Polar Sport Portables:

[CrappieJohn]

I picked up a Polar Sport Nordic a few weeks ago and was soon met with a some of life's little challenges....the back went out and no ice primarily. But we have overcome!

The portable went together easily. Over the last week I have had the unit on the ice just about every day I think it is great. The set-up time on ice is very quick to say the least and once erected one is met with a whole room when the door is opened. The standing height is in the 6 foot range, the seats are swiveled and easily moved to make room. The unit is amply lit with windows on all sides and the door is larger than other similar units allowing for unencumbered entry and exits.

One feature really struck me as an asset: when erecting on the ice the tubing stays within itself until locked. I have fished similar large structures which use square tubing and when these were set up on the ice it was a constant chore keeping the tubing together on the ring that extends forward to create the base of the forward wall. I came apart on several occasions just from a slight breeze. The Polar unit stays locked....in fact it will lock before it can come apart.

Another feature is the hyfax. I have learned to walk just to the side of the sled when coming down a hill or while walking on plain ice. After numerous attacks on my achilles tendons I figured out that these machines slide very well and being in front of them when you need to take a breather is not a good idea. With all my junk loaded aboard the Nordic tows by hand easily, even at over a hundred pounds (loaded weight, unloaded about 70). The slide factor with the hyfax is incredible.

The next big test will be wind heavier than what I have encountered thus far. I am certain that anchors will eliminate the threat of blowing off the holes as they will with any unit when no one is actually setting on the seats or sled portion. I already have a pair of hole grabbers that stay in the unit's base just for those occasions, but we have not had the wind yet that would require them.

More information can been found about the Polar Sport Product line by clicking on "our sponsors" or by checking out http://www.polarsport.com/ All Ganders can get them for you, but a few of the larger stores have them on hand and set up to see first hand what they offer

These units are sweet and deserve to be considered when shopping for a new shed. I sure love mine!

[federline]

CT - Thanks for supporting business in MN and my town! Can't complain about that! (Disclaimer: I don't work for them, just live here!) At the ice show, I liked everything about the Nordic, except the non-padded seats in the Green Package were not very comfy - go with the PADDED seats in the Black Package!

It compares right down the line with the others. This is a premium, oversized 2-man shelter like the Otter Magnum and the Fish Trap Yukon. It's actually bigger than the Yukon. If you are going to buy a travel cover and tow bar anyway, the Nordic Ultimate Package is a full package at an equal if not better price ($500) than a Yukon. (Disclaimer: It's out of my price range, and I got a different brand and a size smaller...)

The hardest part about buying a Polar Sport product is finding a brick-and-mortar dealer with them in-stock and set-up. They haven't marketed and distributed their products very well in the past. Their HSOforum doesn't have a good dealer listing either, just a handful of online dealers. Marine General is the only place you can seem to get the Nordic Black Packages online, Thorne Bros only shows the Greens online. Gander Mtn isn't even listed. And Northern Tool only carries Polar Sport trailers.

This thread would benefit from people chiming in with where you can actually go touch, feel, and buy one next to Fish Trap, Otter, and the rest. Gander can order one, but I don't think many people will buy a Nordic sight-unseen when you can sit in a Fish Trap and walk out with it the same day at so many places.

So - Is there anywhere that actually has Nordics set up and/or in stock?

[CrappieJohn]

In reply to the purchasing a Nordic site un-seen, the day I picked mine up I had to wait in line. Granted this was right after the ice show, but I can't help but think some of these are sold to people who have seen them on the ice. They are nice units and as with anything that is fairly new on the market, time works wonders.

I know I mentioned this once before, but forgot to in my post....These units carry an unreal warranty: Three years from the time of purchase for the original owner. Bend or break a component and they replace it. Tear the cover, they replace it. They carry a full line of parts for this purpose and will go out of their way to keep the owner on the ice. Try that with the others.

As you mentioned, accessability is limited right now, but these are issues being taken up and worked on with the vendors. It was my understanding that the two newer Ganders in the Twin Cities area...Lakeville and Forest Lake were to have these displayed- and on hand. I may have mis-understood the conversation where this was brought up?

The seats....I opted for the cushioned seats in my Green hut and they are "cushy to the tushy", as Ma reports and she is one tough critic.

I'll make a call and see what the word is on this availability issue and get back here. Hopefully yet today.

[gspman]

I have one too and like it. It fits in the back of my Suburban and it is plenty roomy. It does pull nice by hand with the hyfax. With 6" of snow on the ice and a full load it's another story. The sled is flat on top too so you can move the seats farther apart than on other sleds if you wish to. I am by no means a hardcore ice fisherman or an expert on the subject but the Nordic seems like a very well made unit and I've had no problems with it since I bought it last year.

gspman

[korn_fish]

I purchased a nordic last year. Last year on this forum all I could hear about was otter this and otter that and when checking both units out, all I could see is that the Nordic was SOOO similar to the Otter but less expensive. So I went with the Nordic.

I agree with the lack of exposure. I was looking for hyfax kit for my sled and it took me forevor to find it online.

I beleive I just seen one set up at the Gander store in Minnetonka. I bought mine last year at the bloomington Gander.

[Scenic]

In regards to your reply to the lack of dealer listings on the Polar HSOforum I would like to defend them a lot on that subject. As a manufacturer I get asked all the time where someone can buy my products, which stores carry them, etc. Most manufacturers sell to distributors who sell to stores. We as manufacturers have only a rough idea of where our products are sold. Often time I will walk into a store only to see my products in there and had not even known they carried them.

What I am trying to say is that it is really tough for a manufacturer to list all the dealers that carry a certain product. Once we sell them to a distributor it is most times unknown to us where they go.

Now regarding Polar houses I would like to add that I think they are the best out there that I have used. I have been using them for a while now and found that their workmanship and service is excellent. That Nordic is a great house with a lot of features. I really like the flat sled design to give you more usable seating space and I like the auger mount that comes with this unit. Not to mention the many other features this shack has.

[Sportland_Bait]

Polar Flip overs are the Cadilac of portables. Great house for the price. Anyone looking for a new portable, choose polar and you won't be disappointed.

Jason Erlandson

[rngrfshm]

I believe Scheels is selling polar sport under there name. I looked at the 4man today and it had the polar sport stamped on the sled and it looks identical to what is on there HSOforum? Does anyone have one of these? Looking for comments if anyone has any on this unit.

Thanks