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Thread: Trowel test

  1. #41

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    Quote Originally Posted by HooKooDooKu View Post
    I seem to recall park service instruction (perhaps the speel I had to listen to when I picked up my JMT permit) specifically saying NOT to do this... because inevitably someone is not going to see the stick, step on or kick it, and create a poop catapult.
    Thanks,had not thought about that but my cat holes are usually so close to a tree that it would be pretty difficult for an unintended catapult to happen.........

  2. #42

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    repeat post
    Last edited by perrymk; 05-20-2020 at 17:59.

  3. #43

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    repeat post
    Last edited by perrymk; 05-20-2020 at 17:59.

  4. #44

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    A PDF version with the tables and a little more information and photos is available. I can send it to the forum moderator who can post it on this site and link it, or you can PM me your email and I will send it.

    Short version: All of the trowels tested work for their intended purpose. I hope I provide enough information to aid one in determining what balance of weight, performance and cost is right for oneself.


    Specifications Overview
    Overall (inches) Handle (inches) Blade (inches) Width (inches) Weight (ounces) Price (USD)
    U-Dig-It 9 1/8 3 ¾ 4 ¼ 2 1/8 5.23 $10
    Vargo Dig Dig 8 1/16 3 15/16 4 1/8 1 5/8 1.15 $25
    DW Deuce Scoop 7 3 ½ 3 ½ 1 7/8 0.87 $20
    StS Pocket Trowel 9 ½ 4 3 7/8 2 5/8 3.31 $13
    RedCamp 10 7/16 4 5 3/8 2 15/16 6.41 $15
    QW Mega Dig 8 1/2 3 1/8 5 1/8 2 1/8 0.9 $39
    QW Big Dig 7 ¼ 2 3/4 3 ½ 1 15/16 0.56 $36
    Snow Stake 9 1/16 1 ½ 1.35 $3
    The Deuce #2 6 7/8 3 1/8 3 ½ 2 ½ 0.57 $20
    EZEE Orange 10 7/8 4 7/8 5 7/8 2 ¾ 1.95 $5

    Practical Test Overview
    Push into lawn Dig a hole
    U-Dig-It Difficult Comfortable Moderate Comfortable
    Vargo Dig Dig Difficult Uncomfortable Moderate, small Uncomfortable
    DW Deuce Scoop Difficult Uncomfortable Moderate, small Uncomfortable
    StS Pocket Trowel Difficult Comfortable Moderate Comfortable
    RedCamp Difficult Comfortable Moderate Comfortable
    QW Mega Dig Easy Moderate Good Comfortable
    QW Big Dig Difficult Uncomfortable Moderate Uncomfortable
    Snow Stake Easy Comfortable Good, small Comfortable
    The Deuce #2 Difficult Uncomfortable Moderate Uncomfortable
    EZEE Orange Moderate Comfortable Moderate Comfortable

    Pry Toilet paper hold
    U-Dig-It Strong Comfortable OK
    Vargo Dig Dig Strong Uncomfortable Slid down
    DW Deuce Scoop Bending In-between Borderline
    StS Pocket Trowel Strong Comfortable Borderline
    RedCamp Strong Comfortable OK
    QW Mega Dig Moderate Moderate OK
    QW Big Dig Moderate Moderate Borderline
    Snow Stake Strong Comfortable Snug
    The Deuce #2 Moderate Uncomfortable OK
    EZEE Orange Moderate Comfortable OK
    Last edited by perrymk; 05-21-2020 at 10:45.

  5. #45

  6. #46

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    Seldom have so few given so much for so many to properly poop. Good job!

  7. #47
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    Most insightful study. Thanks!
    If I read this right, it looks like the snow stake wins. ;-)
    I'm not lost. I'm exploring.

  8. #48

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    The snow stake did OK except that it's digging effectiveness is hampered by it's narrow width. I provide photos and a few sentences of review in the PDF.

  9. #49

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    WOW, Excellent! Thank you! Very cool,
    I was thinking the ole' snow stake did pretty good too, based on the charts posted. Saw them this morning but had to go to work, so now I'm gonna check out the pdf.

    willin'

  10. #50

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    So is the snow stake like this one? Or something different?



    willin'

  11. #51

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    Your snow stake photo is similar.

  12. #52
    Registered User colorado_rob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by u.w. View Post
    So is the snow stake like this one? Or something different?

    willin'
    When I loast my $20 deuce of spades a couple days after I bought it, I decided to go the snow stake route, but I wanted it to be both shorter and a tad lighter, 5 minutes with a hacksaw and a bit of filing, here's my version; fits into the (unused!) TP bag better and lost a couple tenths of an ounce, no decrease in function (pic show an original and sawed off version):
    Attached Images Attached Images

  13. #53

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    I thought this was kinda wacky at first, but now can see it is pretty useful. Thanks very much for running it.

  14. #54
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    Many years ago, after I quit carrying a plastic Coghlans and then decided that I still needed something more than my foot or trekking pole, I started throwing one of my snow stakes into my backpack for the purpose. I've never tried anything else. It's kinda fun to see that I wasn't being too primitive compared to other options.
    I'm not lost. I'm exploring.

  15. #55
    Is it raining yet?
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    What PDF?

    Looks like a bought the wrong one....
    Be Prepared

  16. #56

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    PM your email to me and I will reply with a PDF of my tests and review. It’s about 14 pages.

  17. #57

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    Forgive me for pointing out that the snowstake is a bit narrow and full of holes........think I will just stick with my
    little QiWiz or get one of their larger ones with the longer handle.........but if the stake works for you,why not?

  18. #58
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    Quote Originally Posted by Five Tango View Post
    Forgive me for pointing out that the snow stake is a bit narrow and full of holes...
    FWIW, the holes are a complete non-issue as they are too small to loose much dirt through. As for being narrow, yeah, it's less efficient than a wider trowel for scooping loose soil (so you have to do two or three movements instead of one), but in turn the narrower blade cuts into harder soil much more easily.

    As we love to say . . . HYOH
    I'm not lost. I'm exploring.

  19. #59

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    Actually,I think Colorado Rob is on to something with the modified version.Looks like the modified would blast thru small roots if you had a rock handy.......

  20. #60
    Registered User 4eyedbuzzard's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by perrymk View Post
    IMG_2332 small.jpg
    toilet paper test
    Aha! We have found the culprit causing the TP shortage. Probably has a freezer full of pork chops as well...

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