A frustration every ice fisher faces at one time or another: getting through the ice, so you can start fishing ASAP. You’re burning daylight, after all.
Plus, who wants to waste unnecessary effort on the endeavor? That’s what a hand ice auger is for!
If you’re looking for a lightweight, fast, and efficient way to drill through the ice, this is your answer.
Of these three truly exceptional ice augers, our favorite is the Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger.
To learn how to choose the best hand ice auger for you, and to see our reviews of the top three ice augers, see below!
| Image | Title | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 | StrikeMaster Lazer Auger-8 in | See Price on Amazon |
 | StrikeMaster MD-8 | See Price on Amazon |
 | Eskimo Hand Auger HD08 | See Price on Amazon |
Table of Contents
Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger (Editor’s Choice)
- Crafted from chrome alloy stainless steel
- Comfortable grips made of rubber
- Adjustable handle
- Powder-coated paint
- Lightweight
- User-friendly
- Comfortable
- Ultra-durable
- Lightweight
- Powder-paint
- Economical
- None to speak of
Of the three excellent augers on this list, the fastest is the Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger.
It’s also exceptionally user-friendly, making it perfect for either a veteran ice fisher or a beginner!
For your comfort, while drilling for fish, the grips are made of rubber.
The handle is adjustable, from 48-inches to 57-inches – whichever you prefer!
The powerful blade of the Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger is made of the finest chrome alloy stainless steel.
This pummels through the ice, while a special powder-coated paint helps to prevent ice buildup (and keeps this auger drilling through the ice like butter!).
This is a comfortable, user-friendly, super-effective ice auger. For these reasons, it’s very popular.
In fact, perusing reviews, we could find little to no cons to speak of.
In our eyes, all of this makes the Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger a real winner!
StrikeMaster MD-8 Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger
- High alloy carbon steel blade
- Soft rubber grip
- Powder coated paint
- Ergonomic handle
- Adjustable handle
- Lightweight
- 8-inch cutting diameter
- Works fast
- Lightweight
- Grip is nice and comfy
- Anti-stick paint powder
- Durable carbon steel
- This 8″ can take more elbow grease than a smaller auger (such as a 6″ auger)
The StrikeMaster MD-8 Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger is a masterful blend of comfort and power! First, we’ll talk about the blade itself.
It’s crafted from high alloy carbon steel. High alloy basically means that the softer stuff is gotten rid of, leaving behind only the toughest steel.
Indeed, some say that the StrikeMaster MD-8 Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger can cut through ice like a knife through butter!
Next, we have the grip, which is coated in soft rubber to spare your hands some wear and tear. This will keep blisters and soreness minimal.
Along with this, the grip is adjustable, so the fit is just right for you (and will adjust to suit a friend or spouse, too).
The blade of the StrikeMaster MD-8 Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger is also coated in powder paint.
This is both ultra-durable and super-smooth, to help prevent the blade from getting stuck!
When all is said and done, the StrikeMaster MD-8 Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger is a truly excellent ice auger.
If you’re looking to drill an 8-inch fishing hole quickly and easily, it should do the trick!
Eskimo Dual Flat Blades Hand Auger
- Dual flat blades made of carbon steel
- Handle and knob are user-friendly
- 8-inch cutting diameter
- Cross-Bolt Takedown System (helps you avoid over-tightening as you drill)
- Cost-Effective
- Lightweight
- User-friendly
- Cross-Bolt Takedown System is nice and handy
- Easy assembly
- Lightweight
- Durable stainless steel
- Rough use may break the top grip off
The Eskimo Dual Flat Blades Hand Auger, as its name implies, has dual blades for double the power.
In fact, out of all of the ice augers out there, this is without a doubt one of the most powerful.
Along with this, the auger comes with a Cross-Bolt Takedown System, which will help you avoid over-tightening as you drill. This can be a life-saver!
These blades are crafted from state-of-the-art carbon steel. This will make quick work of even the toughest layer of ice, so you can get to your ice fishing ASAP.
What’s more, the Eskimo Dual Flat Blades Hand Auger comes with a blade protector.
This will keep the blade sharp for many, many uses to come, and won’t warp or break.
Finally, the Eskimo Dual Flat Blades Hand Auger has a nice, comfortably designed handle and knob.
All that you need is a bit of elbow grease, and this top-notch ice auger will do the rest of the work!
Ice Auger Buyers Information
Like with any product, not all ice augers are built the same. Some are simply superior as far as design or material.
Fortunately, finding the best ice auger for you is simple – all that you need is a little know-how! When it comes to picking out a drill, here are the top things you’ll want to consider:
How Deep Can it Drill?
You’ll want to learn an ice auger’s max depth, so you know what it’s capable of. Some augers can only make it so far!
How Wide Can it Drill?
Most augers will list their drill width capability quite clearly. When it comes to the best drill width, it really depends on what you’d prefer.
Those that are 6-inches tend to be a bit easier to use, but you may find you’d prefer an 8-inch fishing hole (if you’d like to use both, there are also ice augers that are adjustable, between 6 and 8-inches, for example).
What’s it Made of?
Ice augers can be made of many different kinds of metal, from iron to steel. Of course, the most durable ice augers are those made of steel.
The best are carbon and stainless steel. It’s not as big of a deal if some lesser parts are iron, but you want the blade itself to be as strong as possible, and that calls for steel!
Does it Include a Blade Protector?
Ideally, every good ice auger should include a solid blade protector. This will greatly increase the blade’s longevity.
What’s more, you’ll want to consider the blade protector itself.
It should last years, whereas poor-quality blade protectors have been known to break (if you check the reviews, they usually mention the reliability of a given blade protector).
Is it Easy to Use?
The biggest selling point of any ice auger – except perhaps durability – is its ease of use.
Some ice augers have the right idea and are heavy-duty, yet they fail to take into account the importance of being user-friendly as well.
When you’re out on the ice, you want to get fishing… not find yourself facing a prolonged, arduous workout.
By looking at reviews, you should learn how easy an ice auger is to use… (a couple of those above have been praised as cutting through ice like butter!).
Is it Comfortable?
Right next to ease of use is comfort. How does the ice auger handle? Does it have a soft grip, as it should? For instance, some have handles made of rubber.
Others are plastic, and could potentially be less comfy. These are things you’ll want to look for!
Is it Adjustable?
While it’s not a requirement, it’s always nice when an ice auger is adjustable. This makes it easier to use and makes it more effective, as well.
Some ice augers can even adjust when it comes to how wide of a hole they drill.
This can come in handy, because sometimes a wider hole may not be necessary, and, no matter how good the auger, wider holes are always a bit more work!
Is the Price Right?
Last but not least, how much does the auger cost? You’ll also want to consider that, while some ice augers cost more upfront, they’ll also last longer.
That being said, there are great ice augers at as little as $70 (such as #2 on this list). Usually, you can expect a top-quality ice auger to be around $100 (give or take).
Editors Choice: Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger
Latest PRICE ON AMAZON HERE
Final Thoughts
As you can see, these are all some extraordinary hand ice augers.
When it comes to drilling through ice comfortably and quickly, any one of them can do the trick.
Just compare them to our buyer’s guide, and you’ll see how much they have to offer.
Of course, we love the Strike Master Lazer Hand Ice Auger most of all, with its unmatched comfort, flawless reviews, and pure ice-drilling power!