Do you wear a floater suit?

I used to wear my snowmobile gear for ice fishing and it wasn't a floater suit. Finally broke down and bought a Mustang suit yesterday. Wore it today and kind of kicking myself for not getting one sooner. Got it on kijiji for 1/3 of the price of a new one and it was practically brand new.

I don't wear 1 and my logic is similar to M. Kerwin's. I went to Royal Dist when they had a good sale on floaters, tried 1 on and talked to the sales clerk. They are not approved by the Cdn C.G. as a PFD. OTOH, I already have an approved PFD and quite enough winter clothes to keep me warm on any day I will venture out(I'll skip the -30 days, thank you very much! ).

I also have a good throw bag/rope kit and so does my reg fishing buddy. I also have ice picks. So I am quite safety conscious.

i have a 1 piece as well as a 2 piece floater i use for snowmobiling, IMO these as well as spikes are worth the investment especially if you are alone

i understand a floater suite is not designed to keep you dry but designed to float when submerged even when fully water logged, a warm jacket and snow pants will probably keep you buoyent for a period of time but as they take on water they are not designed to stay floating

I look at it as the clothes will get very heavy even with a life jacket making it hard to stay afloat and to get out. A floatation suit is designed to keep water out and stays drier longer. and if the suit is with hypothermia rated like mine it gives you a better chance to survive.

Worth it IMO

I'm on my second one now.
Wore my first one out.

I don't always wear it but almost always have it in the sled.

I walk a lot and don't like to wear it while I'm humping it out there. It restricts your leg movements and you sweat.

Really cold days I wear it or really rotten ice I'll put it on.

Been through the ice a bit, with and without it on and never had a problem getting out.

This guy doesn't own one and he gets out just fine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyUf7r_9yNs

Also pretty sure the last fatality on Vic Harbour G Bay this year had one on and some of the guys who lived didn't have one on.

next season I will be getting three, one for myself and two sons.

I'll admit I don't wear it every time, but I do keep ice picks handy if I am not wearing it.

You won't be disappointed in the Integrity HX, it is simply the best.

It is also great early and late season when you get rainfall as it is basically a giant goretex rain suit in addition, the only float suit on the market that can make this claim I believe.

TonyB,
I have a fairly current Mustang Integrity HX suit. It is NOT manufactured with a Goretex membrane although it is highly water resistant. I believe the only flotation suits made by Mustang utilizing Goretex is their Military Model. Perhaps they've updated the Integrity model recently??

I am new to ice fishing and would never considered using a floater suit. This thread is a real eye-opener to me. I think I will have to invest in one for the next season.

I too will be saving for one over the summer. I fish way too often by myself to not have one. Just hasnt been in the budget.

I just bought the mustang ms-195hx integrity like Grandpa Jim on this forum recommended it. Wore it this past weekend on a ice fishing trip. Its great, warm and more flexible than I thought. Was $550 with tax, and I feel great about the purchase.

Do it for you, your daughter..............

I use the Arctic Armour suits.....

lighter and flexible. They have some floatation. I got it and wear it when on ice, except for whe i use hut operators.

Also have a Mustang and that gets used on the Niagara river....

Some really good recommends here so far

Arctic Armour suits are very comfortable and well constructed. However, I don't believe they are accepted as PFD's by Transport Canada. That might be a factor for anglers wanting to use their suits in the early and late open water seasons.

I got one of these before the season for only $100 on ebay:

http://www.stearnsflotation.com/Work-Zone-...px#.VtH9mNDwzls

They're US Coast Guard approved and very warm. I prefer the jacket because I just never find overalls of any kind comfortable, and I can adjust my layers of clothing to suit conditions. If it's only slightly below zero I'm fine with long underwear and jeans, a t-shirt, sweater and the Stearns jacket. If it's well below zero insulated pants go on over the jeans. I've been out in -20's like this and been just fine, though I fish in a pop up blind with propane heat so I'm only exposed while walking.

I like that it's adjustable, and I also wonder if less material on the legs would make it easier to get out if I went through. I imagine the jeans would absorb less water and be lighter. I'll happily use the jacket in the canoe too.