Who packs a shovel when out and about?

G

Gossman Knives

Edged Toolmaker
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I've been getting into small packable shovels lately. Picked up a Gerber Gorge at a gunshow last weekend and just got a Cold Steel SF shovel that came highly recommended by my good friends Ed aka harpoon41 and Dan Shecthman. As a matter of fact Dan's latest article in the current Backwoodsman mentions the Cold Steel shovel as part of your kit. If you get a chance, read that article, IMO one of his best.
So how much thought do you put into the shovel as part of your gear? I know most car kits have them but do you feel it's an important item for your pack?
Scott
 
I have an old folding shovel I take camping, though it is too big to carry around. I think a more reasonable item would be a hand trowel. Be it a full size one of the garden variety, or a folding one. Would serve its purpose well and wouldn't take up that much space/weight. I figure if I am in the city, how would it help? That or if I had a knife, couldn't I carve a shovel or something similar?
 
I've had a Glock shovel for years as one of my truck tools.At home I have a WWII army shovel which they got for me when I was a little kid ! They have many uses and certainly are not toys. If you ever lay a stone walk or wall it's a perfect tool. For packing the Glock is very light weight.
 
I used to carry a folding garden trowel, but couldn't justify the weight of it, when I can just use a stick or my heel. YMMV...

I don't really plan on digging a foxhole anytime soon.

How about adding to the original OP question, and ask "What do you, or would you use a shovel for?" It would be interesting to know what different uses people have for shovels.
 
in the truck i have a big D ring spade and a smaller one. In the pack i have none. I have no need for one when hiking.

YMMV
 
stingray4540 said:
I used to carry a folding garden trowel, but couldn't justify the weight of it, when I can just use a stick or my heel. YMMV...

I don't really plan on digging a foxhole anytime soon.

How about adding to the original OP question, and ask "What do you, or would you use a shovel for?" It would be interesting to know what different uses people have for shovels.
Click to expand...

Where we frequently camp, it is very rocky with roots. The CS shovel has somewhat of a sharpened edge to chop out roots. Digging rocks and other debris embedded in the ground is one use for a shovel when setting up your shelter or tent. Digging a trench around your shelter if there is a threat of rain. Digging out a firepit and using dirt to extingish a fire. Burying a cache at your favorite site for later use.
Scott
 
I've been using a CS shovel each fall for several years now. It is a great tool to have around a semi-permanent camp (7-10 days). We pack in with mules, so weight is not a problem. When backpacking, I sometimes take one of those orange hard plastic shovels. It works suprisingly well given its small size.
 
stingray4540 said:
I used to carry a folding garden trowel, but couldn't justify the weight of it, when I can just use a stick or my heel. YMMV...

I don't really plan on digging a foxhole anytime soon.

How about adding to the original OP question, and ask "What do you, or would you use a shovel for?" It would be interesting to know what different uses people have for shovels.
Click to expand...

I have a few of the Fiskars hand trowel which are very tough and my wife sometimes carries her U-Dig-It trowel that she really likes. I carry a Cold Steel shovel in my truck and think it’s probably one of the handiest tools one can have, but it’s a little too heavy for the pack.

Do you need to carry a small shovel or trowel? Most likely not needed, but I’ve found my long-handled titanium trowel to come in quite handy. I was going to cut the handle off, but it’s really quite light and the slim profile really helps to pack it without it getting in the way.

I’ve used it dig cat holes for a backwoods latrine.
Dig a shallow trench around your camp area if expecting rain.
Quickly move coals around the campfire for cooking.
Digging up wild onions or other tubers…a digging stick works, but this is quite effective!
It gives you the ability to quickly dig a water-filter hole adjacent to suspect water sources.
Helps expedite your ability to dig around for worms or other grubs to serve as fishing bait.

DSC03704.jpg

PakingKit-11.jpg


Like I said, not a necessary tool, but a handy one!

ROCK6
 
I used an East German folding shovel a lot when living outside. Now I have a couple lighter weight Czech folding shovels.

I do not regularly carry one when hiking but when going jeepin or car cmaping then one comes along. If I were going to be going off the grid and living out of my pack in the backcountry than I would justify the added weight.
 
ROCK6 said:
I have a few of the Fiskars hand trowel which are very tough and my wife sometimes carries her U-Dig-It trowel that she really likes. I carry a Cold Steel shovel in my truck and think it’s probably one of the handiest tools one can have, but it’s a little too heavy for the pack.

Do you need to carry a small shovel or trowel? Most likely not needed, but I’ve found my long-handled titanium trowel to come in quite handy. I was going to cut the handle off, but it’s really quite light and the slim profile really helps to pack it without it getting in the way.

I’ve used it dig cat holes for a backwoods latrine.
Dig a shallow trench around your camp area if expecting rain.
Quickly move coals around the campfire for cooking.
Digging up wild onions or other tubers…a digging stick works, but this is quite effective!
It gives you the ability to quickly dig a water-filter hole adjacent to suspect water sources.
Helps expedite your ability to dig around for worms or other grubs to serve as fishing bait.

DSC03704.jpg

PakingKit-11.jpg


Like I said, not a necessary tool, but a handy one!

ROCK6
Click to expand...

I really like that one, do you have a link?

I've read that the Glock shovel is great. I have it on my list to buy at some point, but it's pretty steep for a shovel. Until then I have one of the tri-folding Military shovels. I had a cheapo knock off version that was a POS and broke, but this one is the real deal and is a tough sob but also super heavy. It stays in the truck for emergency use and car camping only.
 
I carry one in my Jeep and I have one of the Garden trowels in my BOB. Nothing while just hike. I should though it would come in handy.
 
I carry one of the fiskars plastic trowels in my pack as well. Cost me a $1. Have one in my day pack, one in BOB, and one in truck. And lost one to my son, for his sand box. Have used it for gathering edibles, digging cat holes, trenching around shelters. Weighs nothing and if I lose it no biggie. I also have a CS shovel and an E-tool that get used a lot when car camping. And a short garden shovel I bought at Menards that is always in my truck, with an axe, and a bow saw.
 
Walther has a small stainless steel folding shovel that comes in a case with a survival kit. The kit has fishing tackle, band aids, sling shot, scalpel, pencil, safety pins, etc. The handle contains a knife with a 4" blade with a saw on the back. The shovel also has a pick on the back as well as a serrated edge on one side of the shovel blade. The package weighs 752gm. or 1.66 lbs. The blade is 4"X5", and the overall length is 18".
 
At fixed camp, I use one of those folding army jobs. If backpacking and have a need for digging, I carve an improvised digging stick.
 
i carry this folding trowel in my pack. figured it's pretty light but feels beefy so why not. i keep bringing it along since i'd like to play with the dakota fire hole but i've only used it to smother a camp fire before leaving and dig up some wild garlic so far.

trowel_01.jpg


trowel_02.jpg
 
Someone say shovel? I have a US MIL surplus version of something like this one (not as insane though).

[youtube]VzpRh-ZE9Mo&feature[/youtube]
 
remmmm said:
I really like that one, do you have a link?

I've read that the Glock shovel is great. I have it on my list to buy at some point, but it's pretty steep for a shovel. Until then I have one of the tri-folding Military shovels. I had a cheapo knock off version that was a POS and broke, but this one is the real deal and is a tough sob but also super heavy. It stays in the truck for emergency use and car camping only.
Click to expand...

Hey remmm, Blue Sky has the right link and it's much less expensive than what I've seen recently.

One thing to note is that it is titanium and not as strong as a same-sized steel trowel. You can pry with it, so that is a draw-back. In rocky soil it does fine as a pick, but not something you can handle like the CS Spetznas shovel.

I just received my two copies of "6 ways in, 12 ways out" manuals and the author thinks highly of the Fiskars-type plastic trowel; enough to consider it a part of your kit.

Again, I don't think it's a necessity and I've done plenty of trips without a small shovel or trowel, but if your activities require some of the tasks mentioned, it is the most efficient tool for the job.

ROCK6
 
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