E tools/shovels

I'll vote for the CS shovel as well. It lives in my truck and pulls camp duty without complaint.

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Just a quick update....My Gerber George is still like new after being used and abused!
 
RevDevil said:
The first thing I heard about the Gerber E tool is that it is a tough and very compact tool. I guess the reviewers were right. I'm interested in picking one up soon and need to look into the Glock and Cold Steel steel offerings.
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They are very robust, I have one in each vehicle. I also purchased the additional sheath which has Molle mounting options.
 
So that Ozark Trails shovel in the sporting goods section of Wal-Mart is a reasonably sound investment?

As long as we're on the subject of E-tools, I'd like to know something. The Ames brand GI shovel I picked up has a locking nut that tends to work itself loose, and has to be readjusted to keep the head from flopping around. It this normal for all used E-tools? To be loose once the stiffness and factory freshness has been worked out?
 
I got a few of these Gerber 05635 Off Road Survival Kit a few years ago since they were reasonable in cost and materials. They're not Armageddon-proof but should do nicely in a pinch. Change out the batteries and don't expect too beyond a short-term use.

[video=youtube_share;GNUZOw_JyJ0]http://youtu.be/GNUZOw_JyJ0[/video]
 
RevDevil said:
I'm torn between the Gerber, Glock, and the Cold Steel. :(
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Rev- grab you a military ETool. I've had mine for close to 14 years I'd imagine. It has got me out of many jams on the highway...well not many but four off the top of my head. Try an make sure one side is serrated because that is great for chiseling through ice that may be stopping your tires from rolling.

I actually made a nice shelter with mine that we camped in for over a week "just because" I could. My wife is using it right now in her flower bed. Just make sure to get one that folds and again I say.....go military....they're worth the money.
 
I still have a surplus WWII shovel the bought fo me as a little kid .I also have a Glock -so now I can answer the question "you got a Glock ? " " Sure I got a Glock " but that's a truck tool. The small shovels certainly have their uses !!
I also have ,recently purchased, a Gerber folding saw ,also a truck saw . 13" blade You can do much more than those shorter blade versions.
 
Predator Tools all the way, personally. Not cheap, but well worth it.
 
syntaxerrorsix said:
I'll vote for the CS shovel as well. It lives in my truck and pulls camp duty without complaint.

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I recently got one of those CS "Special Forces/Spetnaz" shovels, kind of on a whim... and I'm very pleased with it. Simple is good... there's just not much that can go wrong with this thing. No hinges, no locks, no BS.

It's good sturdy steel and mine did come with basic edges ground on it for chopping roots or whatever. It's small and light enough that it won't completely throw you off balance carrying it around in your pack or maybe even on your belt, but it's hefty enough that it can do fairly serious work. The sheath is also sturdier than I expected, and you can easily remove the screws that hold the handle on for easier packing/storage (we all have a multi-tool handy anyway, right? ;) )

As a bonus, I very happily discovered that it fits standard full-size replacement shovel handles that you can get at any hardware store almost perfectly. No mods needed except to drill two pilot holes in the new handle, to accept the screws that come with the shovel. Otherwise it will twist when you dig in hard rocky ground.

So my idea (haven't gotten around to it yet) is to make a nice stout walking stick out of the full-length handle, and keep the CS shovel in my pack with a chunk of mill file for sharpening... :thumbup:
 
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Charlie_K said:
So that Ozark Trails shovel in the sporting goods section of Wal-Mart is a reasonably sound investment?

As long as we're on the subject of E-tools, I'd like to know something. The Ames brand GI shovel I picked up has a locking nut that tends to work itself loose, and has to be readjusted to keep the head from flopping around. It this normal for all used E-tools? To be loose once the stiffness and factory freshness has been worked out?
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Hmmmm- never had that problem. I have seen replacement blocks to tighten them up. I don't think this would be deal spotting......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2Insets-for...145?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e8b3666b9
 
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I do wish they made it with forward-turned steps instead of rearward.
 
Question to everyone. If you're buying an E-tool clone because of the cost factor, why not simply buy a short spade at the hardware store? It doesn't fold up or anything, but they can be had for $10, aren't overly long or heavy, and are remarkably durable.
 
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