Shovel to keep in your car?

jackman2

jackman2

Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
590
There has been a lot of snow around here. Lately I have been thinking that I need to carry some sort of shovel in my car in case I went off the road and got stuck. The problem is I drive a small car and don't have the space to carry a full size shovel.

What do you guys carry in your vehicle? Is there a quality folding shovel that can handle snow? I'd like something bigger than the normal army trench one. Figured this would be the best place to ask.

On a side note. It is pretty freaking cold around here. With the wind chill yesterday, it was -20. Town of Saranac a few hours away was -36, no wind chill. Yikes.
 
Wow! You live up there and dont carry a shovel already? I learned real quick after a trip in the Catskills a few years back. I carry a regular shovel with the handle cut down, a small bucket of sand, and some small plywood pieces (to put a jack on just in case) whenever I go upstate and there is snow and ice around.
 
Here is a look at the Glock and Fiskars folding shovels on equipped.com. You might also look into a similar Army surplus folding type shovel.
 
I've got most of that stuff, but had to take out the big shovel. I also live in more of an urban area so I figured I didn't really need it. Starting to reconsider though. Just need somthing smaller. My wife and I have a kid now and now the car has a car seat and a bunch of other things for him. I like the idea of a shovel with the handle cut down.
 
What are your thoughts on the Fiskars Folding Spade? I thought I would want something bigger, but I guess this would suffice.
 
I'm in Landscaping and this is what I have in the back

Union+Tools+-+Titanium+Shovels+Shovel+Lhrp+Titanium+Razorback%3A+760-1349000.jpg
 
If I’m digging my car out, I want a straight shovel. One without the crook that makes scooping dirt so easy on your back. If I have to clear snow/sand/stuff from the vehicle’s center, that crook is not my friend.

In my trunk I keep a square, straight, bar-handled garden spade.
 
German folding army shovel, with a pick. Much sturdier than the US-issue. Bought mine for $10 at an army surplus joint a while back.
 
I drive a small japanese sub-compact hatchback and my boot is very small, so i went out and bought a Black Diamond Lynx snowshovel. I used it once to dig my neighbour out and as expected its a bit on the short side, but i dont expect to use it that much so itll do just fine for emergencies. It moved a lot of snow in a short time so thumbsup to the Lynx.

Another benefit is being able to use it for my wintertrips.

black_diamond_lynx_snow_shovel.jpg
 
For snow look into anything designed for back-country skiing/avalanche rescue. Maybe you will have to spend between $40 and $100. They are designed to be carried in a pack and to shovel large volumes of snow very quickly.

ETA: The BD model that Prop suggested is an excellent example.
 
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I have bought the tri fold type entrenching tools like I used in the service. Virtually indestructible, inexpensive and easy to keep behind the seat. It is in my vehicle, my wife's and my two boys. It has the advantage of not only being a shovel but of course can be implemented as a rake. Great little tool.

KR
 
I just have an old Army Surplus folding shovel behind the seat in my truck. Its not the best for snow, but will work okay if need be. It doesn't work very well for any kind of shovelling as a matter of fact, but its always there. It would be perfect if I had to dig a trench while on my knees:D Kind of like my Leatherman that I keep in the console. I'd much rather have a specific tool when I need it but it will do in a pinch.

I just realized I also have a full size snow shovel in the bed of my truck, but I don't always keep one there.
 
It would be very easy to keep a small military style shovel in my car, but I agree it would be a pain to deal with snow. Here in NY we have quite a few months of snow so it might be worth buying one of those fancy backpacking shovels. Seems like a lot of money for something I may never really use though. Some of them go for almost $100.
 
i keep one of those cold steel "special forces" shovels in my car. its reasonably priced, small, and seems to do the job.
 
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