Best Ice Fishing Clothing

[Rick]

We'd like to see your opinions here?

There's a lot of ice fishing jackets & ice fishing bibs out there.

Also ice fishing boots and underlayers.

What is the best way to dress for ice fishing?

[Rope]

Depends on the weather:

Real cold... Wool underwear,sweat shirt,sno suit,Clam boots

Nice out... UA,sweat shirt cold snap bibs,Red Wing 800 Gr. leather boots

I try to dress for the day basically.

[pushbutton]

Quote:

What is the best way to dress for ice fishing?

I most often fish in jeans, hoodie, and fleece lined work books for temps in the teens and 20's, maybe bibs and a hoodie with some layers and snow boots for temps below that. Buddies, empires, hard houses, and portables reign supreme and are my preferred choice in outerwear

[Might_B_A_Pike]

I have my GoreTex still from the Air Force, never wore it much than, but get good use out of it on the ice. I have the fleese pants and jacket underneath it too. you can probably find it as a surplus store.

[NKLCOLT1911]

ill be wearing my ice kings and my new striker ice suit.

[Mnfisher]

Good thread! I'm in the market for some cold weather clothes and hopefully something will be on sale at the Blaine ice show. Maybe boots. Any suggestions for bibs, boots and underwear is appreciated. I have old boots with the felt linings, carhart type bibs and a cheaper brand duofoldl long johns. I'd like to go lighter. I got worm out last winter trudging through the snow on a Canadian trip. The weather wasn't too cold and I stayed warm, but my stuff just had too much weight. I don't mind fishing outside if it isn't too cold!

[MNCPRGUY]

The advances by several manufacturers in the last few years have changed the ice fishing clothing landscape considerably. Dressing in layers is still the winning theory, but the options you have for those layers is seemingly endless. The question that the OP asked really requires more specifics. Are we talking a bucket in the elements fishing? Portables (with and without thermal)? Sleepers? 30 degrees and sun or -30 and clouds?

In general, I really like my Artic Armor for my outerwear with a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants underneath. I've also been wearing the Frabill mid-weight jacket a lot this Fall and that will likely get a fair amount of use this winter also. The name of the game is to stay comfortable without breaking a sweat.

[pushbutton]

but my stuff just had too much weight.

You just nailed the reason for a lot of the "fancy" outerwear on the market. Sure "fleet farm" can keep you warm, but if you are going to be spending any amount of time outside while active..... products like Clam's Ice Armor and Striker brand suits and clothing are designed to be light, flexible, and breathable while still protecting you from the elements. Striker, in particular, even makes one that floats. While getting a deal might be possible, one of the best parts of the ice shows is that you can go there and actually compare these brands side by side, helping you to find out which one might work out better for you.

[graf703]

Pair a windproof rain/snow pant with a windproof jacket and then layer between baselayers and thick fleece. I rarely even wear insulated boots if I do it right. liners with smartwool for socks.

[aanderud]

I like my irish setter boots and my snosuit. I've never worn any parka that's warmer, and the bibs are outstanding. A good set of bibs that I can kneel down on the ice with, or drill tons of holes without the water soaking throguh the bottom, is a bigger deal to me than the parka. Any top layer will do so long as my body core is dry and warm. In fact, the snosuit bibs coupled with a nice warm thick hat and a couple of lighter layers up top (maybe a thermal shirt under a hooded sweatshirt) is about my favorite way to fish. It works wonders as long as it's not windy (not too many hoodies that will block the wind). If it's windy I'll throw the parka back on, and of course while I'm on the snowbile I'll wear it.

As for brands, I would mention that using any high-priced outerwear in its first year on the mass market is probably a bad idea. I like to give it a year, so that if they find some issues, they can make design changes (reinforced stitching here or there, etc) before the next season. Other than that, I think most any reputable brand is going to cut it, and for me the decision was made in no small part because of price. I scored an awesome deal on a snosuit when the original maker closed out the remaining inventory and the brand was sold to Frabill. Similarly, end-of-year sales might make me jump to one particular brand or another when I see relatively equal quality between the two. Clothing has some of the highest markups of anything you can buy in retail, and nobody wants to store it over the summer, so deals can be had.

Also, buying it somewhere that will let you try it on is pretty key to me, so I know what size to buy.

[gonehunting]

I'm not sure that it is in everyone's budget but I own the Frabill FXE Snosuit and love it. It is definetly more for the below zero temperatures but it is very comfortable and warm. Very well designed and made of quality materials. If you get chilled easy this is the suit for you. I do like the qualities of the Striker Suit being able to float but bought this prior to the Striker Suit coming out. Not sure if the Striker Suit is as warm as the Frabill FXE though.

[mccullen]

Whatever you decide to buy remember the 3W's, wicking, warmth and waterproof. I don't like getting into tossing name brands out there cause you should be looking at the material its made of not who made it. You do pay extra for the name.

Base Layer: Wicking Polypropylene: socks, pants, and shirt. DO NOT wear cotton next to your skin.

Second layer: Warmth Merino wool, still has wicking properties and also provides warmth. If it really cold out put two layers on for warmth, you can always take it off if you get too warm.

Outer layer: Waterproof Nothing else matters if you get wet, you will get cold. I used Carhartt bibs for years and they always froze after drilling holes. Now with Gore tex bibs I don't have those frozen pant legs. I imagine that doesn't help to keep a guy warm.

[Esox_Magnum]

I'm a layering guy,start with UA or Patigonia base depending on temps and plan of the day, Poly or fleece over that, topped with Stryker snowmobile bibs, a hoodie and uninsulated rain jacket...Socks are always my Patigonias fitted inside apair of Columbia Titanium Bugaboo's

[BartmanMN]

I scored the same deal as aanderud on the original Snosuit bibs. Best things I own. Love them.

[TruthWalleyes]

I'll be wearing my Irish Setter Outrider 1000 boots and Striker Ice Lite suit...

[Mnfisher]

I understand the end of season sales. Not a good time of year right now to be buying warm winter clothing, I suppose.

[RiverChuckNorris]

Bought the Frabill suit last year and love it. Kneed pads, endless pockets, purpose built, functional and comfortable and boy is it warm.

[SunnyFishin]

Bought the Frabill suit last year and love it. Kneed pads, endless pockets, purpose built, functional and comfortable and boy is it warm.

+1

...great name by the way.

[PFUNK]

I scored a deal on a strikemaster suit last year and only paid somewhere in the $130-$140 range for the whole suit. It will be getting the nod this year as I didn't really get to test it out last year and I'm hoping it'll fit the bill.

[Jaron_K]

I am looking to buy a whole outer shell of ice fishing gear. Jacket and Bibs. What would be the best bang for your buck without spending $300-$500 on the suit? I have always gone out in basically dressed in layers with under armor, fleece and my hunting clothes. Never really seemed to get cold just looking for more convenience as far as pockets hook ups having easy access to them. I have been skeptical on getting a suit because the fact of it being bulky and weighing me down. I bounce around constantly ice fishing out of portables so I need one light and comfortable. What are your guys' recomendations?