Frabill Shelters

[regulator]

Wondering what the status is on Frabill. Are they not making shelters anymore? I was really huping the Ice Hunter 200 Sidestep would go back into production, but this and all of their shelters are non existant this year.

[hardwater diehard]

I don't know the official story but they have been pretty much radio silent the last couple of seasons ..both in products and any hyped sponsorships. Also I heard that the last couple of runs of shelter that the windows were sewn in as opposed to being velcro and removable.

[rdhammah]

all selters are out of stock on their website

[jrjach75]

Its been a couple years since I've seen any Frabill shelters in stores locally. Still see their other stuff, bait containers, nets, that type of thing.

[regulator]

Thanks all. I did e-mail customer service a couple months ago via the website but never heard back. Doesn't seem likely they will get back in the shelter business anytime soon.

[Fisherman 1]

Maybe due to a lousy product they have given up.  I had one of theirs where the top more or less fell apart, I sent it back and they claimed I poured diesel fuel on it.  No more Fragile products for me, ever.

[rdhammah]

I’m avoiding Frabil products too, if I can, after the screwing I got on a float coat.

[dubob]

Based on my experience and my experience alone, I wouldn't even consider a shelter from Frabill (and yes, I had one).  Clam/Eskimo products are FAR superior to Frabill shelters and Shappell is a close second to either Clam/Eskimo.  I don't see the paucity of Frabill shelters as a loss to the community overall.  Just completing putting my new Eskimo Wide 1 XR Thermal together and hope to have it on the ice by the end of this coming week.   

[hardwater diehard]

Based on my experience and my experience alone, I wouldn't even consider a shelter from Frabill (and yes, I had one).  Clam/Eskimo products are FAR superior to Frabill shelters and Shappell is a close second to either Clam/Eskimo.  I don't see the paucity of Frabill shelters as a loss to the community overall.  Just completing putting my new Eskimo Wide 1 XR Thermal together and hope to have it on the ice by the end of this coming week.   

Be sure an do a good review on the build and performance as there is limited information and even less video on this version by Eskimo . Good luck with your purchase . I bought a Eskimo Sierra Thermal last season ...I am an Eskimo fanboy.

[filetandrelease]

 i have always owned clam products
 Still have my 2004-5 , x2 as it’s a tank ,
But switched my 1 man clam out
 But I did take the seat out swapped out for an old frabill seat , it was so comfy but heavy if cross bars and seat were aluminum
That would be the cats butt just my .02
 Back in the day I owned 2 frabills , a 1& a2 man both decent shacks

[ice dawg]

I still have a Frabill XLTwin I bought around 2004 or so. It is still in great shape, but is well treated. Dang thing was made in China back then.

[Tubes77]

I've had a few Frabil shacks over the years and had pretty decent sucess with them actually.  I still own one of the Frabil one man Commando models that I love.  With that said, I also believe their quality went down also. When I made the jump to a thermal shack I went with a Clam, and I just ordered an Otter hub so I'm not exactl brand loyal.   Anyway,  I will check to see if they are still making shacks one day this week when I stop by the Plano Molding outlet where they are made (at least the tubs anyway).

[Krazykaiser]

 Frabill was bought out by Plano and now Frabills Ice offerings are dwindling each year.    Pure fishing then acquired Plano 2021 . So who knows where Frabill goes from here.  Frabill was a lot like Ht some stuff you had to really avoid.  Shame Frabill shelved the snosuit. They could of added flotation to that design easy.

[matzilla]

I've had a Frabill Recruit for 5 years - 0 issues with it. Had a Frabill Recon before that for 6 years - again 0 issues. That said, I'd buy an Eskimo if I ever needed to replace my Recruit or wanted a hub

[regulator]

Tubes77, thank you for the Recon trip, be interesting to see if they tanked the product line. Thanks everyone else for all of the great info!

[Reinert]

Same here with the Frabill recruit, it's been a great shack

[ice dawg]

Shapely shelters seem to be gone also.