The Best Ice Fishing Bibs

Gear We Use
The Best Ice Fishing Bibs

Kneeling on hard water and drilling through inches of ice in arctic-like conditions—ice fishing is just plain cold.

Don’t dress right, and it can be miserable. But a quality pair of ice fishing bibs can keep you on the ice longer, up your odds, and even help save your life.

What We Look for in Good Fishing Bibs

In our collective decades on ice in the harshest of winters, we’ve put plenty of pairs to the test. Some kept us warm, dry, and focused on the mission, while others ruined otherwise awesome days of fishing with leaks, tears, and chills. But the bibs we always go back to have a few things in common.

  1. Warmth
  2. Waterproofness
  3. Comfort
  4. Durable Functionality

We’re looking for a warm, weatherproof pair that provides long-lasting performance without sacrificing a comfortable fit.

The Ice Fishing Bibs We Use

The MeatEater crew has donned these bibs on the ice—and water—and they’ve outperformed all the others.

What Makes a Good Ice Fishing Bib

Ice fishing demands a unique combination of protection and performance in top-tier gear. These are the key qualities we look for in a pair of ice fishing bibs.

1. Warmth

Sitting on ice in sub-freezing weather for hours on end calls for clothing that can seal in heat and keep your core temperature from dropping. Great ice fishing bibs will offer sufficient insulation or act as a barrier over insulation pieces as part of an overall kit that allows for shedding and adding layers as conditions change. They should also be windproof to block blustery gusts. Lined hand warmer pockets or built-in muffs are great features to look for, too.

2. Waterproofness

Cold water splashing up, ice melting beneath your body heat—your ice fishing getup needs to completely shield you from moisture, not just resist it. So a 100% waterproof bib is non-negotiable. Additional features such as fully taped seams and waterproof zipper technology can also help prevent leaks in vulnerable spots.

3. Comfort

While a pair of bibs that protects you from the elements is important, you still need to be able to move around comfortably when ice fishing. A great bib will offer room for layering without being too bulky, adjustability to achieve a tailored fit, a design built for mobility, and overall comfort.

4. Durable Functionality

Like our other outdoor gear, ice fishing bibs are bound to take some abuse through years of hard use. We need a pair that can stand up to the rigors of hard water while offering the functionality needed to make them a utilitarian part of our ice fishing toolkit. Reinforced fabric in high-wear areas, removable knee pads, side zips, and smart storage pockets can take ice fishing bibs from good to great.

Field notes from the MeatEater Crew

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