Sell me on a hub style shelter

[greatwhitehunter]

Going to be buying a hub style shelter soon. What should I buy and why? Fatfish 949i is #1 right now.

Any feedback would be great!

[Iceboy]

I'd get a 949i if I were in the market - which I just might be after fishing out of a friend's this evening! dam they are nice.

[greatwhitehunter]

I'd get a 949i if I were in the market - which I just might be after fishing out of a friend's this evening! dam they are nice.

Fished outta one last year and loved it also! Reason it's #1 unless I hear otherwise.

[Brad B]

If it was me I wouldn't over look the Clam Bigfoot XL4000T. the size comparison to the eskimo is that the eskimo that you are looking at will completely fit with in the Xl4000T which shows that that the Xl4000T gives you more space. also the pole are heavy duty 11MM pole where as eskimo poles and not as large(I believe they are only 9MM)

[Skymech]

I also have the Clam XL4000T Bigfoot and would recommend it to anyone. We regularly fish with three people and room has never been an issue. I've never fished out of the Eskimo 949i, so I can't compare the two. I love the oversized storage bag, makes packing up a breeze!

[greatwhitehunter]

The bag was an issue with the Eskimo. Was hoping they fixed it by now? Is the 4000 a lot heavier having thicker material and poles?

[deerminator]

It depends on what heavy is. They're about 40 pounds. I really like mine. Keeps you nice and toasty in some frigid temps. I just use a small mr. buddy heater on low most of the time. Put it on high and you can take your coat off for sure. I also like that its easy to set up and take down. Goes really quick but if you're in high winds it would help to have two guys.

[thatoneguy]

I don't have a 949 but I've had a QF3 for several years, and it's awesome. Super lightweight, super easy to set up and take down, super durable. I've had mine for 6 years and haven't had a single issue with it. If the 949 is the same quality, you'll love it.

[Brad B]

the Bigfoot XL4000T weighs 42LBS.

[Storm Rider]

Make sure to get one that is insulated.

[Grainbelt]

I bought a 949i on the way to Red on the 13th. It really worked well at -30 on that Sunday morning. It was sunny, and barely a breeze that morning. It was very comfortable inside, we had the heat on low to medium. They haven't made the carry bag any bigger, I couldn't zip back up. I think i'll have to pick up some straps.

[greatwhitehunter]

Was hoping to hear they fixed the bag.

[tramiot]

I have been out twice with my 949i. I also did a test run in a buddy's garage before the ice was thick enough. We were able to pack exactly the same as Eskimo during the test run, but both times on the ice (-10 and 0) resulted in stiff fabric not packing as tightly in the bag. We have been successful both times getting the house back in the back, but that is with two guys and about 5 minutes of wrestling. I have also noticed that the poles seem a bit long, but I am waiting to trim them down as I figure the fabric will stretch with time.

[Chad Holst]

I have had a Clam 6 pack (1550) for 2 years now. My likes and dislikes:

1st time out, very dissapointed that the plastic holder that you pull to zip up the zippers broke..not just one, but every single one of them that i pulled on. This made me wonder about the entire shack and its quality. The zippers take a beating, as they are pulled on when frozen, etc.. yet these broke with almost no force in WARM weather. 30+ degrees and no ice/snow. Also noticed that the one of the anchor strapps on the inside of the Hub was not sewn in, one side was completely unatached.

Since then i have put a small rope loop on each zipper and have never missed the missing anchor loop, but it still bothers me that something expected to survive extreme weather conditions has such simply to fix issues.

The pro's: Its huge inside. I can fish like a king with 2 people in the house, like a champ with 3, comfortably with 4, and if we are just 5 gallon bucketing it and need a 1 hole/each set-up we can fish 5 with little effort.

The bag it comes in is HUGE and oversided, which is great when you are cold, the house is cold and you are trying to pack up. Even with the walls stiff and not able to be manipulated, it fits in its bag with little effort. +1 huge point for this.

As a whole, the shelter has done its job well. even though the materials/craftmanship on the anchor strap and zipper had me concerned, the shelters structure has been very good. no issues with the actual zipper, material, skirt, poles.

In the end, i would NOT buy another 1550 though. I am 6'3 and i do not like having to bend over so far when trying to get out of the house or into the house, when there is gear all around. I would consider the 1660 6 pack, as it is much taller and the doors are perfect hieght for me. That is, if they have fixed there issues with the zipper holders and after an inspection at the store of all seams and anchor tie down spots.

If someone does go with a 1660 or another hub this tall, i would suggest a tube/fan system to circulate the air, it may not be needed to get the shack heated, but it will save you a ton on propane. We use one in the 1550 and cant imagine the heat wasted without a system in an even taller house.

Friends have the Eskimo Hub and like it, no issues. color/price and bag size are the only differences in usability as far as they feel from mine to theirs.

Im intrested to see how people like the Thermal Frabil headquarters hub.

[Lusid]

Can anyone comment on the eskimo bags?

I own the 767 (non insulated) fat fish and the bag is the worst design ever.

Other than that, love the quick setup!

[Chad Holst]

I have heard the same thing about the bags, which may not seem like a big deal, but you remember it when you cant fit the house in everytime you pack up. Just the bag has kept me with Clam. Now, im sure there is a way around this, but should we really have to buy a new oversized bag to work with the Hub, that comes with a bag.

Im the same way with tents. The only reason i still use the tents i have, is they all came with bags that fit the equipment without having to fold them a certain way and be a magician to get them back in.

[pushbutton]

I don't even try getting my 949i back in the bag while on the ice....actually don't even bother to get it back in period. The bag is not very well designed. The windows are nicer than clam's though. The anchors are far superior. Think clam took the lead with the poles and hubs a few years ago. My clam house is simply more taught and stands up to wind better. Have never broke a support...2 on a lightly used eskimo. Like clam's entry design better as well. Ultimately good and bad with each model/design/manufacturing. probably a lot of the luck of the draw wether you get a "good one" or "lemon" from either company, since they are all outsourced, assumably from 50 cent an hour workers in china. We all want inexpensive....and sometimes we get cheap

[Chad Holst]

That is a good point about the wind. Something i DONT miss from back in my earlier days is the wind noise. Even in the stiffest winds you dont feel of hear it in the 6 pack. We have the drill adapter (a must) for drilling the ice anchors in. We use a THIN layer of the ice hole slush to lock the sides down rather than snow. ( when i say thin, i mean so little that you can still see the blue...maybe 1/4 to a 1/2 inch) It holds everything in place and come off the skirt easier than snow piled up with slush under it.

[tsande00]

I went back and forth between the Clam 4000T and the Eskimo 949i. Ended up going with the clam because it has so much more interior space. I haven't had any issues getting it back into the bag either.

[Chad Holst]

You wont ever have an issue with the clam bag... I remember opening my Hub for the first time and actually thinking they put the Hub in the wrong bag, as it was SOO much bigger than needed. I realized the first time i tried to put it away, when it was cold and not very flexible, why that bag is so big. When the bag and the house is warm, you could fit 2 houses in the one 6 pack bag, but when its cold, things change.