O'Brien

O'Brien in South Africa

O'Brien is an American watersports brand that dates its first waterski to 1964. Our range covers a day behind a boat on a dam: skis, wakeboards, tubes, kneeboards, the ropes and harnesses that tow them, and the small parts that go missing over the side.

Combo waterskis

Pick by the skier's size and experience. The Celebrity Combo Waterskis 172 cm are the all-rounder, with X-7 bindings that use a pinch-slide adjustment, and O'Brien rates them for newcomers through to experts. The Celebrity also comes in a 162 cm length for lighter skiers, women and teenagers. The Reactor at 170 cm is the most traditional pair O'Brien makes, a little narrower than the Celebrity and quicker to turn. For heavier skiers, the Vortex Combo Waterskis 166 cm are the wide-body pair: extra surface area means more lift, so getting up takes less effort and less pull from the boat.

Skis for children and first timers

The All-Star Trainer Waterskis 117 cm have a stabiliser bar that holds the two skis together, which takes away the main frustration for a young beginner. The Junior Vortex at 137 cm is the next step, with a wide forebody for easier deep-water starts and a removable stabiliser bar.

Wakeboards and bindings

The System Wakeboard is an entry-level board, with an extra buoyant foam core that floats the rider higher for an easier start, and two removable centre fins for tracking. We list it in 119 cm and 124 cm. For bindings, the Clutch Wakeboard Bindings have an open toe that fits a broad size range, which makes them a good boat pair for several riders. The Local is the step up.

Ropes and handles

Ski combos come in 1, 2, 5 and 8 sections; more sections means more ways to set the rope length for different skiers and boats. The 1-Section Deep-V combo has a crossbar bridle that holds a slalom ski tip in place for the start. For wakeboarding, a rope with no stretch gives a more direct pull: the Method handle with Spectra line is the one for that. For wakesurfing, the Pro Surf Rope has a 25 cm handle and a full multi-loop section, so the length can be set without ever pulling in on the rope.

Towable tubes

Start with how many riders you'll pull. The LeTube Towable Tube is the classic single-rider donut, and the LeTube Deluxe and Tubester are its covered and partly covered relatives, both rated for one rider up to 77 kg. For two riders, the Super Screamer, HOVR 2, 2 Daloo and Barca 2 are each rated to 154 kg combined. The Heli 2 is a similar two-rider style, but no capacity is published for it, so check the label on the tube. For three, the Ultra Screamer and Speedster 3 take up to 231 kg, and the Barca 3 Towable Tube can be pulled from either end and ridden facing forward, turned around or flipped.

Tube ropes, pumps and valves

Match the rope to the tube's full rider capacity, never just one rider. The 2-person Aqua tube ropes are rated to 154 kg of riders, and the 4-Person Aqua Tube Rope to 308 kg, which O'Brien says is its most popular tube rope. For inflating, the 12V Tube Inflator delivers up to 0.08 bar, which suits tubes and floats but not a paddleboard; the High Pressure Pump for iSUP and Runway sets anywhere from 0.07 to 1.4 bar. For spares, check the tube's age: the Boston Valve fits O'Brien tubes made before 2016, and the Lightning Valve Cap fits tubes with the Lightning valve.

Kneeboards and floats

The Radica Kneeboard is rotomoulded, stable and forgiving, with a built-in hook that helps with deep-water starts, so it suits smaller riders learning. The V2 Freeboard can be ridden lying down on the tow hook or kneeling with the handle in your hands. Use the Kneeboard Rope and Handle with boards that have an Aqua-Hook or HydroHook.

Towing from a boat without a tower

On older outboards and pontoon boats with no ski pylon, a bridle spreads the pull across two points: the Ski Tow Harness 3.7 m Pontoon Bridle is the middle length, with a 4.9 m version for wider sterns and a 2.4 m floating harness for smaller boats.

Spares and fit checks

Most O'Brien spares are model or year specific, so check before you order. The Neo Chassis thumbscrews fit bindings from 2017 onwards, the High-End Binding Hardware fits Lux Chassis bindings from 2013 onwards, and the White Plastic Fin Kit is for combo skis built before 2011. Browse the full ranges in wakeboards and water skis, kneeboards, tubes and towables and watersports helmets and footwear, where you'll find the Pro Skin gloves in full-finger and 3/4 cuts.