Best Gas Ice Augers: 4 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks for Gas Ice Augers

A gas ice auger is a gasoline powerhead on a flighted bit: you mix fuel and oil, pull a cord, and the engine turns the blades. This guide is limited to gasoline powerheads. It compares four that Amazon has in stock today, from three brands, and mentions propane, battery and drill-driven augers where they help you decide.

The gas category has thinned out. North American Outdoorsman puts it this way: “The reality is, electric has taken over and you’ll see more electric-powered augers on the ice than ever before whether it’s a rechargeable battery or a power hammer drill attachment. Does that mean gas is dead? No.” Eskimo and Jiffy, two long-running gas-auger brands, now list electric augers (and, for Eskimo, drill-adaptive ones) on their own sites, and the gas units of theirs that Amazon still lists, the Eskimo Sting Ray S33Q8 and the Jiffy Model 30, were not in stock new there when we checked, so they are not picks here. The four picks rest on the makers’ own specs, and every review says which source a figure came from.

Compare the picks

Compare the 4 Gas Ice Augers

Every figure below is what a maker lists, not something we measured. “Not published” means we found no figure on the maker’s page or the Amazon listing. Weights do not always say which configuration they cover; each review says what we know. The Garvee row rests on the maker’s Amazon listing because we found no Garvee website.

What These Specs Rest On

What counted as a gas ice auger

• A gasoline powerhead sold as an ice auger. Earth-auger and post-hole-digger powerheads that merely mention ice in a title were left out.
• A new offer on Amazon, in stock when we checked, from Amazon.com or from a storefront carrying the brand’s name. Every pick here meets that, and the review names the seller.
• Not a pick: a listing that shows an availability date instead of “in stock”. The Eskimo Sting Ray S33Q8 and the Jiffy Model 30 were in that state when we checked, so they are named here as context and not reviewed or linked.
• The linked ASIN is the exact diameter the review describes.
• Engine cc and stroke, diameter, length, weight (with its configuration where a source gives one), blade type and warranty, each with its source, or “not published” where we found none.
• Distinct products. Several listings from other brands carry the same stated engine figures as the Garvee, so they count once, and a Garvee kit that adds an earth bit to the same auger counts as the same product.

How thin evidence was handled and what owners say about gas versus battery

How thin evidence was handled

All four picks rest on the makers’ own specs; we found no independent test or owner thread for any of these exact gas units. Each review’s evidence line says which source it uses. The Reddit discussions of VEVOR augers that we found were about its drill-driven bit or did not say which auger they meant, so we did not use them as evidence for the gas units. Roles are descriptive, not rankings.

What owners say about gas versus battery

Owner threads lean toward battery. In one r/IceFishing thread a commenter writes, “Don’t waste your time or money on gas augers, they aren’t even close to worth the hassle anymore.” In another a commenter answers, “If you treat a gas powered auger right it will outlast the batteries on the electric auger by a long shot.” Both are single opinions, and neither covers a specific model here. Sources: Gas / propane auger and Ice auger, jiffy or Eskimo ??.

Detailed Reviews of Each Gas Ice Auger

THUNDERBAY 33cc Power Ice Auger, 33cc Brand-Direct Auger

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: THUNDERBAY product page.

ThunderBay lists this auger on its own site (part B33Z08) and sells the linked ASIN on Amazon through THUNDERBAY PRODUCTS, its own storefront, which is the seller route for this pick. The maker’s text, the same on both pages, reads “33cc two cycle engine with advanced “Cold-Shot” technology for easy starts!” and “Power head, 8 inch auger, and blade protector included!” It gives the weight as 32 pounds for “this package”.

The product page does not give the auger length, blade type, warranty term or fuel-mix ratio. It links a warranty-registration page but states no term, so we say the term is not published. BC Fishing Journal’s tackle guide lists this model among its auger recommendations and describes its features without saying it tested one, and its page carries Amazon affiliate links, so we do not count it as evidence.

Specs (B33Z08, 8 in, ASIN B01NA76QUK):

• Engine: 33cc, two-cycle (maker)
• Auger diameter: 8 in (maker)
• Auger length: not published
• Weight: 32 lb for “this package” (maker); the page lists the powerhead, 8 in auger and blade protector as the contents
• Blade: not published (a blade protector is included)
• Warranty: not published on the product page (it links a warranty-registration page)
• Emissions: no EPA or CARB statement on the maker page
• Seller: THUNDERBAY PRODUCTS, the brand’s own Amazon storefront

VEVOR 52cc Gas Ice Auger, Entry-Tier 52cc Auger

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: VEVOR product page.

VEVOR’s product page lists a 52cc gasoline engine, an 8-inch (203 mm) drill diameter, a 31.5-inch (800 mm) drill length, 4Cr13 steel blades and a net weight of 26.2 pounds. The same spec table also lists the drill bit itself at ø8.3 x 28.7 in (210 x 730 mm), without saying how that relates to the 8 in and 31.5 in figures. Amazon’s bullets add a 40:1 fuel-to-oil mix and a 240 RPM drilling speed, and both pages say 2-stroke. The linked ASIN is the “52CC ice auger” variant in Amazon’s VEVOR family; its sibling is the 43cc kit reviewed next.

VEVOR’s page summarises the seven reviews it holds this way: “The product is generally praised for being efficient, easy to use, and lightweight, but some users experienced durability issues and found it heavy or lacking an extension for thick ice.” That is VEVOR’s own store, so it is the maker’s content and not an independent test, and we found no independent review of this gas unit. The page offers a paid protection plan but states no manufacturer warranty term.

Specs (D52-F, 8 in, ASIN B0FWJ97YLZ):

• Engine: 52cc, 2-stroke (maker)
• Auger diameter: 8 in / 203 mm (maker)
• Auger length: 31.5 in / 800 mm drill length (maker); the same table lists the bit at ø8.3 x 28.7 in (210 x 730 mm)
• Weight: 26.2 lb net (maker); Amazon’s bullet says 26.3 lb
• Blade: 4Cr13 steel blades (maker)
• Fuel mix: 40:1 (Amazon bullet)
• Warranty: none stated by the maker (a paid protection plan is offered separately)
• Emissions: no EPA or CARB statement on the maker page
• Seller: Amazon.com

VEVOR 43cc Gas Ice Auger, 43cc Ice-and-Earth Kit

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: VEVOR product page.

This is a kit. VEVOR’s page lists “1 x Ice Auger Bit + 1 x Earth Auger Bit”, and Amazon’s variant name is “43CC ice auger+earth auger combo”. Amazon’s bullets call the ice bit 8 inches in diameter and 29.5 inches long, while VEVOR’s own spec table gives the ice bit as 7.9 x 29.5 in (200 x 750 mm) and the earth bit as 8.0 x 31.1 in. We use the spec-table figure.

VEVOR lists a 43cc 2-stroke engine, a peak engine speed of 8500 RPM and a 40:1 fuel-to-oil mix, and a net weight of 34.28 pounds. The page does not break the weight down by bit. It carries the same summary of seven customer reviews as the 52cc, quoted in that review, and we found no independent review of this unit.

Specs (D43-F, ice bit 7.9 in, ASIN B0HKTTXZ5V):

• Engine: 43cc, 2-stroke (maker)
• Ice bit diameter: 7.9 in / 200 mm per the spec table (Amazon’s bullets say 8 in)
• Ice bit length: 29.5 in / 750 mm (maker); earth bit 8.0 x 31.1 in
• Weight: 34.28 lb net (maker); configuration not broken down by bit
• Blade: steel blades (maker)
• Fuel mix: 40:1 (maker’s page bullet)
• Warranty: none stated by the maker (a paid protection plan is offered separately)
• Emissions: no EPA or CARB statement on the maker page
• Seller: Amazon.com

Garvee 52cc Gas Ice Auger, 10-Inch 52cc Auger

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: the maker’s Amazon listing.

Garvee is the 10-inch auger in this guide; the other three are 8-inch class. The linked ASIN is the “10” Ice Fishing Auger” variant in orange (a sibling ASIN adds a 5.9-inch earth bit). Garvee has no maker website we could find, so these figures come from the maker’s Amazon listing: a 52cc 2-stroke engine, 1.7 kW, up to 8500 RPM, a 10-inch diameter and 31.5-inch length, a standard 25:1 fuel-oil mix and a 0.3-gallon (1100 ml) tank. The item-weight field says 35.3 pounds and does not say which parts it covers. The offer is sold by Garvee Direct, a storefront carrying the Garvee name.

The listing title says “EPA Certificate”. It gives no certificate number or engine family and we did not verify it, so we make no emissions claim of our own. Its warranty field reads “No”. Several other listings, among them GarveeTech and Festisoul, carry the same stated engine figures, so this guide counts them once. We found no independent review or owner thread for this auger.

Specs (10 in, orange, ASIN B0G8ZX8NMR):

• Engine: 52cc, 2-stroke, 1.7 kW, up to 8500 RPM (maker’s Amazon listing)
• Auger diameter: 10 in
• Auger length: 31.5 in
• Weight: 35.3 lb (listing’s item-weight field); configuration not stated
• Blade: steel blades (listing)
• Fuel mix: 25:1; tank 0.3 gal / 1100 ml (listing)
• Warranty: none stated (the listing’s warranty field reads “No”)
• Emissions: the title says “EPA Certificate”; no certificate number or engine family is given
• Seller: Garvee Direct (a storefront carrying the Garvee name); maker’s list price: none (no maker site found)

How to Choose a Gas Ice Auger

Engine size and stroke

Every pick here is a two-stroke, which is why each needs a fuel-and-oil mix. Engine sizes are 33cc, 43cc and 52cc. The cc figure alone does not tell you how an auger drills, because makers list different engine speeds, gearing and bit sizes. Picks: THUNDERBAY 33cc at 33cc, VEVOR 43cc at 43cc, and VEVOR 52cc and Garvee 52cc at 52cc.

Diameter and length

BC Fishing Journal’s tackle guide says, “The most common blade size used by ice anglers is probably 8″.” Its table pairs trout, bass and walleye with 8 inches and large pike and lake trout with 10 to 12 inches. It also warns that with a 10 or 12 inch bit “some tip-ups won’t fit this large of a hole”. If you fish tip-ups, see our ice fishing tip-ups guide and check hole size against the tip-up first. Picks: Garvee 52cc is the 10-inch auger here; THUNDERBAY 33cc and VEVOR 52cc are 8-inch, and the VEVOR 43cc lists a 7.9-inch ice bit.

Length matters for thick ice. The VEVOR page’s own review summary mentions a missing extension for thick ice. Check whether an extension exists for the model you buy.

Weight and how it is listed

Wired2Fish writes, “Gas augers are louder in comparison to electric augers. They also tend to be heavier.” Listed weights here are not comparable one to one: two are net, one is for “this package”, and one is a listing field that does not say what it covers. Compare them after reading each review’s specs.

Blades

VEVOR lists 4Cr13 steel blades for its 52cc and steel blades for its 43cc, and Garvee’s listing says steel blades. Blade type is not published for the THUNDERBAY. Picks: VEVOR 52cc names its blade steel grade.

Fuel mix, cold starts and where not to run it

Mix ratios differ by maker: VEVOR lists 40:1 and Garvee’s listing says 25:1. Follow the manual for your own auger. Gas-auger manuals warn against running the engine indoors; Eskimo’s Stingray S33Q8 gas-auger manual (Ardisam, rev. 2006), for example, says, “Never run engine in an enclosed or partially enclosed area. (Examples include: buildings that are enclosed on one or more sides, under tents, car ports or basements.)” If you fish from a pop-up ice fishing shelter, drill outside before you set up. Wired2Fish adds, “Gas engines require routine maintenance and must be drained at the end of the ice season.”

Warranty and emissions wording

None of the four maker pages or listings states a warranty term: the THUNDERBAY page publishes none, and the VEVOR and Garvee pages state none. For emissions, the Garvee listing alone makes a statement, in its title, and we did not verify it. We make no EPA or CARB claim for any pick. Once the holes are drilled, see our guides to ice fishing suits, inline ice fishing reels and ice fishing rods.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on how you fish. North American Outdoorsman says electric has taken over and then answers its own question about gas with “No”, meaning gas is not dead. Owners in r/IceFishing threads split: some say gas is no longer worth the hassle, others say a well-kept gas auger outlasts batteries. Gas augers need a fuel-and-oil mix and, per Wired2Fish, routine maintenance and draining at season’s end.

Eskimo’s and Jiffy’s own sites now list electric and drill-adaptive augers, and we found no current maker page for their gas units. On Amazon, the Eskimo Sting Ray S33Q8 and the Jiffy Model 30 showed an availability date rather than an in-stock message when we checked, so they were not in stock new there and are not picks in this guide.

BC Fishing Journal lists these advantages for propane: “No smoke and less noise than a gas powered auger”, easy fuel management with one-pound tanks, “No oil & gas mixing”, and no need to winterize the fuel. It lists one drawback, “In extreme cold temperatures may experience issues running”. Propane augers are outside this guide, which is limited to gasoline powerheads.

BC Fishing Journal says 8 inches is probably the most common size and recommends it for a first auger. Three of our four picks are 8-inch class. See Garvee 52cc for a 10-inch bit, and check tip-up fit first.

No. Eskimo’s gas-auger manual says, “Never run engine in an enclosed or partially enclosed area.” It lists tents among the examples. Drill your holes outside, then set up your pop-up shelter.

It depends on the maker. VEVOR lists 40:1 for both of its units, and Garvee’s listing says 25:1. The THUNDERBAY page we read gives no ratio. Use the ratio in your own manual.

None of the maker pages or listings we read makes a CARB statement. The Garvee listing’s title says “EPA Certificate” but gives no certificate number or engine family, and we did not verify it. We make no emissions claim for any pick.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

Gas ice augers are a narrowing category, and the four here all rest on maker specs, with no independent test of any exact unit. Match the pick to what you can verify. The THUNDERBAY 33cc (check price) suits an angler who wants a 33cc, 8-inch auger bought from its maker’s own storefront. The VEVOR 52cc (check price) suits one who wants a 52cc, 8-inch auger at the entry tier and accepts no stated warranty. The Garvee 52cc (check price) suits one who needs a 10-inch hole and accepts a listing that states no warranty.

Beyond those three, the VEVOR 43cc is the ice-and-earth kit. Read each review’s evidence line, confirm the seller on Amazon, and keep the engine out of any enclosed shelter.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.