Based in Meridian, Idaho, AIRE rafts is launching a new, beefier inflatable whitewater playboat in 2025: the Hot Potato. The Hot Potato comes after the Tributary SPUD and Tater inflatable kayaks, with similar features to both but built tougher to cater to the folks using the kayaks for whitewater.
The AIRE SPUD was a youth inflatable turned whitewater playboat: enter the AIRE Hot Potato
“We wanted to stay within the potato family of names since this [the Hot Potato] is based on the SPUD specs,” shared Abigail Taylor from AIRE rafts. “It’s going to be like our other AIRE kayaks with a ten-year no-fault warranty, so you can put this thing through the trenches and we will fix it for you.”
The AIRE Tributary SPUD was originally made for children but caught on as an inflatable whitewater play boat. Paddlers can roll the SPUD and have tackled class IV drops. AIRE decided to make a tougher, beefier model in the Hot Potato to address the needs of the folks using the SPUD for whitewater.
Overall, the AIRE Hot Potato is a really compelling compromise for folks looking to tackle white water kayaking who aren’t necessarily comfortable in an enclosed whitewater kayak. Additionally, the Hot Potato comes with enhanced stability, increased durability and increased maneuverability according to AIRE.
The Hot Potato is available in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and teal. Thigh straps for rolling can be purchased as an add on.
