Best Ice Fishing Shelters of 2022
Ice fishing is a popular hobby that offers people who like extreme outdoor experiences a new challenge. The activity involves setting up camp on a frozen lake and catching fish through a hole in the ice. Even though fun, make sure that you have a pair of comfortable snow boots before heading to your favorite fishing spots. More importantly, to prevent hypothermia setting in and ruining your fishing experience, you need one of the ten best ice fishing shelters that we have reviewed below. They are spacious, warm, and able to protect people from the elements.
When the ice has thawed for the year, and you’re back in a boat for fishing, check out the best boat fishing rod holders for hands-free fun!
Our Recommended Ice Fishing Shelters | 2022 Reviews
10. Alitop Waterproof Pop-up Ice Shelter
While ice fishing in sub-zero temperatures, hypothermia and death can occur in 30 seconds. Whether you are an experienced angler or a novice, take precaution by using a quality shelter such as Alitop. Its pop-up design is not only easy to install, but also has space for up to eight adults. It is stylish (orange) and has a robust, steel frame that is resistant to strong winds and rain. If you enjoy traveling with friends, this is the best brand to use. You will not jostle for space or worry about wind and rain ruining your experience.
Trips to ice fishing areas are grueling because of the harsh weather and rough terrain people have to overcome. The journey is even harder for people who carry massive tents to and from their ice fishing spots. However, because of its lightweight design, this Alitop fishing shelter will serve you better. It also has a foldable cover with a carrying bag.
What We Like
- Lightweight frame
- Water resistant shell
- Spacious interior (8-people)
- Easy to set up (pop-up)
Highlights
Alitop is ideal for large groups. Its spacious design fits up to eight people comfortably. It also has a windproof, fiberglass frame and a water-resistant cover that folds into a carrying bag.
9. Shappell WH5500 Wide House 5500 Ice Shelter
Shappell WH5500 is an eye-catching (black and blue) ice shelter with a portable pop-up design that takes minutes to set up. It features a sturdy design with lightweight fiberglass poles and a polyester cover. Because of its blackened interior, this shelter retains heat better than most other brands. It also has hooded vents that keep its interior aerated, removable windows, and a floor (7.5×7.5×44.5-inches) that will protect your feet from frostbite. If you fish on ice for days or weeks at a time, this shelter will keep you safe. Plus, because it weighs just 17 pounds, traveling with this tent is a breeze.
What We Like
- Lightweight (17 pounds)
- Warm, blacked-out interior
- Hooded vents and windows
- Large, protective floor
- Light, fiberglass poles
- Simple pop-up design
Highlights
Shappell WH5500 is a 17-pound shelter with a user friendly, pop-up design. This weatherproof shelter has a durable and comfortable design, which keeps anglers safe in sub-zero temperatures.
8. Popsport 2/3/4/8-Person Ice Fishing Shelter
If you enjoy extreme experiences such as ice fishing, you will need to be prepared with a protective shelter such as Popsport by your side. The cover, made from 300D oxford polyester, resists up to -22F temperatures. It neither cracks nor leaks after high usage and has a warm structure, which comfortably fits 2-3 people. The four covered windows on the sides let in light and fresh air when opened, while its light shell has a built-in carrying bag for safe storage and transport.
What We Like
- Durable polyester cover
- Lightweight frame (fiberglass)
- Resists up to -22F temperature
- Fits 2-3 people comfortably
Highlights
The Popsport shelter makes ice fishing with a small group fun. It is warm, durable, and has a lightweight shell that you can travel with easily.
7. GYMAX Ice Fishing Shelters
If you plan to spend a few hours on the ice, a high quality shelter is one of the most important items needed. The GYMAX is a “battle-tested” product that is frost resistant to -30F. It is water-resistant and made from a tough, 300D polyester (Oxford) that stays intact when exposed to high winds. Whenever you are fishing with a buddy, you will not only stay warm in this shelter but also feel safe if the weather decides to unleash a storm. Like the Popsport tent we reviewed, GYMAX is a pop-up shelter that takes merely minutes to set up.
What We Like
- Easy to install (pop-up)
- Frost resistant to -30F
- Highly visible (red)
- Detachable PVC windows
Highlights
GYMAX works at temperatures as low as -30F without sacrificing the safety of its occupants. Its pop-up design is easy to install and made from water-resistant components where you can quickly and easily pack up and travel at a moment’s notice.
6. Eskimo Outbreak 450I Pop-Up Ice Shelters
While selecting an ice shelter, opt for a light and comfortable model that you can set up without the need of special tools. Eskimo Outbreak 450I is a great pop-up shelter with 75 square feet of floor space making it spacious enough to comfortably fit up to five people. It also has a protective cover (600D polyester) with a fully-insulated interior that keeps its users warm, even in sub-zero temperatures.
What We Like
- Durable (600D polyester)
- Spacious (75 square feet)
- Lined interior (warm)
- Simple pop-up design
- Accommodates five people
Highlights
Eskimo Outbreak is a 75 square foot pop-up ice shelter that fits up to five people. It is light, durable, and has an insulated lining that keeps its users warm.
5. Polar Bird 3T LONG Ice Fishing Shelters
The Polar Bird 3T LONG is a comfortable ice fishing shelter made from quality materials. Before wasting your money on inferior tents that may crack over time or fail to protect you, try for a better experience from Polar Bird. Its shell, for instance, consists of an insulator and two layers of fabric to keep its occupants dry and warm. It also has a laminated, PVC floor that protects feet from water, frost, and wind to help prevent frostbite. Finally, preparing for your ice fishing trips will only take a few minutes with the Polar Bird. Its lightweight pop-up design is not only durable but also ready to use.
What We Like
- Laminated PVC floor
- Insulated double layer shell
- Lightweight, pop-up shell
- Spacious three-person design
Highlights
Up to three people can fish in the Polar Bird 3T shelter comfortably. It also has a sturdy pop-up design with a warm, laminated PVC floor.
4. Tangkula Pop-up Ice Fishing Shelters
A standard camping tent will fail to protect you from the cold temperatures or high winds people face while ice fishing. To stay warm and safe so you can enjoy your outing, you need a specialized ice fishing shelter like this one from Tangkula. Its pop-up design is frost-resistant down to -30F. It also has a zippered door for easy access and a 22.5 lb cover made from waterproof oxford fabric (300D). These features allow up to four anglers to use the shelter in sub-zero environments without safety concerns.
What We Like
- Portable (22.5 pounds)
- Frost-resistant to -30F
- Water/air/rip-resistant
- Fits up to four people
- Large zippered access
Highlights
The pop-up Tangkula shelter is a portable, 4-person tent made from a frost-resistant (-30F) 300D oxford fabric. Its fiberglass frame is light and durable, while its pop-up design is easy to install on frozen lakes.
3. Goplus Portable Ice Shelter
Goplus is a pop-up ice fishing shanty shelter made from an Oxford fabric (300D). Even though light in weight, the material has a water, wind, and frost-resistant design (-30F) that maximizes the comfort of people outdoors. It also has a light fiberglass frame and a spacious interior that houses three adults comfortably. Finally, during ice fishing trips, the fiberglass frame on this tent make transporting it easy. It is light (19.5 pounds) and foldable allowing it to be packed into a small bag for convenient travel.
What We Like
- Foldable frame (fiberglass)
- Frost-resistant design (-30F)
- Durable Oxford fabric (300D)
- Lightweight design (19.5 pounds)
Highlights
Are you looking for a portable and durable ice fishing shelter for you and your fishing buddies? Goplus is a renowned, 19.5 pound model with a frost-resistant (-30F) Oxford cover. It is a light, yet durable shelter with a warm interior and a PVC floor that maximizes comfort.
2. Happybuy Ice Fishing Shelters
Happybuy comes in 2, 3, 4, and 5 person models that are suitable for ice fishing on lakes and rivers. This tent makes the list due to its outstanding features for warmth and comfort. Its oxford shell (300D) is durable, while its spacious 142X72X83 inch design fits up to five people plus fishing gear. If you set up camp at -22F temperatures, Happybuy will rise to the challenge of keeping you and your friends comfortable.
What We Like
- Durable fiberglass frame
- Frost resistant to -22F
- Waterproof Oxford shell
- Spacious (142x72x83-inches)
Highlights
Happybuy comes in a variety of sizes, each with a durable Oxford shell that is frost resistant down to -22F. It is spacious, portable, and has a sturdy pop-up design that most men and women can set up easily.
1. ThunderBay Ice Cube 3 Man Portable Ice Shelters
ThunderBay is a 90×90 inch portable ice shelter that houses up to three people. Its fiberglass frame has a comfortable height (80 inches), while the tough (300D) polyester fabric used to make it has a blackout coat that keeps its interior toasty. It also has extra wide skirts that keep drafts out and self-tapping ice anchors for securing it on ice. Once reinforced, the risk of it lifting in high winds is relatively low.
What We Like
- Self-tapping ice anchors
- Comfortable height (80 inches)
- Durable polyester fabric
- Warm blackout coat
Highlights
ThunderBay Ice Cube is a quality shelter made from 300D polyester. It is comfortable for up to three people, resistant to water and wind, and has a blackout coat that prevents heat from escaping from its interior.
Conclusion
Even though ice fishing is considered an extreme hobby due to its surrounding weather conditions, any one of the shelters on this list is sure to make your trips more comfortable. The tents are built to sustain the harsh temperatures and winds that come with the territory of ice fishing, all while remaining portable enough to easily fold up and go when needed. They come in a variety of sizes for comfort, but all will keep you warm, so you can easily put your mind to fishing, not freezing!
