Gas powered 2 stroke augers certainly provide a lot of power, enough to make quick work of a dozen holes in the ice. But just like in the power tool world lithium battery technology is on a constant march towards replacing traditionally gas-powered tools. All we can say is, welcome to the electric ice auger revolution!
Battery power has a lot of benefits over traditional gas and propane augers. There are no fumes to chase you out of the shelter, no pull cords to curse at, and they are ultra quiet. Electric augers also start instantly and never need to warm up.
To be clear, electric augers cost a fair bit more than a comparable gas version (for time being at least). In this guide we hope to show you the benefits of electric are beginning to outweigh the price difference. Ion currently produces the best electric ice auger for the money, but there are a few other good options to explore. If you are serious about your ice fishing, you need to check these out.
Electric Ice Auger Reviews
Last updated 2024-04-25 at 16:57 / Affiliate Links & Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. ION X 40V Electric Ice Auger – Editor’s Choice
The original ION auger helped build the ION brand into the electric auger market leader that it is today. The ION X is the new and improved Lithium battery powered auger.
They redesigned much of the auger, and the result is the best electric ice auger money can buy. ION X sets the standard all other electrics are judged by.
What’s New with the ION X
The biggest upgrade to the ION X is the new XC5 battery pack. The capacity has grown from 3 Ah to 5 Ah, increasing the amount of ice you can drill to an impressive 1,600 inches on a single charge. In comparison, the 3 Ah ION can drill 1,000 inches of ice per charge.
The powerhead had been redesigned to include reverse and brings the handles closer into the planetary gear transmission. Drilling indoors has never been easier. There is now also a bright LED spotlight under the housing to illuminate the ice while drilling at night.
Finally, ION X has an all-new cast aluminum cutting head with a centering chisel tip. This feature helps prevent slippage and wandering at the beginning of drilling a hole. The result is smoother, more precise hole drilling.
ION X Features / Model #29250
- XC5 Battery Pack: 40V and 5 amp-hours provide 1,600 inches of steady drilling power per charge.
- Compatible with your old ION battery packs for backup power.
- Brushless electric motor with planetary gear transmission.
- At 22 pounds, the ION X is one of the lightest ice augers.
- 34-inch steel auger shaft, each ION X comes with a 12” extension for 46” maximum drill depth.
- The reverse function drives slush down and away from your holes.
- Ergonomic aluminum handle design, with molded grips. Narrow enough to drill inside an ice shanty.
- The cast aluminum cutting head has a chisel tip for piloting clean holes.
- 1-year warranty on the battery, 2-year auger warranty.
ION X Accessories (Sold Separately)
- For hardcore hole hopping get a second XC5 Battery (Part #24510)
- Keep your batteries warm with an ION Battery Bag (Part # 17760)
- Store and protect your auger with the ION Carry Bag (Part # 24245)
- Quickly change auger bits with the Quick Release Bit Switch (Part #18910)
Bottom Line
If you are in the market for a new auger, you owe it to yourself to consider the ION X or one of the other battery augers below. The ION X is powerful, with a large capacity, able to meet most ice anglers fishing requirements.
The ION X is not a cheap auger. Even so, factoring the benefits and convenience of battery power, now is a great time to make the leap to electric. After a day or two of instant, exhaust and mess free hole drilling, you may just forget about your old gas auger entirely.
View ION X at: Amazon
2. StrikeMaster Lithium 40V Ice Auger
StrikeMaster is a big name in ice fishing, but they are playing a little catchup in the Lithium ice auger market.
It’s important to note this is NOT the “Lithium Lazer”, that model is older and more comparable to the original ION. The all new StrikeMaster Lithium 40V is directly comparable to the ION X.
What’s New / Overview
First up is the new 5 amp-hour Lithium Ion battery pack and charger. Just like the ION X, the battery pack has tons of juice to drill holes. Rapala says the battery can power through 100+ holes on the 8-inch model and 70 on the 10-inch, which is on par with the ION X. Interestingly there is no 6-inch version.
The powerhead has been redesigned from the ground up. The battery, housing, and transmission rest atop a rigid plastic frame with impact resistant handles. To start the auger all you do is push the big red button on the handle. Reverse at the flick of a switch to flush chips and slush under water.
StrikeMaster Lithium Features / Model #LFVL-8
- 40V, 5 amp-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery.
- 2-amp rapid charging station achieves full charge in 2-1/2 hours.
- Push button power and reverse, with a failsafe safety switch.
- The same twin serrated Lazer auger blades that are so popular on the gas StrikeMasters.
- DC brushless motor and a high torque 15.9:1 planetary gear transmission.
View at: | Cabela’s
StrikerMaster Lithium vs ION X
The most obvious question is how this new auger stacks up against the leading ION X. What you’ll see in the table below is the specs are very close. Both augers use rechargeable lithium ion battery technology, and have nearly identical specs. The ION X is lighter by 2 pounds, but the StrikeMaster has the slightly better warranty.
| Auger: | Ion X | StrikeMaster Lithium |
|---|---|---|
| Battery: | 40V / 5 aH | 40V / 5 aH |
| Drilling Capacity: | 1,600" | 1,600" |
| Weight: | 22 lbs | 24 lbs |
| Length: | 34" + 12" Extension | ? |
| Reverse: | Yes | Yes |
| Sizes: | 8" and 10" | 8" and 10" |
| Handle Bars: | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Warranty: | 2 year motor / 1 year battery | 2 year motor and battery |
3. ION 40V Electric Ice Auger
If the price of the ION X intimidates you, then take a good look at its predecessor, the original ION Ice Auger. This is the best selling electric ice auger that people have been using for years. It has most of the high-tech features of the ION X, but at a more affordable price.
ION Auger Overview
The ION is a 40V ice auger, but with a slightly smaller battery capacity of 3 amp-hours. That is still more than enough to cut 1,000 inches (ION 8”) on the of ice on a single battery charge. 1,000 inches is more than enough to meet the fishing needs of many ice anglers. If you need more, the ION 6” can cut a whopping 1,800” of ice.
The cutting head has centering guide ring and straight though blades for smoother hole edges. Make sure you get the Model #19150 to ensure you get the reverse feature. The blades are very sharp out of the box, and should last a year or two with normal use.
Like it’s big brother, the ION 8” weighs just 22 pounds, and can extend from 34 to 46 inches with the included extension tube. You won’t win many races with the ION, but keep the battery warm in your pocket and you will have smooth and steady hole drilling all day long.
ION 8” Features / Model #19150
- 3 amp-hour battery pack provides the ION 8” with power for 1,000 inches of hole cutting, and 1,800 inches on the ION 6”.
- ION battery packs are cross compatible between ION and ION X.
- Brushless electric motor with a planetary gear transmission.
- Weighs just 22 pounds.
- Standard 34-inch auger length, plus 12” extension (included with auger).
- Flush slush down the tubes with the reverse function.
- 2-year powertrain warranty, 1-year battery pack warranty.
ION at: Amazon
4. RAZR Lithium 40V – Best Cheap Option
RAZR is an upstart company that is offering a pretty solid electric auger for a more affordable price.
The 40V lithium auger has all the features of the ION X or StrikeMaster, but is a few hundred bucks cheaper. For those on a tight budget, this is your ice drill.
RAZR 40V on Sportsman’s Guide
Features & Overview / Model REA8200R
The RAZR 40V auger is 6 pounds heavier than the ION X, but some will consider that an even trade off considering the lower price. The extra weight could be because it is a full length 40 inch auger, whereas the ION need to add the extension to reach that length.
Being a newer brand you might be wondering if it’s any good. Wisconsin Fisherman put it to the test for us, drilling 127 holes through 12 inch ice on a single charge. That’s approximately 1,524 inches of ice, putting the RAZR right up there with the ION X and StrikeMaster. Pretty solid performance!
- 40V and 7 amp-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery pack provides hours of steady power.
- Full size 40″ auger length, no extensions required.
- Twin curved Stainless Steel blades.
- LED hole light for lighting up the night ice, as well as your shelter.
- Weighs 28lbs, making it comparable to many gas powered augers.
- Brushless motor, die cast aluminum transmission, now with REVERSE.
- 3-year auger warranty, 1-year battery pack warranty.
RAZR 40V on Sportsman’s Guide
Why You Should go Electric This Year
Here is Hall of Fame fisherman and Outdoor Canada Magazine’s Gord Pyzer, telling us about his experiences with our top pick ION X 40 Volt ice auger.
After using it on a multi-day group trip in Manitoba, he became convinced the Ion (and battery technology) is a game changer.
None of the Gas Engine Complications
Small 2 stroke gas engines are tried and true design. But they require maintenance to run well, and let’s face it, are loud, smelly, and dirty. You must mix oil with gas, which you can spill on the ice, in your shelter, and on your clothes.
Cylinders can flood, and carburetors can foul, leaving you pulling on the start cord like maniac. Meanwhile the guy with a 40V Lithium auger has already popped his first half dozen holes.
Fumes and smoke are another annoyance. You can’t drill new holes inside a shelter or ice house without stinking up the joint. Then you go home smelling like exhaust and gas, and your wife will keep you in the garage.
Electric ice augers have none of those issues to deal with.
Instant Start & Stop – Constant Peak Power
With no engine to start, the auger runs the instant you push the button. Likewise, with battery power there is no need to leave it idling while you walk over to drill the next hole. Just start and stop on demand. There are even horror stories of guys carrying an idling gas auger, their hand freezes to the shaft, and rips the tendons out of their wrist!
Unlike the rechargeable NiMH batteries from years ago that weaken with use, lithium batteries provide constant peak power. So long as the cells have juice, you’ll get the full power from the battery. Once it’s dead, it’s dead and needs to be recharged. But that could be up to 100 holes or more with the new 40V models.
High Capacity = Lot of Holes
The 40V battery packs have anywhere from 3-9 amp hour capacities, meaning they have more juice than ever to power through the ice. The ION X 40V and StrikeMaster Lithium both advertise a 1600” drilling capacity. On 16 inch ice that means 100+ holes drilled on one battery charge.
Quieter than Gas Augers
When fishing shallow ice, especially early in the season, the fish can be very spooky. The whine of a gas auger can send those fish running. An electric auger is much quieter, and it isn’t even close. The brushless electric motors are very quiet considering how much torque they are putting out.
Lighter than Gas Augers
Ion ice augers are the lightest electric augers on the market. They weigh just 22 pounds, which is up to 40% lighter than many comparable gas augers. If you tow your gear on a sled and like to drill bunches of holes at each spot, you owe it to yourself to consider the lighter carry weight of an electric.
Built in Reverse
The reverse gear is great for pushing the slush under the ice after the hole is drilled. You can literally have a completely clean hole, with no need to scoop slush out.
LED Spotlight for Night Drilling
Most of these augers make night drilling simpler by having an LED spotlight underneath the auger housing. No fumbling with lanterns or car headlights, just flip on the spotlight to see exactly what you’re drilling. Anyone who likes fishing until past dusk for the walleye bite (who doesn’t?) will appreciate this feature.
Electric is the Future!
There are lots of reasons to still carry a gas auger, especially for the hardcore hole hopping types. But there is no denying the future is electric. Batteries are getting smaller, lighter, and more powerful with every passing year. Lithium power in ice fishing is here to stay!
Last updated 2024-04-25 at 16:57 / Affiliate Links & Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I purchased the ion x last year after many years of using a hand auger and my various partners gas augers. Even though it was pricey I’m telling u it was well !!!! worth it. Even my gas auger partners were blown away by its performance and I would recommend it to any hard water fishermen.