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Culinary

What is a Folding Shovel?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated May 17, 2024
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A folding shovel is a compact type of shovel used for gardening as well an emergency or camping tool. Most folding shovels fold into two or three sections. A folding shovel is made to be compact in size when folded so it can easily be packed on a camping or beach trip or carried out to the garden. Many drivers like to keep a folding type of shovel in their vehicle's trunk in case of an emergency.

Folding shovels can be used to dig tires out of dirt if a car becomes stuck. These tools also make mini snow shovels for digging tires out of snow banks. Some types of folding shovels include a pick tool that can help crack ice or remove rocks. Since it's so compact and space-saving in design, a folding shovel is a great tool to have in any vehicle. The shovel can even be used to build sandcastles complete with trenches during trips to the beach.

Trenching shovels are another name for the folding shovel since its pointed type of blade makes it suitable for digging trenches around campsites to collect water away from the campsite. A folding camping shovel can also be used to scoop out rocks and flatten a surface for a tent as well as dig holes for tent stakes. Folding shovels can also be used to create a fire pit. Some types of folding shovels, especially the mini version, have a nylon carrying case with a loop so the shovel may attach to a belt or backpack. A folding mini shovel is often used in gold panning to scoop and dig through rocks to search for pieces of the valuable mineral.

The price of a folding shovel can range from $10 to $70 US dollars (USD). Even the lower priced and mini shovels that fold usually have a steel shovel blade. Handles of folding shovels usually fold twice and fit into the shovel's blade to create a compact item. A folding shovel may include a serrated or toothed edge on one side of the blade so it can be used to saw off lightweight branches. The expanded length of average sized folding shovels is about 23 inches (58 cm) and shovel handles are often triangular-shaped and hollow so they can be hung up when not in immediate use.

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Discussion Comments

By anon79063 — On Apr 21, 2010

This puppy is built solid and will dig up some dirt if needed. Good for ice and snow as well. Not as long as I'd like though. Makes me wish I had just purchased a spade and cut off about two feet of the handle.

Got it for my mother to put in her car. She likes that it's collapsible but has a difficult time unlocking and opening it with her tiny hands. She will probably leave it opened up and just toss it in the trunk.

Excellent tool! Jake.

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