Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
Outdoor Activities => Northern Ireland Camping and Bushcraft => Topic started by: Wolf_Larson on July 18, 2013
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This came in the post today
http://www.heinnie.com/Shovels/SOG-Folding-Shovels/Entrenching-Tool/p-671-919-6940/
Has any NIWILDERS have any shovels ????
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Hi Wolf,
Looks like a tasty piece of kit.
I did almost buy one last year, but decided to hold off.
Anytime I need to dig (harvesting roots/latrine excavation), I tend to just use a simple digging stick.
It's light, doesn't break my back and can be sourced whenever you get there.
That having been said, if I was away for any proper length of time, I'd be buying one.
Guess it all depends on the type of digging you need to be doing.
Burying any bodies?
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I have the green gelert one of these, all pretty much the same but i have used mine a fair bit. Mainly for toilet holes and firepits. Just be careful though, if you try to lever up a large lump of earth like a garden spade they will either bend or the joints break. Keep the workload light and never shovel more than half of the spade face and they make light work of alot of tasks.
I see yours has the toothed edge like mine. Still haven't worked out why they have them, it's meant to be for sawing with as per the US army rambo survival tools. I can confirm you would struggle to saw trifle with them.
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I have this one:
(http://i.imgur.com/eUkRuYQ.jpg) (http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/army-surplus-uk/military-hardware/genuine-military-army-issue-3-483263.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=S&Outdoors&gclid=CLmHuPOWu7gCFcjKtAodaicAvg)
Click on photo for more info
MikeD and I bought one at the same time about three years ago when we were going to make igloos to sleep in but the snow melted :-(
Mine is the British Army Issue version with DPM pouch but I think they are all almost identical.
I haven't actually used it at all yet. I carried it in the boot of the car through the winter, in case I got stuck in the snow, but my driving skills are superior so I had no call to use it :D
It's quite a heavy piece of kit so I would be very selective about when I pack it. I am planning island hopping/camping in Strangford Lough this summer and it will definitely be packed for that trip.
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I got mine to help me with oven pits, but like Rich said its not for real heavy work. hanks for the info lads, happy digging ;)
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I got mine to help me with oven pits, but like Rich said its not for real heavy work. hanks for the info lads, happy digging ;)
Ahhh... Oven pits! Now that's something I'd like to try.
Gotta get the dust blown off mine and get a night arranged dedicated to bushcraft :)
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Leg of lamb down a 2 foot by 2 foot hole with nice hot stones from a fire, give it 3 hours and then eat like a cave man of the bone ;D
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Spotted a handy small shovel today in a pound shop, it's about the size of a large smart phone with a folding handle. Now obviously it won't ever handle any heavy task, but my thinking was that it should do fine in most ground surfaces for digging a quick toilet hole, or very small fire pit.
In total I would say it weighs in at around 1/10 of the army style three way folders. Plus you can fit it happily in a pocket/pouch etc. I picked up five of them as they will be very handy alternatives without the bulk or weight if it's just an overnighter on your own.
Think it was poundland or poundworld, but no doubt they all have the same stuff, also can get inflatable pillows and waterproof bags. Easy way to stock up on lots of spares for the price of one bit of normal gear.