thermal portables

[ikona]

Does anyone have any experience with thermal portables, wondering if they are worth the extra money

[huntnfish]

I think they are definitely worth the extra cash if you can swing it. When it gets around zero and below outside is when they're at their best.

[Swendog]

I think they are very much worth the extra cash. Even on nice days my brother and I won't even need the heater going, if and when the temp drops below zero, you can make your stay a little while longer.

[Get'n Jiggy]

I think they are very much worth the extra cash. Even on nice days my brother and I won't even need the heater going, if and when the temp drops below zero, you can make your stay a little while longer.

Plus one, well worth the money.

[NCLaker]

I personally will own a thermal popup some day, but if you want to get buy with your current flipover shack - then installing reflectix is cheap and makes a big difference to retain heat and significantlly elimiate condensation from your heater.

Did it in my Otter Lodge and love it. Adds virtually no extra weight.

[dmpalm]

They are worth every penny of the extra money...after having a thermal, I'd never buy a standard canvas house again. The thermals have virtually no condensation, take very little to heat, and allow you to stay warm even on the coldest days. Spend the extra cash and you'll be happy you did.

[walleye44]

Does anyone have any experience with thermal portables, wondering if they are worth the extra money

Well worth it. I have the Canvas Craft Northlander - Single Magnum sled. You save money in propain, but also you do not get the condesation in the house. I do not get rained on! When I was out & it was -18 below the tent folded up like I was folding a blanket in my home. No stiff canvas to force fold. The Norpac insulation looks far superior to anything else on the market also. There was a user that posted the difference in thickness between the otter insulation & Canvas Craft Norpac insulation, if you do a search.

[walleye365]

100% agreed worth the money i wont have anything else now.

[muskE]

[aczr2k]

Yes definitely worth the money, after having the Frabill norpac house I wouldn't fish out of a regular house. One thing not mentioned yet is they are quiet, the thicker material cuts down on the flapping canvas in the wind.

[tsande00]

Has anybody ever been cold in their non-insulated portable with the heater running?

I'm not against a thermal shelter because you'd burn less propane and the white interior is nice...but I have never once been cold sitting in my non insulated Eskimo. To be honest I'm not even sure why I added the reflectix but it does seem brighter in the house now because of it.

[that_guy]

The only time I've ever been cold in my uninsulated porty, was up on LOW when it was supposed to be 30* so we left the heaters and dressed less than heavy. Unfortunately a storm front came in and the temps with windchill were well below 0. I was cold, but I still managed to fish all day, so I couldn't have been that cold.

A thermal would be nice, but I'm not sure mandatory. Then again...the old timers would say "a shelter? who needs one of those!"

[tsande00]

The only time I've ever been cold in my uninsulated porty, was up on LOW when it was supposed to be 30* so we left the heaters and dressed less than heavy. Unfortunately a storm front came in and the temps with windchill were well below 0. I was cold, but I still managed to fish all day, so I couldn't have been that cold.

A thermal would be nice, but I'm not sure mandatory. Then again...the old timers would say "a shelter? who needs one of those!"

Well said. I wouldn't preach down on thermals because if given a choice I'd take the thermal in a heartbeat...but I do feel they are far from mandatory.

[harvey lee]

I put the reflextic in one of my Otter portables and it did help. It also helps in regards to the lighting with the silver color of the material.

If you can swing the thermal one, go for it. I have a Canvas Craft insulated lodge and love the portable. Days with above 25 with 2 people, I do not need my heater. On the colder days, the low setting gets the job done with the heater.

They srtill fold up nice and I know with my Canvas craft house, the inside is white in color and it is very easy to light up all you want.

[ikona]

Thanks for all the replies fishing without a heater when u run and gun sounds great to me

[Dave]

I don't think anyone mentioned that you don't get the condensation drip on the inside of a thermal shelter plus, I notice there's very little "wind flap" on the thermal shelter. Two more benefits.

[Coon]

with the windows closed and everything zipped up, is it dark enough to sight fish in a cc during the day?

[harvey lee]

You may have to bank the edges with snow but I would guess it would be very close.

I guess I have never paid enough attention to just how dark it is with no lights on.

[Northlander]

To answer the above question of have I ever been col in my portable. the answer is YES! I was on Rainty Lake a few years back and it was a true 40 below and I will say I was cold in my shelter if I opened the door too much and I had dripping issues. After that trip i said never again will I fish in that foolish of a temp with out a thermal shelter. Even them I may not. When its that cold things just dont work corrcetly. Sitting in the house with the heater on high all day and having to scoop ice out of the hole every so ofetn wasnt fun at all. So yes I have been cold in a ice hosue before.

havey Lees heater broke and he had to come sit in my house with me. Im sure he can say he was more than cold in his house for a bit before he joined me. The others on that trip will also say they had cold moments in their houses too Im sure.

[harvey lee]

Yes, I remember Steve. Eric-Boilerguy's heater quit so I borrowed him mine and there I sat. Thought I could stay warm in my Canvas craft without heat, -40 without the wind chill and it was not warm enough. After I gave my good heater to Eric, my spare would not run correctly and that was a very bad deal for me.

There was not much room for you and I in the portable but it was cozy.

I remember how hard it was to just get a auger to run enough to cut a hole in the ice.

Was that the time you had the same eye hit 4 times before u caught it?

[aczr2k]

Yes I've been cold up on LOW when it's below 0 and the wind is blowing with very little banking snow. I started with 4 holes and by the afternoon the two holes I wasn't using I couldn't kick through the ice anymore. Coldest I've ever been fishing.