Best Survival Shovels | Tested & Reviewed
When it comes to survival and outdoor preparedness, a reliable and versatile shovel can be an indispensable tool. The best survival shovels are designed to handle a wide range of tasks, from digging and trenching to chopping and prying. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or preparing for emergencies, a high-quality survival shovel can be a valuable asset in various situations.
I’ve been testing shovels for survival and bushcraft since 2023. I used folding entrenching shovels in the military, where I filled more sandbags than I cared to count. As an engineer, I like checking out the upgrades over the years and seeing how they affect performance.
My top recommendation is for the SOG Entrenching Tool, which balances functionality with weight- making it ideal for survival kits.
If you need a fixed-handle shovel for bushcraft, the Cold Steel Spetsnaz (with the longer handle) is tough to beat. I also suggest a trowel that can easily dig catholes and weighs less than an ounce.
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Best Survival Shovel
SOG Entrenching Tool
Indispensable, Collapsible, and Effective
An E-tool done right, SOG elevates the classic military folder and provides it at an unbeatable price.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at BladeHQ.
Studies and Observations Group (SOG) was founded in 1986 as a specialty knife manufacturer (specifically reproducing the Vietnam-era SOG knife and later on the Seal Pups.) They’ve branched out since then, becoming a name well-known in the military for everything ranging from multi-tools to entrenching tools. And the latter is hard to beat.
Specifications
- Material: High-carbon tempered steel (easy to sharpen)
- Features: Serrated edge, folding pick, nylon case
- Size: 5″ W x 10″ L (folded), 18″ long (extended)
- Weight: 24.6 ounces
While Leatherman and Gerber may give them a run for their money on multitools, even the Gerber E-tool doesn’t stand up to the value for the price the SOG E-tool provides. This collapsible shovel can be grabbed for a fantastic price and can pitch in for a wide range of digging activities, from digging shelter trenches to making catholes.
How the SOG Handles
One of the main issues I have with other e-tools and shovels is the weight. Tools that are the same length as those from other suppliers can weigh up to a pound heavier, which isn’t ideal for a bug out bag or any variants. The SOG folds down smaller and weighs less than two pounds.
It doesn’t sacrifice steel strength either- it actually measures a thicker steel gauge than the heavier folding shovels. It accomplishes the lower weight with a smaller shovel head, which I think is appropriate for the size. With most of the folding shovels coming in at the same length, a bigger head is going to hurt leverage on small shovels instead of helping. That’s why the SOG is perfectly balanced for survival.
With a great price and an effective design, it’s easy to see why the SOG Entrenching Tool is the best.
Best Bushcraft Shovel
Cold Steel Spetsnaz
Strong, Спецназ, and Proven
A design hailing from Soviet special forces, this shovel is a testament to how well simple can perform.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy on Amazon.
We could put a range of post-Soviet Russia jokes here, but this shovel isn’t a laughing matter. With a larger head and solid handle, this shovel won’t collapse down to fit in a bag, but it is still small and lightweight enough to be portable. The length makes it much easier to use the foot ramps while still fitting in tight spaces.
Specifications
- Material: Coated high-carbon steel (easy to sharpen)
- Features: Hickory hardwood handle
- Size: 5″ W x 30″ L (also available in 21″ length)
- Weight: 34.4 ounces
The edges come sharp, straight from the manufacturer (just like Cold Steel knives), and can be easily sharpened further. This design has been around for decades and will probably be digging trenches for decades to come.
How the Spetsnaz Handles
You can also get the Spetznaz in the lower 21″ handle length, but the extra leverage is worth it to me. The longer 30″ shovel handle doesn’t interfere with my pack and is similar to the axe handle I also use in my bushcraft/INCH setup. The hickory handle is held in with two large Phillips screws, so you could swap handles and replace them easily, even if you don’t have a woodshop, which is great for survival longevity.
If you are looking for a proven winner, get the Cold Steel Spetsnaz Shovel.
Best Survival Trowel
TheTentLab Deuce
Ultralight, Effective, and US Made
Often imitated but never duplicated, get the original ultralight trowel made right here in the US.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
This stamped aluminum trowel is fine-tuned simplicity at its best. Using the geometric shape and lightweight materials, you can take this small shovel anywhere and not even notice it. This makes it perfect for mobile survival kits where every ounce matters.
Specifications
- Material: Anodized US 7075-T6 aluminum
- Features: Geometrically strengthened curve shape
- Size: 6.8″ L x 2.8″ W
- Weight: 0.6 ounces
There are plenty of cheap knockoffs of this trowel, but they aren’t any better, so they’re not worth considering. There are three size options for the Deuce, ranging from 13 to 28 grams, but I found the #2 17-gram size to strike the perfect balance between length and low weight. You can pick between a few colors, but I suggest just selecting the cheapest option.
If you are looking for a lightweight shovel solution, TheTentLab Deuce Ultralight Trowel is what you need.
Comparison Table
| Survival Shovel | Recommendation | Price* | Type | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOG Entrenching Tool | Best Overall | $30 | Folding E-tool | 18″ | 24.6 oz |
| Cold Steel Spetsnaz | Best for Bushcraft | $35 | Fixed Handle | 30″ | 34.4 oz |
| TheTentLab Deuce 2 | Best for Digging Catholes | $16 | Trowel | 6.8″ | 0.6 oz |
| Coghlan’s Trowel | $3 | Trowel | 11″ | 2.1 oz | |
| Naceture UL | $14 | Trowel | 7.6″ | 1.0 oz | |
| Coleman Folding Shovel | $20 | Folding E-tool | 16″ | 20.8 oz | |
| Redcamp HD Shovel | $20 | Folding E-tool | 23″ | 42.0 oz | |
| Cold Steel Spetsnaz 21 | $26 | Fixed Handle | 21″ | 22.4 oz | |
| Rhino Folding Shovel | $29 | Folding E-tool | 23″ | 37.6 oz | |
| Schrade Delta Class Pay Dirt | $32 | Folding E-tool | 19″ | 31.3 oz | |
| Gerber Gear Forge | $37 | Folding E-tool | 14″ | 27.0 oz | |
| SOG XL Entrenching Tool | $40 | Folding E-tool | 23″ | 43.0 oz |
How I Tested
Survival shovels are meant to get dirty, be used, and abused. So to test them, I bought several popular models, rolled up my sleeves, and put them through the paces.
Here are the specific tests I performed:
- Trenching – I dug small trenches in the topsoil and clay with the shovels to compare how well they perform, how ergonomic they are to use, and the amount of effort needed to dig similar-sized trenches. I did not do this test for the trowels.
- Chopping – While shovels aren’t axes, you often find yourself chopping roots or clearing brush with them when you use them practically for bushcraft. I did not do this test for the trowels.
- Cathole Digging – Digging a cathole is one of the main survival uses for a shovel, so I tried this with every model I tested, including trowels.
- Thickness – I measured the thickness of the head of the shovels with a micrometer to see the gauge, which can affect the shovel’s durability.
- Dimensions – I compared the shovels on a measuring board to see their full dimensions (and folded dimensions, where applicable).
- Weight – I weighed each shovel on a scale to check the weight, which can ultimately decide whether you keep it in your survival pack or not.
I’m always looking for new and better gear, so if you have a shovel or trowel that you swear by, let me know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually, so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out the top picks.
Why Trust TruePrepper
Survival shovels have a variety of uses, ranging from bushcraft shelter building to expedient sanitation with catholes. Their size and weight are a drawback that makes them require serious consideration before adding one to your survival kit. If you do so, you want to be sure the shovel or trowel is vetted and proven.
I’m Sean Gold, and I’ve been reviewing shovels for survival and bushcraft for several years now. I used e-tool trench shovels in the military and keep both a fixed-handle shovel and trowel in my survival kit.
Besides using survival gear practically, I also like to gather data by measuring and comparing the gear using testing and measurement equipment. This helps me go further in-depth than any other review, which in turn helps you make the most informed choice when you are outfitting your survival kits.
What to Look For
The best survival shovel has several important features to look for:
- Value
- Functionality
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
- Durability
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a shovel that you can rely on for a wide range of situations, ranging from quick catholes to elaborate earth shelters and everything in between. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the survival-oriented shovels that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a shovel shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. If you are getting one for a survival kit rather than regular use, it may not make sense to spend much on a folding shovel just to use it infrequently.
You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to tools. It’s better to diversify your survival gear to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Functionality
Shovels are made for digging. At some point, some manufacturers lost sight of that as they added dozens of features to ‘tactical’ marketed shovels. With cheap hollow steel handles, these shovels simply didn’t last in our tests.
We weren’t surprised- we’ve seen this with survival knives too. As it turns out, there are very few things that are both as functional and versatile as a multitool.
Size & Weight
Traditional shovels weigh more than a few pounds and are too long to stash out of sight in a vehicle or survival kit. Weight and size are always considerations for mobile kits, and they were a big consideration in our review. Our largest pick was 30″ long and slightly under two pounds, and plenty of considerations must be addressed to fit that in an INCH bag.
Luckily, you can go all the way down to a fraction of an ounce with an ultralight trowel. This is one of the better solutions if you don’t plan on moving large amounts of dirt, as we discussed in the shovel vs. trowel debate above.
Versatility
Entrenching tools collapse down so they can work for a wide range of kits, but they also provide extra versatility in their adjustable head. You can configure most E-tools to be a pickaxe to get through hard ground and stubborn roots.
Other E-tools go beyond that, with saws and more tools able to be attached and configured, but we didn’t have much success in the durability department of those options.
Durability
When it comes down to it, your shovel needs to be able to take a beating. You smash it into the ground, stomp on it, and often leverage all of your weight on the handle. If your shovel can’t keep up, then what’s the point?
The weakest point is usually exposed by that last task we mentioned: leveraging the handle. If you use the shovel on a fulcrum, it can put extreme stress at a point where the handle is contacting that fulcrum. Try not to make that spot where a wooden handle or the adjustable pin on an e-tool is.
Shovel vs. Trowel
A shovel and a trowel are both tools used for digging, but they have distinct differences in terms of design, purpose, and usage:
- Size and Shape: A shovel is larger and longer than a trowel. It has a long handle and a broad, scooping blade that is curved or pointed. A trowel, on the other hand, is smaller and more compact. It typically has a short handle and a flat, rectangular, or triangular blade.
- Purpose: Shovels are primarily designed for digging and moving larger amounts of soil, gravel, or other materials. For survival, they are commonly used for tasks like digging shelter ditches, securing shelter poles in the ground, or fire management. Trowels, on the other hand, are more precise tools used for smaller-scale tasks such as gardening, digging catholes, or working in confined spaces.
- Blade Design: Shovels have a broader blade with a curved or pointed shape that allows for efficient lifting and moving of soil or other materials. Survival shovels are often reinforced and can be serrated or have a sharpened edge for cutting through roots or tough ground. Trowels have a flat or slightly concave blade that is usually not as wide as a shovel’s blade. The blade of a trowel is designed for precision work, such as scooping and maneuvering soil around plants.
- Handle Length: Shovels typically have long handles, which provide leverage and make it easier to dig and lift heavy loads. The long handle allows the user to stand upright while using the tool, reducing strain on the back. Trowels, on the other hand, usually have shorter handles, allowing for better control and maneuverability in tight spaces or when working at ground level.
While both tools are used for digging, shovels are larger, designed for moving larger amounts of material, and are suitable for heavier-duty tasks. Trowels are smaller, used for more precise gardening work, and better suited for working in confined spaces or digging catholes. Which one you pick for survival is up to you.
Who Needs a Survival Shovel?
Survival shovels aren’t for all preppers, but they are a standard inclusion for those anticipating getting their hands dirty. If you can dig a makeshift trench, an E-tool probably makes sense for your mobile kit as a versatile shelter tool. If not, a trowel is probably a better option for making catholes.
You’ll find survival shovels as an essential item in this kit:
We suggest them for:
We recommend considering them for (depending on your situation):
Survival shovels always have uses outside of survival kits, too, like digging in confined areas.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best survival shovel are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Freivalds, A. (1986). The ergonomics of shoveling and shovel design—a review of the literature. Ergonomics. Volume 29. Issue 1. Pages 3 – 18. (Source)
Brown, R. (2012). The Infantry Squad: Decisive Force Now and in the Future. Defense Technical Information Center. (Source)
Wise, N. (2014). An intimate history of digging in the Australian army during the Kokoda campaign of 1942. Labour History. Issue 107. Pages 21 – 34. (Source)
Conclusion
Shovels are a unique tool that can help us move earth quickly when we need to. You can use them to make shelter, protective trenches, or just for digging a cathole.
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