What's the Best Ice Fishing Suit out there?

[SunnyRick1]

Wondering what's the best one out there- not too heavy, windproof, waterproof, etc. Where can you get the best deal?

Bobberman

[Note from admin: For your reference here is a discussion thread on Arctic Armor -

Click Here For the Long Discussion. ]

[Esox_Magnum]

I wear my summer rain gear, Cabelas Guide wear.

[broman]

I am very happy with my clam ice armor x. It is probably a bit bulky for some. But I was plenty warm all winter. Even on a -25 morning on Mille lacs.

[fishinfey8]

Hey SunnyRick! I'm sure you will find alot of opinions from anyone and everyone, but here are some previous posts on the topic. The articarmor thread is quite lengthy, but full of good information. Hope ya find what you're looking for.

here VEX VS FRABILL

or here ARTIC ARMOR

[SunnyRick1]

Thanks!

[SunnyRick1]

Thank you!

[Carl Bjorgen]

Hey Rick,

You know so many different people will give you so many different answers.

Here's mine:

I bought an Arctic Armor suit because, everything else being equal, it will float you.

Thing is, I've discovered that I never fish when I think I will fall through so...

I also bought a big-time suit because even though I fish in a portable 90%, I thought I would forgo the heater most of the time because it made me less mobile.

Thing is, I've discovered that I like to find a spot, drill a hole, then plop my well-fed butt down and hang out with my heater going for the long haul. I might move a couple of times in a 4-hour day if I'm feeling motivated.

What I'm saying is that you might need to figure out how you fish a majority of the time and make your decision based on that information.

If I had to do it all over again I probably would have saved the 365.00 I spent on the full suit and maybe have just gotten some nice water-proof bibs with good knee padding and some ample pocket room, seeing as I never wear the coat...really ever.

[DTro]

Carl brings up a good point. Think about how you fish and how you are going to use the suit. If you spend 90% of the time inside a heated house, you can spend your money on better things.

If you are outsite mostly hole hopping and or chasing tipups, it is nice to have a good warm windproof suit.

Myself, I do a mixture, and also push the extremes of the open water/ice seasons. For that reason alone I chose the Artic Armor. It does not replace a USCG approved PFD, but when I'm in the boat in the late fall, (was out the other day when it was 20 degrees out) it keeps me toasty warm, and in the rare event I should happen to have a mishap and go overboard, the added floating factor is really priceless.

I wear mine fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling, and even out clearing the driveway after a storm. I would have to say it is one of the best outdoor related purchases I've ever made and if I lost or destroyed it, I would buy another the next day.

I'm sure the same can be said for any of the big name suits, but FOR ME the floatation factor made the choice easy.

[Jason_Halfen]

I fish open water 11-11.5 months every year. My gear of choice is insulated Cabelas Guidewear. That, and my Mustang Survival auto inflate life preserver keeps me warm, dry, and safe on the water.

5 years in my set and still going strong.

Think I'll put it to use on Pool 4....today!

[cold one sd]

I also use my Arctic Armor in the boat. I have portable shelters and a wheelhouse so I don't use the suit all the time. If I take my ATV I will wear it. If I take my pickup and sit on a bucket, I will wear the coat and the bibs. If I'm gonna set up a portable I may go either way. It gives me several ways to go and the flotation gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. To be truthful, there are so many brands out there at this time it is hard to choose just one. I do like that my Arctic Armor because it is light weight and not bulky.

[fishinfey8]

no problem, and don't forget to check out icearmor as well. Lots of good products out there, but as you can see everyone has their preference. I like what carl and dtro said about thinking about what it will be used for, and then buying accordingly.

[FISHINGURU]

AA all the way, no reason not to have a suit that floats is what it comes down to.

[TravP]

Snosuit

[rmb]

plus one on the insulated guide wear from the big C. it gets it's waterproofing from gortex where both AA and IA do not.

the one negative is that it tend to be a bit more expensive than the AA/IA stuff.

[harvey lee]

95% of the time I have the AA suit on. A great suit that could save ones life if they fall through the ice or out of the boat in early spring or late fall.

In the severe cold, then it's my Sno Suit as it's the warmest suit I have ever worn hands down and I have tried I believe most all of them.

I highly doubt that there is another suit made as warm as the Sno Suit and yes, it is a bit bulky but one can get around in it just fine.

[Drewski]

I have been wearing the Vexilar Cold Snap suit for two years and love it! It's very warm, breathable, comfortable and very reasonably priced.

[ozzie]

when I bought ($150) my suit it was a deal and I ended up with a Vexilar suit. Now the prices run about double that on a new suit so for that price I would spend the difference, if there is one, and go with the Artic Armour so I would have the same suit for the most part except the AA suit will keep me on top of the water should I fall in the drink one way or another.

[cabin]

My Arctic Armor is warm,waterproof,and it FLOATS!

[Westsidefishing]

I tried Vexilar Cold Snap and am very impressed with it.

[Scott Stein]

it's called Carhart bibs and a snowmobile jacket!

[SunnyRick1]

Awesome reply. Thanks.

[McGurk]

it's called Carhart bibs and a snowmobile jacket!

I won't wear Carharts again on the ice now that I have an AA suit. I'm no longer carrying around 10 lbs of water and slush from drilling and clearing holes. I can kneel on the ice for hours without feeling a drop on my knees. I can just wear a base layer and another thermal layer without jeans in my bibs, and that makes walking alot easier. I no longer have to hang my bibs in the bathroom overnight to thaw and dry. And, I no longer get bucket butt due to the padded rear.

[muc33]

+1 on harvey lee's comment, I am in the exact same boat

[Fever]

I like the comments here so far. I'll add to them. Yes, you should figure out what type of activities you'll be doing in your outter wear. How do you fish etc. But you also have to ask yourself how much are you comfortable spending. I'm not an expert but I think the arctic armor brand is just a touch more expensive than the ice armor brand, which is a touch more than the cabela's brand... So money must be taken into consideration. I myself have the blue ice armor bibs and jacket. I love the stuff. It doesn't float like the arctic armor suit but thankfully I haven't been affected by that yet. It has however kept me warm, dry, and comfortable. I drill a lot of holes and do a lot of hole hopping. I also push the limits in the late fall on open water, as well as help out around my neighborhood removing snow with the snow blower... The Ice armor is waterproof, windproof, the extra padding at the knees is awesome, pockets are numerous and handy, and to be honest, often times the suit is too warm.