Trowels and Shovels for Backpacking

Iz · 01-22-2013, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt. Mac

I like usin a shovel for catholes. Hey Iz remember the first meet in Mo lol!

You mean the one where Jason earned his big boy pants?

**Sgt. Mac** · 01-22-2013, 07:34 PM

lol yep

**Long John Tinfoil** · 01-22-2013, 08:05 PM

I have one of these http://www.leevalley.com/en/Garden/p...t=2,51810&ap=1 that I picked up on the clearance table at Lee Valley for something less that half price (returned with a split in the handle - 2 minute fix). I remember to take it about half the time when I'm out for a few nights. Although I've never sharpened the edge, I have used it occasionally to cut brush and roots.

I suppose if I wore it on my belt anyone I met out in the wilds who thought I might be an available victim would see I wasn't "unarmed".

In winter I generally strap a light aluminum shovel to the pack.

LJT

**Ahnkochee** · 01-22-2013, 08:24 PM

I've been seriously considering getting one of these Japanese Hori hori which is kind of knife/trowel hybrid. They have a knife edge on one side and a saw teeth on the other, and used for Bonsai. They look to be a great tool for me when I go to forage for bamboo shoots or ti roots as well as fern shoots. They are about $20.00 locally with a faux leather sheath.

**Long John Tinfoil** · 01-22-2013, 08:35 PM

Yup. That's the one.

LJT

**Old Dirty Bushman** · 01-22-2013, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by Iz

I take a ww2 folding shovel anytime I camp, not for just day hikes though. I use it for all kinds of stuff like, digging a cat hole, knocking stobs out of my sleeping area, leveling my sleeping area within reason, cutting small saplings if I don't have my axe handy, moving coals to extend a fire or cook with etc.

Exactly! One of my main backpacking cohorts is in the Army so he always has his e-tool handy. Im somewhat of a heavy packer already (relatively speaking) so I don't carry one myself. But when he comes along, the trip definitely shifts more toward "smoothing it" rather than "roughing it."

Iz · 01-22-2013, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt. Mac

lol yep

Haha. How far he's come since then.

Originally Posted by MohaveGreen

Campfire permits in the Sierras require you to have a shovel of some sort. I always regarded it as a pain and unnecessary weight until we had a tree root catch fire underground one night while we were sleeping. That little trowel suddenly became very useful.

I forgot about that. Probably one of the most important things I use a shovel for is to put out my campfire. It's nice to have so you can turn everything over and make sure it's dead out.

**Sgt. Mac** · 01-22-2013, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Iz

Haha. How far he's come since then.

I forgot about that. Probably one of the most important things I use a shovel for is to put out my campfire. It's nice to have so you can turn everything over and make sure it's dead out.

Didnt you and Terry find my cat hole by accident lol

Iz · 01-22-2013, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt. Mac

Didnt you and Terry find my cat hole by accident lol

I heard a real low growling sound over that way....I didn't investigate any farther than that.

And that was after you hand come back to camp.
p.s. I'm positive it was no animal that was doing the growling. heh.

**wildmanh** · 01-23-2013, 01:02 PM

I have a stainless steel folding trowel which I take backpacking with me. It's been used to dig cat holes, dig firepits, clear and contour the ground where I'll be sleeping, stir coals when putting out a fire, moving coals, chopping roots and the like. . . My brother carries a Orange plastic trowel, it's a bit lighter then my stainless trowel and works great for him.