Before you seed in a new lawn, you need to prepare the soil. And for that, nothing beats the effectiveness of a shovel.
It is specially designed to smoothly go through any soil. The best digging shovel stabs deep into the ground to get the most out of every effort. With the right design and construction, a quality shovel can make the whole experience a lot easier, comfier, and more importantly, enjoyable.
But digging shovels come in all kinds and sizes. With so many different options to pick from, it can get a bit overwhelming. If you aren’t careful, you may end up with a low-quality shovel that doesn’t meet your demands.
That’s why we decided to soften up the process of choosing. By reviewing the highest-quality shovels that stand out the most, we’ll save you stress and time. Once you finish reading this article, you’ll be ready to tackle any digging job at home with a quality shovel that doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.
9 Best Digging Shovels Reviews in 2022
The products below were chosen for their durability, ease of use, comfort, and capacity to dig dirt off. Each one offers a unique advantage worth checking. Take a look below and learn more about each.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Fiskars 397960-1001 PRO Shovel | • It is extremely tough • Sufficiently long for superb leverage • Boasts a grippy and soft handle | |
 | Root Assassin One Shot Garden Shovel | • It is incredibly light and easy to operate • The tough build lasts a lifetime • Large head with steps for easy use | |
 | Corona AS90300 Round Point Shovel | • The straight handle is sufficiently comfortable • Boasts a rubber footpad in the blade • Exceptional sturdiness with all-steel build | |
 | Hooyman Heavy Duty Shovel | • Comes with a practical set of handle grips • An all-steel build handles any use • Allows comfortable stomping | |
 | Bully Tools 82510 Round Point Shovel | • Boasts a sturdy steel body • Has a comfy D-shaped handle • Excellent size for small & big jobs | |
 | Bond LH015 Mini D Handle Shovel | • It’s exceptionally light & small • Has a super-sturdy construction • Delivers excellent leverage | |
 | Nupla 72-016 Round Point Shovel | • Light and sturdy body • Grip-oriented and comfy handle • Goes through hard dirt with ease | |
 | AMES 1554300 Round Point Shovel | • The wooden handle lasts a long time • Extra-long for more leverage • Comes with step for safe stomping | |
 | Martha Stewart MTS-MDS1 Mini Digging Shovel | • It’s completely rust-resistant • Ultra-light and short design for easy use • It is comfy & easy to use |
1. Fiskars 397960-1001 PRO Shovel
- The Fiskars Pro D-handle Digging Shovel features an extruded aluminum handle and double-bolted connections for ultimate strength and durability
- Extended shank improves strength and has an optimized angle for digging and prying
While trying to dig up your lawn out may feel like an easy job, it isn’t. Unless, of course, you’re using the Fiskars PRO Shovel.
The D-handle design with a teardrop-shaped shaft makes every digging movement a pleasant experience. Along with the Softgrip touchpoints, you can expect the shovel to never drip away from your grab.
It is a sturdy shovel nonetheless. We loved the heavy-gauge steel construction all across the piece, ensuring a day-to-day toughness to handle the most demanding jobs.
This includes the heavy-gauge spade. Not only is it tough to dig dirt effectively, but it is also sharpened in the edge, making it easy to thrust into the soil, chop lawn away, and even pry objects off the ground easily.
Last but not least, it comes with a 44-inch handle that allows maximum leverage. Lifting the dirt off the floor takes as little effort as you can imagine.
- It is extremely tough
- Boasts a grippy and soft handle
- Sufficiently long for superb leverage
- Sharpened edge increases effectiveness
- Comes with hard-to-remove stickers
2. Root Assassin One Shot Garden Shovel
- STURDY HANDLE - Our expertly designed shovel handle is durable and made of heavy-duty, lightweight, high-strength fiberglass. It isn’t prone to chipping and rusting like your average shovel handle. It has a steel blade and weighs only 6 lbs.
- DIGGING AT ITS BEST - Whether you are digging a trench; removing sand, dirt, or mud; shoveling coal; camping; or fixing up your yard or garden, this One Shot Shovel will be your new best friend.
A favorite option for many gardeners, the Root Assassin One Shot tackles every digging task with maximum efficiency thanks to a small yet leverage-oriented design.
It starts with the D-handle addition, sturdy to handle years of use and light with its fiberglass construction. This makes it possible to achieve exceptional pressure when going down, tons of leverage when lifting dirt, and still minimize exhaustion in the process.
One of the most exciting parts is the quality of the materials. The fiberglass on the handle doesn’t chip or rust, for example. Yet, it is the heavy-duty aluminum shaft and the steel blade that makes it such an excellent piece, ensuring next-level durability.
Apart from that, it boasts a gigantic blade wing, so you can apply more pressure comfortably. Also, it is capable of holding more dirt than the standard shovel.
All of that comes in a 43-inch design, long enough for comfort and small enough for easy storage. More impressively, it only weighs 6 pounds.
- It is incredibly light and easy to operate
- The tough build lasts a lifetime
- D-handle design is comfy & grippy
- Large head with steps for easy use
- The head is a bit narrow for scooping
3. Corona AS90300 Round Point Shovel
- Round point shovel with a durable all-steel construction for heavy-duty digging, lifting, and moving of soil, sand, or other materials
- Designed for durability and strength in tough outdoor conditions
If you dislike D-handles, you can still get a long straight model like the AS90300 from Corona. It is an All-Steel Nursery piece, meaning it delivers more strength than the typical shovel.
This is mostly possible thanks to the 12-gauge blade. It can resist a lot of impacts, tons of prying, and decades of digging. The pre-sharpened edge adds up to its effectiveness. And the heat-treated build ensures no bending or splitting over time.
While the handle is not necessarily the comfiest, it boasts a red grip that lets you put as much leverage as you need without dropping the shovel away.
One feature that sets it apart is the rubber footpad. You can place it on either side of the blade to make it easy to dig. Every time you stomp the shovel down, you can do it using this pad to prevent damage to your shoes and feet.
Interestingly, Corona also made it good-looking and resilient with powder-coat paint and a closed-back design that prevents dirt build-up. It offers virtually everything you could expect.
- Exceptional sturdiness with all-steel build
- The straight handle is sufficiently comfortable
- Boasts a rubber footpad in the blade
- Withstands outdoors for years
- It is heavy and bulky
4. Hooyman Heavy Duty Shovel
- DIMENSIONS: 60.25 inches L x 9 inches W x 3 inches D and weighs 4.5 lbs
- DURABLE: Heavy duty head construction of 1050MN carbon steel makes shovel extremely tough and durable
As cheap as you can find it, the Hooyman is a heavy-duty alternative for those who don’t want to waste any money and get right in with the digging.
It is simple, boasting a standard blade design and a heavy-duty build. The combination is enough to dig out as much dirt as you want without causing any damage.
There’s an exciting part on the blade, though. It boasts a serrated edge. This adds up to its chopping capacity and the ability to dig plants with their entire roots out.
As for comfort, it is fantastic. An H-grip design makes it possible to achieve excellent leverage while still prevent slippage even under the rain.
And if all that wasn’t enough, it comes with flanges on the wing top, perfect for adding extra stomping power when digging – especially tough grounds.
Considering it comes with a 1050MN steel construction in a 60-inch body, the shovel is an option not to dismiss.
- Comes with a practical set of handle grips
- An all-steel build handles any use
- Offers excellent chopping results
- Allows comfortable stomping
- It’s not protected against rust
5. Bully Tools 82510 Round Point Shovel
- 100% Made in the USA
- Commercial grade
Among quality gardening brands, few can match Bully Tools. The 82510 round-point shovel, for example, comes with a triple-wall fiberglass handle reinforced with wood to adds up to the toughness of the shovel and its comfort.
This is a D-handle, by the way. One of the most comfortable and easy to use. It makes the whole digging experience a lot more pleasant.
Go a little lower in the piece, and you’ll find a 14-gauge steel body. Being so thick increases the quality entirely, making it almost impossible to bend or break while using.
And let’s not forget about the extended ferrule with the welded l-beam. It enhances the toughness exponentially, improving the prying and chopping capacity of the piece.
With a 44-inch design, it becomes a must-have. At only 4.5 pounds of weight, it certainly stands out among competitors.
- Boasts a sturdy steel body
- Surprisingly light for its size and build
- Has a comfy D-shaped handle
- Excellent size for small & big jobs
- The paint and head scratch easily
6. Bond LH015 Mini D Handle Shovel
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The cheapest D-handle shovel you’ll find in the market, and probably the smallest on the list, the LH015 from Bond is an option you don’t want to ignore.
One exciting part it stands out for comes from the handle. Made of fiberglass, this D-handle is undoubtedly the most challenging part. But it’s also comfortable, boasting a non-slip texture to prevent it from slipping out of your fingers.
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The blade of the shovel doesn’t stay behind. Made with heat-treated steel, it ensures maximum strength on every digging task. And this could mean decades of use without a single problem.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the shovel is covered in powder-coated paint. Even if you leave it out in the open for weeks on end, it won’t rust.
At 27 inches in length and with a magnificent weight of 1.8 pounds, this is the perfect shovel for the smallest jobs.
- It’s exceptionally light & small
- Increases grip exponentially
- Has a super-sturdy construction
- Delivers excellent leverage
- It’s only useful for light gardening
7. Nupla 72-016 Round Point Shovel
- Blade dimension 9" width x 11 1/2" height
- Ergonomic for comfort, safety and less fatigue
Simplicity at its best, the Nupla 72-016 shovel makes it easy to dig away immense amounts of dirt without wasting a single second.
It is a straight handle made of fiberglass. The combination increases toughness while reducing weight. A polypropylene jacket makes it possible for the straight handle to be sufficiently grippy and comfy on the hands.
The size of the blade is ideal for most jobs. At 9 inches of width and 11.5 inches height, it can tackle most jobs without a problem. It is also sufficiently big to scoop a lot of dirt in a single instant.
Apart from that, the blade is made of 16-gauge steel. Probably the toughest you’ll find in shovels as cheap as this one.
And lastly, it is still a lightweight tool. At only 3.6 pounds, it will be a no-brainer to bring around and use despite its 48-inch size.
- Light and sturdy body
- Grip-oriented and comfy handle
- Boasts a super-tough blade
- Goes through hard dirt with ease
- Gets slippery without gloves
8. AMES 1554300 Round Point Shovel
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Cheap shovels are often the best. The 1554300 from AMES makes that clear. It is extremely affordable while still offering a top-notch experience.
It starts with the ergonomic handle. Being straight makes it a bit hard to keep the grip. But thanks to the wooden hardwood texture, it is more than enough to stay fixed on your fingers even when wet.
The shovel boasts a steel collar. It connects seamlessly to the handle, making it a super-tough product all around and a good-looking one as well.
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On top of that, you get a 9.5-inch blade. It is sufficiently large to scoop a lot of dirt at once. But it also matches well with the 41-inch handle. They add up to a 55-inch shovel, adding the shaft.
It boasts a forward-turned step you can use to stomp the floor more effectively. Considering it is a steel blade, you’re likely to enjoy this tool for years to come.
- The wooden handle lasts a long time
- Steel collar keeps it together
- Extra-long for more leverage
- Comes with step for safe stomping
- Has a slippery handle
9. Martha Stewart MTS-MDS1 Mini Digging Shovel
- [PROVIDES]: Maximum leverage and easy lifting when kneeling in the garden and cutting sod or Small roots
- [GREAT FOR]: Digging holes, planting Small shrubs, transplanting and dividing perennials, and spreading mulch
We couldn’t finish this list without bringing a people’s favorite: the MTS-MDS1 from Martha Stewart.
What sets this one apart from the rest is the super-small design. Built for the smallest gardening tasks, its design will fit almost anywhere and work even in the smallest spots.
Despite its size, it is a rigid tool. It comes with a steel blade of 8 inches in length. That’s enough to dig through any dirt without breaking.
The D-shaped handle doesn’t stay behind, powder-coated, and rust-resistant to last a lifetime. It is also sufficiently comfortable and boasts a grippy texture to prevent slippage.
At 27 inches in length, the shovel is one of the smallest you can get. But it’s still worth a try – especially if you’re using it for small lawn and gardening tasks.
- It’s completely rust-resistant
- Ultra-light and short design for easy use
- A high-quality blade lasts a lifetime
- It is comfy & easy to use
- Only useful for super-light tasks
What to Consider When Buying a Digging Shovel
While you may already have an idea of what you want and need, we want to make it clearer. Here’s a set of factors to consider next time you buy a shovel:
Materials
The right choice of materials in the shovel will make a massive difference in your comfort and overall reliability.
For example, fiberglass shovels tend to be pretty sturdy and don’t weigh much. However, it’s likely to bend over time. Because of that, it’s most useful on the handles and shafts.
Steel, on the other hand, is sturdier and can handle decades of use. However, it is heavy and rusts away if left outdoors for too much time. The toughness makes it an excellent option for the shovelhead.
Other materials worth considering include polypropylene or other plastics for the handle and aluminum for shafts.
Handle Type
You’ll find two major types of handles: straight and D-shaped. Both are useful in their own ways. For example, a straight handle increases comfort when working on tough tasks as it doesn’t have any protuberance adding up to the size of the shovel.
D-handles, on the other hand, are ideal for digging swiftly and slip-free. These are ideal for times when you need to dig quickly on soft soil.
Be aware, though, apart from the type, you should also consider the grip. Well-designed grips will prevent slippage, which can be frustrating when digging.
Blade Shape
A digging shovel needs to come with a round-point blade to perform well. While the round-point makes it decently easy to dig through dirt and effective at scooping dirt away. Stay away from square blades. Triangular blades can also offer a decent job at going through dirt, but they aren’t ideal for scooping.
Length
The total length of the shovel is another considerable factor to consider. Do you prefer long shovels that can increase leverage or a small one that’s easy to lift and store?
Similarly, the length can affect comfort and ease of use. Big shovels (over 40 inches) are harder to bring around and a bit uncomfortable. But a small shovel (20 to 36 inches) is often small enough to carry around easily and use with little effort.
Weight
Like the size, the shovel’s weight also impacts how easy and comfy it is to use. For example, shovels weighing over 6 pounds tend to be harder to use and operate. Some can reach over 10 pounds, which are often unnecessarily uncomfortable.
But generally, they stay within the 3 and 6-pound range. The smallest shovels can be as light as 2 pounds (or even slightly less). These are the best for small digging tasks and gardening.
Conclusion
Give yourself a rest from removing dirt from your lawn or garden by hand or with a spade. Instead, use the best digging shovel, and you won’t suffer arm, back, or shoulder pain anymore.
With the different options above, you shouldn’t have any problem choosing. Add up the buying for an even better choice.
What are you waiting for, then? Your next shovel for digging is waiting.
