10 Best Ice Fishing Chairs – Stay Comfy On The Ice
Ice fishing is a really fun outdoor activity; it is one of the fastest growing areas of fishing.
You drill a hole through the ice, cast your line and start fishing while sitting and waiting for a bite on your line.
If you’re out fishing for an extended time, you may consider buying a very necessary piece of equipment when it comes to comfort; an ice fishing chair.
Top 5 Ice Fishing Chairs at a Glance
- Wise Outdoors Super Sport Seat with Insulated Cooler (Best Overall)
- Foldable Ice Fishing Chair with Cooler Bag (Next Best)
- Sportneer Portable Lightweight Ice Fishing Chair (Best Value)
- Timber Ridge Laurel Director’s Chair
- PORTAL Lightweight Ice Fishing Stool
Fishing chairs provide you with that highly needed comfort and stability while fishing.
The reason many anglers look for the best ice fishing chair is that they get uncomfortable after hours of fishing.
With the best ice fishing chair, you will be able to relax and avoid any pain in your feet and back while standing for too long, it also allows you to enjoy your fishing trip for much longer.
Below is a review of the 10 Best Ice Fishing Chairs that we have put together for you, this list will help you decide the right chair that meets your needs.
10 Best Ice Fishing Chairs – Product Reviews
1. Wise Outdoors Super Sport Seat with Insulated Cooler
The Wise Outdoors Super Sport Hunting Seat is an excellent ice fishing seat that takes our top pick due to its sturdiness, simplicity, and most of all the insulated cooler.
Having a cooler on your seat is an excellent feature that we see as serving a couple of purposes. Firstly it can keep your food and drinks cold, or it could be used to keep your ice fishing bait fresh.
The seat is also really comfortable with strong back support that allows you to remain on the ice for hours without getting restless. The seat’s material is made of tough polyester fabric with premium foam padding. It also includes a 10-gallon bucket made of heavy-duty plastic. It has a molded plastic seat with a marine swivel that allows you to quickly access the cooler below. It comes in two colors, brown and camouflage.
Key Features
- Includes an insulated cooler which is removable
- Heavy-duty plastic 10-gallon bucket
- Adjustable strap system
- Rated for 350lbs.
2. Foldable Ice Fishing Chair with Cooler Bag
The LEADALLWAY Folding Chair is really user-friendly, providing you security and stability with anti-slip legs and a supportive backrest.
The material of the chair is made of Oxford fabric which is double-layered, and the frame’s construction is done with a 16mm steel pipe. It is a lightweight chair of 2.9 lbs, but it is strong and durable that it can hold up to 280 lbs.
The chair is portable and is ideal for ice fishing, hiking, camping etc. It folds up and can be carried very easily across the ice.
This is another ice fishing chair on our list that has the benefit of an added cooler, which is great for keeping your food, drinks, and even fresh fishing bait cold.
Key Features
- It includes a built-in cooler bag that can hold your essential items
- Made of Oxford fabric, which strong and durable
- User-friendly design and easy to transport
- Rated to hold 280lbs.
3. Sportneer Portable Lightweight Ice Fishing Chair, 2-Pack
The Sportneer Backpacking Chair is a versatile item that is best to carry to any outdoor activity especially ice fishing.
It is a lightweight chair, that is portable and compact which folds up small and can be carried while attached to your fishing backpack. The chair can support up to 350 lbs with its frame made of heavy-duty aluminum that provides stability and durability.
It is easy to unpack and set up on the ice, with anti-slip feet.
Key Features
- Versatile and Compact Chair
- Made of Premium Aluminum Alloy
- Ultra Lightweight with Enhanced Portability
- 2 Pack
4. Timber Ridge Laurel Director's Chair with Cooler Bag & Side Table
The Timber Ridge Laurel Director’s Chair is a lightweight chair that offers a few features that make it an excellent ice fishing chair.
The chair is made of high-grade material of polyester fabric and the frame is made of sturdy aluminum that can support up to 300 lbs.
It is equipped with a side cup holder, a side table, and a phone pocket offering convenience. The side table will be useful for holding the fishing tackle that you need on hand, like line, pliers, and lures. It also includes a cooler under the table that can be used to keep your food & beverages at a cold temperature. The cooler can be detached as well.
Key Features
- Lightweight chair
- Includes a cooler, side table, and cup holder
- Rated to hold 300lbs
5. PORTAL Lightweight Ice Fishing Stool With Cooler Bag and Shoulder Straps
The Portal Folding Chair is designed in a convenient style that is easy to carry to your outdoor adventures, it is mostly used for hiking, fishing, and camping.
The chair’s frame is made of steel with powder coating to improve its weather resistance. It has a backrest that provides support to your lower back.
There is a useful single shoulder strap, and weighs 5 lbs which makes it easy to cart across the ice with the rest of your ice fishing gear. Whilst a small stool, it can hold an impressive 255lbs. The Portal Chair includes a multi-functional insulated cooler bag that can hold your essential items; it also has a cup holder and a zipper pocket that allows you to keep small items.
Key Features
- Offers 1 Year Manufactures Warranty
- It has a Compact and Lightweight Structure
- Includes a cool bag
- Rated to hold 255lbs
6. Eskimo Folding Ice Fishing Chair
The XL Eskimo Folding Ice Chair is built in a larger size to reduce discomfort and provide maximum comfort.
The frame of the chair is designed in a triangular shape, made of 19mm steel tubing. The material of the chair is made of 600 denier fabric which is of tough quality. The chair is portable and easy to fold quickly; it includes a carry bag and a mesh side pocket.
It has a tall structure hence it feels a little heavier than other chairs, but it can hold enough weight (up to 300lbs).
Key Features
- It is a Versatile and Durable chair
- Ergonomic chair
- Easy to Fold and Transport
- Can support up to 300lbs
7. HANERDUN 3 in 1 Cooler, Backpack & Foldable Ice Fishing Chair
The Hanerdun 3 in 1 Chair provides multi-purpose and versatility all in one unit: a chair, an insulated cooler, and a backpack.
The frame of the chair is made of tubular steel, it is a sturdy, strong, and stable. It is equipped with a foil insulated cooler that can hold food and beverages.
It also includes a backpack that has adjustable straps. The material of the chair is made of good quality nylon which is lightweight and durable. The Hanerdun chair is ideal for many outdoor activities but it’s one of the best ice fishing chairs.
Key Features
- Includes Insulated Cooler and Backpack
- Ergonomically Designed
- Versatile and Lightweight
8. KingCamp Heavy Duty Steel Folding Ice Fishing Chair with Cooler Bag and Side Table
The KingCamp Director Chair is a great chair for ice fishing, picnics, camping as it's comfortable and sturdy.
It is equipped with an insulated cooler bag and a side table with a cup holder that gives the convenience for carrying food and drinks.
The frame of the chair is made up of rugged steel, it is extra large in size and can support up to 330 lbs. The material of the chair is 600D Oxford Fabric including padded armrests.
Key Features
- Innovative and Lightweight Design
- Oversize Seating with convenient side table for fishing tackle
- Includes an insulated cooler bag (12 liters)
- Rated to hold 330lbs
9. Lightspeed Outdoors Xtra Wide Lightweight Fishing Chair
Whether you’re camping or ice fishing, the Lightspeed Outdoors Chair will be a great choice as its a surprisingly comfortable, durable, and lightweight. It can be carried easily as its portable and has padded straps.
The material used in the chair is nylon ripstop with an alloy frame. The seat has an extra-large size with extra padding and backrest. The chair is very lightweight under 2 lbs (useful if you have to carry all of your fishing gear across the ice) but it can support up to 225 lbs. It also has a cup holder and pockets to store items.
Key features
- Extra Padded Seat and Shoulder Straps
- Lightweight and Convenient
- Offers 1 Year Limited Warranty
- Rated to hold 225lbs
10. ONIVA Outdoor Folding Chair
The ONIVA Chair is a great portable outdoor backpack chair; it is loaded with many interesting features.
The chair features a huge cooler, side table with shelves that can be expanded and hold many items.
The cooler can also be detached and it has its own backpack straps. The frame material is made of aluminum; the chair has ribbed padding in the seat and backrest that provide comfort for any angler. It also has built-in fabric loops for holding an umbrella. This ice-fishing chair would have scored higher on our list, however, it is one of the most expensive options.
Key Features
- It has numerous pockets and storage areas
- Convenient and Durable construction
- Can be carried and used as a backpack
How to choose the best Ice fishing chair – Buyers Guide
When you’re looking for the best ice fishing chair, it is important to know a few key features before making a purchase decision so that the ice fishing chair meets your requirements.
There are literally hundreds of options on the market and trying to sift through them all can make anyone’s head spin. That’s why we have listed our top 10 picks and included the handy buyer’s guide below.
Size and weight
The ideal size of the ice fishing chair is small (but still big enough to fit your comfortably) and its ideal weight is light, especially when you have to carry it on the ice all the way to the fishing hole and you already have all your fishing gear to carry with you.
If you buy an ice chair that is a bit heavy, it won’t be easy to carry with all the heavy fishing equipment. You can consider buying an ice chair that is lightweight, easy to fold, and has padded straps for easy transport.
Storage
The ice fishing chair should be easy to fold and easy to open, it must not take too much space in your storage whether it’s in your car or at home, as you will be taking other heavy fishing gear as well.
The ice fishing chair should be made of durable material as folding and opening the chair puts stress on it over time.
The chairs with a tri-pod style have a slim frame that includes a bag that you can transport them in. It is ideal to have an ice chair that offers reliability and comfort and fulfills your portability and storage requirements at the same time.
Comfort
The most important feature of an ice fishing chair is comfort and that is also the main reason you buy a fishing chair.
As you will be fishing for long periods of time you have to make sure the seat adjust well to your size offering you maximum comfort, you can choose according to your personal preferences like having a tall backrest for your back support or extra padding in the seat and armrest that keeps you from getting tired and uncomfortable while you patiently wait for the fish to grab your line.
Materials
The material of the chair should be durable, waterproof and corrosion resistant as the chair will be exposed to some harsh elements.
The chair should be easy to clean and strong enough to hold plenty of weight and pressure, make sure the hinges of the chair are easy to open and close even after hours of being wet. Consider checking the material of the fabric to ensure its durability.
Unique Features
The best ice fishing chair is quite often more than just a chair. It may also be equipped with storage spaces in the form of a backpack or a bucket, you can easily store extra items while on the go.
Some chairs come with insulated cooler sections which are great for keeping your food, drinks, and even fresh fishing bait cold.
There is a couple of chairs on our list which also double up as a backpack, they have straps that allow the chair to be carried on your back and the storage pockets act as a backpack would.
Frame Material
The frame of the material should be durable and strong as it’s what supports your weight. The best frames are usually made of Aluminium and stainless steel as they are both durable and corrosion resistant materials and Aluminium is lightweight.
Portability
You want to look for an ice fishing chair that is portable yet comfortable. Lightweight fishing chairs and the ones that do not take too much space in your trunk are highly recommended, it should be easy to transport as you have your other fishing accessories with you and you will be moving from place to place along the ice.
The chairs with a slim structure can be carried with ease while offering functionality at the same time. They also come with adjustable extra padded shoulder straps that provide comfort.
Best Ice Fishing Chairs – Conclusion
Ice fishing is a sport that takes place in extreme weather conditions, with all the important fishing gear you carry, you must also have the Best Ice Fishing Chair which is one of the essentials for your ice fishing trip.
We truly hope that our reviews and buying guide above helps you in deciding the best ice fishing chair for your next ice fishing trip.
Fishing takes patience and perseverance to catch fish so you definitely need to invest in an ice fishing chair, so you can spend hours on the ice without getting uncomfortable.
You now have enough knowledge about its features that you will be able to select the best chair according to your needs and preferences. Happy Fishing!
Other Ice Fishing Equipment You Will Need:
