As an ice fisherman in Alaska, it goes without saying that the temperatures can drop to unsightly amounts. Although the catches you can get in Alaska while ice fishing can be huge and profitable, the temperatures can get deadly. Therefore, it is imperative that ice fishermen purchase the proper equipment to properly heat up their ice fishing shelters. Luckily, the Mr. Heater Big Buddy will ensure that you are nice and toasty inside of your ice fishing shelter, even if you are dealing with dangerous sub-zero temperatures. The Big Buddy is, in my opinion, the best portable propane heater for ice fishing.
Best Portable Propane Heaters
| Mr. Heater MH9BX | Mr. Heater MH18B | Mr. Heater MH4B Little Buddy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portable Propane Heater |  |  | ||
| Rating |  |  |  | |
| BTU | 4,000-9,000 | 4,000-18,000 | 3,800 | |
| More Reviews | see reviews | see reviews | see reviews | |
| Check Price & Availability | check price | check price | check price |
Of course, discovering the Mr. Heater Big Buddy came with doing some trial and error with other similar portable propane heaters, however I found out that the Mr. Heater Big Buddy is truly the best propane heater for ice fishing on the market. When searching for a propane heater to shield you from the icy fingers of Jack Frost, you have to look into key features that propane heaters should have.
Best Portable Propane Heater Features To Look For
Portable Propane Heater Safety Mechanisms
With any portable propane heater, it is important to look at the safety features. Heaters that have the reputation of overheating should definitely be avoided, so make sure you look up reviews on the heater and ensure they have not had many accidents. When looking into the Mr. Heater Big Buddy, I found that the heater had a clean record, so then I decided to take a look at the specific safety mechanisms that Mr. Heater Big Buddy has.
The safety feature that stood out to me was the fact that this indoor heater has a safety shut-off component that activates whenever the heater has been tipped over. This is great, because I have heard many horror stories of some of my ice angler colleagues being involved in fires because their space heaters tipped over and ignited.
Another amazing safety feature that makes the Mr. Heater Big Buddy the best portable propane heater for sale is the automatic low-oxygen shut-off attribute. If the oxygen begins to get to dangerously low levels, the Mr. Heater Big Buddy will shut off in time to avoid any emergencies.
Portable Propane Heater Heating Range
Searching for the heating range of a portable propane heater is important because you want to know how much of your space the heater can work on. For a portable propane heater of its small stature (19WX12L), the Mr.Heater Big Buddy is able to heat up a very large space that is up to 400 square feet and is capable of emitting 4,000, 9,000 and 18,000 BTUs. This is more than enough space for ice fishing, as ice fishing shelters are normally smaller than that size.
The settings are controlled by a single-knob and can be set to High, Medium or Low to fit your heating needs. This portable heater also has a built-in fan which accelerates the heating capacity of the Mr. Heater Big Buddy, combining radiant and convection-style heat to give you the most bang for your buck. This portable space heater also has two swivel regulators that allows you to adapt from disposable cylinders to a remote gas supply.
Portable Propane Heater – Several Model Choices
Mr. Heater offers different models of their portable heaters in case the Big Buddy Propane Heater is lacking something you need or has components that you won’t be using. Mr. Heater’s Buddy Series has personal heaters, such as the Little Buddy Heater, which can heat up to 100 square feet and is capable of emitting 3.800 BTUs per hour. For hunting trips, you can also get the Hunting Buddy Portable Heater, which has a camouflage decal on it, for proper stealth while hunting.
Best Portable Propane Heater For Ice Fishing Conclusion
For the price and abilities, the Big Buddy Portable Heater definitely wins the contest for the best portable propane heater for ice fishing trips. Getting a portable heater that is this powerful is extremely important for your safety and health. So, why not invest in the best heater around?
