Best 15 Backpacking Shovels Of 2024

A very important backpacking gear is a backpacking shovel. A backpacking shovel will allow you to dig holes very easy and effortlessly. You don’t want to contaminate a big area with your waste items. Your waste can be carried by the rain, wind and weather to a nearby stream or pool of water. The pool of water will then be contaminated with nasty bacteria and microorganisms. Digging a hole can help prevent this from happening which is why a backpacking shovel is important. I listed some very lightweight and compact shovels that you should take a look at.

Best Backpacking Shovels – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Backpacking Shovel

Types Of Shovels For Camping

Gardening Trowel

Gardening trowels are often brought to backpacking trips. It is because gardening trowels are easy to use and they feel very comfortable on the hand. They are often very light in weight. The only drawback is that they are not very compact or that their size is a little bit large. Other than that, they are great for backpacking.

Tactical Shovel

Tactical shovels are multipurpose shovels that can be used for the outdoors. You can often take off the head and replace it with another tool. You can replace the shovel head with an axe head, pick, and so on. This type of shovel is somewhat heavy. They usually weigh around 1.5 pounds to 2 pounds. These provide a lot of usefulness but they are not light in weight.

Outdoor Trowel

Outdoor trowels are very compact and very light in weight. However, most of them are not that easy to use. They do not have a handle material and the metal feels hard on the hand. People will get outdoor trowels because they are the lightest and most compact option.

Different Types Of Handle Material

Wood

Wood is a great handle material for a lot of tools and gear. Wood is very durable and it lasts long. This is the classic and standard handle material. Wood looks great, stylish and beautiful. Handles made out of wood are also very comfortable to hold and this material provides shock absorption.

Steel

A lot of backpacking trowels will have steel as a handle. Most backpacking trowels do not have any handle material. They will just be one trowel shaped piece of metal. This makes them lightweight and ideal for backpacking.

Plastic

Plastic is one of the most inexpensive and low priced handle material that we can get. Plastic is also very durable and this material will last a long time. This material feels good on the hand and it works well. Most shovels with a plastic handle will often have a very low price.

Rubber

Rubber is a great material for a trowel. This material is very comfortable to hold and feels good on the skin. This is very light in weight as well. This material is used in a lot of tools and gear. Rubber provides a lot of shock absorption as well.

Pooping Outdoors Should

• Minimize the chance for water pollution.
• Minimize the spread of disease.
• Minimize aesthetic impact.
• Maximize decomposition.

What To Do With Your Poop

Bury It

Burying your poop is one of the best ways to make sure that you do not contaminate a nearby pool of water. Your poop will have nasty bacteria and very harmful microorganisms. It is best to bury them deep into the ground so that these microorganisms do not end up in a person’s stomach or in an animal’s stomach.

Pack It Out

Packing and taking your poop out of the park is also a great idea. You can just bring a plastic bag and put your poop inside it. This will make sure that your poop does not contaminate the park. This is also a good way to reduce water pollution.

Smear It

Smearing the poop on a hard surface will allow the sun’s rays to shine on it. The sun will destroy and kill a lot of the bacteria that are in the poop. Smearing your poop will make it decompose faster as well. This is not the best option but it is better than nothing.

Backpacking Considerations

Weight

The weight of the shovel is something we need to look at first. We cannot bring heavy shovels for backpacking. Most of the time, we are just going to use the shovel for bathroom purposes. It is highly recommended that the item is lightweight because weight is a big factor when it comes to backpacking. The more weight we bring, the more we are going to be tired. The less fun we are going to have. I highly recommend that you get something light and easy to carry.

Compact

The shovel has to be compact and easy to carry. We have a limited amount of backpack space. We are also carrying other items. I highly recommend that you get something lightweight and compact. This way, you will have more room for other items in your backpack. Keep in mind that you also have to bring your mess kits, cookware, tableware, sleeping bags, tents and so on.

Durability

The shovel should be very durable. It is because outdoor or backpacking items are lightweight, they are often very thin also. Thin material or design are not always durable. So we need to make sure that the item that we got is durable. If it is not durable, you always have the option to return it. You may end up paying for shipping and waste a lot of time though. So try to do your research and find something durable.

Material

The material of the shovel is very important. Some are made out of carbon steel, some are made out of stainless steel, some are plastic, and so on. Each material has their own strengths and weaknesses. So pick the material that you like but make sure that the shovel is very durable, lightweight and compact. Certain materials are also lighter than the other but that does not make them more durable. Something to think about.

Easy To Use

The shovel should be easy to use and effective. If you ever did gardening or even shoveling snow, then you will realize that certain shovels are a lot better than the other. The ones that are very effective are very easy to use and requires less effort to get good results. The items that are not effective, require a lot of effort. So make sure that the shovel that you have is easy to use and very effective.

Best Backpacking Shovels

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1. Wilcox 9-” All-Pro Stainless Steel Digging Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.52 oz
Material: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 9 x 1.5 x 0.2″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Constructed with strong and durable materials, rugged, heavy duty, 16 GA. Stainless Steel, works well, easy to dig holes with

Short Review: This high quality shovel is fantastic and I love it a lot. The item is made out of stainless steel which is a great material for digging holes. Steel is always better than plastic or other similar material. The trowel features sharp points for easy cutting and has an easy to clean surface. This comes with plastic handle grip features ribbing and grooves to accommodate a comfortable positioning in your hand. This is very lightweight and very easy to carry which makes it perfect for the outdoors. Overall, a very well designed item.

2. Coghlan’s Backpacker’s Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 oz
Material: Styrene
Dimensions: 11″ x 2.75″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Amazingly strong, very light in weight, compact, easy to carry, works well, digs well

Short Review: There are a lot of men and women who love this light shovel. Coghlan is a popular company that makes a lot of outdoor items that are very affordable but works well. So if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can just get this. The handle feels good and the trowel is easy to hold. The amazing compact and space saving construction is great for us who need a lot of backpack space. This is great for the outdoors and performs very well and makes backpacking more fun. Made out of plastic which makes it very light and very easy to carry.

3. Fiskars Ergo Trowel Garden Tool

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.4 Pounds
Material: Cast-aluminum
Dimensions: 13 x 4 x 2″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Ideal for digging when planting, ergonomically designed, handle reduces hand and wrist fatigue, cuts through tough turf cleanly

Short Review: I am typically amazed considering that this very light shovel is fantastic. So far I have no problems with this trowel. This is made out of very high quality metal and the handle feels good to hold. This has an ergonomically designed handle reduces hand and wrist fatigue while weeding. Constructed out of polished aluminum head resists rust for lasting value. The positive consumer feedback that this trowel has are often useful especially when buying online. Very portable because of the compact design and the material feels amazing as well. Amazing item for the outdoors. This has a great structure and fantastic quality. Fiskar is a very popular company and the items that  they create are very good just like this one.

4. GSI Outdoors 2010 Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.1 oz.
Material: Lexan, recycled polycarbonate
Dimensions: 10.3″x2.6″x1″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Sharp serrations easily cut through matted forest flora, Made from re-purposed GSI Outdoors Lexan recycled polycarbonate, digs hole easily

Short Review: You will be astonished at how excellent this lightweight shovel is. If you want a good and solidly built item that can dig a hole while having a good price, then you should check out this item. GSI is an amazing outdoor company that makes a lot of very good items. This one is made out of Lexan recycled polycarbonate which makes it very durable and strong. The item is very lightweight since the handle is very hollow. Works well for its intended use so no complaints here.

5. The Tentlab The Deuce of Spades Backcountry Potty Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.6 oz
Material: 7075-T6 aluminum
Dimensions: 6.8 x 2.6 inches
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Large scoop, easy to dig with, US-produced, aerospace grade 7075-T6 aluminum, strong, durable, tough, easy to use and works well for backpacking purposes

Short Review: I really like this backpacking shovel which is why I am recommending it to you. Very easy to use trowel that digs holes rather easily. Great for backpacking and backcountry trips. Lightweight and compact design makes this very easy to carry. This item helps dig a hole and this has a great deal of positive customer feedback. This is very compact and small enough to fit inside your backpack. Multi-purpose item that makes the outdoors a lot easier while also being very versatile. The durability of this item is wonderful. This item is manufactured by a fantastic company and they have a large amount of similar high quality items that they sell as well.

6. Vargo Titanium Dig Dig Tool

Technical Specs
Weight: 1.6 oz
Material: Titanium
Dimensions: 8.1 x 1.7 x 0.8″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Compact design allows for more items to be carried, crafted from the highest quality materials, built for performance and durability

Short Review: This extraordinary backpacking shovel will amaze you. If you go through the the positive customer feedback, it is effortless to see why I like this item. This is made out of titanium which is a great material that is both lightweight and durable. Easy to carry because of the compact design which gives us more room in our backpacks. I see this a lot with people who love the outdoors and digging a hole is rather easy with this trowel. This amazing company continues to develop remarkable items such as this one. This is pretty sturdy and the grip is pretty good.

7. Ultra Lightweight 11″ Backpacker’s Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 2 oz
Material: Durable plastic
Dimensions: 11″ long and 3.5″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Ingenious design from an amazing company, Tough, single piece plastic construction stays strong in hard, dry soils, rubber thumb grip for superior control

Short Review: Among the finest things that you can acquire is this high quality shovel. I think this is remarkable. This does everything as advertised. This is incredibly sturdy and this can dig a hole rather well. This is made out of plastic but it is also very durable. Strong and very easy to use. The price is also very cheap so if you are not planning on spending a lot of money then this is a good choice. It is kind of long but it is very light so it is very easy to carry. A great item for backpacking and other outdoor activities.

8. Stansport Prospecting Hand Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 4oz
Material: Rugged ABS plastic
Dimensions: 11″ length x 3.5″ width
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Constructed with strong and durable materials, incredible compact design, works well and very high quality, rugged ABS plastic, depth gauge on scoop, durable handle

Short Review: I have been testing a great deal of backpacking shovels, and this is incredible. This comes with reinforced handle and comfort grip and graduated shovel blade for measuring depths. This has large amounts of features and it is also very easy to use. Digging a hole is rather easy with this item. This is the cheapest and most affordable shovel that I have ever seen. It works well for the price so no complaints here. Great item to bring on a backpacking trip. Provides a lot of usefulness with a very inexpensive price tag.

9. Sea To Summit Alloy Pocket Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 3.5oz
Material: 6066 – T6 aluminum alloy
Dimensions: 9.75″; collapsed length 5.5″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Does not take a lot of space, designed to be very compact, durable and does not break easily, made of a super-strong, ultra light 6066 – T6 aluminum alloy, foldable, collapsible

Short Review: This high quality shovel is very affordable and it has plenty of content consumers. Sea To Summit is an amazing company with lots of backpacking and hiking equipment that they are selling. I recommend this high quality item simply because I know that you will like this. This is very compact which is great because we have more room in our backpack. Whoever came up with this idea or design is a genius. This is very lightweight and small. This is well made item and it is also pretty impressive.

10. Stainless Steel Folding Hand Shovel Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.2 Pounds
Material: Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 2.63″ x 0.8″ x 8.75″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Amazing company that makes a lot of durable items, this is very high quality, portable shovel, foldable shovel can be packed in the nylon case, stands up to tough use, won’t rust or corrode

Short Review: I like making use of this high quality potty trowel and I know you will also. This works well and it’s somewhat cheap. I am incredibly pleased with this item. The lightweight design is great and this is very versatile. The trowel is made out of stainless steel while also being foldable. One of the best and most useful items to have for backpacking. The stainless steel is very high quality and the item itself is very durable. The company did an outstanding job at making this item useful, resilient and beautiful at the same time.

11. Deuce Scoop

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.8 ounces
Material: Titanium
Dimensions: 7″ x 2″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Amazing outdoor item, grade 5 titanium, made in the USA, lightweight and easy to carry

Short Review: I absolutely love this backpacking shovel considering that this is wonderful. I am positive I will purchase one in the future again for the reason that this is both great and affordable. The design is wonderful which explains why I really like this item. The design made this very lightweight which allows us to bring this for the outdoors. Made out of titanium which makes this very light and very durable. This has a great deal of positive customer reviews that this became pretty popular in very little time. The item works and the grip is pretty comfortable. Easy to use and feels comfortable on the hands.

12. Fiskars FiberComp Trowel

Technical Specs
Weight: 5.1 oz
Material: FiberComp design
Dimensions: 8 x 3 x 3″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Compact to save space, ideal for digging into tough soil and breaking up hardened dirt clods, one-piece design won’t loosen, bend at the neck or break while digging

Short Review: There are tons of individuals who purchased this backpacking shovel since this is superb. The simple fact is that this is high quality and inexpensive enough to satisfy a considerable amount of people. This is amazing which is the reason this has a great deal of positive customer feedback. The compact design provides us with more room in our backpacks. A great item to have if you love backpacking. A primary reason I bought this is because it is incredibly resilient. I want something that will not break easily.

13. DeWit X-Treme Hand Trowel, Small

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.5 lbs
Material: Hand-forged boron steel
Dimensions: 11.8″ L x 1″ W x 2.6″ H
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: I love that this is high quality, forged trowel, boron steel head will hold a sharp edge, heavy duty and durable

Short Review: This camping shovel that you are going to consider is very wonderful. This is a whole lot better than a lot of the items I have seen this is why this has lots of positive customer feedback. If you like to shop, then you will really like this item mainly because it is very inexpensive. I love the lightweight material this is created out of which makes it easy to carry. Multi-purpose item that makes backpacking a lot easier and more enjoyable. This item has an incredible design that I like very much.

14. SOG Entrenching Tool F08-N

Technical Specs
Weight: 24.5 oz
Material: All steel
Dimensions: Length: 18.25-”
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Company continues to amaze me with amazing items, works as a camp shovel, snow shovel, sand shovel or gardening shovel, military shovel features a wood saw edge and rotating spade shovel blade

Short Review: This is one of the most effective backpacking shovels that I know of. This unbelievable company continues to surpass my expectations by producing impressive items like this one. This is a large or big and the weight is somewhat heavy as well compared to the trowels. This one is a shovel but also meant for the outdoors. This can be folded or this can transform into a smaller size. Being very compact is amazing because we now have extra space in our backpacks. A very versatile item that gives lots of usefulness while in the outdoors. This is one of the greatest in its price range.

15. Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel

Technical Specs
Weight: 28 oz
Material: Carbon steel
Dimensions: 13.8 x 5 x 2.9″
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Designed with easy push button slide mechanism, durable blade crafted from carbon steel, ergonomic handle made from glass-filled nylon with rubberized over grip

Short Review: This outdoor shovel is pretty good and very versatile. The design is very crucial mainly because it plays a major role on how the item will look and how well it will work. I find this one of the most satisfying items that I have ever obtained this is why I know you will be delighted if you acquire this item. The design made this very lightweight which allows us to bring this for the outdoors. This is a multi-purpose item that can be used in a lot of ways. This can be used as a hammer as well. The item is very easy to assemble and very durable as well. The only drawback is that it weighs a lot so if you are going on a very long backpacking trip then this is not a good idea to have.