Jacket/bibs for ice fishing?

[mainbutter]

So I know there are many options out there, and all of them pricey (well over $100 to get myself dressed).. but if I'm going to seriously ice fish, I'm going to want to stay warm.

Given that money is a serious concern, does anyone have opinions on staying warm and keeping the budget small? The only thing I'm really missing from winter apparel to go ice fishing is a good jacket and bibs.

I'm kinda intrigued by arctic armor, and might be within my price range.

[LMITOUT]

This might be an option as well:

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2715690/1/A_new_floating_suit

[randallt]

For sure take a serious look at Striker Ice Suits. I have a set new this year and so far they are awesome. Will continue to report as temps drop and I can really test out how warm they are. Early indication is that they will be more than adequate to keep me warm.

[Northlander]

I have had a AA suit for many years and it served its purpose. With that said I got a new Striker suit a while back and love it. I have the regular suit and its WARM. If you are a warm blooded guy or hole hop a lot and like to layer the Striker Lights may be better for you.

Im using my Striker Suit for snowmobiling too and its going to be great for that as well as ice fishing Im sure. The Striker suit also floats you like a AA suit would.

The Striker Suit is very well thought out. The full leg zippers are awesome and tons of pockets. If you are a shorter legged guy you can adjust the length of the bib legs for a better fit.

[Esox_Magnum]

I wear Striker bibs I found online for $35 I think, made for skieing and snowmobiling but work great, coat I just wear my summer gore tex rain coat and layer under it....Keep dry and the wind off you'll stay warm.... Wish I could get dressed for any winter day for $100... On real cold days with UA, Patagonia and Gore Tex, I'm closer to a grand.....my socksalone cost my boss $50...glad he gives them out for Christmas...

[DTro]

I can echo the thoughts about the Striker Ice and if you read that thread that was linked you've seen my opinion there.

I totally understand the $ concern and I think you can find some stuff out there adequately priced that will suit you well. The Strikemaster and some store brand suits such as Cabelas and Fleet "Lakes and Rivers" come to mind as well as Clam's Ice Armor.

However, as I've reiterated time and time again, personally, if I can get a suit for the same ballpark price that has floatation in it, I'll pick that one every time. It's highly unlikely that I will ever need to utilize that function, but at the one time I ever do, it becomes priceless.

The Artic Armor has served me well for the past several years. I've worn the heck out of that suit, and up until I work this Striker Suit, I would have bought another.

I'm really pleased with the new Striker Ice.

[SalmonSlayer]

DTRO, did you go with the regular or the lite version?

[DTro]

I have the regular version and know I will appreciate it when it is below zero, but it's been overkill for this 40 degree weather we've had lately.

In my opinion, the regular version compares very closely with the Frabill SnoSuit.

[leech~~]

I The Strikemaster and some store brand suits such as Cabelas and Fleet "Lakes and Rivers" come to mind as well as Clam's Ice Armor.

The Lakes and Rivers bibs are on sale at FF as of todays ad. I just use a pair of Well's snowmobile bibs that I got at Kaplens for about $ 49 or so and they are pretty warm. For a jacket I have a Polaris MVT with a liner which is about the warmest I have ever owned.

[harvey lee]

The Sno Suit is the best suit out there hands down over any other suit for warmnth. But it is not cheap as far as money goes. One does get what one pays for. Many compare there product to the Sno Suit but it can only try.

The Artic Armor suit is a great suit for the money with the addded protection of the floating aspect if needed.

The new craze it seems is to go with the Striker suit as some have switched to that suit but is not yet time tested.

I believe one can go back through all the suit posts and see everyone saying how great the AA suit is. Now some of those say otherwise for whatever reason.

There are many good suits out there with different options and features and they all have a different price.

[DTro]

The Sno Suit is the best suit out there hands down over any other suit for warmnth. But it is not cheap as far as money goes. One does get what one pays for. Many compare there product to the Sno Suit but it can only try.

.

and unless you have tried everything, you can only assume that statement is true.

My last several trips have been out with a SnoSuit and I've been trying to find a glaring difference between that and the Striker Ice. So far the only thing I've found is the articulated knees. The Striker has articulated elbows, but not knees. Other than that, when the jackets are hanging up next to each other on the back of the portable, they look and feel almost identical. That I can tell you from first hand experience.

[harvey lee]

I believe I have tried everything out on the market today short of the Mustang suit.

I have tested my Sno Suit in minus -35 temps without the windchill and know from expeirence that this suit is a very warm unit.

Since the Striker has come out, I do not believe we have had any colder temps to be able to compare the 2 different suits yet. I am not saying it is not a warm suit but we do not know how well it will perform in the -30 to -40 below temps as it has not been even close to below zero at any time this past winter.

I have never been able to tell by looking at a suit hanging on a hook or for that matter feeling it how well of a suit it is. I have always tried to use the suit and then make my judgements from there. A suit may feel fine or look the same as the other but to compare the 2, I have always tried to place them in the same tests in the cold outdoors.

[DTro]

So you've used the Striker Suit then?

[ibleedice]

I have the Strikemaster suit which is all that one needs to stay warm and dry in a types of wheather. I have used this suit at -30 and 20 mph winds and been warm drilling holes searching for fish and I have used this suit on walleye opener on pepin bounce off 3 foot waves in 20 mph winds and stayed dry the whole time. I would recommend this suit to anyone. I have not used any other, but in my opinon I would not try any other because of the great experience I have has with this one. I also like the fact of all the extra pockets, and the padded knees which are great for hole hoppn. Do not underestimatre the warmth of the bibs on this suit. At first glance they seam thin, but when they say 100% wind and water proof they mean it. In reality if the wind can't get you thats all you need. Good luck in your search for the perfect suit, this is just my opinion and I have been wrong before.

[harvey lee]

Yes, I posted everything short of the Mustang suit.

[DTro]

Look, I'm not here to argue the nuances of winter suits. LOL that's pretty childish actually.

I'm being completely honest with the comparison to the SnoSuit, and only because I've got to wear them both. For all I know it compares closely with all the other suits out there too. I've never worn them so I have no idea.

I do know that the Striker suit is more waterproof and warmer than the AA (found that out last night in the pouring rain), I know that I won't be able to wear this Stiker suit in June like I did the AA, and I do know that I really really like it.

and at the end of the day....YEP it floats!

[harvey lee]

My point I was trying to make is, if YOU are going to compare the Striker Suit to a SnoSuit for warmth, one has to get in very cold temps to see which one is really a warm suit in all temps. I did say that thye Striker suit could be that warm but we do not know that yet.

We have not seen those temps this season since the Striker suit came out.

Thats all I was trying to state from what you tried to compare. Not trying yo agree with you at all, just trying to get down to facts and not guess's about how warm one suit is to the other.

I am happy you finally found a suit better than the AA you use to like so much.

[Eric_Kruger]

Strikerbrand suits X4---Check them out, worth every penny! these suits are every bit as good as the snosuit, and half the price!

[DTro]

Not trying yo agree with you at all, just trying to get down to facts and not guess's about how warm one suit is to the other.

I am happy you finally found a suit better than the AA you use to like so much.

It sure feels like it. LOL I'm just trying to give a fair suggestion to mainbutter (my apologies for off tracking btw). Like I said, at the end of the day it floats, and that to me means a lot to me and I would still choose AA over a SnoSuit for that simple reason. I like that fact. It gives me a warm fuzzy when I'm walking on early or sketchy ice (such as this year). Some people could care less about that. So be it.

It's OK to like Fords and Chevys and even Dodge, at least I think so. The world goes round, and in a few years something better will most likely come along.

[LMITOUT]

If anybody is looking for a new ice suit but the wife is holding the checkbook too tight, the cruddy ice we have this season might just be the bargaining chip you need to step into a suit with flotation like the Striker or AA.

[harvey lee]

I simply did not agree with what you stated as fact comparing the warmth of a suit when we have not had any cold temps to due a comparision this season. Its that simple. If we are going to compare suits to see how well they do in cooler temps, then we should use the colder temps.

Heck, my long johns and sweats can keep me warm im the temps this season.

Which SnoSuit did you purchase and are comparing the Striker suit too?

Seems one minute you are comparing the warmnth and now its the fact it floats and we forget about the warmnth. No doubt that the AA or Striker will float one and the SnoSuit will not but you were saying the Striker was as warm as the SnoSuit. Just trying to work with facts and not switch around on what was stated.

Its fine to like Ford, Chevy or whatever, I just like to compare apples to apples and work with facts and not assume.

No sense of trying to compare suits if we are not going to compare on the same level. N'uf for me.

[harvey lee]

If anybody is looking for a new ice suit but the wife is holding the checkbook too tight, the cruddy ice we have this season might just be the bargaining chip you need to step into a suit with flotation like the Striker or AA.

You got it Dan, either one will serve one well ice fishing.

[mainbutter]

Here's a follow up question:

Has anyone had an ice fishing suit that didn't keep them warm on a particular day when it was above -10F and they did not have access to a portable?

[harvey lee]

I really like my AA suit and use it alot spring,and fall. Ice fishing I wear it 80% of the time.

When the temps dip to say 0 or colder, I do have to use layers underneath to keep warm if just sititng outside. If I layer underneath, then I am very warm just say sitting on a pail.

With that said, I am sure there are other who stay warm in those temps.

Either the AA suit or the Striker will fit the bill. Nice part of these suits is the safety factor with knowing it could save ones life if they are on questionable ice.

I just get cold pretty easy.

If you are not concerned about it floating you if you were to fall in, then there are numerous other options on the market that will work also like the StrikeMaster suit. These suits will save you some money as they are not near as spendy.

My first suit was an Ice Armor 3 piece grey suit with the light and heavy jacket. This is a very nice suit also.

[amateurfishing]

if the boss is "helping" make the decision, ask if she is more comfortable with u in a floating suit or not. set a budget then search your options. i got my strikemaster suit @ ice fising show on sale, a very good deal & like it a lot. boss preferred me not spending the extra $ for floating suit right now. i am very comfy and happy with my strikemaster suit, enjoy all the pockets & warmth. i also dont tempt mother nature going out on really early ice or other times when ice is questionable. 6-8 inches b4 im on it with my portable.