Ozark Trail Folding Shovel

[cssims]

Found this at Wal-mart yesterday. Look like a good contender for the U-Dig It Shovel. Very light weight. It weighs in at 4.8 oz. according to the box.

 

[baron_1999]

How does it compare in sturdiness? Does it seem like it will hold up to long term use?

 

[cssims]

U-Dig It is out of my price range, but they look very similar.

 

[stingray4540]

I don't know if I would call it light, but is is quite sturdy. I took mine on that last packpack trip, and used it for toilet duties, and digging a moat around the tent due the the heavy rain. Worked like a champ.

 

[HornyToad]

Yep. Looks like a U-Dig-It knockoff.

 

[MBTull]

I have an Ozark Trails fixed blade knife. For 10.00 you get a full tang and a worthless nylon sheath. I put some sports tape on the handle with is some sort of thin mystery wood. I takes an edge and will work for any sort of rough use. I carry it when I shoot my bow. It works great digging arrows out of stumps. It will carve up sticks for kindling just fine.

 

[kage]

MBTull: I'm floored by your review of the Ozark Trail knife. I had written it off as total junk, but those are decent curls you're getting. I'll stick with a Mora for $10.00 but it's good to know that the Ozark is at least useable.

 

[MBTull]

Kage

To be sure, it is no Mora. You need to carry it with a honing steel to keep the edge sharp. The wood scales are thin and varnished, making it potentially dangerous to grip. Some sports tape solves that problem. Those square cuts will really throw a fire steel spark, but it will also tear the fire steel to shreds. Good for emergencies and last ditch fire starting efforts. It is full tang, so you can baton with it:

I have dug with it, pried with it and dug arrows out of stumps. I would not use it as my only woods blade. Paired with a SAK huntsman and a hatchet, it certainly has its place.

It fits in a pocket pouch with a few other essentials:

Sorry if I hijacked the thread. I wanted to add some info about the Ozark Trails line in general.

 

[boing]

Then there's the review of the Ozark "machete":

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=633827

It doesn't even qualify for "disposable".

But we were talking about shovels...

PS- In fairness, I have some of the Ozark stuff, and it's serviceable, but nothing that could be hazardous if it fails (like a machete, knife, or even shovel).

 

[kage]

MBTull: Walmarts are everywhere and it's nice to know that you can get something serviceable in a pinch for so cheap. You can get a Smith sharpening rod or the cheap pull through sharpeners and tape there too, to complete the package if you needed to. Like I said, I'll stick with Moras for that price range, but I can't pick up a Mora anywhere locally, and definitely not on my way out to the woods when I want a knife as a back up for someone else to use, or what have you. Of course, that is why I keep a couple of Moras in the car (it still makes me cringe when someone abuses one of my Moras, because they are so functionally beautiful).

 

[Ken C.]

I just picked up the Gerber Gorge folding spade. Great little tool but not as slim as the Ozark Trail hand shovel. The Gorge is very sturdy and expandable, though only by a few inches...enough to make it easier to use.