Top Three Augers..

[wishing for walleyes]

Jiffy stealth here.Cuts so fast i have to lift up on it.

[RogersResort]

Strikemaster...

[Tyler23]

Jiffy stx stealth 3horse is what i just got. only used it a few times and i really like it. it cuts really nice.

[crappiekid]

Stikemaster Strike Lite!

Strikemaste Strike Lite!

Stikemaster Strike Lite!

In that order

Last year was my first year and i am sold.

Easy starts, light to carry, laser blades cut like crazy, NO SMOKE to stink up your house or clothes! = (no headache from smoke)

I recommend spen the extra 100.00 and do it

[FISHINGURU]

have to go with the nils forsure....i always liked my strikemaster mag though...wish nils made a 10" also.

[Woody61]

I can only comment on the SM Mag2000, had it for 2 1/2 seasons and no problems so far, cuts good and while a little tempermental(6-7 pulls to start 1st time of the day 2 pulls the rest of the time)it does a good job for me. Drill about 600 holes per year.

[slurpie]

Anything from a knife, chainsaw or auger cuts great with sharp blades. I have a strikemaster and had a broken handle, brother dropped it. Broke the clutch got fixed and next day the gears broke. But i also drilled many many holes with a 10" shaft. Now purchased an 8" shaft and it cuts alot faster and not as much drag as that 10". I've had problems with my 2003 model started 3 blade then switched to 2 blades. But would not buy any other brand the customer service from strikemaster is worth your augers weight in gold. Back when it was new me and my brother would take turns drilling holes and using vex to check them. Auger would only stop to refuel or catch if found fish, it has drilled many holes in 8,9,and 10 that i cant even guess. It's a chevy ford issue you have better luck with this brand versus the other. Good luck picking one out. Would really consider a 4 stroke if you got the money.

[riverrat56]

I do have to agree that Strikemaster, Jiffy, and Nils all make a good auger and you can't go wrong with any.

When I replace my Jiffy, I'll look hard and Nils and Strikemaster, but something tells me I'll buy another Jiffy, that way I won't need to change stickers on my truck !

[Dragonsm]

Guess I can't give a top three as I have only seen/used 2 brands in my lifetime. I started out my ice fishing career with an older jiffy model 30 and other than it being a pig to lug around on the ice, it never did me wrong. Not the fastest machine in the world but it always started for me. The only gripe I had with the 3 hp model was the way the carb was on it and it'd die out if you carried other than straight up from hole to hole. My brother in law has the Jiffy Stealth in the 3 hp model and after he changed his gas cap out it ran a lot better. The stealth model cuts great.

I did upgrade my auger as I mostly walk on foot to a Strikemaster Lazer224 that cuts great too and I haven't had an issue with anything breaking or cold starts. (though I tend to handle my equipment with kit gloves and I am running amsoil) It's always fired for me even on the coldest days. I did fish with a guy that had the strikemaster with the 3 blade design and wasn't impressed with that drill.

Plenty of people rave about the nils (never saw one in action) but for me having Strikemaster in my backyard basically (though I have never used them) is a plus if need be. My thought is, regardless of model...any power auger beats drilling holes by hand.

[jbird68]

When I first started ice fishing about 4 years ago, I picked up an old 5" Mora. Worked okay but I decided to upgrade. I eventually ended up with an HT Arctic Express 7" hand auger. I really thought it cut great. Then I boosted it with an IceGator powerhead and WOW!!! It cuts like a dream and I haven't had to sharpen the blades yet. I just checked them and they are still sharp. I am very careful not to ding them on the ice whenever I set it down. To make a long story short I say check out the HT Arctic Express 7" Auger.

[trapperdirk]

1)Nilsmaster

2)Jiffy

3)Eskimo

1) It took awhile for me to get on the Nils bandwagon and I will not give it up because of all the run and gunning I do .Just a well built sweet machine that is going into its 4th season and it is light .

2) My beloved Jiffy 30 . She is a tank for sure but always gives me solid starts and will always have a home here because it is so reliable and I need the 10 inch hole and also the chipper blade for trapping .

3) Eskimo with the Ardisam engine .I have friends who own them and have cut my share of holes with them and they have not had any issues at all and are well priced .

We were asked for 3 choices but I have used other augers and Strikemaster although a decent runner that also has different configurations of blades, did not make my short list . Plastic handles and such breaking are not something I can live with nor do I want to own one just because of their "excellent customer service " . I don't hope to ever have a need for "customer service" on any of my augers .

TD

[Jim Almquist]

I have owned a Strikemaster,Jiffy and a Nils. The Strikemaster did not pass the drop test(buddy leaned it against the fish house and the wind blew it over) and broke the crank. Bought a Jiffy and used it right up to the day I bought my Nils and then the Jiffy sat in the garage till the day I sold it to my buddy's son. I love the weight of the Nils and how fast it cuts and it needs no extension. My back thanks ME

[magnum mike]

I have had 3 3HP Jiffy's. They are heavy. They are not the fastest (all with 10" blade). They ARE dependable. They ARE sturdy. When you travel several miles by ATV or snowmobile in remote areas, those are the requirements for an ice auger for me. There is nothing worse than be hundreds of miles from home and many miles from any store and the aguger won't work. I've been there before and it is more than a little frustrating. "Leave that heavy Jiffy in the truck. My XXX auger works great. DOH! It won't start!"

[Ed Carlson]

I'm partial to the Jiffy 3 HP Stealth STX 9.25", easy to maintain and durable is a big selling point for me. I take good care of her so she starts and runs very well, I can sharpen the cutting edges myself. She eats ice plenty fast and efficient for my needs. Works well in all ice conditions, dirty ice, clean ice, woody ice...eats it all up and asks for more.

I'll be the odd guy here and say the Husqvarna 225AI25. This ice auger is equipped with a powerful reduction gear for ample power for drilling 250 mm diameter holes with lazer blades.

Powered by our E-TECH engine with reduced exhaust emissions. Adjustable, ergonomic handle frame for a comfortable working position. The engine is equipped with an air purge for dependable starting even in extreme cold. It weighs only 12.8 lbs.

Other Ice Augers I'm very impressed with the new Solo StrikeMasters and the StrikeMaster Strike Lite.

The Nils is interesting, I like the light compact configuration, but I have never ran one for a whole day so I'll reserve comment on them for a latter date when I have.

[Andy-LOTW_Rules]

People who buy Jiffys do not sell Jiffys... People who own jiffys seem to still be using them 20 years later. Father in law has a 20 year old mdl 30. Plan to keep my STX work horse for 20 myself

Buy a Jiffy and be leery of a product so many are so eager to sell so soon after buying... Why would so many want to sell an auger that is only 1,2 or 3 years old. I see so many willing to sell Strikemasters a few years old and it seems odd.

I have a 4 year old Jiffy 3HP Jiffy STX... Not for sale. and not looking to trade for a Strikemaster... I have no idea what Jiffy customer support is like or where they are located. Prefer not to know or have the need to know.

I ran my STX against a strike master… I can open my STX up and hammer it down on the ice.. SM you need to drill…. Pull up and clear the hole… drill pull up and clear the hole..

Dependability, STX blades, rip a hole quick, and long lasting puts Jiffy at #1

[DTro]

Every auger has it pros and cons

Jiffy is known to be dependable and built well, but also loud and heavy.

Strikemaster is known to be popular and has great customer service, but also has had issues with items breaking (handles, recoils, etc).

Nils is known to be light and fast, but also can leave you stranded with a dull cutting head.

To be perfectly honest, decide how much you want to spend, and any one of those 3 will outperform any hand auger on the market

Personally, I use a Nils because it fits my fishing style and as a bonus I don’t need to mess with extensions. I don’t worry about speed races, but I must admit, it’s pretty darn fast.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Every auger has it pros and cons

Yup.

10 years ago for Christmas my wife bought me a SM mag 2000 and I'm still using the same auger and have had 0 problems. It's got steel handles so I haven't had the same problems other SM owners have had with the plastic handles breaking.

We always joke about being able to hear the Jiffys from the other side of the lake. Joking aside, I fish with guys that have Jiffys that seem as old as I am and they keep on a running.

I don't own a Nils but I've used them. If I buy a new auger someday it will most likely be a Nils just for the speed/weight factor. After drilling 50 holes a day any auger gets heavy, but at that point every pound counts and the speed is amazing.

Having said all that, any auger beats a chisel which is all I had as a kid, or a hand auger. Let's be honest, if you're hand augering through 3 feet of ice how much hole hopping do you really want to do?

[Mainehazmt]

top 3 huh well any of the 3 Icegators!

[HOT SPOT]

nils guys-

I have been looking at getting one and I got a few questions on them.

How do they do gutting old holes?

Are they smoky?

easy to handel?

Thanks

[Maverick3]

StikeMaster Lazer Mag should be found at a good price this year.

Would love to get the New StrikeMaster Solo.

[redtrucks]

My friend purchase a 8" Husqvarna about 4 years ago from a dealer in MT who had one left in his store. This is the one of nicest auger that I have ever used; starts well, very light, and cuts fast. Did Husqvarna start selling these in the USA again?

[DTro]

nils guys-

I have been looking at getting one and I got a few questions on them.

How do they do gutting old holes?

Are they smoky?

easy to handel?

Thanks

Being they have a shaver type head you may have some issues, usually a chipper style works better for reopening.

They don’t smoke any more or less than any other auger, especially less when using Amsoil at 100:1, mine barely smokes at all.

Easy to handle is relative to who is using it. I like the compact upturned handles as it’s less bulky and will fit into tight corners and stores easier. I also like how it is longer than other augers. I’m 6’ and find I’m not having to bend over as much. This can work against a shorter person though as it may feel as you are reaching up.

[Boar]

Bought a jiffy white head 15 years ago one tune since an absolutly has been more dependable than my dog, I have one overdeveloped shoulder from hoisting thru ten thousand holes though, they dont make things like they used too. boar

[MuskieJunkie]

Every auger has it pros and cons

Jiffy is known to be dependable and built well, but also loud and heavy.

Strikemaster is known to be popular and has great customer service, but also has had issues with items breaking (handles, recoils, etc).

Nils is known to be light and fast, but also can leave you stranded with a dull cutting head.

Agree completely.

I run a Jiffy Stealth stx and really like it, it's a lot easier and faster cutting than Eskimos and Strikemasters I've used although it definitely is louder and heavier than others.

[harvey lee]

I had one that cut very well but that Stealth 10" was a beast for its weight. As you stated, sounded like straight exhaust with headers. Hard on the ears.

Its so much easier to cut numerous holes with an auger way less in weight.