AIRE SPUD - WHY IS IT SO FUN?

 

SPUD NATION at the Nanty takeover

So... why is an Aire SPUD so fun?

I have paddled other inflatable kayaks, aka "duckies", and all of them have been mellow rides.  (I have not paddled a Thrillseeker - yet.)

The SPUD was designed as a ducky for kids to paddle.   Bigger kids aka adults decided to try it, too.   What was discovered is that with grown-up sized people the SPUD paddles like a playboat - which is a small whitewater kayak designed to spin fast and do tricks -  the SPUD feels like a combination of a playboat and a pool toy mixed together and it's just plain fun. 

And inexpensive.

I have spent many seasons over the years in playboats like my Wave Sport EZG-50, and the Spud feels similiar to them.  I was surprised too.

What are the gotchas?  I can't roll it, and I'm not sure I should try to learn.  My shoulders are patched together already.   

I am not sure I can ever learn to climb back in it wearing my PFD if I can't touch the bottom.

Sideways in a hole is a good way to get flipped.  Fast.  Aka 'windowshaded'.

Once you venture into class III it's a spicy ride - on the Ocoee I have to do my hardboat lines and plan ahead.   

I'm not sure what the max weight would be in a SPUD before it becomes a drag.  People over 185 who want to do class III I would send to TATER-ville.  The TATER is the bigger model of the SPUD.
I wrote this review originally on FB, and some responders said they weigh more like 200 lbs and love the SPUD.  I guess it all depends on your skill and spice levels.

There is a bigger version called the TATER. A friend asked: What does the TATER feel like?  I replied, "I haven't really paddled one except at Thread the Needle on the Hiwassee. I would say not as scary. A SPUD can feel scary like a tilt-a-whirl ride lol."
Another friend who is much bigger than me and loves the TATER said, "The TATER feels like a small raft. It’s very stable but also very fun. It’s rowdy, but not so rowdy that you’re constantly out of the boat."

Some items to consider:  you will need an inflator and a top-off pump. My top-off pump is a K-100. https://k-pump.com/products/k-100?variant=41820277702698
You must also consider where to store your SPUD or TATER.  It must be stored where mice cannot get to it.  Mice and rats love to chew raft material.  It's best to store them inflated, if you have the space.  But I don't have the space, so I don't, simple as that.
Finally, if you are venturing past class II, thigh straps are mandatory.  A lot of my friends like the NRS thigh straps.  I have the Aire deluxe thigh straps and they serve me, but I think they are rather long, and I'm not, so next time I am trying a pair of Party Wave thigh straps I bought at NOC.
You will still need to wear a PFD, and have a good paddle, and a helmet, if you plan on paddling whitewater, no matter what craft.

Weekend of fun including SPUD/TATER Nanty Takeover and SPUD the Ocoee trip 2

 So... trip report for Sept 26-28 weekend.. I went up Friday and stayed at Mary's house in Andrews.  She had to work Saturday at ERA and I had only brought my SPUD with me - no hardshell kayaks - because I knew I was going to do the Spud/Tater Nanty Takeover and it was a blast!   It rained a good bit, and I was glad to be in my drysuit, though I only had a t-shirt and leggings on underneath. 

Photo Bomb with blingies on our faces

SPUD and TATER NATION

Afterwards I checked out the items for sale at the Nanty Fest.  The new Antix 3 looks sharp.  The double rails down the hull - like the rails on the Rockstar V - very cool. 

New Jackson Antix 3.0

Double rails on the hull of the Antix 3.0

Double rails on the hull of the Antix 3.0

Went to Tom and Lola's for dinner and I got to say hello to Cliffy cat. 

Cliffy!

Sunday we met at the Ocoee take-out.  Roscoe P. Wavetrain had brought my new to me Dagger Kayaks stratos from River Sports Outfitters in Knoxville.  We strapped it to my roof racks and locked it, then went to the rails put-in with my trusty SPUD.  

My new Dagger Stratos 14.5 sm touring kayak

Right off the bat I tried something cute going into Staging Eddy and flipped on a crease and swam.  hmmm that's not what I expected.  Am I going to have one of those days?  Thankfully that was the only gotcha on the run and I had great lines.  

Gonzo Shoals I ran around the big rock and used the little hole there to turn me, then ferrired to far river left.  I haven't tried the walk-the-plank in the SPUD yet.  

Broken Nose, I have decided the main line makes the most sense, because a swim there is right by the bank and easy rescue, whereas a swim at the sneak sucks in a myriad of indescribable ways, though I'll try.  A swim at the sneak leaves you in the middle of the river, with no way for your friends to easily get you.  So.  I ran the main line, did a sort of boof off the far downstream side of the curler at the top, landed in the main line eddy there, and headed left.  I will be grinning about my line there for the rest of this week!

That's my second Broken Nose SPUD main line, so far.

Moon Chute, then boof line at Double Suck, then the meat of Double Trouble.  Flipper I did right side eddy ferry to the left, decided not to eddy out and ran the standard line.  I thought then about getting out at Go Forth, even though our cars were at the bottom.  I felt gassed. I felt intimidated.

The others were not stopping, and they encouraged me to go, so I said alright. Their support meant so much to me. 

Tablesaw- great line - I followed Mary.  Diamond Splitter, etc. etc. all the rapids were golden.  And I decided to run Hell Hole, because Eva was in my head saying do it.  And I did, it did try to grab me but I got away, lol.  

Another great SPUD the OCOEE day and I look forward to many more!

No pictures on the Ocoee - didn't bring my phone. 

Me in my happy place - the Hiwassee

 

Hiwassee River, 09-13-25. Photo by Peggy Robertson.

I wanted to post this photo of myself in celebration for 26 years of paddling the Hiwassee River.  It was my first whitewater river back when I started, and it still remains one of my favorite places on Earth. As one of our paddling clan said, "She's the mother of us all" because the Hiwassee is where so many Southeastern paddlers take their first learning trips and become part of the river family.  Also I really like this picture.

I swam.

 

SPUD the Ocoee was awesome!

Here is me buzzing about my great SPUD run on the Ocoee Labor Day!