Ice fishing shelters, also referred to as ice fishing houses, fish houses, ice houses, and most commonly, ice fishing shanties, are small structures designed to protect ice fisherman while out in the elements on a frozen lake.
Ice shanties can be built out of anything, from a simple wood frame construction to being made of some of the most innovative fabrics available. It is common to find ice fishing shelters for sale near the inland lakes of the northern hemisphere come springtime.
An essential aspect of any ice fishing shelter is the material that it has been constructed of, namely the outer covering that protects against the wind and snow. While a simple tarp may suffice as a shanties shell, it will not protect against the cold very well, since it does not provide much insulation.
Many of the best ice fishing shelters are made from fabrics as thick as 1,200 deniers and even higher.
What is a “denier”?
A denier is a unit of measurement that is used to determine the fiber thickness of individual threads or filaments used in the creation of textiles and fabrics. Fabrics with a high denier count, tend to be thick, sturdy, and durable”.
As mentioned, some of the best portable ice fishing shelters for sale have a denier of 1,200, which means that the fabric will better insulate than a fabric of 200 deniers. The denier rating of an ice fishing shelter can drastically affect the shelter’s price.
Most manufacturers of ice fishing houses and shanties use their own specially developed, high-tech thermal skins, for the outer shell of their portable ice fishing shelters.
Frame
Another thing to take a look at when purchasing an ice fishing shelter is how well the frame is constructed and the materials used. Some ice shanties use aluminum and other alloy frames, which can cause harm to exposed skin when the metal becomes frozen.
Newer ice fishing shelters commonly use metal pole systems for support. However, the poles are usually covered with canvas or thermal covering. A pole system for an ice shelter allows for a relatively lightweight shanty that is easily portable and collapsible.
Ice fishing houses built out of wood can be at risk against the elements also. Typically the wood used to build theses ice shanties has considerable weight and could collapse in high winds and heavy snow causing injury. Wood can also soak up water and moisture which can lead to a weakening of the structure.
