In a recent post, I included a picture of an igloo we made on our last trip. Someone asked for my review on the icebox (the tool we used to make the igloo), so here it is:

I bought the icebox about 4 years ago. I tend to make 2-3 igloo's per year (one or two at home and one in the BWCA). Here is my review:

Pros:
1.) Coolness factor is off the charts. I get more comments on my igloo than you can imagine. Pretty much everyone asks me about how I built a real igloo. The kids on our block especially love it (though the dads get so jealous I have to offer to help them make one to keep the peace;-)
2.) It makes a great toy: The igloo usually lasts the whole winter season, though if you get a warm spell, it will melt. I built this one about 6 weeks ago and it will be around till March (knock on wood). The kids and dog love it.
3.) It makes an awesome shelter. The nice thing about an igloo is that the temp stays relatively the same inside, regardless of the temp outside. So if it is -50 outside, it will be about 34 inside (if people are in it). If it is 60 outside (i.e. in the mountains) it will be about 34 on the inside. You can increase that temp quite a bit if you add a candle or two inside (the top will get into the 50's the floor upper 30's).
4.) You can literally make an igloo in ANY type of snow. I have made it with the worse snow and am amazed at how the box still locks the snow together.
5.) When first built I can stand in the 9foot plus ones (and I am 6 feet one inch). My head barely touches the ceiling (if no base is built under the igloo..if their is a base we can have an even taller ceiling). They are very tall and an eye catcher.
6.) They are a blast to build. I like building them better than playing in them.
7.) they totally block the wind and are very quiet inside.
8.) After a couple days, you can stand on top of it and it will hold all your weight (and I am 200 lbs)!
9.) Lightweight: The icebox takes up very little room and is extremely light for travel.

Cons:
1.) Price: It is about $150-175 for it. You are paying for the technology, not the materials (probably cost $10 - $20 in raw materials). I still say it is well worth it because my kids will always remember their dad as the one dad who could build the biggest fort.
2.) Time: I don't care what they say, it always takes me between 7-14 hours to build a 9 foot+ igloo (depending on snow conditions). And that is with two people. It is not a quick build. Maybe after I build 150 igloo's, like the creators, I'll be able to make one in 4-6 hours.
3.) Complicated Instructions: The instructions are good. But on many parts you need to read the instructions one sentence at a time. That being said, after you build one or two, it is like riding a bike, easy.
4.) Jealousy: again, the neighbors (especially dads with little boys) get a little miffed. So you may end up making several a year to keep the piece;-)
5.) They do shrink as the year goes on. As the weather gets warm and cold again, you go from standing in them to kneeling.

I totally recommend getting one if (1) You have any young kids (2) You are a kid at heart (3) Need a fairly inexpensive shelter for your winter trips (realizing it may not be totally ready the first day, but even a few rows of blocks can make a great shelter, blocking the wind and actually adding warmth).

PS: Please note, the pic makes the igloo look smaller than it actually is. I am 6 feet one inch standing in front. I made a 2 foot base and added the igloo. We had well over a foot of headroom when standing (and still had a decent snow base). It was a lot bigger looking in person!
http://www.grandshelters.com/

Yea I came across the Ice Box website while surfing, what a cool product, I was curious if anyone used it( I didn't realize they been out that long). I plan on getting one in the future to venture away from base camp for overnighters. Thanks for the GREAT review!!!

George, Thanks for the review. I still cold tent in the BWCA and
have built quinzee's. Not ready to start hot tenting. Would you recommend the ICEBOX if you were only going to use it once a year in the BWCA for 4 day trip? Thanks for the review.

It is a matter of personal preference. It will take you at least one full day to make. I personally enjoy making them, so it would be worth it to me. If you would rather be ice fishing or skiing that day, than no, it is not worth it.

It does make an excellent shelter, even if not fully built. It is very fun to hang out in and warm. But, as you know, there are other suitable shelters for the cold weather.

Do they really work in any snow conditions? A friend of mine who is a Boy Scout leader and very experienced said they didn't work in anything but good conditions. The Venture group in Ely also does not use them. They both said they are a lot of work, and don't work with powdery snow. Of course when my friend takes in a group of boy scouts they don't even build quinzees.

I think its a cool idea to be able to build an igloo, and my kids love the idea. But do they really work in dry powdery snow? Do you and up having to move a lot of snow to make one? Could you make one with hard dry snow?

Yes, I can confirm they work in ANY snow conditions. I have made it with perfect snow that packs in the box instantly. I have also made it with very old depth hoar snow (old snow with no arms on the snowflakes, basically looks like sugar not a snowflake). Whoever said it only works in perfect conditions has not actually used the icebox. They may have tried it with something else or had no patience to actually figure out what they are doing.

When packing the snow, you apply a little pressure (usually about 6psi) with your hand and you will actually "feel" the ice lock. If you push to hard or not hard enough it will not lock. Sounds complicated, but it is quite easy and you'll know it when you do it.

That being said, yes they do require a lot of snow. Also, if you are dealing with old snow, it will take longer to set. You'll find if it is below zero and you are using old snow, it can take up to 5 minutes for one block to take hold (that's the absolute worse case scenario). That means you try to lock the snow as you are putting it into the ice box and after you are done putting snow into the ice box you wait up to 5 minutes (again, under worse case scenario) If you are dealing with warmer, new snow, it takes instantly.
Oh , that reminds me of a trick. You can prep the snow by sweeping it. Basically that means scoop it, drop it, rub your shovel over it (like sweeping), sweep a few times. The friction will heat the snow and help it lock better.
Typical 9 foot igloo takes me about 6-7 hours with good to average snow (you'll almost always find good to average in the BWCA). I made a 10 foot igloo in the twin cities with old snow that took me about 13 hours to build. That was not fun, to much waiting around for the blocks to set.

If you do not have at least one full day to make it (or if you do not enjoy building them), it is not for you. If you have enjoyed making snow caves since you were little, this is a must have.

Good luck with your decision.