Ice fishing is one of those classic hobbies (it was more than a hobby before) that will never disappear. It is the perfect combination of excitement and tranquility. It gives you time to reflect on your life and rewards you for your patience.
There is just one problem: clothes.
A lot of us are good at finding warm and cozy jackets, pants and hats. Shoes is a continuous problem, though. It’s hard to find comfortable boots that protect against both water, cold temperatures and snow.
When you’re out on the ice for several hours it’s crucial that you protect your feet. If you don’t, then you are up against a world of issues. It will not only be uncomfortable the whole day and ruin your mood, but it can potentially also damage your feet.
We’ve gone through some of the popular ice fishing boots to help you find the type that fits you the best.
Best Ice Fishing Boots
Best Overall: Muck Boot Arctic Sport
“perfect if you will be working in slushy areas with water”
Very Popular: Sorel Men’s Bear XT Insulated Winter Boot
“Built for extreme conditions, the boot provides warmth as well as traction and comfort”
Super Warm: Baffin Men’s Control Max Insulated Boot
“high quality full-grained insulated leather”
Best in Snow: Columbia Bugaboot Plus III
“One of the most cost-effective shoes on the market. Great bang for buck.”
Very Comfortable: Muck Boots Woody Arctic Ice Extreme Conditions
“some of the best insulation and durable soles on the market”
Best for Kids: Muck Boot Rover Ll Kids’ Rubber Boot
“Self-cleaning diamond outsole will save you from a lot of cleaning hassle”
Very Tough: Lacrosse Men’s Hunt Pac Extreme
“features an excellent grip, especially on ice”
Lightweight: Men’s Clam Ice Armor 1000g Boot
“Contains metal lace fasteners that are easy to open and close”
Best Overall: Muck Boot Arctic Sport
- Tall height ensures water protection even in mid-shallow streams.
- They are very comfortable shoes.
- Another cost-effective option.
- Not the most durable product on the market.
The Muck Boot company has a reputation of launching distinctive looking products. The Arctic Sport line of shoes is no exception. Featuring some of the tallest boots on the market, this line of shoes is perfect if you will be working in slushy areas with water, reaching up to your calves and knees.
Speaking of warmth, this boot has a rating of -40oC, which works for most cold areas in the world. It has an inner sole made out of 2mm thermal foam material which provides extra warmth. Comfort is another prominent feature of these shoes; you could wear them for hours and not feel a thing.
One downside of this product is the aesthetic. They are very performance-oriented shoes, that don’t put a lot of stress on the looks. So, you are kind of forced to use it only while working on something. Their tall height and limited color schemes make them unsuitable for casual wear.
The amount of positive reviews on Amazon speaks for themselves. It’s, without a doubt, one of the most popular ice fishing boots on the market today. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely one of the best.
Very Popular: Sorel – Men’s Bear XT Insulated Winter Boot
- Water and Wind resistant
- Built to withstand extreme conditions of -60F
- 9mm recycled felt inner boot for insulation
- Crampon compatible for ankle support
- Only comes in black color with red quartz details
- Liners can be hard to procure as they run out fast
The Sorel Men’s Bear XT Insulated Winter Boot is the one of the best insulated boots on the market, carefully designed to provide you keep you warm in low temperatures. The blend of insulation packed with comfort in the form of Thermoplus will prepare you for your next high-altitude adventure.
The exterior features a PU coated synthetic textile that provides water and wind resistance. Generating heat within the boot can also provide an additional layer of insulation. The Omni-reflective lining and removable sole add an extra layer of insulation and can provide resistance of down to -60F.
Any winter boot worth its salt must provide a strong grip on icy surfaces in addition to its insulative properties. The Sorel Men’s Bear XT Insulated Winter Boot comes with a rubber waterproof vulcanized rubber shell outsole to provide grip.
The sole is 6mm thick and made of felt for an additional insulative and protective layer. With a fashion-meets-function mindset, Sorel creates boots that can be worn both day and night as well as off the ice too.
Super Warm: Baffin Men’s Control Max Insulated Boot
- These shoes offer one of the best grips on the market.
- They have great temperature protection, along with waterproofing.
- They go great with your winter outfit.
- They are bit on the pricy end of the scale.
Baffin is a Canadian company that specializes in making winter boots and apparel. Since its inception in 1979, they have developed a reputation for making comfortable and durable shoes by using high quality materials and manufacturing process.
The Control Max insulated boot is no exception. They are one of the best options on the market in terms of ruggedness. Control Max are made to be worn for extended periods in extremely harsh conditions and rough terrain. Thanks to traction soles, you will not lose your grip, no matter how uneven the surface. Add EVA midsoles and rubber outsoles into the mix, and you have a shoe with a winning grip.
Canada is known for its harshly cold weather, which provides Baffin with perfect testing grounds. The shoe has a rating of -70oC (-94 in Fahrenheit) and has some exceptional insulation mechanisms that keep your feet warm.
The boot also features a liner that goes as high as your calf and can be fitted snuggle using cinching cords to provide extra protection. Control Max has a great waterproofing design and its seams are properly sealed, so that all the outside moisture stays outside.
Best in Snow: Columbia Bugaboot Plus III
- They have great water-proofing capabilities.
- Very lightweight shoes, so they are a great option for extended hiking trips.
- One of the most cost-effective shoes on the market. Great bang for buck.
- Some people have complained about insole damage.
The Columbia Bugaboot Plus III is a good overall snow boot, with a decent performance. Some of its features such as waterproofing are among the best on the market. Other features such as heat trapping are decent, but there are products out there that will outperform Bugaboot in this department.
This boot can serve well in most cold conditions. However, when we tested it in a tub containing slush and icy water, the cold started to creep in after around 5 minutes. On the other hand, if you are moving around you will not feel the cold at all. Indeed, some hikers have complained that they get a little too warm while trekking.
Columbia Bugaboot Plus features top-quality waterproofing. The wraparound rand is completely sealed. The uppers are made out of leather and reinforced synthetic cloth that also has an outer layer of Columbia’s trademark waterproof breathable material: OutDry.
Furthermore, the tongue of the shoe has a gusset lining, which seals off water entry in case you are trekking through puddles or shallow streams. Indeed, during our ice-water tub experiment, no leakage was observed despite the shoes being in the water for twenty minutes.
Very Comfortable: Muck Boots Woody Arctic Ice Extreme Conditions
- High performance in low temperatures between 30 to -60F
- Comfort enhancing design using EVA contouring, molded midsole and a comfort topline
- Strong grip using the classic Vibram Arctic grip
- Does not come in solid colors only camo, bark, and mobuc mini designs
- Only comes in mens sizes so adjust according to your size if female.
The Muck Boots Woody Arctic Ice Extreme boot has been carefully designed to help make your long treks in the cold as comfortable and warm as possible. Giving you some of the best insulation and durable soles on the market, the Muck Boots can withstand really low temperatures.
Made with a thick 8mm neoprene layer, the boot provides a series of advantages like shock absorption, water resistance, heat retention and flexibility. A winter boot on the market that provides maximum insulation by using a combination of fleece and thermal foam in the footbed. This combination is optimal for temperatures between -60 to 30F.
In addition to insulation to keep you warm on a cold trek, the Muck Boots create the most comfortable condition for your feet. Using features like EVA contouring, molded midsole, and a comfort topline have made this product very user friendly and comfortable. Making sure you have a strong grip in the iciest conditions is important when selecting a good and durable winter boot.
Best for Kids: Muck Boot Rover Ll Kids’ Rubber Boot
- The rover line features extra comfort and protection to cater to the feet of kids.
- It is available in attractive, nature-inspired designs that the kids will surely love.
- Self-cleaning diamond outsole will save you from a lot of cleaning hassle.
- The lack of laces can make it difficult for the boot to fit properly.
Ice fishing is not just for adults. It can be a great family activity as well. Indeed, traditionally in the snowy regions, ice-fishing is considered a great bonding activity between a father and his son. So, naturally, you want to make sure that your kid is also protected from cold and moisture seeping in. Muck Boot’s Rover is a great option in that regard.
To protect the feet of kids, Muck Boot has added some extra protection. Rover has rubber toe and heal protector installed so your kids can hike with you for long distances without hurting their feet. The rubber and neoprene construction have been enhanced to provide more comfort.
Another nifty feature is the addition of self-cleaning diamond outsole. If your kids are energetic and like to run around a lot, this feature will come in handy. Imagine this: you come home from an enjoyable fishing trip, and your kids hurry inside without cleaning their shoes. What a nightmare! With the diamond outsole, you don’t have to worry about that, as the mud and fine rocks are released automatically.
Very Tough: Lacrosse Men’s Hunt Pac Extreme
- Hunt Pac has one of the best heat trapping mechanisms on the market.
- The shoes offer amazing durability.
- No plain option for people who do not like the camo aesthetic.
The Lacrosse Men’s Hunt Pac Extreme 2000g has been designed to enable you to carry out your outdoor adventures even in extremely cold weather. It packs some of the densest and thickest insulations on the market. The boot features 2000 grams of 3M’s trademark Thinsulate Ultra insulation, which ensures warmth even in the harshest of winters.
So, your feet stay fresh and dry, even in slushy water. Furthermore, the product is extremely durable thanks to the use of full-grain leather and 1000D nylon. This durability is combined with additional protection features such as a reinforced heel and toe cap.
Sometimes you have to trek through rough areas to get to your ice fishing spot, so it is good to have a durable boot that can withstand rugged terrains.
Lightweight: Men’s Clam Ice Armor 1000g Boot
- It contains 5 layers of insulation material.
- Contains metal lace fasteners that are easy to open and close.
- The port on the sides may allow water to seep in if you walk through a deep puddle.
This boot by Clam is an overall, well-rounded boot that does everything. It contains 1000 grams of the trademark 3M Thinsulate Ultra material embedded in 5 layers of insulation. While it does not contain the denser 2000g material used by the Lacrosse shoe, its design and usage allow it to have a pretty effective heat trapping mechanism.
Furthermore, the outsole is made out of two-part rubber that has various gaps in between. The gaps have been designed to be just wide enough so that they prevent the ice and snow from getting stuck. But they are not so wide, that the grip would be compromised. Another nifty feature is that the divider in the middle of the outsole, which adjusts to the shape of your feet.
The boot is made out of full-grain leather, so you know it will be durable and last you a while. It also features a removable liner, which acts as an extra padding for your comfort. It can be cleaned off and put back in very easily. There are ports on the side of the top of your show that allow air to move in and out. This prevents the show from becoming too stuffy.
How to find the best ice fishing boots for you
As you can guess probably from reading the above reviews, there are a lot of factors that go into defining the quality of an ice fishing boot. In this next section we highlight some of those factors so that you can make an informed decision.
Material
One of the most basic factors to look at is the material of you boot. Generally, there are three types of material that are used to make snow and ice shoes. Rubber is used in soles, or in some cases, for the body of the entire show. In addition to being tough and rugged, they also have waterproofing properties. Their thickness also provides a barrier against the cold winds.
Synthetic materials are another type of materials that are used in the manufacture of shoes. These are typically used in the upper parts, in order to add length to the boot. One prime example of such material is Neoprene, which has been used in a number of shoes mentioned above. It is soft and waterproof and is a lightweight way of adding height to you boot.
Third type of material is leather, which is a popular choice for the body of the boot. It is tough and resists wear and tear for a long time, depending on the quality. Fine-grain leather is one of the highest quality leathers on the market and usually lasts for a long time.
Insulation
The importance of this factor cannot be stressed enough. Afterall, staying warm is the reason that you are investing in these boots. Insulation basically works to trap in the heat and keep out the cold. Different manufacturers use different materials and approaches to introduce insulation in the boot.
The most reliable material for insulation used in snow boots is the trademark Thinsulate Ultra made by the company 3M. It is light. It is easily installable. It is also very effective. Thinsulate is made out of polypropylene fibres. By stitching these fibres closely together a strong barrier is created which prevents the cold from entering.
Another way some manufacturers enhance insulation is by introducing a reflective material like aluminium foil. Due to the reflective properties, it traps the heat in the boot.
Waterproof
Waterproofing is another important factor to consider while ice fishing. Make sure that seams of the boot that you are purchasing are sealed well. Read online reviews to verify how well the seams hold up over time. Furthermore, by introduction of features such as gussets around the tongue and material such as neoprene, the waterproofing of the boot can be increased by a lot.
Grip
Another crucial factor when it comes to ice and snow. You do not want to be slipping while walking towards your fishing hole or worse, when returning victorious from it. The material of the midsoles and outsoles helps determine a boot’s grip a lot. EVA midsoles are a great option and traction outsoles ensure perfect grip. The basic idea is that your outsoles should not accumulate snow, ice or other debris over time. Otherwise, your boot will become flat footed and you will be much more likely to slip.
Conclusion
So, which one is the best shoe? It depends on your budget and your preference for warmth. If budget is not a problem then, Baffin’s Control Max would be a great boot to invest in. It is highly durable. It keeps your feet warm even in the most extreme of colds, and it is very waterproof. Furthermore, it can be used for casual trips in the snow as well, as it goes well with any outfit. However, if you have budget constraints, then a good overall show to purchase would be Columbia Bugaboot. It is not as loaded with features or as warm as Baffin is, but it does the job and keeps you from going broke.