We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ice fishing requires attention to gear suitable for cold, windy, and snowy conditions. At the top of the gear list is finding the ideal ice fishing suit to match\u00a0where, how, and\u00a0when\u00a0you ice fish.\u00a0<\/p>\n Besides\u00a0where\u00a0in the Ice Belt you reside\u2014and average winter temperatures and wind chills\u2014it\u2019s important to match the suit to\u00a0how\u00a0<\/em>you will be ice fishing. Will you be fishing outside in the elements primarily, hole-hopping, and fishing in the cold and wind? Or will you spend your time in a portable or permanent ice shelter?\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re like many ice anglers, you\u2019ll be doing both on various days, so\u00a0versatility\u00a0is key. You may need a super-warm suit that is layered for temperature control so you can dress appropriately to fish aggressively outside where the suit acts as a mobile shelter you wear\u2014as well as inside with the removal of an outside jacket shell.\u00a0<\/p>\n As for\u00a0when\u00a0you\u2019re ice fishing, do you venture out on hard water during early and late ice? If so, it\u2019s essential to consider a flotation-assisted ice fishing suit if you break through the ice. As you\u2019ll discover in the following review, many flotation suits are being offered today. However, you may not need a flotation suit if you fish primarily during safer mid-ice conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n With the help of friends, I tested the best ice fishing suits to give you the information you need to find the right jacket and bib for you. <\/p>\n During December, January, and February of 2023, I tested many of the suits listed with the help of several fishing buddies and family. We fished northern Minnesota waters like Lake Winnibigoshish and Leech; the lakes of West-Central Minnesota; Fort Peck, Montana; and metropolitan fisheries. We even did some testing on open-water during the mid-winter river thaw, fishing walleyes in a boat to determine the double-duty aspect of some suits.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n While on the expensive side, what you get with the Striker Climate Jacket and Bib is worth the investment. It\u2019s actually four suits in one.\u00a0<\/p>\n First, it\u2019s a well-designed flotation ice fishing suit for extremely cold and windy weather. Second, by removing the bib liner and softshell jacket liner, it\u2019s a very capable winter, spring, and fall open-water rain suit. As well, it doubles as a waterfowl or late-season deer hunting ensemble (albeit a bit noisy) if you\u2019re in a pinch. While the camo pattern isn\u2019t your typical Realtree or Mossy Oak, it is passable with lots of brown fabric to keep you relatively hidden in the marsh or woods.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lastly, you can remove the Climate G2 Softshell Jacket liner and wear it casually off-the-ice. It\u2019s not very warm on its own, but perfectly suitable for warmer, windy days as a light jacket over a t-shirt.<\/p>\n For its versatility, warmth, and overall design, the Striker Climate Jacket and Bib in Veil Stryk Transition Camo gets our pick for \u201cBest Overall Flotation Ice Fishing Suit\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n While battery-assisted apparel is nothing new\u2014with companies like Cabela\u2019s and Milwaukee Tool offering options\u2014the Norfin Element 2 Flotation Ice Fishing suit is the first ensemble we know of for hardwater use that offers lithium-power bank heat-assist technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n In a nutshell, the Norfin Element 2 Flotation Ice Fishing suit is designed for serious abuse in the worst and coldest conditions imaginable. Even without turning the heating elements on, the suit is beyond warm.\u00a0<\/p>\n With origins in Russia and popularity across the Baltic region and Scandinavia, Norfin products are now available stateside and have become the\u00a0de-facto<\/em>\u00a0choice with professional, competitive ice anglers.\u00a0<\/p>\n While I wore the suit on a couple of outings, I let my friend and former colleague (and NAIFC competitor), Shawn Bjonfald, do the majority of the suit testing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe lightweight design is great, and it still offers floatation,\u201d says Bjonfald. \u201cIt fits well. It\u2019s not bulky or cumbersome like some floatation suits, and the pockets-design is great. The pockets are where they should be and easily accessible so you can organize all of your tackle and tools when you\u2019re fishing on-the-fly outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI fish on foot a lot during the NAIFC tournaments,\u201d continues Bjonfald. \u201cI\u2019m not hunkered down in one spot, so my suit becomes my mobile shelter and my tackle box, so the Norfin pocket design is ideal. I had everything I needed on me in the suit for easy access and organization. From searching out fish on the ATV, then fishing by foot, and frequently moving from spot to spot, it\u2019s probably the best suit I\u2019ve ever worn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve gone through a lot of ice fishing suits over the years that didn\u2019t fit well, were too bulky, or just didn\u2019t feel right, which fatigue and wear you down. That\u2019s not the case with the Norfin design.\u201d<\/p>\n With regards to warmth, Bjonfald says it can\u2019t be beaten.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the times I wore the suit, it was -5 and gave off more heat than I needed. I recommend wearing the power bank-assisted base layer jacket with the outside shell for conditions below zero. For conditions above zero, all you need are the bibs and the outer shell jacket. I have yet to engage the heating on the bibs, but it\u2019s there if I need it. Plus, the Velcro on the ankle\/boot cuffs stays in place and doesn\u2019t come loose, which is great for the slushy conditions I often compete in,\u201d remarks Bjonfald.<\/p>\n Bjonfald concludes: \u201cIn terms of durability, I haven\u2019t seen one lick of wear yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Read Next<\/strong>: Best Heated Vests<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n My fishing buddy, Ty Macheledt, tested both the Eskimo Roughneck and Scout suits. Macheledt works every day from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. and fishes almost daily from 2:30 until dark\u2014both on the ice and during open-water months.<\/p>\n Living in western North Dakota, he\u2019s used to a lot of wind and cold and was the perfect candidate to test these candidates for the best ice fishing suits, which claim extremely rugged and warm features. He also makes several trips to Fort Peck, Montana, to chase lake trout through the ice, where he also tested the suits this winter.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Eskimo Roughneck suit is warm without the bulk and weight of a typical flotation suit,\u201d says Macheledt. \u201cThen imagine the knee pads you\u2019d put in your football pants. That\u2019s the quality and thickness of the pads in the Eskimo Roughneck Bibs, which you can leave in or remove via pockets inside the bib. I\u2019ve never seen anything comparable in other bibs. Plus, you\u2019ve got big hip pockets on the bibs, which is handy for tackle and other gear. The bibs also have ankle gaiters to prevent slush from getting in, but I don\u2019t use them because my boots are so tall that I don\u2019t need them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI wore the Roughneck down to about 5 degrees and was perfectly warm. I just had a sweatshirt on under the jacket and blue jeans under the bibs. I was fine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n StrikeMaster has a long, respected history in the ice fishing world for manufacturing high-quality ice augers, accessories, and more recently, ice fishing suits.<\/p>\n First off, the StrikeMaster flotation suit won\u2019t break the bank; it\u2019s priced realistically. Testing it on a couple of outings earlier this ice season, I was amazed by the range of motion you get, rare for a flotation suit, which tend to be heavy and bulky. I didn\u2019t get fatigued wearing the StrikeMaster Surface jacket and bib at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n The suit is also loaded with common-sense features. Side zippers on the bib pull all the way to the hip making slipping the bib on or off easy, even keeping your boots and cleats on. I also appreciate the padded knees, which make kneeling on jagged ice to set tip-ups, move a transducer, or land a fish way more comfortable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n My frequent ice fishing buddy Bruce also tested this suit and fell in love with it immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe that a flotation suit can be this light,\u201d remarked Bruce. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to move around in and you don\u2019t get tired from wearing heavy, bulky gear. Plus, it\u2019s super warm. And when I get back to the hard-house from drilling holes and setting tip-ups, I just take off the coat and unzip the bibs to stay comfortable. I keep it on all day long, inside and out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n My ice fishing buddy, Mike, tested this suit in 3XL and was pleased with its fit and warmth. We ventured out on a Northern Minnesota lake in -10 degree air temp and -30 degree windchill. I was wearing the SIMMS Challenger and he was wearing the Ice Runner. Neither of us were cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHard to believe they can sell this whole flotation suit for 200 bucks,\u201d said Mike. \u201cAnd it\u2019s super warm, doesn\u2019t weigh much, isn\u2019t bulky, and has tons of pockets. Perfect for me and my budget, that\u2019s for sure. More anglers should know about this Ice Runner suit. And it\u2019s got flotation, which for me at 300 pounds and 6\u20193\u201d is a pretty real consideration during early- and late-ice\u2014or on big, unpredictable lakes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI really like the Scout jacket,\u201d says Macheledt. \u201cBut the pants aren\u2019t overly warm. The other day I was fishing, and it was 25 degrees with a 15 mph wind, and I don\u2019t think I would have wanted it any colder, unless I wore a bigger size and put on long underwear under my jeans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy favorite ice fishing suit of all-time is the Eskimo\u00a0Keeper jacket<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0bib<\/a>, and now I\u2019ve had the chance to test the Roughneck and Scout. What I can tell you is they all fit differently. The Keeper bibs are the same size as the Roughneck and Scout bibs, but they run bigger, which I like. I love the Eskimo Keeper for fishing day in, day out here in North Dakota. I\u2019m used to two hip pockets on each side of the Keeper bib, which the Roughneck and Scout don\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBesides warmer days on the ice, I think the Scout would be the perfect spring and fall bib open-water coat and bib for fishing out here on Lake Sakakawea,\u201d adds Macheledt.\u00a0<\/p>\n One thing, Macheledt notes is that Eskimo Fishing\u2019s customer service is outstanding. He ripped the crotch out of his Keeper bibs while pulling off his boots and cleats and they sent him a new pair, which arrived in a few days. Perfect for Macheledt, who fishes every day\u2026<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI like how the suit is contoured to my curves and doesn\u2019t look boxy like the workwear I typically wear on the ice,\u201d says ice angler, Krysta Gregory. \u201cPlus, it\u2019s super warm and not bulky at all. I\u2019ve got a good range of movement. And it doesn\u2019t require a lot of extra layering unless it\u2019s below zero outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI also like that it offers flotation for peace of mind if my husband and I are fishing sketchy ice,\u201d adds Gregory.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gregory concludes: \u201cThe other thing that\u2019s kind of nice is there\u2019s a place for my cellphone in both the jacket and the bibs, so I don\u2019t need to worry about dropping it down the hole!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n When it comes to taking kids ice fishing, comfort is key to a full day on hard water. So, I bought his suit for my daughter last fall, wanting her toasty warm and having fun. Although a bit on the expensive side, it\u2019s been a great investment.\u00a0<\/p>\n She not only wears the DSG suit for ice fishing, she wears the jacket to school and playing outside in the snow. She loves how it looks, fits, and how lightweight it is. Plus, with quality flotation assist, I can rest assured that she would be fine in the event she fell through the ice.\u00a0<\/p>\n From my 10-year-old, \u201cI love this suit, dad. It\u2019s awesome!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features<\/strong>\u00a0(Jacket)<\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve worn the same pair of SIMMS waders for over 15 years without any leaks, so I thought I\u2019d buy the SIMMS Challenger cold-weather suit for this ice season, after giving away my old Frabill suits to fishing buddies. Good decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n Featuring 120 grams of PrimaLoft\u00ae Rise insulation, the SIMMS Challenger jacket and bib is lightweight but warm. The jacket is roomy enough to allow layering for extremely cold temperatures, but I haven\u2019t needed to do that all season, wearing the suit sans base layers in temperatures down to -10 with -30 degree windchill.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Challenger is lightweight and offers great range of motion when fishing outside, setting tip-ups, hole-hopping, etc. Even when cruising across the lake on a snow machine, it\u2019s been warm. The only drawback is it doesn\u2019t offer flotation, but even without, makes a great mid-winter, safe-ice jacket and bib.\u00a0<\/p>\n One thing I really like about the Challenger bib is the reinforced knees with internal zippered pockets that include foam knee pads. While the knee pads that come in the bib are perfectly fine, I added additional foam construction pads to double up on the padding since I kneel a lot on outside to fish.\u00a0<\/p>\n Another thing I\u2019ll mention is SIMMS customer service. I didn\u2019t unzip the bib legs all the way up to my knees and tried to pull my tall, insulated\u00a0Norfin rubber boots<\/a>\u00a0through the openings and ended up ripping a hole in the crotch. I called SIMMS and they sent me brand-new bibs free-of-charge without any return necessary. After some sloppy stitching, I now have two pairs of Challenger bibs, one for fishing and another that lives in the back of my truck with the rest of my winter emergency gear.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0Key Features\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons<\/strong><\/p>\n Designed for ice fishing and any outside winter activity (shoveling, snowmobiling, chopping wood, late-season hunting, trapping, etc.), the Blocker Outdoors Outdoor Pursuit Reliant waterproof and windproof jacket and bib combo is a great option for that all-around winter suit along the lines of an improved workwear-style suit like Carhartt. Plus, the Blocker Outdoors Pursuit Parka and Bib is affordable, which allows outfitting the family\u2014like I did.\u00a0<\/p>\n The jacket and bib are built tough. The bib is abrasion-resistant and designed for many years of use. Both feature a breathable water and windproof membrane and 200g thermal-mapped PrimaLoft\u00ae Silver insulation and microfleece lining for warmth without the bulk of some suits. SIMMS uses PrimaLoft\u00ae, too, but the Blocker Outdoors is lower in price.\u00a0<\/p>\n My two oldest daughters both wear the Blocker Outdoor Pursuit Reliant jacket and bib\u2014one in black, the other in gray to prevent mixing up their garments.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI love the way they look and how warm they are,\u201d says my eldest daughter. \u201cPlus, the suit\u2019s not just for ice fishing. I wear it everywhere when it\u2019s really cold in the winter. The suit has been great for walks outside, helping dad shovel, and even skiing. And it\u2019s definitely a lot more fun ice fishing in a warm suit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\nHow I Picked the Best Ice Fishing Suits<\/h2>\n
The Best Ice Fishing Suit Reviews and Recommendations\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Best Overall Flotation Ice Suit: Striker Climate Jacket and Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Warmest, Battery-Assisted Flotation Ice Suit:\u00a0Norfin Explorer 2 Float Jacket and Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"norfin\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/norfin.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/IMG_9269_By_Jim_Edlund-scaled.jpg\")
Most Rugged Ice Fishing Flotation Suit: Eskimo Roughneck Jacket and\u00a0Bib<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"eskimo-roughneck\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/eskimo-roughneck.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Lightest Ice Fishing Suit: StrikeMaster\u00a0Surface Jacket\u00a0and\u00a0Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"rapala\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/rapala.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/STRIKEMASTER_BIB_BRUCE_GOOD_HORIZ_BY_JIM_EDLUND-scaled.jpg\")
Best Value: Ice Runner Float Jacket and Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"float\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/float.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/ICE_RUNNER_MIKE_12By_Jim_Edlund-scaled.jpg\")
Best Flotation Ice Fishing Suit for Plus-Sized Anglers: Eskimo Scout Jacket and Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"scout\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/scout.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Best Flotation Ice Fishing Suit for Women:\u00a0Ice Armour by CLAM Womens RISE Parka\u00a0& Bib<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"rise\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/rise.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
Best Flotation Ice Fishing Suit For Kids: DSG Outerwear Arctic Appeal 2.0 Ice Jacket and Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"DSG\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/DSG.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/DSG_HORIZONTAL_3_BY_JIM_EDLUND-scaled.jpg\")
Warmest Non-Flotation Ice Fishing Suit:\u00a0SIMMS Challenger Jacket<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"simms-challenger\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/simms-challenger.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
\n
Best Basic Non-Flotation Ice Fishing Suit: Blocker Outdoors Outdoor Pursuit Reliant\u00a0Parka\u00a0and\u00a0Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"blocker\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/blocker.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")
\n <\/figure>\n\n
\n
Best Lightweight\/Least Bulky Non-Flotation Ice Fishing Suit: Blackfish StormSkin Gale Pullover Jacket & StormSkin Gale Bib<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"stormskin\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/uploads\/2023\/03\/04\/stormskin.jpg?auto=webp&width=800&crop=16:10,offset-x50\")