Otter Pro Magnum Lodge Ice Fishing Shelter Review
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If you and a friend are planning an ice fishing expedition, and you are looking for a lighter, less expensive ice fishing house that still has plenty of room for both people to stretch out, you should consider Otter’s Pro Magnum Lodge. This two person collapsible ice fishing shelter is not quite as sturdy and durable as some of the more expensive options available on the market, but it serves perfectly well if there is only moderate wind or snow. This light design significantly reduces the weight of the Pro Magnum Lodge, so what it lacks in strength it makes up for in mobility. At $430, this is a moderately priced ice fishing shelter for its size and makes quite the addition to your ice fishing gear.
The Pro Magnum Lodge is 98 inches long and 74 inches high, with a center height of 77 inches. When collapsed, it is only 74 inches long, 38 inches wide, and 20 inches tall. Minus the weight of the sled, the Pro Magnum Lodge is only 75 pounds, which is remarkably light for an ice fishing shelter of its size. In fact, some smaller two-person models can weigh up to 30 pounds more.
Given its lightweight design, the main attraction of the Pro Magnum Lodge is definitely mobility. It is uncommon for a two-person ice fishing shelter to be less than 100 pounds; so many people choose smaller models hoping to cut down on weight only to find that they don’t have enough room for all of their gear. This is not a problem with the Pro Magnum Lodge because it is not only very lightweight but also quite large.
The second reason people choose the Pro Magnum Lodge is comfort. Unlike smaller two-person models, which just have one bench for both people to sit on, the Pro Magnum Lodge has two swiveling chairs with backrests. A frequent complaint coming from people with the bench style of ice fishing shelter is that they get uncomfortable sitting for long periods of time with nowhere to lean their backs (the back of the shelter will not work as a backrest because it is only fabric and will pull the structure down if a person leans on it too heavily). The Pro Magnum Lodge is also more comfortable than some two-person ice fishing shelter models because it has legroom in front of the seats. Smaller models either don’t have much or don’t have any space behind the seats to store gear, so people have to leave their equipment in the open space in front of them. This restricts legroom and also reduces the amount of space available for drilling holes in the ice.
There have been some complaints about the quality of the water-resistant fabric that makes up the walls and roof of the Pro Magnum Lodge. Some people feel that there is too much ventilation through the fabric, and complain that they are too cold when they spend time in this shelter. Also, there are intentional air vents situated on the top of the Pro Magnum Lodge, which allows a lot of warm air to escape because hot air rises. Perhaps it would be a little better if the vents were on the sides.
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