Ice Fishing Gifts: What to Get the Ice Angler in Your Life
If you are shopping for ice fishing gifts and you do not fish yourself, here is the short version: buy a hat if you do not know their size ($19.95, one size stretches to fit), buy waterproof gloves if you do ($32.95, sizes S–XXL), buy a floating ice suit if you want to give the one piece of gear they will talk about for years ($299.95–$499), and buy a gift card if the person is picky about fit or already owns everything. Every item on this page is made by WindRider and priced straight from our store at the time of writing — no third-party roundups, no affiliate padding. Popular sizes do sell through as first ice approaches, so check size availability on the product page before you commit.
The rest of this guide explains how to choose between those options based on the three things a gift giver usually knows: roughly how much you want to spend, whether you know the person's size, and whether they already own a suit.
Key Takeaways
- Size is the real problem with apparel gifts. Hats and gift cards sidestep it entirely; gloves and suits need a size, and there are easy ways to find it without asking.
- Under $35 covers a lot. A fleece-lined beanie, a pom hat, waterproof mittens, and insulated waterproof gloves all land between $19.95 and $32.95.
- The floating ice suit is the "big gift." It combines insulation, a waterproof shell, and built-in flotation that the product is rated to keep a 300 lb person on the surface for two-plus hours — a genuine safety upgrade, not just comfort.
- A gift card is not a cop-out for ice anglers. It is the one thing on this page that always fits, and it lets them pick the exact size and colorway of a suit they may have been eyeing all fall.
The One Question That Decides Everything: Do You Know Their Size?
Ice anglers burn through hats and gloves every season and always want a warmer, drier setup. The hard part is that the gear that matters most (gloves, mittens, suits) has to fit. A glove that is one size too big is a cold glove; a suit that is too tight is a suit that stays in the closet.
So sort your options by how much sizing risk you are willing to take:
| What you know | Safe picks | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing about their size | Winter Beanie, Winter Pom Hat, Gift Card | $19.95 / $19.95 / $10–$200 |
| Their glove size (S–XXL) | Boreas Waterproof Winter Gloves, Rugged Waterproof Winter Mittens | $32.95 / $26.95 |
| Their jacket and pant size | WindRider Ice Suit, Boreas Ice Fishing Suit, Women's Ice Suit | $499 / $450–$499 / $299.95 |
| The child's age (1–6 years) | Waterproof Toddler Mittens | $16.99 |
If you are not sure about a size, skip ahead to the section on finding it without asking. It is easier than you think.
Gifts Under $35: Hats, Gloves, and Mittens
This is the stocking-stuffer tier — the items an ice angler genuinely loses, soaks, or wears out.
Winter Beanie ($19.95) — the no-size-needed default
The WindRider Winter Beanie is double-thick with a fleece-lined interior across the forehead and ears, which is where most beanies go thin. The knit stretches to fit any head, so there is no size to get wrong.
Winter Pom Hat ($19.95) — same warmth, more personality
The Winter Pom Hat uses a warm fabric blend that stretches to fit, same as the beanie, with a pom on top. It reads as a gift rather than a piece of equipment, which matters if you are giving it to someone who does not want "gear" under the tree.
Boreas Waterproof Winter Gloves ($32.95) — the pick when you know the hand size
If you know their glove size, buy these. The Boreas Waterproof Winter Gloves pair a waterproof membrane with thermal insulation, a textured palm and fingers for gripping augers, rods, and slushy gear, and an adjustable wrist closure that seals out drafts. They are the top-reviewed accessory in our catalog, at 4.68 out of 5 across 152 reviews on windrider.com at the time this guide was written. Sizes run S through XXL. They are also the glove that pairs naturally with a Boreas or WindRider suit if you are building a full head-to-toe gift.
Rugged Waterproof Winter Mittens ($26.95) — for the angler who runs cold
Mittens are warmer than gloves because the fingers share heat, at the cost of dexterity. The Rugged Waterproof Winter Mittens are fully waterproof, with a Cordura nylon shell, a fleece interior, extra-long gauntlets with tensioners that pull tight over a jacket sleeve so snow cannot get in, and a zippered pocket sized for a hand warmer or a card. They carry medium-weight insulation, so they are best positioned as a versatile winter mitten — ice fishing, snow blowing, sledding — rather than a dedicated deep-freeze mitten. Sizes XS–XXL. For the coldest days and finer work like tying jigs, the Boreas gloves are the stronger choice; if you want the longer version of that trade-off, our ice fishing glove selection guide covers dexterity versus warmth in detail.
For the Kid Who Tags Along: Waterproof Toddler Mittens ($16.99)
Plenty of ice anglers bring their kids, and the fastest way to end a family day on the ice is a toddler with cold, wet hands. WindRider's Waterproof Toddler Mittens were designed around that exact failure: the cuffs run all the way to the elbow, go over the jacket sleeve instead of under it, and cinch down so a kid can dig in the snow without packing it into the mitten. They are fully waterproof and insulated for bitter cold, and each pair has wrist leashes so the mittens hang from the wrist when the child inevitably pulls them off, plus a clip to keep the pair together in the mudroom pile.
Sizing is by age, from 1–2 years up to 5–6 years, which is far easier for a gift giver than a numeric glove size. If you are buying for a grandchild, ask the parent for the child's age and the jacket size; that is enough. Check size availability on the product page before you commit — the smaller sizes sell through fast once the snow arrives.
The Big Gift: A Floating Ice Suit
If you want to give the gift the angler will still be wearing five winters from now, it is the suit. Three things make a modern ice fishing suit different from a parka and snow pants:
- Insulation rated for genuinely cold sits. The WindRider Ice Suit carries a -40°F temperature rating.
- A waterproof, breathable shell with sealed seams. The floating suits are rated 5,000 mm waterproof / 5,000 g/m² breathable, so slush, ice-melt, and wind-driven snow stay outside while sweat from drilling holes can escape.
- Built-in flotation. The WindRider and Boreas floating suits carry enough flotation to keep a 300 lb person on the surface for two-plus hours if they go through. That is the feature that turns a comfort gift into a safety gift.
The three suits, side by side
| Suit | Price | Sizes | Flotation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WindRider Ice Suit | $499 | S–5XL, three colorways (Wetlands, Twilight, Boreas Grey) | Yes | The angler who spends long, cold days on the ice and wants every feature |
| Boreas Ice Fishing Suit | $450–$499 depending on size | S–5XL | Yes | The same core float suit with a simpler color offering — check the price on the size you need |
| Women's Ice Suit | $299.95 | XS–3XL | Not listed on the product page | A women's-specific cut with arctic-grade insulation, a waterproof shell, taped seams, and adjustable cuffs, waist, and hood |
Both floating suits share the details that experienced anglers notice: YKK zippers, two fleece-lined hand-warmer pockets on the jacket plus large chest and internal pockets, reinforced knees and seat on the bibs, a double zipper on the bibs so the wearer does not have to strip down to use the bathroom, zippered crotch vents for hot afternoons, and an adjustable inseam. The lifetime warranty on those two suits is simple: if a seam lets go or a zipper breaks, WindRider repairs or replaces it at no cost.
The Women's Ice Suit is the right choice when you are shopping for a woman who fishes and wants a fit built for her rather than a small men's size. It is an insulated, waterproof suit; if flotation is the priority, the two floating suits above are the ones to compare, and our ice fishing suit comparison goes deeper on float versus warmth versus value. Several women's sizes have already sold through this season, so check size availability on the product page first; if hers is not available, or you are unsure which she would prefer, let her choose — see the size-safe option below.
What to ask before you buy a suit
- Their usual jacket size (S–5XL on the floating suits). The suits are cut to layer over a base layer and mid-layer, so the everyday jacket size is usually the right one; the WindRider size chart confirms it from height and weight.
- Whether they already own a float suit. If they do, a second suit is a poor gift; gloves, a beanie, or store credit toward their next upgrade are better.
- Color, only if they care. The WindRider Ice Suit comes in Wetlands camo, Twilight, and Boreas Grey. Most anglers have a preference and will tell you in five seconds.
- Stock on the size. Popular sizes sell through as first ice approaches, so check availability on the product page before you decide.
The Gift Card: The One Thing That Always Fits
Apparel is hard to size for someone else. That is the whole problem with ice fishing gifts, and it is why the WindRider gift card is on this page as a real recommendation rather than an afterthought. It comes in denominations from $10 up to $200, it arrives by email with a redemption code, it never expires, and it works on every product in the store — the suit, the gloves, the beanie, and the sun shirts they will want in June.
The gift card is the right call in three situations:
- You do not know their size and cannot find out without spoiling the surprise.
- They have been eyeing a specific suit and you want them to pick the exact size and colorway.
- They already own most of the kit and the most useful thing you can do is fund the one piece they have been putting off.
A useful trick: pair a $19.95 beanie with the card. The beanie gives them something to open; the card covers the suit, the gloves, or whatever they were really hoping for.
Match the Gift to the Angler
| The person you are buying for | Give them | Total |
|---|---|---|
| A casual angler who goes out a few weekends a year | Winter Beanie + Boreas Waterproof Winter Gloves | $52.90 |
| A serious angler who already owns a suit | Boreas Waterproof Winter Gloves + gift card toward next season | $32.95 + card |
| Someone new to the sport this winter | WindRider Ice Suit or Boreas Ice Fishing Suit | $450–$499 |
| A woman who fishes and wants a proper fit | Women's Ice Suit, or a gift card so she picks the suit herself | $299.95 or card |
| A grandparent-to-grandchild gift | Waterproof Toddler Mittens + Winter Pom Hat for the adult who takes them | $36.94 |
| The person who says "I don't need anything" | Gift card | $10–$200 |
How to Find Their Size Without Asking
Because sizing is the sticking point for most ice fishing gifts, here are the methods that work:
- Read the tag on a jacket they already wear outdoors. Their winter jacket size is the best proxy for an ice suit size, and it takes ten seconds in the closet.
- Check a pair of gloves in the truck or the mudroom. Most winter gloves have the size printed inside the cuff. Match it to S–XXL for the Boreas gloves or XS–XXL for the mittens.
- Ask a fishing partner. Anyone who has shared a shelter with them has heard them complain about the fit of something.
- For kids, use age. The toddler mittens are sized by age range, and a parent can answer that without wondering why you are asking.
- If none of that works, go with the hat or the card. No sizing risk, no returns, and still a gift they will use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the jacket and bibs sold separately, or only as a suit?
Both. The WindRider and Boreas suits ship as a jacket-and-bib set, but the Boreas Floating Ice Fishing Jacket and Boreas Floating Ice Fishing Bibs are each sold on their own at $260, and the women's line has a separate jacket and bibs at $159.95 each. If the angler already owns one half, replacing the other half is a legitimate gift.
Is a floating ice suit the same as a life jacket?
No. A float suit is an insulated, waterproof suit with flotation built into the jacket and bibs, designed to keep the wearer on the surface if the ice gives way. It is not a substitute for a life jacket in open-water boating, and it should be worn alongside ice picks and a spud bar as part of a complete safety habit, not instead of them.
What does an ice angler wear under the suit?
A moisture-wicking base layer (synthetic or merino, never cotton) and a fleece or light puffy mid-layer. The suit itself provides the insulation and the weather barrier; the layers underneath manage sweat. Because the suit is cut to go over those layers, the everyday jacket size is the right one to buy.
Do ice fishing gloves really need to be waterproof, or will any winter gloves do?
They need to be waterproof. Ice fishing is a wet sport even on a dry day: hands go into the hole to clear slush, land fish, and reset tip-ups, and an ordinary insulated glove soaks through and then freezes stiff. A waterproof membrane keeps the insulation dry so it keeps working, which is why the two glove options on this page are both waterproof rather than simply warm.
Can a gift be exchanged if the size is wrong?
Yes, subject to the store's return and exchange policy. The hats are one-size stretch, so they rarely need it. For gloves, mittens, and suits, keep the order confirmation and check the shipping and returns page for the current window before the holidays, so the recipient has time to swap sizes before the ice is safe.
Ready to pick something? Shop the full WindRider ice fishing collection — hats, gloves, mittens, and floating suits in one place.