Best Camping Shovels Reviewed and Tested

Our top pick is everything we could want in a shovel, and so much more.

The Sahara Sailor is made with military-grade, solid carbon steel with aerospace-grade anodized aluminum tubes. This, in short, makes it as tough as nails (tougher, even) and capable of dealing with even the most heavy-duty tasks.

The SSSS’s collapsible design means it packs up small but can be extended to 31.5 inches, which gives you plenty of leverage for serious digging. The folding head can also be configured in various ways, letting you transform it into a hoe, hatchet, cleaver, saw, hammer, hook, or even a spear.

We’re mightily impressed by all of the above functionality and would recommend this awesome tactical shovel on the strength of this alone. However, it also boasts a ton of add-ons that seal the deal. These include a hexagonal wrench, a knife, a bottle opener, an emergency whistle, a screwdriver, a compass, a fire starter, a disgorger, and a wirecutter. Not bad, right?

There are no downsides to the Sahara Sailor. If we were nitpicking, we might suggest that the 18.5-inch folded length will be a little too long for some. However, this is only worth factoring into your considerations if you’re backpacking or seriously short on space. In any case, the SSSS can easily be lashed to your backpack, so portability shouldn’t be an issue.

If you’re in the market for a fairly basic but highly reliable, well-made, and affordable camping shovel, the REDCAMP Military is a solid choice.

This portable folding shovel isn’t as long as our top pick, nor does it have all of the bonus features. However, it’s significantly lighter, a lot more compact, and does pretty much everything the average camper might need it to do.

The REDCAMP folds down to just 10.2 inches and weighs 2.5 lbs. While it’s a little heavy for backpacking, it’s ideal for car camping. Its wider head makes any digging task a little easier, while its 23-inch length means you’ll have enough leverage for most jobs.

If you’re looking for a compact camp shovel capable of handling heavier tasks, the Rhino USA folding survival shovel is a great option.

The Rhino weighs 2 lbs., so isn’t lightweight by any means. However, those extra few ounces translate into superior sturdiness and chunkier, more durable materials.

It’s made with powder-coated carbon steel and measures 23 inches when extended, but it packs down to a highly portable 9 inches x 6 inches, so takes up very little space in our pack.

Like other shovels on our list, the Rhino is multifunctional, doubling as a saw, hoe, and pickaxe thanks to its rotating blade, which locks easily into place with a twist-lock mechanism. While shorter than the Sahara Sailor, it’s longer than most other ultra-compact models. In the field, this made it just a little easier to handle, particularly if you’re tall.

If you’re happy to pay a little more for a tool that’s both ultra-portable and capable of handling heavier-duty tasks, the FiveJoy Military tactical shovel is well worth considering.

This military shovel weighs just 1.43 pounds, so is one of the lightest full-size shovels on our list and a good option for backpacking. Nevertheless, its solid carbon steel construction makes it extremely tough and its 34-inch length means it’s more convenient for larger digging jobs.

The FiveJoy is also multifunctional, packing a lot more extras than cheaper alternatives. For starters, the blade can be adjusted to multiple angles to use as a hoe, pickaxe, or hook. On top of that, it also boasts a firestarter, ruler, knife, food cutter, saw, bottle opener, whistle, and multi-use rope attached to the handle.

The TentLab Deuce is one of the most popular backpacking shovels out there. The reason for this is simple: it weighs next to nothing and yet can accomplish most of the tasks a backpacker needs it to with ease.

The sharp edges on this ultra-compact shovel make short work of cutting through dirt and roots when making catholes or holes for tent stakes. It has a narrow end for digging and a wide end for scooping, so you’re covered for almost any task that isn’t too heavy-duty.

This portable model weighs just 0.6 ounces and measures 6.8 inches long, so it’sideal for backpacking, campers who are short on space, or car campers who want to store a shovel in their vehicle just in case.

While the Deuce is a standout in many metrics, it does have a few shortcomings. The handle isn’t the most comfortable and it’s too small for heavier tasks like digging a rain trench around your tent or liberating the wheel of your vehicle during an offroading mishap. For this, you’ll need a model like the Sahara Sailor or the SOG folding shovel, which provide far more leverage and digging power.

This survival tool is a great choice for anyone looking for a halfway house between ultralight, trowel-style shovels and heftier heavy-duty models.

The Tabor Tools Foldable Shovel weighs just 1.3 lbs. Despite this, it has a decent-sized blade and measures 18” extended and 8 inches collapsed. While shorter than other survival shovels on our list, it’s long enough to perform most campsite tasks and will let you free tires stuck in snow or sand with a little bit of extra effort.

This military-grade shovel is made with alloy steel and has a sharp, serrated edge that cuts through roots, hard soil, and snow, with ease. The blade can also be set to a 90-degree angle, converting the tool into a hoe or hook.

The SOG SS is another model that fills the gap between ultralight trowels and heavyweight, full-length shovels.

It measures just 10 inches when folded but extends to 18.25 inches, long enough to make it comfortable for extensive digging. It weighs 24.5 ounces, so is comparable to the Tabor Tools FS, which is a fraction shorter but also significantly cheaper and more compact.

Carefully constructed with a high-carbon tempered steel blade, this SOG tactical shovel is hardy enough to deal with repeated use and abuse. Its rotating spade blade also allows you to convert it into a hoe or pick, while its pointed tip is ideal for digging into stubborn soil. Its standout features are a wood saw edge that comes in handy for prepping firewood and a large, comfortable, triangular handle.