And snowboarders probably didn’t miss the opportunity to ride down the hill on a “tablet” or “cheesecake” at least once. In fact, this inflatable sled has a name. It’s worth finding out in more detail what tubing is (that’s what this “tablet” is called), how to use it and why it’s so convenient.
Modern sleigh
It’s no wonder that vacationers are so fond of the new inflatable sports equipment. Both children and their parents can use such sleds. Tubing is made of rubber. Pulling it after riding uphill is much easier than the usual metal sleds. This is truly a modern and convenient way for a winter holiday with the whole family. In just a few years, both children and adults fell in love with him. It is easy to use and absolutely safe.
Those who relax in the summer on the river or by the sea know what tubing is. Such large inflatable rings are also successfully used for fun on the water. They may differ in appearance and shape, as well as in the method of application.
When moving on water, a boat or scooter is used. A rubber circle is attached to high-speed water transport, and a sea of extreme impressions is guaranteed. And in winter, fast movement is ensured by a slope and a slippery surface (snow or ice).
Tubing for adults and children
Tubing is not just children's entertainment.
Moreover, any adult, having taken a ride on such a “cheesecake”, enthusiastically wants to repeat the experience of this “childhood joy”. All kinds of these products allow people of any age to enjoy skiing. Moreover, they can be single or for two people. Big companies organize exciting races on these “cheesecakes”.
For any child, such a sled can be an excellent birthday or New Year gift.
What is tubing made from?
What is tubing and is it reliable? Is it possible to safely get into this sleigh and slide down? In appearance, the “cheesecake” is similar to the swimming circle we are used to, which is why it got such a tasty name. The material from which the tubing is made is selected only of the highest quality. Rubber has high frost resistance, strength and elasticity. All parts of the product are assembled and fastened using threads, not glue. It is quite difficult to damage it unless you do it on purpose. Tubing is a reliable and durable means of skiing.
Characteristics
Despite its strength, tubing is also very convenient for transportation and summer storage. The weight of one such “cheesecake” is from 3.5 to 5 kg. Children's models have a diameter of 80 cm and can withstand weight up to 80 kg. For adults, tubing is done more. It can be 90-120 cm in diameter and withstand a load of up to 150 kg.
At ski resorts, tubing is available for rent. This is very convenient if you have never ridden this way before and don’t know what tubing is. Rental of this equipment costs from 5 to 10 dollars. And to purchase such a sled you will have to pay 5-10 times more.
In any case, such an outdoor sport does not leave people indifferent. Many people come to ski resorts and ride only on such sleds.
", but not everyone knows what it means. Tubing can be found at various resorts, where for simplicity they are called “tablets” or “cheesecakes”. They are essentially inflatable sleds. Why are they so convenient and how to use them correctly? Let's talk about this.
Good old sleigh with a modern twist
Tubes are very convenient - both adults and children can use them. They are made of rubber and therefore are light in weight. Consequently, they are much easier to pull uphill than conventional metal sleds. In addition, tubing is very easy to use and does not pose any danger to either adults or children.
You can use tubing not only in winter, but also in summer, for fun on the water. They adhere perfectly to the water surface. Tubings can be different in shape, size, and area of application.
In order for the tubing to turn into a kind of water ski, it is attached to the back of boats, water scooters and other high-speed types of water transport. In winter, they use it to slide down a hill covered with snow or ice.
Inflatable sleds - universal entertainment for the whole family
Not only children, but also adults can use modern rubber sleds. Manufacturers took care of this in advance - they produce tubes of all types and sizes. There are even rubber sleds that are designed for several people at the same time. This gives scope for collective competitions on snowy slopes.
What are tubes made of?
Purely outwardly, tubing resembles a classic lifebuoy, but there are some differences. In particular, it is made from the most durable, elastic and high-quality rubber with high frost resistance. The parts are attached to each other with special threads; no glue is used at all. It is almost impossible to damage a good tubing - this must be done on purpose. Thus, it is in no way inferior to a classic sled in terms of strength, but has wider functionality.
Advantages of inflatable cheesecake sleds
Cheesecake tubes are very durable and light at the same time. The weight of an average “tablet” ranges from 3.5 to 5 kilograms. Children's tubes have a diameter of 80 centimeters and can withstand up to 80 kg. Adults are between 90 and 120 centimeters wide and can support up to 150 kg of weight. In other words, they are strong, durable, able to withstand rough handling in the extreme conditions of mountain resorts, and in the summer you can attach them to a scooter and ride on the waves.
Although the cost of inflatable cheesecakes in the retail chain is low (from 1,500 rubles, although you can find cheaper ones), many parents want to make tubing with their own hands, and they do it very well.
After all, sewing tubing does not require the qualifications of a tool maker or fashion designer.
Anyone can do this if they have the desire and a couple of hours of free time.
In essence, tubing is an ordinary rubber inflatable circle, sewn into a case, with a flat sliding bottom and handles.
The simplest and cheapest tubing you can make yourself
Materials you will need:
- a car camera, you can easily beg it from a neighbor who is a motorist;
- 2 pieces of vinyl artificial leather or simple dermantine measuring 1x1 meter;
- synthetic thick threads;
- 0.5 meters of thick synthetic tape for making handles;
- towing cord 2 - 3 meters long;
- “gypsy” needle or sewing machine for thick fabric;
- scissors.
You need to sew the cover right away - place the car camera on the vinyl leather, mark the size of the cover and cut out two circles with scissors. We leave the bottom circle intact, and in the top circle we cut out a round hole in the center, the diameter of which is about 30 cm.
Sew both circles around the perimeter, inside out. Then we turn the sewn circles inside out, and sew 2 or 4 handles and a towing cord on the sides of the top circle. Next, we insert the car inner tube inside, with its nipple facing down, then inflate the inner tube. We put a piece of rubber hose on the nipple for safety.
Well, that's all, the tubing is ready. It will probably last until the end of winter, or even last for two or three seasons.
Tubing is much stronger and better quality
But to create this tubing with our own hands we use even higher quality materials. For example, instead of vinyl leather, another fabric is used here. Thick PVC fabric with a density of about 900 g/m² or banner fabric will be used on the bottom.
For the upper part of the case, you can take a thinner fabric, such as aviazent, taffeta, cordura, etc., or nylon, from which bags are sewn. On the ready-made cover, sewn according to the first instructions, you need to sew a sling around the perimeter (at the junction of the upper and lower parts).
Handles and a towing cord are also sewn onto it.
You can leave the car camera “naked”, but you will need to wrap it with a fire hose cut lengthwise. It is canvas on top and rubber on the inside. Next, insert the camera into the case, inflate it and the tubing is ready.
Tubing is more convenient for skating, in which not a circle, but an oval is cut out for the bottom and top.
The task of making a tube can be simplified by sending the blanks for the cover to a sewing workshop, where everything will be stitched quickly and efficiently on an industrial machine. This tubing will serve both in winter and summer when swimming on the water.
You can also buy ready-made tubing, but making it yourself will be better than an expensive store-bought one and will serve you for many seasons.
An inflatable tube or cheesecake is an excellent replacement for a classic sled for sledding in the snow. Both adults and children love to ride it. Today there are a lot of models of inflatable cheesecakes appearing on the market, and we’ll try to figure out which tube to choose and what you need to pay attention to first.
Choosing a cheesecake
Tubing is a cover made of high-strength PVC, inside of which an inflatable chamber is placed. Very often, for convenience, manufacturers make the top of the cover from durable fabric, and the bottom from PVC for better sliding.
Unlike the usual sleds, inflatable cheesecakes are safer and more compact to use. And due to the inflated chamber, they have good maneuverability and glide better through the snow without getting stuck in it.
How to choose a tube size
The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a tubing is its size. Modern inflatable tubes have an average diameter of 60 cm to 150 cm. The diameter of the inflatable sled must correspond to the height of the child or adult who will ride on it.
For the youngest children under 5 years old, cheesecakes measuring 65-80 cm are perfect. Children aged 7-14 years and up to 140 cm tall can safely buy tubing with a diameter of 95-100 cm. If the height of a child or adult is up to 175 cm, the diameter of the tubing should be 110-115 cm. For adults with a height of 175-200 cm, the outer diameter of the cheesecake is 120-150 cm. In tubes of this size, you can also safely ride together with a child.
Why is it important to choose the right size of cheesecake sled? Riding in inflatable tubes should first of all be comfortable and safe. The rider must be able to reach the handles freely to maintain a firm grip. If a child is placed in a large tube, he will simply “drown” there, will not be able to reach the handles, and while riding down the slide at speed he may simply fall out of bounds. And vice versa, if an adult sits in a small tube, he will begin to slow down the cheesecake with his feet, preventing normal skating.
If you are choosing an inflatable tube for a child, in addition to its size, it is also important to pay attention to the following aspects:
First of all, this is the safety of the cheesecake. Its handles should be made of frost-resistant plastic or durable textiles. They are usually glued or sewn. A good tubing should have straight stitches with additional padding.
Also look carefully at how the cheesecake is sewn. It is very good if the seams are additionally stitched with nylon slings, and the more of them, the less load on the tubing material will be.
For a child, it is better to buy tubes with a closed seat; they are more comfortable and convenient while riding.
Choose an inflatable sled in a size that matches the height and age of your child.
The design of the tubing model should please your child. The most popular are round-shaped models, but children also really love various oval cheesecakes in the shape of a machine.
We hope our tips will help you choose a good inflatable tube and riding on it will become your favorite family activity on winter days.
Winter entertainment is constantly evolving: now you can rarely see a sled, and more often - an inflatable ring, just like in the summer.
Cheesecake, tablet, circle - as soon as this device is not called. But its official name is tubing, and riding on it is tubing. It is noteworthy that both children and adults come to the slides with such a thing.
Tubing - riding on an inflatable sleigh in the shape of a circle. You can ride both on water and in snow - however, the idea just came from water sports. The inflatable ring served as the prototype for this type of sled.
The tube quickly got its popular name, and in a very sociable way: cheesecake, bun, donut. When descending he controlled by tilting, that is, changes in gravity on different sides. For example, by leaning back, you can slow down and it is not at all necessary to rest your feet on the hill to do this.
This type of active recreation has a beneficial effect on the body, because when climbing a mountain a person experiences serious cardio stress. And when it rolls down, it rests, simultaneously developing a slight cry. Also, entertainment uses most muscles and has a beneficial effect on coordination.
Instead of the foreign word “tubing”, the popular name has taken root in Russia - cheesecake. Both circles are identical, with almost no external or structural differences. Perhaps, almost the only difference is in the models (there are professional and ordinary ones, like with skis) and the area of application.
In addition, tubing can have a hole in the center - like a circle for swimming, hence the name Bublik appeared. Cheesecake is usually called a budget option, which can be a lighter analogue. Therefore, it is suitable for both children and adults.
Design
Inflatable sled differ in structure from the usual water circles. At the base, under the synthetic cover, there is a torus-shaped chamber filled with air. The center of the cheesecake - where the greatest load from the weight of a person is - is additionally laid with a nylon thread for reinforcement.
Cases are produced from the following materials:
- reinforced PVC fabric;
- polyester;
- polyoxford.
They all have similar characteristics. They feel grainy and rough to the touch, but they slide great on snow and ice. The special coating ensures good glide. The inflatable part of the chamber softens the blow when falling - so, despite the development of high speed, the possibility of injury is minimal.
Tube supplied one or two handles in order for a person to hold on while sliding. Some models are equipped with a rope for ease of transportation.
Types of tubing
As already mentioned, tubing is more typical for water activities. But in reality, tubing on snowy slopes originated in the 18th century.
Then the shape and design were significantly different, but, nevertheless, the idea was already implemented and specifically in snowy types of outdoor activities. A quick descent down a snow slide is achieved due to the force of gravity. The greater the friction force, the more the speed of the sliding tube increases.
Water tubing
It differs little from snow descent, but has several varieties: rafting and on a boat. The rafting is similar to kayaks - only the tube is not controlled, so they can raft on it only at low or medium speed and the strength of the current.
Tubing with a boat can be compared to water skiing. The tube is tied to the starting boat, as a result of which the passenger and the circle itself are lifted above the water due to the speed of movement. Another difference is that safety precautions are observed.
Passengers are put on life jackets so that in the event of a departure they do not drown in the water, choking from surprise. After all, such entertainment is accompanied by screaming. However, in winter skiing the role of a “life jacket” is played by winter clothing.
Characteristics
There is no point in listing the characteristics of the material or design. Obviously, the tubing is durable and comfortable for riding on snowy hills. Thanks to the handles, it is also transportable - you can simply carry it around.
Physical parameters others: the weight of the tube can reach 5 kg or even more (models for adults). However, light models start from 3 kg and this is not a significant, even useful load for a child. Transportation takes place in the snow, so the weight is halved.
Children's models have a diameter of 80 cm- considering the outer circle and the “sitting inside”. They are capable of supporting weights up to 80 kg at any speed. Therefore, children can easily ride together, or even three, with friends. Adult tubing is much larger: the diameter reaches 120 cm, and the load is up to 150 kg.
Tubing or inflatable sled - incredibly comfortable thing for winter, which is also easy to store in the summer. When deflated, such sleds do not take up much space. The usual winter slide will appear in a different color, if you slide down it on a cheesecake - a sea of emotions is guaranteed.