Ice Shanty Heater: A Review and Comparison of the Top 5
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Introduction
When thinking about if you should purchase an ice shanty heater, all you need to think about is all those super cold mornings hunting or fishing in the past, when life would have been so much better if you remembered your gloves and wool socks, but you didn’t.
If you are a serious ice fisherman then you need to consider getting a heater for your ice shanty (tent). Having a heater in your shanty makes your day so much more enjoyable.
We have all been cold before, first your fingers start to get cold, then shortly thereafter your toes start to get cold and before you know it you are so miserable that ice fishing just doesn’t sound fun anymore, you would rather just go get in the truck and warm up.
This is one of those products that a lot of us will think about going without, because they can be rather expensive when it comes down to finding a good sized one that will put out enough heat, but just like you spend money on the good fly-fishing gear, please spend the few extra bucks on a good ice shanty heater so you can stay warm and keep on fishing.
This article is designed to help you pick the best heater for you and your needs, make sure to read at least the highlights about each one before making a purchase decision.
Let’s get to it.
Comparison Table
Table could not be displayed.#1 Mr. Heater 9000 BTU
We all know the Mr. Heater Buddy brand when it comes to portable heaters. It is no surprise to me that when doing research and thinking about all the ice shanty heaters I have used, that this brand is the top one out there.
This heater will put out up to 9000 BTU, which is rated to heat up to 225 square feet. This means that if you are using a 10×10 ice tent then you should be able to heat it up nicely.
This heater is rated for indoor use, meaning it is safe to use in your tent.
This heater also has an auto shut off if tipped over, detects too little O2 (or too much CO2),or if the pilot light goes out.
When thinking about overall propane use it is nice to be able to plan, so here are the amounts it uses per hour.
IF using it on low (4000 BTU), then it will consume right around 0.44 gal/hour of propane, if used on high (9000 BTU) then it will use 0.99 gal/hour.
This allows you to plan that if you are going to be fishing and plan on using it on high for 3 hours, then you need a 3 gallon tank at minimum if you will run it the whole time.
One unique thing about this heater is that if you are using it at 7000 feet or higher, it may shut off because of the effect of altitude on the heater.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
Overall, this heater is a great option for ice tents, camping tents, when the power goes out and much more. This heater will get the job done! If you are aware of the open heat source (small guard in front of it) and the fuel consumption rate then you can plan for its limitations and you won’t be disappointed with this heater.
#2 Mr. Heater, Big Buddy 18,000 BTU
If you have a big tent and you need a larger ice shanty heater, this is a great option. This heater has the capability to heat up to 450 square feet of ice tent.
This portable heater is about 16 lbs in weight, and is 19x12x18 inches in size.
This heater has a few different settings. It can be put on a low, medium, and high setting. This correlates to a 4000, 9000, and 18000 BTU setting at each respective setting. That means that ultimately if you have a smaller ice tent/shanty then you can adjust the heat settings to fit what you want. It also means that if you want to back off of the propane usage, but still keep a warm tent/shanty you can put it on a lower setting.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
Overall it just doesn’t get much better or powerful then the big buddy Mr. Heater. This large heater will get the job done and keep you toasty in your ice tent/shanty. This heater has three settings that lets you adjust to the temperature you want, and the safety sensors are great assurances. The downside to this heater is that it can be heavy to take a crossed the lake, so be sure to check out this article on the best ice fishing sleds, to help carry this heavy heater to your spot.
#3 Mr. Heater, little buddy Ice Shanty Heater
If you fish in a small ice tent/shanty then this is going to be a great heater for you. This heater is small, portable, and efficient at heating small spaces. Overall, the size of this heater is 11x11x11 inches. This great little heater has safety sensors for low O2 (high Co2) to shut off in case the O2 is consumed to quickly leaving only CO2.
The lightweight of this heater makes it desirable for those of us that don’t always take the big sled out to pull our gear onto the lake.
This will go through a small propane take (a 1lb tank) in about 6-7 hours if ran constantly.
This is the most lightweight and effective heater for its size, that I am aware of.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
This little heater is a great option for out on the ice. It won’t take up too much space and is perfect for those days where it is just you and one other person in your small tent. If you have a large 4+ person ice tent/shanty then you likely won’t want to get this heater, you should consider one of the ones above.
This is a great ice shanty heater, and it has many other uses because it is so small and portable.
#4 Mr. Heater Double Top Propane heater
If you aren’t a fan of the other options above, maybe due to the plastic components or you want a simplified more straightforward design.
This heater has great capabilities and is extremely simple in its design.
This can connect to both 5lb and 20lb propane tanks, it also has a automatic shut off valve for when/if the heater gets tipped over.
The size of this heater before being attached to any propane tanks is 16x6x16, and it weighs in at 5lbs, meaning that it isn’t too big to fit nicely into your ice shanty/tent, and it won’t take up too much space in the ice fishing sled.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
When it comes to ice shanty heaters, this is one to consider before you buy. This heater has some great features and the simplicity is what makes it great. This heater has a very different style and operation than the others, but the end goal is the same, your ice tent nice and toasty.
Overall this is a great option, just not quite as sleek and not as many safety sensors as some of the other ones mentioned above.
#5 Dura Heat 10000 BTU Propane Heater
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Key Features
Pros
Cons
Bottom Line
This portable heater has some great options and features. It is compact enough to not take up so much space on your ice fishing sled or even in your camping gear, but it will put out 10,000 BTU and ultimately will provide plenty of heat to take care of a couple hundred square feet of ice fishing tent.
You can’t go wrong with this heater for your ice tent/shanty.
How to choose your ice shanty heater
BTU (how much do you need)
A BTU (British Thermal Unit) can be complicated, in simple terms a single BTU is the energy released when starting a match.
The real question is, how much BTU do you need. Roughly, 10,000 BTU will heat about 250 square feet. If you have a 12×20 shanty or ice tent then you need in the neighborhood of 10,000 BTU to heat the entire enclosure.
12×20 is about 240 square feet. I don’t know about you but this is a pretty big shanty/tent.
What will you be heating
Will you be heating a small tent or a large tent? Will it be used only for ice fishing, or will you keep it for emergencies, for camping, or hunting?
These are all important questions to ask.
Vented or not?
Think of vented heaters as ones that pull the air from the outside and bring it into an enclosure. This ensures that Co2 leaves your enclosure.
In a tent or shanty, this isn’t super important because you can open up a mesh vent and allow the Co2 to escape. Also, the majority of new portable propane heaters have a O2 sensor that shuts off when too little O2 is around (which corresponds to too much Co2).
Safety Sensors
Low O2 Sensor: This one is so important, this will make sure the heater shuts off if there is a dangerous amount of Co2 in the air. Most heaters have these, but make sure yours does.
Tip over sensor: Also very important and will make sure the hot heater core doesn’t tip over and start a fire.
Portability
If you want a heater you can put on the side of your backpack and take it anywhere you need it, make sure it’s a small one. If you are going to use your ice fishing sled then you can manage to have a little bit of a bigger heater to heat your ice shanty/tent.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ice shanty heater?
Ice shanty is the shelter that is used to ice fish in. A ice shanty heater is a small portable heater that you use while ice fishing to keep warm and actually enjoy the fishing instead of freezing!
Why do I need a heater
A heater while ice fishing is so important. It helps you actually enjoy the fishing because if you are sitting on a sheet of ice on a cold winter day without a heater, then get ready to stay bundled up the entire time.
Is it safe to have a gas heater in such a small place?
Absolutely, these heaters are safe. The main concern would be fires or carbon monoxide build up. If you have a vent in your shanty/tent I would open it. Also, most of the heaters have safety sensors to avoid complications.
Won’t the heater melt the ice?
Yes, it can melt the ice. It typically will melt the ice directly in front of it. A sheet of tinfoil put underneath the heater will reflect the heat up and prevent this from happening. Just don’t leave it in the same spot and don’t be on the lake for 10 hours a day, and it won’t be anything to worry about.
How big should my heater be?
This ultimately depends on the size of the area you are planning to heat up. I discuss specifics to this question above.
Conclusion
So you just spent a little bit of time reading about ice shanty heaters. Please take the time to select the heater that will do the work that you need it to do. Be smart about safety when it comes to the ehaters, and if you are worried about the Co2 buildup, then make sure to keep your tent/shanty vented well so the Co2 can escape.
Each one on this list is a great option, but that doesn’t mean they are all the best option for you.
Happy fishing
Sean
