Does anybody here think that carrying a shovel in an emergency kit (not car-kit !) might be usefull? And if you carry one, for what situations do you use it?

Molf

I think in a desert or snow environment it would be very useful. Especially since most of the shelter plans for these environments require digging.

Of course, even the folding shovels are too big for some peoples taste. I wonder if a hand trowel will get the job done too.....

I keep a U-Dig-It mini shovel in my backpack-sized kit. For those not familiar with it, it is about the size of a gardening shovel when unfolded.

Dang Brian!, that looks almost small enough for severe constipation if all other methods fail.

Personally, I have an old GI wooden handled folding head with pick shovel in the car, and if I were to ever put one in a backpack, it would have to be the slightly larger than Brian's, a 3-section folder style preferably with a pick on it. I am not a big fan of mini-tools.

Bountyhunter

I would definitely carry a shovel if I had a car. Weather is unpredictable, so is the terrain you have to cross. One time I had to go home with a teacher after my father was unable to pick me up due to heavy snow fall (normally used to cycle home as well!).

In the 1970s British infantry used to carry a full size shovel with them! Strapped to their 58' pattern rucksack/poncho holder. That says something. In Desert Storm the UKSF carried just the shovel and improvised a stick with what they could find once in their operational area...

PS Lofty Wiseman Urban Survival Manual also recommends carrying one

I've got the same model, shovel and pick. While it IS bigger and heavier than the current tri-fold, it holds up to abuse MUCH better. I've been thru three of the tri-folds before giving up on them, now I keep the old stand by in the suburban, and as soon as I find another one (of the same quality) I'm buying it, they're worth the weight strapped to a pack for digging, demo, defense (sides of blade sharpened, it makes a great double headed hatchet), chopping, and the list goes on.

Troy

Hiking I carry an orange plastic shovel about the size of the U Dig It, not as heavy duty, but it's lighter and cheaper. In the van I keep an old wooden handle E-tool and GI Pick/Mattock. I'v picked up a couple of spare old style E-tools and 1 spare GI Pick/Mattock, as they are getting hard to find. An alternative is the East German folding E-tool. Looks much like our old wooden handle model, but has saw teeth along one edge.
There a few types floating around, not all have the saw teeth.
Dave

I'll second the U-Dig-It. In a pinch, it can be sharpened, as well.

I'd also add a good winter mountaineering shovel with a metal blade (rather than the polycarbonate types).

I have three shovels from Fiskars, a shovel in my car for snow and sand, an excellent folding spade and a small trowel for camping. I wouldn't EDC any of them though. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

03lab, many thanks for your useful info - they're all plastic, right?

Regards