Equipment that just doesn't work!

[KalamazooKid]

For starters .......

Blinds .... I've tried them all - from the cheap Ameristeps to the expensive Double Bull. THEY ALL SUCK! I've owned about 7 or 8 different Ameristeps and have NEVER had one that made it through 2 seasons. The zippers couldn't hold a change purse closed!!!!:rant: I thought 2 years ago that for $400, the Double Bull would last a life time ...... wrong!!!!! The first wind / snow storm destroyed half of the poles (or whatever you call those support things in the sides). After this season, I'm going to freakin burn every blind I own and be done with it - I'll build my own. They won't be portable, but they will last.:mad:
Heaters .... I really like the way the Little Buddy heaters work out of the box - they are quiet and work great in the crappy blinds I hunt out of (see #1 above). But geez, once again, are they designed to only work one year??????? I have 3 of them, and as of yesterday - not one of them works any more!!!!!!!:rant:
I know I have the option of buying whatever different brand I want, but I just get so PO'd when this JUNK doesn't work as advertised. Am I alone?

[Grouse Hunter]

Before you burn the blinds, place them in a box and ship them to me. I will really punish them for you.

[TJO]

Sorry to hear you have so many problems I have 4 little buddy heaters and have had them for at least 4-5 yrs and they all work just fine. I also have 4 lucky's tents and have had them for more than 10 yrs although 1 of them I just bought 3 yrs ago. Now I do not leave them out all yr only through the hunting season but no problems with any of it.

[denbuck]

If you run buddy heaters with 20 lb tanks you need a filter...

[wrenchman]

I have 2 Ameristep blinds and love them The longest i have left mine out is a week.
I have had tree stands stolen and i can throw the blinds up in seconds in the dark.
I try not to leave mine out or they might be gone when i come back.
I also have blinds built that stay in place i like to youse for gun seasen.
You can build some nice blinds fome zip ties and a tarp and brush you could leave up for a while.

[Terrific_tom]

I have had the Buddy Mr. Heater for 3 years and no problems. Have had my Double Bull for 8 years and have had only 1 broken rod and that came when my son took it down wrong. Double Bull sent me a new rod free of charge. As far as the poles breaking, more than likely it came from the weight of the snow on blind. If you leave it out when it snows take a 2x4 and brace the middle of the blind to support the extra weight when you aren't hunting in it. I don't think that Double Bull advertises that their blind will with stand a heavy snow on them for extended amount of time. I would reccomend both products. Just my experiece and opinion on these products.

[pescadero]

For starters .......

Blinds .... I've tried them all - from the cheap Ameristeps to the expensive Double Bull. THEY ALL SUCK! I've owned about 7 or 8 different Ameristeps and have NEVER had one that made it through 2 seasons. The zippers couldn't hold a change purse closed!!!!:rant: I thought 2 years ago that for $400, the Double Bull would last a life time ...... wrong!!!!! The first wind / snow storm destroyed half of the poles (or whatever you call those support things in the sides). After this season, I'm going to freakin burn every blind I own and be done with it - I'll build my own. They won't be portable, but they will last.:mad:



I've been using an Ameristep Outhouse for 4 years now. I pack it in every morning and out every night. It's probably been set up and tore down 200 times.

The only problems I've had? 1 balky zipper that doesn't quite close all the way, and one of the stake loops ripped loose (repaired with 5 minutes of sewing)... Seems pretty reasonable for a blind I paid $40 for.


--
lp

[bucksrus]

No experience with a pop up blind but I have had my Mr. Buddy heater for 3 years and it still works great. Well, that is until now that I say that and hex myself!:lol:

[NoWake]

This is my third year for my buddy heater. When I went to use it this year it wouldn't stay lit. When I released the pilot knob to turn it the flame would go out instantly. They are pretty simple so I figured it couldn't hurt taking it apart to see what was the matter. Ended up being a small glob of spider web or cocoon in the orifice. I cleaned everything out and put it back together. Works great again.

[ST8]

Purchased the Big Game Escape blind at Dicks this year and i have had it out since Oct. 1. I just took it down last night and it was no worse for the wear. The only thing that broke were two of the zipper clips during the freeze we had. That can be easily fixed with a large paper clip. Other than that I was well pleased. I had purchased the Ameristep before that that and the support rods broke while i had it set up this summer!

[Singing Bridge]

Regarding the blinds, I've learned that you can't leave them up in snow/ice that is any more than an inch or two, even the expensive ones will break and collapse. Guaranteed, end of story.

The other problem with blinds, even when there is no snow, happens to be bears (unless they've hibernated). With no food scent in the blind whatsoever, meaning there is only slight "human" scent on the blind, bears will destroy them out of curiousity- even when the blind is only set for whitetail- especially the "expensive" ones. Busted poles, ripped fabric, etc. If there's a decent number of bear in the area, and you leave your blind out for any length of time, it is just a matter of time before one of your blinds gets shredded- personal experience and that of hunting buddies.

[Groundsize]

For starters .......
Blinds .... I've tried them all - from the cheap Ameristeps to the expensive Double Bull. THEY ALL SUCK! I've owned about 7 or 8 different Ameristeps and have NEVER had one that made it through 2 seasons. The zippers couldn't hold a change purse closed!!!!:rant: I thought 2 years ago that for $400, the Double Bull would last a life time ...... wrong!!!!! The first wind / snow storm destroyed half of the poles (or whatever you call those support things in the sides). After this season, I'm going to freakin burn every blind I own and be done with it - I'll build my own. They won't be portable, but they will last.:mad:
Heaters .... I really like the way the Little Buddy heaters work out of the box - they are quiet and work great in the crappy blinds I hunt out of (see #1 above). But geez, once again, are they designed to only work one year??????? I have 3 of them, and as of yesterday - not one of them works any more!!!!!!!:rant:
I know I have the option of buying whatever different brand I want, but I just get so PO'd when this JUNK doesn't work as advertised. Am I alone?


Support the michigan economy and buy a lucky tent! There made in Ubly Michigan and by far out perform and have better uqality than any other name brand ground blind. Simple the best.

Paul

[huntr4life]

sorry about your luck with equipment. i have an Ameristep pop-up that i have had for the past 3 seasons. this year it sat out for the 3 weeks in november. both times i sat in it i had to dig it out from under the snow as it had collapsed from the weight. the first time it was under about 16" of snow, the second time it was under about 30" (Central U.P.). its no worse for the wear. no breaks or malfunctions. next year i will be using a 2x4 to help keep it upright when the snow starts flyin.

[don]

Couldn't be happier with my Double Bulls. A T2 and a T5 both were recently subjected to over a foot of wet heavy snow. I found the roofs of each nearly touching the ground when I finally got back out to them almost a week later. Neither suffered any damage to the rods or the hubs. Terrible way to treat a blind, but circumstances didn't allow anything different at the time. I was sure there would be at least some damage, so was pleasantly surprised when I found none. I will be instituting the 2X4 brace idea that Terrific tom suggested in the future though. You can count me as a Double Bull believer....;)

[Bullrider115]

I have an Ameristep and love it, going into its third season. Only problem I have is folding it back up right. I also have a Venom, that I purchased this year, door zipper is junk but the blind is awesome and roomy. $15 for a good zipper this off season. I also have a Cabelas 5X, nice blind but, poles seem to be cheaper than the others.

I have a little buddy as well. I think this is the 5th year and still running strong.

Sorry you have had some bad luck with your equipment and hope you find something more to your satisfaction.

Permanent blinds will definitely be an option, re read your manual on your Mr Heater, may just need a cleaning....... If you can't figure it out, call them for a RA # and they are pretty good about standing behind their products......

[Goosenoose]

I agree, but you do get what you pay for. I went cheap on a ground blind and had the hub rip right out of the side the third time I set it up. Called the company and they told me it would be weeks for me to send it in and have them repair it, so I was better off reinforcing it with some big washers on the outside of the blind to remedy the problem(more surface area then whats manufactured). I asked why this isnt being considered in manuf. The response I got was "we havnt seen this problem much with this blind but I fixed mine the same way I just expalined to you and it works great, just dont forget to paint the silver washers black." My remark, "youve got to be kidding me, I must sound like an idiot" and hung up. Apparently mine and his were the ONLY ones! I actually was upset for a few min. and then laughed my butt off when I thought about it. Like I said you get what you pay for.

[champion_206]

Support the michigan economy and buy a lucky tent! There made in Ubly Michigan and by far out perform and have better uqality than any other name brand ground blind. Simple the best.

Paul
I also have 2 lucky tents, great products, I have the rifle and bow blinds, excellent quality and the zippers work great after years of use, I was at Ubly when they first were starting out and bought 2, and they are still in excellent shape, I use both ALOT !!!

[thunder river outfitters]

we purchased 2 ameristep hub blinds this year, it wasnt long before they needed to be repaired. mabey 2weeks

also, the post on lucky blinds, i own one of those and never had to repair or replace anything, they are pricey but durable. everything on them is heavy duty.

im done with ameristep, nothing ever last.

[erodrig4]

For starters .......
Blinds .... I've tried them all - from the cheap Ameristeps to the expensive Double Bull. THEY ALL SUCK! I've owned about 7 or 8 different Ameristeps and have NEVER had one that made it through 2 seasons. The zippers couldn't hold a change purse closed!!!!:rant: I thought 2 years ago that for $400, the Double Bull would last a life time ...... wrong!!!!! The first wind / snow storm destroyed half of the poles (or whatever you call those support things in the sides). After this season, I'm going to freakin burn every blind I own and be done with it - I'll build my own. They won't be portable, but they will last.:mad:



Have had a Doghouse for 8 years. The only thing wrong with it is a very tiny hole I put in it with a broadhead. I have left days at a time, and sometimes mnths at a time. I just got an Ameristep Intimidator a few months ago, so far, no problems with that either. ;)

As for the heater, can't comment, got one a couple months ago while up in the U.P. for gun season. Seemed to work fine. I'll let you know in a year though. :lol::lol:

[Jimmy2]

Go buy yourself a Lucky's blind or two. I've had two of mine for twelve years. They have spent four months per year out in the woods and they still work great............including zippers. Also had two feet of snow on them at various times................I just got in started hunting. Plus, you'll be supporting the Michigan economy..........they are made right here.......and are of the highest quality you'll find anywhere at any price!!!

Dan

[thunder river outfitters]

Go buy yourself a Lucky's blind or two. I've had two of mine for twelve years. They have spent four months per year out in the woods and they still work great............including zippers. Also had two feet of snow on them at various times................I just got in started hunting. Plus, you'll be supporting the Michigan economy..........they are made right here.......and are of the highest quality you'll find anywhere at any price!!!

Dan

there is no doubt the luckys makes the best portable blinds, but if it came down to supporting michigans economy, they both are in michigan, lucky being in ubly and ameristep being in clio.

[fulldraw]

I have two different Ameristep blinds and my father has the original outhouse blind back when they first came out in the mid-late 90's and they all still work great. I did have 1 problem with one zipper called ameristep they replaced the blind free of charge and have no other problem.

I have a nock off to a Mr. Heater and it still works great. Don't use it all the time but every time I go to use it, it turns on and I have had for about 6 years.

I think you have just had some bad luck or are really hard on your gear.

[Magnet]

Here ya go. Best by far.

http://www.luckyshuntingblinds.com/

[ST8]

DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT!! It looks really nice but the design is flawed. The light pin knob will fall off and you will loose the inner contents. It took me two months to get a replacement LED light and casing!! IF you buy this product good luck with it.

[KalamazooKid]

I think you have just had some bad luck or are really hard on your gear.

I'll be the first to admit, I'm very hard on my gear but am willing to pay more for a quality product. I first started buying Ameristep blinds because they were made in MI and on one blind that blew out a door zipper - they replaced free of charge. But by the end of that season, it too was garbage. My blinds stay out all season for both turkey and deer. But I do push snow off of them and stake and tie down. After a conversation with my wife last night (she was looking over my shoulder as I read this thread), I'll be building two new box blinds next summer - one elevated, one on the ground.:D No more damn zipper problems!

Went out for a quick hunt last night and discovered that of the two blinds still out there, one had blown completely across the field (170 yards) and the other had totally caved with the wind from last weekend (not the blind's fault - we had 50+ mph winds). Both are destroyed.

And one more thing, my new Cuddyback Capture for whatever reason will no longer record images on the memory card and needs to go back.:rant: So I'll be without that for 2 freakin months!:help::mad:

[fulldraw]

I far as I know portable pop up blinds are not meant to stay up all season. That is like putting up a tent all summer and expect it to be like brand new after 3 months of being up in the harsh elements of Michigan weather. Heck I had an 8 person dome tent set up in my back yard last summer and high winds picked up and it came unstaked, now has a hole in it because got caught on my fence. Now should I be up set because the tent didn't stay staked in high winds and blame the manufacturer because it then ripped. I don't think so, also Ameristep is based in Michigan but there blinds are not made in Michigan. When I had a problem with mine they told me that they actually have multiple manufactures who make there blinds for them.

[KalamazooKid]

I understand the "don't leave em out all season" logic (my bad:)), but I don't understand the issues with the zippers. Well ...... I guess I do, you get what you pay for. The zippers and fabric on the Double Bulls are way better. And I HAVE heard good things about the Lucky blinds, but as mentioned, I'm going with WOOD/STEEL blinds next year.

Oh well, it'll soon be another year and time for a fresh start. Time for a garage sale.:evilsmile

[oldrank]

I have an Ameristep blind....i never leave it out...its in and out when i use it..........never had a problem with it but my brother bought the same one and left it in his van out of the bag for awhile and something happened where it wont stand up kind of lost the spring in it......but to name some problems I have run into.........Cheap rubber boots always seem to crack and leak........cheap waders usually get about 2 yrs out of em before they leak.......also had a PSE bow that wouldnt stay shooting straight from one day to the next.........I bought a new Champion bow and hadnt had to touch it in the 5 yrs ive had it.......CVA muzzleloaders never been kind to me.......the cheap broadheads arent worth the time.........cheap arrows are just that cheap arrows....and cheap steelhead rods will snap the tips off in a strong wind....the one thing i have learned about hunting and fishing is cutting corners will come back and bite ya in the ***** every time......

[sjhawkeye]

Which model of Lucky blind do you have or suggest? Which material do you recomend, cloth or cordura?

Thanks,

Scott

[Jimmy2]

Scott,

Go with the cordura. It costs more, but well worth it in terms of durability and waterproofness.(Is that a word?) If you're like me, I buy stuff to use, and I don't want to be applying waterproofer every few years. I leave my blinds out four months a year, year after year, and they still function and look great. (Except for the one that was stolen off my land. Although I'm sure it still looks good, it's just being used by a thief. I now chain them to a tree. But I digress.) Also, the cordura doesn't fade out like the cloth can after many years. The cordura also, on the newer models, has the "blackout" on the inside, which helps conceal movements better if the deer/turkey is close. I don't think the cloth has this feature. Can't say for sure as I don't have any of the cloth versions, but I have seen them and they didn't have the blackout. As far as the model goes, best advice I can give is if at all possible take a trip to Ubly and take a look. They offer a ton of options. If you don't see what you want,(rare!!) you can have them make one up that suits you as far as window configuration, etc. (Had one made up for me several years ago.) It's definately worth the trip if your serious, as there were many "prototypes" in the showroom when I was there that weren't on the website when I was looking. They may be there now, as I haven't looked in awhile. If you can't make the trip, the website gives many options you can view. Even a phone call to them would help. They are hunters as well and could undoubtably steer you in the right direction. Hope this helps.

Dan

[Jimmy2]

there is no doubt the luckys makes the best portable blinds, but if it came down to supporting michigans economy, they both are in michigan, lucky being in ubly and ameristep being in clio.

I could be wrong but it was my understanding that Ameristep wasn't manufactured here in michigan. Still a michigan company though. Like I said, I'm not 100% sure.

[Magnet]

Not sure about the cordura, but the cloth is dead silent. Doesn't make any noise at all if you rub against it in the blind.:) Curdura is probably a little more durable.

[Zarathustra]

Cabela's sells a facemask that is designed to be worn by those with glasses. It has some lining intended to absorb moisture so that your eyeglasses don't fog up.

It is completely worthless. Eyeglasses fog up immediately when wearing it. Save your money if you were considering this purchase. I'll send you mine if you really want one.

Here is a link to this item: It is no coincidence that the price is half-off.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0033651942937a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=anti-fog&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

[QUOTE=Zarathustra;2479479]Cabela's sells a facemask that is designed to be worn by those with glasses. It has some lining intended to absorb moisture so that your eyeglasses don't fog up.

It is completely worthless. Eyeglasses fog up immediately when wearing it. Save your money if you were considering this purchase. I'll send you mine if you really want one.

i found the only cure for fogging glasses was to have surgery ! the only fog i have now is made by GOD. :coolgleam

[Quadd4]

Lucky Blinds?? Are we sure they're not built in Kent County? What's with that deer on their site page? :lol:

Sorry,

[Hart]

I had one that I left out for a couple days, it experienced moderate winds that resulted in one of the poles snapping. I called Ameristep and told them I didn't think the pole should have snapped in the wind we had (which could have been subject to debate) and the very nice girl at the other end of the phone said "no problem, I'll send you out a replacement pole today, no charge". Their customer service was exceptional, and will keep me buying their stuff.

I did have a zipper break on one of my windows, though. :(

Whoever said you need to run a filter when running a Mr. Buddy heater off a 20-lb tank is absolutely correct. Not sure if that was the problem or not, but this is something that I've heard from at least three other people.

[ArrowFlinger]

I have a DogHouse. Don't use it much, but it is still in good condition. My only problem it is a pain in the but to fold back up by myself. Anyone got any tricks or tips.