Ice fishing clothing

[aquafang]

Has anyone tried the Vexilar bibs and parka? How about the strike king bibs? How do they compare to the Ice armor brand? I guess I really only want the bibs and you can't get them separately in the ice armor

[Tyler Holm]

I bought the black Ice Armor bibs last season and love them. Super warm, padded knees and butt. I've knelt in water dozens of times and never got a single wet knee yet.

[ozzie]

a friend of mine purchased the strikmaster bibs and jacket- another buddy purchased the vexilar bibs and jacket (same stuff) and he also purchased the Arctic Armour sold on this site......for warmth they couldn't tell the difference in the wind fishing on Red Lake on the ice....the Armour is water proof and floats and the vex/strikemaster/ice are all water resistant I believe...he stated none of them really got you wet even when kneeling in water......after him testing them I chose to buy the Vexilar suit and got a good deal and used it a few times last year and love it......when I have the cash though I will buy a Artic Armour suit for the floating ability!!

[bassNspear]

How much does a guy pay for Ice Armor

[walleyedan]

You can buy Arctic Armor bibs by themselves, 159.99 (red and black). The camo is a little higher. You can also mix and match sizes (top/bottom). I would say that they are the best out there. We have a full supply of sizes and colors up here at our new shop in Nisswa. My Dad also has a camo and a red and black suit with him in Eden Prairie. If anyone would like to see the product, call me and we can set a meeting spot. Otherwise we can ship, we have gotten pretty darn good at guessing sizes.

Walleyedan

[NAMASafetyDirector]

I would also recommend taking a look at the Cabela's insulated Guidewear. Well worth the $$. Never been cold or wet in mine yet.

[zamboni]

I got a pair of Walls Zeros coveralls at K-Mart last year on clearance for $12, originally $100. Plus Minnesota- no taxes, gotta love that!! Used them during late ice, when the water was puddling on the ice surface and kneeled and never got wet underneath, and kept very warm in them.

One question I have, is you guys like the Under Armour (football stuff) or plain old long johns?

[MuleShack]

I bought a couple sets of the under armour tops and bottoms (winter gear) and i like them. you really dont know they are there after a while. I really like the tops, long sleeve and has the high neck line to keep the heat in.

It keeps the heat on the body but still acts like a wicking agent to let moisture out.

Need to layer over it but still better than traditional longjons imo.

[zamboni]

Yeah, I have never worn them, but sound like they would be better than long johns. Long johns get sweaty and wet, was wondering about the wicking of the Under Armour. Those Wal-Mart off brand Under Armours work, or should a guy get the real deal?

[bassNspear]

i have some guide series from gander, great for summer fishing when the rain is out, or its a cold day, but it doesnt seem to work very well in the winter time. I will have to go and see what i can get my hands on out there.

[walterking]

if looking for just bibs i would recomend the artic armour hands down the warmes driest gear on the market well worth the little extra money.

[hanson]

You seriously could not pry my Arctic Armor bibs & coat out of my hands at this point. Rainproof, windproof, coldproof... I cannot say enough good things (from my own personal experience) about the product.

I really think the greatest testament is Walleyedan really "taking the lead" so to speak with this product in the state of MN. Dan's reputation among anglers is unbelievable. For him to take the initiative and distribute Arctic Armor says a lot to myself.

Quite honestly, I would have never bought this product without the feedback I received from Dan, as well as a considerable amount of other FMers last winter. If there is really someone to thank for bringing this product to my attention, it is the folks who bought it before me who posted on FM with there feelings and thoughts on the product. Thats who made my decision easy!

[harvey lee]

I personally used the Ice armor ice fishing clothes all of last winter and was very satisfied with their product.

Now, just a few short days ago after hearing nothing but great things about the Artic Armor, I now have a set of the camo clothes. Last weekend I wore the camo deer hunting in the tree stand archery hunting and can say this, the clothes were very quiet, warm and waterproof. This suit will work for duck hunting, archery deer, ice fishing and probably turkey hunting when it a bit cooler outside.

I dont believe that anyone could go wrong with this Artic Armor product. Plus, where can you find a product that will do all of this and still be a great lifesaver if you have the misfortune of falling through the ice this winter?

Check it out here.

http://www.idigear.com/

One can also stop and see this product at the St Paul Ice fishing show coming up shortly.

[Shack]

Walleye Dan and Hanson offer great ideas! I will revisit Artic Armor at my next bib and jacket purchase!

I purchased the Carhartt Extremes Artic bibs and Extremes Artic coat quilt lined and hood! It was pretty spendy, but it has held up to one and half seasons of abuse so far. More than fishing can bring, but working and all the other good stuff you do in 30 below zero temps! It is very water proof and has not worn a bit. I purchased the black color, because it helps bring in the warmth and has not faded one bit. Also, its Union made! This is not the regular old Carhartt style bibs and jacket. This stuff is tough and flame retardant! I do not know if Artic Armor is or not, but during fishing this is a must!

My other fishing bibs have been nice and cozy, but in a season or two I have Mr. Heater burns on knees and hip area.

I need something that was not going to burn, unless you hold a torch to it!

That is why I went with my Carhartt's! I think it cost me $330-340 with all three pieces, but it has held up much longer than anything else I have own and this new material will not fade (like cheaper Carhartt stuff)..

Now it does not float you, which is a great feature of Artic Armor! But it will not burn like Ice Armor! It also takes a season to breaker her in, but 30 below, 40 below and colder, you will stay warm and dry!

I have see Rick (one of the owners) in a new hunting suit that seems like the cats meow!

Again, Artic Armor will be in my next bib purchase. Hanson make the stuff look cool!

[MuleShack]

I just received my set of Arctic Armour from WalleyeDan last week.

It had it's first test run last saturday night out on Mille Lacs where it got down in the twenties.

It was rock solid baby...(quote by kevin Mchale i believe )

anyway, i have had the traditional camo hunting parka and bibs and they are warm, but also very bulky and extra work for movement.

These suits are light weight and easy to maneuver around in but are warm and dry. anyone looking for the mobility factor with out the traditional bulk of the winter gear...this is the ticket.

You will need to layer clothing, like Under Armour, a long sleeve shirt, then a sweat shirt.

Here is a video clip of the suit in action...pretty cool. I hope i dont have to test it this way, but it is nice to know it floats.

Video link

[IcemanMN]

On the warm days I will just wear my Gander Guide series Rainsuit. On the cold ones I'll just wear the bibs and a heavier parka, while layering under the bibs they keep my legs dry when augering so they are great.

[walleyedan]

Mule Shack,

Thank you very much for posting the video also thank you Hanson for your post. You are right on, if I truely did not believe in the product I wouldn't be pushing it like I am. It's good stuff! Thanks again guys.

Walleyedan

[SomethingFishy*]

Quote:

---

Has anyone tried the Vexilar bibs and parka? How about the strike king bibs? How do they compare to the Ice armor brand? I guess I really only want the bibs and you can't get them separately in the ice armor

---

Ice armor bibs are sold seperately in black. estimated retail $179 Pick them up at the ice show, reeds is sure to tret their customers well as always.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Almost everything I own is Cabelas or Gander brand. I have the Cabela's Gore Tex bibs and jacket that I use exclusively for ice fishing. They are absolutely awesome. I can sit or kneel on the ice and never get wet (at least I haven't yet). The gloves work very well for slushing holes or grabbing fish and stay completely dry.

That being said, my next outerwear for ice fishing will be the Arctic Armor. I have no complaints about my Cabela's gear, but the fact that the Arctic Armor will help float you if you do fall in is priceless. Anytime you are on the ice, you can be seconds away from falling in. It is too much of a hassle to wear a life jacket for the "what ifs", so having floating gear would be awesome.

[thirtysomething]

There was a post a ways back about the under shirts. I've switched from the more spendy Under Armour to the Fleet Farm brand. Honestly feels the same, and so far has performed the same, and of course costs way less. Now I can save those pennies for the Artic suit later in the season.

[BoxMN]

I just got a "silk weight" Gander undershirt, and used it duck hunting in NoDak and Mn so far. Wow, it is great. Comfy, I didn't get the "compression" style, and keeps the sweat off you, and actually can wear it just like a mock tee shirt. I think this under my Drake 3/4 zip will take me right up until it is about 20 degrees, maybe then just a fleece under the outer layer.

For ice fishing, I use my Artic Armor bibs (no long johns needed) and probably this silk weight top and a my Drake 3/4 zip. When it gets colder I will just use the silk weight top and the Artic Armor jacket and bibs.

One thing about the Artic armor jacket, is that the hood is incredible. It works the way hoods should, not like many of them that are just a PITA. Oh yeah, for hats I use the Under Armor hood/face mask and a baseball cap. If it is too cold for that, I just put up the jacket hood. I was warm and dry all last winter using the above stuff.

[EJW]

A very GOOD economical solution is the bibs and parka FF sells made by our famous life preserver company in St Cloud.

Great year round.

[Haybinder]

I purchased the Arctic Armor suit from Walleye Dan. His service was AWESOME. Last year I sat in the rain, on the ice, for over 10 hours straight. The wind was 20+. I got to my truck and took off the suit and was bone dry. My buddy that was in his shack, was soaked. It is like waring a ice shelter, without the bulk. Here is one thing that I have found...you do need to move around a little to produce the heat to keep you warm, but I do mean A LITTLE. If you are a person that likes to move from hole to hole, this is perfect. If you want a suit that will keep you warm, without doing anything, while sitting in the middle of a lake in -40 temps, and without some schnapps, then you had better wait for your permanent house to be able to go out, or just put some more layers on underneath your suit. I do not know if it will keep me afloat and to be honest, I don't want to know. But it was easier to sell it to the wife! I do have a little issue with a zipper, which Dan said was under warranty, but I could not send it back because I did not want to be without the coat...risk that I had to take. as far as size goes, I am 6' and 230 and got the XL. The coat is great, I wish the bibs were a little longer, but at least they do not drag on the ice or in the mud. Thank you Dan (by the way, I have never met him, but again received GREAT service from him adn his wife).

[OldBear]

I have the black carhartt artic extreme bibbs & coat set and really like them but beings I swim like a rock ideally I'd like to get the artic armor. I bought the bibbs on a spring sale for $89 and the next spring the coat for $79.

[Shack]

Oldbear,

I almost thought I was the only Carhartt Extreme Bibs guy on this site.

I paid more than you did when I bought mine, but they are still good.

But like you said, Artic Armor in an investment in the future!