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We enlisted the best folding shovel out here after conducting a detailed research. We looked into the each product’s features, the quality, the rates charges, their durability and much more.
The key focus was to find the best so that you can learn about the top folding shovel from diverse brands available. It will help you making a decision before making the purchase.
Top 5 Best Folding Shovels In 2021
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What Traits Should I Consider When Searching For The Best Folding Shovels?
There are 3 traits you must focus upon in order to find the best folding shovels:
Portable
The shovel being handy to use makes it a good buy. To be more specific, look into these:
- Weight: Knowing how much the shovel weighs will give you an idea whether it’s light of heavy. Lighter ones are easy to handle. You can carry them in your camping trips without hassle.
- Size: For convenience, a compact shovel works great. To slip the shovel in your back pack, you will need a small or medium size shovel. Choose carefully! There are a huge range of folding shovels and some might be bulky.
Materials
Shovels are made from diverse materials so you need to decide as per necessity. Every material comes with its own merits and demerits. Here’s a list:
- Plastic: Its plus points comprise of being light-weight and rust-free. The minus point is easy to break.
- Aluminum: This one is rust-proof and doesn’t break easily. But, it’s most suitable for use on snow or similar things. Mostly used to dig through snow drift. When used on stronger conditions, the aluminum shovel might become shapeless and even break.
- Steel: Being the toughest of all materials, steel shovels can be used for moving sand, snow, rocks, solid dirt etc. It is also pricey and quite heavy! They come in 3 varied types: carbon steel (tough blade), manganese steel (shock resistant), stainless steel (scratch & rust resistant).
Long-Lasting
The best quality shovels will be durable. Ensure that the shovel is made up of rust-proof material. Additionally, it should withstand whatever purpose intended for.
When To Pick Light Weight Shovels And When To Go With The Sturdy Ones?
Light weight folding shovels help a lot while hiking for ease of carrying, for scouting, digging sanitation holes, and to scrape dirt on campfire.
If you need the shovel for trenches, to move tough dirt or snow and for digging big holes, you will need a heavy duty one as lighter ones might bend or break in such situation.
Do All Shovels Come With A Case Or Bag? Do I Need One?
No, all shovels don’t necessarily come with a carry bag.
If you own a shovel holster, don’t bother about the case. Many camping and hiking folks do have shovel cases.
Before buying find out whether you will get a bag along with the shovel. If not then it’s best to purchase the carrying bag/case from the same brand to fit perfectly. Or you can get the size of the shovel, and get yourself a suitable case.
What Sort Of Choices Is Available In The Shovel’s Foldable Versions?
You can select any out of the 2 choices:
- 3 fold Shovel: The shovel’s blade and ‘D’ Grip can be folded. This is a great choice if you prefer a compact shovel that can fit in your camping kit or hiking bag easily. The 3-piece folding system shrinks the shovel into a small size.
- 2 fold Shovel: Only the blade gets folded. You get a medium sized shovel which is handier to carry & store, unlike the full size shovel.
What Added Features Should I Look For When Buying A Shovel?
If a shovel has these additional features, it’s worth considering:
- Certain folding shovel’s blades are designed to have serrated teeth on one side. This can assist as extra sawing function along with digging.
- Some shovels feature a compass attached in its handle.
- Some might have an extra tool-kit.
While the additional features are great, go with them only you need them. These can cost more than the simple digging shovel. Hence, if you have a tool-kit or compass, just stick with the basic premium quality shovel.
What Would I Need To Maintain The Shovel?
To keep the shovel from rusting, the handles remain sturdy and preserve the edge as new, shovel maintenance is a must. For this you’ll require:
- Clean-up supply: Sprays/soaps to wipe off by sponges/cloth rags, then wash off with water.
- Clean-up gear: various types of brushes to scrub off the dirt from the shovel.
- Sandpaper: This can be used on wood & metal shovels.
- A metal filer: to keep the blades sharp.
- Various Oils for lubricating the shovel.
- Personal protection gear: Gloves, goggles, & mask.
Reviews On The Best Folding Shovel In 2021
US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovel
Via amazon.com
The US GI Military Entrenching shovel is a robust tri-fold carbon steel shovel with an aluminum handle. The shovel is 24 inches long & folds to 9 inches. It can also be used as an axe, a saw and a mattock with excellent performance.
With this strong foldable tool at hand, you can definitely save some extra storage space. You can easily carry it on your camps, hiking trips and also into your car to clear off blocked snowy paths.
The premium quality carbon and steel materials used make it highly durable. The US GI shovel is class apart when it comes to quality and durability. You can do all you digging, sawing and cut through tough dirt easily.
By paying a small amount of money, you can use this versatile tool for years to come.
What We Liked
- Tri-fold design
- Multi-functional
- Compact
- Sturdy
- Long lasting
What We Didn't Like
- Slightly heavier
- Black powder coating fades away soon
- Joints lack lubrication
Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel
Via amazon.com
The Gerber folding shovel has been designed keeping several of customer requirements in mind.
Firstly, its foldable feature comes with a push button for convenience of expansion to 16.23 inches and folding to 9.25 inches. As you fold, it locks up and you can store it in the nylon bag that comes with the product.
Secondly, whether clear some snow, do slight digging or just fix the tent, it will function in all cases.
Thirdly, it is 1.8 pounds weigh, easy to carry in the tool kit. The black paint finish makes it look cool. And, the rubber grip over the glass-filled nylon handle saves from constant slipping problem when you use the shovel.
What We Liked
- Portable
- Compact
- Light-weight
- Comfortable rubber grip
- Easy push button feature
- Locks when folded
- Comes with carry bag
What We Didn't Like
- Handle length is somewhat short
- Digging edge is blunt
Schrade SCHSH1 Telescoping Folding Shovel
Via amazon.com
This Schrade folding shovel has been brilliantly built to serve it purposes well. The steel makes it powerful and sharp blade can make digging through snow, mid, dirt etc utterly convenient.
The top of this shovel can be folded up. It weighs 2 pounds, a bit heavier than Gerber Gorge shovel. However, it’s still easy to store and carry in the bag or tool kit.
The 2 special features of Schrade folding shovel are its adjustable handle and hammerhead. Many shovel handles cannot be adjusted to their owner preference. Schrade’s 10.80 length handle can be adjusted as per choice making it very convenient to use.
The Hammerhead is a bonus for setting up tents in the camping trips. With this shovel at hand, you can forget the old hammer at home.
What We Liked
- Light-weight
- Compact
- Modifiable handle
- Strong
What We Didn't Like
- Not designed for hardcore usability
- 90 degrees blade angle might be somewhat inconvenient
Camco 51075 Folding Shovel
Via amazon.com
The folding shovel from Camco has a serrated edge. It extends up to 23 inches, and when folded only 10 inches. This makes it quite handy to store and carry around.
The serrated edge is designed to ensure that all the tough dirt, solid dry mud and snow stuck around cars tasks becomes much easier. You won’t be wet in sweat with Camco’s folding shovel at hand.
The storage pouch is an added benefit as all shovels do not come with a bag. It not only makes carrying tidy but also keeping the shovel neat for longer maintenance.
What We Liked
- Sharp blade with serrated edge
- Compact
- Comes with storage pouch
- Light-weight
- Strong
- Cheap
What We Didn't Like
- Not durable
- The nut between the shovel and handle becomes loose when unfolded
- Handle is short and requires stooping
SOG Entrenching Tool F08-N - Folding Shovel
Via amazon.com
This SOG Entrenching Tool F08-N is a great pick for moving snow, sand or dirt out of the way. The powder coat finish adds to its rugged look.
Build with tempered steel, this machine is very durable. It folds without trouble and can be packed and stored after use in the complimentary bag.
It comes with additional usability. Besides using as a shovel, it also turns into a hoe used along with the blade. For this purpose, the blade needs to be rotated at 90 degree angle to show the pick.
SOG’s foldable shovel is a good pick out of many variants as it is versatile and reliable. If you already have an old style unfoldable shovel and are apprehensive about spending too much, this should be your pick. This affordable folding shovel can be very useful to you.
What We Liked
- Tri-fold compact design
- Lightweight (1.5 pounds)
- Portable
- Comes with a carry bag
- Multi-functional
- Comfy handle
- Inexpensive
- Lifetime warranty
What We Didn't Like
- It doesn’t meet the standard entrenching tool size
- Not sturdy enough
Conclusion
Overall, all the 5 folding shovels are great picks out of the similar competing market products. They all make for a compact and easy carrying tool. Each shovel will assist in clearing out the snow or mud excellently.
Best Folding Shovel - Winner
My personal favorite out of the best 5 shovels listed is US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovel, mentioned right at the top.
It’s a very sturdy tool that comes with 4 useful functions. This is a great relief as I prefer having a single tool that can do 4 different tasks.
Via amazon.com
Price wise, SOG Entrenching Tool F08-N is the cheapest. Though US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovel is costliest of the lot, it serves 4 different purposes excellently with tri-foldable feature.
All the listed 5 best folding shovels are portable, long-lasting and built with premium quality strong materials. Choose any one as per preference and need. They are worth every penny. If you are looking for a medium range then you can opt for Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel. It costs reasonable and comes with a bag.
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