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Regular Buddy vs. Big Buddy?

St_Croix_Banks

By St_Croix_Banks
in Ice Fishing

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natelee Newbie

natelee

Posted
Posted

Get the big buddy...you can find them on sale for not much more than the lil guy. It's bigger and heavier, but you can always turn it down. I have a couple of them and use them both in the ice castle and clam fish trap (a flip over). Think of the days out there with not much snow to bank and it is super cold...

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bobbymalone Grand Master

bobbymalone

Posted
Posted

Everybody seems to love that big buddy.

I dunno, maybe I am cold blooded but I get by just fine with the regular buddy. I also tend to think that if you aren't just a little bit cold in the portable, you aren't doing it right. I'll save the fishing in T-shirts for the perm.

I like the size and portability of the regular.

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bikeoutback Rising Star

bikeoutback

Posted
Posted

I have a lil buddy I used last year, big buddy is on my xmas list after we used one in my 2 man flip over last year that my buddy owns. I don't need to be in T shirt but don't mind leaving the bibs and winter coat in the truck either. My lil buddy was fine except when it was down around 0 or below at night then it took the chill off but didn't keep it as warm.

I got the lil buddy for tent camping in the winter and it works for that but if I had to do it over again I'd get the Big Buddy the first time since it's only like $20 more for double the BTU's. I can turn the Big Buddy down when it's too warm, can't turn the Lil Buddy up though.

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thedeadsea Proficient

thedeadsea

Posted
Posted

If it is cold and windy, you will greatly appreciate the big buddy. If it is above 20 degrees you will need to either open the door a bit or turn the big buddy down to pilot from time to time or it will get to hot.

With that being said, I agree with bikeoutback. It is always better to have too much heat rather than not enough. Get the big buddy.

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PierBridge Grand Master

PierBridge

Posted
Posted

Great info guys! In a nutshell you really need them both. I can't imagine not having both units for the reasons posted above.

The Buddy for it's size and weight advantages the Big when you need a bit more heat!

Croix, I have the same house in the Eastman Kodak brand and you are going to want to get the Big Buddy for sure IMO!

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Big Tom Mentor

Big Tom

Posted
Posted

I'd take Pier's word as they're essentially the same house.

I don't like to have to take off too much clothing in case I need to run for a tip up. I fish a two man Trap and between a propane coleman and the Lil Buddy, I have always had enough to keep the holes open and that's about all I'm looking for. I also save the T-shirt's for the perm.

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PierBridge Grand Master

PierBridge

Posted
Posted

The Buddy will work for the most part in our shelter. And it takes up less space of course. But, once you get into single digits and below zero, depending on wind and available snow to bank the shelter the Buddy will struggle to keep up.

I most often use a 11 pound tank with the BB but it is a nice option to have two 1 pounders hooked up at once.

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Maverick Rising Star

Maverick

Posted
Posted

I was out this past Monday and Tuesday. It was anywhere from 10 below to zero. I have the ice cube and the big buddy. We kept it on high for most of the day. The only time it got too hot was when the sun was shining on the black fabric. I agree with the above, if you can, get both and use the one that will match up best with the weather.

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Big A Proficient

Big A

Posted
Posted

I enjoy the Big Buddy just cuz when used on low.. its the same as a regular buddy... so once the temps really drop after the sun goes down.. its nice to be able to cranker up a notch.

for the money. Id buy the big buddy and have the best of both worlds

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MuskieJunkie Mentor

MuskieJunkie

Posted
Posted

Remember there's the regular buddy, the big buddy and the new Little buddy. When people are saying the little one they probalby mean the regular buddy. The new little buddy is tiny and probably not applicable in MN ice fishing situations.

I went with the big buddy, it is very big but worth it IMO.

I think you can get away with the regular buddy if you have a insulated house but otherwise you need the big one. They're on sale at northern right now for $100.

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thehawk Contributor

thehawk

Posted
Posted

FF had them for $99 and I snatched one up, the big buddy. I have a wild outdoors flip over 2-man house and it is very nice in there on low like the other poster said. I don't think the normal price of $130 is bad even...this is a quality heater with a nice fan built onto it. Well worth the $$ especially if you are fishing with kids like I do.

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

Posted
Posted

I have the largest eskimo flip house and a buddy is noth enough. I am guessing a 6x6 hub has just as much sq ft to heat.

I would go bigger is better

A regular Buddy isn't enough? Or a Big Buddy isn't enough?

(I have the Eskimo QF3, so I'd be pretty much in the same boat)

I have mostly enjoyed my sunflower heater, but I'd feel safer sleeping in the QF3 with a Buddy.

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