TRIPLE THREAT- TWO TOYS

THESE THREE-PASSENGER INFLATABLES OFFER -THREE TIMES THE FUN-AND THEN SOME.

- JEFF HEMMEL

One is the loneliest number.

Well, unless you're skipping across the wakes solo on an inflatable tow toy, then let's face it: One might be lonely, but it's still pretty darn fun. But as any kid who has ever invited a friend along for the ride knows, two can be double the fun. And three? Judging by the teen trio riding a collection of tubes in this year's annual inflatable roundup, the equation turns exponential. That's probably the reason inflatable manufacturers keep producing bigger and bolder rides. In terms of rider capacity, fun factor is far from finite.

To prove it, we assembled a quiver of truly unique three-passenger inflatables from brands. HO, Radar, O'Brien and WOW. One offered arguably the best bang for the buck, one was laid-back until it wasn't, one was some kind of rocking inflatable cage match, and one was, well, a magical unicorn. Behind an equally unique tow vehicle-Sea-Doo's new Switch pontoon-all provided near-endless fun in our idyllic yet rough tropical setting. They all proved durable and well-made, with heavy-duty PVC air bladders protected by durable nylon covers that easily handled the occasional scrape across the beach or bump into the boat without any fear of a rip or puncture.

While we pushed each tube to its passenger capacity, all offered great fun with just one or two riders. Three might be a triple threat, but our test crew will attest that things can get tight at times for full-grown teens and adults. A rider on the outside of a tube flew off and into the water more than once.

But hey, it's tubing. That's all part of the fun.

RADAR ORION 3

($229.99)