Last year I finally decided to spring for a brand new auger, and I chose the Eskimo HC40 propane auger. I was a little nervous about it, but wow am I thrilled with how it works. Ice hasn't been super thick last year or this year, but it cuts through 12" of ice like butter. I've drilled at least 100 holes (and counting) this year on one cylinder. I absolutely recommend it. It starts on the first pull, every time.
I see a lot of people that do not take good care of their augers and then complain about the performance. Dropping them on the ice hard will dull your blade and affect the angle of the blades. Don't put your weight on the auger, let the blades do the work. Let them warm up before drilling. If using a gas auger, use fresh gas (ethanol-free if possible).
