Clam Nanook

I recently got my hands on this ice shelter, and I’ve got some mixed feelings about it. On the plus side, the insulation is fantastic—seriously, it keeps the warmth locked in so well that I almost forget I’m sitting on a frozen lake. That’s a huge win for those long, chilly days out on the ice. Sitting on the built-in seat, it feels sturdy enough, and I can get cozy without much fuss. But here’s where it starts to falter for me. There’s no good way to attach ice anchors, which is a real pain. When I’m sitting in it, the weight holds it down fine, but the second I step out or if the wind picks up, it’s like a kite ready to take off. It’s frustrating to have to babysit it or weigh it down with random gear just to keep it in place. I also found myself wishing for more pockets and better storage options. What’s there is okay, but it feels like an afterthought—my stuff ends up in a messy pile, and I’m fumbling around more than I’d like. Overall, it’s a solid shelter if you’re just looking for warmth and don’t mind working around the lack of anchor points or limited storage. For me, though, those little annoyances keep it from being a home run. I’d love to see a version with some tweaks to really nail the practical side of ice fishing.