Gerber E-Tool Folding Shovel (24 in.)

Product Details

• ASIN: B0042NKS4O
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great for backpacking! December 5, 2011

By Fotoflix

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this primarily for rucking and backpacking trips and while many may say this is too heavy for such purposes I do not find weight an issue. This is a tool that can be used for many purposes, so it is considered essential gear for the purposes already mentioned including car camping and general emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle.

The gerber is hefty and gives a sense of confidence to rely on and from the perspective of someone who has actually used it over a recent weekend trip I must say that this e-tool can take a beating. The metal of the spade is thick enough to pry things that you probably shouldnt use an e-tool for, but the gerber can take it and for years to come.

FYI to soldiers... it is worth purchasing your own TA-50 because if you break or lose anything at least you have the peace of mind in avoiding the bureaucratic machine of the Army, paperwork, and the stupid CIF system. all my gear is privately owned and everyone on my team operates under the same philosophy of gear independence. So do yourself a favor and sever your ties from the horrible CIF issue system. sign for your stuff and leave it in storage until its time for turn in. Again, peace of mind!

PRICE

From experience, the gerber is a bargain. Nuff said! I highly recommend purchasing the sheath that many others have added with this purchase especially if your in the military.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For Manly Work to Be Done by Munchkins January 26, 2012

By addi

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this for my boyfriend, who lives on the East Coast and sometimes has to dig his car out of the snow. Since he is doing his residency (read: he keeps strange hours, when nobody else might be awake or around to help out), I wanted him to have a shovel that he could keep in the back of his car for emergencies. Folded up, it is nice and compact. The build quality seems solid, and it's quite easy to open up and then break back down when not in use; I can't recall if any instructions came with it, but I played with it a bit before giving it to my boyfriend to make sure it works, and I had no problem with it. This is the first such shovel I have handled, though, and I live in Southern California where shovels in general are unnecessary, so you may have different requirements for your equipment. It works as both a shovel and a pick.

My only reservations are:

(1) Unfolded, it is still quite small. I am just this side short of being considered petite, and I felt that it would be uncomfortable if I had to use the shovel for an extended period of time. I understand that this is the trade-off for being portable and taking up very little space in the trunk of the car (or as part of one's camping gear, etc.) when not in use, but it's something to keep in mind if you're a larger person.

(2) I bought the Gerber Sheath for E-Tool Folding Shovel (ASIN: B0042NJ24Q) for this. I was under the impression that this shovel would fit in that sheath (I didn't see anything in the description which would contradict this), but it doesn't. I am unable to close the snap buttons, no matter which way I stick the shovel in. Although this is technically an issue with the sheath, not the shovel, it is still something which bothers me, as I really consider these two items to be part of the same "set."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just when you think you won't ever need one... November 24, 2011

By Daddy V

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of those things that you won't know you really need until you really need it. I purchased this as part of a "just-in-case" kit... Ya, I may never really use it for any serious digging, but I'm sure it'll come in handy in a emergency. It's compact, really compact - a nice size for portability, yet when unfolded to full length it's very manageable, useful - not a toy by any means. It gives a sense of confidence that it'll get the job done and seems built sturdy enough to take some abuse. Ya, the handle is some sort of composite plastic, so I know not to use it as a lever to jack up a car or anything crazy. I figure if you use it for what it's built for, shoveling "shhtuff", then it'll exceed expectations.

I'd recommend it for anyone looking to have a collapsible shovel for just-in-case...