Top 15 Best Camping Shovels (2023 List)

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I know how hard is it to pick the best tool from any market! Like, shovels. An interesting fact about camping shovels is there are not 10, 50, or 100 shovels on market, the number is very high.

When I am looking for a shovel to use for camping on Amazon, I got lost, because there are more than 270 camping shovels available after removing the duplicate listing. Now from 270, you can assume how much headache it is to find the best shovel for everything in camping.

Thankfully I have found the 15 best camping shovels for different needs after several days of in-depth research. (You don’t need to scroll through all 15, as I’ve picked the top 6 shovels from that huge list for different types of people).

To save your time, we have picked the top camping shovels from the list. Keep reading if you want to find more recommendations and to read reviews on all 15 camping shovels.

Our Top Picks:

Category	Models	Weight (lbs)	Price
Best Heavy Duty Military Style Camping Shovel	Zune Lotoo Annihilate	3.97	Check Price On Amazon
Best Budget Camping Shovel	COTTEOX Camping Shovel	2.93	Check Price On Amazon
Smallest Camping shovel	Iunio Hiking Camping Shovel	0.42	Check Price On Amazon
Best Standard Camping Shovel	Lifeline Camping Shovel		Check Price On Amazon
Cheapest Price Camping Shovel	AceCamp Mini	0.4	Check Price On Amazon
Best Metal Detecting Camping Shovel	Lil Digger 29″	2	Check Price On Amazon

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Read Here: How To Choose A Camping Shovel

How To Choose Best Camping Shovels? (Ultimate Advice)

Material

The material used in the shovel will decide more than 70% of the shovel’s quality, the other 30% is the ability of the manufactures and designers to use the materials wisely. 

In the current market, most of the shovels are made from 3 materials: Carbon steel, Stainless steel, and Maganese steel. Now, what’s the difference between all these steel. Let’s see.

Manganese steel: Manganese steel consist of approx 13% manganese. What does this manganese do in shovels? Manganese removes sulfur and oxygen when iron ore is converted into iron, which makes the steel highly resistant to wear and high impact shock.

Stainless steel: This type of steel is highly resistant to rust and scratching. Stainless steels are steels that contain at least 10.5% chromium, less than 1.2% carbon, and other alloying metals like manganese to make it both rust-free and provides high impact and wear-resistance. Is stainless steel good quality? Yes, it is durable and used for a variety of purposes from construction to camping. It can last for a long time without breaking or need for replacement.

Carbon steel: This is the most used material in shovels, blades, punches, dies, springs, high strength wire, and cutting tools. Carbon steel has supreme tensile strength. Is carbon steel the same as stainless steel:? They have the same basic ingredients of iron and carbon. The only difference is in their alloy content, Stainless steel must contain 10.5% chromium or more, while carbon steel has under 10.5 percent of alloy content.

Durability

The durability of the shovel will depend upon the materials used in manufacturing. In short, carbon steel is much stronger and durable than stainless steel. But, stainless steel works well resisting rust and is just as strong as carbon steel. So if see an overall picture, a stainless steel shovel will be more durable as we camp in changing surroundings which makes shovel made from stainless steel or any rust-resistant steel stand for long.

Blade design

Another important factor while choosing any camping shovel is the design of the blade. Is it thin to thick or just thick or just thin? In my research thin to thick blade designs are more efficient than just thick or just thin blades. Why is it so? Because a thin to thick design will dig faster than the other designs. Zune Lotoo Annhiliate is an example of good blade design shovels. If the material used in the blade is of good quality then you can also sharpen the blade according to your need.

Portability & Weight

Any good camping survival shovel should fall under 4 lbs. Not all 4 lbs shovels are worth buying, but some camping shovels need to be around 4 lbs as they are military-grade survival shovels and made for really heavy-duty uses.  Zune Lotoo Annihilate is such a shovel whose weight is just below 4 lbs and needs to be that heavy to do what it is made for.

If you are only looking for a standard camping shovel, then that shovel should be under or around 2.5 lbs as they neither deserve to be heavy nor do we want them to be.

The portability of shovel depends on the foldability and weight of the shovel. If you’re a car camper, you may have no problem with the carrying weight of a shovel and all that comes with it. But, if you’re a backpacker or hiker the weight should be as low as possible and as foldable as possible without sacrificing quality.

Size

First of all, if you go for a foldable camping shovel then you will easily find shovels that can turn from a size of a 2-liter bottle to the size of a hand or more. But, do you need that big shovel or that expandable shovel. If you require to dig a cathole for pooping purposes and dig a hole for dishwater then a small size foldable shovel with no extension is all you need.

The only thing you’ll lose with a small shovel is the relief of digging with a big shovel where you don’t need to bend your waist.

Versatility

Before buying any shovel look for the number of things you can do with this single shovel. Don’t go for a high number if you don’t need them and don’t also go for less than 3 where they can at least perform basics functions like shoveling, digging, and sawing. If you go for little more expensive shovels you may find that they can be used as an ice breaker, fire starter, emergency whistle, compass, emergency hammer, shoveling, sawing, ax, chopping, to lift the car from the mud, etc.

Effectiveness

Is your shovel effective or just takes a lot of time for assembling or disassembling before any real use of it? If you find that your shovel is taking more than 5 minutes then your shovel doesn’t worth the money. No matter how cheap the shovel is or how expensive is it, should not take longer than 5 minutes from removing it from the bag to set up all the extensions.

Why a good handle required

A good handle is as much as important as the shovelhead. What else can be good if your handle design is ergonomic. If you’ve liked any shovel but it does not have ergonomic style then at least look for the slip resistance and grip of the handle. The handle should also be of top quality where it doesn’t come out after several uses.

If your handle slips then there are chances that you’ll hurt yourself, better don’t ignore it.

Price

After knowing all the features of the shovel, you should ask yourself a question yourself or should read some reviews to know if the product’s quality is worth the money. If the answer is no, then spend some more time looking for another shovel. I am pretty sure that you’ll find a similar shovel at a price where it feels satisfactory. In most cases, the high-quality shovels are more expensive than the less durable and less impactful shovels.

The 13 Best Shovels For Camping

Zune Lotoo Annihilate F-A3 – Best Multi-Tool Survival Camping Shovel

• Material: German martensitic stainless steel
• Dimensions: 29.7 x 6 x 1 inches
• Weight: 3.97 lb

A shovel that deserved to call as a real military-grade survival camping shovel. This F-A3 style unbreakable shovel has high strength and hardness because of the adaptation of foundry technology made of German martensitic stainless steel by 100% molding and casting.

This 24-in-one multi-tool can perform 32 functions like cutting, digging, fire starter, chopping, provides camera support, jack, break windows, cudgel, whistle, alpenstock, wire cut, fish hook, bottle opener, wire saw, safety rope, blade, fish scaler, peel, camping fixator, shoveling, ice road breaker and so on.

It can change from one position to another under one button touch by one hand. The shovel is designed from thin to thick with no weak or weld parts.

The shovel comes with 5 handles made of VioGi aluminum and has built-in-anti-skid silicone that means you can work more smoothly.

What I like most about is the company’s confidence about the shovel’s toughness and can say they are quite right as its 10mm joint part makes the shovelhead hold up to 1060 LB without breaking, which makes it exceptional, and it kicks nearly every camping survival shovel out of the competition.

However, the shovel is 3.97 lbs which is the heaviest shovel on the list but it is good that it’s heavy because a shovel that is this advance is too light then you can not really dig and cut. This weight really gives it great bearing capacity.

Also, it is the most expensive shovel on the list. Why is it so? Because according to Zune Lotoo Annihilate over 100 procedures and take near 3 months to make it a really good and useful tool. They say they do pay a lot to deliver the tip quality shovel to the point where when you got it you will feel thankful.

Just so you know you need to sharpen the knife and the shovel edges by yourself as they can not make the tools very sharp due to slipping problems, police safety, and policy. Don’t worry you can sharp the edges to the point where it is sharp like a real knife.

Iunio Shovel

• Material: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 10.42 x 2.87 x 1.17
• Weight: 0.42 lbs

One of the most lightweight and handy survival shovels! Its wear-resistant and high-strength stainless steel make it a sturdy and durable option. It looks durable as the manufacturer told it passed the durability test.

What makes it a little more cooler is the shovel’s designer’s ability to put all essentials including a ruler, hex wrench, paracord, shovel, nail puller, and saw in just 10 inches of vertical length.

Who this shovel will work best? The shovel works best for backpacking campers, and hikers. However, this shovel can only perform 4 tasks – cutting, spearing, digging, and sawing.

How do I like to use this shovel (If you ask me)? I would like to use it to dig a cat hole for pooping during camping as it has a scale on the middle which helps me to dig an exact 6-inch hole.

To make carrying easy the robust shovel comes with a carrying pouch which can be easily attached to a belt or backpack with the loop on the back.

Despite all these goods, what I don’t like is the lack of slip resistance, so it is my humble advice that you should wear gloves before using this as it can give a couple of slashes on the finger.

Overall the quality of this shovel is under-the-budget price is worth it (Until you don’t want something for heavy use).

AceCamp Mini – Best Cheapest Folding Shovel

• Material: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 9.45 x 2.37
• Weight: 0.4 lbs

Looking for a shovel that works fine digging catholes and don’t need any big survival shovel. Go for it! You don’t need any other shovel than this for pooping as it is very sharp.

AceCamp mini is the lightest shovel on the list and can be fitted into any bag as it can be folded into half of the size.

When you try to find a compact tool at a very low price, that tool somewhere lacks in durability and quality but it is not the case with this little one.

Apart for camping you can use this for gardening, backpacking, and hiking.

I know it is doubtful to say that you can get good tools at a low price, that’s why AceCamp is providing 30-days free return or exchange.

OKOOLCAMP Folding Shovel

• Material: Alloy steel, carbon steel
• Weight: 3.19 lbs
• Dimensions: 28 x 7.09 x 0.8 inches

The first question first – how hard is it? Okoolcamp shovel’s HRC hardness is 48-55 with strength and wears resistance property. This shovel uses alloy steel which is more ductile than carbon steel, which still many manufactures are using.

It’s a versatile option where we can adjust its size from about 15 inches to 28 inches. Despite the fact, the shovel is compact and portable with only 3.19 lbs of weight it can be folded into the size of the water bottle in its heavy-duty pouch.

What I like most about the pouch is we can either hold it in our hands or can attach it to the belt. I like the belt option as we don’t have to carry it in our hands all the time.

Lifeline Sport Utility Shovel

• Material: Aluminum
• Dimensions: 16.5 x 8.5 x 3.75 inches
• Weight: 1.1 lbs

Lifeline sport utility shovel is for those who don’t need or don’t want to bother themselves with multifunctional shovels. It is ok if you just need a shovel for basic camping needs and you know clearly that this is the only thing that I would need during my camping trips.

Why this works amazingly? First of all from a hiker to backpacker everyone can easily have this because it is very lightweight and comes with 3 extensions where you can make from just a size of a 2-liter bottle to nearly the size of your hand.

The shovel comes in 6 different colors and can be used for 2 main purposes – digging and removing ice from the road. Yes, as it is just a normal shovel so it can not be treated as a survival shovel.

But the price you’ll pay for the quality, it won’t regret you.

Tyger Survival TG-SV8U3217

• Material: Aluminium, Carbon steel
• Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 2 inches
• Weight: 3 lbs

The Tyger is a US registered company that is known to make forged shovels that are made from solid steel carbon and aerospace-grade anodized aluminum tubes.

This military-grade shovel not only provides quite good military-grade quality but also not lacks in hard military design. However, this shovel is really an expensive option and that may be because of the quality of material used in manufacturing and the 16-in-1 multifunction feature.

Tyger TG-SV8U3217 is compact to the point where you can easily store it in your vehicle, it also makes it great for both camping and road trips. Like, you can use use this to dig out tires, break glass in emergencies, or to dig the hard ground for different purposes.

What makes it a little different from the Okoolcamp shovel is its unique instant switch mechanism where you just need to pull the slider to switch between 16 different modes (for some 16 may be too many).

However, it is not ideal for the typical campers who want shovels for some easy purposes. But, it is good for a person who is looking for a shovel that can do most of the things. Please write your uses on paper and then decide to buy this ‘for-specific-people-only’ shovel.

COTTEOX Folding Shovel

• Material: Steel
• Dimensions: 36.2 x 4.92 x 36.2 inches
• Weight: 2.93 lbs

The 36 inches COTTEOX folding shovel is only 8.23 inches when folded. The shovel comes in 2 parts and for each part, there are separate bags.

One is for shovelhead and another one is for all other accessories, when looking from close it looks like the shovel is not that compact like others but having a different bag for shovelhead also creates a protected space for it.

This shovel performs some other activities like digging, chopping, cutting, hammering, and bottle opening but I don’t know why they do not include a screwdriver.

The shovel is affordable and of good quality but still, it has some missing components and what sucks is the product support. Because after getting this shovel I found that some pieces are missing so we contacted the seller.

I got a reply, that is, ‘check again if there’s really any missing piece’. After that, I don’t get any reply. So be careful if you find any missing pieces.

FullLit 38 inch Off-Roading Shovel

• Material: Steel
• Dimensions: 10.43 x 7.51 x 2.55 inches
• Weight: 3.96 lbs

FullLit 38 inches off-roading folding shovel features a new design where you just need to press the button on both sides and rotate the head to get the position you want. This kinda ease makes the work efficient.

This multifunctional survival shovel has a 180-degree lock control by which you can turn it from just a regular shovel to hoe or pickaxe which is really helpful during camping from digging a cathole to trenching a shallow ditch when the rain knocks.

It also comes with some extras like other shovels – nail extractor, emergency whistle, bottle opener, safety hammer, and a fire starter.

Thankfully the shovels also include extension bars to add or subtract the length of the shovel according to use. If you know what size you need, you can leave another extension at home, which gives us some free space inside the carry bag to include other survival items like fishing gear or tackle, a small first aid kit, etc.

It is for heavy-duty uses even though I think it is a bit too heavy. There’s a possibility of cutting some weight.

Rhino USA Folding Shovel w/Pick

• Material: Carbon steel
• Dimensions: 24 x 6 x 3 inches
• Weight: 2.83 lbs

If you just want the features of a camping shovel and have no worries about survival then Rhino USA is the one-stop shovel for you. Is it really good? Yes, because it is compact, portable, foldable, works as a shovel, and 90-degree pickaxe.

For sawing it is OK OK as it is not sharp enough to cut a branch with ease. You really need to work out hard. Like, to cut a 1/2″ thick branch it needs 20+ cuts (It was a good hand workout!)

It is not the complete survival shovel due to several missing components like it can’t be used as an emergency hammer, nail picking, emergency whistle, and bottle opener. And also it is not that sharp.

Despite its drawbacks, the build is solid, good for digging cathole in soft surfaces, sturdy, and above all, it is quite an affordable handy option.

Another thing that I am really disappointed with is why the company is lying that is made in the USA. It is clearly made in china item. The company should not play with the customer’s heart.

Sahara Sailor

• Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.9 x 2.5 inches
• Weight: 3.54 lbs

The rugged Sahara survival shovel is constructed with military-grade solid carbon steel with aerospace-grade anodized aluminum tubes.

What makes this shovel unique is without needing anything else it itself can perform 12 different actions like shoveling, hoeing, sawing, bottle opening, cleaver, whistling, knife, flat-blade, screwdriver, fish scaler, and as an emergency, hammer to break car windows in ‘just-in-case.

This is not only a survival shovel, it can also be used for different occasions like hiking, gardening, backpacking, hunting, car emergency, and traveling. Also, the shovel is foldable and expandable using 4 size wrench. Yet it not lacks anywhere in portability and compactness.

So, the shovel is for all uses and it has everything that one seek for in any camping shovel.

The shovel is a little heavy and threads may come loose. However, the company is very responsive and will exchange the shovel if you anything messy happens.

Rose Kuli

• Material: Aluminium, carbon steel
• Dimensions: 37 x 5 x 37 inches
• Weight: 3 lbs

If slipping is the problem of your then Rose Kuli camping shovel will solve it because of its premium aluminum alloy handle. As we know, most of the comfort of any shovel depends on two things – the first shovel should not slip and need to have the perfect height of the shovelhead for a comfortable digging experience.

From emergency whistle to icebreaker to screwdriver, you can convert it to 8 different things according to your use.

The company offers 365 days warranty where if you find any quality problem you can simply contact them via amazon message and they will do their best to solve your problem (This is what they claim).

However the handle is wobbly, the head tends to come loose, and weight is not evenly distributed. Other than this the shovel is easy to use and works fine.

Otplore Tactical Folding Shovel 

• Material: Carbon steel
• Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.4 x 3.1 inches
• Weight: 4.3 lbs

The 32 inches Otplore tactical shovel is compact enough to include a first aid kit, survival kit, and gear easily in the backpack or the trunk of the vehicle.

Can perform several functions like other camping shovels but what makes it different from other shovels is it also includes a compass in it which makes it a complete survival shovel.

The shovel is easy to dissemble, very handy, and folds down reasonably quickly to fit in the small pouch that comes with it. But be careful about the knife and the sharp side of the shovel when you clean them.

Otplore shovel is very sturdy and many times better than cheaply made shovels. It is heavy but that’s what allows it to penetrate hard grounds.

However the knife quality is cheap and can bend from the side.

MOSFiATA Shovel – Unique Design

• Material: High carbon steel Thickened manganese steel
• Dimensions: 40 x 6 x 1.9 inches
• Weight: 3.61 lbs

When I am really involved in finding the best shovels for camping I end up finding MOSFIATA folding shovel. What attracts me most, is the design of the shovel and the ergonomic grip.

I haven’t found any other shovel like this which has this design and yet does not lacks in quality and work as it features a German high carbon steel shovel board and handles

That’s all about design, but what about work and quality? MOSFIATA is a multifunction tool with its different inbuilt tools like it has bolt driver, harpoon, knife, sawtooth, ax, safety hammer, ruler, compass, screwdriver, whistle, shovelhead, and 3 extra extension bars to grow it from 20 inches to 40 inches.

However, as its states the shovel is not an everyday tool instead it is made for survival purposes in the wilderness.

OAKVUE Shovel

• Material: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 37.72 x 5.1 inches
• Weight: 2.53 lbs

OAKVUE survival shovel is one of the lightweight multifunctional camping shovels on the list made with 3CR13 stainless steel and the combination of chromium and carbon helps it resist rust and make it pretty strong.

You can adjust the height from 17.4 inches to 35.8 inches to use as an ax, saw, multifunctional knife, window breaker, 3-size screwdriver, fire starter, and an emergency whistle.

To be honest the product does not deserve the price you pay. It is providing good functionality but I’ve seen many other shovels that are proving the same or more things and made from the same or more high-quality items. So its price is not as satisfactory to me. Hope they’ll come to a competitive price.

The only reason you may buy this because it is lightweight.

Lil Digger 29″

• Material: Alloy Steel, Fiberglass, Metal
• Dimensions: 28.25 x 6 x 2 inches
• Weight: 2 lbs

We can not say that Lil Digger is mainly made for camping. But it can be used for that purpose and will work great as a shovel and metal detecting work.

The weight distribution of this shovel is such that you won’t notice the weight while carrying it.

I know the price is more than others like this but one thing I can say that the quality and toughness of the shovel really beat the price.

However, it is not highly portable for hikers and backpackers as it is not foldable but can be comfortably fitted in a car.

The only thing I can say about this shovel is it is tough and digs well.

Types of shovel

There are 36 different types of shovels currently available in the market. The list goes like this:

1. Calm shovel
2. Coal shovel
3. D-Handle shovel
4. Digging shovel
5. Edging shovel
6. Ergonomic shovel
7. Fireplace shovel
8. Flat shovel
9. Folding shovel
10. Multifunctional shovel
11. Garden shovel
12. Half-moon shovel
13. Grain shovel
14. Military shovel
15. Gravel shovel
16. Measuring shovel
17. T-handle shovel
18. Snow shovel
19. Square shovel
20. Spoon shovel
21. Sod shovel
22. Scoop shovel
23. Power Shovel
24. Toy shovel
25. Tree planting shovel
26. Roofing shovel
27. Tile shovel
28. Mini shovel
29. Root shovel
30. Metal detecting shovel
31. Mutch shovel
32. Pizza shovel
33. Wooden shovel
34. Posthole shovel
35. Non-sparking shovel
36. Trenching shovel

Frequently Asked Questions

How to take care of my shovel?

Here is the list of things you should do after every timeline mentioned below:

After every use:

• Remove any debris or soil from your shovel, scrub stubborn areas with a wire brush.
• Rinse your shovel using a garden hose.
• Clean the handle using a clean cloth
• Allow it to dry completely to prevent rusting
• Store your shovel in a dry and secure place. For easy access, you can put your shovel and other camping tools on a rack for safety and easy access.
• Whatever way you choose to store your shovel, give an anti-corrosion treatment to it on regular basis.

Every six months:

• Check the handle grip and the shaft of the shovel.
• If it is a wood shovel, it should be free of nicks, if not then your shovel won’t last long.
• You need to replace the shaft if is cracked or loose.
• Tighten any loose joints and replace any rusty rivets

What are the benefits of the adjustable handle?

The main benefit of an adjustable handle is comfort. With folding shovels, you’ll get extensions. Using them you can increase or reduce the height of the shovel for a particular purpose.

Also, you don’t have to pack a big shovel with you. If you know that you’re going hiking or camping in a particular location where you don’t need a big shovel then you can simply put all the extensions at your home and instead of them can pack other essentials like a mini first aid kit, etc.

Should I get extra tools?

It totally depends upon your usage. But, as an advisor, I say that you should at least go for a shovel that can perform these actions – shoveling, sawing, and should have an ax and if possible you should also go for a shovel that can also be used to lift the tires of your car from the mud. Because we don’t know what camping can bring us, so better be prepared in advance.

How not struggle with folding and unfolding a shovel?

Your shovel will demonstrate this problem may be due to two reasons – one may be due to the design flaw and another potential reason is the rust. Now, what can I do? The easiest thing you can do to make your shovel fold and unfold smoothly again is by putting some oil in the moving parts, joints, and screws of the shovel. To make sure that this problem won’t occur in the near future oil your shovel once or twice a month.

Can I use survival shovel as a weapon?

Why only a shovel, you can treat everything near you as a weapon in an emergency.

What is the difference between spade and shovel?

Spades generally have flat edges of the blade while a shovel’s blade is broader, rounded, or pointed at the tip, and is curved from left to right.

What is a tactical shovel?

A tactical shovel is not just a shovel but it is a defensive weapon. Tactical shovel edges are partially or completely serrated on one side and have a concave chopping age on the other for cutting dry branches. Overall a tactical shovel is a survival shovel that can be used as a weapon in an emergency. Tactical and survival shovels are more popular among soldiers.

Can I sharpen the blades of the shovel and tools by myself?

Yes, you can sharpen the blade of the shovel and other tools by yourself. In fact, in many cases, shovel blades are not that sharp when they come to us therefore we need to sharp them by ourselves by using blade sharpening methods. Companies don’t sharp the shovels due to the safety policy.

What is a military shovel called?

Militiary shovels are known as Entrenching Tool or E-tool. These E-tools are now not only used by the militiary but also by survivalists, campers, backpackers, hikers, and other outdoor groups.

What are serrated edges?

Serrated edges are the type of blades that have some kind of saw or tooth-like edges. Serrated edges are known to be used as a small saw with a back-and-forth motion. Serrated edge blades are great for cutting wires, ropes, and other textured materials.

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