Whether you want to dig a fire pit, pitch a tent in the ground, or need a hole to care for your business, a camping shovel will complete the task. We have shortlisted the best camping shovels, including REDCAMP, Sahara and SOG, and put them together to compare on different performance parameters. We reviewed the best camping shovels based on our in-depth research, experience, and discussion with industry experts.
In addition, we have read tons of reviews to find shovels based on different performance parameters such as weight, sharpness, portability etc. We will review the top shovels, including a handy buying guide.
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What is a Camping Shovel?
A camping shovel is a specialized, compact form used while camping to dig holes in the ground or move dirt around. A camping shovel is usually portable, compact, and easy to carry in your car or backpack. Camping shovels come with additional features that help you in outdoor activities.
Benefits of Camping Shovel
So, the next question that comes to mind. Why do you need a camping shovel? Is it necessary to camp gear? Let’s explore the benefits of having a shovel while camping and outdoor adventures.
- To clear paths from debris, snow etc.
- Preparing the camping spot
- To dig fire pits for cooking and fire.
- Helps to pitch tents—on uneven ground.
- Cutting the branches with saw edges
- Opening a bottle with a bottle opener function.
Types of Camping Shovels
Now we understand the camping shovel and the benefits of having a shovel during camping. They come in various designs, as we mentioned before. Here are the most common types of camping shovels.
- Folding Shovels
These are the most loved ones, which can be folded to pack and carry easily. You can attach them directly to your backpack. Usually, they are lightweight and compact. They are portable options among all other types of shovels.
- T-Handle Shovels
T-handle camping shovels have a handle shaped like, you guessed it, a “T.” This design provides a comfortable grip and better control to dig the more challenging and rugged terrain. They are mainly suitable for the established campsite for day-to-day more strenuous jobs.
- Entrenching Tools
These shovels come with additional features like saws and pickaxes and are mainly used by experienced campers and hikers. You don’t have to pick the separate camping saw as they can do essential saw operations easily.
- Multi-functional Shovels
They are more advanced versions of the shovels that are designed for outdoor lovers considering their portability and multi-functionality. In addition to digging, you can even use them as a hammer, chop veggies, open bottles and use them as a saw and knife.
Let’s start with the reviews of top camping shovels.
Best Overall Camping Shovel
1. REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Shovel
The REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Shovel is the best, most reliable, with an excellent performance. It does well for cleaning camp space, clearing roads, and even help on fixing the tent stakes.
This is sturdy and reliable due to carbon alloy steel material and does not bend even on rocky terrain. Due to its folding design, this is the go-to choice for most campers. If we talk about the grip, it does provide an excellent grip with its triangular handle. Your hand won’t slip either, whether wet or sweaty.
However, its weight is 2.5 pounds which is a bit higher for backpacking, but it’s great for car camping or RVing. Having said that, the locking nut gets loose sometimes and has to be tightened, which is a bit annoying. Also, it’s tricky to fold it.
All in all, at 20$, you get what is needed to do a day-to-day camping job and clear paths easily.
Pros
- Foldable
- Thick and Sharp Blades
- Durable
- Sturdy
Cons
- Bit heavy for backpacking
Best Folding Option
2. SOG Entrenching Tool
The SOG Entrenching Tool is a versatile, easy-to-use survival shovel suitable for hiking, camping and other outdoor tours. Its length is 18.25-inch which is ideal for an average person.
The material is much lighter than the REDCAMP shovel, weighing just 24.5 ounces with excellent quality. It also features a wood saw edge, which we found convenient for cutting small to medium branches.
As we mentioned, shovels are not the best for backpacking, but if you still want one, you can opt for SOG shovel. We loved the handle as it’s easy to hold and does not cause blisters even after extended use.
It is well-made and very durable. It worked great on our week-long camping trip. The tool is small enough to be easily carried but also large enough to perform more heavy-duty tasks. With use, the shovel becomes easier to unfold and fold. However, this shovel is not suitable for more heavy-duty tasks.
Pros
- Lightweight
- locking mechanism
- Foldable and compact
- Suitable for backpacking
- Durable and sturdy
- Excellent design
Cons
- Small for heavy duty use
Best For Multi-Functions
3. iunio Camping Shovel
Do you like multi-functional shovels? If so, IUNIO Camping Shovel has nice additional features such as a bottle opener, saw, fire bar, hammer, whistle etc. This is nice to attract an outdoor lover by providing other features; instead, they carry them separately. So it’s a well-thought-out design and works well too.
Moreover, the shovel’s handle has a rubber grip, making it easy to grip. A firestarter, screw, and wrench are included in the IUNIO shovel, so don’t buy them separately.
However, their quality is little that you can rely upon, like the quality of gear. The knife and saw blades are less sharp than we would like, but they are still usable for most tasks.
This is a little small shovel, so not suitable for heavy-duty work. You can use this shovel during hiking, camping, hunting and other outdoor trips.
Pros
- Flexible
- Comes with a carrying bag
- Durable Material
- Compact and lightweight
- Suitable for backpacking
Cons
- Sometimes, the Locking system does not work properly.
- Not suitable for heavy work
Best Heavy Duty Option
4. Tyger Auto Heavy duty Shovel
The Tyger Auto Shovel should be your top choice if you need one quality shovel for all kinds of outdoor adventures. This shovel is highly durable and made from high-quality material.
It is not suitable for occasional campers who use shovels for simple tasks. But if you’re looking for a shovel that can do a lot of functions, this is a good option.
Unlike other shovels, we like its fast switching mechanism, which is headache-free.
Tyger Auto has come out with a heavy-duty shovel that is both strong and comfortable to use, even for long periods. This shovel is made for heavy-duty work and is suitable for car camping or RVing because it is a bit bulky.
It is also multifunctional and worth the price. It is a bit heavy, but we don’t have any complaints because it is durable and made for heavy work. The shovel has a sharp edge for light digging and chopping.
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Pros
- High-Quality Material
- Best for hard tasks
- Durable and Versatile
- Very sturdy and compact
Cons
- Not Good for Ordinary Campers
Budget Friendly Option
5. RHINO Folding Survival Shovel
The Rhino Folding Survival Shovel is another durable shovel for camping and hiking trips. This also features multi-function tools to perform multiple jobs while camping and hiking.
We loved its carrying case, which seems to be much more durable and valuable than the most expensive shovels in the market. It’s made from heavy-duty carbon steel for rigorous use. This shovel also features sharp and rugged saw teeth to cut wood or ropes easily.
Additionally, this shovel has a value-for-the-money price tag that makes it suitable for camping. It’s sturdy, well-made, and the perfect size. It’s also a great space saver.
The only downside is that it’s small but way better than using your hands. Overall, we’re delighted with this shovel and recommend it to anyone looking for good quality, space-saving shovel.
Pros
- Compact and light
- Value for the money
- Works great
- Easy to use
- Foldable
Cons
- Heavy for hiking
- Smaller than we expected
How To Choose Camping Shovel
Whether you want to dig a fire pit, pitch a tent in the ground or need a hole to take care of your business, a camping shovel will get the task done. It’s a must have in your backpack or your car if you’re car camping. When choosing the right camping shovel, there are multiple factors that you might want to consider before you spend your buck.
Durability and Material
Steel shovels, whether alloy or carbon steel, are, without a doubt, the most durable shovels you can find out there. When put to the test, they will withstand the most extreme conditions you would put them through. The only downside to steel shovels is their weight and portability.
Other options for metal shovels are aluminum and titanium. Aluminum is lighter than steel and strong enough to carry out most labor you want. It isn’t as pricey as titanium, so if you’re on a budget and need a lightweight option that won’t let you down, we suggest you go for aluminum.
If it comes within your budget, titanium shovels provide the best combination of weight and durability, but it will cost you a hefty amount.
Depending on your need, shovels made from hard plastic can be an option if you aren’t planning on doing some heavy labor while camping or hiking. Even though they abrade easily, they’re cheap, lightweight and very portable.
Handle Length and Grip
The length of the handle of the shovel decides how easy it’ll be to use. The longer the length, the easier it’ll be to maneuver, but longer handles are not easy to carry on your back.
Manufacturers provide long handles in a foldable option, which can be easy to carry. The material of the handle, as well as the design, has a huge impact on the grip.
A non-slip material such as rubber can provide a good grip when looking for a shovel. The D-shaped design provides maximum grip as compared to the straight ones.
Weight and Portability
Let’s be honest – no one wants to carry a heavy shovel while camping and hiking. Look for a camping shovel that is lightweight and compact. This way, you can save space and take much less weight.
Lightweight shovels that are foldable are the appropriate option when it comes to backpacking, but you need to find one that’s durable enough to do its job. Shovels made with metals like alloy or carbon steel are not the first choice for backpackers as they always weigh at least more than two pounds, and their design might not be as compact as the plastic ones. If you’re car camping, then you can go for it.
The ones made of plastic are light and portable, but they might not be as multifunctional as the metal ones. The lightest, best-quality shovels are made from metals like titanium, but they will put a dent in your pocket as they are pricey.
But if you are looking for more strenuous work, opt for a heavy-duty military camping shovel. They don’t just do heavy-duty jobs but are also more durable and value for the money.
It’s not easier for backpackers to carry a shovel, but we suggest a lightweight foldable shovel for backpacking if they still want one. But we prefer to take a trowel instead of a shovel on our backpacking trips.
Additional Features
Camping shovels come with a few additional features that can make your life easier when out and about. The most important one, especially if you’re backpacking, is the foldability and compactness of the shovel.
Multifunctional tools like a saw blade, a pick axe, serrated edges, hammerheads, and trenching tools can be of a lot of help, but it all depends on the kind of camping you’re planning. If you’re going to be on a lot of rocky terrain, then a pick axe and serrated edges can be useful.
Hammer heads can come in handy if you want to prod tent stakes into the ground. Choose the additional features depending on your needs.
Summary
A camping shovel is not the most important gear, but still a good and handy tool for digging, clearing roads and setting up tents. We shortlisted and reviewed the best camping shovels based on ease of use, quality, blade material and weight. Our guide explained the most important factors you should keep in mind while buying the shovel.
FAQs
Do you need a shovel when camping?
A camping shovel serves a multitude of purposes. The most common uses include digging holes for human waste or a fire pit while camping. If you are in an area with snow, it can be used to move snow and other debris around your camping area. It can help you pitch a tent and level the ground so your tent doesn’t blow with the wind.
Is a shovel a good survival tool?
The shovel is a necessity while out camping as it helps you with a list of things, from taking care of your waste to setting up your tents. Whether you’re camping near your car or backpacking in any terrain, it’s crucial to have one with you. Hence, it’s an excellent survival tool.
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