Frabill Thermal Non-Norpac??

[whitebassman]

I'm looking at getting the Frabill Trekker DLX Thermal at the show this weekend.

I noticed in the product description that it is not the Norpac thermal but a "premium 3-ply thermal". All the other Frabill sleds have Norpac, even the 1-man Commando. Just wondering why the Trekker does not. Is this imitation Norpac even the same quality???

The Trekker is the perfect size for my needs. I hope a Frabill rep can chime in about that.

My second option would be the Otter Pro Cottage. But I prefer the Frabill as its bigger and has option of two man, also is full thermal, and $100 less.

[dfeste]

Norpac is used only by Canvas Craft. They used to make the insulated skins for Frabill but a couple years ago they started having them made ove seas like Otter. Do a quick side by side at the show and it will be clear which is which. I am a happy Canvas Craft owner.

[BartmanMN]

You asked the same thing in November and told us the response from Frabill.

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubb...tho#Post2944197

Nor Pac has been shown to be the thickest and likely the best insulation. I'd bet the stuff in the Trekker is comparable to what Clam and Otter are using.

[fishersofmen]

Anyone know the approx cost of an Otter Lodge sled set up with the Canvas Craft Norpac skin?? Love the black outside with the white inside.....

[dfeste]

You'll have to call CC. I just bought the exact same thing last year and mine was around $1100. I did add hyfax, a caddy, and the Otter seating system so that's why my total was as high as it was. From what I remember it was only about $50 more than the Otter set-up so my guess would be around $950.

[whitebassman]

Norpac is used only by Canvas Craft. They used to make the insulated skins for Frabill but a couple years ago they started having them made ove seas like Otter. Do a quick side by side at the show and it will be clear which is which. I am a happy Canvas Craft owner.

[walleye44]

Norpac is used only by Canvas Craft. They used to make the insulated skins for Frabill but a couple years ago they started having them made ove seas like Otter. Do a quick side by side at the show and it will be clear which is which. I am a happy Canvas Craft owner.

Canvas craft will not be at the ice fishing show this year. Frabill is another company going to China. Stop by canvas craft in Rogers or Ramsey and check their houses out before you buy another house. The norpac canvas is second to none. Plus they are still made in the USA! I love my Canvas Craft house.

[BartmanMN]

Some people have found information on websites to be outdated.

Go look at the houses at a store to determine if it is Norpac or not. If it is, they must display the 3M logo on it.

Like others mentioned, CC used to make the skins for Frabill and do not anymore, so they may not be norpac at all any longer.

[fishersofmen]

Your right the info on their HSOforum and others must be outdated. According to Frabill's response in the first post they no longer use norpac. Even the Norpac R2 HSOforum hasn't updated yet.....

[fisherman-andy]

Frabill still definitely use Norpac R2 on their flip over shelters. Just not on the Trekker DLX. The reason may just be a simple as to offer a mid end shelter in competitive pricing when priced compared with other shelters brands.

Frabills HSOforum which I know they continually update still states on certain shelter models that the frabic used is:

*NorpacR2® Extreme Outdoor Fabric with Thinsulate® Insulation FR from 3M

[fishersofmen]

Frabill still definitely use Norpac R2 on their flip over shelters. Just not on the Trekker DLX. The reason may just be a simple as to offer a mid end shelter in competitive pricing when priced compared with other shelters brands.

Frabills HSOforum which I know they continually update still states on certain shelter models that the frabic used is:

*NorpacR2® Extreme Outdoor Fabric with Thinsulate® Insulation FR from 3M

Incorrect. How would you know they "continually update their web site"? Excellent job speculating however......

Here is the response they sent back to me this morning which is pretty much what they said in the response in the first post on this thread.

Hello

Thank you for using Frabill products, we appreciate your business!

RE: Thermal shelters – all the Frabill thermal shelters are now being produced with the new material.

Please call me at 800-558-1005 if there is anything else I can help you with and thank you again for supporting Frabill products.

[fisherman-andy]

[BartmanMN]

Carryover houses may have Norpac. Buy one if you can. This year's addition may not have the Norpac. Like I said and you mentioned too. Go to the store and look for yourself. Better yet, like you mentioned, go to the show and talk with Frabill. I'm sure they will tell you the new stuff is as good or better. You can make up your own mind. To use a product produced by 3M or Dupont you must give them money, which would make the product more expensive to produce.

[fishersofmen]

LOL.. SPECULATING? how would I know if they continually update their site? Isnt it quite obvious? Its not hard to tell what new products they offer and if they show items in stock or not. It certainly does update on content, I check their site weekly in the last couple months. This late in the season not to properly detail your products is failure. Plus every site i've checked from Cabelas to Reeds still list the shelters using Norpac R2.

The first email response by Whitebassman says nothing about them using the 3 ply in all of their shelters.

Plus your email response says nothing about specifying the 3 ply or Norpac R2, however a canned response which may or may not be true. Need to specify shelters, could mean hubs, flip overs, etc. Or completely new line that we are not aware of? Why not unveil to the public by now???

If Frabill arent using Norpac R2 anymore or still arent selling the shelters in Norpac R2 then why dont you email them and ask them why their site and every online vendor like Reeds or Cabelas still list them using Norpac R2? Is this false advertisement?

One way to find for sure.. go to the ice show or store and see it for yourself.

May or may not be true? Good grief. I got the info I needed believe what you want. I don't know what part of "ALL the Frabill thermal shelters are now being produced with the new material" is so hard to understand. Anyway for those who were wondering and not just wanting to argue there is your answer.

Your right Bartman there could be some carryovers left for those who are interested.

[fisherman-andy]

May or may not be true? Good grief. I got the info I needed believe what you want. I don't know what part of "ALL the Frabill thermal shelters are now being produced with the new material" is so hard to understand. Anyway for those who were wondering and not just wanting to argue there is your answer.

Your right Bartman there could be some carryovers left for those who are interested.

Im not trying to prove you wrong, I like clearification. Because every information I seen so far say they still have Norpac R2. New materials could mean new Norpac R2 frabric materials for for all I care.

I like to see your email details. What did you ask? Did you clearify what new materials 3ply or Norpac? What shelters models and hubs? Part no#? Are they no longer selling Norpac R2 or are they old carry over shelters? And please ask why hasnt Frabill unveil this information if their trying to be more competitive in pricing?

[Fishin4fun_MN]

Straight from Cabela's HSOforum.

This is on Reeds.

Tell me this does not say R2. If it says NEW then I assume it is a new model this year.

Also is it really worth arguing over? It is kinda funny, to a point.

[bbfenatic]

IMO "NEW" means never been used. They may have inventory with the R2 but as they run out of that inventory anything that gets shipped to them this year will not have the Norpac. Surprised their pricing did not come down if they went to a lesser expensive material....but hey, they may need the extra profit to keep the doors open.

[whitebassman]

Also is it really worth arguing over? It is kinda funny, to a point.

[fisherman-andy]

No not worth arguing. I just wanted a logical answer to why the Trekker does not have Norpac when the Frabill site and other major retailers like Cabelas and Reeds state they do. More and more I'm inclined to think that Frabill just hasn't updated their site to state so. I saw a Guardian Thermal next to the Trekker Thermal at FF and they are indeed the same fabric and both do say 3-ply thermal fabric.

Actually Cabelas and Reeds states the Trekker #7022 has 3 ply material fabric as well as the Frabill's site. I am going to assume the majority of Frabill shelters at this point still have Norpac R2. If fleet farm had both the Guardian and Trekker in the thermal 3 ply material then that definitely confirms the switch. If competitive pricing is what they are after as I said originally due to this then you should be also seeing price drops on all the thermal shelters.

Listed models w/Norpac R2 still:

Predator #7080 Material Norpac R2TM Extreme Outdoor Fabric

Guardian #7052 Material Norpac R2TM Extreme Outdoor Fabric

Commando #7015 Material Norpac R2TM Extreme Outdoor Fabric

Thermal Pro #7077 Material Norpac R2TM Extreme Outdoor Fabric

If Frabill Norpac shelters are just all carry over shelters from remaining inventory then Frabill must still do have quite a bit of stock remaining on these specific shelters, as to reason on not providing proper product information to the public and their vendors. I know i'd be pretty ticked off if I bought a shelter that I thought was supposed to be Norpac and it ends up being 3ply, not that the 3ply is bad. I am going to assume the 3 ply base frabric flip over shelters will have different part# or model# aside from the listed ones above?

[walleye44]

Call Canvas Craft. They will tell you that they no longer make or supply the material for the Frabill houses. The material is now made in China and it is not the same. The places that are selling frabill norpac are the old models which can still be a new house to sell.