Best Ice Fishing Shelter – 2018 Top Picks and Buyer’s Guide

Ice fishing is probably the best experience you can get during winter seasons. Because you will be spending many hours in the cold temperatures, it is only great if you get the best ice fishing shelter so that you can have a successful fishing ice fishing expedition.

Again, if you will be carrying family and friends when going for ice fishing, you can consider a bigger shelter to accommodate them. The query is, how will you determine the best ice fishing shelters on the market today? Do you want to have the best portable fish house or best flip over ice shelter? For this and much more, read my ice shelters reviews and guide.

I have prepared the ice fishing shelters that any ice fishing angler would love to have. With the shelters, you can spend quite a long time on ice fishing without worrying about the extreme temperatures.

Best Ice Fishing Shelter – Comparison

Top 7 Ice Fishing Shelter in 2018 – Reviews

This review is based on a very intensive research on different types of ice fishing shelters. I present to you the top 8 best ice fishing shelters. This guide will be very helpful to you if you are new to ice fishing or you just want to the best ice fishing house.

#1. Eskimo Quickfish 2 Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter

If your friend is accompanying you to fishing or you are two fishing partners, then this ice fishing shelter will be quite useful.

It is designed to accommodate two people with an ample space to store your fishing equipment or even work on with a good quality zipper that does not fail easily.

With his shelter, ventilation is not a problem since it is built with windows hence providing a good environment to stay in.

This shelter is built to keep off a cold which is the main purpose of a shelter and if a shelter cannot prevent you from cold, then it is of no use. It is built with a 300 denier ice tight fabric that is so resourceful in preventing cold from getting in.

Grip to the ground is well established with its 6 anchors which are self-tapping. They are strong enough and cannot bend even when under pressure.

This Eskimo quick fish is easy to set up and use which saves you time and moving with them is made simple with its backpack system which is very reliable.

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#2. CLAM Escape Ice Thermal 6-sided Shelter

If what you need is a simple to set up a shelter for a group of people and quite reliable, then the CLAM Escape ice thermal is the best shelter for you.

It is built with a super-tough 900 fabric which is waterproof and very reliable. This fabric keeps the inside of the shelter warm making it the best ice fishing house.

This shelter is designed with high technology which enables it to retain heat and reduces the level of condensation.

The poles are extra-large and work very well to provide a firm stand. This together with its 6 ice anchors straps and pocket straps improve its strength hence able to withstand windy conditions.

Disabling it is very simple and it packs down small. This with its oversized carry bag with clinch straps makes moving with it very simple.

What makes a nice shelter more perfect than its ability to maintain warmth? With its heat saving technology, this shelter stands out among the best shelters.

Its big capacity makes it even more economical if you might be going out fishing with your family. With this combination of good features, this shelter is just superb.

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#3. Eskimo FF949I FatFish Insulated Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter

Fishing alone could be so lonely especially in the cold and you might even opt to group fishing. If you are going to be fishing out in a group of 3 to 4 people, then the Eskimo FF9491 will be helpful in giving you good shelter.

What’s even interesting about this shelter is that it is insulated with a fabric offering you up to 35 percent more warmth as compared to other shelters of the same class.

It is designed to work with 6 self-tapping ice anchors which grip to the ground with much ease and does not give in even under pressure.

Access to the shelter is made quite easy with its classic design of two doors strategically placed on the opposite sides. This shelter also has a high-quality YKK zipper which is quite durable.

Its capacity is big enough to accommodate up to 4 people with enough working space and a place to store your fishing equipment.

This shelter is very simple to set up and highly portable. This makes it one of the best portable fish house.

 

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#4. Eskimo FF949 FatFish Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter

This could probably be the best shelter for fishing with its admirable features. Eskimo FF969 FatFish being a product of one of the most renowned companies definitely has to be the best portable ice house to have.

Unlike other ice fishing shelters, this shelter features a 61 square feet area making it good for fishing with an easy to set up and take down hub design.

The construction of this shelter is made just perfect with the inclusion of six large and removable velcron windows. This window gives you a good view and allows perfect control of ventilation.

It is designed with a large mesh storage pockets which makes storage of your essential goods quite easy, unlike other shelters.

The material design of this shelter is of high quality and durable plus it comes with up to six strong and heavy duty ice anchors. This makes its stability even more perfect and comfortable.

From its metal ball and socket design with poles of a larger diameter than other poles. It is made easy to fold and portable, they are easy to carry if you have the best ice fishing sled.

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#5. Nordic Legend Wide Bottom 3-4 Man Thermal Ice Shelter

If your great concern when buying a shelter is excellent quality and at an affordable price, then you need to have one of this Nordic legend wide bottom shelters. With its design of a wide bottom, space capacity is available for 3-4 people.

It is built with a big fishable area of up to 40 square feet. This makes it just perfect for fishing with great comfortability.

Inside the shelter is made quite warmer especially with its insulated fabric. This shelter ensures that no frog builds up on your walls when the weather is extreme.

The construction is done well with solid fiberglass poles, cast aluminum hubs and extra heavy duty stitching make it quite admirable.  Its construction also entails six heavy duty ice anchors for perfect stability.

Something worth noting with this shelter is that it is quite easy to set up to the tune of 60 seconds or even less time. Together with a rugged carry bag with shoulder straps, your traveling is made simple and enjoyable.

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#6. Clam 9710 Kenai Pro 1-Person Ice Fishing Shelter

If you will be going for a while fishing alone, then you need to make sure that you have the perfect shelter for the occasion. With its capacity of one and a pack of good features, clam 9710 Kenai pro is the perfect shelter to have with you.

Clam is a company that has been in the market for a long time and when it comes to design, having the best fishing shelter reviews. Their high-quality build products are very durable, which is a good feature to look for in a shelter.

The construction of this shelter is perfectly made with its tough 420 denier fabric which is quite reliable. It comes with a hammock and an adjustable easy to fold seat which makes it perfectly comfortable to stay in.

This shelter is very simple to set up and easily portable which makes it quite efficient shelter that anyone fishing lover should have when in the field.

With all these good features some users have even defined claim to mean reliable, durable and tough. For this reason, I certainly recommend this shelter for a nice enjoyable ice fishing experience.

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#7. Nordic Legend Two-Man Ice Shelter

While Nordic legend may not be very popular like Eskimo, this two-man shelter is quite perfect and I personally like it and they are known for their outstanding quality products.

This shelter is very portable and I can say it is also affordable to anyone who is dedicated to ice fishing activity.

With enough fishable area of 25 square feet and big enough space of two, it is very comfortable.  The fact that it comes with a bonus free chairs earns its way to the top of my favorite shelter list which could be very resourceful to you.

Talking about its design, it is made with dark double black coated inside which enables it to keep lights out and absorb heat. With this feature, enough heat is retained for the perfect warming of the shelter.

It comes with a weight of about 31 lb and a carry bag built with straps enabling you to carry on your back. These features make it very portable plus it is easy to setup which makes it the best shelter to have for ice fishing.

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How to Choose the Best ice fishing shelter

If you are planning to go out for ice fishing then you need to have the perfect shelter with you because the temperatures could be quite extreme. The big question is, how are you going to choose ice fishing shelters with the best qualities? This guide will be helpful in arriving at the best ice fishing shelter.

Types

It is important to know what varieties you are going to be choosing your shelter from before going out to buying.

There are four types of ice shelters to consider:

The hub style shelters are built with great design and they come with a perfect look which is similar to a camping tent.

Cabin style shelters are constructed with sled base and use adjustable poles. They have a capacity of up to 8 people.

Flip-style shelters are among the most popular shelters in the market. They are put up with a strong plastic sled base and come with a capacity of 2-4 people.

Windbreaker shelters are quite affordable and come with a lightweight for easy movement.

However, getting a good type of shelter is not enough. What are the features to look for in an ice fishing shelter? Here are some of the key features to look for when buying an ice shelter.

Capacity

You need to know the number of people you will be out fishing with and the size of fishing equipment you have. Always, select one with a little extra-large space.

Material

You want to buy a shelter once and for all to avoid extra costs which might be off your budget. This is why you need to select a shelter with a durable material and high heat retention capacity.

Weight and portability

You certainly need a shelter with reasonable weight, one you can easily carry around. Depending on your needs, look for a shelter that is comfortable.

Seating

Considering that you will be seating when fishing you need to find a shelter that has a chair perfect for you.

Budget

Above all other features always choose a shelter that is within your budget but has good features. Set your budget and go for a shelter that meets your budget requirements.

Final Verdict

The best ice fishing shelter should provide you with protection from the cold and bad weather. Such a shelter allows you to have fun when out for ice fishing and you can spend several hours fishing.

My top pick in this ice shanty review of top best ice fishing shelters is Eskimo Quickfish 2 Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter. This shelter earns its way to my favorite because of its package of good features; high heat retention capacity, enough space and it is very portable.

Additionally, if you want a shelter that can accommodate the whole family or a large group, go for the CLAM Escape Ice Thermal 6-sided Shelter. Not only does the shelter provide you with ample fishing area but also easy assembly and storage.

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