Warmest ice jacket/bib?

[lawnbuilder]

I've been looking, but I am not sure what I should get. I freeze when I am out and would like to do more than sit in a house most days. I am assuming size charts are fairly accurate. This is the year to get something to stay warm and dry. Thanks

[Mike Stark]

If I were to buy a new suit this year I would go with a Striker Climate suit. They are real nice suits and they float. The climate suit is probably one of the warmer suits out there.

[river rat316]

I bought the Strikemaster suit years ago at the ice show for like $150, it has been the best investment I have ever made, I know there are warmer out there but for the price they sell them for at the ice show you can not go wrong

[ozzie]

I had a strikemaster suit for many years and last year upgraded to the striker climate suit and let me tell you they are night and day difference!! The striker climate suit has been a great tool to keep me out and comfortable. Plus it floats and you can take the insulation out and use the suit for spring and fall fishing. My dad bought the coat only last year for walking in the morning to work and he said it was one of the better purchases he has made for winter

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Climate suit is what i wore in the stand saturday and on the ice sunday

Hours of inactivity, sitting outside, you will get chilly though.

I wouldn't say it is the warmest; though it is the warmest i own.

[M1dwestF1sh]

I had an ice armor for years. Last year I got the striker suit and it is amazing. Highly recommend it

[aanderud]

The warmest I've seen is the snosuit, by Frabill. It doesn't have removable liner or anything, so you're stuck with strictly COLD-weather gear. But if that's what you're after, it does a great job.

[NoWiser]

Please get something that floats if you are going to use it for ice fishing. There are a few good options out there.

[harvey lee]

I own 4 different ice suit brands and hands down, the Sno Suit as Aanderud stated this suit is second to none. All the other brans, Ice Armour, Striker and Artic Armour will not come close to what the Sno Suit can do for you in severe cold.

I was up on Rainy Lake some years ago and the warmest day out of 3 was -32 and that did not include the wind-chill. I wore my suit and was very warm and I had my Sno Suit mitts on also and my hands were are nice as they could be. In fact, Boilerguy, s staffer here on HSO was along and I borrowed a pair of these finger gloves to him and he can attest that they are a very warm finger glove.

There are numerous options out there on the market for floatable ice suits and I wont even suggest one as they are all pretty good suits.

But if you are looking for a warm suit for the coldest of outdoor temps, then the Sno Suit is the suit to own, even for the money they charge as they do not come cheap. I do not wear this suit unless it is bitter cold as it is bulky so for a warmer weather suit, it is simply to bulky and it would be way to warm for say +10.

If you do not take huge risks on the ice and do not venture out on thin ice, I would then not be too concerned about the suit floating you if you fell in. Yes, if you did, it could save your life but if you are not a risk taker on thin ice or go in questionable areas on a lake or river you will be fine without a floater.

If you do get that cold out on the frozen water, get the Sno Suit and I can promise you, you will be warm. Maybe not so with the other suits unless you layer very well underneath and then you will be bulked up anyways.

[lawnbuilder]

Thanks for the info. The striker climate sounds like it maybe the best all around choice.

[DTro]

Totally satisfied with my Striker suit, I think you will like it.

[leech~~]

I picked up a set of FXR jacket and bib's last year which has the "FAST" technology, which stands for Flotation Assistance Technology. It is the warmest suit I have ever had. I use them for snowmobiling as well.

[NoWiser]

If you do not take huge risks on the ice and do not venture out on thin ice, I would then not be too concerned about the suit floating you if you fell in. Yes, if you did, it could save your life but if you are not a risk taker on thin ice or go in questionable areas on a lake or river you will be fine without a floater.

I am not a risk taker AT ALL. I won't drive a truck on the ice until there is 20", won't drive an atv until there is 8", and won't walk until there is 6". I still fell through the ice and almost died when I encountered a thin spot at night. A flotation suit would have help immensely as I was dragging a friend with me as I struggled to find solid ice and keep us both afloat - she had already given up.

I fish outside on a snowmobile in Canada all the time in -30 real temps with my Striker suit and stay warm.

Please get a floating suit. If you need to step up to a little heavier weight long underwear, it is worth it. You can be as careful as you want but the fact is, no ice is safe. If not for you, do it for your family.

[BSLNORTH]

I wear Klim jacket and bibs for fishing and riding. They are not cheap, but they are warm and waterproof with the Gortex. Amazing clothing but you pay for it, but well worth the $.

[20lbSloughShark]

I think you may be looking at this the wrong way. You will be much happier if you dress in many layers. You could spend double to get a slightly warmer jacket, or you could wear an extra sweatshirt. I want my jacket to trap heat in, and block the wind. I also want it to be water resistant. Other than that, it comes down to quality, color, and pockets. I wear a mil. surplus m-65 with liner that is far from the warmest jacket, but it traps heat in, blocks wind and water out, and has big pockets. Its all how you layer underneath.

-Tom

[Esox_Magnum]

With my striker I can wear shorts and a t shirt under it and stay warm. Pretty much how I dressed Sunday when out checking ice and tinkering with stuff I didn't have put away before the storm. I didn't even have socks on. Oh and took the quad for a ride.

[20lbSloughShark]

How is that a good thing? If you get moving, or the day is particularly warm, you wont have any layers to take off.

-Tom

[MN Mike]

I wear Klim jacket and bibs for fishing and riding. They are not cheap, but they are warm and waterproof with the Gortex. Amazing clothing but you pay for it, but well worth the $.

x2

If it's in the budget, you owe it to yourself to take a look at KLIM, by far the warmest parka / bib combo I've ever had. Look at the Keweenaw line, lots of options built into those parka's and bibs.

Mike

[ZachD]

I will put in another vote for Striker Ice

On top of it being warm it has enough pockets and other neat features. I usually pair it with an under armor fleece storm hoodie and when I do a lot of running and gunning I take off the jacket and the hoodie and bibs keep me plenty warm!

[harvey lee]

As I stated NoWiser, it could save ones life. As far as a wheeler on 8 inches of ice, not for me, I can wait till it is much thicker so we know the thin spots will support a wheeler. U would not catch me walking around on the ice at night in the dark either, too dangerous for me when you cannot see anything. I guess with a suit that will float one, then it must be ok.

I have been ice fishing for close to 55 years, never once have I come even close to falling through the ice.

Everyone has a story as the companies that do the marketing for the floating suits do a great job of scaring people into getting a floating suit.

Nowadays everyone has to have one but 10 years ago, people who were very careful, had no issues at all but, the great marketing plan of the companies has everyone convinced we have to have one.

I have numerous brands of these suits. Some people get these suits and then take bigger risks as they have a suit that will save their life.

Real simple, just be very cautious.

[harvey lee]

I will say this, the Striker is a warm suit but in no way is it as warm as a Sno Suit. If one wore both, then they would understand.

Not saying the Striker is not warm or is not a great suit, just simply stating that it is NOT as warm as a Sno Suit.

Try both on and spend a day outside in -25 temps and then you will understand.

MN Mike, I have heard good things about the KLIM suit.

[Crappyfisherman]

I have the Frabill Sno Suit and Striker Predator. The Sno Suit is the warmest suit I've ever seen. I only wear it if it's -20 or more because it's two warm and bulky for me. The Striker Predator is better if your active and you can layer to match conditions plus it will keep you afloat if you go in. It's not Coast Guard approved but will keep you upright for 2 hours according to the company. If your in the water longer than 15 to 20 minutes your most likely dead anyways. Hope I never have to find out, been ice fishing for 55 years and haven't gone in yet thank god.

[Northlander]

Sno Suit and Striker makes a very warm suit. If you want a floating suit I would go to one of the Striker suits. Many to choose from.

[Bureaucrat]

Blue Ice Armor suit. I wear that, Sorel Pac boots, white cotton socks, and a wooltimate vest with a hooded sweatshirt. You won't feel the weather outside. I think the wind blocking properties are what save you. I remember being very warm last season, and really not even getting close to getting sweaty when drilling or banking the house.

[NCLaker]

I love my Snosuit, super warm. If you get too hot, it has vents you can open up that make big difference if getting too warm.

Relative to a lot of suits, I don't think it is very bulky at all. I like that the jacket length is a shorter around the front (I'm shorter guy). And the style is such that it does not look like a pure fishing jacket so I can also use it for every day use.

However, I did pick up a Striker Climate suit primarily for the fact that it floats and got it cheap at an end of season clearance sale last spring. We'll see how I like it this winter. Lots of innovative design elements with their suits: Adjustable length bibs in the legs (I have short in seams), removable bib liners, modular 2 piece jacket so you can use the shell or the interior jacket independently, etc.

[ozzie]

I was gonna say to Tom (20lbSloughShark) is that the nice thing about the Striker climate suite is that it does have layers to shed as you can take the shell off and use the inner jacket or vice versa. I like the inner jacket so much that it has become my everyday jacket. The thing I most recommend is to look at your personal situation more than anything. If you do a lot of ice fishing in early season or out in a boat early and late season get a suit that floats as it may come in handy if you can afford them otherwise the Vexilar/Strikemaster suits are good for keeping warm just wear more layers underneath. If you are on a really tight budget then I suggest getting what you can afford and then wearing your closet underneath like Tom says...haha Good Luck

[CaptainMusky]

I have heard those Ice Armor or Arctic Armor suits are super warm (moreso Arctic), but they also dont ventilate and you have moisture issues inside.

I have the Striker Climate suit and I leave the vents open all season. I never get overly hot or cold. I have fished outside in the wind and single digits and wasnt cold at all except for my hands.

Like ozzie said, the liner is a real nice Spring/Fall jacket. I am still wearing mine now because its nice looking and really warm.

The ONLY thing I criticized about the Striker Bibs (I know you asked about pants), but if you get the full suit the chest pockets in the bibs are made for someone with smurf hands. Its almost impossible for me to get my hands in there. Otherwise absolutely love the suit/jacket.

[HardwaterHero]

Striker Climate. i've never had an issue staying warm. Its worth its weight in gold.

[NKLCOLT1911]

As I stated NoWiser, it could save ones life. As far as a wheeler on 8 inches of ice, not for me, I can wait till it is much thicker so we know the thin spots will support a wheeler. U would not catch me walking around on the ice at night in the dark either, too dangerous for me when you cannot see anything. I guess with a suit that will float one, then it must be ok.

I have been ice fishing for close to 55 years, never once have I come even close to falling through the ice.

Everyone has a story as the companies that do the marketing for the floating suits do a great job of scaring people into getting a floating suit.

Nowadays everyone has to have one but 10 years ago, people who were very careful, had no issues at all but, the great marketing plan of the companies has everyone convinced we have to have one.

I have numerous brands of these suits. Some people get these suits and then take bigger risks as they have a suit that will save their life.

Real simple, just be very cautious.

the reason i own a striker suit has nothing to do with ice fishing, sure i bought it cause its warm and water proof, the floating is a added bonus, the main reason i have it is for fishing from the boat in the late fall and early spring, sure i can wear a life jacket but i dont want to add more bulk under already bulky cold weather gear, so i wear my striker suit, cause id be willing to bet a life jacket or not you go in a lake in head to toe winter gear you will sink like a rock, life jackets are not designed to support the weight of all that water logger gear and boots and anything else you are wearing to stay warm.

[NKLCOLT1911]

with that being said i will throw in a vote for the striker climate suit, its very warm and as a added bonus it floats.