Best Ice Fishing Bibs for Anglers Sick of Being Cold and Wet 

Last updated: February 18, 2025

When I was a kid, I hated ice fishing. I hated the cold and wasn’t a fan of fishing through a hole either. My dad believed in “roughing it” and I can’t say I shared that sentiment.

As I got older, I learned to respect ice fishing, but having the best bibs is really what made a difference for me.

If you find it hard to stay comfortable and warm on the ice, you might have the wrong ice fishing suit.

We’re taking a look at the best bibs for ice fishing and by the end you’ll have the answer to your problems.

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Best Overall

Striker Ice Climate Bibs

Why We Chose It

When you’re out on the ice, the last thing you want to worry about is how cold you’ll be. This is a problem that a lot of new ice anglers have when they’re learning how to ice fish. They don’t prepare with the right equipment, so they learn to hate ice fishing. 

But if you’re cold out on the ice, you’re doing something wrong.

Chances are, if you’re cold, you don’t have these ice bibs.

To add to the removable PrimaLoft insulation you also get a Hydrapore polyurethane 150g Thermadex coating underneath the outside shell, to keep the water out, and the warmth in.

The bibs come with adjustable legs and knees to help ensure you have maximum mobility as well as a comfortable fit when you’re on the ice.

The Striker bibs use 320-denier material with fleece-lined pockets and a soft-touch breast pocket for delicate valuables. The zippers on this one are magnetically sealed as well so you don’t have to worry about them sliding open during intense weather.

One downside about these bibs is the durability. A denier rating of 320 is low compared to a few others on this list, such as the Eskimos, and you might find the material weak at the seams, especially if you give them a beating. But to make up for it, the knees are reinforced with 1680-denier snakeskin. 

Another notable feature that’s missing from these bibs is a quick-release mechanism for your shoulder straps, something ice anglers have come to appreciate after a long day of pressure on those shoulders as you kneel, crouch, and pull your bibs every which way. 

Striker’s Climate bibs have everything you need, but keep in mind they’re priced according to how much they offer. They might be costly, but you can use them all year thanks to the removable insulation. No need to buy summer fishing bibs.

I could carry on all day about how great these bibs are. That’s why they’re the best ice fishing bibs on the market right now. Buy them today, while it’s still ice fishing season!

Best For Extreme conditions

Eskimo Men’s Keeper Insulated Bib

Why We Chose It

While I’ve talked quite a bit about keeping warm in ice fishing bibs, what if you’re the kind of person who prefers to fish when the wind is whipping and “snot-cicles” are common occurrences? 

You’ll want these bibs.

One risk with bibs suited to extreme cold is that you become too warm and sweaty. Not with these bibs. They have a poly laminate interior that helps prevent excess moisture from sweat so you don’t cool your core temperature.

The Eskimo Keepers are also super convenient. You can slide them right over your boots, and they feature two vertical chest zippers for you to store important items, as well as roomy thigh pockets to easily reach your gear—or snacks.

There aren’t as many pockets as I’d like to see and the ones that are there don’t offer hand warmers but this is certainly not a deal-breaker. These are the best at keeping you warm in extreme temperatures, but they’re not brimming with extra features, like quick-release suspenders for easy pressure relief. 

If you’re ice fishing in the coldest recommended temps, you’re going to want bibs that keep you warm, not have a thousand pockets you might not even need. These Eskimo bibs are the ones.

Best Ice Fishing Bib For The Money

Arctix Men’s Essential Insulated Bibs

Why We Chose It

One thing that you want to look for in the best ice fishing bibs is something that won’t get in the way of your fishing. We shouldn’t be walking around like a toddler dressed up in a snowsuit. If it’s not comfortable and easy to move in, it will impede your fishing.

Unfortunately, it happens with a lot of ice fishing bibs.

They’re too puffy, too heavy, and while they keep you warm, they’re not breathable enough, so you end up sweating your butt off and soaking your clothes, which can in turn cool your core body temperature, making you cold again.

It’s not an effective recipe.

The Arctix Essentials bibs are a great choice because they’re lightweight and highly breathable, so you won’t sweat and you won’t feel like your movement is restricted.

Best of all, they’re one of the more affordable options on this list.

Only one problem might negate how comfortable these bibs are—they run small. Even though they come with adjustable suspenders and elastic sides, you’ll want to buy the next size up.

Another thing you’ll want to consider is that these bibs are only water “resistant,” not waterproof, although the included boot gaiters might help prevent water seeping into your boots from the top. 

If you don’t think waterproofing is essential to your ice fishing and you don’t anticipate needing a flotation feature, these are the ones you’ll want because they’re affordable and comfortable.

Best Floating Bib

Clam Icearmor Ascent Float Bib

Why We Chose It

These aren’t the only floating bibs on this list, but they are the best floating bibs on this list. I’ve used a few different Clam products, including gloves, ice fishing boots, and ice fishing shelters. The brand is well known in this industry and for that reason, I wouldn’t be doing the best ice fishing bibs reviews credit without mentioning a Clam product.

The IceArmor Ascent bibs feature the industry standard 300-denier waterproof material but come with a 1000-denier knee-reinforced material that is one of the strongest we have ever seen. (Only the Striker Ice Prism and Striker Ice Climate have a higher denier count at the knee.)

These bibs are built to last a lifetime and as long as you’re not too hard on them, they should.

Another thing that I love to see is more manufacturers including the flotation feature in their bibs. This is a lifesaving feature that I wouldn’t feel comfortable on the ice without. That said, don’t get too gutsy thinking it’ll be okay if you fall in. 

These bibs come with a ton of pockets too. You get fleece-lined pockets with hand warmers, chest pockets, two large leg pockets, and a waterproof smartphone holder. There’s plenty of room for you to put the lures and tackle you plan on using right away. 

No matter if you put your pants on one leg at a time or two, these will be easy to get on. The legs unzip all the way to your waist so you can fit them on over your boots—with gaiters—and a two-way front zipper and adjustable suspenders will get you the rest of the way there.

Overall, these are definitely one of the best ice fishing bibs for many different reasons. I highly recommend giving them a more thorough look. If you can find them in stock, that is.

Best Women’s Ice fishing Bibs

Striker Ice Prism

Why We Chose It

I wanted to provide our female readers with something specifically made for them. As I’ve mentioned before, a lot of the ice fishing bibs are incredibly bulky, so I would suggest this one or the Arctix Men’s Essential Insulated Bibs for the ice fishing women out there.

These two options are lightweight but still durable enough to get the job done and stand the test of time. 

The Striker Ice Prisms include a flotation feature, which I highly recommend, as well as being quite easy to put on and take off.

It’s also got some of the strongest material at the knees and other stress points that we’ve seen—a denier rating of 1680! 

You’ll also enjoy the waterproof and breathable Hydrapore exterior, as well as the side-zip seat, stretchy bodice panels, and adjustable inseam. Striker has gone out of its way to make these bibs as comfortable as possible. 

There are a few downsides to these bibs though. I’m not thrilled about the overall size or quantity of the pockets. You lack a lot of the storage space that you get in some of the other bibs but I suppose that comes in exchange for a lighter material.

The biggest problem I have is that you can’t remove the Thinsulate layer like every other bib on the market. That factor makes these a tough buy for the temperatures that most people would comfortably ice fishing during.

For a perfect fit and lots of convenient features, the Strike Ice Prisms are the way to go.

Choosing the Best Ice Fishing Bibs: Buying Guide

Now that you’ve seen some examples of the best ice fishing bibs, I want to help you understand some of the criteria that went into making these decisions.

Before we get to that, we need to address one thing first.

Understanding the Ice Fishing Bib

You need to understand two things. First, not every pair of cold weather overalls are ice fishing bibs, and second, fishing waders are quite different from bibs.

To be considered fishing bibs, they must include special materials, insulation, padding, and reinforcement. You can’t put your old skiing gear out of the closet and expect it to work up against the frigid wind you’ll experience on the ice.

It’s a different level of protection that you need and very few pieces of ice fishing gear will get the job done.

When you search for cold-weather bibs, you’ll find a wide variety. 

There are bibs designed for skiing and while these might keep you warm and dry, they don’t offer the protection you need for kneeling on hard ice all day. 

The same goes for snow bibs. These might work perfectly when drudging through high snow, but they don’t offer the level of reinforcement and wind protection you need when you’re not surrounded by trees and snow drift. 

The moral of the story is not all bibs are created equal and you need specific ice fishing bibs if you plan to stay warm, dry, and comfortable when ice fishing.

Waterproofing

One of the obvious factors I look for in ice fishing bibs is waterproofing.

I want to make sure that the material used is the best choice for water-resistance and I also want to ensure that certain areas where water will get in are not vulnerable.

These areas include knees, armpits, and any seams. Water will find its way into these spots so many manufacturers will reinforce these areas with an extra layer of stitching and more material underneath. 

Reinforcement

I’ve talked about it a lot throughout the article, but I’ll reinforce it here. You want to ensure that you have plenty of material reinforcement in the areas where it matters most. Your knees and your bottom are where you’ll need extra padding, not only to keep you warm but to keep you comfortable so you don’t grow sore.

You may end up spending a lot of time on your knees skimming the hole, checking tip ups, and drilling new holes. Kneeling on ice is like kneeling directly on concrete, and this is the reason you can just go out and buy any old bibs. 

Not only do they not possess the necessary knee reinforcement, but they don’t have the insulation in these areas either. This means that the cold can start to work its way into the close contact with your knees and cool your internal temperature. 

You’ll get cold pretty quickly when you’re spending a majority of the time working from your knees if you don’t get bibs with the necessary reinforcement and padding.

Warmth

Insulation is rated in grams per square meter. All the bibs on this list are rated for 150 grams, except the Eskimos, which are rated 800. That’s why they’re the best for extreme conditions.

Unlike boots, which are often rated as high as 1000 grams, bibs don’t need as high of a rating, and 150 grams is basically the pinnacle.

Whether it’s PrimaLoft, Thinsulate, or Thermadex doesn’t matter as long as it has that 150-g rating.

Warmth isn’t all that matters when it comes to insulation, though. It needs to be warm and comfortable, meaning lightweight and breathable.

That’s why you don’t see any down-insulated bibs on this list. It’s simply not as breathable as synthetic insulation. Will it keep you warm? Yes. Will you regret how warm you are an hour into your fishing trip? Also yes. 

Durability

Any time we buy a piece of fishing gear whether it be a new reel for ice fishing or a fishing backpack, we want to make sure it’s going to last us as long as possible and hold up no matter what we do.

One of the things you see mentioned a lot in this article is a denier rating. It refers to the density of the fabric.

This rating is commonly used in outdoor applications for clothes or materials that are required to keep someone warm or something insulated. A tent, rain jacket, and sleeping bag are all things products would get a denier rating. It’s common for most rain jackets and lightweight tents to have a denier rating of around 50.

Ballistic nylon is one of the most common materials you’ll read about with ice bibs. 

Flotation

The flotation assistance featured in a lot of these products is a great thing to have and you won’t know that until it’s too late. You hear stories all the time of adults and children falling through ice, so when it happens, you need to be prepared.

Many ice fishing bibs offer a built-in flotation aid that will help keep you above the water in the event that you fall through the ice, and it’s a good idea to get one of them. 

One of the most dangerous parts of falling through the ice is getting trapped underneath it, especially if the water is moving. Having a buoyancy device built into your bibs will ensure this never happens to you.

Fit

While we’re not exactly worried about how we look when we’re ice fishing, we still want something that fits comfortably and doesn’t get in the way.

Choosing the right size ice fishing bib is difficult because they all fit differently, the sizes rarely match up, and many of the sizing charts are impossible to follow.

For example, I’m short and a bit on the chunky side, so finding something that isn’t super tight around my belly and isn’t dragging in the snow is impossible. 

All in all, there’s no right or wrong way to shop, you just have to get lucky and if they’re a little too big that’s okay. Always go up by one size because you can modify them down but you can’t make them any bigger.

Final Thoughts

Now you understand the importance of having the best ice fishing bibs. There are no substitutes for warmth and comfort on hard water.

It’s the only thing that makes it bearable sometimes when you’re struggling to catch anything. Give some of the options above a further look and choose for yourself.

The Striker Ice Climate Bibs are the best bibs we can recommend because they have everything you need to keep yourself warm, dry, and comfortable out on the ice and all year long. 

If you’re a glutton for punishment and you like to fish on winter’s coldest days, you might want to upgrade to the Eskimo Men’s Keeper Insulated Bib.

Then again, if you’re not fancy and you just want something to get you out there, we can recommend the Arctix Men’s Essential Insulated Bibs. Good for any budget. 

With the right ice fishing suit, you’ll stay warm, dry, and ready to focus on what matters most—enjoying every moment on the ice

Frequently Asked Questions