My fiance have a couple of Intex River Runs.
Admittidly we haven't used them very much yet, but I've seen lots of other people use them and they tend to be the first thing that pops up when you google "floats for tubing". Lots of Amazon reviews claim they're pretty tough and can withstand even some of the tougher rapids Again, I'm a newbie here too, but when I was looking this up last year a lot of other message boards pointed towards these.
Intek River Run Tubes on Amazon are legit awesome. https://www.amazon.com/Intex-River-Lounge-Inflatable-Diameter/dp/B000PEOMC8/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1525867270&sr=1-1&keywords=river+run+tubes
Check out this sweet review. . . C-Teezy 5.0 out of 5 starsAWWWWW SNAP!!! March 23, 2011 Color: Blue|Verified Purchase I HAD A GREAT TIME IN THIS TUBE I was also admittedly drunk, but whatevs. The river was hella low, and i got stuck on some rocks several times, but this tube was like "AWW NAW HELL NAW" and i just scootched right over top of all them rocks and sticks and nonsense. The cupholders and handles were perfect for my can o' wine and my Nalgene o' Bootlegger. Not gonna lie, I threw up in the river, but I don't blame the tube. A few people had other brands of tubes, and their tubes popped, but luckily, i had brought an extra one of these already inflated. Ironically, these were the same people who were dissin on these vinyl tubes because "canvas wrapped is sooooo much better." WHERE IS YOUR CANVAS GOD NOW??
I don't know where the tubes are now, i think they might have gotten thrown into a bonfire, but if i ever feel like pukin in a river again, this will be my method of flotation. It inflated and deflated super fast, but it was bulky to carry back to the pick-up point.
Final word -- If you need a tube: BUY THIS JENK RIGHT HERE
Intex River Run I Sport Lounge, Inflatable Water Float, 53" Diameter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEOMC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3Q9D03G1GX9SMWVBQY3G
I’ve been using these tubes for a couple years with no issues. When it’s not the summer you can buy them for like $25.
Even at $50 it’s probably a better option than renting, especially if you wanna go tubing more than once.
I didn't know the trick about sitting on the bulge for even inflation. Cool!
Here's the one I got a couple years ago which I absolutely love.
Buy your own. They are cheaper than renting, and you can get better tubes than the renting ones. I bought this one and it works perfectly.
If you're willing to wait a couple days, the River Run 1 on Amazon is a durable tube with two, count em, TWO cup holders.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEOMC8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OInNxbPS3ZHQZ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PEOMC8?ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_NQFC19QXMBXBA5N0HA5W Intex River Run I Sport Lounge, Inflatable Water Float, 53" Diameter
Either an inner tube with a bottom or a snow tube
Tubing on the hootch. I know the first thing a lot of people think of is the crowded sections, but if you put in a farther up, like at Johnson Ferry and get out at Cochran Shoals you get a nice and peaceful two hour float with very few other people on the water. You can get a tube for $20 that will last you for years. Great way to spend those sweltering summer days as the water is always around 60 degrees. Hypothermia is more of a concern than heat stroke.