Ice suit options

[CaptSpike]

I know this is similar to another post but it isn't the same question.

I use to fish with a snowmobile bib and a decent warm jacket. A few yrs back I bought an Artic Armour suit. What I liked about the snowmobile bibs is I could unzip the leg completely which made it easy on and off and also allowed you to unzip it up high if you wanted to breath a bit and stay cool. I sweat thinking about doing anything and find that by the time I'm set up and ready to fish I am soaked with sweat in the AA suit. I don't mind the AA for the brutally cold days but I need another option for the not so brutally cold days where I can unzip the legs further than the AA suit allows for better breathing. Floatation is a plus but I'm willing to forgo it to find a suit that fits the requirements.

Oh yeah I also prefer better pockets on the bibs than AA suit has. Stuff is always falling out of those, who designed that? LOL.

So what can you give me for advise?

Thanks,

Spike

[Scott O.]

I myself love Clam's Edge suit. Keeps the wind and water off of you and it isn't heavily insulated so I don't sweat to death in it on a moderate day. On the colder days, just wearing a sweatshirt underneath is enough to stay warm in the below zero weather that I've experienced. The legs each have zippers that go almost up to the hip for easy removal. The pockets are vertical and secured with clasp buttons and I've never had anything fall out of them. Plus, there are D-clips on them to keep essential tools at the ready. I would highly recommend getting this suit.

[Northlander]

I really like the Striker Suits.

[JohnMickish]

I run a Clam blue suit and absolutely love it. the pockets seem to be the right depth for the stuff I put in them and I have the covered pockets for the stuff that I absolutely cannot have fall out. If you're sweating too much you might want to think of the clothes you have under the suit. I just wear a lightweight pair of wind pants that let me breathe and and move freely and I still stay plenty warm, and I to sweat pretty easily.

[DLD24]

If your on a budget, check out sportsmanguides suit, the brand is guide gear, I have had mine for 3 or 4 years now and they are still holding up great..you can unzip the legs up to the knees I believe, pockets are nice for carrying waxis and other stuff...Can't beat $72..only bad thing is it doesn't float

sportsmanguide

[speedbump]

I use the Clam Blue suit and have used it for the past 5 seasons. It is holding up really well. I would buy another Clam suit in a heartbeat. With that being said, I have not owned another brand, so those may work the same or better.

[Chad Peterson]

I run a Clam blue suit and absolutely love it. the pockets seem to be the right depth for the stuff I put in them and I have the covered pockets for the stuff that I absolutely cannot have fall out. If you're sweating too much you might want to think of the clothes you have under the suit. I just wear a lightweight pair of wind pants that let me breathe and and move freely and I still stay plenty warm, and I to sweat pretty easily.

John, I agree with you. I've been running with the blue suit for 8+ years now and I love it. They are warm and they are not just for ice fishing. You can use them for early spring and fall. With the weather we are having now, the Clam blue suit is the ticket.

[Brad B]

The Clam Edge Blue suit is nice but I really like the fact that Clam introduced the Lift suit this year. I think the Lift suit is the way to go. it is no thicker then the regular Blue suit and it gives you the floating capability if you go through.

[Valleye]

I have Clam's blue Smurf suit and the extreme ice suit. Both serve me well. The Blue one's getting a little stained w/ oil and various other stains. All I can say is make sure whatever you buy is waterproof and windproof. There are alot of suits on the market. Good Luck!

[CaptSpike]

Well I have done some research and there are a ton of suits out there. Looks like striker had some crotch tear issues at one point but supposedly got that fixed. I was leaning toward the ice lite suit but saw some posts saying they couldn't believe they didn't change them last yr due to some problems people experienced. It didn't specify the problems though. I see now the predator series is replacing the lite series. Does anyone know what the difference between the two are and what if any improvements were made?

Also saw good reports on Vexilar snap suit owners. Anyone have an opinion on those?

Thanks,

Spike

[amateurfishing]

I have a strikemaster suit, got it on sale at ice show at a price I could afford, did not have much $$$ for frills, plenty of pocket space and keeps me warm (too warm mostly) I just open zippers & vent out

[JeremyCampbell]

Strikemaster is what I'm leaning towards this yr.If I was ice fishing hopping lakes all day,would it handle as good as Frabil and ice armor ?

[amateurfishing]

it keeps me plenty warm & dry, but have never tried or tested other brands, im a hole hopper and love being out in the elements in in zero degrees, plenty warm

[Eric_Kruger]

the crotch issue has been addressed for over a year now, and any pair that did tear Striker was more than happy to fix! As far as differences, there is color options in the predator, i believe the cross venting is new,the material is slightly thicker than the lite, and i believe the knee padding was raised in the legs on the bibs, closer to the knee.

[CaptSpike]

Thanks for that info. I guess it makes sense to go with the predator series then as obvious improvements have been made.

Thanks again,

Spike