I gave my wife a stainless hori-hori some years ago. Very strong as a digging tool in the garden, and holds a good edge. But I never use it. It's too thick to be a really good knife and not long enough for serious digging or prying (a two-handed task IMO).

As an all-around no-nonsense digging/cutting/general abuse tool, my Cold Steel shovels (I now have three) will do ten times more real work. They're compact enough for a daypack, and they're discreet because they don't look like a weapon.

My two cents' worth.