Looking for the best shovel for digging during snow time? Whether you’re doing simple landscaping in your garden, clearing your driveway after heavy snow, or even some heavy digging in your field, a shovel is an essential tool to have on hand. It’s also a must-have for your emergency gear, even if you don’t regularly engage in outdoor activities.
However, with so many shovels on the market, each with different blades, handles, and materials of construction, choosing the right one for your needs can be a daunting task. But don’t worry, we’ve done the research for you and have compiled a list of the top 5 best shovels for digging.
Before making your purchase, consider your intended use for the shovel and choose from our selection above to find the tool that best suits your needs. Whether you need a shovel for outdoor activities, to add to your survival kit, or for plain old digging, these products have been proven by thousands of satisfied customers.
Investing in a high-quality shovel will make your digging tasks easier and more efficient, so make sure to choose one that is built to last and can handle whatever job you throw at it.
[ The Best Folding Shovels for Survival ]
A List of Top 5 Best Shovels for Digging
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1. Lifeline First Aid’s AAA 4004 Red Aluminum Sports Utility Shovels
Lifeline First Aid has extensive knowledge in the survival and safety products categories and the AAA 4004 Red Aluminum Sports Utility Shovel is a fine example of that. It is one of our top picks for the essential tools for your emergency kit. It has a lightweight and sturdy aluminum construction weighing only 1.3 pounds, so it is easy to use for adults and surprisingly, children as well.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Comes in three, bright, easy to see colors for better identification: blue, red, and gold
- Disassembles into three pieces for ease of storage and portability
- Perfect size to store in your toolbox, car, or for carrying around in your backpack
- Constructed from high-quality aluminum, which makes it lightweight and durable
- Length of the shovel can be adjusted from 25 inches to 32 inches
- Lightweight construction, it weighs only 1.3 pounds
Pros:
- Easy to store and carry around
- Metal blade works well for digging snow
- Adjustable length makes it good for light as well as heavy digging
- Can be used comfortably by people of all sizes, even children
- Value for money
- Lifetime warranty provided by the manufacturer
Cons:
- The joint between the handle and the blade can snap during heavy lifting
- The handle is not comfortable to use
2. US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovels
This is exactly what it says. A genuine us military issue E-tool. Stamped U.S. on one side and Ames 88 made in the USA on the other. A product that has been tried and tested by the military and is essential for everyone in their survival kit. It comes with a triangular steel blade which makes digging through snow, hardened soil and ice easy. The aluminum handle makes it lightweight and easy to use. Folds to 9 inches for easy storage and portability. Has the ability to lock in multiple positions for different uses.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Triangular steel blade to cut through tough soil, ice or snow
- Genuine US Military issue
- Black powder-coat finish prevents from rusting
- Tri-fold design which folds to 9 inches for easy carry and storage
- Extends to 24 inches for heavy digging
- Sharpened ax edge makes it easy to cut through
- Serrated saw edge prevents the blade from getting dull
- Threaded handle locks the blade into two positions
Pros:
- Durable, but lightweight at the same time
- Can be used as a saw, ax, mattock or a shovel
- Won’t break during heavy use
- Easy to store and carry around
- Sharpened triangular blade with powder coating
Cons:
- Bolts and metal joints need to be lubricated and cleaned regularly
- Powder coating may wear off, requiring it to be oiled or painted
- A bit expensive for the only use it offers
3. Pagreberya Survival Shovel Kit with Multi Tools
The Survival Shovel Kit from Pagreberya serves more purposes than one can wish for. The kit comes in a durable fabric bag with Velcro for easy opening and closing. The set comes in 5 pieces: a magnesium flint rod with a compass, a handle with the screwdriver, a handle with a glass breaker or attack cone, a handle with a multifunctional saw knife, and a shaft with shovelhead. When assembled the shovel is nearly 29″ long and spade 6.5″ wide. It can be easily assembled with no need for any instructions.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Multi-purpose shovel head: bottle opener, 2 wrench size holes, a very sharp knife blade on one side and a saw blade on the other side, and a ruler
- The angle of the spade can be adjusted according to the use
- Can be folded and easily stored
- Detachable tools
- Made of high-quality carbon steel and aviation-grade aluminum alloy
- Durable and lightweight
Pros:
- Every tool serves its purpose
- Everything fits into the carrying pouch when assembled
- Easy to assemble without needing any extra tools
- The shovel has own protective cover to prevent it from rusting
- Value for money considering all the uses it provides
- Hollow tubes make it lightweight
Cons:
- Plastic threads used for attaching handles
- Velcro lining on the bag doesn’t line up properly
4. Fobachi Military Survival Folding Shovels and Pick with Carrying Pouch
The Fobachi mini folding shovel is an ultra-lightweight, multi-purpose compact tool for your gardening and outdoor activities but not so much for heavy-duty digging. It can be easily folded for ease of storage and comes with a carrying pouch. It can be used to dig out your car tires from dirt or snow, dig holes for your tent, and scoop out rocks or to build sandcastles. It one of our tops recommended products if you are looking for a lightweight tool to take out with you, whether it be camping or hiking, fishing or backpacking.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Multi-purpose: digging, sawing, chopping, picking, prying, hammering, bottle opening
- Constructed of high carbon steel prevents it from rusting
- Includes: extension pipe to lengthen the handle, fire starter, whistle, life hammer, sawtooth knife, rubber grip handle and thickened spade.
- Foldable with a carrying pouch with a loop so the shovel may attach to a belt
- Can be used either straight or at a 90-degree angle
- The blade is serrated on one side, which can be used to chop off branches
- Lightweight
Pros:
- Compact and easy to use
- The whistle works very well
- Blade edges are very sharp, making it easier to cut things
- Works well for light-duty digging
- Value for money
- Great tool for outdoor activities
Cons:
- Metal screws are prone to rust
- Rubber grip slides up with usage
5. FiveJoy Military Folding Shovel Multitool (C1)
The survival kit by FiveJoy loses barely the Pagreberya survival kit on the price point and a few extra features but the build quality more than makes up for it. It comes with a Rescue Knife and Saw, Wire Cutter, Emergency Whistle, Fire Starter and a Bottle Opener. Weighing only 2.15 pounds, the shovel is amazingly compact and easy to use, and also comes with a carrying case. Dig your car tires out of snow, mud, or ice, or use the heavy-duty shovel head as a glass breaker in unexpected emergency situations, the rest is up to your imagination.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Multifunctional: Digging Trenches, Sawing, Chopping, Cutting, Scaling, Picking, Prying
- Compact, lightweight, portable and durable at the same time
- Forged from heat-treated high-quality Carbon Steel (Blade and Knife) and Aerospace Grade Aluminum (Knife)
- Rust, water, and fracture-resistant
- Spade can be used 40, 90 or 180 angles as hook, hoe or shovel
- Slip-proof foam cushion on the aluminum handle to maximize comfort and minimize fatigue
Pros:
- Premium build quality
- Extra tools work as advertised
- Lightweight yet sturdy
- Comes with straps to attach the carrying pouch to belt or backpack
- Slip-proof grip
- Rust and water-resistant
- Ergonomic design
- Works for light as well as heavy-duty digging
Cons:
- Cushioned grips are prone to tearing apart after hours of work and exposure
- Expensive as compared to other options