I'm looking for a good folding shovel. A nonfolding shovel is far too big to be practical. What's a good one to look into? I'd like it to be durable and able to make small work of bigger jobs (bathroom sites, fox holes, sleeping holes, etc)
I second that. I got one off ebay from 1985. I heard they were made of better steel back then, but who knows. It's a decent little shovel. A bit heavy, but it's built like a tank.
I actually think I have a usgi playing around somewhere. Need to track it down and get it good and oiled up. Might buy a second and use the first as a tester and beater
If you are relying on your shovel, and you may really need too, don't use it as a beater.
Last count I have 5. One is an old WW2 (?) with a pick on one side. They are hard to find.
It maybe a good idea to sharpen one side to use as a chopping tolls if conditions require it. I have them in all my vehicles also. I also have a hatchet and a file or two with it. I must admit one needs attention since I was gifted it.
I had a crappy tri-fold china knock off, bent the POS trying to get my Land Cruiser off an ice Berm. Bought a USGI wood handled folder with the pick. It has earned its place on my INCH cart. I will also be hauling a boy's ax, a buck saw, a draw knife and a auger drill bit with a peg maker - all used to build a bear/cougar resistant trapper's cabin. I think asking a shovel to be an ax, saw, knife isn't a good plan.
I have the Glock folding shovel . Super compact and light weight and also has a usable wood saw in the hollow handle . I know quite a few guys that carry a shovel around in their packs but not me , seems like a lot of unnecessary work to me . I keep mine in the truck in case I get stuck . If I'm in a location where I have to do some digging then I am in the wrong location .
If you know of an army surplus store, get a real one with a wood handle, great shovels. Also army surplus online stores will carry authentic ones for about 30 bucks.
I prefer the ones with a non folding handle. They are a little bulkier but sturdier in my op.
Better have a day or two to dig a real foxhole with any mini shovel. In Nam we were supposed to dig a foxhole every night, but we stopped humping about an hour before dark, and had one shovel for about every 2-4 guys. So, our "foxholes" were actually depressions that would only protect one out of every 3-4 guys.
That said, one of the versions of the GI entrenching tool is the way to go.
I have two of those, one in a truck and one in a Jeep. Great shovels!
Winter use these Life Line shovels are good. Light weight, inexpensive, can chip ice, move a little more snow, which helps in building a snow shelter or digging out stuck vehicles. Never tried digging dirt with it, so, shrug.
I don't have any experience with folding shovels but I have done a lot of digging by hand and a pick axe helps a lot to loosen up the soil to make it easier to scoop out of the hole so I would suggest getting a shovel with a pick attachment as well.
I actually came across that one last night and liked the idea of a pick. Having done mass gardening before it definitely struck me as useful. I loved my pickaxes for loosening soil. I plan on adding a nice full size shovel to my shelter but also want the carry one as well. Never know when ya might need to poo when shtf
I keep the Cold Steel shovel in the jeep. It works but the truth is, none of these short shovels work as well as a regular shovel. You have to get down on your knees, then you can't step on it, and it's a PITA to scoop up dirt or snow to move it.
You could, in a pinch, remove the handle and cut off a limb to make a long handle.
I've got this and have dug many holes and fire pits with it. Yes you have to get on your knees most of the time but I enjoy the upper body workout. I've not had any issues with it.
I would only get them with a wood handle and a pick on it.
I have a 1965 german army folding shovel, the best thing that ever happened was the handle broke while I was overworking it, which I replaced with a hickory handle thats about 6 inches longer. So much easier to use!
Some of those things are the size of your hand! They seem better suited to planting tulip bulbs than entrenchimg.
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