6 Great Ice Fishing Shelters – Your Ice Fish House

*Updated – May 2019*

A durable and comfortable Ice Fishing Shelter is essential for any dedicated ice fisherman and picking the best ice fishing shelter for your particular needs is a must. The environment that ice fishing takes place in often involves frigid temperatures and high winds, so a high-quality Ice Shanty is a necessity.

Listed are also some of the best pop up ice fishing shelters that are on the market. There are many different types of Ice Shelters available, each tailored toward a specific ice fishing experience.

Check out this 6 Great Ice Fishing Shelters.

Eskimo Quickfish 2

The Quickfish 2 Ice Shelter is just one of many excellent ice fishing shelters that are available from Eskimo. There is a multitude of reasons to choose the Quickfish 2 for your next ice fishing shelter. The entire shanty only takes a couple of minutes to put up, so you know you’ll be out of the elements in no time with this ice shelter.

The Eskimo Quickfish 2 is built from thick material that withstands the extreme elements presented to any ice fisherman. This is one of the best ice fishing shelters on the market because it is made with 300D Ice Tight Fabric, which has a thread count that is 59% higher than most other comparable shelters and shanties.

This high-quality fabric will not only keep you warmer when sitting around the ice fishing hole, but it is also very durable thanks to the thickness of the shell.

The Quickfish 2 provides plenty of room for two people to move around comfortably and still allows much space for ice fishing equipment and coolers. This model has a fishable area of 22.5 SqFt, providing adequate room for two to three holes.

This space is made possible by the thick steel frame that forms the inner shell; yet as thick and durable as this frame is, it certainly is far lighter than one would imagine, which is helpful for long treks and finding the best ice fishing spot.

The unit has a sled bottom that, like the rest of the ice fishing shelter, is exceptionally durable and made from quality materials that withstand the elements. It has a rigid design but is not bulky. This is a feature that not every shelter on our list has, which makes the Eskimo Quickfish 2 standout.

The seats built in are comfortable and stable. They have steel frames, so you know that they withstand much abuse and mesh seats that allow moisture to pass easily while proving plenty of support. You will be sitting in comfort for hours in your ice fishing shelter. There is no doubt that this is one of the best pop up ice fishing shelters.

Ice Cube 3 by ThunderBay

The Ice Cube 3 Man Portable Ice Shelter is another excellent product from ThunderBay. The Ice Cube 3 is made from 300 denier fabric which makes for a very durable shanty, that is sure to withstand the winter season elements.

It has dimensions of 90″x 90″ from hub to hub, creating an abundance of space for three ice anglers to move around with ease and stow away all of their ice fishing rods, coolers, and other ice fishing equipment.

Most people who have purchased this shelter will tell you that it may be labeled as a 3 person ice fishing shelter, but it can accommodate more than three people, making it not only spacious, but it moves it up on our review list of great ice fishing shelters.

The Ice Cube 3 is also very easy to set up and can be up in a matter of minutes so that you be out of the wind and cold in no time. Another reason this is a top ice fishing shelter is that it comes with a handy carrying case that holds the ice shelter and other accessories. Also included in those accessories are 6 self-tapping ice anchors that ensure the ice shelter stay put even in the highest of winds.

Many customers have noted that this shelter should not be called “wind resistant,” but instead should be designated “windproof”!. This goes a long way in showing just how effective the 300 denier fabric is in withstanding all that winter can throw at it.

The Ice Cube 3 comes with blackout coating that ensures that no light gets through unless you want it to. This allows you to determine precisely how much light is coming into the shelter, or if you would instead rely on artificial light, then that can easily be done.

Elkton Portable Pop-up 3-4 Person

The spaciousness of the Elkton Portable Pop-up 3 Person Ice Shelter is one of the most impressive aspects of this spectacular shanty. This shelter is 36 SqFt, 70”x70” and 80” tall. This incredible amount of space makes for a lot of extra room for storage and additional ice fishing gear, not to mention housing 3 people comfortably and three fishing holes.

The setup with this particular model is effortless, especially considering the large size of the shanty, allowing you to have it ready in minutes. The Elkton uses heavy-duty hubs connected to steel rods that make for a very sturdy and durable shanty structure.

The skin that covers the frame is made of 300D Polyester black backed coating. It seems like UV rays are something that you need to worry about when ice fishing in the dead of winter, the suns rays are still penetrating the ozone, and therefore UV rays should be protected against, the Elkton Portable Pop-up has you covered there, literally.

Another reason that this is one of the best ice fishing shelters is that it comes with its backpack carry-case that can hold an array of other ice fishing items as well. A bonus is that the windows have a clear plastic cover that can be used or a dark one. This ability to limit the suns rays by including a dark window cover is yet another reason why Elkton is one of the best manufacturers in the ice fishing shelter industry.

Eskimo Fatfish 9416

The Eskimo Fatfish has a large 5-9 person capacity with setup size of 94”x167” and 80” high and elbow room of 99”x172”. That means that this is one big ice fishing shelter.

This shelter has two separate zipper doors for easy access from either end of the shelter, so you know there won’t be a backup waiting at the door as you are moving in all of the day’s ice fishing equipment into the shanty.

Believe it or not, this particular model has 10, yes I said 10, windows that can be covered according to preference. Many ice shanties have two or three windows, but 10 windows are incredible, which means you are sure to have a good view in every direction.

If you are worried about staying warm inside the Eskimo Fatfish, don’t be. It is fully insulated with IQ Insulated Fabric for 35% more warmth; in other words, you will stay nice and toasty inside this ice shanty.

Even though the structure comfortably fits 5-9 people, that does not mean it is difficult to set up or take down. That is usually a top concern regarding ice shanties of this size, but you can rest assured that the Fatfish only takes minutes to erect. Included is also 9 self-tapping ice anchors that are easier to grip and not bend under pressure of the elements.

Frabill Citadel 3455

Frabill Citadel 3455 is one of the best ice fishing shelters for fitting two to three ice fisherman, and still, it provides enough room for the rest of the ice fishing equipment you’ll need for a successful day on the lake.

This Frabill ice shanty has full insulation, so you know that you are going to stay warm in the frigid temperatures often encountered while ice fishing. This particular ice shelter will fit between 2-3 people, so there is plenty of room for you and a couple of friends.

Not only does the Frabill Citadel ice shelter maintain interior warmth, but its thick insulation also acts as a breaker to the heavy winds that sometimes roll across large frozen lakes where there is nothing to slow the wind.

With dimensions of 98 x 71 x 75.5 inches this insulated shelter has plenty of room to enjoy a day on the lake. The Frabill Citadel has 30% more fishable space than competitors of similar makes. This means more fun with family and friends while sitting around ice holes fishing and enjoying a day on the lake.

Shappell FX100

If you are looking for a one person ice fishing shelter, then consider the Shappell FX100.

The FX100 is made from tough 600-denier polyester, which is made to withstand the elements while out ice fishing. It acts as a great buffer against the wind that sweeps across the barren ice surface.

The thickness of the fabric help maintains heat inside the ice fishing shelter. If you need an area to store some small pieces of ice fishing equipment, the Shappell FX100 has two zippered doors. There is no doubt that the Shappell FX100 is perhaps the best ice fishing shelter for one person, offering quality at an affordable price.

This model also comes with two windows, letting in sunlight and a full-width bench seat on the sled. The FX100 has been one of the top-selling one person ice fishing shelters in recent years.