thermal tent worth it?

[alg]

I'm considering getting a pop-up tent by Clam, and am wondering if the thermal material is worth it. Does it keep the tent warmer, and does it stop the water from dripping off the ceiling of the tent? Also, are the pop-up style tents easy to set-up and close up, especially when it's cold?

[Northlander]

I would say yes its worth it and yes it keeps the "drip" down. A cheaper alternative that I do is put insultex on the top of my shelter. About $35-$40 at Menards.

[fisherdog19]

Insulation will help, and like Northlander said, Insultex is an option. I just got a Clam Summit pop up and they are sooooo easy to put up and take down it's rediculous. The only thing you'll have to do that would take longer would be to put the ice anchors down if you have wind, otherwise its a breeze. I'm gonna try the insultex and see how it goes, you'd have to put Insultex in as 4 free floating peices that are in between the poles. I'll post a pic if I can get it in.

[PTocko]

I went back and forth on getting the regular Clam Trap Nanook or Nanook thermal. Finally settled on the thermal. It is a $100 more and comes at a 10# weight penalty. That said I can probably get by with my regular buddy heater (versus big buddy) so I'll get some weight back. As this will be the house I use with my 4 year old I wanted to make sure it was as warm as possible. In setting it up I have noticed a couple of "side" benefits to the thermal material. 1) It seem darker so it might be better for sight fishing. 2) The material doesn't seem to flap in the wind as much. I am looking forward to ice so I can get out there and see if I made the "right" choice. See ya out there and Good Luck Paul

[Myrt]

I have a Clam Nanook Thermal on the way. Sold 4 man and my 2 man, kept my old single man trap. As I was making my decision between the Nanook or the Yukon TC the retailer told me all I really need is the insulated top, or the Yukon TC. The Yukon is $100 more and really not that much bigger, so my choice was to go with the all thermal, slightly smaller sled Nanook Thermal for $100 less.

A few days later I talk to a sales person from a company that manufactures 4 wheeler accessories and they are working on attachable portables to 4 wheelers. His opinion is that in the next few years most portables will only have the thermal cap because that is all that is need to trap the heat and keep the top from dripping. Any opinions?

Would this insultec work on my single man clam? Is it material that can be sewn to the frame?

[NCLaker]

Fisherdog19, I would love to see your pic's of the insultex installed in your Summit hub popup. I have a Eskimo Quickfish6 and it could really use insulation in the ceiling. How long till you think you might have something posted?

[PTocko]

myrt - good post. I forgot to mention that I too started out looking at Nanook versus yukon. The all thermal nanook was $100 more than regular nanook but $100 LESS than yukon (and less weight) and all thermal. The yukon is a stand up and a lightly bigger sled but I usually move quite a bit so the height (lack of) is not a big deal. Good post. Paul

[Ed Carlson]

A insulated top will most certainly help, but also consider this once. Heat will escape through the least path of resistance and cold enters anywhere it can penetrate, and with only the top insulated that leaves four walls and the floor yet to allow heat to escape from, and cold to penetrate inward from without. So if the wind is at your back cold will still enter there and heat will push through the apposing sides. As the wind passes around the structure it also siphons off heat from the side walls as well.

A insulated top in actuality will enhance heat retention by about one 6th, but will not trap heat generated inside the structure. It will help yet not nearly as efficiently as a fully insulated shack would perform.

The heat imagery photo's on the Norpack Frabill R2-Tech shack tests easily illustrate the extent of the side heat loss, and are worth consideration prior to your decision.

Cost and effect, will the long term use pay for the added cost in fuel savings and comfort? That is the factor the end user should calculate and consider.

[PTocko]

Ed - Cool picture. Now I'm really looking forward to the Nanook Thermal. Ice can't come fast enough. Paul

[Myrt]

I haven't received the Nanook Thermal yet but I'm happy with my decision. The retailer I bought it from thought he would be selling the Yukon TC and is actually selling the Nanook Thermal by far more, I'm sure for the same reasons you and I pointed out Paul. I think the product info shows that the full thermal will still retain at least 10% more heat than the thermal cap product, that's why I'm buying thermal to begin with, more warmth!

Thanks for the info Ed!