ice fishing bibs suggestions

[gklm9]

Can anyone recommend a good ice fishing bib, that is reasonably priced, yet warm and durable on the ice. Are the one's they sell at Wal-mart decent quality for a novice ice fisherman? What are some brands and good places to buy for best value? Any help would be great! What should I look for because it seems they range from $50.00 all the way up to $400.00 depending on the brand!
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[isda]

Last march I waited till the Cabelas Guidewear bibs went on sale best decision I made I was able to get a waterproof and insulated bibs for around half the cost.
If you cant wait I still would recommend them they are super warm yet very versatile when it comes to my needs. they are an a small sale at cabelas.com right now!! hope this helps.
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[Jordanporritt]

I would also be interested to hear everyone's opinions. I got excited about a fish and didn't notice I was standing too close to my heater and melted mine on my last trip [:/]
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[Stickhorse]

I have a couple sets of Dickies insulated coveralls. They aren't waterproof like snowsuits but I'm a rancher and I wear mine all winter long for feeding and during calving season and I wear them ice fishing too. They are about half of what the Carhart coveralls cost at IFA or Cal Ranch. I think I paid $45.00 for the last ones I bought.
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[RonPaulFan]

The waterproof breathable membranes of the normally expensive bibs are like magic! I especially like to kneel down in the slush and water without getting wet or any water at all soaking into my clothes.

If I was on a tight budget and needed to buy just one thing that can be multipurpose to get the most usefulness out of it, then I would buy fly fishing waders. That's what I did last season. It was a compromise on layering, so I would just take off my jacket only before I get hot from pulling a sled and augering.

But, bibs are better for ice fishing because you do work and alternately rest, so you need to shed and put back layers conveniently to do it enough to not get hot or cold and keep moisture from perspiration minimized. I really enjoyed waterproof breathable bibs this season!

This is the best time to buy waterproof breathable bibs because hunting season is over and the clearance sales are on for camouflage and even better sales for blaze orange. I just bought bibs and jackets in blaze orange on Cabala's online sales because I got it at about two thirds off! I might put wear and tear on these for work outside on rare occasions to spare my more expensive camouflage yet the quality is just as high. Blaze orange does get marked down more.

I do all three - the camouflage, blaze orange and waders. There is a time for each to be ideal. In wet or muddy, I use waders.
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[albinotrout]

I use car harts. Keep me warm and dry. Also they a work great with layers so I can peel off as needed.
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[Crimson]

I've got a pair of snowboarder pants that are not bibs, but have suspenders. They have doubler material on the knees and on the backside. They are lightly insulated and have a liner at the bottom of the legs with elastic ends that fit snuggly over the top of my boots. They are two sizes too big.

I layer underneath, with a light body hugging thermal pant and then a looser fleece pant over it, then the snowboarder pants. It has a zipper front like a standard pair of pants.

I got them on an after ski season sale several years ago for less than $50 and I have never felt cold when I used them this way.

Just my two cents! Good luck.
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[Dakota_1]

I use the carhart extreme cold... they are tough as nails, very warm and they are quite water resistant....and as a bonus u can even use them for work...if you are into that sort of thing
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[Flyfishinglover]

Get a one piece ski suite. Those guys keep your extremely warm trust me I've ice fished in it with out a tent or snowboarding with just a light sweater and skinny jeans.

If you want to get snow pants that are good rei got a great selection for winter gear.

I usually wear the once piece or snow pants with a water/wind resistant coat. I've ice fished at night time with out a tent or heater before and still pretty warm.

Hope this helps you out a little bit. []
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[LakeDrifter]

Used the carrharts for years, and there ok!, but graduated to Artic Armor and love em![]
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[brookieguy1]

Skinny jeans. What are those?[]
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[albinotrout]

[quote brookieguy1]Skinny jeans. What are those?[][/quote]

Do you really want to know?[:p]
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[fsh4fun05]

Ice Armor. I got my set a few years ago and have no regrets. It wasn't cheap but I will never need to replace them and I will have them forever. I've used them for ice fishing, hunting and fishing at night in the boat.
The built in knee pads are awesome when kneeling down on the ice.
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[outdoorsman1]

arctic armor is the best! It will save your life if you fall through and can float up to 700lbs.

[icesore]

Carhart's absorb water and become quite heavy. After falling through with them I gave them away. I prefer the snowboarding style with padded knees and don't weigh a hundred pounds if I fall through.
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[Moosedog]

I love my Klim bibs from my billing days. Not cheap but from my experience quality clothing is a worthwhile investment. Sometimes it makes all the difference.
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[PBH]

[quote icesore]Carhart's absorb water and become quite heavy. After falling through with them I gave them away..[/quote]

What?

Wait a minute......let me get this straight. So, you fell through the ice. Fell through. got soaked, because you fell through. Then you got cold, because you fell through and got soaking wet?

Do I have this correct so far?

Then, after falling through and getting soaking wet, you decided that your carharts coveralls weren't good enough?! You gave them away, because you fell through the ice, got soaking wet, and then got cold -- you gave away your bibs, because they weren't good enough?

I suppose you have some bibs now that are much better than those crappy carhats. Something that will keep you warm next time you fall through the ice, and end up soaking wet?


what brand are the new? O'Neil? (gotta love wetsuits)



I use a bair of Berne's from CAL Ranch. I'm sure that if I fell through the ice and got soaking wet that they'd end up pretty cold. Most likely freeze solid to the point I couldn't get them off. That could be bad. But, I haven't given them away yet....
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[RockyRaab]

PBH, did you not consider that wet, heavy, waterlogged bibs might have KILLED him? And just maybe that's why he gave them away after surviving a dunking?

Hmmmm?

(I think, sir, that your remarks were ill-considered - and beneath your usual character.)
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[PBH]

[quote RockyRaab]PBH, did you not consider that wet, heavy, waterlogged bibs might have KILLED him? And just maybe that's why he gave them away after surviving a dunking?

Hmmmm?

(I think, sir, that your remarks were ill-considered - and beneath your usual character.)[/quote]

I think the ironical part of the story is that it was the bibs that almost killed him. Not the falling through the ice part.


Would things have been much different had he fallen through wearing nylon bibs? Sure, they wouldn't have been as heavy -- but he still would have fallen through the ice and ended up soaking wet and cold, and could have possibly been killed. Maybe he would have given away his cotton t-shirt, or boxers?



People -- please be careful when out ice fishing. Whether you wear duck cotton, or nylon, or anything else -- you still need to be careful around the ice. Be safe.


Moral of the story? Don't fall through the ice.
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[RockyRaab]

I agree with that completely. Thank you, sir.

It IS true, however, that the weight of your clothing is a critical issue when you are trying to get out of the hole you fell through. If you can't get out because your clothes weigh you down, you are dead. Period. Getting cold afterwards is important, but secondary to getting back on top of the ice.
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