best hand auger? Lazer? Nils? others?

[bean counter]

This may be opening a whole ford / chevy can-o-worms, but what's the best hand auger?  I'm looking for a 5" or 6" - 2 piece (I'll attach a drill, but need the handle when batteries die)
thoughts?

[Sodusitous]

ok, I'll bite.
I have a 6" Lazer with the swedish blades. I love it. I do not, nor have I ever owned a Nils but People who do seem to feel the same.
It would appear that you would be happy either way. Let your wallet decide.

And for the record, everyone should drive a Toyota!

[filetandrelease]

I own a nils but I to agree either way ,
But on the other hand Chevy 4x4 work truck is truck to have  lol

[Shack man Shoney]

I have a 7" Mora that works great on my Milwaukee fuel 18v..... Dodge Ram for me...LOL!!!

[bart]

I have a 6" Nils, cuts ice like a hot knife going through butter! 

[rt dak]

I have a 6" Nils and my father has a 6" Lazer. I think the Nils cuts faster, the offset handle helps IMO. I also like the way the handle folds up on the Nils, makes it compact but still one piece.

[lynng]

Nils hands down.

[evobassfish]

It's not about which auger is better but instead which auger is more efficient. Nils my friend

[fish-kabob]

got the 5 inch lazer the 8 inch lazer and a 8 inch nills want to get a fin bore 3 this year once they get back out in stock to try out...   the 5 inch lazer cut very well not quite as fast as the nil's.   but the nil's you will have to have the blade sharpened every year and have a spare head for it sharpened of course . just to tell you the truth with the 5 -6 inch lazer cut very similar.  but they cut a little slower then the nills and are harder to use/ force threw the ice.  then the nills if i was to get another auger i would get the 6 inch lazer, or a 8 inch finbore 3.  but i hear those are touchy too like the nills augers the finbore 3's are..  by touchy you cant force them threw the ice you dull the blades you hit sand you blades are toast on the nills.  also from what i hear it about $30 for the nil's to be sharpened and 99.99 for the 8 inch head on the nil's i think there is only two shops in the usa that sharpen nil's factory direct so shipping is always there too ...i think the fin bores use lazer blades? me i would rather the lazer they can be sharpened any ware the blade are cheap and replaceable real easily compared to that of the nills...    i gave up on my nil first season blades were dull second season tried sharpening it etc.. with  no luck...for only having to places to sharpen  the nills auger it a little hard to find others who can do it... by the way the blades on the nil's seem to be more designed for sharpness over toughness which the lazers are not designed for speed.   like chisel point blades that don't dull easily  versus low angle type blades that dull real easily. is what i am talking about there just kind of not well thought out for toughness in blade design on the nils   as far as i am concerned. so if looking at the nil's weight the cost of the auger versus the lazer augers is my best advise...if your up in Canada mite want to consider reliability and durability of the augers ...     

[FISHFORPIKE]

Well, it's got to be a Chevy - I like NILs and FinBore, both.   

[stripernut]

As I have said before;
I have used both the Nils and the Fine Bore side by side and both cut great/the same! Now if something happens to the blades of the Fine Bore I can reach into a back pocket and get another set, for less money (easier to swap out also). Nils makes a great auger, but I will use the one that cuts just as well, is cheaper, is not as "Delicate", easier to find blade covers for, MUCH cheaper to have sharpened and I can carry multiple set of blades easier than the one Nils Head. The Fine Bore. It may not have the "Cult" following of the NIls, but that is OK by me. The NORMARK FIN-BORE, is harder to find (mostly Canada) but worth the effort in the long run.

[Reel trouble]

Its not necessarily the type of auger But the type of handle. Offset handle is what you want rather it be nills, finbore or lazer that's what makes the most difference. Like the other have said replacement blades versus heads its your choice.  Best performance versus cost look for a fin bore III

[dkfry]

Hand augers I have had are Jiffy, Nils, Strikemaster and Finbore III. Out of them I kept 2 - Finbore III augers and 1 - Strikemaster Lazer. All 3 have the offset handles.

[Handy]

I have a 8 & 6 inch lazers and the 8 by far is harder on the arms. The 6 is quite easy and many holes can be drilled before my arms feel numb. I do want to get a 8 inchs nills some day as I keep hearing how nice they are.

[Townie]

Hoping Finbores will be actually available? I go thru a pair of $30+ 6" Lazer blades each season. Adds up over the years... Time to have some blades exchanged/sharpened.

[VTWoodchuck]

This may be opening a whole ford / chevy can-o-worms, but what's the best hand auger?  I'm looking for a 5" or 6" - 2 piece (I'll attach a drill, but need the handle when batteries die)
thoughts?

I'm pretty tickled with my 6" Strikemaster Lazer.  It cuts easy by hand and now I'm using it with my old 18v n-cad drill on a Clam drill plate.  It cuts like a hot knife through butter.  We has 2' -3'+ of ice all through last winter and I was still getting 20 to 30 holes per battery.  I bring an extra battery just in case and keep it in my lunchbox with my PB&J and coffee thermos.  This year I bought the Clam 4"-16" extension rod so that I won't have to finish my holes on my knees.  The whole rig only weighs about 13 pounds.

[RIVERRAT2]

 i use the 5in lazer,most times i only use the hand[up to about 40 holes
if i need more holes than that i use the battery on it
but that is just me,i drill till i find the fish
 
RAT

[Gillgrabber]

Well.......I'm not sure you really need any more replies, but I absolutely love my Nils.  It's by far the sharpest, smoothest, and fastest auger I've used.  I used it to drill by hand through 3 feet of ice with no problem.  One of the best ice fishing purchases I've ever made.

[bean counter]

Hey I really appreciate all the info! Still not sure which auger will make the team, but tryouts will be coming up soon!   

[Reel_Force]

As I have said before;
I have used both the Nils and the Fine Bore side by side and both cut great/the same! Now if something happens to the blades of the Fine Bore I can reach into a back pocket and get another set, for less money (easier to swap out also). Nils makes a great auger, but I will use the one that cuts just as well, is cheaper, is not as "Delicate", easier to find blade covers for, MUCH cheaper to have sharpened and I can carry multiple set of blades easier than the one Nils Head. The Fine Bore. It may not have the "Cult" following of the NIls, but that is OK by me. The NORMARK FIN-BORE, is harder to find (mostly Canada) but worth the effort in the long run.

Fish307.com - a sponsor here ... That's where I got mine. The only difference I see between the two Fin-Bore/Nils - is the price !

[Icepuppy]

Nils 6" with a cordless drill.