K Drill Ice Auger vs Strikemaster Lite Flite (Compared)
UPDATED 17 MAY 2023
by Robert Ceran
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The K-Drill and Strikemaster Lite Flite are two of the most popular cordless drill ice augers currently on the market.
But if you’re thinking about getting either of these augers for ice fishing, it’s important to understand what their differences are.
To help you with this, my team and I have tested both models and compared the K-Drill vs Strikemaster Lite Flite ice augers side by side.
Read on to get the full scoop!
Strikemaster Lite Flite vs K Drill ice augers compared
| K-Drill Ice Auger | Strikemaster Lite Flite Lazer Drill | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Price |  | |
| Weight | 5 lbs | 4.4 or 5.3 lbs |
| Build material of flighting | Modular plastic | Synthetic resin |
| Cutting speed (using 6" drill size in 12 inches of ice) | 15.1 seconds | 5.9 seconds |
| Drill sizes | 6" or 7.5" or 8.5" | 6" or 8" |
| Blade type | Chipper blades | Regular blades |
| Drill requirement | 18v cordless drill with brushless motor and 1/2" chuck | 18v cordless drill with brushless motor and 1/2" chuck |
The table above compares the key specs and cutting speed of the K-Drill vs Strikemaster Lite Flite ice augers that we tested side by side.
Before we discuss each model in more detail, let’s cover their key differences that our testing revealed, starting with the most important one (cutting speed).
Cutting speed: We did a test comparing the cutting speed of the Strikemaster Lite Flite with the K Drill side by side on the ice under exactly the same conditions.
For this test we chose the 6” drill size of each brand, and used the same drill to power each of them (the Milwaukee M18 Fuel, 2704-22). The ice was 12 inches thick at the time of our test.
As you can see from the table, the cutting speed of the Lite Flite Lazer drill is more than twice as fast as that of the K-Drill auger (5.9 seconds vs 15.1 seconds), when used under exactly the same conditions.
So, if cutting speed is important to you, then the Strikemaster Lite Flite is clearly a better option in this respect.
The ability to cut many holes in the ice quickly is most important if you’re doing hole hopping or ice trolling, where you have to drill dozens of holes in a short time.
The reason for this difference in cutting speed is connected to the type of blades used by each ice auger (more on that below).
Weight: In terms of weight, the two models are broadly similar, although the 6” Lite Flite Lazer is slightly lighter (4.4 lbs) than the K-Drill (which is 5 lbs), while the 8” Lite Flite Lazer is slightly heavier (5.3 lbs) than the K-Drill
Build material: While the K-Drill flighting is made of modular plastic, the Strikemaster Lite Flite is made of synthetic resin. However, during our testing we found that both of these build materials are lightweight and durable, and so this doesn’t really make a big difference.
Sizes: While the K-Drill is available in three sizes (6”, 7.5”, and 8.5”), the Lite Flite Lazer is only available in two sizes (6” and 8”).
However, for most ice anglers this difference isn’t all that significant, as both brands come with the same size at the small end of the scale, and at the large end, either an 8” or 8.5” auger size is big enough to cover most purposes.
Blade type: This is an area with a big difference between the two ice auger brands. While the K-Drill ice auger has chipper blades, the Strikemaster Lite Flite has shaver blades (see photo below).
As a result of this difference in blade types between the two ice auger models, the K-Drill cuts through ice by chipping it into small fragments, while the Strikemaster actually cuts through the ice.
This difference in their blades also explains why the Strikemaster was able to cut through ice faster than the K-Drill when we put them to the test.
However, during our testing we also found that the chipper blades of the K-Drill are better for reopening old ice holes that have frozen open again.
In fact, when we tested it, we found that when trying to reopen old holes with a Lite Flite Lazer drill, there is a high risk of damaging the blades.
So if you need to reopen old ice holes a lot, then the K-Drill is a better option for you.
Drill requirement: Both ice augers are identical in this regard. They both require an 18v cordless drill with a minimum battery capacity of 5aH.
The drill should also have a brushless motor, a ½ inch cuck, a side arm for stabilizing it, as well as providing at least 700 in-lbs of torque.
For more details on this topic, check out our article on what drill to use for an ice auger.
Pricing: Both augers are very similar in this regard, retailing between $180 and $260 (depending on the specific size that you choose).
Now let’s take a closer look at each of these drill powered augers.
K Drill Ice Auger
The K-Drill is one of the lightest ice fishing augers specifically developed for use with cordless electric drills.
It comes with a durable aluminum auger shart, and sturdy flighting made of modular plastic.
The total length is 39 inches, while the portion with flighting is 24 inches long, and when we put it to the test, we found that this is long enough to cut through 3 feet of ice.
If you need to cut through thicker ice, you can also get an extension for this ice fishing auger. And since it comes with a drive stem diameter of 0.5 inches, you need a drill with a ½ inch chuck to power it.
The 3 blades at the tip of the auger are made of high carbon steel, and use a chipper design that basically “chews” through ice instead of cutting it.
During our testing we found that this chipper design is able to drill holes through dirty ice without problems, and it also excels when it comes to reopening old ice holes that have refrozen.
The blades are covered with a plastic safety cover for safety while transporting the auger on the ice.
The top of the auger shaft has an orange-colored foam float with a 3.5 inch diameter, which prevents the auger from sinking if you accidentally drop it into an ice hole.
You can get the K-Drill ice auger in three different sizes: 6 inch, 7.5 inch, and 8.5 inch, which cover the vast majority of ice fishing applications.
This auger is compatible with the clam drill plate, which many ice anglers like to use as an auger drill adapter.
Finally, the company offers a free re-sharpening service for the blades, which you can send in to them after the ice fishing season is over.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Comes in 3 sizes
- Great for dirty ice and reopening old holes
Cons:
- Cuts slower than the Strikemaster
Strikemaster Lite Flite Ice Auger
The Strikemaster Lite Flite Lazer Drill is currently one of the most popular ice augers on the market.
The popularity of the Lite Flite is due to several factors, one of which is its ability to be either used with a cordless drill, or with an ice auger power head (either the Strikemaster lithium 24 volt or 40 volt).
Our testing revealed that another reason why the Lite Flite is so popular is that it cuts through ice quickly and efficiently, which means you can cut a lot of holes in a shorter time, and with less effort.
Similar to the K-Drill, the Lite Flite Lazer is also very lightweight, weighing either 4.4 or 5.3 pounds (depending on the drill diameter size that you choose).
The blades are made of chrome-alloy stainless steel, and although they are slightly serrated, they are shaver blades that cut smoothly through ice instead of chewing it.
The tip of the auger comes with a Power Point that helps to keep the drill in position while drilling.
Finally, with a couple of easy modifications, you can add a handle to a Strikemaster Lite Flite, and thus use it as a hand auger, which makes it one of the most versatile augers on the market.
Pros:
- Versatile (can be used with cordless drill, power head, or handle)
- Lightweight
- Cuts through ice faster than the K-Drill
Cons:
- Not as good as the K-Drill for dirty ice and reopening old holes
Final remarks
This concludes our article based on testing the K Drill vs Strikemaster Lite Flite ice augers side by side. Hopefully this will help you choose the right model for your ice fishing purposes.
Tight lines and see you on the ice!
Gear and methods used for testing
For consistent testing results we tested both ice augers reviewed in this article on the same day on Leech Lake in early February. Ice thickness was 15 to 16 inches, and we tested the augers with a Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless drill, to determine which one cuts better and faster through ice.