Was digging under the container tonight to place some pavers to support a holding tank.

Some years ago, I think it was here, someone posted abt a titanium spade, cost then abt $25 IIRC, and it had a short handle, about 2 feet long and in a sharp pointy profile, not like a .mil shovel.

The thickness isn't that great, maybe .040" and I was prying small rocks abt the size of 1/2 of a baseball at times and it didn't phase the point.

The sharp point allowed for me to dig layers of tough dirt pretty fast.  I never really used it [my SO is in charge of hand digging, but wouldn't crawl under the container with the bugs and stuff] and I was really impressed.


Here's what I'm talking abt. EBay has them for abt $30 from Russia.

Oh great, another thing I never knew I "Needed"  

Looks like it would make a nice improvised spear, as well.      

In the description on Ebay, it claims not to use for prying as it will bend the blade.

There is a an unbeatable small shovel. It's called a lesche. They make a variety of them. And are most often for metal detectors. But for a trowel or digger they are almost impossible to break. All metal with T handles.

The Lesche Sampson is the one I have and while expensive it is worth every penny. I use mine relentlessly for metal detecting, gold prospecting, and trapping. Would be my go to Bug out vehicle digger.

It works well in softer soil and only as a "pick" in harder soil.  It doesn't pry well at all; the softer titanium will bend if you put much weight behind it.  Still, it's not a bad tool if your soil isn't too rocky.



ROCK6

If you want really light, there is this one:
http://www.qiwiz.net/trowels.html

Was just digging under the container with one of the small black plastic ones.

They are really tough. My SO gives it hell and it has survived a long time.