Sleeping in a Pop Up Shack?

[Sam Smith]

Anybody slept on the ice in a big pop up (Fatfish 9416 or Clam Bigfoot XL 6000)? Thought about giving it a try with my Big Buddy heater and a couple cots.

[MuskieMojoTackle]

yep. slept in my Command Post on URL a couple years back. Subzero temps and high winds.

with the big buddy and decent sleeping bags it was great.

Slept in it bow hunting at Camp Ripley last year too.

it got tight in there with three cots, but you can do it

[playinhookie]

ive slept outside with a tarp and a 20 degree bag without a tent in sub zero temperatures. This was back home in Missouri but hey cold is cold and with a pop up you should be golden. Once you insulate yourself your good to go and if you get too cold you will wake up trust me. Then just warm up in your car!

[OnAFly]

I'll be trying it this winter for sure. I got some of those interlocking foam mats for a floor and a sleeping pad and 0F bag, I'll be fine without the heater.

[BronzeBrother]

Two things to be concerned about with the pop ups. I have the QF3 myself. Not trying to discourage you but these are a few things to prepare for in case it happens...

1. High winds... I've had my QF3 staked at all corners and banked thoroughly and still had it do a semi lift off. This was during the day so I was able to grab it and secure it again. Imagine you sleeping and this things starts blowing around - Solution? Make sure you also secure the shelter to your vehicle...

2. Ventilation - These shelters have vents but in my experience it's not always enough for the buddy heaters with the built in Low oxygen detectors. I've had my heater shut off numerous times with the vents open and the windows cracked. It should have been enough ventilation for the heater as it was enough to cool the inside down.

These are good shelters, I have enjoyed mine for the last two years but I'm not comfortable enough with the shelter to stay overnight in it. It's tempting though. Good luck and report back after you do it.

[OnAFly]

I thought about both of those circumstances. I guess it's a risk I'm taking and I'll have to prepare best I can.

I have the 4000T Clam, and I'll be using straps to hold the thing to the ice when I'm sleeping. Hopefully that along with a good banking job will keep me stable. I guess I'll find out of it isn't I also don't plan on using a heater at night. With an insulated floor, a sleeping pad, and a 0F bag, I think I should be OK. If not, well I guess I'll find that out too

Either way it should be a good experience.

[Sam Smith]

Great stuff guys. Now I just gotta find a buddy to brave it with me.

[traveler]

I've done it a couple times on Red and elsewhere...no problems really. My buddy never shut down, and I had it anchored very well.

[TruthWalleyes]

CO detectors are cheap. Keep the heat up. Cot or zero gravity chair! Keep it simple.

[DLD24]

CO detectors are cheap. Keep the heat up. Cot or zero gravity chair! Keep it simple.

Lol well looks like I got more Christmas shopping now,I bought a zero gravity chair as a gift....but now you gave me that great idea,lol my chair now...

[JakeJ_Mn]

I have a Eskimo QF 6. I made a wooden floor for 1/2 which fits my cot and gear. Normally, I fish alone. I put Reflectix on the ceiling to keep the heat in and a piece on top of my sleeping pad under my Artic bag. I have a small table with a CO meter attached. Keep the vents open and the far door unzipped a few inches. A Big Buddy attached to a 20# for heat with a regular Buddy backup. Takes awhile to set up, but I have camped quite a few weekends with no problems. For anchoring the house, I stake the inside grommets and use stakes place about 4 feet from the outside house loops. I put bungee cords snug not tight. Banked with snow been in some good winds with no problems.

[TruthWalleyes]

Anyone been in winds strong enough to collapse the top

Leech last winter, 40mph winds, Darn top kept colapsing. Finally fixed the issue by opening a window or two on the windy side of the house so it "Blows up" the house, kind of pressurizing it like blowing in a pop bottle to expand it.

Darn wind

[quickfish6]

Sleep in the QF6 every year when we go duck hunting. PLenty warm this year it was 20 degrees. How do I attach the reflectix that everyone is talking about?

[MuskieJunkie]

I agree have a CO detector, at least once to test your heater.

I tested it once in my portable. I set up my fish trap yukon and for 15 minutes with every door and vent zipped tight, in a closed garage, big buddy heater on high my detector will still read 0.

[Schleichenator]

I slept in a 9x9 foot clam shell with a buddy on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota in February. It was negative 42 degrees F. With 40 mile an hour winds. We just had a little mr. buddy heater running. I slept on a cot with full gear and a bag. condensation froze on the ceiling and all the walls. The wind whipped the tarp so badly that the condensation fell in chunks onto my face. After a half liter of whiskey, I managed a good three hours. Only thing I brought home was bronchitis.

[Crizyal]

I slept in a 9x9 foot clam shell with a buddy on Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota in February. It was negative 42 degrees F. With 40 mile an hour winds. We just had a little mr. buddy heater running. I slept on a cot with full gear and a bag. condensation froze on the ceiling and all the walls. The wind whipped the tarp so badly that the condensation fell in chunks onto my face. After a half liter of whiskey, I managed a good three hours. Only thing I brought home was bronchitis.

You make it sound fun... Lol.

[JakeJ_Mn]

I sewed Velcro strips right to the Reflectix. Cut the pieces so they fit on top of the poles. I just have it 4 feet wide. Helps a lot to keep in the heat. Mills Fleet has different widths and lengths. 4' x 25' is a little over $30.