A good quality camping shovel is a useful backpacking accessory that often goes overlooked.
They can be used for everything from clearing a space for a tent, to creating a makeshift bathroom behind your campsite.
Unlike other camping gear, finding the best camping shovel doesn’t have to mean hours of researching, spending a lot of money, or adding a ton of weight to your pack.
In fact, there are only a small handful of camping shovels even worth considering, most of which are relatively affordable and lightweight as well.
In this list, we’re going to go over 9 of the best camping shovel options for your next backpacking trip.
Types of Camping Shovels
Before going into the best camping shovels, it’s good to have a general understanding of the different types available.
The 3 main types of camping shovels are:
3 Fold Camping Shovel
By far the 3 fold design is the most popular when it comes to camping shovels. The reason why is it allows heavy duty shovels to break down into a much more compact size.
Although the 3 fold design is a common thread among most camping shovels, there can be major differences in other areas. Things like size, material, and other attachments are commonly used to separate shovels made by different companies.
Camping Trowel
Some of the best lightweight camping shovels out there are actually camping trowels, which is why they’re a fan favorite in the ultralight outdoor community.
Camping trowels tend to vary in design. They’re generally made of one solid piece, and are used with one had rather than two. Camping trowels are much smaller than shovels, making them much lighter.
Screw Mount Shovel
The screw mount shovel design is perhaps the least common type of camping shovel. They’re usually fold out shovels, but unlike the 3 fold design, there’s usually only 1 hinge.
Screw mount shovels are typically much longer, and allow you to screw on more extensions to form a full sized shovel. This allows you to have more leverage, and can make using it much easier.
When they’re disassembled, these types of shovels tend to be the same size as 3 fold shovels, and they normally have a similar weight as well.
Best Camping Shovel 2019
Short on time? Here is a quick list of the best camping shovel options:
- SOG Folding Camping Shovel
- Tentlab Backpacking Trowel
- Lifeline Camping Snow Shovel
- ANTARCTICA Folding Backpacking Shovel
- Coleman Folding Shovel With Pick
- Coghlan Camping Trowel
- Rhino USA Portable Camping Shovel
- IUNIO Backpacking Shovel
- IUNIO Backpacking Trowel
1. SOG Folding Camping Shovel
Without a doubt one of the best camping shovel options is the SOG lightweight folding shovel. When folded up it’s only slightly bigger than your hand, making it extremely compact.
Despite its small size, the SOG camping shovel is extremely durable. It’s made with high-carbon steel that can effortlessly handle heavy duty use.
As far as size goes, it measures just 18.25 inches when fully extended, and weighs 24.5 ounces. When folded together, it’s only 10 inches long and 4 inches wide.
There are 2 versions of this spade available, one with a removable saw attachment, and one with a serrated shovel head. Both options come with a ballistic nylon sheath that allows it to be tucked away into almost any pack.
Feature Summary:
- 18.25 inches
- 24.5 ounces
- 10 inch x 4 inch when packed away
- 2 versions available
- Ballistic Nylon Sheath
2. Tentlab Backpacking Trowel
If you’re a fan of ultralight backpacking, the Tentlab backpacking trowel is definitely the best camping shovel for you.
Weighing just 0.6 ounces, this backpacking shovel is about as lightweight as they come.
It looks more like a key chain than a backpacking shovel, but don’t let that fool you. This 6.5 inch shovel has no problem moving hard packed dirt. It’s also available in 6.8, and 8 inch versions.
If you’re looking for the simplest, lightest, and most compact backpacking shovel, the Tentlab trowel is your best bet.
Feature Summary:
- 0.6 ounces (lightest option)
- Key chain
- 6.5 inch, 6.8 inches, and 8 inch versions available
- Simple, Light, Compact
3. Lifeline Camping Snow Shovel
A list of the best camping shovels wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the best camping shovel for snow – the Lifeline 4004.
This aluminum snow shovel was specifically designed to be a lightweight option that allows you to easily shovel snow while camping. It weighs and impressive 1.6 pounds, and can adjust from 26 inches to 32 inches.
One thing to keep in mind is that this is a thin aluminum shovel designed specifically for snow. Trying to dig through ice or dirt can easily break it, so try to stick with shoveling powder.
Whether you need to clear a wide space for your tent, or simply forge a path, the Lifeline 4004 gets it done.
Feature Summary:
- Lightweight backpacking snow shovel
- 1.6 ounces
- 26 inches to 32 inches
4. Antarctica Backpacking Shovel
Usually small folding shovels work just fine for camping, but sometimes a more proper shovel is needed. With the Antarctica backpacking shovel, you get the best of both worlds.
While most backpacking shovels consist of a folding shovel head with a short handle, the Antarctica shovel takes a different approach. Rather than just have a short fold out handle, it comes with 3 extension bars that allow it to be adjusted to 18, 24, 30, or 36 inches.
Being able to convert into a full sized shovel already sets the Antarctica apart, but it takes things a step further with some built in accessories. The handles come with some hidden features like a 440 stainless steel knife, an emergency whistle / fire starter, and even a safety hammer.
Feature Summary:
- Converts to small, medium, or full sized shovel
- 3 extension bars adjust length to 18, 24, 30, or 36 inches
- Comes with 440 stainless steel knife built in
- Emergency whistle
- Fire Starter
- Safety Hammer
5. Coleman Folding Shovel with Pick
Coleman is a trusted brand in the outdoor space known for making high quality camping gear, and their folding camping shovel is no different. Given their reputation for making solid camping gear, it comes as no surprise that they make one of the best camping shovel options as well.
As the name suggests, this folding shovel has a secondary function as a pick when it is locked at 90 degrees. When completely folded, its dimensions are 6.9 inches by 3.8 inches by 2.2 inches. Needless to say, it’s very portable.
Generally speaking, there’s nothing too fancy about this shovel. It’s easy to use, it’s fairly compact, and it currently costs under $10.
Feature Summary:
- Trusted Brand
- Pick function
- 6.9 inch x 3.8 x 2.2 inches when packed away
- Under $10
6. Coghlan Camping Trowel
The Coghlan camping trowel is undeniably one of the most popular backpacking shovels. It’s simple, light, and most importantly, it costs under $5. Given its price, it’s hard to beat.
Like other trowels, it takes up much less space than a normal shovel, and weighs far less as well. It’s about 11 inches in length, and only weighs 2 ounces. Coghlan gives you the option to purchase one as a single unit, or in packs up to 6 in case you want some backups.
The only color available is bright orange, which makes it easy to spot whether it’s tucked inside your hiking backpack, or dropped on the forest floor. Also, there are a few small measurements on the shovel head so you know how far down you’re digging.
The overall design is pretty simple, so there’s not much to be said about this trowel. If you want something cheap and durable that can get the job done, the Coghlan trowel is a pretty solid option.
Feature Summary:
- Under $5
- 2 ounces
- Comes in single packs all the way up to 6 packs
- 11 inches
- Bright Orange Color For Easier Location
- Measurements on trowel head
7. Rhino USA Camping Shovel
Made with powder coated heavy duty carbon steel, the Rhino folding camping shovel can handle even the most rugged environments. It has a simple 3 fold design that makes it an easy to use and reliable option.
Unlike other folding camping shovels, the Rhino shovel has more than one function. When folded 90 degrees, it has a pickaxe on the back that allows it to function as a multitool.
After it’s fully extended, this shovel 23 inches long, giving you plenty of leverage when digging. In total it weighs 2 pounds, and measure 9 inches by 6 inches when folded.
Feature Summary:
- Made with powder coated heavy duty carbon steel
- 3 fold design
- Pickaxe
- 23 inches long
- 2 pounds
- 9 inch x 6 inch when folded
8. IUNIO Backpacking Shovel
Closer to a military utility tool than a camping accessory, the IUNIO backpacking shovel can handle just about anything thrown at it.
This spade comes with everything you could possibly want out of a camping shovel, and more.
Some of the major features include a sharpened head to be used as a knife, a saw lining the edge of the head, a built in bottle opener, a pickaxe with a nail extractor, a compass / emergency whistle, and an anti-skid handle.
As far as dimensions go, there are different options available. The smallest version is 17 inches when fully extended, and weighs 1.3 pounds.
Feature Summary:
- Multi-tool
- Knife, saw, & bottle opener on shovel head
- Built in pickaxe, nail extractor, compass, & emergency whistle
- Anti-skid handle
- 17 inches fully extended
- 1.3 pounds
- 2 versions available
9. IUNIO Backpacking Trowel
IUNIO doesn’t just make one of the best traditional backpacking shovels, they also make one of the best backpacking trowels as well.
People who choose backpacking trowels over normal shovels tend to do so because of the size and weight. Well, the IUNIO trowel isn’t exactly the smallest or the lightest, but it comes with a lot more than other standard backpacking trowels.
What makes this one of the best camping shovel options is that it’s essentially a multitool. It’s designed with a shovel blade, saw, ruler, nail extractor, hex wrench, and paracord.
It’s worth noting that the IUNIO trowel is a little bigger and more heavy duty than other small camping shovels. With that said, it’s still fairly compact. In total it’s just under 10 inches long, and a little less than 3 inches wide.
Feature Summary:
- Heavy duty backpacking trowel
- Shovel blade, saw, ruler, nail extractor, hex wrench, & paracord
- 10 inches x 3 inches total
- 2 versions available
How To Choose The Best Camping Shovel
With so many different styles and brands to choose from, it can often be difficult to figure out what the best camping shovel is.
What it really comes down to is analyzing how you plan on using a camping shovel, and finding an option that will fit your needs.
Are you a lightweight backpacker? Do you plan on camping in the snow? What’s your budget?
The best camping shovel depends on the person who is using it. Some shovels are lighter than others, some are more durable, and some are more affordable. At the end of the day, it’s all about realizing what you needs are, and choosing the shovel that suits them best.
