My Tussle with the Army Folding Shovel
Right, so I finally got around to messing with that army folding shovel I’ve had kicking around. Honestly can’t remember where I picked it up, maybe a surplus store trip years ago, maybe it just appeared in the garage like some tools seem to do. Anyway, it was sitting there, looking all compact and green, and I thought, “Okay, let’s see what this thing is actually like.”
First off, getting it unfolded. It’s supposed to be simple, right? Flip, twist, lock. Well, it took a bit more fiddling than I expected. The joints were stiff, probably from sitting unused for ages. Had to put some muscle into it, felt like I might break the darn thing. Eventually, it clicked into place, looking like a proper, albeit small, shovel. Felt sturdy enough in hand, decent weight, not too heavy, not flimsy.
The real test came when I decided to tackle a stubborn patch of weeds near the back fence. Ground was pretty packed down there. I started digging, and initially, it was okay. The small head size meant I wasn’t moving huge amounts of dirt, but it cut into the soil alright. It’s definitely not like using a full-size spade, mind you. Your back complains a bit faster because you’re more hunched over.
Here’s where things got interesting. I hit a thick root. My regular spade would have grunted but probably sliced through. This little guy? Not so much. The shovel head just bounced off. Then I remembered it had that serrated edge on one side. Okay, let’s try that. Flipped it around, started sawing at the root. It worked! Slowly, very slowly, chewing through the wood. Took some effort, more than I’d like, but it got the job done eventually. Didn’t try the pickaxe setting, didn’t need it for this job, but it’s there.
- Unfolding: A bit stiff at first.
- Digging: Okay for loose soil, small holes.
- Tough Ground: Struggles compared to a full-size tool.
- Serrated Edge: Actually useful for small roots, surprisingly.
- Size/Weight: Compact, easy to store, not too heavy.
After wrestling with the weeds and that one root for maybe half an hour, I was done. Folding it back up was easier than unfolding, thankfully. Just reverse the process, twist, fold, tuck it away. It collapses down really small, which I guess is the main selling point.
So, what’s the verdict? It’s… okay. It’s a compromise tool. It won’t replace a proper shovel or saw for big jobs, not even close. But for keeping in the car for emergencies, or maybe light camping or gardening tasks where space is tight? Yeah, it does the trick. It dug a hole, it cut a root, it folded back up. Didn’t break. Can’t ask for much more from a little folding shovel, I suppose. It’s one of those things that’s probably better to have and not need, than need and not have, especially when you’re stuck somewhere. Beats using your hands, anyway.
