Based on your review (which was well done), I would go with the Strike Master. I doubt anyone, even a tournament angler needs one second less drill time. I can see how fatigue from weight could be a deciding factor if you are really punching a ton of holes. Thanks for the review.
Great review! Really appreciated the summary at the end so we didn’t have to go back in the video to compare! Another feature to consider is cost of additional or replacement batteries. Average prices are: Ion = $199, Jiffy = $125, Strikemaster = $130.
Strike Master for the win! Into my second season with mine and it's unstoppable. Mine came with 2 batteries and I like to drill holes, but even on my busiest day I still haven't burned through more than half a charge on the first battery. You won't be disappointed
I absolutely love hitting the lake these days and not hearing gas augers ! I'm still using the first gen ion with original battery ,5 years of not so nice use and never had one issue, I'd definitely recommend
My first auger was an Ion. Transmission went out while in SD. Was covered by warranty, but still some down time! Didn't trust it after that, sold it & went with the Strikemaster 40V. Absolutely love the feel, battery life & blade life. Replaced the auger last year with a 6" Lite Flite and now even lighter and drills holes super fast.
I bought my StrikeMaster, I now have to send it in for warranty. Mine stalls every hole when its just about to cut through. Blows through the ice effortlessly until that last inch or two. It comes to a complete stop and beeps a couple times. Its very irritating. Especially since it seems like i have the 1/1000 dud auger.
Honest review and good info! I love my Ion. Been running it for a few years now, never have had to replace the blades and the battery holds up amazingly throughout the winter. If I ever would upgrade, I would stick with an Ion. I would think one could find a better deal than the price spoken of through.
Great review! I had an old TML30 for years...40 years ago. Have had a Strikemaster Honda 4 stroke for the last 4 years and it has been great. The blades last so long and cuts fast. That being said...if I didn't have the quiet 4 stroke I would definitely get the StrikeMaster. I see it as the overall winner in this challenge.
I have a strike master with the 10 inch auger and i love it !!😊 For about 30 year's i used a jiffy 30 that i thought was the cat's meow and it was !! I thought that i would never give it up ! I have to admit i laughed at the battery augers. I am 68 now and i have a lot of battery powered tools and love them so i thought i would try a battery powered auger ! Well i can honestly say i love it theres nothing like it !! You probably can't go wrong with any of the three you tried but for the money the STRIKE MASTER is worth every penny to me !😊😊 Great video!! Its nice to see a fare comparison between products and you did a great job !! Thanks !
Curious how a plastic auger or a battery does at -20 to -40 degrees. My GPS don’t turn on after 20 minutes of -15 degrees. My snow machine don’t want to pull after sitting at -20 for a day. My truck has to stay plugged in. I tapped a trailer light connector on my bumper at -25 and it shattered into 100 pieces. So I’m a bit skeptical about these.
I have the Ion G1 and it has been great. The one issue that I have is that it sometimes does not clear the slush from the blades and it packs ups in the blade area and then cannot cut. You have to pull the auger and clear the ice chips that are packed into this area and then start cutting. For some reason in cold weather this is worse and occurs more often. There was a comment below about only a special shop being able to sharpen the blades. This is completely incorrect. I sharpen my blades with a flat sharpening stone with no issues and only takes a few minutes.
I love my Ion and I would definitely go with that . In ice fishing everything goes around being lite and Mobil ! With the Ion it’s very lite and dependable and like it or not while we get older it still makes it a lot easier.....
I’ve ran the strikemaster 40v10” for 4 years now! Not a single problem with it. I will agree with you the second before it breaks through the ice it almost has a bind feel to it but I have learned that if you lift a little on it and it cuts perfectly with zero issues. I’m guessing those augers you tested possibly had used blades? When my Strikemaster was brand new I had a friend that had a brand new ion 8”. We tested them side by side several times. My 10” auger drilled faster than the 8” ion. Not trying to bash ion either but I have had 2 friends that had to send their ion back to get repaired because they literally quit working. I do find it funny how the new ions look so much more similar to the Strikemaster.
Great review and video, I just switched to electric this season with a Gen 1 Ion and I must say that I love it. Maybe a few years and I'll jump to the G2
my ion r-1 10" auger has let me down three times now. last time out the composite head holding the blabes fell off and sunk down the hole. i have tape holding the bolt that holds the shaft on, and i tape the battery on because the rubber band that holds it on is ineffective in sub zero temps. i lost a month of use do to long delivery times going back and forth to get parts. not a great experience
Great review. Not to take away from this video but why do people use these big ass things? They are all heavy and expensive. The best combo is a drill and clam plate. Whole combo weighs like 5-10 lbs and is half the cost, around 300$-400$. Drill also has reverse and is able to be used as something other than an ice auger 👍 I get about 60-100 holes with my drill combo. Oh and also my Ridgid Octane drill has a lifetime warranty 😊
I have the Ion Gen2 used it during 2019/20 ice fishing season No problems yet reopening holes compared to the old Ion models Battery life is good in -25 weather Anyone with Back issues will appreciate the lightness of this unit I was satisfied with 8 inch they didn’t offer 10 inch last winter in Canada Here’s a little Secret for everyone since there the same company all Eskimo ice auger flightings will work on Ion from 6 inch hand auger to 10 inch auger Have a great 2020/21 ice fishing season everyone
I agree! I also run the X with an 8" and 10" bit and have had zero issues. Love it. I got mine (barely) used so I paid 1/2 price but also put the money from selling my Jiffy gas one towards it, so I got an ION for $200 out of pocket. Can't beat that.
Stoty I invested in electric because of arthritis in the hands and my hands are loving it!! Less vibration and more enjoyment. The end result regardless is a hole in the ice to fish!
I personally don't know about the StrikeMaster but I ended up getting an ION because the blades are half the price of the Jiffy ones. In North Dakota the ice can be really dirty with sand and grit and last year my ION blades lasted just as long as the Jiffy ripper blades. And by that I mean they last one day (about 15 to 20 holes in around 36" of ice). Instead of buying 4 sets of ripper blades (one for each day) I just bought an ION and 4 extra sets of blades. That cost a lot but I wasn't paying twice as much for blades that don't last any longer than the cheaper ones.
I bought the strikemaster in Jan. Used it 5 or 6 times and it quit. They said the power head was shot. Took it back and the only replacement cabelas had was the jiffy. I used it for the second time yesterday and it drills about 4 inches and then wont move down any more. Pulled it up and there was bad ice build up on the triangle tip. Knocked that off and got another 4 inches. Took about half an hour to drill 4 holes in 17 inches of ice. Anyone know a fix for this? Getting tired of these augers not working. Thx
I have my strikemaster 24v auger but I fish on the arctic river and rocks blow onto the ice and I've replaced my auger blades 2 times already would the jiffy blades last longer than the strikaster blades? one little hit and the blade is done for looking for a auger with a durable blade
While It's obvious that the Ion G2 is the best ice auger on the market, the Strikemaster is far and away the best option, all things considered. It's the best auger in its class and there's a reason it's probably the most-sold electric ice auger out there. I bought a Jiffy E6 at the beginning of last winter, and it did the job until later in the winter, and the battery started having weird issues and the pilot blade would get a cone of ice shavings packed around it halfway through a hole and the auger wouldn't keep going down. Selling it soon, and I just got a barely used Strikemaster. After learning more about the Strikemaster 40v and getting to try it this winter I couldn't in good conscience neglect to upgrade to it. Can't wait to try it next season, gonna be a blast.
You should do a review when the ice is deep enough to have an extension on your augers. I had an ion last year and another guy had the strikemaster. My Ion was gutless, would bog down and bind up. The strikemaster would bog down a little but was substantially better. After that I sold my ion and bought a strikemaster. Ions are nice until there is over 3 feet of ice then they are garbage
You checked out the razr electric drill. It's better priced and has a bigger battery. It's also faster. I've tested it out compared to the strikemaster and the ion.
No I didn’t as I had never heard of it until you said that. Just did some research on it and saw it’s going to be more heavier then all of these three by a chunk but would be cheapest (by $50). About 180” more ice ripped compared to strikemaster and about 100” more of jiffy. Nice comparable for a vid but a bit too much of weight for my use haha.
@@OBOUTDOOR it's not as heavy as the gas drills. It has a better battery than all three and cuts faster. I love it. I hardly charge my battery. But if weight is a concern, I can't believe it comparable. I will have to look all of them up. A few extra pounds doesn't bother me any. Thanks for the reply.
@@OBOUTDOOR I checked out the weights between the the jiffy, strikemaster, and razr. All 3 are so compatible I'd pick any of the three soley based on weight. I was surprised to see the ion come in a whopping 10 lbs lighter. But I have also seen my buddies ion struggle with thick ice. I watched his stall up on 28 inches while my razor kept going like butter. Mine just has more torque.
Scott, I also have the Razor 40v and I love it! It rips through the ice! It is heavier than the strike master but I really don't care about the weight. Also the strikemaster blades will fit on the razor if your in a pinch for blades.
I'm on season 3 with my Strikemaster and it has never let me down. I see one advantage to thje Jiffy. The chipper type blade is easily sharpened with a file. The Ion and Strikemaster blades have to be brought to a specialty shop or replaced.
I’ve seen videos where people attached the strike master lite flite bit to the 40v lithium power head. People are doing this to cut down on weight. It would be nice if the 40v lithium came with the option to have the lite flite bit out of the box instead of spending $150 after the fact just to save weight. This would make it more competitive with the ion 2.
I've been using the Strike Master for 3 years. I don't understand why you would need anything faster. It cuts like a charm everytime. I got mine on sale for $500 with 2 batteries.
Got an ion g2 from jax for $700 today. Comes with a second battery, which is a $150 value, so really the cost is $550. Then there is the shaft, which is not metal, but is why the weight is so low...and a 3 year warranty...I'm excited to see what it will do over my hand auger
Yup! I'm loving my Ion G2. Best auger I bought!!!!! Drilled over 30 holes(9"of ice) in 28 degree weather and left auger outside for 6+ hrs and didn't use 1 bar!
Love the Ion, it’s so light and fast... And I’m sure probably the best quality as they’ve been making electrics for 10 years now. But damn, so pricey, too pricey. It was around 550$ Canadian/400$ US when it first came out, why do they have to charge that much now? Wouldn’t they sell more if the price came back to reality a bit?
They are selling like hot cakes yet at the higher price point. That dictates the market and the price...and it is the Cadillac of e-augers. I used a Jiffy and a SM this last weekend....both do fine, but the Ion is far and away the king at this point. And Jiffy needs to reset to a double blade system, IMO.
I have had 2 jiffy (gas) liked. & a jiffy propane (disliked) tank freezes. returned and bought a 4 stroke jiffy (like a lot) and just purchased a jiffy e6. not sure yet on this one. Have use the ion for late ice and love it for staying light. But by the video thinking the strike master is good for the speed if you want.
The jiffy uses chipper style blades. Which is main reason it was slower. That blade setup is much better for dirty ice and redrilling old holes. Other 2 use the shaver style which is fast but can dull VERY fast. I have wrecked my shaver blades on one whole that had some sand blown on it. Chippers won’t do that.
You should show results of reopening holes as well as what happens when you accidentally damage the blades... bad/ dirty ice or drilling in shallow water and making contact with the sea floor.
So I have read on multiple reviews about the batteries getting cold. An easy solution is less than $10. An old towel and a zippo handwarmer last for many hours out there. Plus if your digits get cold you can warm them too.
Owned a Jiffy model 30 for years....rarely worried about blades. The ripper blades are tough...but don't cut as fast. Went to a Eskimo Z71....awesome running machine but the blades (shaver type) and same design as Ion are very fragile. Any dirty ice and they are toast. I've run an Ion 10" for 4 years now and the Ion blades(Eskimo owns Ion) are 5he only complaint I have about it. We get dirty ice here alot....wind,dirt and ice that freezes n thaws multiple times(southern Alberta weather). The blades look good but just won't cut. I may try the Strikemaster one day....but finding one is another story. Speed of drilling isn't a big deal to me.
Been running a ion g1 live it. My buddy had a strikemaster last year i used my hand auger instead think he may of broke it or didnt charge battery. Got hooked up with a brand new g2 for 300 bucks so needles to say love ion. Think its the same as chevy ford or dodge
I wish this type of review was done on other hot button products in the fishing world too. Love the style, make your own decision, this is what they do 👍
I wish you had thick and hard ice to test on. 6 inches of ice in 20 degree temps is nothing to drill through compared to 50" in -30...that's the comparison test I want to see. I've personally used the ion x and 40v in those conditions and can say the ion struggled where the 40v trucked through with no issue. In either case the electric augers do not handle a lot of use through thick, subzero hard ice and should only be the choice if you're not going to be drilling a lot of holes through thick ice on a daily basis.
great comparison good job bro! i like how fair you are. i think strikemaster is the winner. ions just too expensiveand the jiffy is abit to heavy. why jiffy insists on so much steel on their flights is beyond me. strikemast you can put a synthetic auger lazer and its light also durable. thanks for the review
i put my lite flite 8" on my 4 stroke solo motor and talk about fast, but thats for 2+ ft of ice. Otherwise i use my Kobalt drill with 2-6ah batteries,, holes for days! I do have one issue with Lite Flite, why in the world did they use steel shaft still, if i had to choose, i would do Ion G2. Good video.
I would say from owning the ionX that it is still lighter than the jiffy and strike Master. The light is bright and the bit is metal and still 22lbs. 1600" is also good too. If you want to buy a new one and money isn't a concern get ion g2. It's lighter with more charge and the precision of the cut is really accurate which means the ability to drill sight fishing holes with minimal slipping. I probably have some video of using it but I will make a review eventually. Also, some ice fishing companies have terrible service but Eskimo ion is great.
Everyone commenting on how expensive the ION is but who actually pays MSRP for anything? There are always sales going on if you just keep an eye out for them. I got the ION G2 for $595 from Reed's back in November when it was on sale. I believe just last month Marine General had the G2 for $600.
How about when these electric augers hang out on the ice for hours on end in single to negative digits and then try to drill holes. Do the batters freak out.
I want to like the StrikeMaster but… I got the new 24V with the lite-flite bit at only 14 lbs. anything sold after Aug 2021 has a recall on the blades. Got the new auger Month ago and it would stop every 6-8” and beep. They told me to get the recall blades which I did. They were worse! Didn’t cut, they just spin on top of the ice. Lean hard on them they cut a little. Returned the whole thing to the local store and they gave me a new one. The store took my original auger And a demo floor model to the lake and the demo model cut right through the ice whereas my auger wouldn’t cut at all. I took the new auger home went right to the lake I drilled a 12 inch hole OK and the second hole wouldn’t cut at all. Took it to a different lake same thing. Send a message to StrikeMaster and they told me I have bad leads to order the Recall blades. Hopefully they’ll ship the blades next week. I am very skeptical this is the fourth set of blades on two new augurs. They don’t cut ice at all. They’re having a lot of problems with their quality of blades. I’m starting to get nervous I might just return it again. Go back to the ion. I had my generation 1 Ion for seven years and it worked flawlessly really sad that I sold it.
These are all antiquated devices. The new pistol bits are couple hundred bucks and fly through the ice. I bought a Eskimo pistol bit 8, weighs less than my Dewalt 20 volt drill and will work all day with one battary. Worried about battery life, bring another battety, or two. I have no idea why anyone would buy a traditional auger anymore. They are heavy, bulky, hard to drag out on the ice, take up space, and are a hassle. Eskimo auger bits, either 6 or 8, i promise you'll love it!!!
Nice review, I have a gas jiffy that never ran well, the propane version I have been running for several years. Question, which of these three will connect with my existing 10 and 8 inch jiffy augers and extensions? Speed is not the deciding factor for me, as long as I can drill a couple of holes in my shack, I’m good.
Also--- and don't forget that the other two manufacturers- Eskimo & Strikemaster- both run Clockwise; like normal power drills. Jiffy runs Counter-Clockwise! I never understood why, though!
Ion is what I would pick. I think jiffy is giving away a free extra battery as a promotion right now. I do like strikemaster as I have a gas powered model. Overall the light weight, warranty and speed of the Ion makes it the winner.
And now for one more opinion. I was able to get the Jiffy power head only, with a battery from the Sportsman's Guide for $406. As I already have a 10" Jiffy gas auger, I was able to use my existing flighting and blades. For someone who already has a auger, why not save up to $300 ??? It works just fine for me 👍. And the winner is.....ME !!!!
damn...these things are expensive! I'm running with the clam adapter and a Milwaukee drill...I could buy an extra backup drill and get several extra 5 amp hour batteries for the price of these things. With just a few spare batteries to swap out through the day i can currently drill hundreds of holes for half the price of the ion...crazy
I do like those other two models but I went with the jiffy e6 because there customer service is the best hands down. Also if you don’t like that it takes 7 seconds to drill a hole you can put a different blade on it like a kdrill. The ripper blades on both the kdrill and the jiffy last a long time. I haven’t had to sharpen or get new blades on my auger in 2 years. My buddy that has the strikemaster has replaced his blades twice in the two years he’s owned it.
Running the strikemaster 40v. I found the ion without the full wrap around handles awkward and felt a little fragile. I think the strikemaster 40v with the new light flight will be cheaper and just as light as the ion g2. Additionally, strikemaster offers 2 batteries with the purchase of the 40v frequently, which is hard value to argue.
Dewalt drill, 5 amp hr battery, adapter and a hand auger. 100 +100 +40 +40 = no brainer. Plus I get a kick butt drill to use on my various other projects the rest of the year!
Strikemaster threw in an extra battery and a fleece jacket when I bought mine. Strikemaster has a composite shaft now available for weight savings.
Based on your review (which was well done), I would go with the Strike Master. I doubt anyone, even a tournament angler needs one second less drill time. I can see how fatigue from weight could be a deciding factor if you are really punching a ton of holes. Thanks for the review.
Thanks
The quality of this video is top notch. Great footage, awesome information, and over all a perfect review.
Great review! Really appreciated the summary at the end so we didn’t have to go back in the video to compare! Another feature to consider is cost of additional or replacement batteries. Average prices are: Ion = $199, Jiffy = $125, Strikemaster = $130.
Strike Master for the win! Into my second season with mine and it's unstoppable. Mine came with 2 batteries and I like to drill holes, but even on my busiest day I still haven't burned through more than half a charge on the first battery. You won't be disappointed
Thank you for the video and review. Very well done! I am in the market and leaning towards the Strikemaster.
I absolutely love hitting the lake these days and not hearing gas augers ! I'm still using the first gen ion with original battery ,5 years of not so nice use and never had one issue, I'd definitely recommend
I (and everyone that uses it) absolutely love my Strikemaster 40v! Fast, comfortable, rugged, it's awesome!
I have Ion G1. Love it. Great honest review. I liked that you didn’t pick the winner yourself even though you have a jiffy propane drill.
We have a lon
My first auger was an Ion. Transmission went out while in SD. Was covered by warranty, but still some down time! Didn't trust it after that, sold it & went with the Strikemaster 40V. Absolutely love the feel, battery life & blade life. Replaced the auger last year with a 6" Lite Flite and now even lighter and drills holes super fast.
I personally run the StrikeMaster and it’s a beast... Have not had one issue, punches holes with ease... great for running and gunning ✌️
Great!
Plastic handles turned me away from strikemaster...went with the E6 lightning.
@@ryandahlberg1527 not the e6 🤮
I bought my StrikeMaster, I now have to send it in for warranty. Mine stalls every hole when its just about to cut through. Blows through the ice effortlessly until that last inch or two. It comes to a complete stop and beeps a couple times. Its very irritating. Especially since it seems like i have the 1/1000 dud auger.
Change the drill, its the 2 blades at the bottom and the angle they are at, just put a regular 8” auger drill on it!
Honest review and good info!
I love my Ion. Been running it for a few years now, never have had to replace the blades and the battery holds up amazingly throughout the winter. If I ever would upgrade, I would stick with an Ion. I would think one could find a better deal than the price spoken of through.
Excellent review and I liked how you displayed the numbers and stats visually atthe end for easy comparison
Great review! I had an old TML30 for years...40 years ago. Have had a Strikemaster Honda 4 stroke for the last 4 years and it has been great. The blades last so long and cuts fast. That being said...if I didn't have the quiet 4 stroke I would definitely get the StrikeMaster. I see it as the overall winner in this challenge.
Have both the ion and strikemaster. Ion comes out on top for the simple reason it is lighter and redrills holes way nicer.
You can buy the strikemaster with a 10 auger bit and buy the 8inch liteflite to go with it for cheaper than the Ion G2..
I have a strike master with the 10 inch auger and i love it !!😊 For about 30 year's i used a jiffy 30 that i thought was the cat's meow and it was !! I thought that i would never give it up ! I have to admit i laughed at the battery augers. I am 68 now and i have a lot of battery powered tools and love them so i thought i would try a battery powered auger ! Well i can honestly say i love it theres nothing like it !! You probably can't go wrong with any of the three you tried but for the money the STRIKE MASTER is worth every penny to me !😊😊 Great video!! Its nice to see a fare comparison between products and you did a great job !! Thanks !
Curious how a plastic auger or a battery does at -20 to -40 degrees. My GPS don’t turn on after 20 minutes of -15 degrees. My snow machine don’t want to pull after sitting at -20 for a day. My truck has to stay plugged in. I tapped a trailer light connector on my bumper at -25 and it shattered into 100 pieces. So I’m a bit skeptical about these.
Bring the battery inside your hut. Done.
still not sure about the plastic. I’m sure the battery would die before the 4th hole was drilled.
Joseph Penhale well, my model isn’t plastic so I can’t comment on that but the batteries are actually amazing. Never had an issue with mine. So....
I bought the strike master 2 years ago. I love it my buddy had a ion sold it an bought a strike master.
Jrs Outdoors 👍🏼
Hi I'm from northern manitoba I have the 8 inch strikemaster and no problems drilling through 3 feet of ice. Love it!!
This was the review I was looking for. Thanx from Swan Valley
Your video came up when I was looking for Papa Can You Hear Me/ Do You Want to Build a Snowman comparison.
I have the Ion G1 and it has been great. The one issue that I have is that it sometimes does not clear the slush from the blades and it packs ups in the blade area and then cannot cut. You have to pull the auger and clear the ice chips that are packed into this area and then start cutting. For some reason in cold weather this is worse and occurs more often.
There was a comment below about only a special shop being able to sharpen the blades. This is completely incorrect. I sharpen my blades with a flat sharpening stone with no issues and only takes a few minutes.
Open and honest review.
Thanks David.
I love my Ion and I would definitely go with that . In ice fishing everything goes around being lite and Mobil ! With the Ion it’s very lite and dependable and like it or not while we get older it still makes it a lot easier.....
I’ve ran the strikemaster 40v10” for 4 years now! Not a single problem with it. I will agree with you the second before it breaks through the ice it almost has a bind feel to it but I have learned that if you lift a little on it and it cuts perfectly with zero issues.
I’m guessing those augers you tested possibly had used blades? When my Strikemaster was brand new I had a friend that had a brand new ion 8”. We tested them side by side several times. My 10” auger drilled faster than the 8” ion.
Not trying to bash ion either but I have had 2 friends that had to send their ion back to get repaired because they literally quit working.
I do find it funny how the new ions look so much more similar to the Strikemaster.
Absolutely love my Strikemaster 40v. Fast and reliable at a good price. Not sure I’ll ever go back to gas.
Great review and video, I just switched to electric this season with a Gen 1 Ion and I must say that I love it. Maybe a few years and I'll jump to the G2
Thanks Josh
my ion r-1 10" auger has let me down three times now. last time out the composite head holding the blabes fell off and sunk down the hole. i have tape holding the bolt that holds the shaft on, and i tape the battery on because the rubber band that holds it on is ineffective in sub zero temps. i lost a month of use do to long delivery times going back and forth to get parts. not a great experience
Great review. Not to take away from this video but why do people use these big ass things? They are all heavy and expensive. The best combo is a drill and clam plate. Whole combo weighs like 5-10 lbs and is half the cost, around 300$-400$. Drill also has reverse and is able to be used as something other than an ice auger 👍 I get about 60-100 holes with my drill combo. Oh and also my Ridgid Octane drill has a lifetime warranty 😊
Them K-drills do a decent job and are light and cheaper too.
I have the Ion Gen2 used it during 2019/20 ice fishing season No problems yet reopening holes compared to the old Ion models Battery life is good in -25 weather Anyone with Back issues will appreciate the lightness of this unit I was satisfied with 8 inch they didn’t offer 10 inch last winter in Canada Here’s a little Secret for everyone since there the same company all Eskimo ice auger flightings will work on Ion from 6 inch hand auger to 10 inch auger Have a great 2020/21 ice fishing season everyone
Probably will need to replace the blades sooner if you are re-opening holes with that type of blade.
I run the Ion X 10” and must say ‘Great’ comparison between the three models and personally would still stick with the Ion G2 if I upgrade.
I agree! I also run the X with an 8" and 10" bit and have had zero issues. Love it. I got mine (barely) used so I paid 1/2 price but also put the money from selling my Jiffy gas one towards it, so I got an ION for $200 out of pocket. Can't beat that.
Stoty I invested in electric because of arthritis in the hands and my hands are loving it!! Less vibration and more enjoyment. The end result regardless is a hole in the ice to fish!
i owned the ion X and sold it and now i run the strikemaster 10" and love it. will never go back to gas.
I had an original ion and it was shit. Sold it and have the strikemaster 40 v and it is a million times better
Just wondering if you have done any hole reopening comparisons between them yet?
I personally don't know about the StrikeMaster but I ended up getting an ION because the blades are half the price of the Jiffy ones. In North Dakota the ice can be really dirty with sand and grit and last year my ION blades lasted just as long as the Jiffy ripper blades. And by that I mean they last one day (about 15 to 20 holes in around 36" of ice). Instead of buying 4 sets of ripper blades (one for each day) I just bought an ION and 4 extra sets of blades. That cost a lot but I wasn't paying twice as much for blades that don't last any longer than the cheaper ones.
I bought the strikemaster in Jan. Used it 5 or 6 times and it quit. They said the power head was shot. Took it back and the only replacement cabelas had was the jiffy. I used it for the second time yesterday and it drills about 4 inches and then wont move down any more. Pulled it up and there was bad ice build up on the triangle tip. Knocked that off and got another 4 inches. Took about half an hour to drill 4 holes in 17 inches of ice. Anyone know a fix for this? Getting tired of these augers not working. Thx
Works like it's supposed to and fits well on drill attachment
Awesome comparison video! I would probably go with the strike master. Thanks for this video.
Strike master customer service is top notch ! And the proof is in the pudding !!
Great review I have a jiffy pro 4 propane auger and love it..I think for the price the strike master did pretty good.
I have the same one in mint condition. Not sure I'm ready to go plastic though like these electric augers.
Love my strikemaster!
I have the strike master hand auger still and thinking i might jump to the 24v one, when ice is thick it wears me out!
I have my strikemaster 24v auger but I fish on the arctic river and rocks blow onto the ice and I've replaced my auger blades 2 times already would the jiffy blades last longer than the strikaster blades? one little hit and the blade is done for looking for a auger with a durable blade
While It's obvious that the Ion G2 is the best ice auger on the market, the Strikemaster is far and away the best option, all things considered. It's the best auger in its class and there's a reason it's probably the most-sold electric ice auger out there. I bought a Jiffy E6 at the beginning of last winter, and it did the job until later in the winter, and the battery started having weird issues and the pilot blade would get a cone of ice shavings packed around it halfway through a hole and the auger wouldn't keep going down. Selling it soon, and I just got a barely used Strikemaster. After learning more about the Strikemaster 40v and getting to try it this winter I couldn't in good conscience neglect to upgrade to it. Can't wait to try it next season, gonna be a blast.
Great Review, I personally have the strike master and absolutely love it
Okanagan Outdoors I don’t think you know how to use it😂
You should do a review when the ice is deep enough to have an extension on your augers. I had an ion last year and another guy had the strikemaster. My Ion was gutless, would bog down and bind up. The strikemaster would bog down a little but was substantially better. After that I sold my ion and bought a strikemaster. Ions are nice until there is over 3 feet of ice then they are garbage
Great information! The strike master really shined to me, but that light weight ion is calling due to that light weight. Thanks!
You checked out the razr electric drill. It's better priced and has a bigger battery. It's also faster. I've tested it out compared to the strikemaster and the ion.
No I didn’t as I had never heard of it until you said that. Just did some research on it and saw it’s going to be more heavier then all of these three by a chunk but would be cheapest (by $50). About 180” more ice ripped compared to strikemaster and about 100” more of jiffy. Nice comparable for a vid but a bit too much of weight for my use haha.
@@OBOUTDOOR it's not as heavy as the gas drills. It has a better battery than all three and cuts faster. I love it. I hardly charge my battery. But if weight is a concern, I can't believe it comparable. I will have to look all of them up. A few extra pounds doesn't bother me any. Thanks for the reply.
@@OBOUTDOOR I checked out the weights between the the jiffy, strikemaster, and razr. All 3 are so compatible I'd pick any of the three soley based on weight. I was surprised to see the ion come in a whopping 10 lbs lighter. But I have also seen my buddies ion struggle with thick ice. I watched his stall up on 28 inches while my razor kept going like butter. Mine just has more torque.
Scott, I also have the Razor 40v and I love it! It rips through the ice! It is heavier than the strike master but I really don't care about the weight. Also the strikemaster blades will fit on the razor if your in a pinch for blades.
I'm on season 3 with my Strikemaster and it has never let me down. I see one advantage to thje Jiffy. The chipper type blade is easily sharpened with a file. The Ion and Strikemaster blades have to be brought to a specialty shop or replaced.
I’ve seen videos where people attached the strike master lite flite bit to the 40v lithium power head. People are doing this to cut down on weight. It would be nice if the 40v lithium came with the option to have the lite flite bit out of the box instead of spending $150 after the fact just to save weight. This would make it more competitive with the ion 2.
Well, they do have that now... I'm sure you're aware tho
I've been using the Strike Master for 3 years. I don't understand why you would need anything faster. It cuts like a charm everytime. I got mine on sale for $500 with 2 batteries.
479 extra battery bundle to your door. Friend just got it for me
Got an ion g2 from jax for $700 today. Comes with a second battery, which is a $150 value, so really the cost is $550. Then there is the shaft, which is not metal, but is why the weight is so low...and a 3 year warranty...I'm excited to see what it will do over my hand auger
How about I stick with my jiffy artic blast that I have..
It's an antique but it works well
How do they do in 3-4 feet of ice? How many holes can you do on a charge?
Yup! I'm loving my Ion G2. Best auger I bought!!!!! Drilled over 30 holes(9"of ice) in 28 degree weather and left auger outside for 6+ hrs and didn't use 1 bar!
Ion. Great review of those augers!
Love the Ion, it’s so light and fast... And I’m sure probably the best quality as they’ve been making electrics for 10 years now. But damn, so pricey, too pricey. It was around 550$ Canadian/400$ US when it first came out, why do they have to charge that much now? Wouldn’t they sell more if the price came back to reality a bit?
They upgraded the battery (more Amps) and the composite auger make this a couple hun more than when they first hit the market.
They are selling like hot cakes yet at the higher price point. That dictates the market and the price...and it is the Cadillac of e-augers. I used a Jiffy and a SM this last weekend....both do fine, but the Ion is far and away the king at this point. And Jiffy needs to reset to a double blade system, IMO.
I just bought a ion g2 on clearence at my local canadian tire for $439 canadian dollars marked down from 1150. It pays to shop around.
I have had 2 jiffy (gas) liked. & a jiffy propane (disliked) tank freezes. returned and bought a 4 stroke jiffy (like a lot) and just purchased a jiffy e6. not sure yet on this one. Have use the ion for late ice and love it for staying light. But by the video thinking the strike master is good for the speed if you want.
The jiffy uses chipper style blades. Which is main reason it was slower. That blade setup is much better for dirty ice and redrilling old holes. Other 2 use the shaver style which is fast but can dull VERY fast. I have wrecked my shaver blades on one whole that had some sand blown on it. Chippers won’t do that.
You should show results of reopening holes as well as what happens when you accidentally damage the blades... bad/ dirty ice or drilling in shallow water and making contact with the sea floor.
So I have read on multiple reviews about the batteries getting cold. An easy solution is less than $10. An old towel and a zippo handwarmer last for many hours out there. Plus if your digits get cold you can warm them too.
Owned a Jiffy model 30 for years....rarely worried about blades.
The ripper blades are tough...but don't cut as fast.
Went to a Eskimo Z71....awesome running machine but the blades (shaver type) and same design as Ion are very fragile.
Any dirty ice and they are toast.
I've run an Ion 10" for 4 years now and the Ion blades(Eskimo owns Ion) are 5he only complaint I have about it.
We get dirty ice here alot....wind,dirt and ice that freezes n thaws multiple times(southern Alberta weather).
The blades look good but just won't cut.
I may try the Strikemaster one day....but finding one is another story.
Speed of drilling isn't a big deal to me.
How are you not going to get the trophy strike 120v which is 350 on sale right now and a 5 year warranty..........
Been running a ion g1 live it. My buddy had a strikemaster last year i used my hand auger instead think he may of broke it or didnt charge battery.
Got hooked up with a brand new g2 for 300 bucks so needles to say love ion. Think its the same as chevy ford or dodge
I wish this type of review was done on other hot button products in the fishing world too. Love the style, make your own decision, this is what they do 👍
Should note that IONs price includes 2 batteries. I don’t know if the other two have one or two batteries with the original purchase.
Nice video. I jut bought the gen 1 ion and cant wait for the hard water. It’ll beat what I used last year, a hand power auger.
I wish you had thick and hard ice to test on. 6 inches of ice in 20 degree temps is nothing to drill through compared to 50" in -30...that's the comparison test I want to see. I've personally used the ion x and 40v in those conditions and can say the ion struggled where the 40v trucked through with no issue. In either case the electric augers do not handle a lot of use through thick, subzero hard ice and should only be the choice if you're not going to be drilling a lot of holes through thick ice on a daily basis.
Great video . I went out today with my 8" manual hand auger. My old bones can't take that anymore . Ion or StrikeMaster. Thanks
Couldn’t be happier with my Strike master
Do you know the approximate lifespan of an electric auger? I buy a $50 used one each season(10 seasons/years for $500).
Wow!! Perfect Timing to come across this video.....I'm looking to buy a new auger!
Think I'll be looking into the Strike master 40v 10"!
Gander might still have them on sale. I just bought one last Friday for $433 member pricing.
@@johnnybecker2274
Nice! Thanks for the info!
great comparison good job bro! i like how fair you are. i think strikemaster is the winner. ions just too expensiveand the jiffy is abit to heavy. why jiffy insists on so much steel on their flights is beyond me. strikemast you can put a synthetic auger lazer and its light also durable. thanks for the review
How does the K drill compete amongst these three?
I got an ion gen 1 10 inch and not for a moment do I regret it.
When it breaks can you fix it?
How think was the ice?
i put my lite flite 8" on my 4 stroke solo motor and talk about fast, but thats for 2+ ft of ice. Otherwise i use my Kobalt drill with 2-6ah batteries,, holes for days! I do have one issue with Lite Flite, why in the world did they use steel shaft still, if i had to choose, i would do Ion G2. Good video.
I'm still running the 50v strikemaster. Love it
I would say from owning the ionX that it is still lighter than the jiffy and strike Master. The light is bright and the bit is metal and still 22lbs. 1600" is also good too. If you want to buy a new one and money isn't a concern get ion g2. It's lighter with more charge and the precision of the cut is really accurate which means the ability to drill sight fishing holes with minimal slipping. I probably have some video of using it but I will make a review eventually. Also, some ice fishing companies have terrible service but Eskimo ion is great.
I like my frankenauger! Ridgid hammerdrill , clam plate/ extension and Eskimo 8” with chipper blades $435.. and it’s 17lbs 💪🏽
How inlbs is your ridgid?
@@JP-of4xo 1300 lb torque
Everyone commenting on how expensive the ION is but who actually pays MSRP for anything? There are always sales going on if you just keep an eye out for them. I got the ION G2 for $595 from Reed's back in November when it was on sale. I believe just last month Marine General had the G2 for $600.
Update: Joes Sporting goods has the G2 for $599 as of 1/30/20. You can also use the coupon code TAKE40 for an additional $40 off.
Exactly... got mine (barely) used for $500 (Canadian), then I sold my old Jiffy gas beast and got $300 for that... so my ION cost me $200.
How about when these electric augers hang out on the ice for hours on end in single to negative digits and then try to drill holes. Do the batters freak out.
Yes the cold does effect the batteries. I keep mine in a soft side cooler out of the elements when not drilling.
Easy solution... remove battery and bring inside hut. lol
Great review!
Thanks for the info!! Tight lines! Thanks again!
I want to like the StrikeMaster but… I got the new 24V with the lite-flite bit at only 14 lbs. anything sold after Aug 2021 has a recall on the blades. Got the new auger Month ago and it would stop every 6-8” and beep. They told me to get the recall blades which I did. They were worse! Didn’t cut, they just spin on top of the ice. Lean hard on them they cut a little. Returned the whole thing to the local store and they gave me a new one. The store took my original auger And a demo floor model to the lake and the demo model cut right through the ice whereas my auger wouldn’t cut at all. I took the new auger home went right to the lake I drilled a 12 inch hole OK and the second hole wouldn’t cut at all. Took it to a different lake same thing. Send a message to StrikeMaster and they told me I have bad leads to order the Recall blades. Hopefully they’ll ship the blades next week. I am very skeptical this is the fourth set of blades on two new augurs. They don’t cut ice at all. They’re having a lot of problems with their quality of blades. I’m starting to get nervous I might just return it again. Go back to the ion. I had my generation 1 Ion for seven years and it worked flawlessly really sad that I sold it.
I go with the ion I really like how light thay are and thay have a very good battery
I own a ion...hasn't let me down..never has died on ice :)
Ours just did this last weekend. Still investigating why the battery gave out after only 10 x 15 in holes.
@@rockymntdan1 keep us informed, sorry the battery crapped out..have you tried with a different battery?
These are all antiquated devices. The new pistol bits are couple hundred bucks and fly through the ice. I bought a Eskimo pistol bit 8, weighs less than my Dewalt 20 volt drill and will work all day with one battary. Worried about battery life, bring another battety, or two.
I have no idea why anyone would buy a traditional auger anymore. They are heavy, bulky, hard to drag out on the ice, take up space, and are a hassle.
Eskimo auger bits, either 6 or 8, i promise you'll love it!!!
Nice review, I have a gas jiffy that never ran well, the propane version I have been running for several years. Question, which of these three will connect with my existing 10 and 8 inch jiffy augers and extensions? Speed is not the deciding factor for me, as long as I can drill a couple of holes in my shack, I’m good.
Also--- and don't forget that the other two manufacturers- Eskimo & Strikemaster- both run Clockwise; like normal power drills. Jiffy runs Counter-Clockwise! I never understood why, though!
Ion is what I would pick. I think jiffy is giving away a free extra battery as a promotion right now. I do like strikemaster as I have a gas powered model. Overall the light weight, warranty and speed of the Ion makes it the winner.
Well if they’re giving away a battery that’s a pretty darn good deal for over 3300” of ice! Good points Patrick.
Strikemaster is awesome i love it plus cheaper we drill atleast 30 to 50 holes everyday we go out an i charge it every 3 or 4 trips out.Jim from Pa
Strikemaster 40v paired with new lite flite bit will out drill the ion G2
Alex Hartman have you actually compared the two head to head or are you just saying that?
I dont see how. Same blades same design same rpm. The ion g2 clearly runs at a higher rpm.
And now for one more opinion.
I was able to get the Jiffy power head only, with a battery from the Sportsman's Guide for $406.
As I already have a 10" Jiffy gas auger, I was able to use my existing flighting and blades. For someone who already has a auger, why not save up to $300 ???
It works just fine for me 👍.
And the winner is.....ME !!!!
The Jiffy is built to last. It is build with the least amount of plastic.
So far this is the only comment I have. Seen on the jiffy e6 in the. Comments for. This video
@@stevierayfilmsfootballfilm9017 agreed
Can you put an earth auger on the ion 2?
No
damn...these things are expensive! I'm running with the clam adapter and a Milwaukee drill...I could buy an extra backup drill and get several extra 5 amp hour batteries for the price of these things. With just a few spare batteries to swap out through the day i can currently drill hundreds of holes for half the price of the ion...crazy
and i think theres other companies making these adapters now, should bring the price down further.
I do like those other two models but I went with the jiffy e6 because there customer service is the best hands down. Also if you don’t like that it takes 7 seconds to drill a hole you can put a different blade on it like a kdrill. The ripper blades on both the kdrill and the jiffy last a long time. I haven’t had to sharpen or get new blades on my auger in 2 years. My buddy that has the strikemaster has replaced his blades twice in the two years he’s owned it.
How did the Jiffy E6 hold up for you? I had issues with it by the end of the first season
My 10” strike master has been flawless also came with 2 batteries ! Strikemaster ftw
Running the strikemaster 40v. I found the ion without the full wrap around handles awkward and felt a little fragile. I think the strikemaster 40v with the new light flight will be cheaper and just as light as the ion g2. Additionally, strikemaster offers 2 batteries with the purchase of the 40v frequently, which is hard value to argue.
Dewalt drill, 5 amp hr battery, adapter and a hand auger. 100 +100 +40 +40 = no brainer. Plus I get a kick butt drill to use on my various other projects the rest of the year!
Strike master is the best! Only problem with it is I wish it was longer I needed to buy a extension. The older ion I had came with one