Ice-fishing has become quite popular over the years due to new technologies and equipment offered in the market. The most essential among them are ice shelter and ice fishing sled.
Portable ice shelter will provide you increased comfort and mobility which is important for winter fishing. There are a few factors you should consider when choosing the best ice shelter:
- Size;
- Transportability;
- Weight;
- Set-up time.
If you don't know how to choose ice shelter or ice fishing gear in general, read this review. We put together 13 inexpensive items specially for winter fishing.
Top 13
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| Frabill Aegis 2110 Flip Ice Shelter | Clam Outdoors™ Corner Console | Otter Outdoors XT Resort Package | FRABILL® Fortress Ice Shelter | Otter Outdoors XT Pro X-Over Resort Ice Shelter | Otter Outdoors Sport Sled | Clam™ Hub Shelter Coat Hooks – Four-Pack | Otter Outdoors Three-Pocket Cargo Storage Net | Clam Outdoors™ Fishtrap Cover | Clam Outdoors™ Shelter Hanger Hook | Clam Outdoors™ Scout Organizer Sled | HT Enterprises Deluxe Polar Ice Picks | Clam Outdoors™ Ice Anchor Installation Tool | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Brand | Clam Outdoors¿ | Otter | CLAM | Otter | Clam Outdoors¿ | Otter | Otter | Clam Outdoors¿ | CLAM | Clam Outdoors | Frabill | HT | Frabill |
Frabill Aegis 2110 Flip Ice Shelter
- 300-denier walls and insulated roof;
- Fits two anglers;
- Comfortable jump seats;
- Packs for easy transport.
Named for the shield that protected the gods, the Frabill Aegis 2110 Flip Ice Shelter has 300-denier walls and an insulated roof to keep built-up heat from escaping. This compact shelter fits two anglers and has comfortable jump seats, yet still provides a surprisingly large fishing area. Packs up for easy transport. Imported.
83”L x 58”W x 61.5”H.
Packed: 58”L x 33”W x 16”H.
Fishable area: 19.5 sq. ft.
Wt: 60 lbs.
Clam Outdoors™ Corner Console
- Rugged high-density polyethylene;
- Molded-in cup holder;
- Accessory storage.
Keep essentials at your fingertips with Clam's Corner Console. A molded-in cup holder and accessory storage offer a convenient place to store beverages, lures, snacks and more while using your Clam ice shelter. Rugged high-density polyethylene construction withstands years of freezing temperatures and rough use. Includes mounting hardware to install in the corner of your tub. Combined with the ice fishing bucket organizer it will provide you with the most convenience.
11"L x 11"W.
Otter Outdoors XT Resort Package
- Huge 35 sq. ft. of space allows plenty of room for three people;
- Thermal-Tec 600-denier layering system blocks wind;
- Quilted thermal inner shell locks in warmth and reduces condensation;
- 66" flip-up bench seat comfortably seats three fishermen;
- Molded sled with molded-in hitch pockets for towing.
Create your own resort out on the ice. With 35 sq. ft. of space and insulated walls, Otter Outdoors' XT Resort Package will keep you and two buddies warm, comfortable and protected. Thermal-Tec™ 600-denier layering system blocks light and wind while its quilted thermal inner shell locks in the heat. Ultradurable triple-layer shell also reduces condensation, keeping you warm and comfortable through the coldest days on the ice. Perfect for three people, this flip-over portable shelter is equipped with telescoping aluminum square tubing for use in a variety of positions. Anodized receiver tubes and Ultra-Glide system makes setups and adjustments quick and easy. Crack-resistant TPU windows with insulated covers and two sealable vents. Interior draft skirt helps create a seal around the ice that prevents drafts. Roto-molded large sled is equipped with a huge 66" flip-up bench seat. Sled includes molded-in hitch pockets for pulling with an ATV or snowmobile. Grey interior increases visibility. Accessories sold separately.
80"H x 84"W x 106"D.
Collapsed: 22"H x 84"W x 44"D.
Wt: 145 lbs.
FRABILL® Fortress Ice Shelter
- Accommodates three anglers;
- Kick-Out Hub Technology with pull tabs;
- Extra-broad base and solid hubs for stability, even in winds;
- Designed for efficient gear organization;
- Durable polyester sides and skirting with a welded top.
Efficient use of space makes the Frabill Fortress Ice Shelter the most fishable shelter three anglers have ever settled into. Your ice fishing convenience and comfort are the priorities built into its design, starting with Frabill's patented Kick-Out Hub Technology – just yank on a few pull tabs and setup is virtually complete. With its extra-broad base and solid hubs, the Fortress is extremely stable, even in high winds. From there, you'll find plenty of places to stash your gear away from the holes, maximizing your fishing room. Tough polyester construction with 600-denier sides and insulated welded top, 600-denier skirting and 300-denier bottom. Imported.
Set up: 80"L x 80"W x 80"H.
Folded: 57"L x 8.25"W x 8.25"H.
Fishable area: 69 sq. ft.
Wt: 33 lbs.
Otter Outdoors XT Pro X-Over Resort Ice Shelter
- Extra-wide footprint for up to three anglers with a six-hole capacity;
- ThermalTec 12000-denier triple-layer insulated shell;
- Quick Switch frame sets up quickly;
- Super-fast EZ Lock Assembly;
- Easily converts from front-entry to side-entry.
The Otter Outdoors XT Pro X-Over Resort Ice Shelter gives you a top-quality, quick-setting three-angler ice-fishing shelter with an extra-wide footprint, six-hole capacity and easy entry and exit from any direction. Its ultra-wide, roto-molded sled is engineered to perform in the cold, and the Otter ThermalTec™ 1200-deiner, triple-layer shell includes a full center lining with super-efficient high-loft insulation. The Quick Switch frame combines super-strong square aluminum tubing with Ultra-Glide System and EZ Lock Assembly technologies to dramatically reduce assembly time and offers easy conversion from front-entry to side-entry according to your preference. Includes three removable, flip-up padded bucket seats with front-to-back, left-to-right adjustability. Imported.
Packed: 84"L x 44"W x 22"H.
Set up: 106"L x 84"W.
Center ht: 80".
Fishable area: 35 sq. ft.
Wt: 145 lbs.
Otter Outdoors Sport Sled
- Strong rotational-molded polyethylene;
- Slides easily over deep snow and slush;
- Stable sled tracks.
The Otter Sport Sled is like a packhorse on ice. Made of a proprietary blend of superstrong rotational-molded polyethylene, the sled can take anything you can dish out and maintain its flexibility. Front-end attack angle lets it slide easily over deep snow and slush. Wide tracks ensure exceptional stability and tracking qualities. It is similar to Otter 2 sled but has more maneuverability due to increased ergonomic.
Sizes:
- Small: 44"L x 22"W x 9"D. Wt. 6 lbs.
- Medium: 53"L x 25"W x 10"H. Wt. 12.5 lbs.
- Large: 64"L x 29"W x 11"H. Wt. 17 lbs.
Clam™ Hub Shelter Coat Hooks – Four-Pack
- Universal coat hooks slide into the ceiling corner pocket;
- Easy to store;
- Made of zinc-coated steel;
- Sold in packs of 4.
Clam caters to ice anglers with these Clam Hub Shelter Coat Hooks made of zinc-coated steel. These fit nicely in the pole pockets on the roof panels in the corners of your shelter allowing you to hang your parka/coat up while fishing. The hooks work well with any hub shelter on the market and are easy to store. Great for hunting blinds, too. Per 4.
Otter Outdoors Three-Pocket Cargo Storage Net
- Durable heavy-duty netting;
- Integrated nonslip hooks and loops;
- Fits most shelter framing systems.
Keep your ice shelter organized and gear off the ice with Otter Outdoors' Three-Pocket Storage Net. Durable heavy-duty netting is stretchable and adjustable. Integrated non-slip hooks and loops for easy attachment. Belt system attachment. Fits most shelter framing systems. Made of nylon. Imported.
Clam Outdoors™ Fishtrap Cover
Mandatory for serious ice anglers. The heavy-duty Clam Travel Cover is what keeps the gear in your Clam shelter and snow out while pulling across the ice or driving from lake to lake. As importantly, the Travel Cover protects the tent fabric when it's most vulnerable to wear while moving from spot to spot. Cover only. If you have Clam quick set it will be more convenient to have your gear organized and protected.
Available:
- Model 8831 – Fits Voyager, Adventure, X2, X4 Thermal X and Tundra.
- Model 8792 – Fits Guide, Nanook, Kenai.
- Model 8820 – Fits Pro, Legend.
- Model 8073 – Fits Yukon, Kodiak, Denali.
- Model 8760 – Fits Scout, Trapper, Nordic Sled.
- Model 9568 – Fits X1.
Hey guys! Last time I had spoke to is putting the runner kid on my Yukon TC. I finished everything else. Put together. One final step besides putting accessories on my new fish house. I just wanted to share one quick tip with you, guys, that I'll actually save a little more frustration in the process of putting these things together.
It's pretty easy to put them together but there's a few small things like putting your owner kit on. First like I talked about and then dealing with this weather stripping is about the two toughest things it comes to the whole process of putting your fish house together.
With that said this tough hard material for your weather stripping and that does is it seals out all the air and snow that can come through. It's one of the most important parts. You actually get it done right. You don't you know things can start to go bad when you're pulling the fish house. You're dealing all that stuff so it's really important. It on tight you get enough screws in to secure. You usually get it out of the box. You can see how it's curved up and it's kind of tough to work with their's a couple of different things you can do to make your life a lot easier.
Actually three things. It's in your basement where it's warm. Wherever it's warm you have a heated garage and then to have a bucket of hot water. I have hot water here so what I'll do is I actually won't stick the whole weather stripping in there. I'll just kind of put it in their piece by piece and kind of loosen and then three you get to the two corners parts. I have a hairdryer and then just like I used on the runner kit to loosen that up. I'll just use the hairdryer and use it for the corners.
When you're using the hairdryer just recommend putting the bucket of water away from. You don't accidentally drop that in there so keep that in mind. So, warm air temperature bucket of hot water, a hairdryer and it'll make your life a lot easier. It comes to putting this bad boy on super jacked for ice fishing.
We have ice in many of our small ponds just north of us out in the Dakotas. There're guys out fishing and two days and it's going to be the St. Pauli show. I'm really jacked up that I'm gonna be able to go down there. We have a panel discussion, yeah, on all days - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, so I'll check the schedule stop. You know, stop by say hello to you. Have any questions on any Clamp products? Anything like, we'd be then happy or just stop by and tell us a fish story. I promise all have a lot of them so for now I'm gonna finish putting my weather stripping on. I'm gonna be done I'm gonna. You know, pull a few fishing rods out get ready to go fishing, so we'll talk to. You at the ST Paul a show.
Clam Outdoors™ Shelter Hanger Hook
Hang your parka or coat up and out of the way with these easy-to-use coat and hanger hooks. They fit nicely into the pole pockets in the corners of roof panels, and help keep gear off the ice. Made of zinc-coated steel. Per 2. Fits Clam Voyager shelter construction and most types of tents.
Clam Outdoors™ Scout Organizer Sled
- Heavy-duty polyethylene construction;
- Durable one-piece design;
- Made from the same material as Clam Outdoors’ shelter tubs.
Get your gear on and off the ice with ease in Clam Outdoors' Scout Organizer Sled. Heavy-duty, one-piece polyethylene construction ensures long-lasting durability for seasons of reliable service. Made from the same super-tough material as Clam Outdoors' shelter tubs. Imported.
43”L x 35”W x 8”H.
Capacity: 5 cu. ft.
Wt: 20 lbs.
HT Enterprises Deluxe Polar Ice Picks
They might save your life if you ever fall through the ice. Wear the Polar Ice Picks around your neck. Should you fall through the ice, with a pick in each hand, you can use them to dig into the ice and climb out of the freezing water. Ends clip together for safe storage.
Clam Outdoors™ Ice Anchor Installation Tool
Just attach this handy tool to any cordless drill and make it quick and easy to secure ice anchors into the ice. Works with most ice anchors.
Conclusion
As you can see, we also included in this article various tools that will provide a stable construction. Even if you are a beginner there will no issues with setting up neither Clam ice shelters nor Otter fish house accessories.
We suggest you watch video guides from skilled winter fishermen. Some of them are available above. You also can compare different ice shelters and sleds relying on real customers experience. It will help you to save money and time.
