It's probably not exactly what you would choose but I carry a small plastic trowel by Fiskars. It is made for gardening but it's cheap, strong and light, perfect for digging catholes or small fire pits. The handle is also hollow with room for TP, matches, etc. I keep a small lanyard of paracord to keep it handy and to help pull the plug from the handle to access the contents. I keep in a heavy duty ziplock baggie to keep sod and mud off my other stuff.

For vehicle or pack, a short, D-handle, small head shovel from Craftsman or True Value.

I have a Fiskars folding shovel in my car. If I know that I will have to move dirt, it usually is an ex-army shovel with fixed handle.

Actually, that is quite intriguing. I currently use a Japanese soil knife (hori-hori) for those tasks. A plastic version would be quite useful in archaeology/paleontological work when you are dealing with fragile and delicate stuff and you don't want to ding delicate bones. Sometimes we get down to toothpicks and sharpened popsickle sticks.

Another goodie for the toolbox...

I keep meaning to throw a trowel in my pack, but usually a rock or stick work just fine for my needs. We stumbled upon an excavation opportunity on a hike this week, in fact, and used a stick and a couple of rocks to dig up an old railway treasure. Here's a little clip (at the end of a long video):

[video:youtube]http://youtu.be/g7grHEzV240?t=15m6s[/video]

I don't have the patience to dig like an archaeologist -- largish shovel, post-hole digger, digging bar for smaller jobs. For serious digging, I recommend a backhoe and if that doesn't work, then an excavator with an enclosed air conditioned cab.

I agree with you on the backhoe. It is surprising how delicate an instrument a backhoe can be, in the hands of an experienced operator who knows his stuff. For that matter, a trowel in the hands of a boob is an instrument of unparalleled destruction.

It all comes down to skills being ultimately more important that gear.

I inherited an entrenching tool with a cracked handle. I replaced the handle with most of a handle from a broken-handled LHRP. The handle is about twice as long as stock, now. It's a good length for a 90 degree setting to scrape snow away from the tires--to put chains on, and a good length for picking up dead stuff that I don't want to get too close to.

I just can't get the backhoe to fit in my backpack though.

It's this one. IIRC I bought mine at Menard's or Home Depot for $2.97 plus tax.