Rating of the best shovels

A shovel is an indispensable tool for a summer cottage or country house. It can be used for gardening and small construction projects. We've compiled a ranking of the best shovels based on materials, ease of use, and versatility.

Best Shovel Rating Table

The table below shows the most popular models of sharp shovels for excavation work and clearing snow from a vehicle:

How to choose a shovel?

The tool should be reliable, yet lightweight and convenient. Sharp shovels are suitable for digging a garden with rocks and hard clods of earth. For moving sand or gravel during construction or paving, it's best to choose a tool with a wide blade.

The following shovels are available for sale:

• bayonet-shaped, with a sharp straight or slightly rounded base;
• sapper, with a square and sharp base, short handle;
• universal (for different purposes);
• scoop-shaped, with a comfortable grip.

Shovels can be sold with or without handles. They are made of carbon steel, boron steel, titanium, and other materials. Lightweight shovels are sometimes made of aluminum. This option is suitable for simple tasks (clearing snow from a car, leveling sand).

For heavy-duty work, choose a metal shovel with a sharp angle. A narrow blade, rather than a wide one, makes it ideal for thinning garden beds and camping. For example, a sapper shovel can be used to dig under a tent, bury a fire, or cover up trash.

Top manufacturers

Consumers most often choose the Finnish shovel manufacturer Fiskars, known for its constantly updated product range. It is the oldest garden tool manufacturer in Europe.

Products from the Russian companies Zubr OVK and Centroinstrument are also popular. The quality of domestic gardening tools is no worse than their foreign counterparts.

Among Chinese models, Sibirtech and Xiaomi shovels are in demand. Affordable products often come equipped with additional features (such as a built-in compass).

The best bayonet shovels

Bayonet tools are suitable for digging trenches, trenches, gardening, and construction work. They come with short, medium, and long handles, as well as sharp-angled or rounded blades.

A bayonet shovel is the preferred tool for most agricultural work. However, it's difficult to move sand or gravel with such a shovel, as its reach is limited and requires considerable effort.

1FISKARSSolid 1026667, 82 cm

Main characteristics:

• the presence of a convenient yellow handle;
• length 82 cm;
• width 19.5 cm;
• steel handle;
• weight 1.52 kg.

2FISKARS Solid 1026686 116 cm

Main characteristics:

• sharp blade;
• height 116 cm;
• width 19.5 cm;
• 2 years warranty;
• weight 1.89 kg.

3FISKARSErgonomic 1001568 125 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 125 cm;
• width – 19.5 cm;
• weight – 1.87 kg.

4ZUBR Favorite Master 4-39504 68 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 68 cm;
• width – 14.5 cm;
• wooden handle;
• weight – 800 g.

5Centroinstrument Kuzbass 1446

Main characteristics:

• sharp base;
• length 120 cm;
• weight about 2 kg.

Rating of Soviet shovels

Shovels are distinguished by their wide blades. They are convenient for pouring sand and grain, collecting trash, or gathering embers from a campfire. They are indispensable tools for cleaning the grounds of a summer house or other suburban area.

A shovel is:

• comfortable and deep fabric with curved edges;
• length – from 78-80 cm;
• The weight of the scoop is 750-800 g.

Shovels can also be used for snow removal. However, always pay attention to the weight of the shaft and base to avoid using tools that are too heavy. Unlike standard bayonet shovels, shovel shovels are much less expensive. They are often sold as a scoop (without the handle).

1FISKARSSolid 1026649 78 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 78 cm;
• width – 23 cm;
• weight – 1.7 kg.

2Sibirtech Classic 61480 115 cm

Main characteristics:

• wooden handle;
• metal canvas;
• length – 115 cm;
• width – 25 cm;
• weight – 1.48 kg.

3FISKARSSolid 1026682 120 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 121.5 cm;
• width – 27 cm;
• metal handle and base;
• weight – 2.47 kg.

4SKRAB 28103 without handle

Main characteristics:

• metal canvas;
• width – 33.5 cm;
• weight – 0.82 kg.

5FISKARS Solid 1026685 127 cm

Main characteristics:

• durable steel;
• length – 127 cm;
• width – 23.5 cm;
• weight – 2.18 kg.

Models of entrenching shovels

Entrenching shovels aren't exactly agricultural tools. They're used for digging small holes, clearing snow, and digging up a car. Gardening with such a tool is possible, but only if you're not afraid of straining your back.

Sapper shovels are characterized by:

• small size from 51-66 cm;
• limited web width (approximately 15 cm);
• compactness (usually transported in the trunk);
• multifunctionality;
• small volume of the scoop.

A sapper shovel can easily dig snow off your car's tires. In particularly difficult situations, the tool can also be used to clear mud if your car is stuck somewhere outside the city. A sapper shovel is inexpensive.

It's useful for emergency situations and any long-distance road trip. Some manufacturers combine the shovel with a whole set of hiking accessories (bottle openers, a compass, etc.). Folding models that easily fit into a backpack are also common.

1Xiaomi Nextool Shovel 100 cm

Main characteristics:

• stainless steel;
• length – 100 cm;
• multi-piece handle;
• width – 15 cm;
• metal handle;
• weight – 2 kg.

2PALISAD 61428 62 cm

Main characteristics:

• width – 15 cm;
• length – 62 cm;
• weight – 1.07 kg.

3BOYSCOUT 61045, 48 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 48 cm;
• width – 15 cm;
• metal handle;
• weight – 0.77 kg.

4AirlineAB-S-02 46 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 46 cm;
• width – 21 cm;
• weight – 0.62 kg.

5ZUBR 4-39441 55 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 55 cm;
• width – 14.5 cm;
• weight – 0.7 kg.

Best budget options

Shovels often break and wear down, so many gardeners opt for inexpensive tools. Among these, the most popular are products from Russian brands Zubr and Skrab, as well as Chinese manufacturers. These inexpensive models are often sold without handles.

1ZUBR Master 39412 without handle

Main characteristics:

• length – 28.5 cm;
• width – 20.5 cm;
• weight – 0.95 kg.

2SKRAB 28124 without handle

Main characteristics:

• length – 28 cm;
• width – 15 cm.

3Mini tourist shovel, 41 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 41 cm;
• width – 10 cm;
• many additional options (opener, compass, saw, etc.).

4Sibirtech 61461 125 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 125 cm;
• width – 22 cm;
• weight – 1.8 kg.

5Sibirtech 61414

Main characteristics:

• length – 140 cm;
• bucket size – 230×280 mm;
• weight – 1.72 kg.

The best expensive models

Garden tools also include expensive models with extensive functionality and ergonomic design. These products are considerably more expensive and are often made from premium materials, such as titanium.

1FISKARSQuality 1000621 59 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 59 cm;
• width – 21 cm;
• light weight.

2GARDENAErgoLine

Main characteristics:

• length – 113 cm;
• width – 19.2 cm;
• weight – 2 kg;
• warranty – 25 years.

3ZUBR Titan Expert 39418 120 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 120 cm;
• width – 19 cm;
• weight – 1.09 kg.

4FISKARSSmartFit 1001567 105-125 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 105 cm;
• width – 19 cm;
• weight – 1.9 kg.

5ZUBR Professional Titan 4-39416 144 cm

Main characteristics:

• length – 144 cm;
• width – 22 cm;
• weight – 1.5 kg.

Product comparison table

The table below shows the different types of shovels and their main characteristics:

Resume

The choice of shovels depends on the type of work planned. For digging trenches and ditches, it's best to choose bayonet-type shovels from Zubr, FISKAS, GARDENAErgoLine, and others. They have sharp edges that can handle even rocky soil.

Entrenching shovels can also be useful at times: Xiaomi Nextool Shovel, PALISAD 61428, BOYSCOUT 61045, Airline AB-S-02, and others. Shovels are convenient for moving soil and sand, and collecting debris. Popular models include FISKAS, SKRAB 28103, and others.

If money is tight, it's better to buy shovels without handles. Examples include Zubr, SKRAB, and Chinese Sibirtech models. Titanium tools (ZUBR Titan Expert, Professional Titan, and others) are suitable for long-term purchases. Shovels made of this material have virtually no shelf life.

Frequently Asked Questions