When you’re ice fishing it can be very difficult to get all of your gear from one place to the other. Getting the best ice fishing sled can make your life a lot easier as you can easily drag everything along the ice.
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| Product | Details | Price | |
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Shappell Jet Ice Fishing Sled |
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Terrain Sport Sled |
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Beavertail Sport Sled |
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Flexible Flyer Utility Pull Sled |
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Terrain Utility Sled |
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Check out our Top...
| Product |
|---|
Shappell Jet Ice Fishing Sled
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Terrain Sport Sled
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Beavertail Sport Sled
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Flexible Flyer Utility Pull Sled
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Terrain Utility Sled
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Here we look into the best options out there so you can pick the best ice fishing sled for you.
Shappell Jet Ice Fishing Sled
In terms of having a durable construction most of these fishing sleds are made from polyethylene, which is able to take a lot of punishment. It makes them very rugged and able to cope with all the demands that ice fishing brings.
This sled also has molded runners which gives you two advantages. They will allow the sled to stay in a straight line when it’s being pulled but they will also give extra protection to the bottom of the sled which is important for long-term use.
Having runners will also reduce the contact with the ground and therefore the drag. It makes it very easy to pull, even when it’s full of gear. The rope could be a little thicker to make it more comfortable but it still has an impressive level of strength.
The overall build quality of the ice fishing sled is very good and the materials is going to be thick enough to withstand side impacts. It is also stable and you’ll be able to pull it without fearing everything dropping out if you hit a bump.
Versatility is a great added bonus to an ice fishing sled and you get that here as you’ll be able to use it for home use as well as more fun activities such as snow sledding. For ice fishing it is perfect and will make your time out on the ice a lot easier.
- Impressive stability
- Rugged and durable
- Low drag
- High build quality
- Thin rope
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Terrain Sport Sled
You’ll know exactly what you plan on carrying on your ice fishing trip. If you plan on taking a lot of stuff then having a sled such as this would be perfect. It has a large capacity but will be easy enough to drag along the ice.
That this helped by the thicker tow rope that it has attached to it. While the rope is great, the attachment points on the sled are a little weak and you don’t want to pull it too hard. As long as you bear that in mind, the sled will be able to hold up to continued use.
Terrain doesn’t hold back when it comes to the plastic used here. The high-impact polyethylene walls are quite thick and therefore you’re not going to have to worry about damaging it. The ice fishing sled will hold up to the most demanding fishing trips.
Despite the larger size and the thicker materials used, the ice fishing sled remains easy to drag along the ice, even though looser snowy conditions. The ribbed bottom helps with that as it will minimize the sleds contact to the ice.
The bottom of the sled also gives it impressive tracking ability to stop it from sliding around in any direction when you are trying to pull it. It all makes up for a brilliant ice fishing sled which you are sure to be more than happy with.
- High portability
- Versatile design
- Easy to drag
- Holds a lot of gear
- Weak rope attachment
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Beavertail Sport Sled
Beavertail is another company who has made their fishing sled from high-quality polyethylene. It gives it that durability that you need but for those who care about the aesthetics of a sled, they might be annoyed that this model can scratch easily.
While you might get some superficial scratches, the ice sled is very robust and able to cope with anything that you throw at it. That is helped by it having a leading edge and also a reinforced lip to prevent any cracking or snapping.
It means that the weaker areas of the ice fishing sled are reinforced to give them extra protection that a lot of other sleds don’t have. The two rope is also included and this too has a lot of durability for long-term use.
You’ve not seen the perfect size for you yet? Well you’re in luck here as you will get three size options available to you. You are able to get it in small, medium or large depending on your needs but it’s probably for the best to get a larger size if you’re unsure.
Another great aspect of this ice fishing sled is that it will be able to keep a straight line when you are pulling it. The drag is also minimal which helps with that tracking but it also means that pulling it over ice is very easy.
- Great at clearing debris
- Minimal drag
- High level of traction
- Weak areas reinforced
- Scratches easily
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Flexible Flyer Utility Pull Sled
This utility pull sled has an elongated shape which is a lot longer than most other sleds that are out there. It means that you ate going to be able to carry a lot of gear or any fish which you want to be able to take back.
While that is going to be great for a lot of people, it does make the sled quite bulky. That can make it difficult to transport but if you have the space in your vehicle then it’s not going to be an issue. Most people are going to love the size.
If the 60” inch model is too big for you, then the 46” model is always going to be an option even though this is quite big itself. Whichever size you get they are made from high-quality polyethylene and therefore will be able to stand the test of time.
The weaker areas are also reinforced. This can be seen with the durable outer lip of the sled but also the high sidewall strength that it has. Both make this an ice fishing sled which you will most likely have for years to come.
Despite that size and the reinforcements, the ice fishing sled still remains very easy to pull along. The rope makes it easy to drag and it will stay in a straight line. Once you’ve finished fishing, you’ll also be able to use this sled for many other activities.
- Easy to pull
- Immense durability
- Versatile design
- Can carry all your gear
- Quite bulky
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Terrain Utility Sled
Terrain has also been able to make this utility sled which has a box shape that can be used for a wide variety of different tasks. It is able to carry a lot of equipment despite its footprint not being quite as large as other sleds that we’ve seen.
The construction of the ice fishing sled is sturdy and it will be able to hold its shape when it’s being pulled. One area where this does fall down is that it doesn’t quite have the thickness of material when compared to some of its rivals.
That can affect the durability if you get impacts to the sidewall of drag it over any sharp rocks. It should still last for a long time with the polyethylene is made from. It also has a two year warranty which will be able to give you some peace of mind.
There are some great features of this ice fishing sled. The ribbed bottom helps to protect it from floor impacts while also giving a good tracking ability. The high side walls also help to give it a great internal capacity.
All those features help to make it a perfect utility sled which you’re going to be able to use time and time again, not just for ice fishing. The heavy-duty rope makes it very easy to pull and while it doesn’t have the durability of some other models, it is still a very good sled.
- Great tracking ability
- Good capacity
- Simple to pull
- Perfect utility sled
- Thinner material
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Buyers Guide
Size
The size of the ice fishing sled is going to be the biggest issue when buying. You want to ensure that you’re going to be able to carry everything that you want. It’s a good idea to plan ahead and think about exactly what you need to take.
If you plan of carrying fish then you might need more internal capacity. There are also the likes of ice augers which you might want to carry. All this needs to be taken into account. If you’re unsure, it’s usually the best idea to opt for a bigger size.
Depth
While some of these ice fishing sleds have a large footprint, they don’t have the highest of sides. That means that their internal volume isn’t actually that high. It can also means that you gear can easily drop off the sides when you’re pulling it along.
With that in mind, you shouldn’t just look at the length as you also need to consider the depth of the sled. This will allow you to more comfortable carry all you gear and keep it contained to the sled without worrying about it spilling over.
Material
All the sleds that we have looked at here are made from high-density polyethylene. The reason for that is that it combines the qualities of being very strong while also allowing the sled to remain light. It also will be able to handle impacts and abrasions.
If you’re looking at any other sleds, it’s important to know what they are made out of as cheaper plastics can break very easily. You also want the two rope to be well-made as this can take a lot of strain if you’re dragging a heavy load.
Weight
Weight isn’t really a huge issue when it comes to sleds. They are all made from high-quality plastic which is going to be fairly light. Obviously the bigger the sled that you decide to get, the heavier it will be and if weight is important to you, it’s a good idea to check how much it weighs.
Sleds are designed to be dragged across the floor while carrying a lot of contents. If you have all your fishing gear in there and a lot of fish, then the weight of the sled is going to be quite insignificant when compared to its contents.
Durability
As we mentioned earlier, all of the sleds here are made from polyethylene. That helps to give it a good level of durability but not all polyethylene is the same. It can have different qualities and also different levels of thickness.
The best sled makers will have a good thickness of material which can help to give it that extra toughness. Even with polyethylene, is the walls aren’t thick enough then they simply won’t last for a very long time.
There are other important aspects too. The weaker areas of the sled need to be reinforced with the corners, lip and floor being vulnerable areas. Having extra plastic in these areas will help to extend the life of the sled.
Extra Features
Tow rope – In order to drag your sled along the ice then you need a strong tow rope. Most sleds will have one included but it’s a good idea to check. A thicker rope is preferable as not only will it be stronger but also more comfortable to pull.
Ribbed floor – It’s not a great idea for the bottom of your sled to be flat. The more contact that you have with the floor, the more drag there will be. Also having a ribbed floor will act as a rudder and help to keep your sled going in a straight line.
Lip – The edge of your sled needs to have a curved lip over it for a few reasons. It adds extra strength to what can be a weak area and also it makes it more comfortable to use. Not having a lip can quickly lead to cracking.
Versatility – It’s a good idea to have a think about what other uses you could have for your sled and factor that into you buying decision. They can be used for carrying a hunted animal, firewood, garden uses or even enjoying it as a snow sled.
Final thoughts
All the sleds that we have looked at here are brilliant in their different ways. It’s important to ask yourself exactly what you need with the key questions in the buying guide above of what size do you need it to be and what features you need, among other factors.
Once you have answered those questions then you’ll be able to get a clear picture of exactly what you need. These sleds are going to help to make your fishing trips a lot easier. All that’s left to do is get the best ice fishing sled for you and enjoy dragging your gear along the ice with ease.
