Checklist · 12 picks · 6 categories
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Ice fishing takes a lot of gear, so there's always something left on their wish list. Grabber hand warmers are Outdoor Life's best overall, and retractable ice picks like Frabill's are part of the Minnesota DNR's fall-through plan.
For the walk out, Yaktrax are OutdoorGearLab's Best Buy ice cleats and Kahtoola MICROspikes its Editors' Choice. The CLAM Katana combo is Outdoor Life's best combo ice rod and the St. Croix Perch Seeker its best overall. The StrikeMaster Mora is BestReviews' best bang for the buck auger, and the 8-inch Lazer cuts through more than 8 inches of ice. The Shappell Jet Sled is Popular Science's best sled for hauling gear, and the Thunder Bay Ice Cube 3 is Field & Stream's best shelter for two. The splurges are the Eskimo QuickFish 3i, Outdoor Life's best value shelter, and the ION R1, BestReviews' best of the best auger.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they only fish open water; the gifts for anglers page fits better.
Top pickbudget pick · 10 pairs
Best for warm fingers between bites
Outdoor Life's best overall hand warmer: cheap, light, and about 11 hours of warmth in its test.
Heads up. Single use
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best overall hand warmer.
$15-25
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budget pick · One pair
Best for a safety gift they'll wear every trip out
The Minnesota DNR's fall-through plan: dig in your ice picks to pull yourself back onto solid ice, then roll away from the hole.
Heads up. No outlet has reviewed ice picks yet, so check the listing for a cord and covers on the spikes
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
under $15
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Best ice cleatsbudget pick · Pick by shoe size
Best for walking out on glare ice with little snow
Slip-on grips for icy sidewalks. OutdoorGearLab's Best Buy: easy to put on, secure on any shoe and low-profile.
Heads up. Weak grip in deep snow
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Buy snow and ice cleats.
$15-25
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splurge pick · Pick by shoe size
Best for slick lake ice and snowy walks to their spot
OutdoorGearLab's best overall snow and ice cleat: very secure, durable and well laid out.
Heads up. Heavy and high-profile, and not for mostly dry ground
2 outlets agree. OutdoorGearLab editors' Choice snow and ice cleats. Treeline Review best traction for hiking.
$50-100
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Best ice rodbudget pick · 28 in rod + reel
Best for a first ice rod, reel included
Outdoor Life's best combo ice rod: its tester calls it one of the best values in ice fishing rods, good for buying a few for friends and family.
Heads up. The reel attachment bands can come loose
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best Combo ice fishing rod.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 32 in rod
Best for one rod for every species they chase
Outdoor Life's best overall ice rod: despite the name, its tester recommends it for fishing all kinds of species, and owns five.
Heads up. Premium price, and it's a rod only, so you'll need a reel
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best Overall ice fishing rod.
$150-200
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrikeMaster Mora Hand Auger, 7-Inch | budget | $50-100 | a cheap first auger for early-season ice | 1 outlet |
| StrikeMaster Lazer Hand Auger, 8-Inch | mid | $100-150 | hand-drilling bigger holes all season | Limited evidence |
| Shappell Jet Sled | mid | $50-100 | dragging all their gear out to the spot | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget pick · 7 in
Best for a cheap first auger for early-season ice
BestReviews' best bang for the buck ice auger: a bargain hand auger with strong, durable alloy blades.
Heads up. The handle may wobble or bend after lots of repeated use
1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck ice auger.
$50-100
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mid pick · 8 in
Best for hand-drilling bigger holes all season
Its blades repel snow and cut through more than 8 inches of ice.
Heads up. The blades can wear down over time and be hard to fix or replace
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$100-150
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mid pick · 54 x 25 x 10 in
Best for dragging all their gear out to the spot
Popular Science's best sled for ice fishing and hauling gear: very sturdy, with lots of room, and its pick for the best value.
Heads up. Overkill if you just want to go sledding
1 outlet. Popular Science best for ice fishing and hauling gear.
$50-100
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Best ice sheltermid pick · 2 to 3 people
Best for fishing with a friend out of the wind
Field & Stream's best ice shelter for two people: plenty of room for two, easy setup, and it stands up to the elements without flinching.
Heads up. Not insulated, and only one door
1 outlet. Field & Stream best ice shelter for two people.
$150-200
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Top picksplurge pick · 8 in
Best for drilling lots of holes without the arm workout
BestReviews' best of the best ice auger: the most complete pick, with a long-lasting battery and no pull cord.
Heads up. May labor or get caught in slushy ice or snow
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best ice auger.
$500+
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splurge pick · 2 people
Best for a warmer basic hub for two
Outdoor Life's best value ice shelter: its tester's choice for a basic hub when it's just one kid, the tester and probably the dog.
Heads up. The black interior is darker than gray-interior shelters, and there are no full-length doors
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best Value ice shelter.
$300-500
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Something for the walk out or the wait. Kahtoola MICROspikes are OutdoorGearLab's best overall snow and ice cleat, very secure and durable, and Grabber hand warmers are Outdoor Life's best overall hand warmer, cheap and light.
Yes. The CLAM Outdoors Katana combo is Outdoor Life's best combo ice rod, and the reel is included. Its tester calls it one of the best values in ice fishing rods, good for buying a few for friends and family.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.