip-top cooler; safe storage for phones and other essentials; cup holders; the ability to blare tunes; and handles for going over that inadvertent drop. Above all, he adds, it had to be rugged. “After some initial mock-ups, we finally nailed down our first prototype,” he says. “Then we went for a look that would reflect the mission and soul of the tube.”

Marketing gems straight from the brochure

Designed by two of the most sober people in our company.

Comes with so many accessories that your Swiss Army Knife will ask it to the Sadie Hawkins Dance.

Lightweight design makes it easy to toss over the neighbor’s fence when you’re sneaking into their pool.

More durable than those barrels the dwarves used to float the river in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug.

Every aspect has been rigorously developed, tested and fine-tuned by some of the biggest slackers in the outdoor community.

After watching one to many episodes of Miami Vice, we landed on a graphic Don Johnson would at home with.


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