Edited by: Kenneth Reaves
Reviewed by: Michael DarmontLast Update:
The Rundown
Best Budget Option for Early Ice: StrikeMaster Lazer Auger
“When it comes to portability, the StrikeMaster Lazer Auger is a champ. It’s easy to carry and ideal for thin ice. If you’re a fan of manual drills for ice fishing, this durable, low-maintenance auger is exactly what you need.“
Best Option For Extra Utility: Milwaukee M18 Drill Set
“If you’re looking for a functional drill that doesn’t just perform on the ice, the Milwaukee M18 is worth a shot. This powerful and durable drill does the job for ice-fishing but can also be used at home all year-round.”
Best in Dim Conditions: DEWALT 20V MAX XR Cordless Drill
“For anglers who prefer fishing early in the morning or even at night when the lighting condition isn’t at its best, the DEWALT Max XR is built exactly how you need it. It’s great for dim light conditions and a reliable drilling partner for ice fishing.”
The most important tool for ice-fishermen isn’t their rods and reels, it’s their tools for getting through the ice. Choosing the right tools for you can make a difference in even being able to get the bait into the water.
A proper ice auger or drill should be appropriate for the task, easy to use, easy to carry, and durable.
The location you plan to fish also impacts which drills will be best for you. Gas and propane drills give off fumes you don’t want to sit inside a shack with, while electric drills require batteries and charges.
Thankfully, technology has come a long way since manual ice augers were the only option available.
We are going to give you five of the best drills and options for ice augers available on the market today.
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Table of Contents
5 Best Drill for Ice Auger (Top Picks in 2021)
Here are five of the best drill for Ice Auger you can find on the market:
- Best Budget Option for Early Ice: StrikeMaster Lazer Auger
- Best Option For Extra Utility: Milwaukee M18 Drill Set
- Best in Dim Conditions: DEWALT 20V MAX XR Cordless Drill
- Best Premium Option Power Auger: Jiffy 56-08-ALL E6 Lightning Electric Drill
- Best Drill-Bit Auger Attachment: Landworks Steel Earth Auger Drill Bit
1. StrikeMaster Lazer Auger 8-inch
Best Budget Option for Early Ice
Check Price on Amazon
KEY FEATURES
- 8-inch manual auger
- Lightweight, no need for batteries or gas
- Best on thin or early ice
Manual drills are one of the oldest ways to get through the ice. The hard synthetic metals of StrikeMaster Lazer Auger will stand up to ice and it doesn’t require maintenance outside of some blade sharpening now and then.
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Upside
Manual drills are lightweight and portable. It makes them easy to carry since they don’t require fuel or batteries other than your muscles to use. They work well inside shacks since they don’t give off any fumes.
If you’re fishing early in the season and are familiar with the area you plan on fishing then a manual auger can be a good choice for you.
Downside
This auger isn’t good if you need to drill more than a few holes to find fish, since it will tire you out. The auger is also limited to thinner ice because of its size, whereas longer drill bits or power augers work better for those.
You can buy adapter kits to allow the auger to get through thicker ice, but this does require quite a lot of work. This one wouldn’t work great for older fishermen or fishing enthusiasts who tire easily or people who will be drilling multiple holes.
2. Milwaukee M18 Drill Set
Best Option For Most Anglers with Extra Utility
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KEY FEATURES
- Hand-operated battery-powered drill
- 2 Lithium-ion batteries
- Useful around the house and for drilling ice holes
- Doesn’t come with an ice-auger bit
- 1,200 lbs of torque
The Milwaukee M18 is a durable and strong drill/driver that can help with projects around the house and drill a hole through the ice with the right bits. The package comes with the drill, two batteries, a charging adapter, and a hard carrying case.
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Upsides
First off, the M18 is a normal drill/driver. It works fantastically well for any project at home, so you’ll get more use out of it than an ice-specific drill. It comes with a spare battery, and since it’s electric it doesn’t put out any fumes.
The drill itself weighs under 6 pounds and combined with an ice auger bit still weighs under 10 pounds. Its weight and power make it a great option for any fishermen, whether you’re fishing multiple spots or inside a shack.
You’ll need to purchase an ice-auger made to fit onto a drill to use it, but, you can purchase a bit specifically for what you want to do. Different size bits allow you some flexibility.
Downsides
While easier and more powerful than a manual drill, the M18 still requires some effort and strength to push into the ice. You can only charge one battery at a time, and if the batteries become lost or damaged the drill becomes useless.
3. DEWALT 20V MAX XR Cordless Drill
Best Drill for Early Mornings and Nights
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KEY FEATURES
- Cordless Electric drill
- Needs an Ice auger bit
- LED spotlight so no need for a flashlight
- Super light at 3.4 pounds
Another great choice in a portable and light drill is the DEWALT 20V MAX XR. The cordless drill runs off of electric batteries and is smaller and lighter than the M18. While slightly less powerful, the MAX XR does feature an LED spotlight, making it a great choice for anglers trying to drill down in darker conditions.
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Upsides
The biggest upsides to this drill are its portability and spotlight. The MAX XR weighs around half as much as the M18. The LED Spotlight is a big help when you’re trying to drill holes at night or before the sun comes up.
There are also adapters to plug it into your vehicle if you need to in a pinch. Like the M18, the MAX XR can be used around the house on projects, so you’ll likely get more use out of it than a manual or power auger.
Downsides
Similar to the M18, if the batteries are lost or damaged the drill is useless. The MAX XR is also slightly less powerful than the M18, meaning it can take longer to drill through the ice, and harder ice may become an issue.
4. Jiffy 56-08-ALL E6 Lightning Electric Drill
Best Premium Option Power Auger
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KEY FEATURES
- Electric auger with easy-start squeeze buttons
- 26 lbs is a bit heavy to carry
- Long-lasting battery life
- Doesn’t come with spare batteries
A large electric auger is one of the easiest ways to get through the ice. Jiffy 56-08-ALL E6 comes with a large battery and handles to keep it steady while drilling through any thickness of the ice.
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Upsides
The auger requires very little effort on the part of the fishermen to create the eight-inch hole for fishing. Since it runs on batteries, there aren’t any gas or propane fumes, making it a solid choice for use inside shacks.
For any fishermen willing to lug it around, this ice drill can make it much easier to get through the ice. It saves quite a lot of time and effort in drilling.
Downsides
The unit weighs in at around 26 lbs. For anyone traveling around or with a long way to walk this could be too heavy. This model doesn’t come with spare batteries, and they increase the weight you’re trying to carry out to your fishing hole.
While the batteries are claimed to be long-lasting, duds can happen and exposure to the elements can decrease battery life. If for some reason you forget to charge the battery or it dies, the fishing trip is over since you can’t drill any holes.
5. Landworks Steel Earth Auger Drill Bit
Best Drill-Bit Auger Attachment
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KEY FEATURES
- Carbon-coated heat-treated steel
- 4 inch/6 inch/ 8 inch wide, 30 inch length
- Works for thick and thin ice in all seasons
- Attaches to most drills you’d have at home
Whether you’re going to purchase a drill or have one lying around at home, it will need an auger attachment to bore through the ice. Landworks Steel Earth Auger Drill Bit works on both ice and earth, and attaches to most cordless drills with adapters. It comes in a variety of sizes and has a 30-inch length to get through even the thickest of ice.
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Upsides
The auger’s hardened steel will stand up well to boring through the ice. While you may need to maintain your drill, the auger won’t require maintenance outside of some sharpening once in a while.
You can use the auger for gardening or boring ice holes. Its different sizes let you choose the width of the hole you want to bore, and its length lets you get through even thick ice.
Downsides
The biggest downside to this is you need a drill to be able to use it. You can’t manually force it through the ice, nor will it work as a power auger. It’s just an attachment.
Additionally, this is meant for power augers, so you’ll need to find and purchase additional adapters. This is the best option for its durability and size, but other smaller options might be better for cordless drills that fit without adapters.
What to Look for When Buying a Cordless Drill for an Ice Auger
1. Portability
Portability is important when picking out cordless drills since it makes them easier to carry. A drill that comes with a case may be helpful since the case will hold it in place and is easier to pack into a bag while keeping your drill protected. The smaller the drill the easier it is to pack, but the less power the drill has. You want to find a balance between the two.
2. Comfort
Cordless drills usually have padded or ergonomic handles to make them more comfortable to use. You don’t want a drill that hurts your hand when you use it and is comfortable to grip and put pressure on. If you’re boring multiple holes then comfort becomes an even more important factor because of how much damage your hands could take.
3. Lightweight
One reason cordless drills are great options is because of how light they are for the power they give you. They’re much easier to use than a manual drill and much lighter than a power auger. Being lightweight makes them easier to carry, especially if you’re going to have to hike out to your fishing spot.
4. Battery power
Long-lasting and powerful batteries make a big difference in a useful drill and a worthless one. If the battery isn’t providing sufficient power to the drill, it can become more difficult or even impossible to bore through the ice. In addition to this, if you’re drilling multiple holes or taking a long time and the battery dies, your fishing trip could be over since you can’t get a hole to fish through.
5. Hammer Drill Time
Most cordless drill/drivers have internal mechanics that slowly pound the bit forwards and backward ever so slightly. This makes a huge difference in helping punch through hard surfaces without relying on pressure from you. You want fast timing so you get as many punches as possible per minute because it will speed up your drill’s ability to punch through ice.
Steps to Turn a Drill into an Ice Auger
Step 1: Choose the drill you’re going to use.
You might have a cordless drill already or you might be purchasing one for ice boring. Either way, you need to know what drill you’re going to use so you can determine which augers are compatible with your drill, or which adapters you will need.
Step 2: Remove any current drill bits from your drill.
Many augers are made to fit into the chucks on cordless drills and fit in just like drill bits. Unscrew the chuck to open up the front of it and remove the drill bit you have in it. It should fall out once you get the chuck open enough.
Step 3: Connect your adapters.
If you’re using a bigger auger like the Landworks drill bit we suggested, you’ll need adapters. This usually consists of a handle that comes off the side of your drill, and a piece that fits inside the chuck of your drill on one end, and the auger bit on the other.
Step 4: Attach the auger bit.
If your auger is made to fit into a cordless drill, simply put the bit end into the chuck and tighten it down. For others with adapters, connect the bit, adapters, and drill, and tighten the chuck onto it.
Once you have either the adapter set up or the bit directly into the chuck, you’ll want to secure the whole thing to your drill. Use bungee cords connecting the plate above the auger adapter if you’re using one, over the handle on your drill. This will help keep the auger from loosening in the chuck and keep all of the connections from coming loose.
Step 5: Try lightly drilling into the ice to ensure everything is connected properly.
Go slow. If something comes loose you don’t want it flying off. Slowly increase the pressure and let the bit do the work for you. If needed, tighten down the chuck more or secure the bungees better. At this point, you’ve successfully made a drill into an ice auger.