5 Best Hand Ice Augers In 2023

It’s pointless to talk about ice fishing if you don’t have an ice auger.

See, the low winter temperature freezes up bodies of water like lakes, burying the fish underneath, meaning you’ve to bore through the thick layers of ice, expose water underneath and access the fish. If the water that you fish doesn’t typically freeze to ridiculous depths, a ice fishing hand auger is all you need to reach the fish comfortably. Even with thicker ice conditions, the manual ice augers will still perform fine.

The Best Ice Fishing Hand Augers In 2023:

Comparison Table

Hand Ice Auger	Details
Nils master UR600C	Type: Manual Weight: 9 pounds Diameter: 6 inches Blade: Shave style	CHECK CURRENT PRICE
Strike Master Ice Augers Lazer Hand Auger	Type: Manual Weight: 5 pounds Diameter: 6 inches Blade: Shaver style	CHECK CURRENT PRICE
Eskimo Hand Auger	Type: Manual Weight: 8.3 pounds Diameter: 8 inches Blade: Dual-flat	CHECK CURRENT PRICE
RAZR 8" Hand Auger	Type: Manual Weight: 9 pounds Diameter: 8 inches Blade: Curve	CHECK CURRENT PRICE
HT ENTERPRISES Mini Nero Telescopic Russian Hand Auger	Type: Manual Weight: 4.0 pounds Diameter: 7 inches Blade: Curve	CHECK CURRENT PRICE

Unlike the mechanized options, manual hand augers are relatively inexpensive, portable, and safer to use. Better yet, some of the hand augers can be modified to run n drill power auger during the frozen days.

Now, if you’re planning to get a hand auger, you should choose one that is reliable to drill hole of different sizes and structure in ice. Most importantly, it should not tire you while doing it. And in this article, we’re going to review the top 5 best hand ice augers in the market.

Hand Ice Augers Reviews

1. Nils master UR600C Hand Auger

If you are a ice fishing enthusiast, you know how it’s challenging to find cordless drill ice hand augers, because there are not so many options in the market. Or at least, the ones we’ve are flimsily built and tend to break down easily. The Nils Master UR600C hand auger, however, is a uniquely designed ice auger that checks on the boxes of the best manual ice auger.

This model ice fishing hand auger is an ideal option for both the beginners are as well as the seasoned ice fishermen who are looking for a quality and reliable ice auger that will not wreak havoc in their pockets.

First things first, the cutting head on this ice fishing hand auger is built from chrome-plated steel blades that will easily cut through the thickest of the ice with ease. The shaver style blades on this unit are efficient at cutting through the ice and will let you create holes on the ice without exerting much pressure to the bottom.  Contrary to the straight blades or other types of blades, the shaver blades on this unit are sharp and cut ice fast and furiously.

This Nils model is suitable for use with a ½ inch cordless drill, and it will let you explore new opportunities by allowing you to drill dozens of holes quickly. Another major highlight of the Nils drill is the versatility it offers; with this drill, there’s no need to worry if there’s not sufficient juice left on the cordless drill. The unit is highly versatile and will let you turn it into a hand-driven auger in no time.

For efficient drilling, it’s always recommended that you adjust the setting to either low revs or high torque to avoid burning the engine. Again, it’s worth noting that the manufacturer recommends s that this drill can generate no less than 700 inches/pounds of torque. Versatility goes beyond the powering option, but also with the sizes of the blades. Though this model is a 6-incher, the unit also comes with 4 ½” and 8” diameter, meaning you can similarly use the Nils for pan fishing or pike fishing.

Our only concern with the Nils hand auger is that it gets dull over time, and to sharpen it, you will require some skills. The second concern is the 9-pound weight. It’s not the lightest models on the list, and some users claim it weighed them down after extensive use. Nonetheless, understand that the weightier the auger, the more reliable and effective it is.

2. Strike Master Ice Hand Augers Lazer Hand Auger

The Strike Master ice fishing hand auger is available in an all-black color scheme, and it looks really quality. We’ve to give it to Strike Master for manufacturing aesthetically appealing ice augers. While aesthetics are really not crucial when deciding an auger to purchase, they do count for those will prefer nicer equipment.

This auger is a performance-oriented auger that comes with all the desirable features that will satiate even the most discerning angler. For starters, it comes with chrome-alloy stainless steel blades. These blades are sharp, and you’ll be amazed at how this auger slices through the ice with amazing speed. The blades on this unit are functional and capable of cutting through 15″ of ice with ease. The steel construction also makes this unit highly durable and rugged enough to withstand the harsh winter conditions.

Further, the steel blades are coated with powder paint, and this plays an integral role in reducing ice buildup.Regarding ease of use, we love the ergonomically designed handles. These handles come with soft rubber grips and will not cause any pain or blisters in your hands even after extended use. However, some of the users we concerned with the lack of a pommel knob on top. Instead, this auger comes with a normal little round knob. In my opinion, however, this is not a huge drawback, though I prefer the pommel knobs.

Ease of use on this unit is further underlined by its flexibility. The handles on this unit are adjustable and can be set anywhere from 48 to 57 inches, letting you work on the ice of different thicknesses. Again, the versatility on this ice fishing hand auger is manifested by the various auger size. This auger is available in different sizes, with the smallest one being 4 inches, and you can get sizes increasing by 1 inch up to 8 inches. What this means is that the user can get Strike Master Auger hat is best suited for their needs.

Finally, it’s worth noting that this auger comes with plenty of accessories. One notable accessory that captured our attention is a blade cover. The blade cover will protect your auger against the external elements when not in use.

3. Eskimo Hand Auger

The Eskimo ice fishing hand auger is among the best value manual augers you will find in the market. A highly functional and pragmatic unit, the Eskimo is a worthy purchase. For starters, you can order from the different diameters ranging from 7 to 8 inches. The difference between the two sizes is not big, but an 8-inch unit would be ideal for those targeting the bigger fish.

When it comes to the blade, you will love the dual-flat stainless steel blades. Beyond the ruggedness and sturdiness offered by steel, these blades are equally tough and long-lasting. More importantly, they will make the process of drilling holes, less arduous but rather quick and painless.

While the blades are built to last for years, some of the users have been heard complaining about the wonkiness on the blades, especially when rotating. Nonetheless, these blades are known to slice through the ice easily and with efficiency.

Eskimo has infused this hand ice auger with a proprietary design to increase the durability and ease of use. The “cross-bolt takedown system” is a design that is intended to prevent over-tightening when drilling, and this prevents frequent breakages and extends the lifetime of this unit. When it comes to the ergonomics of this auger, users love the soft rubber grips on the handle, alongside a pommel knob for easier handling.

The Eskimo ergonomics on this hand ice auger gives you added stability and more comfort when drilling. The foam grip, in particular, comes with a hardened cap, and this prevents users from slipping off while cranking. Contrary to a majority of the ice augers where the grip is located in the center of the top portion, this unit allows you to rotate the drill with one hand, while the other keeps the drill stable while offering more comfort than usual.

Similar to the Ice Master we’ve reviewed above, the Eskimo hand auger unit comes with several accessories, and the most notable one is the blade protector. This protector will help to keep the blade in shape, cushion them against the external elements, and, more importantly, keep the Eskimo auger around safer for everyone. An easy to use equipment, the Eskimo hand auger is easy to assemble and dismantle. Additionally, weighing at 8.3 lbs, it easy to transport the unit.

4. RAZR 8″ Hand Auger

Like its name suggest, the Razr 8” is a manual hand auger capable of cutting an 8-inch hole. Remember that with a bigger diameter, you can bring bigger fish to the surface. Like all the best hand ice augers we’ve reviewed above, the blades on this auger are constructed from steel curved blades.

The curved blades are sharp enough to allow you to slice through the ice with greater ease and quickly. We also love that the manufacturer has included a blade cover that shields the blades against the external elements while keeping the blades safe from harm for everyone.

Weighing at 9 lbs, the Razr 8″ ties together with the Nils master we had reviewed earlier. Undoubtedly, this unit is not lightweight and might weight you down, especially if you’re going to use if for extended periods. Fortunately, most of the weighty augers are reliable, functional and will not compromise on their structural integrity even when working in rugged terrains. When it comes to ergonomics on this unit, you will love the comfy grip handles. The handle on this unit are a cinch to use and won’t give you any pains even when drilling for extended periods.

Further, users were pleased with the adjustability of this unit as it allowed them to adjust the length of the handle. This is quite essential as it lets you get the ideal angle for drilling and angling, based on your height. Users we really concerned with the handle that appears slightly less offset than what we see on other augers. However, this should be less of a concern, since the leverage offered by this hand ice auger is slightly different from what we see from other augers.

5. HT ENTERPRISES Mini Nero Telescopic Russian Hand Auger

Finalizing our list of the best manual ice fishing hand augers is the Nero Hand Auger. Unlike other models on the list, this unit is exceptionally compact and lightweight.

However, in spite of its compactness, this unit is functional, and you should have no trouble cutting through the thick ice with satisfactory speed. Sporting an aesthetic blue color scheme, this unit looks really cool. Though aesthetics are nor really important here, they’re crucial for those who care about looks.

Aesthetics aside, this unit comes with stainless steel blades. The blades on this unit are sharp and will slice through the ice with ease. With a drill size of 7 inches, this unit will create a fairly large hole but not overly big.

The unit also boasts of a fully extendable handle, and this makes it look quite different from other augers. Beyond the unique looks, the extendable handles can be set to different heights, letting you choose a height that will promote the best leverage based on your height.

Better yet, the handle is removable and foldable, and the portability feature is of the essence when transporting or storing the hand ice auger.

Factors to Consider on Hand Ice Augers

In the section below, we look at some of the critical factors you need to consider when choosing  hand ice augers.

Blade Quality

The blade is the most critical component of a ice fishing hand ice augers. When choosing a hand augers, choose one that is sharp and sturdy.

Ideally, stick the stainless steel blades and avoid carbon blades because the latter is easily destroyed by water.

Ergonomics

The handle ergonomics are essential in boosting the overall ease of use. The handle ergonomics are quite subjective, and you need to go with a handle shape that you feel will provide you with the most comfort.

Additionally, padding and foaming of the handle are always welcome as it promotes a more comfortable use and prevents pain in your hands even after extended use.

Stability

When drilling, you don’t want to end up struggling to keep your hand ice auger straight. Often an unstable auger results in slanted holes. So, choose a unit with stabilizers such as braces or suction cups, and should help you achieve a straight hole.

Conclusion

We’ve already listed the best hand ice augers in the market. Which one do you think will fit your angling needs?

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