Otter XT650 Lodge or Clam X2 Thermal

[ib_jigged]

In the market for a new portable. Which would you choose? Price is only $30 apart (more for the Clam). Otter has dual layer on sides, and thermal top and Clam is all thermal. Both about the same size.

I would like to hear what others have to say.

Thanks!

[leech~~]

In the market for a new portable. Which would you choose? Price is only $30 apart (more for the Clam). Otter has dual layer on sides, and thermal top and Clam is all thermal. Both about the same size.

I would like to hear what others have to say.

Thanks!

It's kind of fun when fishing in an Otter to get up really fast and which your buddy sitting on the one side of the sled with the curved shaped bottom flip the house up!

[CaptainMusky]

Its really a no brainer. The sled on the otter is worth $100 more than a clam (slightly exaggerating) and its $30 less?

Clam has certainly improved their poles so now I would say they are equivalent to Otter, but the sled doesnt compare at all.

Otter is much much tougher.

If you plan on pulling this shelter behind an ATV or a snowmobile, this should be a major consideration.

[fisherman-andy]

Im not sure so sure of Otter still having a better quality sled, I took a look at some of the Clam flip shelters and their sleds look very sturdy and strong as long as its not the low end models. So if their is a quality in gap then its very minimal at this point.

I've been looking for a small flip shelter and have come down to a Clam Nanook thermal or the Otter XT650 cottage. I like the Nanook for its compact small size and weight, the poles and clips still could use some improvement as well as the sled. It now has a bar running across the sled which may affect space storage. As for the Otter cottage I like everything about it except that the sled itself is off balance shall you sit towards the front end of the sled it will complete lift it causing a flip over LOL.

As far as resale value its a no brainer. Otter over Clam. Will have to see what kind of deals are available at the ice show this weekend...

P.S. Admins why does it have "T" capitalize in "thermal" and why does it make "O" in Otter lowercase??? I have the "t" lowercase and I have the "O" capitalized. Plus the words themselves are marked in blue.

[CaptainMusky]

Unless the clam sled is roto molded it is not as durable. I am sure they made great strides in making them better and admittedly I have noticed a difference in thickness, but the manufacturing process is much different and heat weakens plastic and that is how those "other" style tubs are made.

[leech~~]

Unless the clam sled is roto molded it is not as durable. I am sure they made great strides in making them better and admittedly I have noticed a difference in thickness, but the manufacturing process is much different and heat weakens plastic and that is how those "other" style tubs are made.

I have had two Clam voyagers and just don't seem to get why people keep saying they are not as good as an Otter? They are just as thick as the Otter sled and with a pair of wear runners added to the bottom they should last for a long time. I may have put on over a few hundred miles on my old Voyager and it hardly showed a bit if wear? Next!

[fishwater]

I have had two Clam voyagers and just don't seem to get why people keep saying they are not as good as an Otter? They are just as thick as the Otter sled and with a pair of wear runners added to the bottom they should last for a long time. I may have put on over a few hundred miles on my old Voyager and it hardly showed a bit if wear? Next!

A sled molded into a virgin form and a sled thermoformed are different. When something is thermoformed it is changed from it's virgin form by heating and bending. This process inherently creates an inferior product that is in essence pre-weakened. Otter sleds fall apart too though, so anything can and does happen.

[dan z]

I went from a XL ranger to a otter cabin. I will not buy any other 2 man house other than otter now. Yes it weighs more but I still get to wear I'm going. And I know we all need the workout.

[gonehunting]

Leech,

I had a clam voyager and now an Otter XT900 Lodge. To me their is no comparison. The otter sled is much heavier. A Fishtrap X2 sled would be a little closer comparison. You are right that wear runners will help save the bottom of the sled.

[CaptainMusky]

They are just as thick as the Otter sled and with a pair of wear runners added to the bottom they should last for a long time.

Thickness has NOTHING to do with how durable they may be. In cold temps you can easily crack the tubs that are not rotomolded. Seen it happen. This typically happens where there are corners or bends in the plactic. Why? Because those areas are stressed in the manufacturing process.

Otters certainly can break too, but they are much more durable.

Trust me, there is a reason the "Ice Team" chooses to put their shelters on racks on their Bearcats instead of pulling them behind and it isnt because it looks cool.