So many ice anglers prefer powered augers today because of their convenience and easy application although they are bulky and require a power source in the middle of nowhere. Well, these inconveniences could be compromised considering their efficiency in the thickest of ice with minimal effort.
Our seasoned anglers reviewed the most popular electric ice drills today and shared how each unit performed in different surface conditions. We believe you’ll soon find the best powered ice auger for you once you go through our detailed review.
Table of Contents
Best Electric Ice Augers Reviews
01 ION High-Performance Ice Auger (For Smooth Cutting)
Why it Stands Out to Us
The ION High-Performance Ice Auger is the perfect ice fishing instrument for quiet and quick fishing. It offers a good battery life with its five amp-hour Xc5 battery, which will last you through the day with plenty of fishing time. This auger helps you drill effortless and smooth holes with its aluminum cast bottom. Even with redrilling old holds, you will get even cuts with precise positioning by the centering point.
Our Experience with the ION High-Performance
- The first noticeable and amazing feature of the ION High-Performance Ice Auger is that the cutting is so smooth and effortless, you barely need to put any extra downward pressure.
- The centering point helps you keep your positioning precise and steady as the drilling starts. It also centers the blades and helps guide the drilling in case you need to reopen a hole.
- This auger is one of the lightest and most portable ones we have come across. Starting from only 21 lb, this can be your go-to auger when you need to move around a lot and drill up to 50-100 holes a day.
- This is one of the quietest augers with little to no noise emission. This feature is amazing because often the noise scares away the fishes. But not with the ION High-Performance Ice Auger. It is fast and efficient.
- One of the best features is probably the reverse flushing mechanism. This allows you to remove slush after your drilling is done, leaving a clear hole for you to fish.
- The ION High-Performance offers a range of cutting blade diameters from 6” to 10” which comes in handy when you want to fish different species and require different hole sizes.
- Another thing about the ION High-Performance which we greatly appreciate is that it gives a smooth and complete drilling even on thick ice because it comes with adjustable 34” to 42” auger length.
What We Didn’t Like
- The battery stopped working in extremely cold weather without any heating but we believe that’s not always the case
Who Is It Great for
- This is a great tool for anglers who want to fish quietly and quickly. If you are looking for an auger to drill around 30-50 holes, carrying it around all day and being quick about it, the ION High-Performance is the perfect tool for you.
What Could Be Improved and Why
- Battery performance could be improved as it was the only feature we found a slight problem with. If the battery gets cold, it doesn’t work on the ION or charge, so maintenance and performance of the battery could be improved for better use.
Our Recommendations
- Our recommendations would be to keep the batteries warm for optimum performance.
Pros
- Tested, proven, reliable
- Mess-free drilling
- Smooth cutting
- Slush-flushing reverse
- Lightweight and portable
- Noiseless and quick
Cons
- Battery unresponsive in extreme cold
02 Landworks Earth Ice Auger 48V Power Head
Why it Stands Out to Us
Landworks Earth Power Head is a separately sold auger bit that can be incorporated into an ice auger. This is an amazing tool because not only is it efficient with its brushless motor, it is also eco-friendly. The motor offers a very smooth digging, ensuring no noise disturbances or smog. There is an overload protector that prevents the powerhead from overheating. The eco-friendly features and quiet yet powerful performance make this a very demanding product.
Our Experience with the Landworks Earth
- This powerhead was highly efficient and smooth in drilling holes in the ice with its brushless motor.
- The fact that this gear only weighs 15 lb is amazing because after setting up with the other auger bits, this was still very lightweight and portable.
- The Landworks Earth Ice Auger Powerhead fits exceptionally well with ice augers and gives smooth and powerful cutting and drilling on the ice with nearly no noise.
- With the 2 Ah battery, the Landworks powerhead can drill up to 30 holes in 29” of ice without fatigue, which is pretty impressive.
- This powerhead also comes with reverse functions. Not only does it flush ice down holes, but it also works well when the hole is cloudy with chum or slime.
- The trigger switch is designed ergonomically, with a wide switch which you need to press with two fingers equally to get a reliable activation. This also works well with the widely spaced handles that help balance the auger during the operation.
What We Didn’t Like
- The trigger switches were a bit disorganized
Who Is It Great for
- This is great for anyone who is looking for the quietest performance while doing heavy-duty drilling.
What Could Be Improved and Why
- The organization of the trigger switches could be arranged better.
Our Recommendations
- Better organization of trigger switches.
Pros
- Eco-friendly
- Ergonomic design
- Smooth and efficient
- Produces no smog or noise
- Overload protector prevents powerhead overheating
- Improved balance with wide-spaced handles
Cons
- Disorganized trigger switches
03 XtremepowerUS 1500W Industrial Electric Post Hole (For Quick Eject)
Why it Stands Out to Us
The XtremepowerUS 1500W Industrial Electric Post Hole Digger is the perfect hole digger machine with easy to operate functions and lightweight portability. It is very powerful and this makes the powerhead extremely useful if you are dealing with hard or dirty ice. A 6” auger head is also paired with this powerhead which can easily dig through tough ice. For anglers who work on 100-500 holes a day and need a quick solution, this is the perfect instrument for you.
Our Experience with the XtremepowerUS 1500W
- This powerhead is very strong and durable with an ergonomic design. Some of its amazing features include anti-skid centering point and grips that are vibration-proof which give you stable performance.
- One of the things we highly appreciated is the function of the safety lock which prevents any accidents caused by unconscious triggering.
- The power of this machine is insane. Its high-performing 1500W motor can easily save you any hassle of downward manual pressure. It will gladly do the job for you using the gravitational force.
- The steel material used for this auger drill bit is high-strength manganese. This allows the auger to weather strong impact, extrusion, and other rough conditions.
What We Didn’t Like
- The powerhead does not have any clutch and the auger lacks a shock-absorbing spring
Who Is It Great for
- It is great for anglers looking for a heavy-duty motor with immense power and quick performance
What Could Be Improved and Why
- The auger bit could be improved which does not have a shock-absorbing ring, making the powerhead hard to manage when the ice is full of rocks.
Our Recommendations
- We would recommend improving the auger bit and adding a shock-absorbing ring.
Pros
- Extremely powerful and quick
- Strong and durable
- Safety lock prevents accidents
- Ergonomic design
- Comfortable handles with vibration-proof grips
Cons
- No clutch or shock-absorbing ring
04 Hiltex 10525 Electric Post Hole Digger Earth Auger Drill 1
Why it Stands Out to Us
This powerhead is well worth your money if you are looking for a budget-friendly auger with powerful performance. Although it works a bit slowly, it will give you an easy time operating and controlling your drilling. The powerful motor needs no extra downward pressure to get the job done, which can be great news for your back! If you want to get your money’s worth, this is the right machine for you.
Our Experience with the Hiltex 10525
- The first feature that will come to your attention is the limited torque. It prevents the auger from jumping out of your grip and causing accidents when you hit rocks.
- The safety lock is also greatly appreciated as it prevents accidental triggering.
- The powerful performance will allow you to easily operate the auger with minimum downward pressure.
- The ergonomic design of the machine gives you ease and stability with highest leverage and efficiency in operation.
- The handles are anti-vibration which is an amazing feature that’ll allow you to work even with one hand without any trouble.
What We Didn’t Like
- This powerhead has no reverse feature which causes the auger bit to get clogged unless slush is manually removed.
Who Is It Great for
- This is great for people who are looking for a powerful auger worth their money. You can save a few hundred in rental fees and still get the job done with this powerhead.
What Could Be Improved and Why
- The reverse feature could be improved to flush away slush without clogging
Our Recommendations
- Developing a reverse feature.
Pros
- High Performance with great power
- Safety lock
- Easy and Comfortable Operation
- Ergonomic design
- Rubberized grip
- Versatile Auger Bit
- Limited torque
- Lightweight and good maneuverability
Cons
- No reverse
05 Landworks Earth Auger Power Head Steel 6″ Inch x 30″ Inch Bit
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Landworks Earth Auger Powerhead is a great machine for heavy-duty use. On a single 2Ah fully changed, this can dig approximately 30 holes! It is highly durable and easy to operate and its long-lasting battery life will get you through the whole day without trouble. It is very lightweight and easy to maneuver that puts no stress on your knees or back. The auger bit that comes with it works wonderfully even in thick ice giving you smooth and efficient performance.
Our Experience with the Landworks Earth Auger Power Head
- This machine offers such a long-lasting battery life that you don’t have to worry about recharging often. It can last you through the whole day without any hiccups.
- It offers great durability because of the carbon-coated steel of the auger and the alloy steel blades.
- You will get smooth and efficient drillings with the brushless motor. The 3-Planetary Gear Mechanism gives you higher transmission efficiency as well.
- The auger is designed with an overhead protector which will prevent overheating. The wide-spaced handles are great for balance while operating.
- It is very lightweight and portable, weighing only 22 pounds after assembling the whole kit.
- The Reverse Torque Control (RTC) Button helps you to quickly eject the auger, flush any slushes or avoid accidents due to high torque power.
What We Didn’t Like
- One small thing we noticed is that if it hits a large rock in dirty ice, you will have to manually remove it or else the machine could falter.
Who Is It Great for
- It is great for heavy-duty use if you are looking for a quick machine.
What Could Be Improved and Why
- This machine offers comparatively low horsepower which can be improved to drill through big rocks and dirty ice.
Our Recommendations
- Because this is for heavy-duty use, we recommend using eye protection while operating the auger unit
Pros
- Cap Screw Bolt thread design
- Brushless motor
- Reverse Torque Control (RTC)
- Eco-friendly, no smog
- 3-Planetary Gear Mechanism
- Overload protector to prevent overheating
- Wide-spaced handles for balance
Cons
- Not good with handling rocks
Types of Ice Fishing Augers
a) Manual
Manual auger or hand-powered augers use manpower to drill the ice. This is a great tool for you to use during the early season when ice is softer. These augers are quiet and very lightweight. These are easily portable and give you more control over the drilling process.
b) Gas
Gas augers use gasoline to drill holes. This auger ensures the longest runtime since you can carry extra gas or oil while fishing for an extended period. It gives even and continuous power without fading so it will definitely be your money’s worth.
c) Electric
Electric ice augers are powered by Lithium-ion batteries and they come with a charger. Many of the newer models offer extended runtime which can drill a large number of holes after charging only once. These augers are also very lightweight and portable and they are easy to take care of.
Blade Type
a) Shaving Blades
Shaving blades have very thin edges and they are a good choice if you’re looking for faster results. These are the fastest cutting blades and if you’re drilling 50-60 holes a day, shaving blades can really make a difference in saving time. These blades also offer low impact or low feedback on the body than chipper blades, which will help you run longer without fatigue.
b) Chipper Blades
The chipper-style blade is incredibly durable and easy to take care of. It is huge and this factor helps when breaking hard ice. These blades may be slow, but they are perfect when dealing with dirty ice or when you need to reopen the same holes.
Best Electric Ice Augers [Buying Guide]
1. Weight
Most electric augers are lightweight and easy to carry. This is a very important consideration if you are planning to cover a large area and moving continuously throughout the day. The weight of the usual electric augers starts from 20 lb, which is pretty accessible. You can also use ice fishing sleds to help carry your gear easily.
2. Cutting Diameter
Cutting diameter usually ranges from 6” to 12” according to the size of the blade you are using. The larger the blades, the wider the diameter you can cut. You should choose your cutting diameter according to the fish species you are after. The bigger the fish, the larger the cutting diameter needs to be.
3. Size of Hole
The size of the hole mostly depends on what type of fish you are after. If you are fishing for small species, small to medium-sized holes of 6” to 8” in diameter will do the job perfectly well. If you are looking for larger species, your best bet is to make bigger holes of about 10”. In the long run, the bigger the size of the hole, the better performance you can get.
4. Shaft Length
Shaft lengths usually range from 36” to 57”, often with adjustable options. If you’re facing thicker ice or you need to drill more than 3 feet through the ice, it’s better to go with longer shafts. However, even with minimal lengths, many augers come with extensions to help you dig through various thicknesses in the ice.
5. Reverse
Many electric augers come with a reverse function. With this function, you can clear up slush with just the press of a button. This function is pretty straightforward because all you have to do is hold the blades below the ice while pressing the reverse button simultaneously. After a few consecutive seconds, you will be left with a clear drilled hole ready for ice fishing.
6. Noise Level
Electric augers make very little noise. This is very important as noise can scare your catch. You can also reduce noise level if you go slow with your drilling, but in case you need to work quickly and continuously, most electric augers in the market offer negligible noise disturbance.
7. Blade Size & Extensions
The most common sizes for blades range from 6” to 10”. When buying an electric ice auger, you need to keep in mind the size of the fish species that you want to catch. If you want better performance in the long run, it is always best to go with the larger hole, and therefore, the larger blade size. You can also add an auger blade extension to help you in case you face thicker ice, especially during March.
8. Battery Capacity
Usually with the best ice augers, you’ll get a battery capacity that will get you through the whole day with 30-40 drillings. Some electric augers come with dual batteries that can give you longer and consistently powerful performance throughout the whole day without power fading. Battery capacity usually ranges from 2 Ah to 5 Ah with 40-48 Volts power that can be upgraded.
Electric Ice Auger Care & Maintenance Tips
The first focusing point will be the blades. If you have blade protectors, use them. When there are noticeable imperfections on the blades, you will need to change them. While changing the blades yourself, make sure to note down the orientation of the blades and handle carefully. These blades are razor sharp and any faulty or upside-down installation could lead to accidents.
Blunt blades often skid on the ice rather than cutting through. So if your auger is slipping on the ice, it is a good indicator that your blades need sharpening. With chipper blades, you can easily sharpen them yourself with shaving blades, you probably need to get them sharpened professionally.
Another area of focus is the battery. When charging your battery, make sure to warm it up before placing it on the charger. Oftentimes, the batteries with sufficient charge could stop working. This is because the battery becomes too cold to operate the auger, and it is the same with charging where your charger will give a signal that says your battery is too cold to charge.
For the optimum performance, make sure to keep the batteries warm. You can use special battery storage bags that come with the augers to help you maintain the batteries. The charger and the batteries all have LED indicators to help you understand when it is charging and how long it needs to charge to its full capacity.
Depending on the brand, you will get up to 5 years of warranty on your augers. So, make sure to get the machine checked if you face any unknown problems.
Ice fishing Battery-Saving Tricks
- Get all your batteries the night before
- Keep your batteries warm so they don’t stop working in the cold weather.
- Don’t leave your battery on the powerhead on the ice when you are not using the auger
- Use battery bags, you can use chemical hand warmers to keep the batteries warm and ready to go
- If you are fishing in a house, make sure to lower your LED screen which will save battery power and give a long-lasting performance
- Transport your battery to your fishing site in a warm vehicle for best performance
FAQs
1. Which Way Do Ice Auger Blades Go?
Ans. Auger blades have a certain orientation. The blades have descriptions written on them which will face the ice. The blades also have a distinct leaner and thicker side. The leaner side of the blade goes towards the inner part of the auger, while the thicker side of the blade will face the outer side of the auger.
2. What if the Ice Auger’s Blade Diameter Isn’t Large Enough?
Ans. You need to choose the blade diameter according to the width of the hole you need to make to get the fish you are after. For larger fishes, you can use a 10” blade diameter to make large enough drills.
3. How Many Holes Can I Drill With an Electric Ice Auger?
Ans. With an ice auger, you can make holes ranging from 50 to a thousand, depending on the power and battery capacity of the auger. Depending on the battery capacity, you can maximize the run time of your auger to make a larger number of holes.
4. Can I Sharpen an Ice Auger’s Blades?
Ans. Yes. With chipper blades, you can easily sharpen them yourself using regular sharpening tools. With shaving blades, however, you need to send them to the workshop to get them sharpened.
