The bitter wind blew furiously, pelting me with unforgiving force, while sapping my warmth and enthusiasm.  I struggled to clench my ultra light rod, my grip loosening as my glove raised a white flag to the invisible enemy we all call cold.

Then, the snow started to fall.  Not tranquil flakes Norman Rockwell might depict, but the ferocious, mean-spirited kind that only the Grinch could conjure up to spoil a deserving child's Christmas.

I was sitting on frozen Big Rideau Lake, near Ottawa Ontario, and beginning to hate ice fishing.  My friend was parked a mere 20 feet away, cozy and content in his one man portable hut, oblivious to the elements outside. To make matters worse, I could hear regular plopping sounds coming from his hut, as he tossed chunky crappie into a half-filled bucket of water.  I, on the other hand, had one frozen crappie laying at my frostbitten feet, a snowbank of white stuff steadily covering my lack of fishing success.

On that day I vowed never to hit the ice without a portable hut in tow.  

The modern portable ice fishing hut is the greatest invention to be bestowed on the ice-fishing fraternity since the power auger.  Gone are days of cold feet and hands, blowing and ice-covered line, and aborted outings due to unbearable weather. 

Choosing a portable can be tough task for the newbie, but narrowing down the choices will lead you to the perfect home away from home.

Why Choose a Portable?
Modern portables are simple and practical.  Gear can be stored and loaded effortlessly, allowing easy transportation to and from the ice, all in a package that can be pulled by hand or snowmachine.  Windows, doors and seating structures offer most of the luxuries that a wooden hut would have, without having to remain in one spot.

Portables allow unparalleled mobility, with a quick "fold down and trudge on" mentality by the owners, which cannot be found with anglers in stationary varieties. 

Portables are becoming more affordable, and with a wider variety available with each passing season, it's no wonder that more and more anglers are recognizing their benefits.

A Material Matter
Portable huts are manufactured from a wide range of materials, but mainly nylon, canvas, or poly-cotton.  For the most part, the type of material is less of an issue than its strength and thickness, as these separate the good from the mediocre in terms of performance.

Choose a hut with the thickest, toughest material you can afford.  A strong, tear resistant outer shell prolongs the life of a portable, while also keeping the warmth intact. Making sure the material is breathable also goes a long way towards ultimate comfort by cutting down on condensation buildup.  A water-resistant material is also the way to go for obvious reasons, as is making sure it is fire retardant.

Try to buy a dark material that will absorb the sun's warmth, cutting down on heating costs.

Sizing Up the Competition
For solitary anglers, a one-man hut is sufficient.  They're small and light, easy to transport, and heat up and hold warmth well.  Many companies offer a variety of sizes in one-man huts, so check around to see which one suits your needs, budget, and body size.

If you carry a lot of gear or prefer more room to stretch out, a two-man portable would be better.  It also gives you the option of offering a chair to a fishing buddy that might want to tag along.  Moving up a size increases purchase cost, but the extra space is worth the investment. 

When dealing with extended families or numerous angling comrades, look at four- or six-man cabins or systems that can be used to connect two smaller huts. 
With added size comes weight, though, and pulling a king-of-the-hill hut requires a snow machine - and, you'll likely need a truck, trailer or roof racks to transport it to the ice.

Setting It Up
There are two main types of huts on the market - fold-over and tent style.  A fold-over simply pulls over the top of you in one fluid motion.  They're slick and the fastest style available.

Folding tent styles are usually box shaped and incorporate aluminum or alloy poles that are hinged or snapped together to form the inner frame.  They take longer to put up, but are still great buys, as long as the process isn't overly complicated or time-consuming.

Test a few styles at the shop and pick the one you feel most comfortable with.  Just remember, it will become your second home for a few months each year, so choose wisely.

Take a Seat
Portable-hut seating options include providing your own or relaxing in a built-in version.  Most flip-style huts have a self-contained seat, while tent varieties are more prone to be without one.  Built-in seats should be strong, durable, and, most of all, comfortable.  A padded topside comes in handy during long hours on the ice.  Many styles offer built-in tackle trays and cups and rod holders, other useful additions.

The drawback to using your own chair is having to lug it out on the ice.  It can be strapped down to the hut when towing, but this is less convenient than having a built-in one.  That being said, bringing your own chair gives the freedom to place it in any position you desire, something that's not always possible with a built-in one.

Peering Out
Windows are pretty much standard in today's portable huts.  Without them, watching tip-ups, checking on the weather, and seeing what's happening around you would be all but impossible.  The larger the windows, the better.  For shallow water sight fishing, however, you will want the option of darkening the hut to let you see better in the water below.   So, make sure windows have covers. 

Many first-time hut buyers overlook that windows should be positioned at the appropriate height for them.  Depending on your posture in the seat and on your body height, windows can be either too low or too high for viewing purposes.  Try a potential hut with the chair you intend to use it with.  If you're not seeing eye to eye with the windows, then the model isn't right for you.

Heating Up the Inside
In order to keep warm in your hut, a portable propane heater is a necessity.  There are several styles, with the new breed of catalytic heaters being the safest on the market, offering flame-free heat and approval for inside use.  Run off small propane canisters, they can keep you toasty warm when the temperatures outside is frigid.  For most portables, 3,000 BTUs is the bare minimum needed.  Look for heaters offering up to 9,000 BTUs for larger portables.  I've used a Mr. Heater "Portable Buddy" for many years now, and find that the option to switch from 4,000 to 9,000 BTUs is optimum for both my one and two-man hut.

A Towing We Will Go
To haul your portable across the ice, the two main options are to use brute strength or pull it behind a snow machine.  In either case, a built-in sled on the bottom of your hut is needed. 

Most portables on the market fold down into compact sleds molded out of polyethylene.  The sled can hold all essentials needed for a day on the ice - including bait buckets, rods, auger, and sonar - and allows for easy transport over snow and ice.  Make sure the sled you have is strong and durable to take any punishment you may give it.

Hand-tow ropes should be thick and with enough length so that the sled isn't nipping at your heels.  Make sure ropes are easy on the hands, as you'll be spending a significant amount of time pulling the hut to and fro. 

Bottom runners should be large, with smooth edges, allowing for easy towing.  A sled with a tapered front rides over snow more easily, something your muscles or snow machine will thank you for.