Quick Overview
The Eskimo QuickFish 3 is a 3-person ice fishing shelter, with a pop-up design somewhere between a cube and a sphere. Out on the ice, it kind of looks like some type of NASA moon base.
With plenty of square footage, elbow room, and a great price-point, the Quickfish 3 is an excellent choice for anglers looking to get a lot for their money.
Eskimo Quickfish Product Lineup
The Quickfish line consist of a number of models capable of sheltering up to 6 people. Some models are available with built-in insulation.
Here’s a rundown of the available models, along with specs:
Eskimo QuickFish Ice Shelter Comparison
| Quick Fish 2 | Quick Fish 3 | Quick Fish 3i | Quick Fish 5i | Quick Fish 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Up to 2 People | Up to 3 People | Up to 3 People | Up to 5 People | Up to 6 People |
| Insulated | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fishable Area | 25 sq ft | 34 sq ft | 34 sq ft | 64 sq ft | 68 sq ft |
| Height | 67" | 80" | 80" | 84" | 80" |
| Weight | 18 lb | 26 lb | 34 lb | 45 lb | 40 lb |
| Storage | Backpack | Backpack | Backpack | Duffel Bag | Backpack |
| Price | Check Price On Amazon | Check Price On Amazon | Check Price On Amazon | Check Price On Amazon | Check Price On Amazon |
Since I own and use the QuickFish 3 model, that’s what I’m basing this review on.
But since the other models are essentially the same (aside from capacity) I think most of what I have to say will apply to the rest of the lineup as well.
QuickFish 3 Review
Official Overview Video
Here’s a video from the manufacturer, Eskimo. Check it out, it does a good job going over the benefits of the 3 and 3i models. But if you don’t want to take Eskimo’s word for it….
I’ve got another video a little further down the page with my own PERSONAL review of the Quickfish 3 I got for myself.
As I mentioned I personally own, use, and abuse the non-insulated version of the QuickFish 3.
Let’s go over the key features and considerations to keep in mind when deciding if this is the right shelter for you to buy.
Eskimo QuickFish 3 Specs
- Weight: 26 Pounds
- Height: 80 Inches
- Fishable Area: 34 SQ FT
- Capacity: 3 People
Size & Space
With 34 square feet of ground space, there is plenty of room for two people and assorted gear.
When fishing by myself, I have an abundance of space to sprawl out. It’s extremely comfortable and roomy, but not so big that it is inefficient to heat.
I am able to comfortable fish two people with full size camp chairs, two sets of electronics, a heater, and multiple holes per person.
To fit 3 people my size, we would need to downsize the seating, and maybe keep some of the non-essentials outside the shack. But it’s totally doable.
The walls of the shack are bowed outwards, so there is excellent elbow room.
Quality
I have been extremely impressed with the overall quality of the materials and construction.
The pop-up tent poles are integrated into the fabric, and seem very durable.
The tent fabric used makes this tent super wind-resistant, which helps retain heat…with or without a heater.
There are two half-moon shaped doors at opposite corners of the shack, with heavy duty zippers. Even with a coating of freezing rain, the zipper works well, and I haven’t noticed any broken teeth or loose stitching around the zipper.
As a matter of fact, the stitching throughout seems very durable. After 3 hard seasons of use, I haven’t found anything coming loose.
The 4 windows are made of a flexible plastic, which has not suffered any cracking in sub-zero temps (unlike my last shelter).
At this price, I couldn’t expect or ask for better overall build quality.
Comfort
This ice fishing shelter is going to be as comfortable as you make it.
Being of the pop-up style, it does not have built-in seating, or a floor. That is the biggest trade-off of this style of shelter.
Everything you want, you’ll need to bring with you. For me, that means tossing a camp chair and a propane heater in my utility sled.
Speaking of heat, I have two heaters to choose from.
The smaller of the two is one of those little guys that screws onto a green propane bottle. It has a plastic base with flip out feet, and does the job well unless it’s very cold and/or windy. Check it out on Amazon.
The big one attaches to a bbq grill-sized propane tank. With that thing, I can fish in a t-shirt even in sub-zero temperatures, and I don’t even have the insulated shelter. It’s probably overkill for this shelter most of the time.
On moderate days, sunlight, body heat, and wind-breaking alone are enough to stay comfortable and fish without hat or gloves. This tent seems to warm up in the sun more than my old rig.
I also fold up a chunk of utility carpet I can lay down on the ground in snowy or slushy conditions, which helps to keep the feet warm.
The tent fabric does an excellent job of protecting you from the wind. You can easily kick some snow around the sizeable bottom skirt to help keep cold wind from blowing in.
Anchoring
On still days, I often don’t even bother anchoring the shelter down. A little snow kicked around the skirt is usually enough to keep it in place up to about 5-7mph winds.
That said, it’s a good idea to put in at least one anchor as an insurance policy.
In windy conditions, it’s important to anchor the shelter to the ice to keep it in one place.
Luckily, the QuickFish 3 comes with six good quality ice-anchors. These anchors can be stored the included pouch, a nice touch.
The shelter itself has an anchoring point at each of the four corners of the skirt, and a loop on the outside of each wall.
In high wind, you can attach the two extra (included) anchors to one of the tie-off points found on each side of the shelter. This helps prevent powerful gusts from pushing the windward sides in.
Convenience
Another great feature is the included backpack-style carrying case. Weight of the non-insulated version is right around 26 pounds, so it’s not back-breaking.
It is very fast and convenient to set up and get fishing. If you like to hole-hop a lot, or if it is very windy outside, it can be a bit of a pain to keep putting the anchors in and out every time you make a move.
If you are a big hole-hopper, you might be better off with a flip-over style shelter instead of a pop-up. But if you have a few “go-to” spots that are consistent producers, the QuickFish is a good option.
I usually don’t need to move more than once or twice per outing, and I’ve been known to leave mine anchored in a single primo location all weekend long.
Video Review
I did a video review of this shelter to give you an idea of what to expect out of the box. Make sure to watch the whole thing to see my first impressions out on the ice. I really liked it then, I really love it now.
I warn you, it’s a little silly…. especially considering how easy this thing really is to set up. I struggled the first time. Now it takes under a minute…
Cool Features
The QuickFish 3 has a number of features that I really like about it.
- The Quality – So far, very good. At the time of this writing I have probably spent about 250 hours in the shack, in some VERY windy conditions (30+ gusts, 20+ sustained) and so far I haven’t seen any wear or stress on the seams or internal structure. In these conditions though, it’s vital to anchor the shelter properly, as noted below.
- Windows and Doors – There are 4 nice-sized windows on the QuickFish 3, each of which seems to be made of durable plastic, and each has a velcro flap to cover the window. There are two curved doors on opposite corners of the ice shelter. The shape of the doors is a little odd, but I can pretty easily manhandle my gear sled through the door if I want it in the shack with me after I’ve already anchored things down.
- Ventilation – There are two vents on the upper section of the shelter, each with a hood on the exterior side to help keep the elements from blowing in on you, as well as flaps in the inside of both vents so you can control the amount of airflow to remain comfortable and relatively condensation free.
- THE SPACE!!! – Compared to my old shelter, this thing feels like a palace. I am over 6 feet tall, and I stand straight up and walk all around the inside of this shelter. The “ball-like” shape also allows for extra elbow room when seated. I have only actually fished with 3 people in this shack once so far, and one of them was a youngster. Fitting two big guys like me is no problem, but 3 might be a bit “cozy”
The Experience
Well, my first time setting up this shelter was a little tricky, which you know if watch the video review. Turns out, I was making things way more difficult than it needed to be.
Setting up this ice tent is really just a process of pulling on a series of straps connected to the internal structure, until all the walls and ceiling have popped into place.
I recommend using the included ice anchors if there is any wind to speak of, even if you only use a single one as “insurance”.
You don’t want to go chasing this thing across the lake, I promise. The anchors also help keep the skirt down, which keeps cold wind from blowing up from “under your skirt”.
The amount of room inside this ice fishing shelter has been an enormous benefit for me. When fishing solo, I often have my whole gear sled in there with me and I STILL have room for a full sized camp chair, my heater, multiple holes, etc. It’s just great, and such an upgrade for me.
I will say that setting up the shack in windy conditions can be tricky, especially if you are alone.
One thing I wish had been included would be more storage spaces. There are a couple of mesh bacgs on the side walls, which are nice, but I find myself wishing they had included some kind of extra hooks and/or straps to hang things from the inside support poles.
Pros
- Very spacious and comfortable
- Handy carry case/backpack
- Good build quality
- Included anchors, ropes, storage pouch
Cons
- No floor
- Hard to set up in heavy wind
- Dealing with ice anchors can be a little tedious – using a drill helps immensely.
- Have to bring a sled for your gear
Tips
- When you get home from a day on the ice, I recommend pulling the shelter back out of the backpack and allowing the shelter to drip and dry. A lot of condensation will build up inside the shack, and simply spreading the shelter out a bit in the garage to dry can help prevent any long-term nastiness from being stored wet. You don’t have to set it up, just pull it out of the bag and spread the support legs enough to stand or lean against something.
- Even if it’s forecast to be dead calm with no wind, I suggest using at least one ice anchor just in case. These shelters REALLY catch the wind, so a single anchor could be good insurance against a stray gust sending you chasing the shack across the lake. Ask me how I learned this tip.
- Drilling in the ice anchors by hand is hard. I suggest either using a cordless drill to put in some pilot holes, or (better yet) use the handy dandy drill adapter you can get for pretty cheap on Amazon. It’ll save your wrists and elbows, plus a bunch of time. Again, ask me how I know this.
- Eskimo includes a couple of extra anchors, as well as some rope. If you are fishing on a very windy day, these are very handy for extra support, as well as preventing a very heavy wind gust from popping one side of your shelter back in on you!
- Drill in one corner before proceeding with the rest of setup. This will ensure the ice tent wont blow away as you go around popping out the walls and ceiling.
Summary
In summary, I have to say this shack is a great fit for me. I can either carry it out onto the ice on my back, or lay it on my sport sled along with all the other gear I want to drag onto the ice.
This ice shelter gives me so much more room to move around, stretch out, etc, that I feel it more than outweighs the slight inconvenience of dealing with the ice anchors on windy days.
The build quality is impressive for the price , which you can check out now on Amazon.
I am completely satisfied with this ice shelter, and I intend to be using it heavily for years to come.
I hope you got what you were looking for, now gear up and GO FISH!
