Question to all the guys that have strikemaster and or vexilar ice bibs. How well do they keep your jeans dry? I have carhartt bibs now for ice fishing. My knees and bottom of my pants we soaked by the end of the day. Also do they keep you warm. I’m a hole hopper. Are they worth the money. No I don’t what to spend or buy ice armor bibs.
I can only speak for the Vexilar suit, but it is a fantastic value. $89.00 for the bibs and the quality is outstanding. Padded knees, waterproof, extremely durable & very warm. I’m sure there may be other brands out there with similar construction, but the value is excellent in my opinion.
Anything would be better for on the ice fishing than Carhartt bibs. All they do is soak up water and freeze solid. I wear a pair of insulated guidewear bibs and I never get wet, and they are ten years old
I have been happy with my vex bibs can’t beat the price. I don’t recall ever getting wet in mine.
I know I won’t buy guide wear next time it’s too expensive now
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Anything would be better for on the ice fishing than Carhartt bibs. All they do is soak up water and freeze solid. I wear a pair of insulated guidewear bibs and I never get wet, and they are ten years old
I had a pair of uninsulated carharts for a few years before I bought my ice armor suit. I used a can of Camp Dry and completely soaked the legs with it paying super close attention to the knees, shins, and cuffs. For those couple years they never leaked and my pants only got wet when the slush and water came up under the cuffs. And most of my fishing involves run n gun drilling 50+ holes a day. I still use them when working outside, they are starting to develop wet spots but another can of camp dry and they should be good to go. And yes, you still need to waterproof the ice suits every year or two. I’m on my 2nd or 3rd coat of camp dry on my 6 year old ice armor suit.
something else that works on the carhart is to clean them then treat them with a couple aplications of Camp Dry.
I’ve been furnished with 3 sets of the StrikeMaster suits over the years and have never had any type of problem with them. Simply love ’em!!
Cheap fix for my beloved Carharts…!! Get a tube of silicone based clear caulk, or any exterior caulk squeeze a generous amount onto the knee area of the bibs and spread it over the areas u want to keep dry most!! Works great!! 
i have the vexilar bibs they are way better than carhartts. I’m sure there are better bibs made but for the money they are definetly worth it.
I have run the strikemaster as well as the frabill snow suit. The strikemaster bibs are a greatbib for the money. They are lightweight and warm. I run them with a pair of carhartt pants and some longjohns if needed. – QB
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Anything would be better for on the ice fishing than Carhartt bibs. All they do is soak up water and freeze solid.
+1
Vexilar
Strikemaster
Arctic Armer
Frabil
Striker
ETC ETC
Any of these brands are better for ICE FISHING than carhartts….
HOwever, if i’m going to do any farm work, i’d shred any one of them suits in a weekend VS a carhartt. They ARE NOT durable beyond ice fishing/boat fishing.
I own a few pairs of striker suits and several carhartts too, i guess i have some arctic armor bibs too.
Each has their place. Carhartt doesn’t work WELL on ice. Especially if you want to kneel in water and slush.
Lots of deals on the web for all kinds of suits.
You’ll be happy upgrading from carhartts to any one of those brands.
You obviously have never tried the 900 gram Cordura Nylon Arctic Extremes Carhartts…….
A little camp dry and no getting wet..ever..And as warm as anything out there….
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You obviously have never tried the 900 gram Cordura Nylon Arctic Extremes Carhartts…….
A little camp dry and no getting wet..ever..And as warm as anything out there….
No sir I haven’t.
I’ve had mine for 6 years now an I am real happy with them…
Solid brass zippers and snaps(no velcro)…
If anything they a too warm at times and are a bit bulky so I bought the lightest Frabill bibs to use on the warmer days… but when it gets real cold and windy they are my go to 
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