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Well, I'm getting really close to purchasing a shelter. I want to thank those who offered their opinions on floor vs. non-floor thread I started a while back. I have decided to go with a non-floor model, mostly due to the fact that they offer more space for the fam to fit in. Now I must decide which model to choose. After looking around I have narrowed my choices down to the Eastman Ice Cube 4-man and the Eskimo Quickfish III. I'm just looking for opinions on the two from people who have used both. I have seen several reports on the Quickfish model, but not much on the Ice Cube. For those who know, what are the main differences? Which one did you like better?
Thanks again for all the help. I am hoping to get back out soon. I had an education conference this weekend and missed out on the fishing scene. I'm itching to get out. Also, a quick "thank you" to Tude Dude for the chowder recipe he posted. I tried it out, and wow, it is awesome.
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I own the QF III and have a friend that has the cube. They are almost identical tents. The cube in one inch bigger on each side. The doors are designed the same, the cube has bigger windows but less of them (2 vs. 4). The tie down straps on the cube are 1 inch nylon straps and far more heavy duty than the strings on the QF but I'm not sure that much strength is needed. The hub system is almost identical on both models and they set up and take down the same way. The only real difference is the cube has a series of straps inside the tent running from corner to corner that you tighten up one the tent is set up. The QF does not have these. The reason I think the cube has these is it seems the fiberglass poles on the cube are thinner and more flexible than the QF. So the stabilizing straps keep it in the set up position even though the wind may be trying to collapse a side in. The thinner/more flexible poles of the cube may be a mixed blessing. It makes the tent more flimsy if it weren't for the stabilizing straps. However the fact that the poles are more flimsy may make them less prone to breaking and splintering in sub zero temps (which has definetley been a problem with the QF and somewhat with the cube). If I had to buy again I would not hesitate to buy either one. They are so similar as to negate each others stengths and weaknesses.
Your problem could be finding either one. At one time Cabelas had 1 QF left, and Sams club had 2 cubes left. I don't know if any of them are left. An exhaustive search on the net shows everyone sold out of the QF for the season. Some cubes can still be found on ebay at a premium ($149 at sams, $189 plus $29 shipping on ebay)
Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
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i seen one of the the two at wal-mart for 168.00 the other day. they still had 5 or 6 of them.. sorry can rember what one it was..
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I saw the ice cube at Wal-Mart.
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I bought the quickfish 3 at Cabelas yesterday at about 1:00 pm. The guy there said they had four more that were suppose to be coming yesterday. It was just leaning up against the back of one of the other set up ice tents. Cost was 169.00.
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Which Wal-Mart did you see them in? I would like to get one this week and maybe take my boy out this weekend. Thanks again for all the help!!!
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Just a heads up.... Sports Authority at the Orem mall has a 2 man ice cube that has been reduced to 129.00 and is now 30% off of that. That would cost only $85 or so.
I have an Eskimo III and I love it.
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i own the cube, my buddy owns the qf111 i love mine, he loves his.
the only problem i see is deciding what color. cube--black
qf 111--green. i don't think you could make a mistake with either one.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]As was discussed before, I'll be interested to see how well these shelters do with a few feet of snow on the ice and about 8"-12" of slush underneath it. Add some wind and it may become pretty interesting. How will you anchor it down? I hope you guys are smarter than me cause I'm having a hard time visualizing how to do it.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]They are cheap, light weight, quick shelters to put up and as long as the conditions are favorable they seem pretty decent but late season, deep snow and deep slush could be their demise. Keep us posted on their performance later on in the season and how you coped with these conditions.[/size][/black][/font]
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Last year at Strawberry, we took a shovel and dug down to the ice. We only dug the area the tent would set on. Leaving the snow where you will be inside the tent helped keep the slush peoblems a little under control. This may not work in all conditions but it worked that day.
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I can't comment on the IceCube, but I have used both the QFII and the QFIII.
I loved them both. But we thought the spaciousness in the QFIII was like having a Taj-ma-hal after we took the QFII back due to a small defect. We have had it out twice now, and set it up and taken it down at least 1/2 dozen times in subzero conditions.
Easy up, easy down, easy storage, lightweight. I can't say enough good about it.
As BearLakeMac mentioned, it may not be the optimal shelter in very deep snow or slushy conditions. And I haven't experienced that yet either.
I like the QFIII and if you are after lightweight, easy up, easy down, portablility, and spaciousness, it definitely fits the bill.
Randy
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I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.
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The Ft. Union location, but it was probably a week ago.
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ya me and wood pile tried that great trick of snow removel worked great if ya enjoyed sittting in a six inch live well.
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As a disclaimer before I post my reply, I've had the SpeedShak XL (clamshell 4 man shelter) for a few years now and love it. I just bought the Ice Cube and haven't had a chance to use it....yet. With that said, There is an easy solution to making a solid anchor to any ice fishing tent, if you have a power auger or want to drill an extra hole. Figure out where you are going to set your tent up, then step a few feet away upwind of that location. Drill a hole through the ice at that point. Tie a rope or strap to a board or solid pole of some kind that is a couple of inches longer than the hole is wide. Tie the other end of the strap to your tent, and put the board or pole in the hole under the ice (you might want a good neoprene glove for that part). Put it in end first, then lay it out flat once it is under the ice. This is a very quick way to anchor anything, and is much, much easier than trying to drill an anchor screw in when there is a few inches of slush on top of the ice. One other thing I just thought of to help get the anchor out of the ice when you are done. If you screw a piece of rope or twine into the very end of the board before putting it under the ice, keeping the other end of the twine on top of the snow / ice, you can let some slack in your strap then pull on this twine to get the anchor out. Pulling on the twine that is in the end of the board will pull that end of the board toward the hole in the ice so you don't have to reach down there again to try to line the board up and get it out of there.
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Hey, just searching eBay and found this one:
[url "http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-EASTMAN-OUTFITTERS-4-PERSON-ICE-FISHING-SHELTER_W0QQitemZ220073427657QQihZ012QQcategoryZ36152QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-EASTMAN-OUTFITTERS-4-PERSON-ICE-FISHING-SHELTER_W0QQitemZ220073427657QQihZ012QQcategoryZ36152QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] You guys might want to keep your eyes on that, you might get a good deal on the ice cube if others don't notice it as much. (Might be wishful thinking here)
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I have the Eskimo Quick Flip III. I don't know what the difference between the Quick Fish and Quick Flip are, but the Quick Flip I have weighs 180 lbs dry. Wind will not push it around at all and I've had it in blizzards. It also does not have a bottom. When in slush, I set it up on top of the snow and put more snow inside and pack it down so when the hole is drilled and water comes in to the original snow level, the extra snow keeps you above the water. Digging out the slush is a major mistake as the water level comes in and up and you are deep in water.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Best anchor for an ice shelter is a snowmobile![/size][/black][/font][cool]
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The Quick flip has a sled attached and the Quick fish does not. They also set up differently. But... they are both green[  ].
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And they both keep you out of the elements.[ ]
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I went to Walmart all excited to pick it up and found out that it is the 2-man shelter that they are selling. I am pretty bummed about it. I was really hoping to get one for this weekend. I want to get my dad, my brother, a nephew, and my son out for some perch. The shelter will help with the little ones and my bro (no fat) warm. I guess I will keep trying to find one.
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