IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Topic started by: Icenflies on Nov 09, 2017, 12:32 PM
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Hey guys,
I have some very generous parents and girlfriend, and for Christmas/Birthday present combined they've agreed to getting me a new shelter. Both sides have expressed to me that they would rather get me something of high quality so I'm not feeling like i need to upgrade in a couple years as i do with a lot of entry/intermediate level gear. After doing some reading on the shanty, I'm curious what you guys would recommend for my style of fishing. The flip overs catch my attention immediately, the Otter Cabin XT in particular. I like the idea of moving around easily because there are times where I do move a fair bit, but there are also times where i set up my shack in one spot for a day and wait for the fish to come to me. My heater is the regular buddy, its perfect for a 2-3 man hub style, and flip over i'd assume. I do some run and gunning, but not as much as i really think i do. I transport my gear in a Rav4, and i am unsure if the sleds for the flip overs would fit in the back with my seats down. Can't seem to find dimensions of these shelters when they're packed down. Is there much point in getting a flip over, or is a sled + hub style going to do the trick? I'm going to be building a smitty sled over christmas, and I have the legs to pull my sled a bit of a distance.
Anyways, that all being said. Wondering what you guys recommend. I'm in Canada so dont have the luxury of really shopping around, its either going to be an Amazon Purchase, local fishing store/Cabelas on boxing day. Curious to hear the benefits of a hub style vs flip over and what you guys recommend.
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As far as sized, look at the shipping dimensions. That'll at least get you the length and width of the sled.
Here they are for the Otter Cabin XT Pro
SETUP DIMENSIONS
66″ L x 84″ D x 70.5″ H
COLLAPSED DIMENSIONS
66″ L x 36″ D x 20″ H
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Eskimo 949 works great for me!
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Definitely a flip over, hub styles just don't compare. They have a time and place (i.e. 4+ people wanting to watch tip ups), but a flip over is hands down better for convenience and quality.
If money isn't too much of a concern, Otter would definitely be your best bet. As far as models, I can't really help you there, my price range is more in the mid level clam/eskimo brand so I haven't ever looked into the Otters ;)
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I have a 4 year old Eskimo Quick Flip 2 (2 man, *can* get a 3rd in there but makes for cramped areas, but sometimes we do it). It isn't a thermal one or anything but I love it. Given the "go ahead" from the family to select one and not wanting to get crazy expensive I would suggest going with an Eskimo Sierra Thermal (2 man) at $450 on Eskimo's website, or if you want to go even higher quality and spend about double the new Eskimo Grizzly (2 man) at $900 looks really really nice.
If I had to buy a new I'd personally do the Eskimo Sierra.
Good luck and hope you find one that works out for ya!
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Go with a flipover, I have a clam x2 thermal. All the big name brands make good shelters. Clam has a large variety to fit anyones needs. Keep in mind the weight of the shelters if its important to you. Go with a thermal shelter. I also bought mine because the ceiling was tall enough to stand in.
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You have a real nice problem ahead of you. If price is no option - then you would look at an Otter system. If you want to save some money and get basically the same system, then you are in a Clam or Eskimo. Your Rav4 may not be able to fit inside, so you will have to look at either a trailer or a hitch mount support to load the house on.
You need to decide if you want benches or chairs. Otter offers the Pro series of their houses. These are the ones that have the chairs. You said you are in Canada - I am in MN and would always recommend the thermal units. You are already spending that money, and the insulated units will stop condensation from raining on you.
I have the Clam Yukon Thermal. Love it. It is lighter than the Otter units. You are looking at the Cabin, so the Clam comparative would be either the Legend or the Nanook. Eskimo is coming out with some new models, but I haven't seen those in person yet, so will let others comment on these.
Since you mentioned that you will be building a Smitty Sled - which is a good idea, it will get the sled out of the snow. The weight difference is still an issue, but the sled will help. How far you intend to walk in and pull will be a big factor on what system you decide to buy.
Good Luck!
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Looking like the interior dimensions of my Rav4 with the seats down are L 70" W 42" H 34" So that otter looks like it would fit like a glove!
Keep the input coming, i really appreciate it. Our local wholesale here has a Eskimo flip, but the quality of it looks iffy to me, all the red plastic joints/pieces are cracked in the display model inside the store and that scares me for buying one new, and using it out in the cold....
Anyone with any Frabill Aegis Experience? I dont believe they are thermal and its looking like thats probably the way to go.
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I have an Eskimo EVO 2. I've had it a couple of years now and love it. It is easy to put up, take down. It is 80lbs but with a smitty it is not a bad drag. There is plenty of room and there is plenty of space.
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Otter by a long country mile, the rest just want to be Otters.
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I went to runnings after work and they had the Eskimo grizzly set up. I was never a big Eskimo fan but this flip over is really nice. I sat in it, I do like my clam seats better. The pole system appears to be well made and thought out. I don't get the benefit of the zippers on the side of the windows. Overall if I didn't have a flip over I would definitely be thinking about this one.
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You have a real nice problem ahead of you. If price is no option - then you would look at an Otter system. If you want to save some money and get basically the same system, then you are in a Clam or Eskimo. Your Rav4 may not be able to fit inside, so you will have to look at either a trailer or a hitch mount support to load the house on.
You need to decide if you want benches or chairs. Otter offers the Pro series of their houses. These are the ones that have the chairs. You said you are in Canada - I am in MN and would always recommend the thermal units. You are already spending that money, and the insulated units will stop condensation from raining on you.
I have the Clam Yukon Thermal. Love it. It is lighter than the Otter units. You are looking at the Cabin, so the Clam comparative would be either the Legend or the Nanook. Eskimo is coming out with some new models, but I haven't seen those in person yet, so will let others comment on these.
Since you mentioned that you will be building a Smitty Sled - which is a good idea, it will get the sled out of the snow. The weight difference is still an issue, but the sled will help. How far you intend to walk in and pull will be a big factor on what system you decide to buy.
Good Luck!
the Legend is a one man so that won't work if he wants a 2 man (possible 3rd man). a Thermal Nanook would be limited to a 2 man.
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I had a clam nanook thermal for years and it served me well. Its about as big as I would ever want to pull by hand. I currently own both the otter pro cabin and otter hideout. The otter style sleds do pull nice however the small hideout is the only one i ever pull by hand out on the ice. Otter makes a cottage and from the specs I see online it looks comparable in size to the nanook. If you are only taking a second person out once in a while although listed as a 1 man it might be worth consideration.
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What about the eskimo sierra thermal??
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Looking like the interior dimensions of my Rav4 with the seats down are L 70" W 42" H 34" So that otter looks like it would fit like a glove!
Keep the input coming, i really appreciate it. Our local wholesale here has a Eskimo flip, but the quality of it looks iffy to me, all the red plastic joints/pieces are cracked in the display model inside the store and that scares me for buying one new, and using it out in the cold....
Anyone with any Frabill Aegis Experience? I dont believe they are thermal and its looking like thats probably the way to go.
this is the fully insulated Frabill Aegis : http://www.frabill.com/ice-fishing/ice-shelters/flip-over-shelters/aegis-2250.html
the Clam that would be close to the size of this is the Nanook (Thermal and Non Thermal) the Nanook is actually about 2 inches larger.
these are the possible Clam houses that would work for you based on your size measurements of your Rav 4 :
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/shelters/fish-trap-nanook-thermal.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/shelters/warrior-x-thermal.html
http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/shelters/yukon-x-thermal.html
to go larger then this you would need to do like was suggested already and that is to get a cargo carrier for a hitch (if your Rav4 has one) and use that to haul the house around. by doing this you could step up to the top of the line X300 that is new this year (large 3 man house) if you really need a house that big. the down side to the larger houses is that you need a 4 wheeler or snowmobile to pull them as they are to large to pull by hand. Clam does offer houses for sale via their web page ( new option this year)but the trade off is the shipping cost up to you in Canada ($250.00 US Dollars minimum)
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Looking like I can't get the otter on amazon.ca anymore, or at least not for the time being. Has anyone used the eskimo grizzly yet? Looks better built than their previous models but pretty pricey comparatively to the otter XT cabin. I might be lining up real early on boxing day this year.... Can't seem to locate a frabill 2250 anywhere up here either. A little frustrating. Don't really have a clam dealer here with a shelter selection unfortunately.
Almost snapped up a nanook last year at the end of the season for 450Cad, and missed out, kicking myself that i did. The grizzly or sierra is looking like the only shelter i might be able to get without paying an absurd amount of shipping.
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I ended up settling on an Eskimo EVO 2IT crossover. It was about the best thing i could get semi-locally, along with the cover. Lots of room and some pretty good reviews here on the shanty. I likely wont have a snowmobile/quad in the next 5 years to really get me out to laker fishing here that requires true run and gun. But this thing should suit my needs for a little while.
Thanks for the help guys.
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The Eskimo Grizzly appears to be a good Otter competitor. They have beefed up the sled, the fabric, the aluminum tubes, and even the windows. As a diehard Eskimo fan, if I was in a money-is-no-object situation I would be taking a hard look at it. It is a little heavier, which will happen with the heavier insulated fabrics. In Canada I would rather have a little more weight than have to stay home on the coldest days.
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I ended up settling on an Eskimo EVO 2IT crossover. It was about the best thing i could get semi-locally, along with the cover. Lots of room and some pretty good reviews here on the shanty. I likely wont have a snowmobile/quad in the next 5 years to really get me out to laker fishing here that requires true run and gun. But this thing should suit my needs for a little while.
Thanks for the help guys.
Hello...fellow canuck here also looking for a 2 man that will be Ok for 3....did you have a chance to use the EVO 2it with 3 guys? how was it?...3rd guy (me) would be sitting on a tiny camping chair right over the hole...
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When I was looking I fell hard for the EVO 2. No insulated at that time but it is a great unit. Side doors, no stepping over holes or gear. Stand up headroom, lots of storage in the sled. Sadly I'm selling mine due to arthritis making it difficult to get down to do the anchors. Built a hard shanty to suit my needs.