The harsh weather conditions experienced during the cold winter season can pose a significant challenge to anglers. But thanks to technological advancements in ice fishing, you don’t have to put off your passion, not even when the days are chilly and snowy. How then do you make sure that your fishing is uninterrupted during the cold seasons? The answer is straightforward – get the best ice fishing shelter.
What are Ice Fishing Shelters?
From the name, you can already tell what an ice fishing shelter is. They can be described as sheds that angler places on a frozen lake while ice fishing to not only block the wind but also keep the heat inside. This shelter is vital if you want to fish during the cold winter.
5 Top Ice Fishing Shelter Compared
Ice Fishing Shelter Buying Guide
Before picking any ice fishing shelter, you want to make sure that it will give you the service that you need for somewhat comfortable fishing in the extremely cold weather. If you are not sure of what you need in the best ice fishing shelter, the following buying guide will help you choose a pro.
The Style
Among the first things, you notice about an ice fishing shelter is its style. There is broadly three main type of styles that these huts come in. They include:
- Hub-style – this is the most common type of ice fishing shelter. It resembles a camping tent with poles supporting the fabric to form the tent structure. It is easily portable and sturdy.
- Cabin-style – like the cabins you may be conversant with, these shelters are designed to last for long at the location of erection.
- Flip-style – these are like the cabin style shelters but are a little more portable compared to the cabin shelters. Flip-style ice fishing shelters can hold up to 4 people and are designed with a plastic base.
- Windbreaker – the fourth style is made of lightweight material only to withstand the wind and may not protect against other elements.
Portability
With the cold weather and snow; who wants to carry another 50 pounds in the name of a shelter? Portability is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing your ice fishing shelter. This is a quality you will never miss in the best ice fishing shelter reviews.
Size
Who are you tagging along on your fishing trip? Will you be alone, or your spouse wants to be a part of it? Most common shelters usually hold 2 to 3 people, but others can hold up to 4. Besides, if you are carrying a lot of fishing gear, you will more likely need more room, and therefore the size of the tent would be a worthy consideration.
Material
In addition to durability, the material used to construct the shelter will determine its insulation, weight, and cost. You want your tent to have perfect insulation to prevent any loss of heat from inside. While at it, the material should not add to the weight of your hut and the cost should be reasonable. Regarding quality, it should withstand snow, ice, and wind.
Set Up and Packing
How easy is your tent to set up? Will it need more than one person to set it up? Whether you will be along in the fishing field or with a friend or two, you need to pick the ice fishing shelter that will not take too long to set up. The good thing is that most brands are doing a lot to ensure that setting up the tent takes the shortest time possible. And the same should be true for when packing.
Ventilation and insulation
As mentioned before, insulation is necessary especially when you don’t come with your heater. With the same level of relevance is ventilation. You don’t want to lack fresh air in the name of preventing cold and elements. Your shelter should allow for proper air circulation while maintaining its insulation.
Top 5 Ice Fishing Shelter Reviews
Basing on the top features to look for in the best ice fishing shelter, we have sorted and reviewed the top shelters in the market. The following five ice fishing shelters are perfect for all anglers, beginners and experienced alike.
1. Eskimo Quickfish 3 Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter
One of the major names in the ice fishing industry is Eskimo. They are known to produce some of the best ice fishing tents with features that you want for a comfortable fishing experience. What does the Quickfish 3 pop-up shelter from Eskimo have to offer? 
To begin with, the setting up of this tent takes less than 2 minutes, and the best part is that you can do it alone even if it is windy. The second admirable thing about this tent is its lightweight. You don’t have to worry about additional weight when packing an Eskimo Quickfish 3. It makes one of the best portable ice fishing shelters. However, this is at the expense of insulation meaning that you will depend on your source of heating.
This shelter will be enough for up to 3 people if you are packing a few equipment, but with 2 people, you can be sure that all your equipment and gear will have ample space for storage. Besides, the tent comes with 2 ventilation holes and 4 windows for proper air circulation.
What we liked:
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up even when alone
- Waterproof
- Can withstand the wind
- Ventilation holes and windows for aeration
What we didn’t like:
- Lacks insulation
- The door is way too low
2. Eskimo FF949I FatFish Insulated Pop-up Portable Ice Shelter
The other Eskimo ice fishing tent that made our list of recommended shelters is the FF949I FatFish shelter. You can say that it is an improvement of the Eskimo Quickfish 3 with features that every angler wants in their ice fishing shanty. Portability is like the signature of this manufacturer, and the FatFish is no different. To make things better, it comes with a carrying bag making it easy to pack and carry around.
Unlike the Quickfish 3, the FF949I is designed to ensure insulation with an estimated ability to maintain up to 35% of the heat inside. The 300 Denier Ice Tight fabric used in its construction is strong enough to withstand the elements on a windy winter day. Space is another quality of this shelter that cannot go unmentioned. It has a broad base that can comfortably occupy up to 4 people but if you want to store your equipment and gear as well, then with 2 more people you will be okay.
You get access to the Eskimo FF949I using two doors that close with high quality and smooth zippers. On the inside, you get large mesh pockets to store your gear. There is no doubt Eskimo made this shelter with the convenience of the angler in mind.
What we liked:
- Adequate room for up to 4 people
- Additional storage spaces for fishing gear
- Two doors with quality non-freeze zippers
- Insulation capabilities of up to 35%
- Made from quality Ice Tight fabric
- Lightweight with a carrying bag
What we didn’t like:
- Affected by strong winds unlike the small Eskimo model
3. Nordic Legend Wide Bottom 3-4 Man Thermal Ice Shelter
Quality and affordability are the two strong points of the Nordic Legend wide Bottom ice fishing shelter. So, if your budget is not big, then this would be the best option to go with. The Wide Bottom is one of the top selections for beginners as well as seasoned anglers. The material used in the making of the shelter is designed to not only withstand the harsh conditions in winter but also conserve as much heat as possible. If you ask me, these are the most important qualities of an ice fishing shelter for fishing comfort. 
From the name, it is easy to tell that the shelter is wide enough for you and your equipment and gear. Better yet, you get a wide fishing area of 40 square feet which makes it the right pick for a 4-man fishing expedition on a frozen lake. As if that is not awesome enough, Nordic Legend wide bottom is easy to set up, with one person taking about 1 minute to have it ready for use. Taking it down and packing is also quick.
Portability is the other feature of this ice fishing hut. It is made of lightweight materials, and a carrying bag makes it easy to carry on the fishing trip. With these admirable qualities, you will agree that the Nordic Legend wide bottom is the best ice fishing shelter for the money.
What we liked:
- Made from quality and durable materials
- Portable with a carrying bag
- Wide fishing area – 40 square feet
- Easy to set up and take down
- Enough room for up to 4 people
- Can withstand the wind and other elements
What we didn’t like:
- It is too short for tall users
4. Elkton Outdoors Portable 3-4 Person Ice Fishing Tent
When it comes to the ease of setting up an ice fishing shelter, then none on this list beats the Elkton tent. Many users have reported spending only half a minute to pitch the tent and the best part is that you can do it alone without anyone’s help. Portability is nothing to worry about since the tent comes with a nice carrying bag with a wide opening to make packing easy. Also, the weight of the dismantled shelter is favorable.
This ice fishing house is ideal for your ice fishing needs with adequate space for up to 4 people although all of you may not fit properly with all your equipment and fishing gear. In addition to a wide interior, the Elkton comes with mesh pockets that serve as additional storage space for your gear.
An essential part of every ice fishing hut is insulation, and the Elkton outdoor shelter doesn’t lag behind. The material used in its construction comes with three layers of insulation to prevent any heat loss. Ventilation is okay with windows. However, you will need to stand to see through the windows, probably the only downside to this easy-to-set-up shanty.
What we liked:
- Quick and easy to set up
- Well insulated for warmth
- Spacious for up to 4 people
- Additional mesh pockets for storage
- Well ventilated with windows
- Carrying bag makes packing and carrying easy
What we didn’t like:
- The windows are too high
5. Ice Cube 3 Man Portable Ice Shelter by ThunderBay
The last shanty on our list is a production of ThunderBay – the Ice Cube 3-man shelter. It is designed with simplicity with perfection in its specifications. The first impressive thing about this tent is the material used in its construction. The 300 Denier fabric is ice tight to withstand the elements during winter including wind and snow. The material is also ideal in insulation ensuring that you conserve as much heat as possible.
This portable shelter is made for 3 people with not many pieces of equipment and gear. To ensure comfort, especially at night, you get blackout coating to block light when you sleep. Setting up should not take a lot of time since the shanty comes with self-tapping anchors to make pitching easy and quick. Furthermore, it is light, and its carrying bag makes carrying it much easier. This shelter offers more than your typical shelter and would make a sound choice for your fishing trip in the winter.
What we liked:
- Quality and durable fabric
- Blackout coating
- Well insulated
- Self-tapping ice anchors
- Sturdy construction withstands elements
- Reasonably priced
What we didn’t like:
- It could use an extra door
Final Verdict
Thanks to technology, fishing and the fun that comes with it don’t stop with the onset of winter. A quality and ideal ice fishing shelter is all you need to keep the ball rolling. By now, you know exactly what to look for when you go shopping for an ice fishing shelter, and the five reviewed above are ideal for different budgets and needs.
Our recommendation if you need quality and are willing to dig a little deeper into your pocket is the Eskimo FF949I FatFish pop-up ice fishing shelter. If, however, you want to stick to a restrictive budget, then we would suggest you go with the Nordic Legend wide shelter. Get a shelter and enjoy your ice fishing.