When hauling your essentials on an ice fishing trip, a sled makes it much easier. You’re in the market for an ice fishing sled yourself. You’d prefer if the sled is lightweight, has a good towing capacity, and doesn’t break the bank. Which ice fishing sleds should you look into?
Here are 7 fantastic ice fishing sleds for your perusal:
- Shappell Jet Ice Fishing Sled
- Pelican NOMAD 40
- Shappell Camo Ice Fishing Sled + Cover
- Flexible Flyer Winter Trek Pull Sled
- Frabill Universal Shelter Tow Bar
- Shappell JSR Jet Sled Jr.
- Beavertail Sport Sled
Although each of the above 7 ice fishing sleds is a great option in its own right, you only need one. Ahead, we’ll help you choose your ideal ice fishing sled by discussing specs, materials, weight capacity, and price. You won’t want to miss it!
7 of the Best Ice Fishing Sleds
Shappell Jet Ice Fishing Sled
Starting our list is our most recommended ice fishing sled, the Shappell Jet. We have several Shappell ice fishing sleds on this list, and that’s because the brand is known for its high-quality sleds.
The Jet weighs 12 pounds and measures 54 inches long by 10 inches wide and 25.5 inches high. Produced in the United States (specifically, in Michigan), the Jet features an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene or UHMWPE base.
UHMWPE is beloved for its strength (up to 40 percent stronger than the already very durable Aramid yarn) and its wear resistance (which is 15 times better than even carbon steel). The material is unlikely to crack, which is just what you’re looking for in an ice fishing sled.
Runners are molded into the bottom of the Jet to increase its stability on snowy and icy surfaces. Those runners also lend this ice fishing sled even greater strength so you can rely on the Jet for all your everyday ice fishing needs.
Shappell recommends using the Jet for ice fishing primarily, but it also comes in handy for carrying feed, traps, firewood, and large hunted game such as deer. Users have said it’s transportable on sand, but we recommend sticking to ice and snow.
Pelican Trek 45
For under $90, the Pelican Trek Utility Sled is an excellent ice fishing sled. The sled measures 45 inches by 20 inches by 8 inches.
This sled can be used in all seasons, but is perfect for winter camping and fishing excursion. It can resist the toughest conditions, so there’s nothing to challenge your sled.
The Trek 45 has a volume of 71L and can carry up to 130 lbs. This extremely durable sled is made of a heavy duty RAM-X. Its high density construction provides great shock resistance. If you purchase two sleds, you can even use the second to enclose your gear and add space.
It also comes with a pull rope.
This sled is built with pre-molded High-density polyethylene runners that help with tracking and extend the life of the sled. The runners are built-in within the mold of the hull and has indentations to hold the cord in its place.
Shappell Camo Ice Fishing Sled
We told you that you were going to see a bunch of Shappell ice fishing sleds on this list. The next one is their camo ice fishing sled, which you can get your hands on for less than $80.
The Shappell camo ice fishing sled is 54 inches long, 25 inches wide, and 10 inches tall. It features a polyethylene base, which does differentiate it from the Jet ice fishing sled we started our list with.
Polyethylene is not quite HDPE, but it’s close. Your camo ice fishing sled shouldn’t get dinged if you bump it into a tree or a rock. The molded runner under the sled lends it strength and easy transportability.
The realistic camo patterning throughout might not come in handy much for ice fishing, but if you’re carrying hunted game, you’ll appreciate the pattern that much more.
Our favorite part of this Shappell ice fishing sled by far is that it includes a cover. The cover measures 25 inches wide by 54 inches long and features 600-denier polyester. Shappell recommends using the cover to protect your gear from snow, slush, and rain.
Flexible Flyer Winter Trek Pull Sled
You probably grew up with a Flexible Flyer sled or two. You trust the brand for reliability, so why not try their Winter Trek pull sled for your ice fishing cargo needs? This sled is an Amazon’s Choice product and is affordable for under $100.
Measuring 60 inches (5.5 feet) long by 6 inches tall and 20 inches wide, the Winter Trek sled is only 7 pounds. Its resin construction might seem fragile at first glance, but Flexible Flyer promises that the material is no-break. That ought to give you some peace of mind.
The outer lip is reinforced to improve the stability and strength of the sidewalls. Along the bottom are molded grooves that keep your tracking steady and sure. The grooves also lend the Winter Trek sled more strength, which is always a good thing.
An included pull string makes it easy to tow this sled here, there, and anywhere. Flexible Flyer does suggest using the Winter Trek pull sled for ice fishing cargo transport as well as carrying firewood.
Of course, if you feel like entertaining the family, this Flexible Flyer sled can easily accommodate two adults or three (or more) children for backyard sledding fun.
Frabill Universal Shelter Tow Bar
How about hauling your ice fishing sled on a tow bar on your towing vehicle? In that case, you should like the Frabill universal shelter tow bar.
This sled tow bar has a universal design so you can connect it using only a single pin. It measures 35.4 inches by 6.6 inches by 2.2 inches and comes with a pin and a tow bar for easily attaching it to a snowmobile or an ATV. You can then be on your way!
Shappell JSR Jet Sled Jr.
Perhaps you liked the Shappell Jet that we talked about earlier in this article, but you decided it’s too large for your needs. In that case, you should check out the Shappell JSR Jet Sled Jr., which is the appropriately named smaller version.
The Jet Sled Jr. is 21 inches by 43 inches by 8 inches, so it’s even more lightweight and portable. It weighs a mere 6.2 pounds so transporting it on all your ice fishing expeditions shouldn’t be a pain.
We should note that the Jet Sled Jr. is not made of UHMWPE like the original Shappell Jet ice fishing sled, but rather, polyethylene. We’ve already touched on the benefits of polyethylene, so it’s not a downgrade to go from UHMWPE to polyethylene at all.
The polyethylene is rotomolded too, including the runners. Those runners enhance the stability and strength of the Jet Sled Jr. much as is the case with the OG Jet.
Tall sides mean the Jet Sled Jr. will keep all your ice fishing cargo secure. Shappell mentions this sled is also a great choice for carrying firewood and hunting equipment. When you’re not transporting cargo, you can also use the Jet Sled Jr. for pulling the kids around in the snow.
That said, the sled does not include a cargo rope.
Beavertail Sport Sled
In some instances, you need to bring only some cargo when going ice fishing. The Beavertail sport sled comes in handy in those situations.
Weighing 6 pounds and measuring 22 inches wide, 44 inches long, and 9 inches tall, this small ice fishing sled is made of virgin polyethylene. That means the sled features previously untouched poly pellets throughout.
Beavertail says the single-piece construction of their sport sled is designed for durability, strength, flexibility, and rigidity when and where you need it. The Marsh Brown color is challenging to lose in the snow, which is another plus.
An Aggressive Leading Edge helps you pull your ice fishing sled through deep and rough weather and terrain without worrying about the sled losing stability. Beavertail even tested the sport sled for extreme weather, including cold and hot weather alike!
The sled comes with a tow rope for simple transport anytime.
Final Thoughts
Ice fishing cargo sleds don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, as evidenced by the 7 sleds we discussed here today. Each sled costs about $100, and although some are more expensive, it’s not by much. Whether you choose a Shappell ice fishing sled or one by Beavertail or Flexible Flyer, you can’t pick wrong!