Camp shovel... Cold Steel or E-tool

I still have the shovel I got as a little kid , a US Army folding shovel , it still works fine !
My truck shovel is a Glock .
Small tools have a place like the times you're inside in tight areas .I have military shovels , half handled sledge hammer , 3/4 size mattock , etc . Look at the skid steers ['Bobcat'] and how popular they have become .
 
Having used both the mil e-tool and the CS shovel, my preference is for the CS shovel. Chop, dig, cut, throw...it's pretty versatile. You can remove the factory handle and rig up a longer stick or make a trenching tool depending on what you need it for.
 
I like the cold steel shovel. I kept one in my truck for a long time, you can't compare it to a full sized shovel, but it worked for moving a little snow every now and then or digging a cat hole.
 
jdk1 said:
Something like the CS Shovel is for when you don't FORECAST the need. A compact, cheap, tough shovel that's there when you need it and out of the way when you don't. I've had vehicles stuck a few times and it was never forecast:D
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If you've made the choice to carry something, then you have "forecast" for a possible scenario.

These little shovels are fine if you have very limited space in your vehicle, but I agree with Mikel - carry the largest shovel your vehicle allows. You'll be glad you did when you actually need it.
 
Smithhammer said:
If you've made the choice to carry something, then you have "forecast" for a possible scenario.

These little shovels are fine if you have very limited space in your vehicle, but I agree with Mikel - carry the largest shovel your vehicle allows. You'll be glad you did when you actually need it.
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I think there's a difference between forecasting and being prepared. The difference being carrying something so you're prepared for an unlikely event or something capable of light work, or knowing you will probably need something for serious use. I don't live in an area where it snows, but if I did and traveled rural roads often, having a shovel capable of clearing snow during winter is what I think of as forecasting a probable need. Having a shovel during summer because you may drop a tire off the pavement and need to dig a little is what I consider being prepared. The OP asked about small camping shovels and a few of us added that this type of shovel was handy to keep in a vehicle for emergencies, in addition to limited campsite use.
 
My 2 cents: I used the Army's e-tool until I had blisters while in the Army,and love the thing. I just ordered a Cold Steel though,but only because the,knowing both would serve me well (and that eventually I'll own both anyways :p ),I went with the Cold Steel because the price was lower (of course....my wife did the ordering and it'll be delivered by Christmas Eve,and I don't know about it because I wouldn't eves-drop on her Amazon accout.......but I would have done the same thing ;) )
 
jdk1 said:
I think there's a difference between forecasting and being prepared.
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"Forecasting" or anticipating, is the first part of any prep. My point is simply that if you're acquiring a piece of equipment for possible situations that you've imagined could happen, then it isn't for "unforeseen" events, right?

The OP already said that he had purchased a CS shovel, so I think this thread has moved beyond recommendations for him, and to a discussion of shovels for camping & emergency use in general.

I know the OP originally asked about small camping shovels, but he also commented that the E-tool seemed under-sized, and I agree (I also own one). Which is why it's worth suggesting larger options, especially if it's for emergency vehicle use, regardless of the season. Shovels are pretty simple - bigger/longer ones are usually going to be a lot more efficient than shorter/smaller ones.

I keep an e-tool in the box of my truck, mainly because I already owned it and its really small, so why not. But if I truly need a shovel because I've driven off the road, or need to help someone else, or whatever, then the last thing I want to do is pull out that dinky little e-tool and be there moving small amounts of dirt or snow for hours. Bully makes a darn good shovel for the price (and made in the USA, unlike CS...), and it's still short enough that it will fit in the trunk of most cars. I'm not trying to be argumentative, just saying that a good shovel is a smart thing to have and that you may as well carry the largest one you realistically can - you'll be glad you did. If you just want a little folding shovel for carrying into the backcountry, that's different. But personally, I've never found a need to take an e-tool backpacking.

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I had a cs shovel and my dad stole it. I got a replacement which my father gave to my uncle.

I bought two more, one for my car and one for me.

For the 25 bucks, this really is one of those purchases you can't find fault with.
 
I've had my e-tool for twenty years, it works for me.
Never tried the cs shovel but hear good things.
 
I've only had my CS shovel for a few days but I like it a lot chopped some ice shoveled a little snow my only complaint is the handle coating is a little slippery once I get a chance I will sand it down and finish it myself . Had an old E-tool in my old car and think I might have left it in there when I got rid of it. Definitely think its the best tool Cold Steel makes recommend it to anyone . With a Para 2 , BRK Gunny and my Wetterlings large hunters ax.
 
i bought 2 good 8 dollar steel shovels with a wooden handles.
1 was flat for shoveling icy snow(which works way better than a snow shovel)
the other was a rounded spade style to mimic the cold steel shovel...then i cut the handle down to mimic the cs shovel.
but if you are set on buying the cs or etool please by all means get the cs...i have used that etool in some pinches and it sucked to use so bad that i went out and did the shovel mod above. the etool blade shape is just too angular and blade size slightly too small for efficiency....
.....cut a shovel from the mom and pop hardware or buy the coldsteel. hell i'd give you my etool but i know you're gonna end up buying that cs once you use it in push comes to shove situation.
 
Smithhammer said:
...carry the largest shovel your vehicle allows. You'll be glad you did when you actually need it.
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Winter for me means skiing, snowshoeing and ice climbing. Usually the starting points for such activities are not perfectly plowed parking lots with the exception of some skiing resorts. Usually we have to drive up to mountain passes or the end of gravel/dirt roads. When we have Winter storms, as you can imagine, these are the least roads plowed. They focus first on main roads and highways.
Example:
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xgzk.jpg

That's my dad right there ready for snowshoeing in the Pirinees. We kept on driving for a few miles untill the snow was so deep that we got up on our belly... front wheels not touching the ground. We decided to turn arround and park right there. No other tracks but ours.

Ofen, even if those roads are plowed, you may find yourself with a cleared single lane (or lane-and-a-half) with no room for parking at all. So out come the shovels to make room for the van on the side of the road.

The older I get, the wisher I become, so I get stuck less and less as the time goes by. But sometimes, shit happens and you end up digging your vehicle out of a ditch or whatever. Old pictures but you will get the point:
You arrive at night to the top of a mountain pass and THIS is what you find
dko8.jpg


A few minutes later you have cleared a nice parking spot (pictures from next day)
1vyh.jpg


But maybe this is getting out of hand regarding the OP question....
 
olybears57 said:
Why do you think you need a camp shovel? For what tasks?
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I understand that a camp shovel is a piece of gear you haul along to camp in order to help digging a fire pit, a letrine, putting out fire, diggint post holes (if you like that kind of camping), etc. I don't feel the need for a camp shovel unless I am going to place my tent in the snow and then I need to level ground or, should the need arise, dig a snow cave or assist on making snow blocks to put up some kind of Wall arround camp (wind protection).

For the snow, Steel sucks because (don't ask me why) the snow sticks to it. Besides it is much more heavy. Maybe it sticks to the Steel because it takes longer to reach outside temperatura and then some snow melts on the Steel and then freezes or something. For the snow, aluminum rules.

For digging a letrine, you need something made of Steel.

Mikel
 
My folding etool from just after WW2, I couldn't ask anymore out of something so compact. I can shovel with it of course, scrape, pry, throw, cut with it. It is basically a shovel with a nasty edge on one side and a sick serrated edge (professional added) on the other. It's always in the jeep with me or when I can make it to the woods. I used the CS shovel, I'll stick with mine. It's just what you're comfortable and have memories with IMO.
 
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