Fishermen know that winter fishing is significantly different from summer fishing. In addition to preparing special winter equipment, you also need to purchase a tent that will meet all safety parameters, be highly heat resistant, have suitable dimensions and, what is very important, can be assembled quickly and have excellent wind resistance.
With a high-quality winter tent, the fisherman will not be afraid of frosts and strong winds, and fishing in warmth and comfort will be much more comfortable.
The difference between winter and summer tents
Many people don’t understand whether they even need to buy a separate winter tent if they have a summer one. Such a purchase is mandatory, since there are many differences between them:
- Winter fishing tents have no bottom. They are installed directly on snow or ice, having made holes in advance. They are designed to retain heat and protect from wind. Options for overnight stays have a floor and a two- or three-layer awning. Summer tents always have a floor.
- Frost-resistant models have a dedicated space for the stove and an outlet for the pipe. In summer, accordingly, this is not the case.
- To improve thermal insulation, winter ones have a kind of “skirt” made of fabric that needs to be covered with snow. Summer ones do not provide additional heat retention.
- Designs for the cold season are made in cubic and spherical shapes. They are faster and easier to install, which is important in severe frost.
- Winter awnings will not protect against moisture, since the material used is breathable. Summer ones, on the contrary, almost always have complete waterproofing.
- The dimensions of winter models are always smaller to make them easier and faster to heat.
Winter tents differ from summer models in their design features.
The main differences between summer and winter tents allow us to conclude that both seasons require their own tent.
Otherwise, the vacationer will face many problems that can spoil the impression of the trip.
The best models of umbrella tents, their prices
Below is a brief description of several tents that, in the author’s opinion, are the best and meet all the requirements for them. Please note that the assessment is subjective and is not the absolute truth.
CANADIAN CAMPER Nord Fox 2
The design is simple, allowing installation alone. Made of high-quality fiberglass, cover – polyurethane, awning – high-quality fabric with weaving. There is only one entrance.
Characteristics:
- places -2 – 3;
- rooms -1;
- weight – 4.3 kg;
- price – 5800 rub.
Tent "Umbrella" FW-8618
- Made in the form of a tent.
- The material is breathable, moisture-resistant fabric.
- The frame is aluminum.
- Designed for 1-2 fishermen.
- Convenient assembly in one movement. Equipped with a case with handles for carrying.
- Weight – 2.9 kg.
- Price — 2989 rub.
Winter tent STEC Elite 4
The tent awning is single-layer with a polyurethane coating. The material is waterproof. The frame of the product is made of aluminum rod. There is only one entrance. Room – 1. No floor. There is a cover with arms for transporting the tent.
The design includes pockets for storing various items, such as equipment. Advantages of the design: durable, resistant to rotting and mechanical damage. Can accommodate four fishermen. Tent weight – 5.3 kg. Cost – 4990 rub.
All data is provided from online sources. Prices when purchased in a regular store may differ significantly from the above.
Good to know! When choosing a tent for fishing, you need to proceed, first of all, from your preferences, goals and objectives. Therefore, you should make the decision to purchase this or that product yourself. Although it wouldn’t hurt to ask the opinions of people who already have experience using such tents.
Types of floors for ice fishing
There are three main types of floors for winter tents, which are actively used by fishing and tourism enthusiasts in the cold season:
- Floor made of polyethylene foam (PPE);
- Floor with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulation;
- Oxford floor with insulation.
PPE is cross-linked polyethylene foam. This material is resistant to moisture and has increased elasticity, so it does not deform when twisted even in severe frost. Another advantage of PPE flooring is its low weight. The main disadvantage of this material is its low surface wear resistance, which precludes the long service life of products made from it.
PPE tent floor is lightweight and highly elastic
PVC insulation is a product that has an internal foamed heat insulator and is sealed on top with a frost-resistant cover. This type of floor has sealed seams created using heat sealing, making it resistant to moisture. With prolonged use, a PVC floor does not wear out, but still it should not be used in severe frost (-50 degrees and below), as the material may crack.
PVC flooring has a high degree of moisture resistance
Oxford flooring with insulation is a lightweight, moisture-resistant sewing product that is highly wear-resistant. It does not burst even at extremely low temperatures, so it is often used in winter tents. The disadvantage of Oxford is that it is difficult to seal the seams, which causes moisture to seep into the cover. As a result, this can lead to freezing and, accordingly, problems with folding and transportation.
Oxford flooring with insulation is characterized by high strength indicators
Results
Inner space
Cube tents have larger internal volume than umbrella or frame types. In them you can stand up to your full height not only in the center due to the high walls throughout the entire area. This provides freedom of movement, as well as placing additional furniture inside, and the stove will not “eat up” a lot of space.
Heat preservation
Due to their smaller internal area, umbrellas heat up faster than cubes. The number of layers of the awning also affects heat retention; 3-layer models retain heat longer and heat up faster.
Wind resistance
Umbrella and frame types perfectly withstand wind loads. For a cube with its vertical walls this is more difficult. In order for any shelter to stand securely in strong winds, it must be secured with wind braces and pegs.
Speed and ease of assembly
Cube and umbrella shelters can be assembled in approximately the same time and no special skills are required to assemble them - everything is simple and clear the first time. A frame house takes longer and is more difficult to assemble, but after the first installation the assembly plan will be clear.
Weight
With similar external dimensions and the number of layers of the awning, the cubes are inferior to the compared models. But if you travel by car and do not plan to take the tent with you on sleigh rides or hiking trips, then the weight will not be a big problem for you. Weigh the pros and cons of each model of winter shelters being compared and choose the appropriate option.
Which is better: buy heated floors or do it yourself?
The answer to this question depends on the budget that the tourist is willing to spend on equipment, as well as on his willingness to put in the effort and time to create the floor. It should also be taken into account that buying an additional floor is not so easy, since many tent manufacturers do not sell individual elements. And if you still manage to find a suitable accessory, you will have to pay a decent amount of money for it.
Therefore, the most successful and profitable solution in most cases is to make a heated floor with your own hands.
Making a tent floor with your own hands is much cheaper than purchasing a finished product
Materials used
The floor for a winter tent involves a “sandwich” design, that is, it is multi-layered. Each layer uses a specific material, most often it looks like this:
- The first layer is Oxford 300. This is a dense, durable fabric with impregnation that ensures complete tightness and protection against leaks during operation.
- The second layer is foil-coated isolon with a thickness of 3-5 mm. Foil significantly reduces heat loss and retains heat in the liquid module.
Isolon also has soundproofing properties, is vapor permeable and can be used at temperatures from -60 to +60 degrees.
The insulated floor for the tent consists of a layer of Oxford fabric 300 and foil isolon
For the second layer, penofol is also suitable, which is made by foaming polyethylene and foiling on one or both sides. It is slightly inferior in quality to isolon, but will cost slightly less.
Also, various construction insulation materials, such as ecofol, thermoizol, and polypropylene, are often used for a homemade bottom. Many people make budget options from raincoat fabric and even from ordinary travel rugs.
Any material will be suitable for these purposes if it is waterproof and retains heat well.
- The third layer duplicates the first - Oxford 300. Thanks to this, the heated floor can be laid on either side. Oxford fabric is easy to clean and dries quickly, so no additional effort is required to care for your heated floor.
The bottom and top layers retain moisture, foil insulation, penofol, thermoizol, ecofol and other insulation retain heat - this combination is best suited for creating a heated floor in a winter tent with your own hands.
Construction insulation materials are perfect for creating a homemade tent floor
FRAME
Mobile sauna-tent MORZH
Each of the compared winter shelter options is great for fishing and recreation, you just have to take into account their advantages and disadvantages. Knowing about the disadvantages of the design, you can minimize them in advance. For example, the windage of a cube can be reduced due to reliable fasteners and guy ropes.
There are weaknesses that are difficult or impossible to remove, but knowing about them in advance will not come as an unpleasant surprise to you. So, when choosing an “umbrella” type shelter, you know in advance that you will have to sit in the tent in the center and in order to stretch your stiff legs you will need to leave the tent. But at the same time, quick assembly and the absence of windage will be the advantages of this model for you.
Additional bottom
Often one floor for a winter tent is not enough. Therefore, it is better to make an additional bottom. EVA material or banner is excellent for this, and any insulation can be used as a backing. The process of making an additional bottom should not cause difficulties:
- You need to cut a piece of material of the appropriate size.
- If necessary, sew insulation inside.
This design resembles a blanket in a duvet cover, it is easy to make and will last for many years.
An additional tent floor can be made from any insulating material
Banner and EVA materials have excellent heat-insulating characteristics, are durable and resistant to temperature changes.
Flange for hole for hole
The flange for the hole for the hole is a round device consisting of an upper and lower flange, interlocked with a detachable screw connection. The flange is installed on single-layer and multi-layer heated floors. You can install this design yourself by choosing the location for the holes for the holes.
You can install the flange for the hole under the hole yourself
To install flanges in the floor, you need to cut holes in the material according to the appropriate shape and install devices in them. At the junction, the flanges have interlocking flat surfaces. Thanks to the high degree of compression of the material, complete tightness of the cut edge of the floor is ensured. This is important given that the bottom flange may be underwater.
Making a warm floor for a winter tent is not at all difficult. To do this, you will need a small set of tools available in almost every home, and the material itself. When making the bottom yourself, you can provide for all the nuances that are important to the owner of the tent. No less important is the fact that this option is much more economical than purchasing a ready-made structure.
Properties of tents
What properties must a tent for winter fishing have so that your favorite pastime does not turn into hard labor for you? First of all, the tent must be windproof. The materials from which a tent for fishing in winter is currently made fully meet these conditions, although when choosing any model, you need to pay attention to ensuring that the dense material does not form a complete seal, in other words, it must “breathe”. Materials of fishing tents that do not breathe contribute to the formation of condensation on the walls of the tent and the dome, and their subsequent freezing.
Ice fishing tent
