Ice fishing suits no longer just provide warmth, but also provide safety measures. Recently, suits with built in flotation have been growing in popularity among ice anglers. If you were to fall in, the built in flotation would help keep you afloat prior to pulling yourself out or getting help. It is important to keep in mind that this doesn’t make it safe to head out on sketchy ice. As always, be sure to check ice thickness guidelines before walking/riding out. The flotation does however provide an extra precautionary measure in the case of an emergency. Not all ice suits with flotation are created equal, so let’s dive into the best ice fishing float suits and what to look out for when selecting the best one for you.
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Best Ice Fishing Float Suits (Quick Summary)
- Piscifun Ice Fishing Suit (Best Budget Option)
- Clam Rise Ice Fishing Suit (Best Mid-Price Option)
- Striker Apex Ice Fishing Suit (Best High End Option)
How To Choose A Float Suit For Ice Fishing:
Water/Wind Resistance
Waterproof clothing is critical for ice anglers. You will constantly be getting wet, weather it be through kneeling on the ice, the water from drilling holes, or snowfall/rainfall. Having an ice fishing suit that is 100% waterproof will keep you dry and protected from the elements. Additionally, there’s nothing to block the wind on a wide open frozen lake so an ice fishing suit must be able to cut the wind.
Ice fishing suits are typically made of either a polyester or nylon shell. Both materials are water proof, with polyester being slightly more water resistant than nylon. Ice fishing suits comprised of a nylon outer shell will be treated to increase it’s moisture repelling properties.
Durability
Ice fishing inherently exposes clothing to a lot of wear and tear. This is especially true for anglers who like to hole hope a lot and kneel on the ice. Look for reinforcement and padding in the key areas that experience the most wear and tear such as the knees and butt. Not only will this provide added durability and longevity of the ice suit, but it will also make fishing much more comfortable.
Insulation
Insulation can make or break whether or not the ice fishing suit will keep you warm. There are lots of different insulation types on the market that work great, and others not so much. Don’t skimp out here and select a set of ice fishing bibs and jacket with high quality insulation. Make sure the insulation is water repellent or maintains its thermal properties somewhat if wet.
Flotation
Flotation is another consideration to make when selecting a new set of ice fishing bibs and jacket. Flotation is a nice added safety measure which can help aid you in escaping thew water if you were to fall through the ice. Each company provides flotation with slightly different mechanisms and under different names. In this article, we’ll provide the best ice fishing suits with flotation.
Weight
Although often overlooked, the weight of an ice fishing suit is something to keep in mind. At less expensive price points, the lighter suits are generally less warm than heavier suits. There is an exception to this however with more expensive suits such as the Striker Apex Ice Fishing Suit, which will discuss in more detail later. For anglers who like to sit still on the ice and wait for fish to pass underneath, opt for a heavier ice suit that provides more warmth. For anglers who actively search for the fish and are constantly on the move, choosing a lightweight suit that is more breathable is advantageous.
Bibs vs. Jacket: Do You Need Both?
The short answer is no. Many anglers already have a jacket and are just looking for a set a bibs, or vise versa. You definitely don’t need both if that’s the case. If that’s not the case however, it is nice to have both the bibs and the jacket for both warmth and flotation. If you were only to purchase one, the bibs would be our recommendation. You’ll benefit greater from having the cushioned kneepads and other features, providing you with the most bang for your buck.
The Best Ice Fishing Float Suits (More Specifics)
Piscifun Ice Fishing Suit (Best Budget Option)
Features:
- 100% Polyester Shell with taped seams
- Buoyant cotton material that will keep an adult afloat in the event you may fall through the ice while fishing. There is a quick drainage channel at the bottom of the pants, it will quickly drain away water once you’re able to get out
- Windproof surface fabric paired with 100% Polyester thermal insulation cotton. The flannelette lining pockets can be used for hand warming, and the elastic design at the pant leg can be adjusted to prevent cold air intrusion
- Wear resistant materials for knees and hips, and provide an EVA protection plate on knees .
- Reflective strips spread over the chest, the knees, and the D-shaped belt to ensure the safety of night activities
- The underarm sides and waist are made of elastic design, which can accommodate any shape and get a good stretch
- Jacket comes with 7 pockets for storage
Pros:
This combination of jacket and bibs is relatively inexpensive when compared to other floating ice suits on the market. Additionally, it is plenty warm for normal use and comes with some nice added storage options for pliers and other items.
Cons:
When purchasing this ice suit, be sure to size up one size. This suit runs a little small so sizing up will allow you to layer properly underneath the jacket and bibs. Additionally, this ice fishing suit is not the lightest or warmest when compared to the other suits on this list.
Clam Rise Ice Fishing Suit (Best Mid-Price Option)
Features:
- Uses Motion Float technology, this bib has an internal buoyancy assist design
- Motion Float technology adds buoyancy (Not Coast Guard Approved PFD)
- 3M Reflective material throughout bib, 100% waterproof
- Adjustable inseam
- Available in sizes Small – 5XL
Pros:
This set of ice fishing comes in the widest range of sizes compared to the other options. Additionally, this ice fishing suit is known to be incredibly warm. If fish in very cold conditions are aren’t looking to break the bank, this is a great option. Additionally, it comes with Clam’s motion float technology which provides flotation without inhibiting your range of motion.
Cons:
This ice fishing suit is quite heavy and bulky. If you are an angler that likes to move around a lot and cover water, this wouldn’t be my choice. Choose something a little bit lighter and less warm for this application.
Striker Apex Ice Fishing Suit (Best High End Option)
Features:
- Outer shell is made from Hydrapore material to provide waterproof coverage
- Built-in heat map technology
- PrimaLoft Cross Core Insulation Series fuses existing PrimaLoft insulation fibers with Aerogel, a NASA-developed technology known for being one of the best insulators on the planet.
- Top-loading cargo pockets with magnetic closure
- Sureflote Flotation technology can keep an average person afloat for up to 2 hours
Pros:
This is pretty much as good as it gets when it comes to ice fishing float suits. The Striker Apex ice fishing suit is loaded with features such as magnetic pocket closures and accessory clips that make storage and accessibility much easier. Additionally, the primaloft insulation in the jacket and bibs is some of the best material on the market for this type of application. It allows the jacket to be incredibly lightweight and breathable, but extremely warm at the same time. This is a great choice for anglers who like to cover water and move around a lot on the ice.
Cons:
This is the most expensive ice fishing suit of the three listed in this article. This is not intended for the average angler and is more so geared towards the fisherman that spend a lot of time on the ice. If you only make it out a few times a season and don’t fish in very cold conditions, this would not be my recommendation.
More Information
And with that, you’ve made it to the end of The Best Ice Fishing Float Suits article. Remember that ice fishing truly puts your gear to the test, so having a suit specifically designed for the job is gamechanger. Look for a suit that is 100% water proof with high quality insulation. If you plan on sitting still a majority of the time on the ice, you can get a way with a heavier suit that provides more warmth. For the guys that walk around and hole hop a lot, you’ll want a lighter suit that is more breathable. Additionally, having a float suit gives you the added safety measure if you were to break through. We hope this helped narrow down your search and determine which float suit is right for you. Tight Lines!
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If you’re just getting started in ice fishing and looking for more gear, check out The Best Ice Fishing Gear: Everything You Need To Get Started
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