The best shovel you can buy

Seriously the Chinese shovel that get's posted all the time is way better than the ones offered by Predator. Assuming the quality is good.
 
Wyheard said:
hy guys, nobody is interrested in snow/cold weather shovel. For me, in Quebec, I cary a cheap hardware store shovel in my car. Its made of preaty hard plastic and handle of aluminium . (i used it a few times to dig out a few cars.) Got it for 8$ on sale. usable as a winter backpack shovel.
I dont understand those who dont have such a great tool in snow country.

WH
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I have a steel square-point hardware store spade that I keep in the trunk. I sharpened the tip on it for regular digging and busting up ice. It's in my trunk at all times and gets used on snow and mud alike. Takes a little longer than a big snow shovel, but I appreciate the smaller spoon size when digging slush.
 
Well, looks like my Predator "Big Red" is slated to ship out today. I'll post pics and a review when it gets to me. :cool::thumbup:
 
GLOCK makes a high end extremely functional entrenching tool-shovel. Check it out.
 
So I got the shovel with a cheap cover and I have to say I'm impressed. I wish I could say the same for the machete. The tip is mauled up and it is the dullest thing I have ever seen. Actually the shovel has a sharper edge. Very happy with the shovel. Scratching my head on the kukri machete.

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Just received word that my shovel arrived at the house. I'll be sure to post pics and my impression of it when I get home--I haven't been this excited about a purchase in a while! :D

Edit: Unfortunately during my recent move I've temporarily misplaced my camera cable. I've got the pictures but uploading them will have to wait until I find the cable. All I can say for now is HOLY CRAP this thing is NICE!!! :eek::cool: It's got a oval grip for comfort, and while it has a reassuring heft it's also surprisingly light for an all-steel shovel. I don't think I'd have any trouble carrying it all day despite the fact that it's one of Predator's heavier models. For trench clearing I'll still use a pick mattock (tons of big rocks in the ground here) and my old round point long-handled shovel (it's a better transfer shovel) but for breaking ground, digging in more earthy areas (like around the barn where there's a lot of mixed hay/ horse manure) or for chopping through roots and biomass I've got a new killer of a tool! It also makes me want to go rebury zombies. I could have payed twice this much and still felt like I got a good deal. :D:thumbup:
 
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For Bushcraft purposes I'd probably go with one of the smaller models like the Hercules or the Mauler, but for general camping I'd definitely go for it. It seems like Bushcraft gear has mobility as one of its requisites so I'd want something I could hike with all day without it being an encumbrance. Although the weight would be fine it's not something I'd be able to attach to a pack. They have plenty of more compact models though! As a chore shovel the Big Red can't be beat! I've absolutely never seen such a high quality shovel.
 
+1 on the garden shovel for car/truck use. A few years back I got a shovel from my dad that the handle was busted off of (we have lots of clay in the dirt around here). Well, I decided to make trunk shovels for the 2 cars so I got a basic shovel from the hardware store & cut the handle in half and then shaped the cutoff part into a matching handle for the old head. The funny thing is that I kept pulling them out to use around the house this summer since they are very maneuverable, and the kids love them because of the short handles as well as the lighter weight. They've taken everything I've thrown at them thus far without complaint, and the edges are pretty sharp (one from use, the other from application of a file to the cutting end)
 
For a trowel I recommend the Fiskars Composite Trowel. I've found them as cheap as a dollar online and between 2 and 3 dollars in brick and mortar stores. They do fine for light digging tasks, don't weigh much, and... well, I like the price.


God bless,
Adam
 
I prefer the Zenbori soil knife for a trowel. Cuts through sod and roots nicely, has a comfortable handle, and being stainless is a plus because you can put it away wet. Cheap too.
 
On another thread around here I saw the Crovel mentioned. It's sort of the Chinese shovel on steroids and made in the USA.
 
1066vik said:
I have an East German surplus folding shovel & pick that's the toughest small shovel I've ever used.
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I picked up one of these East German folders cheap a few years ago also and can't imagine a tougher tool. It stays in the 4runner and could actually be a very effective weapon. I'm not familiar with predator stuff but as far as landscaping shovels go, there's none better than King of Spades and these things get abused on a daily basis. We use our long handle shovel like a pry bar and the spades get used every which way you could imagine. :)
http://www.wwmfg.com/
 
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Predator is an offshoot of W.W. Manufacturing. They're a smaller outfit that broke off from the family business. George Lesche, the Predator Tools owner, was the designer for the King of Spades line. ;)
 
Wyheard said:
hy guys, nobody is interrested in snow/cold weather shovel. For me, in Quebec, I cary a cheap hardware store shovel in my car. Its made of preaty hard plastic and handle of aluminium . (i used it a few times to dig out a few cars.) Got it for 8$ on sale. usable as a winter backpack shovel.
I dont understand those who dont have such a great tool in snow country.

WH
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Plastic snow shovel? That doesn't even work in Ontario, and that's Miami Beach compared to Quebec...
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Predator is an offshoot of W.W. Manufacturing. They're a smaller outfit that broke off from the family business. George Lesche, the Predator Tools owner, was the designer for the King of Spades line. ;)
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I'd trust Predator tools then! Thanks for the info.
 
A good snow shovel for getting cars unstuck is the US army trifold entrenching tool. The blade can be locked at 90 degrees, and the bail handle lets you pull snow out from under the car. It could be a little longer though.
 
Just used my new Predator Tools "Big Red" to uproot a tree. The thing chopped through roots with ease, pried the whole thing out of the ground, and even worked like a machete to clear the vegetation from the area before I got digging! I'm impressed!
 
Yeah yeah--I just need to find my darn camera cable! :o

I swear, though, I'll get some good shots up as soon as I can. I'm absolutely in love with this thing. It cuts through dirt, clay, and sod like a nuclear mecha-mole. I got the custom serrations on the left edge, and I would definitely recommend them. They came in handy today widening/deepening the drainage trench in the pasture today. :cool:
 
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