I've been using Beaver Dams since the early 70's but they're pricing them out of my range. Might try a Polar or 2 the next time I need to replace them.

I was a Beaver dams only guy most of my life but with the price they are asking now there are just as good tip-ups out there for less then half there price. I like the Frabill wood tip-up better. But i have been replacing wood tip-up for the light plastic ones and have had no issues with any of them.

My buddy decided he would by the Frabill wood tipup because of the price. They leaked greese and don't spin very well anymore. As far as the tangling I use hook keepers to prevent them from tangling or getting snagged on the inside of my bag.

i use the yellow frabill thermal tip ups

easy storage in a 5 gal bucket - check
easy to take care of and grease - check
storage compartment - check
light for night fishing - check
insulates the hole with a little snow packed around it - check
catch big fish while my buddies are constantly messing with theirs and breaking away ice and their reels get jammed - check

When the thermal tip ups came out I used them religously, but then after a while I went back to the wood Frabil ones with the Northern on it, and havent gone back. I still use the round ones when I need to have another tip up out, but 9 times out of 10 I grab for the wood one.

I like the pound thermal ones for pike. I use the non plastic coated tip up line so I can fit more on it, as I have been spooled using the plastic coated junk.
for lakers you need something with a large spool, as you will likely be deep and they can run fast.

I recently picked up an arctic warrior tip up, and put a 42" genz rod on it with a 2500 symetre. I have 12 lb seaguar flourocarbon on it. the walleye seem to spit the hook a lot less with this set up, plus its more fun to reel them in.

I like the thermal style just because they cover the hole and work well when it gets colder. I have had the same 2 in use for 4 years now with only some minor bits of plastic coming off(cold weather, what can you expect). They have worked great for me and I use them over the others I still have most of the time

I'm a Frabil round orange tipup guy here. On a side note, I had a spring get tweaked last year on one of my tipups. I emailed Frabil customer service and asked if they sold replacements - the gal asked for my address and mailed out a replacement spring and flag that same day...FOR FREE. Frabil customer service is excellent, should you need it (once in 10 yrs for me).