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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 68 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 found the following review helpful:
 One of the best tools you'll ever use. Feb 25, 2008
By InsightStraight
I saw the Fiskars shovel described as "The Perfect Shovel" in Mother Earth News. On that basis I tracked one down at the local hardware superstore.
Just came in from using it yet again and I can say that it is the best shovel I have ever used, a superior tool in every way. The built-in (wide and textured) stomp edge makes it easy to stand upon for penetration, the one-piece handle has no rough/pinch points, and the shape of the blade is a good balance between penetration and load capacity. The blade makes short work of roots -- I have many times easily gone through roots over 2 inches, roots which previously would have seen me resorting to another tool. (The first time I sliced through a thick root with it my jaw actually dropped, and I checked to see if the root was rotten.) I have also used the shovel in situations where I really should have gone to get a prybar, with no sign of stress on the shovel.
I've had this shovel for going on 2 years now, and the only signs of wear are the powder-coating is worn off back from the tip a few inches and scratched off the back of the handle. That's it -- no nicks, bends, or tip wear in the blade, no bends in the handle. And as I write this I realize this is the first shovel that I have never had to sharpen. There has been no tendency to rust.
The shovel comes with a plastic sleeve starting at the blade and going about a foot up the handle. During one heavy session this sleeve sliced on a sharp rock and peeled back from the handle. But this had no effect on comfort in using the shovel -- the handle is smooth and well-shaped anyway. (The shape of the handle makes for less hand fatigue than a round handle.)
This shovel has seen steady use around our property. We have riverbed soils here, which means mixed sand, gravel, pockets of clay, and the occasional head-sized rock. The Fiskars shovel handles all of them equally well.
The shovel is a bit heavier than a wooden-handled one, but no heavier than some "industrial-strength" models I have used. I think the extra weight is far offset by the efficiency in digging, and the way it handles roots. (The ease of cutting roots would alone make this an ideal shovel for many people.)
I do a lot of digging, and have used (and used up) many shovels over the years. After trying the Fiskars shovel, I can't see ever using anything else -- a good thing, since I am likely to have this one for life, the way it is holding up. Casual users might not want to deal with the extra weight, but I think any farmer, rancher, laborer, serious gardener, or homesteader would instantly recognize its superior qualities once it was in their hands and would value having one.
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 A tank! Nov 06, 2006
By HZ
This shovel is definitely not a toy. It's big and it's heavy, but it's strong and looks like it will last many years. I've used it for normal gardening and landscaping. It's got a curve and a point so it's not great for edging, but it will turn up clay and move plenty of dirt. The shaft is shaped like a teardrop so it's comfortable, but I'm a tall guy and I'm not sure how it will fit in smaller hands.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Fiskars is the best - GREAT shovel...Seriously! Sep 24, 2008
By javajunki
"javajunki"
This entire Fiskars binge began with a hoe [incredible product] and then a rake [excllent] and eventually have replaced nearly entire outdoor garden tool set with Fiskars.
My husband said we didn't need another shovel but I was so happy with the other garden tools that I bought this for myself...I've not been able to use it once because he immediately adopted it. According to him it 'digs itself". I'm not exactly sure what that means but he brags about the weight and balance - says it makes it so much easier. The same applies for the square shovel. Super nice weight, well balanced, Comfortable.
While it might initially seem counter-intuitive to buy a heavy shovel...it actually is much easier to work with than a light weight shovel. The weight allows maximum efficiency so you don't need to strain and struggle to break the earth - it does the work for you. He has a tendency to have lower back pain when working (age related) and within an hour this became his new favorite shovel....he quickly insisted on buying the square head equivalent (every bit as good).
The other major difference is the long handle. It seems more and more tools are trying to scrimp by on less material - this is a very solid, very heavy item with an extra nice long handle that is perfect for those who are a bit on the tall side. It also has the rolled edge to keep the foot from slipping...lots of nice little extra's that set this apart from the rest.
Very pleased with the Fiskars line of garden tools - either buy two or don't let your husband borrow it...you won't get it back
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
I broke it. But they're honoring their lifetime warranty! Apr 07, 2008
By M. Chugh
"Moo"
After having broken maybe 6 wooden or fiberglass-handle shovels, I have acquired the "wisdom" that you get what you pay for. I admit, I used it to pry out a tree stump, so it's my fault, but this product first bent along the shaft, and then ultimately sheared and broke near the weld. That said, it has been the best shovel I've owned, and even if it didn't come with a warranty, I would probably go back and buy the same thing. Now for the amazing part...
I called up their customer service, and within 3 minutes, they had my shipping information and told me they are sending me a brand new one! They didn't even want the old one back. Wow! I am now a huge fan of this brand and will be replacing my other tools with Fiskars, which all seem to be well-designed, built, and come with a lifetime warranty.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Break This One Out For the Ugly Jobs Apr 09, 2009
By Timothy J. Mccarthy
My yard is full of hard clay and lots of rocks. For simple gardening, I can usually get by with a wood- or fiberglass-handle shovel. But if I need to dig down a ways, or pry out a rotted fence pole, or dig out one of the many stumps we have in the mulched area, ordinary shovels break. I went through 2 or 3 a year, even trying to go easy on them. Then I saw this all-steel shovel, for the same price as the others, and tried it. Here's what I found after a couple good work-outs:
- It's not unbreakable, but it will take a lot of hard use. I tried to lever out a medium-sized stump, and could feel the handle start to give as I put my full weight (250 lbs) on it. So it won't replace a 6' steel bar for the big jobs. But it easily dug out many rocks, and a couple of smaller stumps, without a problem.
- It's heavy. No, really, it's heavy! Spend a couple of hours digging with this puppy, and your shoulders will ache like never before. You'll get a lot more done than you could have with other shovels, but you sure are going to feel it.
Bottom line: If you have an ordinary shovel now, and have never broken it, you probably don't need this one. And if you are only going to buy one shovel, don't get this. But if you already have a regular shovel for the day-to-day chores, and need a "nuclear option" for the really ugly jobs, do yourself a favour and buy one of these, before you break any more handles. Very highly recommended.
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