Thermal flip over portables

[Bothun]

After attempting to replacing the canvas on my quickflip 3 I decided to just buy a new house..Eskimo wanted 230 plus tax and shipping to replace it. (I bought the whole house for $250 on a black friday sale.) What a joke.

Ive never fished in a thermal portable but have heard good things on all the houses.

I'm looking for a large 2 man with a center height of a minimum 60"

I know Canvas Craft makes a heck of a house but have heard they weigh about as much as a Geo.

I don't know much about the new Clam's in the recent years nor the Otters.

Help me out here. Looking to buy soon.

Sidenote: Is the Jason Mitchell series any different other then 100 dollars more for a name and a gray house?

[Sir_Sumo]

Try just the Yukon thermal cap. Pretty Nice house. They also have the Nanook thermal as well. Not as nice as the Yukon though but cheaper. Why do you want thermal anyways? Hard time heating the old house? Jw. My frabill excursion which is similar to your QF3 is heated with a buddy heater just fine. Only 300denier canvas as well. Never had a problem yet. Otherwise Frabill has the Trekker deluxe which is a fine looking house but no thermal.

[Bothun]

I'm looking for the best portable money can buy..I find myself fishing out of a portable 75% of the time and want to be the most comfortable. If its -10 below outside I don't want to have to worry about staying warm.

[mnmuskie]

check out mills ff all are on clearance. otters new thermals are very nice and comfortable. frabile has some of the nicer seats. you know it is just like ford vs chevy.

[DTro]

Top 2

Otter Pro Thermal

Canvas Craft

For fishing 2 people comfortably, look at the Lodge model.

[Northlander]

I have been fishing out of the Otter Thermal Lodge this year and even though we havent had extreme cold yet Im very impressed with how well the house holds heat and no drips. Of course Otter has the best tubs on the market and the best seating design in my opinion. I highly recomend you check out Otters line up. www.otter.com

[aanderud]

I have a quick flip 3 in the garage, but I was looking at some upgrades to tow it behind a snowmobile -- hyfax, hitch, cover, etc. At the same time I figured I might as well splurge and just buy a whole new sled and cover, and I'm glad I did.

I upgraded to an otter lodge pro thermal this year, and I'm loving it. No more raining on me, ever. Very warm (in fact I haven't been able to shut the door on it yet, even with my heater on low). My outside holes should never have a problem skimming over at all. The square poles are very rigid, and I never even use the support beams like I had to on the eskimo. The sled is about 3x as rigid as that from my eskimo, and it will hold up MUCH better when towed behind a sled at high speeds.

It's a heavier unit all in all, but that I don't have a problem with, as I knew the insulation was going to add weight. I can still get it into my pickup by myself, even when it is fully loaded with all of my gear -- a 20 lb propane cylinder, two flashers, rod bag, heater, etc.

There's only ONE thing I don't like about the otter. It barely fits in my dodge pickup bed. I actually have to lift it up, shut the tailgate, and then set the front lip of the sled on the tailgate rail. It's really annoying. It's only about 1/2 inch too long -- in fact, I did slam the tailgate shut on it successfully once, but I didn't like all the banging around and I've since just decided to life it up. I'm not talking the ultra short box that comes with the super jumbo quad cab either, I'm talking the regular extended cab size short box on the dodge pickups.

Other than that, no complaints. Very nice unit. One of the best out there.

[Dave]

Ive never fished in a thermal portable but have heard good things on all the houses.

I'm looking for a large 2 man with a center height of a minimum 60"

I know Canvas Craft makes a heck of a house but have heard they weigh about as much as a Geo.

1. Once you fish in a thermal shelter, you won't go back.

2. While we all appreciate "opinions" from others, you really should experience the weight factor in real life for yourself. I don't think Otter has updated its weight ratings of its thermal shelters as of yet so, without having them all on a scale it would be tough to actually prove which is the lightest. In any case, I would gladly trade a little weight for a higher performing, better quality skin.

But, using an Otter shelter to compare the weight of another thermal shelter (since it uses the heaviest and best sled out there), what would make a Canvas Craft heavier than an Otter, when they use the same sled? Canvas Craft Norpac R2 has more insulating capability than any other but, I highly doubt you'll be able to tell any weight difference in a real life "lift test".

3. I believe Canvas Craft shelters are a bit taller than Otters.

4. Canvas Craft's framework system does not bind, period.

5. Best thermal performance & flame retardant specs = Canvas Craft, period.

6. Best shelter sled = Otter, which Canvas Craft uses.

7. In my opinion, the best thermal shelter is the Canvas Craft, when you factor ALL of the features, specs and benefits per dollar spent. Compare and see for yourself.

[Get'n Jiggy]

1. Once you fish in a thermal shelter, you won't go back.

2. While we all appreciate "opinions" from others, you really should experience the weight factor in real life for yourself. I don't think Otter has updated its weight ratings of its thermal shelters as of yet so, without having them all on a scale it would be tough to actually prove which is the lightest. In any case, I would gladly trade a little weight for a higher performing, better quality skin.

But, using an Otter shelter to compare the weight of another thermal shelter (since it uses the heaviest and best sled out there), what would make a Canvas Craft heavier than an Otter, when they use the same sled? Canvas Craft Norpac R2 has more insulating capability than any other but, I highly doubt you'll be able to tell any weight difference in a real life "lift test".

3. I believe Canvas Craft shelters are a bit taller than Otters.

4. Canvas Craft's framework system does not bind, period.

5. Best thermal performance & flame retardant specs = Canvas Craft, period.

6. Best shelter sled = Otter, which Canvas Craft uses.

7. In my opinion, the best thermal shelter is the Canvas Craft, when you factor ALL of the features, specs and benefits per dollar spent. Compare and see for yourself.

A big plus one one that!

[Borch]

I have been fishing out of the Otter Thermal Lodge this year and even though we havent had extreme cold yet Im very impressed with how well the house holds heat and no drips. Of course Otter has the best tubs on the market and the best seating design in my opinion. I highly recomend you check out Otters line up. www.otteroutdoors.com

I couldn't agree more. I really enjoy the new Otter Thermal lodge so far. It's a little heavier than the canvas verson but not too bad. I've been out in it during temps hovering just above zero and my big buddy heater on mediun most of the time and being very comfortable in a sweatsirt. The holes don't freeze up ether with the flaps down on the ice. Zero dripping on the ceiling is a great plus as well.

[harvey lee]

For me, Canvas Craft.

I could go on and on but in one word I can say it all.

Canvas Craft.

I agree with Dave that it is more than likely about the same weight as a Otter thermal.

The only difference between a Otter thermal and my CC insulated is the thickness of the insulation.

I have an Otter tub, Otter hyfax and Otter hitch. I have round poles and the Otter square, probably no difference there. I also have an Otter sliding seat and the Otter Sportsman caddy in the portable.

The best of both worlds, all Otter assc and the CC Norpac insulation. That in my eyes makes it the best insulated poortable made today.

Try one out and you may agree.

[mww24]

If i were buying a new shelter. it would be a canvas craft. Then and otter if for some reason I couldn't get a canvas craft. I have owned three clams and once they kick the bucket it will be canvas craft all the way. I love the white interior and their fabric seems to be head and shoulders above the rest.

[Dave]

And, if replacement parts are ever needed, you know where they'll be.

[simple1]

My pop up broke a rod yesterday on Shields and I am looking to get a pull-over now. I am getting a Canvas Craft after seeing one. The hard part is deciding if I want the double now or get the single 2 man and get a double next year. Very hard decision. I will be getting it this Monday.

Simple1

[harvey lee]

You will love the CC portable.

[dan z]

bought a T-600 Otter cabin @ FF a month or so ago and glad I did, been fishing more this year just because its so comfortable in there. I know it hasnt been "cold" yet but when it does get cold It will be ready for it as I usually have to prop the door open with the heat on low.

this portable is leaps and bounds better than my old frabill XL ranger

[walleye44]

My pop up broke a rod yesterday on Shields and I am looking to get a pull-over now. I am getting a Canvas Craft after seeing one. The hard part is deciding if I want the double now or get the single 2 man and get a double next year. Very hard decision. I will be getting it this Monday.

Simple1

You will not reget getting the Canvas Craft insulated house. They have the best house on the market! They were the first with the thermal too! I have the magnum one & love it. I can fit my buddy & my kid in it with me. I would love the double flip too. If you can get both, then you are set! Enjoy em.

[mholmes137]

I would seriously consider Frabill houses as well. I bought a thermal predator last spring and have been extremely happy with it. I admit that if I was buying it again this year I would have a tougher decision now that Otter has a thermal house, but here's what I took into consideration and how I decided.

Frabill has a modular frame/poles. If one were to ever bend or break, it's straight round aluminum tubing that bolts in to corner pieces. It just seems to make more sense to me that a huge piece of aluminum that's got two 90 degree bends. It's also got delrin bushings so it flips over very smooth.

The seats were by far my favorite to sit in.

It's the same 3M norpac material that canvas craft uses. Retains tons of heats, flaps less in the wind, and no drips- that's the benefit of all insulated houses though.

The sled is a significant upgrade from previous Frabill sleds and has held up great for me. It may not be Otter legendary tough, but it's pretty close.

I found a sweet deal on one last spring with hyfax, tow bar, cover and such that really sealed the deal.

The only downside to the Frabill I see is that the Otter rail system that seats mount on seems nicer- like you can sit closer to the front of sled to put a little more elbow room between you and your buddy. That and you can get the big storage console. I wish I could get one of those. I did get one of the clam ones though that works great for holding cups/cans and my pliers and what not. All and all I love my Frabill and would highly recommend it, especially if you can find a deal.

[queenpdog]

I splurged on a Canvas Craft thermal double flip at the ice show this year. I don't reckon I well ever regret the purchase. It has been flawless, warm, and well designed. No binding on the poles....don't let them fool you. They don't look as nice a the otter's, but I have not had one single issue with them sliding easily. They are spendy, maybe a little heavy (that is what you get with thermal) but will probably last a lifetime.

Oh, and local. That seals the deal for me.

[simple1]

There is one problem with Canvas Craft though. I don't think they are open this Saturday. Now I have to wait until Monday to pick my portable up. Its very hard for me to wait on new toys so I will be driving the wife crazy over the weekend.

Simple1

[cichlid_baby]

Canvas Craft houses are nice... but there are a few things that I noticed that I did not like too much... we have the double magnum..

My opinion is that.. even though it is designed after a traditional sled style portable.. which has it's inherent pros and cons.. but mainly.. they are supposed to be portable to enable ease of moving around in search of active fish... It feels somewhat short of being a true "portable".

1.. This only applies to the double sided houses.. when you have the house folded down.. the way the thermal material lays on the sled.. it covers the whole sled since it has to fold in from both sides... so there is no easy way to use the interior of the sled to store things and still have easy access to them.. nor can you place larger bulky items like a propane and sunflower head or 5 gal buckets which would all be taller than the sled. Even if you find a way to do it.. it's a hassle to access and you virtually have to open and semi set-up the house to access the things in the sled. The many folds means that you will also always have material that will bind in-between the bars and end up bunching in the corner.

2.. The bars are much heavier and there seems to be quite a few support and bracing bars to install on this double flip house... so even though it is a sled portable.. setting up is a bit more involved and seems to take longer than I'd like in a portable sled. Also the bars can and do come apart easily and seperate if they do not click into place when extended as they don't have a locking mechanism built into the bars to prevent over extending them.. but they are easy enough that you can put them back into place.. no harm.. but annoying non-theless.....

3.. Also this house does not have the shelter material screwed into the tub on the backside like the more traditional single sided houses... thus making this portable more like large hub style house where you will need to bank it all the way around like a quickfish 6 or command post or similar... which is very time consuming since it has a very big perimiter.

4.. Because it's a double flip house.. you can not really use it in the more traditional "wind break" mode... therefore it is not quite portable in that sense either.

5.. The zippers are stitched in a non-traditional sense where the zipper pulls are set butt to butt instead of facing each other.. what does this mean..? It means that the zippers pull away from each other and close the seam leaving you with open seams that are at the top and bottom of the "D style" doors... getting in and out of the doors means than you do have to completely unzip the door.. where as in the traditional sense... the zippers would pull towards each other to close the seam which allows you the ability to move the zipper opening to anywhere on the full length of the zipper run so that you can just open a vertical slit and still be able to get in or out or pass things through without having to open the door flap completely.

6.. I also do notice that the slope of the house when set up is a bit more of a sharpe or acute angle and this tends to eat into your fishable area and overhead area which in my estimation is already a bit smaller in comparison to the equivalent Otter sized house.. What this means is that you have to place your heater a bit closer to you and farther away from the shelter material in order to not cause burns which takes up valuable fishing space. I found this surprising and a bit disappointing considering the overall size of this house.

It's a very well built house.. but it has some short comings.. but we've learned to live with it... however.. we don't really ever take this house out anymore because of some of these issues. We are fishing more mobile these days and it would be hard to move this house around.

I am sure it could have been thought out just a bit differently and it might have not had some of these little things..

Just some things to think about if you have not owned or used one of these style houses.

[highlife4me]

I ordered my CC last week and should have it shipped to me by Tuesday. Can't wait for it to arrive. I feel like a kid the week before Christmas.

[simple1]

Basically, you are saying because the sled is a double, it has shortcomings of a true portable? I looked at the double and I do see some problems for it to be as portable as a two man, but of course you can fish 4 out of it. I'm getting the 2 man on Monday, and I will get a good look at the double. I will ask them about some of the issues you brought up and see if they have solutions.

Simple1

[highlife4me]

Simple1,

Did you call ahead and order one to see if they had one or are they making it for you? I was up there on Thursday and they had to make it for me because they didn't have any on hand. Ben said they don't have much of an inventory this time of year, but it does't take long for them to sew one together.

[simple1]

I called and they said they had a couple of houses that would fit my sled. I have an otter medium. I hope they have them in stock, or that will be a problem. I called on Friday and told them I would like to stop in on Monday. How long does it take when you order one.

Simple1