10 Best Survival Shovels In 2021

The Gerber E-tool is somewhat of a cult icon among camping and hiking enthusiasts. Almost all survival shovel reviews compare their target to the Gerber E-tool, seeing how it stacks up against it (or not). In our opinion, this item is the best survival shovel if you’re planning to make your way through a wild scenery or in the woods. The serrated edge is especially suitable for chopping roots and branches, allowing you to clear a path (or turn an unwelcoming patch into a garden).

Of course, as a top-rated folding shovel, the Gerber E-Tool does much more than chop and saw roots. It’s also an easy to use collapsible digging aid, perfectly suitable to hard environments (grass, ice, undergrowth or hard dirt don’t stand a chance). Meant to be highly durable, this portable shovel is also safe to use (no risk of injuries), due to the safety locking mechanism.

A pretty affordable choice, this top-rated folding shovel is great for getting all sorts of debris and hard ground out of the way. Especially if you’re going on an outdoors adventure by car, you should store one of these around for making sure you can get out of a tight spot if needed. It’s also the best folding shovel for setting up your camping area or doing a bit of gardening.

It folds to a mere 9 inches through its tri-fold system and it is also guaranteed to last a lifetime. The Smittybit compact shovel is an official Jeep accessory and will accompany you on any off-road adventure you feel like going on.

This utility shovel is modeled after the Soviet Spetznaz design which was a standard part of the Russian soldier’s retinue. This seemingly simple tool comes equipped with a hardwood handle and a belt hoop to hand it from. After you give it a try, you’ll be surprised at how easily it allows you to dig through some of the hardest surfaces to be encountered outdoors, and how durable it is.

It’s the best survival shovel especially if you’re venturing in a cold area (like a winter camping trip). Its steel, already strong to begin with, is heat-treated at the end of the manufacturing process in order to give it maximum strength. The axe-like edges can be easily improved to razor-sharpness, should you need it to have this function as well.

The best folding shovel for light camping trips, this popular Gerber tool also doubles as a hammer, perfect for pounding in the tent stakes. It’s designed to be easy to carry and easy to use. A simple button will make it unfold into a full position, and you will be able to carry it around easily in a drawstring bag. The ergonomic handle comes with a rubberized grip, making it easy to use, even if you need to dig around for long periods of time. It’s a great camping shovel or backpacking shovel for all nature lovers, as long as you’re not looking for a more sophisticated multi-tool complex intended for surviving in extreme conditions.

Another mini tactical shovel with a hardwood handle, the Cold Steel tool is also inspired from the Soviet Spetznaz shovel. It will allow you to dig through and make your way through any kinds of difficult terrain, including a heavily frozen landscape. The head and socket are made from ultra-strong heat-treated steel. The shovel’s edge is approximately 2 mm thick and can be sharpened as often as you’d like for maximum efficiency. It’s the perfect hiking shovel for rough environments.

A survival multi-tool shovel meant to help you out in a variety of situations, this folding item is perfect for adventure lovers. No matter the kind of trip you’re going on (hiking, backpacking, camping, climbing, fishing etc.), this is the best survival shovel to take along. Fans of versatility are thrilled to see all the things this tool can accomplish. Digging, sawing, chopping, picking, prying, cutting, hammering and even opening bottles are easy as pie with this military-grade compact shovel in your hands.

A tactical shovel made from a virtually indestructible material, this United Cutlery tool is the best survival shovel to take along with you on a hiking or camping trip. It’s perfect for digging, light chopping and as a self-defense weapon in a dangerous situation. Its pointy end is sharpened, while one edge is serrated and the other one is concave, perfect for chopping.

Take note that it doesn’t fold, but you can still carry it around in its sheath and reinforced nylon belt pouch (which you will receive along with this backpacking shovel upon purchase). According to most survival shovel reviews, it’s perfect for outdoor camping and it holds its edge very well over the years, with no sharpening required.