Best Drill Powered Ice Auger

Best Drill Powered Ice Auger Quick Chart

Best Drill Powered Ice Auger Reviews

7 Top Drill Powered Ice Fishing Augers: Editor’s Choice

• Nils UR800C: Editor’s Choice
• Strikemaster Lite Flite Lazer
• Eskimo Pistol Bit
• K Drill 7.5 Inch
• Strikemaster Lazer Auger
• RAZR: Great for Budgets
• Strikemaster Mora Auger: Great for Budgets

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Editor’s Choice: Premium Drill Powered Ice Auger

Nils UR800C

One of the best drill powered ice augers is the Nile UR800C.

Nile augers are manufactured by one of the top ice fishing equipment companies in the world. Their augers have the best reputation when it comes to being easy to use and the quality build. This Nils ice auger does not disappoint.

The UR800C is known for being incredibly durable and also, the Nils ice auger blades are incredibly sharp.  

Versatility is the name of the game with this auger. You can use this auger by either attaching it to a cordless drill or with a hand handle. The blade head can also be detached.

If you do want to use your Nils Ice Auger with a drill, you will need to supply the drill. You will want to make sure you use a quality drill that has a powerful battery. When using in very cold temperatures, we recommend bringing a few drill batteries. 

The auger itself is quite powerful but it needs the drill behind it also to have some power to it. If you need an ice auger drill adapter, check out our reviews of adapters.

The blades on the UR800C are sharp and cut through thick ice easily. This drill powered ice auger is known for being able to drive through two feet of ice without much issue.

The UR800C is lightweight, weighing just nine pounds. It’s a great option if you aren’t able to operate and carry around a heavy powered auger. Also, if you don’t want to bother with fuel etc. this is the option for you. You can maneuver it with ease but its low weight doesn’t stop it from being a great drill powered ice auger.

StrikeMaster Lite-Flite Lazer

The StrikeMaster Lite-Flite Lazer is a great 8 inch drill bit. It’s one of the best drill powered ice augers you can buy. This sturdy unit has no issues going through 8 inches of ice and more. We noticed that the blades are known to dull faster than others on some units.

The Lite-Flite comes with the two stage drill adapter and safety flange so need to purchase one separately.

You can buy any StrikeMaster blades so we recommend you try out some Mora Blades. Users should note that the blade replacements on this unit cost half that of the Nils, and that’s something to remember when shopping.

The synthetic flighting made of molded resin helps to make the drill bit lightweight.

What we loved about this drill powered ice auger is that since you can drill with minimal effort, your batteries last a long time compared to other ice augers.

If you want to drill a hole through the ice before your buddies can even get their gas auger started, this unit is perfect. The drill has a powerpoint installed to keep the drill in place. This will make your cuts more precise. A 1 year limited warranty comes with this unit.

Eskimo Pistol Bit

The Eskimo Pistol Bit is a great choice for ice fishing. It’s lightweight and has the ability to drill dozens of holes without tiring you out.

The pistol bit is available in 6 and 8 inches, depending on the types of fish you’re after.

The dual flat steel blades guarantee smooth cuts in the ice. This unit is lightweight at 3.9 lbs due to the nylon and polymer construction of the auger. This build also enhances impact resistance and flexibility in cold temps. You can carry this unit from hole to hole all day without getting tired.

You will need a 1/2 inch chuck drill to run this auger with a 725 in/lbs minimum of torque.

We love that the top plate is larger in diameter than the auger flite so that if you auger comes loose from the chuck, it won’t go down the ice hole.

If you’re going to run into thick ice, grab yourself the extension so that you’re not bending over to drill holes and wrecking your back.

If you feel like attaching the Pistol Bit to an Eskimo powerhead, you will need the adapter. Using a Pistol Bit with a powerhead reduces weight by oer 50%.

Pair all this goodness with a 1 year warranty, and you can see why the Eskimo Pistol Bit is a top auger for ice fishing.

K Drill 7.5 Inch

​The K Drill 7.5 Inch Ice Auger is a perfect choice when it comes to ice fishing. It is one of the best options if you want to start drilling holes for fishing purposes. 

We recommend at least at 18V cordless drill for cutting through ice with the K-Drill. The best brands for this are Milwaukee and DeWalt. Make sure that you have more than one fully charged battery on hand so you can chase fish as much as you want without worrying about a dead battery.

K Drills are totally worth it, especially for folks that can’t or won’t drag around a heavier power auger. It also eliminates the need for oil, gas, or emissions. K Drills are also pretty inexpensive compared to powered augers.

The K Drill Ice Auger comes with an easy drive connection which would allow you to attach any rechargeable drill with a 1/2-inch chuck. ​ The performance will be based on the drill you use to slice through the ice.

This ice auger comes with a lightweight aluminum shaft and cast aluminum drive. It will hold the offset chipper blades to make sure it will be on the right angle while you are drilling. 

With the anti-chatter design, reopening old holes is way easier and takes less time.  Ice fishers usually reopen a hole if they manage to catch a lot of fish there. 

This is one of the most important features of the K-Drill Ice Auger because it will allow the blade to float if it separates from the drive chuck suddenly.

The cutting blades are also interchangeable and are easy to remove for re-sharpening. 

Strikemaster Lazer Auger

When we tested the StrikeMaster Lazer Hand Auger we were impressed.  What impressed us most was the ease of use, how sharp the blades are, and the stainless steel construction. The blades on this Strikemaster Hand Auger are made of twin chrome alloy stainless steel which cut ice with precision.

If you’re going to use a hand auger with a drill, then this is THE one you want to use.  When drilling holes, it cut through the ice almost twice as fast as other comparable drill powered ice augers. 

We timed it and we could drill through approximately 10″ of ice in 10 seconds….14-17 inches in just under 30.

The handle adjusts from 48 inches to 57 inches, giving you good reach when drilling through deep ice.  If you’re tall, using it at 57 inches is recommended. The handles are made from quality rubber, making them easy to grip with gloves on.

The StrikeMaster Lazer Auger comes in a ton of diameters from 4″ to 8″. 

The 8″ model is perfect for chasing larger fish.  The 6″ will do for perch and walleye. It tends to catch at the end of the hole but it’s nothing that would steer us away from using this hand ice auger again.

This drill powered ice auger is the perfect substitution for gas, electric, or propane augers. None of the fuss of fuel or extra weight to ruin your ice fishing day. Pair this with a drill and you save a ton over electric, propane and gas augers.

You can find replacement blades online for your Lazer Hand Auger HERE.

These Lazer Ice Auger blades come in a pack of 3 and in 6, 7 and 8 inch lengths. They are made in Sweden, so you know you are getting top quality ice fishing blade replacements for your Lazer Hand Auger.

RAZR Auger

This has to be the best drill powered ice auger you’ve never heard of. The RAZR auger cuts through the ice without much effort. The auger blades are very sharp and we like that it’s budget friendly. We were impressed with just how fast it cuts through the ice.

Bonus is that you can outfit this auger with Strikemaster blades, which are known to be some of the best quality on the market. It currently comes with stainless steel curved blades that do a great job of cutting through ice. Keep yourself safe: the plastic safety cover for the blades is included.

The handle is offset, but not as much as other units. We didn’t notice that it made any difference. The handle grip is comfortable enough as you drill many fishing holes. If you’re shorter or taller than average, this unit has an adjustable length.

This drill adapter will fit the RAZR auger.

This drill also comes in 8 inch, (click here) if you need a large diameter. Available in 4″, 5″, and 7″ auger drill sizes too.

Strikemaster Mora Auger

Ditch your gas augers for this drill powered ice auger called the StrikeMaster Mora. The high allow carbon steel shaver ice blades slice through ice so fast, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner. The Mora line of augers have standard flat blades that can slice through nearly a foot of ice in approximately 1 minute.

This unit is affordable for those on a budget or if you don’t ice fish very much and aren’t interested in spending a ton of cash on an auger.

If you use the StrikeMaster as a hand auger, it’s got easy to use rubberized handles that are set perfectly to manually drill through the ice.

As with other StrikeMaster augers, the bit is powder coated with paint to reduce ice build up while drilling. We also loved the price of this unit, making it an affordable choice for most folks that want to get into ice fishing.

This unit is 8 inches in diameter and cuts through ice with little effort. We found that without a center point, this augers relatively flat blades tend to move as we tried to start a hole. Dirty ice leads to the blades dulling pretty quickly due to the shaver style blades on this Auger.

Some users have had the blades comes loose. Apply some thread locker to the threads before going out to fish and it shouldn’t be an issue.

Make sure you buy he StrikeMaster Disc or make your own, so that your auger doesn’t go down the hole if your chuck cracks loose.

Best Drill Powered Ice Auger Buyer’s Guide

Why Use a Cordless Drill and a Convertible Auger?

There are many reason to use this type of auger versus a powered auger: electric, gas, or propane. Everyone has their own reasons for choosing a drill powered ice auger, here are a few listed below:

• Weigh less
• No emissions
• Can use manually or with a drill (2 options)
• Portable
• Easy to Use
• Less Moving Parts
• Much Less Maintenance
• More Affordable

What We Consider When Selecting the Best Drill Powered Ice Auger

When looking to buy a drill powered ice auger, what are the main things that you should look for? Here are the top features you should have to guarantee you’ve chosen the perfect ice auger to pair with your drill.

Offset Handles

If the handles on your drill powered ice auger are offset, it makes it easier to grip and gives you more torque when you’re drilling ice holes by hand. This will also reduce the amount of effort you need to use to drill holes, reducing fatigue. Being less tired means being able to drill more holes and catch more fish!

Large Enough Bit

Choose carefully. A smaller bit is fine if you’re catching perch and walleye. But if you also want to catch large fish, you will need an 8 inch or larger bit. 8 inch bits work in most conditions and for most fish so it’s a no brainer to grab it. It’s cheaper to grab a larger one the first time you buy, instead of having to buy 2 augers.

Warranty

A company that stands behind it’s product 100% shows you that they make a quality drill powered ice auger. Pick one with a warranty to ensure you get the best auger for your money.

Stainless Steel Construction

This one is pretty obvious since stainless steel resists corrosion.

Auger Length

You’re auger should be long enough that you can comfortably use is repeatedly to drill many holes in one day. You can also see if the auger handle extends or shortens so that it can be customized to your height and comfort level.

Blade Quality and Type

Some blades are built better than others. Look for stainless steel, brand name, good reputation blades. Also, carefully consider whether you need/want chipper versus shaver blades for the ice you’ll be drilling.

Do Drill Powered Ice Augers Work?

Yes, drill powered ice auger work! You’re not sacrificing anything by choosing to pair a manual ice auger with a drill. You do want to make sure that your drill is powerful enough that it works when drilling through ice. We discuss the size of drill you need for an ice auger below.

Do You need a Hammer Drill for an Ice Auger?

No, you don’t need to have a hammer drill to use a drill powered ice auger.  Hammer drills pound down with force while they drill.  They are truly great at what they are made for and that’s pounding through tough surfaces like concrete, rock, etc. 

When using a drill powered ice auger, you won’t need that “pounding” that a hammer drill is famous for.  Hammer drills for an ice auger are not required. Focus on getting a heavy duty auger with more torque, and if it’s a hammer drill, that’s fine.  Just know that you won’t be using the hammer function at all when drilling ice fishing holes.

What Size Drill for an Ice Auger?

Torque requirements recommended are at least 700 in/lbs. Drill powered ice augers that are greater than 6 inches should be used with a heavy duty drill. These sorts of drills are typically “contractor grade”. Always remember that your batteries will drain faster outside because of the cold. Go out ice fishing with at least 3-4 fully charged batteries.

If you have a way of keeping the batteries warm, do it. Keeping the batteries warm, keeps the cold from draining the batteries. I do this in 2 ways. The first way is I keep the batteries in my inside pocket close to my body so body heat keep them warm. The second is, you can also use those hand/foot warmers that last for 8-12 hours and put them in an insulated bag with the batteries.

Can I Sharpen my Ice Auger Blades?

Yes, you can sharpen them and you should for every trip. You should even think about bringing sharpening gear with you on trips, just in case the blades get dull while out on the lake. Check out this video on how to sharpen the blades. You can also buy a blade sharpener, which may be a bit easier. Some brands like jiffy, Eskimo, and Strikemaster make their own sharpeners. Check out this link to see all the options.

Which Hand Ice Auger do I Recommend Using with a Cordless Drill

We have reviewed many hand ice augers above. But, what ice auger should I use with my cordless drill? We recommend one of the top 3 for those where budget isn’t an issue:

• Nils UR800C
• Strikemaster Lite Flite Lazer
• Eskimo Pistol Bit

For those who are on a budget and still want to get out there and fish, choose one of these 2 budget friendly models:

• RAZR
• Strikemaster Mora Auger

All of the augers above are of great quality and can get you out on the ice and drilling holes in no time.

How do You Attach a Drill to an Ice Auger

Check out this video to see how to attach a drill to an ice auger using a very basic drill adapter.

Conclusion

Now you can pick the best drill powered ice auger for the upcoming season. Catch the most fish while saving cash on an auger!

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