We all want to stay warm while out ice fishing. At times we will be on the ice when old man winter is seriously biting at our nose! To that end, let's look at what options we have available in terms of portable propane heaters.

It really starts by understanding what environment you plan on using the heater in. Let's start with outdoors vs. indoors. Virtually any heater can be used outdoors. The key things you are looking for in an outdoor application is that it emits enough heat to keep you warm while at the same time allowing for a fair amount to be lost to the wind and outdoors. In an outdoor environment you are probably going to require a heater that can kick out at least 18,000 BTUs/hr and likely closer to 30,000 BTUs/hr. A perfect example of this is the Mr. Heater Triple Propane Heater. It attaches to the top of a propane tank and has settings to output as much as 27,000 BTU/hr.

If you are looking at an indoor type application it really comes down to the size of space required to be heated and that the heater is rated to be used indoors. If you are attempting to heat a small area such as a portable ice shelter, you can likely get by on a propane heater that emits 1,500 to 9,000 BTU/hr. Great examples of heaters designed for tents and portables would be the Coleman Catalytic Propane Heaters (specifically the Coleman Procat propane heater) and the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Propane Heater. Both of these heaters are rated for indoor use and produce enough safe heat to keep the small area of a portable ice shanty warm.

If you are fishing out of a permanent ice shack you are likely going to need a heater that produces 9,000 to 18,000 BTU/hr yet still is safe to use indoors. You could possibly get by with the Mr. Heater portable buddy in this situation, but the Mr. Heater Big Buddy propane heater was designed for this exact application. Safe for indoor use, yet outputting an impressive 18,000 BTU/hr at its maximum, this heater can keep you permanent ice shelter warm regardless of the temperature outside.