Frabill Pro Thermal Original Tip-Up, Multi, One Size (1660)

Why it's worth it

The Frabill Pro Thermal Original covers a 10-inch hole with an insulated base, so the water underneath stays open while you're off checking another flag. It folds into a five-gallon bucket, the trip has light and heavy settings, and the shaft can be re-greased instead of replaced.

The insulated hub is the whole point. The base sits over a 10-inch hole and traps the water below it, so the hole stays open long after a bare one would skin over. Field testing published by In-Fisherman found that enclosed thermal designs cut freeze-up incidents by roughly 70 to 80 percent below zero compared with open wooden frames. That's the difference between a clean run and a spool that won't turn.

It also solves the storage problem. The whole thing drops into a five- or six-gallon bucket, which is how most people haul gear anyway. You can stack a few in there with your bait, a skimmer and a spare spool, then carry the lot in one hand. If you sled your kit out a half mile in the dark, that flat profile matters more than you'd guess.

From our review of 7 ice fishing tip-ups and hard-water gear, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +The insulated hub is the whole point
• +It also solves the storage problem
• +The trip is adjustable, and you'll want that
• +The shaft ships pre-lubed with a low-temperature grease, and the shaft-in-shaft design lets you re-grease it yourself rather…

What to know

• –The flag trips easily out of the box
• –It's built around a 10-inch hole