Who packs a shovel when out and about?

I plan on picking up a CS Assegai spearhead for use as a combination spear/trowel. The optional leather sheath actually has a belt loop on it, which was a nice bit of forethought on their part.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I plan on picking up a CS Assegai spearhead for use as a combination spear/trowel. The optional leather sheath actually has a belt loop on it, which was a nice bit of forethought on their part.
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That's actually not a bad idea!

ROCK6
 
Yeah--for around $35 combined I figure it's not a bad bit of kit to add. :)
 
Iboschi said:
Someone say shovel? I have a US MIL surplus version of something like this one (not as insane though).

[youtube]VzpRh-ZE9Mo&feature[/youtube]
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Interesting video. Well thought out piece of gear. I'm surprised they didn't show some stir fry or hoe cake cooking on it. It would probably take the temper out. I have a couple of old military E tools. One with a shovel and a pick on the other side. What is the version on the video called? Have not seen that one in the past.l
 
I'm a Spetznaz shovel user, m'self

See... it's right there, next to my tactical pink poodle, Violet..

IMG_0001-3.jpg
 
Hey Rick, looks alot like the CS shovel. I like that one. :thumbup:
Scott
 
After seeing what a Spetznaz operator can do with his shovel I became a convert.
The Fiskars trowel is a handy piece of kit and anyone running a trap line should have one.
 
I like to carry e-tools with me. If I'm just hiking, I don't bother, but usually I'm hiking to go camping somewhere and it's real nice to be able to quickly dig drainage around my camp, stir coals, etc.

I prefer the old WWII-era e-tools that have the wooden handle and the shovel can lock at 90 or 180 degrees to use as a hoe or shovel, and the pick on the back is a nice touch.

The shovel is acutally one of the more useful -- and used -- camping tools I have.
 
Looking back over 50+ years of being afield, I can't think of a single time when having a shovel would been of benefit.

I have two in the 4Runner, but never on my pack.
 
Thanks for posting the vid. Amazing what can be done with that shovel. Great piece of gear.
Scott
 
Winter - always
Summer - never

A shovel when there's 3-15 feet of snow down is a critical tool. Just last weekend, I needed to dig-in two tent platforms into a 15 deg slope and then went on to make a "couch" and "table". Of course when skiing, you always need a shovel for avalanche rescue or to conduct a snowpack analysis.

The older I get and more ambitious, the more I focus on light, light, light. Everything in my pack has to be of use, not "maybe I'll use this." The only exception here is emergency gear e.g. FAK. I personally cannot think of any reason to carry a shovel in summer.
 
When I'm backpacking I carry the orange hand shovel, when I'm camping I have the cs shovel. I use them for cat-holes and tending the fire.
 
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