Multi-Purpose Mini Camping Shovel

[GoldWingGL]

This Mini-Folding shovel is 16" overall, but folds down to 6 3/4" in its black nylon carrying pouch. The carrying pouch has a strap for belt use. This folding shovel is of tempered tool steel construction, with non-slip rubber handle grips. The side of the shovel blade is constructed to serve as a rough saw, and a pick attachment can be rotated from the head, making this a multi-purpose tool that weighs in at 1 1/4 lb. It can be easily packed in, to be put to many camp tasks.
I got mine at Harborfreight for about $7 but they no longer seem to carry it. Doing a search, I found it at the following website, http://www.wisementrading.com/knifeandsaw/camp_shovels.htm among others.
This is a great little shovel for camping and should be on the ?must have? list. I just got to use mine for the first time this past weekend and love it.

[pap]

Harbor Freight has them again. Just purchased one at the store. I paid $2.97.Like it for possible values and it packs so small W/ pouch included.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Harbor Freight has them again. Just purchased one at the store. I paid $2.97.Like it for possible values and it packs so small W/ pouch included.

There is another reason for me to go shopping again! P^

[quadancer]

Since we didn't have a wagon, I'd kept things minimal - I found a thick plastic garden tool that weighs nothing at either the dollar store or Wallyworld; can't remember.
My use for it is to trench the ground uphill of the tent if there's gonna be rain and we're not on a paddock.

[pap]

Most campgrounds frown on someone digging trenches through their tent spots

Decent developed pads should not . Pads are like humans, they are not perfect. Beside, the ones who frown are not sleeping in water- the one smiling is dry.

[VABob]

+1 on that.

Back to the shovel... there was an ad (article?) in Wired magazine called "Fettish Grave Digger" . Gerber has a new shovel called the "e-tool with pick". $117. Good for a making the wallet a bit lighter.

[bigTom]

I carry one of these on most every trip. It is a requirement for NFS parking to have a shovel, axe (hatchet) and bucket (helmet) for fire prevention. I have used it several times for campsite improvement...

[kayakinbiker]

Prolly would come in handy for notrace camping especially with Georgia being a camper....using sticks somehow does not cut it anymore when there are tools like this out there....

[quadancer]

Not everyone is locked into paying for the privilege of some water and a gravel pad to sleep on. There are still many places a bike can go not far from cement where a nice hummock can be found to pitch on where a small trench may be needed.
On a walk once, we came upon a 3" deep line in the dirt with a small curve to it. I was the only one who knew what it was, recognizing the fairly flat spot.

[bigTom]

There's a pretty easy line between 'leave no trace' and NFS. It's considered good sport to leave roadside campsite fire rings and tent trenches in those.

I haven't done 'leave no trace' since the last time I was in the Bob Marshall wilderness area. It's a bit of overkill IMHO.

[Mr. Guy]

Hey Gwizz,

I'm thinking bigTom and quadancer are talking about National Forest remote road camping where the NFS does encourage leaving fire rings so the next person won't build a new one. Not about in established campgrounds. I do the same myself, using a fire ring that's already there, it creates less damage overall.

I carry one of these on most every trip. It is a requirement for NFS parking to have a shovel, axe (hatchet) and bucket (helmet) for fire prevention. I have used it several times for campsite improvement...

I had never heard that before, I've been in the back country many times with none of that. I guess I'll be packing a little more next time. Thanks.

[Mr. Guy]

I understand your concern, but I do believe the current generation is doing a better job than that in the early 20th century did. I think choosing a tent site carefully is better than trenching, but as long as the dirt is put back, it causes little long term impact in these remote locations. Some of the NFS polices are meant to limit impact to small areas to avoid damage overall in the forest. So sometimes it seems counter intuitive, but does work out.

I don't think anyone here is wanting to damage the Forest for future generations.

[bigTom]

I don't do any backcountry camping any more, it's been at least 15 years, maybe 20. If there isn't a road past, I'm not camping there:)

I do a lot of National Forrest camping, generally at a place with an established fire ring. More than once, I have had to clean out the ring. It works pretty good because you need to remove any trace of fire in the morning. Water with a dirt cover does that.

The need for a shovel isn't theoretical. It's a requirement for camping (free) in a National Forrest. The only way around it is to have no fire. Mr. Ranger is fully equipped to write you a ticket for your indiscretion....

My friend Bob sharpened the teeth on his entrenching tool, we have used it a couple of times to cut wood...

[Mr. Guy]

I was thinking remote road, I think it's really called "dispersed camping". Outside of established campgrounds anyway, the kind of thing you get to on a motorcycle, not really backcountry. Sometimes I find old firerings close to a paved road on a pull off, but sometimes I go quite a ways down a gravel road to look for a camp spot.

[quadancer]

Actually, both Guy and G are right. But I've been down those gravel roads to run along a creek where the rednecks go to make out or whatnot and found a sweet spot or at least something fairly level. Sure enough, a couple times there was impending downpour, and small trenches on the uphill side are standard practice.
I leave no trace myself; I DON'T think it's over the top - too many screwed up discontents hitting the woods as it is.
What is impressive is that even if a small trench is left behind, there is no OTHER trace of a camper's passing and here's a prime spot ready to sleep on.
I often want to take someones trash and jam it up their azz to remind them not to be so messy. :mad: