Classic Accessories Cumberland Float Tube

This float tube is an incredible value. I have numerous classic accessory float tubes and you will be hard pressed to find a guy who fishes one any harder than I do. I fish from ice out til the water freezes again. I fish in every type of condition from blazing heat to freezing cold, wind, rain. I fish all kinds of bodies of water. Many I fish require hiking in and out of rugged terrain with the float tube either inflated or not on my back. I have fished this in the heaviest of cover from thick vegetation, thick deep mud that requires me to hop across it in my float tube. You cannot kick through the mud it is so thick. Any type of structure and cover you can think of I have float tubed through. I am not afraid to put myself or my float tube in the thickest nastiest stuff on a body of water. That is often times where my best fishing happens.I am primarily a bass angler, but because I live in an area that gets cold winters, I will do some trout, salmon, pickerel, pike ect..fishing as well as it gets very cold and the fishing can get slow. I tend to carry anywhere from 2 to 4 rods with me. 4 rods is a bit much for this thing just using the rod straps. But I deal with them getting tangled up ect..at times because it is what it is. I carry bait binders and other bait cases when I fish. I usually dedicate one storage side to baits and the other to drinks, snacks, hook outs, pliers, fish grips, action cam, deeper sonar, towel if need be. Basically whatever I need I make it fit. I put my pump and hose in a plastic bag and put it on the rear netting of my float tube. It holds it fine and some times I have had to add a little air after getting out on the water.These float tubes are easy to carry, and easy to set up and then break back down. I can't imagine anything that allows you to fish so effectively to be any easier.For me, these float tubes tend to last me one full fishing season before I need a new one. And over that time it usually needs repairs. The pvc cross bar that has the bib attached to it, it is pointed and you always want to set it into the sleeves so it goes in the correct way. Do it incorrectly and you could get a tear in the bladder. take your time with that and do it right and you'll be good. I have had leaks in my bladders before and they are usually slow leaks and I have never had an issue getting off the water. I would suggest to have a spare set though. You'll be glad you did. It sucks to get out on the water and have your planned day of fishing ruined by a leak. Keep a spare with you, go back to the car, replace it and get back on the water. The bladders are very well protected though. The float tube is very rugged and I have hit everything from tree tops to rocks and the float tube just bounces right off them without issue. The quality control for the valves on the bladders is not good from classic accessories. I have had numerous float tubes with valve issues out of the box. I have also had issues with the zippers on the storage pockets. The handles have broke on me and the zippers themselves have broke on me. This has never happened right off though. It tends to happen when I have used the float tube long and hard and it is simply starting to break down under the use.I would have knocked off a star or more because of these issues, but the fact that classic accessory has been so good to me as far as customer service goes, I figure I would put a star or two back because of that. They have always been quick to send me replacement parts if need be, or a new float tube if need be and it has been without hassle. They stand by their products.I have been fishing these float tubes hard for years. I am a big guy at 6ft and can weigh as much as 285. one con is they do not sell replacement foam for the seats for this model. You would have to cut your own to replace them. The seats are not the most comfortable seats on earth, but they could be a lot worse. I have fished morning til night hundreds of times on these and usually I need to pull up and stretch out a bit at some point during the day. But overall I like the seats. They adjust to my liking and they keep you high enough above the water that you can effectively sight fish and fish beds ect..Overall, this float tube is more comfortable than any other ( stock out of the box) float tubes or kayaks I have usedEvery boat has its pros and cons. A kayak can cover water many times faster then this thing can. It is not even close. These things are slow going. And on bigger bodies of water, especially on very windy days, you're going to be kicking a ton. But using your legs allows you to hold your position even in very windy conditions. It is very difficult to hold any type of position in wind with a kayak. I guess it just depends on what you are looking for and what suits your needs best. There are numerous pros and cons for each type of boat.Overall I love my float tube. It is not perfect for all situations of course, but for where I live, the types of bodies of waters I fish, I can get out there and catch the heck out of fish. And its a unique experience fishing from a float tube. You are very connected to your surroundings.A couple more things I have found very helpful. One is, take either some duct tape or even epoxy, and cover the sharp ends of the pvc cross bar. The sharp edges of that cross bar are probably the easiest way to get a puncture in a bladder. Any time you move or adjust those edges tend to rub it dig in. Just use tape or epoxy to dull the edges and you'll never have to worry about that.Second, get yourself some good uv protectant for your boat. The sun beats these down. You can prolong the condition and life of your float tube if you use a quality uv protectant every month or two. Makes all the difference.

I love this tube. I had many others, but this is by far the best. I used to weigh 275; held me well, now 250; even better. I built a rod rack and can carry 4 fly rods. I fish for bass, sunfish, trout, pike with it. I am retired so I fish in it an average of 40-60 outings per years. I bought this one used and I’ve had it for 6 years, no issues. Looking to buy a new spare just in case, price is down, hopefully not a close out! I had a kayak for a while but in wind or trying to hold position, the float tube is much better. I got rid of the kayak. I recently bought a big flout tube, 7’, that I can mount an electric motor on to go after Stripers on the reserviors but haven’t completed my mods yet. I actually like the smaller lakes with the Cumberland.

The other reviews here are great so I'll compare the Cumberland and Togiak for you. I purchased both. Both have "backpack" straps for short hauls (unpadded). Both are roomy! The Cumberland seems a little like overkill - really roomy but a bit heavier. Cumberland pockets are larger but the Togiak pockets have more chambers. There are no rod holders on either, but the Cumberland has two drink holders while Tojiak has none. The Cumberland has a large storage pocket net on the seat-back while Togiak doesn't. The valves are different - Togiak deflates slower but is idiot proof while the Cumberland has better valves but keepers that may break eventually. Inflating with the Classic Accessories Hand Pump is equal.I'm 285 6' and while I can't lay back comfortably on either to sun, my bottom rides above the water on both. The Cumberland is much higher, however. Don't count on back support from either but the Cumberland probably wins by far if you are lighter than me.All this said, we aren't using these for fishing - we use them for snorkeling at the Lauderdale by the Sea reef park. We rarely get on top because they both pull easily through calm water (if it's not calm or there's much of a wind, we don't go). Neither has a diver-down flag (required here) slot but with the Togiak I can use medium size office binder clips on the side of the seat. With the Cumberland alone you'd need to let the flag float too. There are no tow-rings so you have to use the d-rings on the bottoms (not a problem). With a long bungee, rope or backpack strap you can make a side-handle for each to hang a game bag, spear and lobster snare. This will also support tanks very securely with a hookah setup and probably a pump as long as its heat doesn't melt anything. You'll have to bring extra bungees as tie-downs though... don't wait until you are on the beach!We are never in surf so can throw our gear into the front mesh bow on our way into or out of the water. It's easier to gear-up chest-deep. My wife and I wear standard web dive belts with reels to tow the tubes - we do not kick out on top (we might miss a turtle or tarpon). Our son gets to ride.We tie them to stay together while resting. A light kayak anchor will keep them in place, and there's plenty of room up front for small ice chests (they get wet though).I thought we might be able to relax in these on the beach but the seatbacks just aren't comfortable enough and the sun will expand the air in the tubes dangerously.Bottom line, I prefer the Togiak because it is smaller yet still very functional