Every angler knows to dress in the right clothing during winter because of the extreme cold. Ice fishing is no exception. You have to dress in warm layers so you stay comfortable when you are out on the ice for several hours at a time.
This means dressing in three different types of clothing: your base layer, your insulation layer and your outer layer.
Your base layer keeps perspiration away from your skin and keeps you dry. It also protects your skin against severe conditions by trapping air in the fibers which insulates you. The best base layers are made of silk or synthetic materials such as polypropylene, Thermax and CoolMax that wick moisture away from your body and trap hot air inside.
The insulation layer should keep you warm, even when you are wet. Insulation consists of fleece or pile clothing that is worn over the base layers and under your outer shell. Wearing several insulating layers is better than just one thick layer because it allows your perspiration to escape which keeps you dryer and warmer.
Your outer layer should be windproof and waterproof. It also should allow you to move easily so it doesn't restrict your activity level. You can wear your insulation layer under your protective clothing or you can wear insulated outerwear. Either way makes you more comfortable because both the insulation and shell are weatherproof, water resistant and breathable so perspiration and heat can escape.
Your boots and gloves should be waterproof and insulated with a high loft rating to keep the heat in and the cold out. You also need fleece or pile liners for your outer boots and gloves to add insulation value, improve fit and wick perspiration away from your skin.
Your head needs protection from the cold, too. A hat with earflaps and a neckwarmer will cover your head, face and neck for warmth, but you also should wear sunglasses under your hockey mask because snow reflects light and can cause snow blindness.
Your hands need the same type of protection as your feet, so wear mittens over gloves to keep your fingers warmer.
Put on enough clothing to keep warm, but not so much that you are uncomfortable. Your outer layer shouldn't be tight because it reduces your freedom of movement which makes you clumsy.
Remember that some people are more sensitive to cold than others. If you tend to shiver easily or feel chilled when others don't, then dress warmer than they do.
You can check the weather before you go out, but be aware that conditions on the ice can change very quickly so dress as if it is colder than the weather report says. Finally, don't forget to take off your mittens and unzip your jacket periodically because no one stays warm if they are too bundled up.
