Any Feedback On Layout Blinds.

[tearin' lips]

I am going to invest in a new layout blind within a week here and I was just wondering what experience you all have had with my few top choices. I am leaning toward the final approach folies eliminator express in max-4, but the gander mountain guide series brand in max-4 is my second choice. Has anyone used these two blinds or have any advice. I have always been a shadow grass guy, is max-4 really better? Also is the full coffin style preferred, or the flap style, I have always had the flap style. Is there any other blind that you guys would reccommend...the Avery Power Hunter is cheap, but I don't really like that setup at all. Any information would be appreciated. Thank You!!

[BoxMN]

I just got the Gander coffin one, the more spendy one with the shell holders on the flap, and the more cushy backrest. The frames are the same on the gander ones, it is just the $20 or $30 more for the little extras. After having it, and a buddy with the slightly cheaper model, the $30 extra is worth it.

I layed in them all, the Avery ones as well, and the Gander one I got was by far the most comfy. I am a fairly big guy, not tall, but wide at 245 and 6 feet. The others all were pretty cramped to my liking, but I know some want to better/lower concealment of the smaller models. Not me... I need some comfort

The max4 blended in great in the corn stubble, but we packed aroudn it pretty good. It also did in the bean fields as well, but I didn't muddy it up enough first time out, and it was too "clean" and bright. Muddy it up good with wet muddy mud before you use it.

The frame help up good so far, and I lean on it pretty good to get out. It goes together really quick actually. We ended up using it as a decoy bag of sort for some of our full bodies so didn't even close it up for a few days of the trip. The backpack straps work great, and it just folds in half after pulling 6 pins. Not like the avery we used, that was a hassle to take poles apart (if you even bother closing it).

I would recommend the Gander to anyone, especially considering the price. I think I paid $180 during the season, but on sale. Now I bet they should be even cheaper.

Use my info for what it is worth. I haven't used it a ton yet, just a week in North Dakota, and a couple trips in MN, but I plan to use it a lot next year.

good luck,

-Box

[bigdog]

I have one called the 'Destroyer' from Goosview Industries. It has a plastic sled so it keeps you clean and dry. You can also brace your feet against the end of the sled which makes sitting up much easier. When you open the blind to shoot the sides go totally flat allowing a full range of motion. It is one of the most expensive blinds but I have never regretted the purchase.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

in my crew we've got two avery finishers, one final approach s.u.b. scheels edition, and two gooseview x-terminators. the goose view blinds are the lightest and easiest to carry, in that they fold in half and are packed in backpack style, but the setup/take down time is a little longer due to the pins needed to hold the doors to the frame. but for 130 bucks a piece in shadow grass and corn field camo they cannot be beated i.m.o. and we beat the dump out of all our blinds this fall. the finishers and s.u.talk held up very nicely also, but do not fold up as compact as the goose view ones, so if gear space is a concern take a look at the gooseview blinds; otherwise i would save a little extra money and just go with the finisher. dont get too hung up on camo patterns either, because once you mud it up good, five blinds in five different camo patterns (shadow grass, cornstalk, max-4, adv.wetlands and khaki) and get them brushed in, they all appear about the same from a distance. i guess the biggest thing is get a blind that you feel you can lay in all day and stay comfortable.

[guppie]

Yeah, I agree with carpshooter with whatever is comforalbe and affordable for you. we have 3 finishers and 1 powerhunter. I've had my finisher for 4 years now and it needs to get replaced next season(dont sit on the backrest or you will bend and break fittings eventully! )The powerhunter is a great low profile blind that allows for alot of head movement,but I'd rather be in a finisher. Just my .02!

[sdstatekid]

Finisher, either max-4 or shadow grass will work great, or you could just go with the field khaki if you are planning on mudding the heck out of it.

[Superduty]

Power hunters are cheap and offer a very low profile, but I prefer the flap style blinds because of increased visibility for the hunter. I don't like looking through the screen. Another thing to consider is where do you keep your dog.(if you hunt with one) No room for a dog in power hunter. I like to keep my lab in my finisher. Plenty of room for both of us, plus she keeps it nice and warm in there on a cold day. It takes a very disciplined dog to stay in a mutt hutt type dog blind when the mallards are landing and walking 10 feet from the blinds. Plus it just adds one more thing to hide in the field in my opinion. I like my finisher but have also heard good things about the S.U.B from final approach. The eliminator pro guides are very comfortable but have the highest profile. I recently looked at gander's brand and was impressed. Looked good and low prices.

[PLfisherman]

i will go with bigdog the gooseview destroyers are sweet!!! we have three of them in our group as well as avery finishers and the destroyers are much better in my opinion.

[Sartell Angler]

our group has two final approach SUBs, one finisher and one powerhunter.

To each his own but the SUBs take longer to set up/ take down and take up a little more space. They are comfy however and if you dig 'em down a few inches blend in just fine in my opinion.

The finishers are pretty much the same thing but give you a little faster set up / take down time.

The Powerhunter is slightly less comfortable but you gain portability and concealment. If you don't put the bar in for the lid it has an even lower profile and is without a doubt the best for hiding in a bean field. Worst thing about the blind is that it doesn't keep you as warm and doesn't allow a spot for your gear and gun.

Rumor has it Avery's "Groundforce" is the be-all and end-all of layout blinds but have not hunted from one personally. You might want to look into one of those.

BUT if it was up to me...I'd never hunt out of another layout again. Compared to a pit or hunting from a nice wooded shoreline or from a permanent blind they are a pain in the butt. For me they offer poor visibility and comfort...and if I wanted to catch a nap I would have slept in!

SA/wdw

SA/wdw

[Rost]

I hunt out of an s.u.b and love it as long as we don't have to carry it out into the field. It just doesn't fold up very well. It takes about an extra 1 minute to set up compared to my buddies with Finishers, but it is about 3 inches lower to the ground. It also wider and has plenty of room behind the back rest for your gear.

Also, I agree that the camo pattern is the last thing to worry about. After mudding and then brushing the blind in the field, you shouldn't see the camo pattern anyways.

Here's a pick of our blind last year opener. Can't tell what camo pattern we have...

[Gissert]

I picked up an X-Terminator earlier this fall from Otter Outdoors. I was really, really happy with it. We had no trouble weaving in what ever vegatation was in the area for concealment. Check out the link, scroll down to ChuckN's post for photos and a little video. We could have snagged some of those geese with landing nets.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=848884&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Nova]

I've had an Avery finisher for 4 years and love it. I have used the power hunter and the final approach blinds. Final approach seem like a pain to set up to me, but after that they are just as good as the finisher. The power hunter definately has a place with it's easy set up, low profile, but the comfort is not there. This year I bought the Otter X-terminator. I REALLY like this one. very light, quick easy set up and every bit as good as the finisher. Good quality fabric and Otter really stands behind there stuff. With all the blinds I have hunted out of, if I had to buy another one right now it would be the Otter X-terminator with the finisher being a close second. Like the other guys have said, camo pattern is a mute point.

[fwp]

Hey Bill, how are you...seasons treating you well I hope...great duck season...no deer tho...spent a lot of time in my stand but no buck...oh well great time at the shack...we got six...to your question...I have a final approach pro-guide...big...comfy...very sturdy...doesn't fold in half...just goes flat...I really like it...take care...think the ice will hold me yet?...tc...phil

[markzeke]

I agree with everyone else in the fact that it doesn't matter what camo pattern you get. Make sure to mud the blind down before you use it and once all your field camo is on the blind, you will not see the camo pattern in the fabric at all. I have 3 final approach eliminators that I have used for the last 4 years and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I went to Fleet Farm a few years ago and bought a couple rolls of their reed blind material and zip tied them on my blinds. I then trimmed them to size and they have worked great. I store my blinds in a 6 x 12 trailer so I never have to take them down after each hunt. I have not had to do anything to the reeds since they've been installed. The picture is of my 15 year old step son who started his first year of hunting and thankfully he likes it.

[tearin' lips]

Thanks for your input guys I sat in the folies eliminator , express, the GHG model(can't remember what it's called) and the high end Gander model. and ended up going with the gander model. It has all the same features as the GHG model, for a little less money, but it was definately much better than the eliminator express(in my opinion) I am a bigger guy at 6'4" and 250 lbs so I needed something big and comfy with all the bells and whistle and I fell in love with the Gander one...we'll see how it works early goose season next year(its not gonna come quick enough! )

Thanks again for all your input gentlemen, it helped me get some insight on what is important to value in a good layout blind and helped me make an informative desicion on the right layout blind for me. Thanks again! Take Care Everyone!

[Jimmy from Cottage Grove]

I just bought a gander one too. I used it for the first time tonight!! worked great!! Shot my limit. I didn't think I would see any tonight. All of the sudden the skies turned black and a couple thousand came right over!!