Manual Augers

[Ralph Wiggum]

I'm in the market for a manual (hand-powered) auger. Wht do you guys recommend? Seems you can spend anywhere from $30 to over $100. What makes the more expensive ones better? Is it worth it? Any recommendations on brands?

[Note from admin: Nils hand augers can be seen at the Outdoor Pro Store - CLICK HERE. ]

[icecold]

strikemaster lazer works great without breaking the bank. 3 years and lots of holes ,,same blade Cuts like the first day i got it

[DEADhead]

I second that. that Lazer cuts like a champ.

[Lost]

Ralph, gonna go fishing for them 40 pound flatheads through the ice this winter? Hehe.

This is your first ice fishing season, isn't it?

I'd definitely go with the Lazer. I've had mine for 2 yrs and haven't even thought about sharpening or replacing the blades on it yet. Most of the time it's been used to cut through no less than 18 inches of ice too.

[cashcrews]

I am also a fan of the Lazer. I've had mine for about 9 years now, and I did a blade exchange once during that time (after about 6 years). Mine is a 7" auger, and if anything I'd go with a 5 or 6" on the next one, drilling through 2-feet of ice is a breeze.

Cashcrews

[efgh]

Lazers are the way to go, mine is a 6 in., 9 years old, cut 100,s of holes. If I was buying a new one I would probley buy a Niles.

[Northlander]

Withoout a doubt the Nilsmaster is the best hand auger plus you can buy the power head and have the best in both worlds.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Lost, no flats through the ice, LOL.

Not my first time ice fishing, but it sure has been a long time since I was last out. Seems Dad got rid of all our equipment in the years since I left home.

Has anyone used both the Lazer and the Nils? Is it actually worth the extra $25 or so for a casual ice angler?

[CrappieJohn]

Ralph....they are both very good at cutting ice and the only thing that would get me to go strikemaster over the nils is availability. The strikemaster is in the garage right now, but if it takes the turn, a nils will replace it.

[Steve Foss]

Just in case you're looking for used stuff, look around for a Mora.

I have an old Strikemaster Mora I got for $10 at a pawn shop. Put on a new set of blades for under $10, and it cuts like crazy. For early ice, it's the best $10 I ever spent. They're really common at garage sales and pawn/used shops, and as long as they're not bent, all it ever takes to bring them back is a set of factory sharpened exchange blades.

[Woody Erickson]

I'll have to agree with Northlander, the Nils Master makes cutting less than 12" of ice a breeze.

[Note from admin: Nils hand augers can be seen at the Outdoor Pro Store - CLICK HERE. ]