best 2 man ice shelter

[TonkaBass]

Looking to buy a new 2 man ice house. Wondering which one to go with, and where to buy it. So far I think I like the Otter Lodge

[gogophers]

I'm also shopping for a 2 man but have looked mostly at the fishtrap guides and frabill (magnum and trekker 2). Wondering what you see that you like about the otter brand, I haven't looked into those much.

[toughguy]

I picked up a lodge last year and I love it. I am hard on my equipment and the otter can take more abuse than the other brands IMO. The square tubes, the thicker sled, and the thicker canvas are very strong. I'm also 6'4" and I can stand up in the lodge. If I remember right the lodge it slightly larger than the voyager. Otters are worth the extra cash if you ask me.

[Beaver15]

Go with the Otter Lodge. You won't regret it. It's a spacious, well-built 2-man portable.

[Wash-Ups]

Look at the Fish Trap Thermal. It is supposed to be 30 degrees warmer in the house compaired to any other portable.

[hill7410]

I two second the magnum lodge, i bought it last year and it has stood up to the abuse i put it through, to me it is just made better and more durable, a little much for one guy but great for two you can drill 4 holes spaced out perfect.

[Kodiak]

Fishtrap X2

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

i as well am looking at the guide and voyager... does the otter lodge have built in seats? if not i would not get it because i hate folding chairs with a passion!

Ryan

[calli4120]

I bought a fishtrap guide last year and really like it but now I wish I would have spent a little more money and got the fishtrap yukon. The sled on the yukon is bigger and seems to be made a little better then the sled on the guide. I also would like to have the hight of the yukon because when I stand up in the guide I need to hunch over and I'm only 5'8".

All that being said, I would buy a fishtrap if I had to do it again but I would maybe have bought a different model.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've owned both the guide and the Voyager. If you area looking at those 2 only I'd recommend the Voyager as it's got a ton more room. You can fish 2 out of the guide but you are going to snuggle. It's a great one man, however.

As far as the best 2 man shelter, I'd go with the otter. They are a little tougher and that inner skirt around the tub is worth it's weight in gold on a windy day.

[hanson]

Quote:

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does the otter lodge have built in seats? if not i would not get it because i hate folding chairs with a passion!

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The Lodge, and all Otter products for that matter are available with optional economy seat, padded seat, and bench seats. So you have a little more variety compared to Fish Trap.

If you compare an Otter Lodge w/ 2 Seats to the Fish Trap X2 (which comes w/ 2 seats), the price is very comparable.

My Otter Lodge is 4 years old now and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[toughguy]

The Otters have padded seats or a bench that attach right to the tub.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

alright, i think my parents are going to get me a voyager for christmas looks like it would be very nice and on sale it has a reasonable price tag also. I have seen otters before with no seats and i have gone down that road of having folding chairs dont like it one bit... The voyagers also have the trap link which i think is a good feature because my buddy may get one also which would be really nice!

thanks for the help!

Ryan

[toughguy]

I got mine at Gander. They had a deal that if you opened up a credit card you got 10% off. I just paid the bill when it came in the mail. I don't know if they still do this but I have seen deals like this at Cabela's too. You could also head to the St.Paul ice show this Sunday and check out the last day of the show deals.

[Team Otter]

Otter makes a nice product. I recommend the Magnum Lodge.

[croixeyes]

I would head down to the Ice fishing expo this weekend in St Paul.Youll be able to check out all there is in shelters and make your own choice.Each model has their own advantages and disadvantages.Ill add this though,I am a little bias towards dealing with Thorne Bros.They have always dealt very fairly with me on prices.Plus they carry most all the major brands of shelters.2cents

[Capt.Blaine]

I went with the otter lodge and I really think it was a good choice.

[PerchJerker]

I have an Otter Lodge and love it, I think it's a really good size and really good quality house. I really don't have any complaints about it.

[Shack]

I would recommend anything otter.

I can now say it without violating forum policy, but I have had an Original Otterskin from Canvas Crafts for about 5 years now. They have a new upgrade insulated unit now, but I have loved (flame and burn retardant fabric) this fish house ever since I put it together. I will confess, but I bought the sled unit from Fleet Farm on sale, but bought the canvas and inner super structure at Canvas Crafts. This is the unit I bought.

I love it because it does not burn ( minus Zipper) or make Mr. heater burn marks, which I have been known to make on other things . I burnt my zipper the first year I bought it. My buddy came over and open top part and flap went into Mr. Heater. I stopped down to check out show room floor last week and asked what they are charging to replace zipper. It was like $90 some dollars. I told him I bought it there and he said if it is an Otterskin, it would be like $60. They do it right there and I will be dropping off this week, since I have canvas off for my mod… I would check out there web site. I think they were the original manufacture of the canvas for Otter in the beginning (could be wrong). Tell them if you stop in, you heard about them on FM. I did last week.

Click here for Canvas Crafts Website

They told me they have on line deals and the prices will be going slighty after Ice Show or a couple weeks. FYI

[zamboni]

I don't see where you say you have to have a flip, so if you want to keep your feet off the ice, go with a Clam 5600

[Shack]

That or one of my first very portable fish house (light enough for me to pick up), was the Shappell House from Fleet Farm. It has the drop down skies and carpet on the inside. It also dubs as a spear house. I bought it back in 95 or 96 and still have it. It was a suitcase style with ribbed floor and 3' x 1' slot and opposite corners (enough to fish two guys across from each other). I loved this shack, but it was a bear to move quick. This is why I upgraded in the early 2000nds. I was pretty cheap and I burned black tarp a couple of times with heater, but it held up in my heavy ice years of the late nineties. I would use that thing 4-6 times a week (I worked second shift and I had to do after work was ice fish by my self in metro area's lake).

It was the cheap price that lured my to this first shack, but I did wear it out. My Otterskin Orig. looks darn near new, after 5 years of service. Also I am going threw a major (inexpensive) upgrade to make it more user friendly. I wished I would of put the $200-$250 into a new Otterskin to begin with, or maybe not. They come out with new stuff every year.

[fishnhooks]

I love my X2.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

"hooks"

[NWBuck]

Kinda depends on what "2 men" you plan to fish in the thing. I have a Trap Guide, and it's awesome for me and my 8 year old son. Plenty of room for both of us to fish, as well as have a heater, flasher, etc. inside. Takes an awefully cold day for us to be able to keep the heater on full time. If, however, you plan to fish two adults, I'd make a different choice. Weight is also an issue. The Guide is about as big of a portable as i'd want to hoist in and out of the back of my truck alone. Again, depends on whether the second person is young or adult. Good luck!!

[FishGUY]

I really like my Yukon, but all of the ones listed above are nice.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

zamboni i do want a flip because they are much more mobile and way easier to set up in my opinion i would not go back to a suitcase style house again, i have a clam junior but i will probably sell it after christmas when i get my new shack

Later,

Ryan