The Best Entrenching Shovel - 2021
We looked at the top 10 Entrenching Shovels and dug through the reviews from 14 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Entrenching Shovels.
Why Trust The DWYM Score?
DWYM is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to.Learn more.
Our Picks For The Top Entrenching Shovels
- The Best Entrenching Shovel
- 1. Rhino USA Folding Survival Entrenching Shovel With Pick
- 2. iunio Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool
- 3. REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Entrenching Shovel
- 4. ANTARCTICA Military Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool
- 5. E-Tools Military Issue Tri-Fold Entrenching Tool
- 6. Dohiker Military Folding Entrenching Shovel
- 7. HARVET Military Portable Entrenching Shovel and Pickax
- 8. SERGEANT Military-Grade Folding Entrenching Shovel
- 9. Smittybilt 2728 Tri-Fold Entrenching Shovel R.U.T. Recovery Utility Tool
- 10. AMES US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovel
Multipurpose ShovelThis entrenching shovel is multipurpose and can be used when gardening, digging up treasures while metal detecting and building castles in the sand.
Excellent Survival ToolThis entrenching shovel is an excellent addition to any survival kit.
Heat Treated for ToughnessYou won't find a more durable entrenching shovel on the market, as this model is made from a heat-treated high-carbon steel.
Includes Three Extension RodsUsers will have a choice of using the entrenching shovel as is or attaching up to three extension rods to make it longer.
Why we recommend these entrenching shovels?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 10 Entrenching Shovels and also dug through the reviews from 14 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Entrenching Shovels.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Rhino USA Folding Survival Entrenching Shovel With Pick
Our Take
Whether you're looking to dig a hole at the beach to build a sandcastle or shovel dirt out from under your tire, this entrenching shovel has you covered. It folds up and comes with a carrying case that can be stored in your garage or the trunk of your car. There's even an attached pickaxe that you can access by tightening the head at a 90-degree angle.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Entrenching Shovel
Our Take
This entrenching shovel has a comfortable triangular handle and a sharp, durable blade. The shovel is extremely reliable, as it's constructed from a heat-treated high-carbon steel. Storage isn't an issue with this model, since it folds up and comes with a small carrying pouch.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
4. ANTARCTICA Military Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool
9. Smittybilt 2728 Tri-Fold Entrenching Shovel R.U.T. Recovery Utility Tool
10. AMES US GI Military Original Issue E-Tool Entrenching Shovel
Our Entrenching Shovel Findings
Rhino USA Folding Survival Entrenching Shovel With Pick
What We Liked: Whether you’re looking to dig a hole at the beach to build a sandcastle or shovel dirt out from under your tire, this entrenching shovel has you covered. It folds up and comes with a carrying case that can be stored in your garage or the trunk of your car. There’s even an attached pickaxe that you can access by tightening the head at a 90-degree angle.
iunio Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool
What We Liked: If you’re looking for an entrenching shovel with all the bells and whistles, this model is your best bet. It comes with an emergency whistle, pickaxe, a bottle opener and a safety hammer. You’ll also get two extension bars, so you can use the shovel without having to bend over.
REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Entrenching Shovel
What We Liked: This entrenching shovel has a comfortable triangular handle and a sharp, durable blade. The shovel is extremely reliable, as it’s constructed from a heat-treated high-carbon steel. Storage isn’t an issue with this model, since it folds up and comes with a small carrying pouch.
ANTARCTICA Military Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool
What We Liked: With this entrenching shovel and multitool, you’ll be able to dig your car out from the snow, saw through a tree branch and plant a flower. You can use the tool in compact form or attach one to three extension rods to use the tool upright. The shovel’s handle is engineered to be slip-proof and sweat-proof, as well as to be used both with and without gloves.
E-Tools Military Issue Tri-Fold Entrenching Tool
What We Liked: This entrenching shovel uses a tri-fold design that makes it extremely compact. It even comes with its own storage case for protection and portability. Users will find the tool is quality-made, with a steel blade and aluminum handle.
Our Entrenching Shovel Buying Guide
Entrenching shovels have evolved over the years, and as a result, they are now a useful tool for every adult. They can be used for everyday tasks, as well as stored with other essentials as a part of an emergency kit. If you’re in the market for an entrenching shovel, you’ll want to consider which features are most beneficial for your intended use.
Check the construction material to see how durable the entrenching shovel will be. If you’re using it to dig up the sand on the beach while metal detecting, you don’t need it to be that heavy-duty. However, you’ll need a high-quality shovel for tougher jobs, like gardening and trenching. The REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Entrenching Shovel is made using a high-carbon steel body, making it one of the most durable shovels on the market.
Consider how portable you need the entrenching shovel to be. There are models that use a military tri-fold design that leave them small and compact. They don’t take up very much room and can be stored in the trunk of a car or on a shelf in your garage. The Rhino USA Folding Survival Entrenching Shovel folds in half and comes with a handy carrying case, so you can toss it in your backpack when camping or hiking.
Look for a model with extension rods if you have back problems and bending over to use the tool is painful. For example, the ANTARCTICA Military Entrenching Shovel & Multitool comes with three extension rods. You could attach one, two or all three of the rods to use the shovel at the height that is most comfortable to you. As an added bonus, this model has a slip- and sweat-proof handle that works just as well with bare hands as it does with gloves.
Review how functional the entrenching shovel is. Does it simply dig in dirt, or can it also saw off a tree branch? The iunio Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool has a sharpened edge, a serrated edge, a built-in pickaxe, a safety hammer, a bottle opener and an emergency whistle.
DWYM Fun Fact
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has an early entrenching shovel from 1910 on display. Of course, the history of this tool goes back much farther than 1910. In fact, during the time of Julius Caesar, the Roman Legion used these tools to dig ditches around their camps.
The American Army didn’t start using entrenching shovels until 1870. Their shovels were designed to both dig and act as a weapon during hand-to-hand combat. Today, entrenching shovels are more functional and are used by civilians just as much as military men and women.
The Entrenching Shovel Tips and Advice
- Some entrenching tools don’t come properly oiled, so you may want to oil the tool yourself before you use it for the first time.
- Entrenching shovels should not be used by children, as they have many sharp edges.
- Store your entrenching tool in a cool, dry location that is free of humidity.
- If your entrenching shovel is foldable, you’ll need to follow the specific instructions included on the product packaging to take the tool from full-size to compact.
- When you use the shovel head at a 90-degree angle, it works just like a hoe.
- In order to extend the life of your entrenching shovel, you’ll need to keep it clean. After each use, shake the loose dirt and debris off the shovel and then rinse it down with your garden hose. Use a set of old towels to dry the shovel. You don’t want to allow the shovel to stay wet, as this can lead to rusting. Apply a lubricating oil using a lint-free cloth and you’re all done.
- Should your entrenching shovel already have a few rust patches, grab a steel wool pad or a wire brush and gently scrub the rust off the surface of the shovel.
- There are two main price ranges when it comes to entrenching shovels. The Rhino USA Folding Survival Entrenching Shovel and the REDCAMP Military Folding Camping Entrenching Shovel are more affordable, as they don’t include extras like extension rods. You’ll pay a bit more for the added features of the iunio Folding Entrenching Shovel & Multitool and the ANTARCTICA Military Entrenching Shovel & Multitool.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in gardening. She enjoys spending time learning about the latest gadgets that make designing, planting and maintaining a garden a breeze. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared on leading home improvement publications.