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Fans of winter ice fishing know how uncomfortable it is to sit over the hole in severe frost, and if the wind is added, then it will not work at all to stay in one place for a long time. In order to extend the stay of fishing enthusiasts, tents for winter fishing were invented, and it is very easy for an inexperienced angler to get lost in their diversity when choosing on their own in a store. What requirements the tent must meet and what should be included in it will be discussed further.
Features of the ice fishing tent
A winter fishing tent has already entered the list of the most necessary equipment for a fisherman. But not everyone will be able to choose it on their own, a large selection and different prices will not be able to give an accurate definition of the quality of a particular product. Before you go shopping, you need to find out everything you need, take into account all the nuances and give preference to only the most suitable option.
The requirements for a winter tent are specific, the fisherman must be comfortable and warm inside, in addition, there are a number of other necessary conditions:
- the most important point will be the non-blowing of the product, on the reservoir the wind is often especially strong;
- the material must breathe, otherwise condensate will soon appear on the inside, which will drip inward, and over time may freeze altogether, which will complicate the process of collecting the product;
- the design must have a door of sufficient size and several openings for lighting and ventilation;
- stretch marks are very important, with the help of which the tent is fixed on the ice;
- the screws for the winter tent must be of sufficient length, otherwise, in a strong wind, it will simply be carried over the ice of the reservoir.
It is worth paying attention to the weight of the product, because it will not always bite on one hole, over time you will need to move to another place, then this characteristic will become very important.
When folded, the ice fishing tent should also not take up much space. It is better if it folds compactly and quickly.
How to choose a tent for winter fishing
Winter tents for fishing are widely presented, they differ in many characteristics. How to choose and what to look for?
Each angler, having come to the store for a tent, must first formulate the requirements that the product will meet. Among the proposed choice, it will be easy to get lost, but choosing a really worthwhile option is not as easy as it seems at first glance.
First of all, you should understand that expensive options from well-known brands will of course differ in quality and additional features. But for those who have a limited budget, you can also find a good option with decent performance.
Classification of tents for winter fishing
The best options for fishermen will be products that can protect from frost and wind, while being easy to use, will quickly fold and disassemble, and will not hurt the family budget too much. All these characteristics are important, but products are classified according to other indicators.
wind resistance
Confronting a strong wind in the open part of the reservoir is very important, because in cold weather the wind will not allow fishing at all. The tent will be able to protect against this adversity if it is made of durable, windproof fabric. Great options would be:
- polyester;
- nylon;
- waxed;
- cut off;
- kapron.
These fabrics with a special weave of fibers can protect from wind and adversity, keep warm.
impermeability
As an additional protection against wind and moisture, including rain, there is a special coating. They process the tent on the sides and bottom. The most effective means are:
- polyurethane, on the product ego designate PU;
- silicone, its presence will be indicated by Si.
Based on the water column, multi-layer coatings are created, the most common are 2- and 3-layer coatings. This indicator also increases the thickness of the threads that are used when weaving material for sewing.
Mobility
An important quality for a winter fishing tent is the ease of installation and disassembly after fishing. The faster all this is carried out, the more time the fisherman will have for his favorite business, which will naturally affect the catch.
Breathable properties
The breathability of the material is very important when choosing a tent for ice fishing. Such material will prevent the appearance of condensate, which will subsequently have a positive effect on the well-being of the fisherman and the condition of the product. Often in tents for heating gas or solid fuel burners are used, the breathable material will be able to properly regulate the exchange of combustion products and retain heat.
Indoor amenities
Usually, simple tents are sold on store shelves, without any additional accessories. A chair, sunbed, mattress and more are purchased separately or you can make your own. Some models of winter tents for fishing have a bottom on which one or more holes have already been cut and processed for holes.
When choosing a tent, you should first consider whether you will fish on your own in it or with a partner. Single winter tents have a lower cost and more compressed dimensions; for two or more fishermen, the dimensions are larger.
Ice mount
It is necessary to fix the tent on the ice, in case of strong wind not everyone has the strength to keep it on the ice. That is why it is worth paying attention to the fact that the product has cables for fastening and screws into the ice of sufficient length. If the tent has already been bought, but there is no fastening in it, you should definitely sew on a few strong ropes and come up with some kind of fastening yourself.
Materials
When choosing a tent, special attention is paid to the materials from which it is made, the better they are, the longer the product will last faithfully. Poor-quality materials significantly reduce the service life of the product, materials spread in the hands after wind, snow and sun. To prevent this from happening, it is better to choose tents of medium and high quality.
frame
The frame is considered the basis of the tent, it holds the stretched material, which serves as protection for the angler. His choice should be approached carefully.
- Many manufacturers to reduce the price of the product and achieve less weight when folded, the frame is made of plastic. You should not be afraid of such material, modern alloys are not afraid of frost or wind, they behave well when exposed to direct sunlight.
- Metal rods will be more reliable, but the cost of such a tent will also increase. During transportation, a metal frame will add weight to the luggage, but it can be more firmly fixed on the ice.
Tent
Sheathing is no less important, an awning is necessary as protection from wind, frost, snow. The material from which it was made must be durable, have good water-repellent characteristics, gusts of wind must remain outside the tent, but must also breathe.
Such properties are achieved by an unusual weaving of threads called “Oxford” and “Taffeta”. It is with them that a particularly strong base for the awning is created, which is additionally processed with special equipment.
Bottom
The bottom part is made from a single piece of awning fabric with stronger weaves. The bottom is often rubberized or given some other type of treatment that will help to better retain water and protect against gusts of wind.
It should be understood that the higher quality materials used for the production of a tent, the higher its cost. A quality product cannot be cheap.
Differences in the number of seats
There are tents and spaciousness. Models for:
- one fisherman, the parameters of such a product will be small. The height reaches a maximum of 100 cm, and the diameter is not more than 200 cm.
- Doubles have a larger height, 150-190 cm, and a diameter can reach 300 cm.
- Triple are the least common, their diameter is up to 300 cm, and the height starts from 160 cm.
Winter fishing tents are not designed for large companies; for a larger company, you will need several products of this type.
Construction types
Outlets can offer several options for winter fishing tents, the most popular among professionals in this business are several types.
Cube
A product of this form is very popular, most often such models are used for one, maximum two anglers. The disadvantages include increased windage, since the shape is almost completely devoid of streamlining. Cubic tents have a strong frame, which allows them to provide decent resistance to strong winds. Materials are also used with additional processing, due to this, the weight of the product when folded increases significantly.
But despite all this, it is the cube that is most often preferred by winter fishermen. They base their choice on the following reasons:
- The shape allows the rider to sit directly both in the center of the tent and under its walls.
- Holes can be drilled without fear that the tent will freeze due to the sludge.
- The specific shape allows you to unfold the product in a matter of minutes, but then the heat will rise up, while a colder layer will form below.
- Fishing in a tent of this shape allows you to regularly stretch your stiff muscles.
For a cube, it is necessary to think over heating, without it the fisherman will quickly freeze.
Dome or umbrella
This type of tent is set up automatically, they are often much lighter than cubic ones, but their wind resistance is not affected by this. The folding frame quickly folds and unfolds, which allows you to assemble the product in the shortest possible time.
The disadvantage of the model is that it will not be possible to straighten the back in it, and the hole can only be drilled in the center, closer to the walls it will not work.
There are both single models, and with the expectation of several fans of ice fishing.
Tent
This model is the simplest of all existing, it is produced without a bottom. They install it to protect against the wind, so they first find out in which direction it blows. A solid piece of the processed material is simply pulled onto the fixed frame and fixed. Most often, the height can be adjusted independently.
This model is characterized by mobility, installation and assembly will not take much time, but no more than two people can fit under it.
You can make such a tent yourself, light alloy rods are chosen for the frame, tarpaulin is often used as an awning.
There are other models of the product, but their popularity is much lower and it will be more difficult to find them.
Manufacturers
The ice fishing tent is at the peak of popularity, many manufacturers of tourist equipment and fishing tackle are engaged in the manufacture of this popular product. Manufacturers are recognized as the most reliable:
- Tramp, do not be afraid that the country of origin is China, this brand has long established itself as an excellent quality.
- Mitek nelma cube is very famous among Russian anglers. And the umbrella models are suitable for accommodating several friends.
- Fishtool will delight you with a variety of models and colors.
Other manufacturers also make these products, they are of no less quality, but their names are still little known in fishing circles.
A tent for fishing in the winter is a necessary thing; without it, fishing can end very soon without a decent catch. Everyone decides which one to choose, but it’s better to pay a little more and use a quality product longer.