While fishing is a popular sport in the summer, ice fishing is a sport for those that enjoy fishing all year round. Of course, ice fishing is not for the faint of heart.
With temperatures that can easily drop below zero, finding the right ice fishing shelter could be crucial to your success. After all, you don't want to freeze your behind off.
Are you brave enough to take on the extremely cold temperatures that are involved with ice fishing?
Whether you call it an ice fishing shelter or an ice fishing tent, keeping warm is a necessity for having a good time while fishing. Of course, making sure to keep warm is just one thing to keep in mind while searching for your shelter.
Product | Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|
OUR #1 RATED  Eskimo FatFish | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 Eskimo Quickfish | 4 out of 5 | |
 ThunderBay Ice Shelter | 4 out of 5 | |
 Elkton Outdoors Ice Fishing Tent | 4 out of 5 | |
 Tangkula Pop-up Ice Shelter | 4 out of 5 |
There are several factors to consider when picking out your ice fishing shelter. These include how warm the shelter can keep you and if it will protect against rain, snow, and wind. The size is also important depending on how many people you are wanting to fit in the shelter.
Now that we know know some of the key factors in looking for an ice fishing shelter, let's take a look at the top 10 best ice fishing shelters in 2021.
Eskimo FatFish
This is a great ice fishing shelter from Eskimo. It fits three to four people comfortably and comes in an easy carrying case. The shelter is created using 300 Denier IceTight fabric, which is a 59% higher thread count than competing ice fishing shelters.
This ice fishing shelter comes either insulated or non-insulated. It can be put together by one person in just a few minutes using the six included self-tapping ice anchors.
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Eskimo Quickfish
This is another great ice fishing shelter option from Eskimo. The Quickfish comes in three varieties: a two-person shelter, a three-person shelter, and an insulated three-person shelter.
Like the Fatfish, the Quickfish comes with an easy cinch carrying case.
The Quickfish features reinforced corner joints, as well as self-tapping ice anchors for an easy sixty second setup. Amazon lists that the 300 Denier IceTight fabric has a higher thread count than the leading competitor’s ice fishing shelters.
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ThunderBay Ice Shelter
This ice fishing shelter by is a great size for up to three people. It features blackout coating so that light only comes in if YOU choose for it to do so. The windows feature hook and loop fasteners for easy adjustments and are completely replaceable.
Just like the two options from Eskimo, the ThunderBay Ice Shelter comes with a carrying case for the shelter and any accessories, as well as six self-tapping ice anchors. The shelter is created using 300 denier fabric.
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Elkton Outdoors Ice Fishing Tent
There are two version of this ice fishing tent by Elkton, depending on how many people you want to fit in. There is a three to four angler version, as well as a six to eight-person version. Both versions are insulated and waterproof.
If you follow the included set up instructions, it takes one person approximately thirty seconds to put together either version of this ice fishing tent. The tent comes with a carrying case with backpack straps, ice anchors, and tie down ropes.
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Tangkula Pop-up Ice Shelter
This lightweight ice fishing tent by Tangkula features enough room for up to eight people. It is waterproof and has windows to let light in while keeping the freezing air out.
They are also detachable to allow for air ventilation. The 300D oxford fabric is frost resistant up to -30 degrees.
Like many other ice fishing shelters on this list, the Tangkula ice shelter comes complete with a traveler bag and the stakes to hold the shelter in place.
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Happybuy Ice Fishing Shelter
This ice fishing shelter by Happybuy is made of a light, durable 300D oxford fabric and comes with strong and flexible poles made of D lid glass fiber. Like many other ice fishing shelters, this tent comes with its own travel case.
With a few different sizes of this ice fishing shelter available (it comes in two, three, four, and eight person versions), you can purchase one that is perfect for you. Each version is waterproof with up to -22-degree frost resistance and easy to put up and take down.
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GYMAX Ice Shelter
Weighing only 22 pounds, this ice fishing shelter by GYMAX is a great option for a two-person tent. The oxford fabric is frost resistant up to -22 degrees, as well as being waterproof.
Featuring strong and flexible poles, the GYMAX ice shelter is easy to put up and tear down, while the traveling case makes it portable to any fishing spot.
The four covered windows are all detachable, making for great air vents. When the windows are in place, you get plenty of light while keeping the cold air out.
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FERRET Portable Ice Shelter
With a 1-2-person tent and a 6-8-person tent, this FERRET portable ice shelter is a good choice for jus about anyone. Unlike some of the shelters on this list, this one by FERRET is insulated.
This tent features two air vents and multiple detachable windows with shades. Just make sure to attach the windows prior to attaching the shades.
The FERRET Portable Ice Shelter is quite lightweight, with the 8-person tent only weighing 42 pounds, and comes with a traveling case, ice anchors, and guy ropes.
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Goplus Portable Ice Shelter
This portable ice shelter by Goplus comes in both a two and a three-person version. Like many of the tents on this list, the Goplus Portable Ice Shelter features detachable windows with shades, making it easy to ventilate the shanty.
The waterproof oxford fabric is frost resistant up to - 30? and is high quality.
This ice shanty comes complete with a traveling case and ice anchors to keep the tent in place. As a bonus, there is plenty of room in both sizes for multiple people to fish.
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Shappell Ice Shelter
This lightweight ice shelter by Shappell is easy to carry, weighing between 17 and 28 pounds, depending on the version you buy.
All the Shappell ice shelters are created using a heavy-duty polyester fabric. Want to easily view your fish? They also feature a blackout interior to make viewing fish easier.
The Shappell ice shelter comes complete with a backpack-style carrying case, removable windows with shades, and hooded air vents.
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Which Ice Fishing Shelter Should You Buy?
A lot of the ice fishing shelters on this list have similar key features. These include traveling cases, removable windows, and being easy to set up. The big differences include whether the tent is insulated and if the company makes their warranty known.
Personally, my favorite on this list is the FERRET Portable Ice Shelter. I love that it is insulated (with exception of the 1-2-person version), and it was the only ice fishing shelter on this list that has clear warranty information.
Don’t just take my word on it. When purchasing an ice fishing shelter, make sure to choose the one that fits your needs the best. What is your favorite ice fishing shelter on this list?
Lauren Gamble is an author, mompreneur, co-founder of Naturally Made Essentials. She is on a mission to help thousands of women across the world achieve a healthy, happy lifestyle through teaching natural health practices.
