A dependable ice auger makes all the difference in the world. You want something that you can trust to start up right away every time. It’s frustrating to have to deal with an ice auger that just won’t turn on. But it is also critical that it stands the test of time.
There is no doubt that the ice fishing auger market is crowded right now. In the article below, you’ll learn about each of the 7 best brands in the industry. For your convenience, the list has been categorized by power source (gas, electric, hand, etc.)
What Is the Best Ice Fishing Auger Brand?
Here are our top 7 brands that manufacture reputable ice augers. Each of them is featured in this article, with a brief on the strengths and weaknesses of each.
The brands featured in this list are:
- Eskimo
- Jiffy
- Strikemaster
- Ion
- Landworks
- K-Drill
- Nordic Legend
Strikemaster, Eskimo, and Jiffy offer the greatest selection across all the different types of augers: gas/propane, battery, cordless drill attachment, and hand augers.
K-Drill is the most popular choice for cordless drill augers. The company offers a wide range of blade sizes and the auger itself is made out of durable alloy steel.
Continue to the sections below for a list of the best augers in each category. You’ll even learn which cordless drills are the best for an auger attachment.
Propane/Gas Augers- A Classic with A Lot of Power
Gas-powered augers are a classic that still do the job, and then some. If you are on the fence about whether to buy a gas or propane auger, consider the following advantages and disadvantages versus other types of augers:
Advantages of gas augers:
- More power for drilling 10” holes
- No need to charge a battery
- Easy to find replacement parts
- For propane: easy to find fuel source since you already have propane for your heater
Disadvantages of propane/gas augers:
- Maintenance and upkeep
- Noisy
- Heavier than battery-powered augers
- May have trouble starting if not kept clean
Eskimo
Eskimo offers both an 8-10 inch gasoline auger and a high compression propane auger of the same blade size. Eskimo is one of the leading brands in this category, and it’s easy to see why. Both the gas and propane units have many desirable features.
The Quantum series augers are among the highest-rated within the Eskimo lineup.
The Eskimo Quantum Gasoline Auger has:
- A 33CC 2-Cycle Engine
- Stainless Steel Blades
- All-Metal Transmission: offers smooth gearing
- Fingertip Throttle Trigger: easy to control
The Eskimo Quantum Propane Auger:
- A 40CC 4-Cycle Engine
- A bottle holder for 1 lb. propane cylinders
- Removes the need to prime the engine before startup
- Less maintenance than gasoline augers: no need to regularly clean carburetors
Propane augers are often favored among anglers because they are less heavy than gas augers. You may also save money if the price of propane is low. However, you will need to stock up on propane cylinders.
What makes Eskimo superior in this category is the sheer power of their engines.
Jiffy Ice
Jiffy also offers a wide selection of models when it comes to gas and propane augers. Jiffy has propane augers designed to drill either 8″, 9″, or 10″ holes. Jiffy products are similarly priced to those from Eskimo.
The 49CC 4G Four Stroke propane and gas augers are among the modern models of ice augers from Jiffy.
The Jiffy 4G Fourstroke Gasoline Auger has:
- A 49CC 4-Stroke Engine
- Chipper-style Ripper Blades
- No mixing of fuel required
- Large mitten grip at the handle
- A snap-on blade protector
The Jiffy 4G Fourstroke Propane Auger has similar features to the gasoline model except:
- The propane model does not require any choking or priming
- The propane model weighs roughly the same as the gas model
- A bottle holder for 1 lb. propane tanks
Jiffy Ice Augers come with a 5-year warranty. In general, you’ll find that Jiffy is a company that stands behind its products. Another nice feature seen in all Jiffy propane and gas augers is the wide stance grip handles.
What Is the Best Gas or Propane Ice Auger?
Eskimo edges Jiffy out in terms of popularity. This is likely thanks in part to the sheer variety of models available. The brand name is also one of the most recognizable in the industry. Another bonus is the use of a sealed ball-bearing metal transmission in the engines.
That being said, Jiffy does offer superior power with the 49CC engine.
Battery-Powered Ice Augers
Battery-powered augers are all the craze these days. They come with many advantages over gas and propane-powered augers, especially when the price of fuel is high.
Advantages of battery-powered augers:
- Quiet, you can even drill inside a hut
- No need to bring gasoline or propane
- Lightweight
- Easy to maintain
Disadvantages of battery-powered augers:
- Battery care is paramount, won’t be able to drill if the battery fails to take a charge or you forget to charge overnight.
- The difference versus cordless drill attachments (see the section below) is that the unit needs a powerhead that can be pricey
This section refers to the augers that require a powerhead to run, not the cordless drill attachments.
Ion
The Ion comes with two size options: an 8” auger blade or a 10” blade. This is certainly one of the more popular names on the market. They are easy to recognize out on the ice, thanks to the bright green color.
- Ion claims 2000 inches of ice on a single charge, or at least 125 holes at 16”.
The battery is 40V, and you do have the choice of buying a package that comes with two battery units.
- You can also choose between the Alpha and Alpha Plus The key difference is the fact that the Alpha Plus is made out of a composite material, which reduces the overall weight of the auger.
Strikemaster
Strikemaster is the flagship brand of Rapala, and as such is among the more recognizable and reputable as far as brand names go. The company also frets a 24V and a 40V option.
The 24V is a more recent addition. For a while, the company only manufactured the 40V choice, but it introduced the 24V as a lightweight option in 2021.
Here’s the rundown:
- The 24V is incredibly lightweight. It feels like a toy auger at only 14 lbs.
- That being said, it can shred. The 24V can drill up to 50 holes on a single charge if the ice is 16 inches.
- By comparison, the 40V claims 100 holes at 16″ of ice on a single charge.
Yes, the 24V offers less power. However, it should be more than enough in most scenarios. It is also lightweight and easy to carry. Go with the 40V if you want the old reliable and you need something that can live through some intense drilling on a single charge.
Landworks
This is perhaps the most affordable battery-powered option on the market. That being said, it does claim 60 holes of 8” thick ice on a single battery charge. The auger part is 39” long.
One nice feature that sets the Landworks 8” auger apart from the rest is:
- The easily detachable steel bit blade head.
At the blade head, you’ll find a protective circular rim. This is a nice addition to have since it should be less frustrating to handle than other blade covers on the market that can be ill-fitting.
Jiffy
Jiffy has long been synonymous with gas-powered augers. Well, now they’ve joined the electric auger game, and perhaps not shockingly, they do offer the most powerful battery-powered drill on the market.
Be forewarned that this is one of the pricier drills on the market. That aside, there are many features to like:
- 80V battery capable of drilling 50 holes through 22 inches of ice, yes that’s nearly 2 feet.
- The battery comes with a USB port for charging electronics.
So yes, it is more expensive, but you can call that “Cadillac of ice-powered drills”. If you fish on a lake where the ice hits 20” + reliably every year (such as Lake of The Woods), then you may give the Jiffy Rogue a look. It should put to rest any doubt that battery-powered augers are not powerful enough to replace gas augers.
Eskimo
Another stalwart of the powered auger industry, Eskimo has also introduced its line of battery-powered augers. The Eskimo is competitively priced with Ion and Strikemaster.
- They offer a 40V auger that is capable of drilling up to 3.2 inches of ice per second.
- It is equipped with a 4Ah battery, which is similar to the battery on the Strikemaster and Ion units.
One nice touch is the LED light at the base of the power head. This illuminates the ice as you drill. Yes, this is a simple feature, but it is somewhat surprisingly not included in most competing brands. You also receive Eskimo’s customer service which means a 5-year warranty for the auger and power head.
Trophy Strike
Trophy Strike is a Colorado-based company that manufactures the most powerful battery auger on the market (as measured by battery voltage).
- The 120V auger claims to drill 86 holes through 8 inches of ice.
- The cutting depth is just slightly less than its competitors, coming in at 35.5″. It is important to note that ice 3 feet or thicker is a rarity in many locations, so this is unlikely to be a deciding factor for most anglers.
One nice touch is the protective case for carrying the battery. Again, this is a quite simple feature that many manufacturers seem to neglect. This should help ensure that the battery has a longer lifetime. Proper battery care and being able to keep gear dry can make a big difference.
What Is the Best Battery-Powered Auger?
Ion is the best in this category for a multitude of reasons, despite heavy competition. First and foremost, you have the most balanced combination of power and weight with the composite Alpha Plus Auger.
A nice added touch is the fact that you do have the choice to buy a pack with two 40V batteries included. This can be a real lifesaver during a long weekend trip where you may not have a chance to recharge.
Ice Auger Attachments for Cordless Drills
This can be a great way to conserve costs. You can use a cordless drill (which you may already have on hand) to drill an ice fishing hole. All you need is an auger attachment.
One thing to keep in mind, and this is very important, is that not every cordless drill is suitable for these uses. If you aren’t familiar with this, you’ll want to brush up on the section below, where you’ll which drills are suitable.
That aside, this setup will be more than enough for most anglers. This is particularly the case if you are not anticipating encountering thick ice conditions and if you are mostly a day trip angler.
K-Drill
K-Drill is one of the most recognizable names in this category, and for good reason. They offer a wide variety of auger blade sizes, from 6” up to 8.5”:
One nice feature of the K-Drill auger is that the auger is made of durable alloy steel. It’s also great that the attachment end for your drill is made out of metal. Lastly, the unit comes with a secure protective safety cap for the blade.
Nordic Legend Hardware Lite
The Nordic Legend is interesting because it is an auger that is primarily made out of two materials: aluminum at the stem and nylon for the flighting. The purpose of this is to offer greater flexibility for the entire auger as it cuts through the ice.
The blades themselves are made out of alloy steel. You do have a couple different choices of blade size and auger color:
- orange or yellow color options
- 6” or 8” blades
- plus, you have the choice to buy a combo, which does come with an attachment to turn the auger into a hand auger if you would like to.
For current pricing, click here.
Eskimo
Eskimo also manufactures an auger for cordless drills. The Eskimo Pistol Bit Auger is a lightweight choice, weighing just 3.9 pounds. The auger stem also measures 42”, which positions it as one of the longest auger attachments on the market.
You have two options in terms of blade size:
As is the case with the Bordic Legend, the flighting is made out of nylon and the stem is aluminum. A high torque, ½-inch chuck cordless drill is needed for both pistol bits.
Strikemaster Lazer
Strikemaster produces a wide range of blade size options, including a 10″ blade that you just won’t find in many cordless drill attachments. The flighting is made out of a proprietary synthetic resin and the stem is out of a heavy-duty steel hex shaft. As such, this should be the most durable choice.
Strikemaster auger attachments also come with the Power Point connection piece that is designed to ensure that the drill bit stays snug and in place while drilling.
Here are the three blade sizes:
What Is the Best Auger Attachment for A Cordless Drill?
K-Drill narrowly wins this category, partially because they offer free blade sharpening. You also have the choice to choose between three different blade sizes.
For many anglers, it’ll be hard to pass up the affordability of the Nordic Legend. The Nordic is an excellent product, along with Strikemaster and Eskimo. However, these companies do not offer free blade sharpening nor the use of durable materials that K-Drill does.
Best Cordless Drills for Ice Auger Attachments (See List Above for Attachments)
Not every cordless drill will be suitable. You need to be selective for the sake of both safety and performance. When it comes to finding a cordless drill for your ice you should take care to follow manufacturer guidelines.
In general, the drill needs to have:
- A ½” drill chuck
- A side stabilizer arm is a must for safety
- Bare minimum battery: 18V/4Ah
- 500-750 rpm with a minimum of 725 in/lbs. or 820 UWO of torque
Fortunately, many drills fit these guidelines:
- Milwaukee 2603 Drill and up
- Milwaukee 2604 Hammer and up, including the 2804
- DeWalt DCD991 Drill and up
- DeWalt DCD997 Hammer and up
You can even find ice auger kits from Milwaukee and K-Drill such as the one found here. This removes the need to go out of your way to make sure that the drill you own is compatible. Even if you already have a compatible drill or hammer, this will leave you with a good reason to upgrade your toolset.
Hand Augers: The Most Affordable
You certainly don’t see very many hand-powered augers out on the ice anymore. However, they most certainly still have their time and place. Especially if you live in one of those fringe areas that hasn’t had much ice in the last several years. In that case it may make perfect sense to save a few dollars and just go with the trusted classic.
Strikemaster
Strikemaster makes a simple, cost-effective ice auger that is still comfortable to use and durable. This is all thanks to the rubber ergonomic handle and the stainless steel stem. Blades are made out of chrome alloy.
Other features include:
- Lightweight construction: the unit weighs just 5.5 lbs.
- Adjustable handle: Can adjust from 48″ to 57″, so that it should be a comfortable fit no matter your height.
- Powdered coated paint on the stem and flighting to help prevent ice build-up.
For current pricing click here.
Eskimo
Eskimo makes hand ice augers in 3 blade sizes: 6″, 7″ and 8″. Size-wise, the auger is long enough for anglers to comfortably handle, while also being short enough to fit inside the average ice fishing sled.
Other features include:
- Cross-Bolt Takedown: the handle is connected to the auger via a cross-bolt rather than a tightening screw.
- Blade Protector
- Handle & Pommel Knob: a simple design with an ergonomic handle
The Eskimo hand auger is one of the most affordable on the market. For current pricing click here.
Jiffy
Jiffy makes a hand auger that comes in two size options: 6″ or 8″. What makes Jiffy hand augers unique when compared to other brands is the handle. You can also buy adapters from Jiffy that will allow you to connect either a cordless drill or Jiffy Powerhead.
Here are the features:
- Unique handle: does not need to be detached, rather it can be flipped up or down and locked into position
- Protective blade cover
- Dimensions: 38” height (with handle flipped down)
For the current price, click here.
What Is the Best Hand Auger?
Strikemaster offers the best hand auger (with the Lazer model). It scores high marks due to the ability of the angler to easily adjust the handle from 48″ to 57″. The use of superior materials is another plus, as the powdered-coated paint should hold up well over time.
Anglers who are in search of better pricing can purchase the Strikemaster Mora, which comes with a simpler design versus the Lazer.
The Jiffy hand auger comes in a close second place because you do not have to remove the handle, you can simply collapse it. You also have the opportunity to purchase an attachment that will allow you to connect the auger to a cordless drill if you end up changing your mind.
Final Thoughts
It’s never a bad idea to take the time to shop around for an ice auger. Your local store may not carry some of the brands contained in this list, since ice fishing is a bit of a niche sport. You may even miss the boat on learning about an ice auger that has all of the features you need, at the price you want.
For this reason, you should evaluate each brand online and cross-compare the specs and price point.
