But you can also buy a quality raft that should withstand sharp rocks and minor rapid sections of the river. Jake and I use our Intex Explorer K2 Kayak because we always have this with us in our campervan for any water adventure. For this specific float, you don’t need anything too fancy, unless you plan to go down the rapids section (more details on this below). What you will need to float the Deschutes River, of course, #1 on the list is a raft. If you are on a road trip or live in the area, a self-guided tour is probably your best bet! If you are only in town for a short time and flying to/from town, the Tumalo Creek Rental Company offers a reasonably priced tubing/shuttle combo. So choose the best option that works for you. Or you can also just purchase a shuttle ride without the tube as well (more details below). Although, if you are from the area or with a larger group that has two or more vehicles you can shuttle yourself so you have a vehicle at the end. The biggest perk of going with the tubing company is they provide a shuttle! That way you don’t need to shuttle yourself, call an Uber, or walk back to your vehicle. So I think it wouldn’t be totally crazy to consider purchasing a quality raft to use on other water adventures in the future! Getting out on the water is always more fun than sitting on shore. Personally, I think it’s a good idea to have a float/tube for whenever you are near a river, lake, pool, etc. Unless, you either live in the area and plan to float more than once a year, or plan to use the tube/float again on another adventure. If the answer is no, then the tubing company is probably your best option. The main question to ask is, do you already have a tube, float or raft? First, let’s decide if you want to go with the tube and shuttle combo or go on a self-guided float down the Deschutes River.