Do you wear a floater suit?

I have a Helly Hansen One Piece suit. Super Comfy but definitely a warm suit.

Also have a Mustang Bib with an older Mustang Floater Jacket.

I always wear one or the other no matter what when or where.

Ice picks always & a whistle at all times.

Looking into getting a new One Piece for this season as the HH is about 10 yrs old. Have been considering the integrity or the Atlantic by Mustang but many tell me that their sweat bombs.

I know some people wait until they can afford a new one , but I always say, even a decent used one (while your saving up) could help save your life.

IMO everyone venturing on the HW, should have a PFD.

I bought a Salus suit on sale at the end of the season last year. I can't believe it took me this long and won't venture out on the ice without one again. I understand that they can be too hot at times, but I would rather be too warm than perish from hypothermia!

I voted no just because I do not own one yet, however I will be wearing my life jacket while out on the ice. Like others, I just do not have the budget for it at the moment but I figure ice picks and a life jacket are better than nothing. Also I will not be venturing out onto the ice again until temps drop. Too much flux lately in the temps.....-9C one day, plus 5C and rain the next.

Definitely will be saving for one next season. I appreciate the more experienced members sharing their advice on the subject. Stay safe everyone.

I bought a 2 piece quality floater suit for $250 a few years ago cheaper than a lot of new non-floater suits on the market. ( Those suits are still available for that price today)I was walking on mid winter ice in front of Parry Sound on a well traveled packed snowmobile trail when I suddenly fell through into 12 feet of water. ( I was on a shoal where a current had underscored the ice. It was 2 feet thick in most places) I popped up like a cork scrambled onto good ice with wet boots but only slight dampness near the coat zipper. My buddy already fishing out further thought I had just slipped and fallen down and got up again. I made it to him fished for an hour and went home with cold feet. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. For $250 I got to go home that night. I posted that story and the local dealer couldn't believe how his floater suit sales took off. Do your family a favour and buy and wear a quality comfortable warm floater suit anytime you are on the ice.

Bought a Buoy O Buoy one piece float suit for cheaper than I could buy a normal suit! It’s super warm and cuts the wind better than anything due to the closed cell foam! It’s amazing and wear it for ice fishing early and late ice when ice is dicey. Went through once at 7am while wearing it and got out with wet feet and fished til 2pm with my heater and hut....then my feet told me that was enough! They are great and provide a ton of confidence! No ice is safe ice, but I love my suit and it gives me that extra safety net!

Won't touch the ice without one on. If you've forked out the money for a flasher, and not a suit, you are playing a dangerous game with your life.

The spring after I bought mine I also jumped into my parents pond with it on. Good to know what the cold shock feels like as well as the movement limitations a soaked suit produces.

No fish is worth your life.

Keep your eyes open for after season sales, also fishing shows, I just bought an Eskimo legend coat and bibs with there Uplift floatation at a show $379 US came with a free xl Eskimo dry bag 40 value, no shipping and I tried on both suits and bought a 4x. Was wearing a mustang survival ice sledding coat and clam bibs non float. New gear is at least a third lighter with lots of bells and whistles for the ice fisherman. Saved more than half over the big box stores.check them out on u tube for floatation. Very impressive. Upper body usually stayed dry unless you go in head first I suppose.

Been wearing one for 40 years now never went through the ice but better safe than sorry.

I did purchase a floater suit (2 piece) and I assumed I was set. Sounds like I need to get ice picks as well. Anything else people would recommend for safety?

A hank of rope with a biner attached....and a friend.......the diner can be tossed to someone that went through the ice then snapped around the body and the buddy to pull you out.

Arnie

I bought a Mustang one piece survival suit in a camo pattern a few years ago. It's a floater suit and survival suit. If you go into the water you'll get hypothermia before anything else.

I use it for waterfowl hunting in the fall and ice fishing in the winter. Just too bad Mustang doesn't make them in camo anymore. But if Mustang ever decides to make the camo pattern again, I would get the two piece, jacket and bibs.

The one piece gets too warm ice fishing in a shelter. If I had the two piece, I could just take the jacket part off to cool down a little.

Got mine on black friday 50% off at Bass Pro... Ice trucker suite and bibs. Tested last Saturday north ontario was -27C . Feel worm so happy with a purchase.

P.S if you are planning for next year , they give 50% off on Black friday third year in a row, pretty sure they will put it on sale next black Friday as well. keep your ice open for next year.

I wear a striker ice climate float suit.

additional safety stuff, I always have a small compass attached to my coat. Doesn't have to be expensive just give you a general direction to go. Also make sure you know which way you need to go, so if it starts to snow or wind starts to cause drifting you know which way to go.