Best small hub

[fishinJohn]

I sort of wanted a thermal one man flip over shanty for this winter but took a look at some hubs and wonder if that would be a better option. Frabill has a thermal for about $229 but it weighs less than the smallest Clam hub and that goes for $199 or so (which is not a thermal shelter, though odd it weighs more). Most thermal flip overs are close to double that cost and give less room. Basically I'd like a warmer shelter that isn't a bear to lug around and still has a little room. I have never seen the hubs in person and don't know if anchoring is needed every time. I would appreciate your input. Btw, I searched hub and had no results, if this has been brought before a link is all I need.

[Greenhornet84]

There nice if your setting up in one spot. If your gonna jump around more I like my flip over better since you can keep all your stuff in the bottom. Should be able to find a used one for close to that on hsolist.

[TruthWalleyes]

If you have snow and slush to put on the flaps you don't need anchors below probably 15 mph wind. I've owned an Eskimo qf3 for a few years andlove it. get a nice otter sled to put all your stuff in. I've been in crazy 50mph wind with the Eskimo before and that is the limit. I will be using the insulated clam Xl4000t this year.

I would advise you pick a thermal that way you need less heat and condensation won't be an issue.

[20lbSloughShark]

I liked my 6'x6' cabelas hub, however it is far from portable. Where it shines is fitting into a car, or somewhere you cant fit a full size sled. What I mean is it is a pain to move it from one spot to another. If I got another one, I'd get a nice big one. 6'x6' is the smallest you should go, that was perfect for 1-2 people. I saw a 5 sided one at gander yesterday that looked really nice and big. I actually got a small light "permanent" house on skids that I can pull from one spot to another without tearing it down, so I can be more mobile than with my hub. I have never owned a flip-over, or an insulated portable, but I would prefer a flip-over, and definitely want it insulated.

[Naturboy]

I've used hub shelters for around 7 years and they are nice when you get use to them. I like to hole hop and kind of use it as a base to fish a area of about 50 yard radis. They are not hard to move once you get use to it. However if its really cold and windy I prefer a flip- over. With wind at 10 mph I use at least 1 stake, but I prefer 2 stakes on the up wind side with one corner into the wind. If you fish by yourself a 2 man is big enough, if you fish with 2 it would be best to have a 4 man.

I made a wooden box mounted on used snow skis that I can put my auger on and strap my hub shelter on top of that. That wooden box holds all my tackle, rods, bait, depthfinder, and camera if I'm using one. Pulling everything is a lot easier than trying to carry it.

The best hub would be the one with the strongest hubs and poles. One tip learned is use the bag for storeage only, during the ice season just use a bungee cord around it to hold it to pack size.

[ice_medic]

I have fished out of both and i own a couple of hubs. I love the hubs and as stated before they work as a great base for right around the area if you plan on doing a little hole hopping. Also they are very easy to move around set up if there is no snow on the ice. I know i should not probably do what i do but dragging it set up across the open ice is pretty easy. My 2 person hub is a little easier to move around with snow too. I just stand up inside it and carry it over to where i want to be. As for insulated and non insulated. They both have there pro's and con's. The non insulated is lighter but not by much but it sweats like a pig when the heater is on in there. The inuslated is nice on really cold days and doesn't sweat as bad but as it was explained to me once consider the insulated house fabric like a tampon. It holds all that water in it and takes a lot more time to dry out. As for stakes i usally put 2 or 3 stakes on the wind side and door side of the shelter and throw dry snow on the skirting. I used to use wet snow and slush untill the house frose down a couple of times and i chewed up the skirting bad when i was trying to chip and scrape it up. The hubs set up and take down quick. I spend more time packing my sled than setting up or takind down the house. The flip overs are nice too and are very portable but they dont fit into the back of cars the easiest. Either way pick what is the most easy for you to load and pack in the vehicle you have and have a blast on the ice.