The 12 Best Folding Shovels

Folding shovels are remarkably useful. If you are camping, you can use one to dig a fire pit, bury your garbage, or make a “cat hole” for toilet purposes. If you are in your car and get stuck in sand or snow, you can use one to dig yourself out of trouble and get on your way.

But which is the best folding shovel to buy? After all, there are lots of different designs available.

Some are ultra-compact, weigh no more than 1-2 pounds, and are perfect for occasional or emergency use. Others are bigger, heavier, more robust, and better suited for more substantial digging jobs. Some models are more than just simple shovels and have additional features, such as saws, pickaxes, and even whistles and fire starters. They are designed to be survival tools.

Best Folding Shovel

1. FiveJoy Multitool

When is a foldable shovel not a foldable shovel? When it’s a FiveJoy folding shovel and multitool! As well as being suitable for digging, this product offers a host of additional features, making it ideal for campers, hikers, RV-ers, survivalists, and preppers.

Key Features

• Made from 420HC high-carbon steel
• 16-in-1 functions including shovel, knife, axe, fire starter, rope cutter, hammer, bottle opener, and wire cutter
• Length when extended 21.6”
• Weight 2.16 lbs.
• The handle can be fitted with extension tubes (not supplied)

This is the Swiss Army Knife of collapsible shovels! Whatever outdoor task you need to do, this product can help. From cutting down a tree to digging a firepit to starting a campfire, it does it all. At a little over two pounds, it’s quite heavy, but it’s well-made and built to last.

Pros

• Multi-functional
• Very strong
• Easy to use
• Good price
• High quality

Cons

• May be too heavy/long for some users

This multi-functional folding shovel maybe a little too big and heavy for backpacking, but it’s all but perfect for static camps, RV-ing, and car camping. Suitable for regular or emergency use, this the only tool you’ll need to take with you into the great outdoors.

2. SOG

SOG has a good reputation for making knives, saws, and other outdoor equipment. This compact but tough-as-nails folding survival shovel won’t take up much space in your pack but could save your life!

Key Features

• Made from high carbon stainless steel
• 3-way folding design
• Partially serrated shovel blade for sawing
• 25 inches long when unfolded
• Supplied with a ballistic nylon pouch for safe storage
• Weighs 24 ounces
• Powder-coated

Folded, this shovel is small enough to hang from your belt. But, once you open it up, it’s long and robust enough for almost any digging or sawing job. Take it camping or keep it in your car or RV for emergencies. You’ll be glad you’ve got it!

Pros

• Light and compact
• Well-made
• Good price
• A useful outdoor tool

Cons

• Quite small/short

When folded, this shovel is about the size of an adult’s hand. It’s that compact! But, once unfolded, it’s long enough for most light digging jobs, providing you don’t mind kneeling down. It’s not suitable for digging a deep hole, but it’s pretty much ideal for making a fire pit or cat hole.

3. Gerber Gorge

Gerber makes some of the best knives and multitools around. This folding shovel is light and compact, but also strong enough for digging into hard ground. Easy to deploy, this is a great little shovel for hiking and camping.

Key Features

• Made from high-quality steel
• Weighs 1.67 lbs.
• 25 inches when extended/unfolded
• Easy to use push-button mechanism
• The blade can be locked straight or at 90-degrees
• Telescopic handle
• Hammer built into the end of the handle
• Supplied with a nylon carry case

While this product is “just” a shovel, Gerber state that the high-carbon steel blade can also be sharpened to make an axe if required. Easy to deploy, light, and compact, this shovel is a very useful piece of outdoor equipment.

Pros

• Compact
• Well-made
• Easy to use
• Well-priced

Cons

• Nylon carry case doesn’t have a belt loop

This lightweight, collapsible shovel won’t take up much space in your rucksack, but it’s sturdy enough for most digging jobs. The storage bag case is a nice touch, but it would be much better if it had molle attachments or a belt loop to make it easier to carry.

4. Redcamp Military

Folding camp shovels can be expensive, but they don’t have to be! This model from Redcamp is well-made and functional, and very well priced. If you want a sturdy, multi-functional folding shovel but don’t want to break the bank to buy it, this could be the one for you.

Key Features

• Made from heavy-duty carbon steel
• Triple folding design
• Partially serrated edge
• 8” long when extended
• Weighs 2.5 lbs.
• The blade can be locked to a 90-degree angle
• Supplied with a canvas carrying pouch

Whether you need to dig a latrine pit, shovel soil over a fire to put it out or dig your car out of the snow, this small shovel is up to the task. It’s light but strong, and the three-fold design means it won’t take up much space. It’s perfect for regular use or kept for emergencies.

Pros

• Very well-priced
• Well-made
• Versatile and useful
• Easy to use

Cons

• Too short for digging deep holes

With no way to extend the handle beyond 22 inches, this is a very short digging tool. Because of this, you’ll probably need to crouch or kneel to use it. As a result, it’s best suited to small digging jobs. That said, it’s still a very well-made and well-priced folding shovel.

5. Coghlan’s Folding

Folding camp shovels are often very small and compact. That’s good if you need to save space in your rucksack, but not so good when it comes to digging a decent-sized hole! This shovel from Coghlan is a little larger than the others on review, so it’s easier to use, if not quite as compact.

Key Features

• Made from tempered forged steel
• Weighs 2.1 lbs.
• 23” long when unfolded
• 10” when folded
• Three-fold design
• Serrated saw blade edge on one side

This simple but well-priced folding shovel is very easy to use. It doesn’t have a lot of features and doesn’t even come with a carry case, but for light digging jobs, it’s more than up to the task.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Very low price
• Light and compact
• Well-made

Cons

• Basic design
• Blade only locks straight – no hoeing or hooking function

If you only want a shovel for digging and don’t want to spend a lot of money, this folding camp shovel from Coghlan could be just what you are looking for. But, if you want something a little more multi-functional, a different product may be a better choice.

6. Harvet Military Shovel and Pickaxe

Folding shovels are often too short for serious digging jobs. This product from Harvet extends out to 28 inches making it more versatile and easier to use than most shorter models. Plus, it’s more than just a digging tool and has lots of additional functions and features that make it even more useful.

Key Features

• Made from heavy-duty stainless steel
• The telescopic handle extends from 15 inches to 28 inches.
• Functions include a pickaxe, hammer, knife, saw, fire starter, whistle, chisel, and screwdriver
• Head can be angled at 45, 90, and 180-degrees
• Supplied with a carry case

This is more of a survival tool than a simple shovel. It’s got all the functionality you need to dig, chop, and saw out in the wilderness. Whether you need to dig your car out of deep snow, build a bivouac, or start a fire, this folding shovel has got you covered.

Pros

• Multi-functional
• Adjustable length
• Well-made
• Easy to use

Cons

• Quite heavy

Strength and functionality come at a price – increased weight. That’s not a problem if you are car camping or RV-ing but is a real drawback for backpacking. If you want a folding shovel for hiking, this product is probably too heavy. But, for more static camps, it’s a very good choice.

7. Smittybilt Tri-Fold

Emergency tools are the sort of thing that you buy, hoping that you’ll never need to use, but are glad to have when things go wrong. This compact folding shovel takes up next to no room in your car or backpack but could be a real lifesaver out in the wilderness.

Key Features

• Tri-fold design to save space
• Fiber-reinforced nylon lightweight handle
• Double-serrated edges
• Carbon steel blade
• Storage bag included
• 9” long when folded
• 26” long when extended
• Weighs 2.6 lbs.

This is a recovery utility tool – or RUT for short. It’s designed for digging your car or truck out of sand or snow, and it’s perfectly made for this purpose. Not as multi-functional as some of the other folding shovels on review, this is a simple digging implement and not a survival tool.

Pros

• Simple, robust design
• Easy to use
• Made to last
• Well-priced

Cons

• Only really suitable for digging

This folding shovel is good for one purpose – digging. It’s not a camping tool, and nor is it a survival tool. But, if you need to dig a hole or dig your truck out of deep sand or snow, this shovel is the right tool for the job.

8. Rhino

This compact, lightweight folding shovel and pickaxe is ideal for camping, off-roading, gardening, and beach use. Best of all, it’s guaranteed for life, so you can buy with 100% confidence.

Key Features

• Made from powder-coated carbon steel
• Shovel and pickaxe functions
• 23” long when extended
• Tri-fold design to save space
• 9” long when collapsed
• Serrated edge on one side of the blade
• The blade can be locked straight or at 90-degrees
• Weighs 2 lbs.
• Supplied with a carry case
• Backed by a lifetime warranty

Sold by Rhino USA, an American family business, this well-made shovel and pickaxe is perfect for emergencies. Small enough to fit in your car or truck’s glove box, or in your backpack, it’s the sort of survival tool you hope you won’t ever need but will be very glad to have if you get into difficulties.

Pros

• Very small and light
• Sturdy construction
• Good price
• The pickaxe is handy for breaking through ice or hard ground

Cons

• Not made in the USA – actually made in China

Despite the company’s name, this shovel is not made in the USA but, instead, comes from China. That doesn’t matter too much because it’s still backed by a lifetime guarantee. However, if you are looking for an American-made folding shovel, like the type the US military use, this is not the product for you.

9. iunio 

The iunio Folding Shovel is one of the smallest models on review. And yet, despite its diminutive size, it’s still packed with a host of useful features. You probably won’t want to dig deep holes with this shovel, but it’s got everything else you need to survive in an emergency situation.

Key Features

• Made from high-carbon stainless steel
• Rubber, non-slip handle
• 5 inches long when collapsed
• 17 inches long when extended
• Functions include a shovel, pickaxe, compass, saw, hammer, nail extractor, whistle, and can/bottle opener
• Weighs 1.3 lbs.
• Supplied with a carrying pouch

Folding shovels don’t come much smaller than this model from iuono. It’s compact enough that you can put it in your rucksack and then forget all about it until you need it. It’s probably not big or robust enough for regular use, but you’ll be glad you’ve got it in an emergency.

Pros

• Very small, light, and compact
• Well-made
• Reasonable price
• Versatile
• Easy to use
• Can be carried on a belt or attached to the outside of a rucksack

Cons

• Probably too small for anything other than emergency use

This shovel is well-designed and is a useful emergency tool. With it, you’ve got everything you need to carry out most survival tasks, including making a shelter, digging a firepit, and chopping wood for a fire. But, for anything other than small digging jobs, it simply isn’t big enough. Think of this as a big Swiss Army knife, and not a “real” folding entrenching tool.

10. Coleman Shovel with Pick

Coleman is a well-known manufacturer of outdoor equipment. This folding shovel is very small and is really no more than a trowel. It’s perfect for digging small firepits, burying your garbage, or making a toilet hole, but not big enough for any serious excavations. This compact model may be a good option if you want a small tool for use while camping or hiking.

Key Features

• Made from tempered forged steel
• Pick, shovel, and saw functions
• Comes apart for easy storage
• Carry pouch included
• 16” when extended
• 7” when collapsed
• Weighs 1.5 lbs.

If you are looking for the smallest functional folding shovel, this could be the one. It’s perfect for light digging jobs and won’t take up any space in your rucksack. In fact, it’s virtually pocket-sized. But, if you need something for digging anything other than very shallow holes, this is not the product for you.

Pros

• Very small and light
• Good quality materials
• Solid locking mechanism
• Can be worn on your belt

Cons

• Too small for anything but very light digging

If you know you’ll be digging in soft dirt or sand and won’t have to excavate a deep hole, this compact folding shovel is not a bad choice. But, for anything other than very light digging duties, this product is just too small.

11. Sahara Sailor

The Sahara Sailor Survival Shovel really lives up to its name. With 23 functions, it’s ready for anything life throws at you. Described as unbreakable, this emergency tool is designed for urban and wilderness survival and is small enough that you can pack it away and forget about it until it’s needed.

Key Features

• Made from carbon steel and aerospace-grade aluminum
• 31” long when extended
• 5” long when collapsed
• Weighs 3.5 lbs.
• Functions include a shovel, saw, axe, wire cutter, screwdriver, knife, fire starter, bottle opener, whistle, glass breaker, hoe, and hammer
• Supplied with a nylon carry pouch with belt loops
• Backed by a lifetime warranty

At 3.5 lbs., this multi-function folding shovel is a little too heavy for hiking and backpacking, where every ounce counts. But, for RV-ing, camping, hunting, fishing, and off-roading, it could be the perfect emergency tool. Made to last, this folding shovel would also be useful for digging your car out of snow or sand. It looks good too!

Pros

• Highly multi-functional
• Very well-made
• Big enough for more demanding digging jobs
• Well-priced
• Easy to use and carry

Cons

• Quite heavy

This is more than a folding shovel – it’s a fully-fledged survival tool. It’s probably overkill if all you want to do is dig a shallow firepit. But, if you want something that could help you survive in the wilderness, this product is highly recommended.

12. Overmont Collapsible Aluminium Snow Shovel

While you could use a regular folding shovel to clear snow, it’ll probably take a long time. After all, most are very compact and are made more for digging dirt than clearing snow and ice. This collapsible shovel is designed specifically for clearing snow and will make short work of even a big snowdrift.

Key Features

• Made from light, strong aluminum
• Anodized for a long-lasting finish
• Collapsible for easier storage
• Adjustable from 26-32 inches long
• Weighs just 1.3 lbs.
• Comes with a windscreen ice scraper
• Lightweight, anti-slip handle
• Supplied with a nylon carry case

Ideal for winter use, this is the shovel you need if you have to dig your car out of the snow. It’s also strong enough to deal with sand and loosely packed dirt too. It’s a must-have for off-roaders, RV-ers, car campers, snowmobile riders, truckers, and anyone else who drives anywhere the weather or terrain can take a turn for the worst.

Pros

• Lightweight but very strong
• Won’t chip, tarnish, or fade
• Useful for all types of driver
• A winter must-have

Cons

• Not compact enough for backpacking – best suited to vehicular use

This shovel is probably a bit too big for skiers and snowboarders, who often carry shovels in case of an avalanche. That said, if you strap it to the outside of your backpack, it’s light enough that it could still be used for that purpose. Instead, this shovel is designed more for vehicular use, and for that, it’s highly recommended.

Bottom Line

Whether you are a camper, a hiker, a hunter, like to drive off-road, or are a survivalist, a folding shovel should be part of your kit. You’ll still need a decent knife, and an ax is always handy, but a folding shovel can be every bit as useful.

With so many different models to choose from, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. To make your choice, work backward from what you want to use the shovel for. That will determine whether you need a plain folding shovel or something with more features.

Next, decide on your budget. Also, consider the size and weight of your shovel; small is best for backpacking, while the size isn’t all that important if you’ll be carrying your shovel in a car or truck.

With that done, you should have no problem choosing the best folding or collapsible shovel for your needs. Check out the OutdoorWorld Reviews homepage for more expert reviews.