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01-05-2017, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
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Best brand of ice fishing tent?
This year I have a bunch of time off and a daughter that isn't in school yet and likes fishing. In order to maximise her fun, and make the most this rare opportunity to spend a winter fishing with my daughter, I bought a HT brand 6 man tent at xmas. We love the tent, but in 4 trips we've broken 2 zippers, it is obviously not going to last many seasons so I've decided to return it.
So what to get instead? It doesn't need to be that big of a tent, we could surely use a 4 man... but I want something that is more durable. Any suggestions? Thanks.
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If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
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01-05-2017, 06:36 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South, AB
Posts: 203
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Eskimo. Had mine for 6 years and not even a rip in it.
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01-05-2017, 06:51 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 903
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My Eskimo seams good. No broken zippers or rods. But the black stuff that keeps it dark seams to be wearing off.
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01-05-2017, 07:02 PM
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
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One of the more interesting options when I was shopping around was a "Woods" brand tent. Anyone used one of these? I've never seen them before but the tent seemed pretty well built. In the end I figured that I'd never bought anything from HT that completely sucked... well, now I have!
I'll check out the Eskimo tents, my wife in particular was disappointed that I hadn't got one in the first place.
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If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
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01-05-2017, 07:32 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: edmonton
Posts: 287
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Woods tents
Woods makes ice tents for one of the leading brands out there but forget which one
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01-05-2017, 07:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Medicine Hat
Posts: 210
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We have the 6-man version of this one from Costco, very durable so far, great customer service when it shipped with a cracked pole, replacement couriered out immediately.
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01-05-2017, 08:09 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,781
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Only complaint I have with Eskimo is the bag on my Quickfish 6i is too tight when the tent is cold. Insulated is great, but you should know that it gets stiff in really cold weather.
I have one from Costco also. An Outdoor Works Kingfisher 3. Good tent for a couple people.
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01-05-2017, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,478
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I have an Eskimo. My buddy has a Costco. I'd say both are a huge gap in quality. But I'd say Clam or Otter have the best products.
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01-05-2017, 08:21 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 562
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I have a Woods Arctic 2 hub tent and it is very well made and easy to open/close. The poles are all exactly right length and zippers are good too. I am happy with it. Got it on clearance at Canadian Tire for $165, regular $299. I imagine the 4 man is even better.
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01-05-2017, 08:39 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Edmonton
Posts: 5,174
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My recommendation is Eskimo, as good a quality if not better then others and if you have any problems they have great customer service and warranty. I had troubles with my first 6i(poles too long maybe and had ripped through a couple of the retaining pockets), after seeing pics they sent me a whole new tent. They even threw in a free fuel tank grommet for my auger since I needed one of them too. Good luck getting service like that from some of these other companies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
Only complaint I have with Eskimo is the bag on my Quickfish 6i is too tight when the tent is cold. Insulated is great, but you should know that it gets stiff in really cold weather.
I have one from Costco also. An Outdoor Works Kingfisher 3. Good tent for a couple people.
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I find my 6i to be fairly easy to fit back in the bag. You should try getting a frozen 6120i back in the bag if you think the 6i is bad lol.
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01-05-2017, 08:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,781
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Haha. I usually end up giving it a bear hug and having the boy work the bag down. Was going to make a couple straps with a loop on one end and Velcro on the other to cinch it down. I can get it in, just need four hands.
SS
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01-05-2017, 08:53 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 88
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I've had eskimo and otter. otter definitely has my vote hands down better quality
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01-05-2017, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: On the 49th 'The Medicine Line''
Posts: 1,041
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I have the Eskimo Lodge a four man, tent with 8 x 8 ft plastic floor... folds to a 8 x 4 ft sled. I have had it about 10 years, no problems at all, and has been used in some ugly southern Alberta winds. I made screw in tie downs out of 9 inch lag bolts... work good. Tent is in as good a shape as when I bought it with medium use.
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01-05-2017, 09:34 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Edmonton
Posts: 5,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Avidhuntr
I've had eskimo and otter. otter definitely has my vote hands down better quality
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Otter tents look good, especially their flip style units but they get pretty pricey and aren't even available here. I think Bass pro sells some but none up here in Edmonton area.
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01-05-2017, 09:54 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 160
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I've had a Otter 2-man flip over for the last 7 years and haven't had ANY major issues! I've had a large Eskimo FatFish for the last 4 years and have been disappointed . The Eskimo failed/ripped in 2 spots - where a top wall corner meets a roof corner. Eskimo customer service is second to none as they simply asked for a dated reciept, pictures of the rip and my address. Sent me a new one with zero hassle, i paid the shipping. I received the new one in 2014 and the exact same thing has happened again, waiting to here from them as i just sent pictures to them on Tuesday. I haven't had any dealings with Otter so i can't comment, No news is good news right?
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01-05-2017, 10:01 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 7,350
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I have Clam and Eskimo, but dont think you could go wrong with these or an otter.
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eat a snickers
made in Alberta__ born n raised.
FS-Tinfool hats by the roll.
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01-05-2017, 10:11 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RavYak
Otter tents look good, especially their flip style units but they get pretty pricey and aren't even available here. I think Bass pro sells some but none up here in Edmonton area.
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I had a really hard time sourcing the otter pro series until I found this guy. He didn't have a website at the time I bought mine 5 or 6 years ago.
They're expensive for sure.
http://riversideoutdoors.ca/index.ph...&path=60_63_65
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01-05-2017, 09:00 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Calgary
Posts: 157
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[QUOTE=SamSteele;3435187]Haha. I usually end up giving it a bear hug and having the boy work the bag down. Was going to make a couple straps with a loop on one end and Velcro on the other to cinch it down. I can get it in, just need four hands.
SS
This is really funny to read because I bought an Eskimo 949i this year and I look like a complete clown trying to bear hug it and wrestle into the bag when I'm alone. That's been my only issue though. Great quality tent, great layout and don't regret going insulated - would definitely recommend it.
Also recently used a buddy's Clam - bigfoot 2000 or something? Hard to compare because it's a few years older and not insulated, but I felt it wasn't quite the same quality level. Seemed like a good tent though. I really liked that the anchors were just hex head bolts instead of the ones with the hand loop so you can fire them in with a drill.
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01-06-2017, 11:47 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Grande Prairie, AB
Posts: 234
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
Haha. I usually end up giving it a bear hug and having the boy work the bag down. Was going to make a couple straps with a loop on one end and Velcro on the other to cinch it down. I can get it in, just need four hands.
SS
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Yes, they can be a bugger to fit. I had 4 extra straps made up at our local upholstery shop with loops so I can pull them real tight. I also use extra straps on the outside of the bag so that the handles don't rip when carrying it. So far she's like brand new after 3 years.
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01-06-2017, 12:22 PM
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,556
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Just traded the HT in for an Eskimo Quickfish 3i. Once again, I looked at the Woods tent long and hard, but after the "I told you so" my wife gave me over the HT I figured I'd better get an Eskimo.
I think this tent will work great for what I need this year, just fishing with my daughter. When the whole family comes fishing, I'm hoping my wife and two daughters can fish in it half comfortably, I'd rather be outside and moving around anyways.
__________________
If the good lord didnt want me to ride a four wheeler with no shirt on, then how come my nipples grow back after every wipeout?
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01-06-2017, 10:25 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,781
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Just set my Eskimo 6i up in the garage to air out after a trip (thread reminded me!) and had a pole snap when popping out a side. It's a year old and has seen limited use. I'll see how Eskimo responds to my request for a new one I guess.
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01-06-2017, 10:47 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: West Edmonton
Posts: 5,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
Just set my Eskimo 6i up in the garage to air out after a trip (thread reminded me!) and had a pole snap when popping out a side. It's a year old and has seen limited use. I'll see how Eskimo responds to my request for a new one I guess.
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If you are out of warranty and shipping is too much(the poles actually are only 3.99 on their website) then you can try checking with some of the local stores like fishin hole. I believe they keep some old poles around in case someone breaks them.
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01-06-2017, 10:52 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RavYak
If you are out of warranty and shipping is too much(the poles actually are only 3.99 on their website) then you can try checking with some of the local stores like fishin hole. I believe they keep some old poles around in case someone breaks them.
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Thanks RavYak. I was going to do exactly that. $4/rod but I expect shipping would be $12.95 USD or so...
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02-05-2017, 11:07 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Calgary
Posts: 531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RavYak
If you are out of warranty and shipping is too much(the poles actually are only 3.99 on their website) then you can try checking with some of the local stores like fishin hole. I believe they keep some old poles around in case someone breaks them.
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I purchased the eskimo fatfish 9416... went through 4 of them in a 2 week period, all sorts of issues but finally got one that was virtually perfect....The fishing hole ( calgary ) was great I just took the tent back and swapped it for a new one each time.... Terry said they take them apart and keep the hubs and poles for parts for customers.... so they should have a crap load!!!! lol
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01-06-2017, 11:31 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 382
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamSteele
Just set my Eskimo 6i up in the garage to air out after a trip (thread reminded me!) and had a pole snap when popping out a side. It's a year old and has seen limited use. I'll see how Eskimo responds to my request for a new one I guess.
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I'd be interested how you make out with Eskimo. I'm having a hard time getting a hold of anyone. You hear so much about their customer service but I've experienced nothing good so far.
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01-07-2017, 05:22 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,781
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stubb
I'd be interested how you make out with Eskimo. I'm having a hard time getting a hold of anyone. You hear so much about their customer service but I've experienced nothing good so far.
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So I haven't heard back from Eskimo yet, but I contacted them yesterday and don't really expect a response over the weekend. The good news is that I took my broken pole to The Fishin Hole and asked them if they had another one like it. They gave me a longer one and I cut it down to the right length. I asked how much for the replacement and they told me "no charge". Awesome!
SS
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01-07-2017, 06:34 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,539
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anyone have or use the Frabill Trekker Max flip over? Hard finding any reviews on this one.
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I hunt what I eat, I eat what I hunt
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01-10-2017, 04:25 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Big Island
Posts: 41
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Attention Clam Owners
Where do I purchase an insulated Clam Flip tent. The only one I can find anywhere is the Nanook. I was hoping to buy a heavier insulated model. 900-1800 denier. Any suggestions would help.
Thanks
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