Different people will tell you different things about the float tubes. Shoot, you can buy a kickboat for what a charter boat trip costs. They start around $250. As for the tubes Sportmarts and other places like that will have tubes on sale for as little as $60 or $70. I have a Caddis Nav4 and I liked it. It's a pontoon syle float tube. I don't use it anymore since I got my kickboat. As for waders, I'm pretty sure you'll want to go with the chest high ones if you have a tube. There are some that come up to your weist that will work if you get a kickboat.