Commando VS Kenai

[zimmerDN]

Is that even a fair comparison since the Frabill Commando is $100 more?

I want a 1 man shanty but the Kenai isn't around where I live so I can't see it in person. 

Let's do some comparison if you have seen both. 

[Tainterslayer]

Any opinions on the seats? The Frabill seats I know of are really comfortable. Can't find much on the Kenai's
Clam is a bit smaller which might be a problem depending on how you fish. I have heard they are almost too small when you start using heaters and vexilars.
Frabill might be a bit warmer on a sunny day due to the black tarp.

[BBK]

Go commando! Just dont do it when its cold (shrinkage)

[rgfixit]

There's no comparison.

I just bought the Commando.


The Kenai would compare to the Recon not the Commando and don't get me started about seats again.

Several companies make traps in the $200 price range. They all have their good and bad points. You need to look at them all and decide which fits your style of fishing. Just compare apples to apples.

RG

[Double-L]

   Here's one that cost less than $160.00
 

[rgfixit]

Nice....but.....Shouldn't that be snow camo

RG

[Double-L]

Nice....but.....Shouldn't that be snow camo

RG

   Good point RG. .....Wish mine had the nice seat like your commando. Gonna keep lugging a chair, for now.....I"m sure that you will love yours!.....Lou

[stumper]

Forget the Kenai...Look at a Kodiak.If you have short legs you wont like the Comando.I spent 20 minutes in one on monday and my legs fell asleep.

[Airs24]

Recently took a trip to the Bass Pro Shop in Vaughn Ontario and they had some of the portable's out.  I have to say that the Commando is a really nice one man set up!  No one makes a seat better then Frabill...  Clam's is nice this year too but like RG said, you have to weigh all the pro and cons and then pick the one that you like the most. 

[pheasant29]

Commando all the way. ABSOLUTLY WORTH THE $100. More room, Way better seat, door in the front. i can see the short leg problem. Mine are not the longest and do hang a bit. Not enough for me to worry about tho. I sat in both for an extended period of time at BPS. The commando seem to be put together better. The bench seat in the Kenai would get old real quick.

[rgfixit]

I'm 6' 1" and it fits me perfectly. I can see a problem for shorter legs. There's no adjustment for height.

RG

[stumper]

If I decide to go with tht Comando I will just have to make a little platform to raise my feet.

[KQ700]

I looked at the Commando and the Kenai yesterday, I will be going with the Commamdo for sure I like the seat a lot better plus the Commando was almost a $100.00 cheaper.

[DustyRhyno]

Decided on a Kenai today. I wanted something quick and light, I pretty much fish areas that are walk in only and the fishable area is larger than the website lists and seemed roomier than the Recon. I like Clams fabric also.

[highsparks]

   I have a whole season on my Commando and its become my favorite shack .  Its the first one-man shack I have ever even considered buying .  I am 6-6 and most one-man shacks are just too small .  But not the commando , with the front door and its ceiling height i have plenty of room .

   It sets up quickly and packs up just as fast .  Theres plenty of room on the ice for your flasher and heater , and you dont have to worry about burning your line off on the heater .   The door is really nice for banking in when the wind is blowing .   Theres no poles to extend and no need for spreader poles to put it in the windbreak position . 

    Its just the right size , not too small yet not to big to be clumbsy .    Trails nice and holds a lot of gear .

[rgfixit]

I'm feeling better and better about my decision. It was tough to sell the old Fish Trap . We were friends for near 20 years. My Commando is set up in the garage and I've been tinkering for the last week or so. Every time I sit in it and close it up It becomes more comfortable.

There's a few things I want to tweak. I don't like that the fabric at the sides is not attached to the bottom u-pole. When I close it up there's a pile of fabric on the floor all around the trap. I move a lot if necessary and don't want to be dragging the fabric around the ice all day. I'll remedy that.

I have material for a cover, I'll be making that.

I found the perfect "tackle box" at Lowes...I'm working on that. I've always had rods in protective tubes, small tackle box, back pack, scoop, tip down bag etc. in the bottom of the tub. Stuff gets wet and froze to the bottom. The new "tackle box" will hold all of this with a weight savings of near 8 lbs. Yeah, I weighed it all.

The old Fish Trap had a slanted shelf at the back that was nice for storing stuff. I always kept bait container, flash (for glow jigs), site fishing rods (short) and other stuff back there. I'm thinking of putting a shelf under the seat for this kind of stuff.

I fish off of a square bucket so I don't use rod holders. Tried several kinds, don't like them. I designed a "Tip Down " rod holder for my regular rods that I want to attach to the shanty. There's plenty of room for that kind of thing in the Commando.

I made my adjustable LED light holder the other day. That works perfectly.

I still have to  put my EMT conduit wear runners on the bottom. The set I put on the old trap were 10 years old and still in good shape.

The last thing I can think of to do is make the riser/runners for deep snow. That's simple and effective when the snow gets deep.

As I get my "to do " list completed , I'll post some pics.

I love to tinker
RG

[pheasant29]

I'm feeling better and better about my decision. It was tough to sell the old Fish Trap . We were friends for near 20 years. My Commando is set up in the garage and I've been tinkering for the last week or so. Every time I sit in it and close it up It becomes more comfortable.

There's a few things I want to tweak. I don't like that the fabric at the sides is not attached to the bottom u-pole. When I close it up there's a pile of fabric on the floor all around the trap. I move a lot if necessary and don't want to be dragging the fabric around the ice all day. I'll remedy that.

I have material for a cover, I'll be making that.

I found the perfect "tackle box" at Lowes...I'm working on that. I've always had rods in protective tubes, small tackle box, back pack, scoop, tip down bag etc. in the bottom of the tub. Stuff gets wet and froze to the bottom. The new "tackle box" will hold all of this with a weight savings of near 8 lbs. Yeah, I weighed it all.

The old Fish Trap had a slanted shelf at the back that was nice for storing stuff. I always kept bait container, flash (for glow jigs), site fishing rods (short) and other stuff back there. I'm thinking of putting a shelf under the seat for this kind of stuff.

I fish off of a square bucket so I don't use rod holders. Tried several kinds, don't like them. I designed a "Tip Down " rod holder for my regular rods that I want to attach to the shanty. There's plenty of room for that kind of thing in the Commando.

I made my adjustable LED light holder the other day. That works perfectly.

I still have to  put my EMT conduit wear runners on the bottom. The set I put on the old trap were 10 years old and still in good shape.

The last thing I can think of to do is make the riser/runners for deep snow. That's simple and effective when the snow gets deep.

As I get my "to do " list completed , I'll post some pics.

I love to tinker
RG

 PLease do post some pics .I picked up my commando and travel cover a couple weeks ago and would love some ideas on tricking it out!

[rgfixit]

I'll be happy to. Won't be much till later in the week.Busy day tomorrow. I have to work early, then a 9:18 tee time, then an early family Thanksgiving while my Daughter's in town.

RG

[Irish Jigger]

Well, Happy Thanksgiving in that case. I got my Commando almost completely assembled this afternoon, started getting dark so I'll finnish in the morning. I sat in it without the seat in it and there is alot more floor space than the scout I just sold, can't wait till I can start trickn' it out.

[fishman31]

PLease do post some pics .I picked up my commando and travel cover a couple weeks ago and would love some ideas on tricking it out!

I too would like to see your pics especially of the runners for deep snow.  I ahve used cut bakd down hill skies and they helprd lift a sled up on the snow and much easier to drag.

[zackdecker@ymail.com]

I looked at the Commando and the Kenai yesterday, I will be going with the Commamdo for sure I like the seat a lot better plus the Commando was almost a $100.00 cheaper.

The Commando is definitely $100.00 more than than the Kenai, not $100.00 cheaper.  I would just buy the Nanook for $20.00 more, way more space.  The only reason I would get the Commando over the Nanook is because of the weight but I would rather have a bigger shelter.  I am going with the Nanook this year.

[rgfixit]

Ya gotta go with what fits your style of fishing and your budget. I'm sure you'll get many years of good service out of it.

RG

[KQ700]

The Commando is definitely $100.00 more than than the Kenai, not $100.00 cheaper.  I would just buy the Nanook for $20.00 more, way more space.  The only reason I would get the Commando over the Nanook is because of the weight but I would rather have a bigger shelter.  I am going with the Nanook this year.

I sorry I got the to mixed up. When I looked at them the Commando was $179, but I know someone that work's in the store that has the Commando and he said he got get it for me at 20% off. I realy like the seat in the Commandoand the front door I would like to check out the Clam Kodiak befor I realy make up my mind.

[stumper]

If you can get a Commando for 179 your a fool not to.

[zackdecker@ymail.com]

Yeah, I think you might have mixed them up again.  The Commando is better than the Kenai but the Kenai is $100.00 cheaper.  I doubt the Kenai is $79.00, if there is tell me and I'll get it.