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Best Square Point Shovels for Heavy-Duty Use

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By Garden Gate Review Team
Last updated: 4 Mar 2023

To assist you with your gardening chores, you’ll need high-quality soil mixes and fertilizers, as well as the appropriate instruments. If you don’t have a complete set of gardening tools, you’ll be hurting your flowerbeds this year. For yard labor, a shovel is a must-have tool. Shovels are another necessary camping equipment. The best shovels in 2023 come in handy around the campground for various tasks, such as digging out fire pits and removing automobiles from the mud.

We know that you will be using a shovel for various tasks, including shoveling out flowerbeds, moving soil around the campsite, and more. We compiled the top shovel reviews to help you figure out all you need to know about picking the best shovel for your garden this season.

Best Overall
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Nupla Square Point Shovel
Buy on Amazon
Check Price on Walmart
Runner Up
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Jackson Professional Tools Square Point Shovel
Buy on Amazon
Honorable Mention
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Truper 31657 Square Point Shovel
Buy on Amazon
Contender
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Ashman Square Shovel
Buy on Amazon
Also Consider
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Z & G D Hand Shovel
Buy on Amazon
Show contents
The Top Square Point Shovel You Can Buy in 2023
  • 1 Nupla Square Point Shovel
  • 2 Jackson Professional Tools Square Point Shovel
  • 3 Truper 31657 Square Point Shovel
  • 4 Ashman Square Shovel
  • 5 Z & G D Hand Shovel

A Complete Guide To Buying a Square Point Shovel

Gardening is a calming hobby that also aims to make you admire the beauty of your environment. Summer is a wonderful time to see your flowers, shrubs, and trees bloom. However, as every gardener knows, your plants’ blooming season success necessitates a lot of labor in the early spring and throughout the summer. And that labor work can be made easy with a nice square point shovel. What is the difference between gardening shovels, camping shovels, and root shovels? Is it probable to make shovel selection blunders? Before deciding on the best shovel for your yard or campground, consider a few design aspects. We’ll go over everything you need to know about picking the best shovel in this section.

What Are the Different Shovel Types?

In this buyer’s guide, we will look at four distinct types of shovels. Select the shovel that is best for your gardening or camping requirements.

Shovel for digging

These are the most typical shovels used for gardening and camping. For digging, these shovels have curved edges. Shovelheads on digging shovels can be square, rounded, or pointed.

Shovel for digging trenches

The tip of this shovel is thin, with long, pointed edges. The serrated edge on one or both sides of the shovel blade might help in root clearance. Most of these shovels don’t have much room at the top of the blade for a footrest.

Scraper

These shovels may be used to scrape weeds off sidewalks, pavements, and other surface materials. In the winter, they are also helpful in breaking through ice.

Shovel for scooping

These shovels have a high-capacity scoop and a wide mouth. For snow shovels, they are usually an excellent choice. These shovels come in a range of blade materials and may also be used to transport soil. 

If you want to learn more about the different types of shovels available, view this video from A.M. Leonard:

Is There Any Similarity Between a Spade and a Shovel?

A spade with a flathead and a smooth lip into the scoop is the most common design. A spade can be used to scrape or scoop dirt, snow, or other material off of a flat surface. A shovel has a sharp tip rather than a flat lip. The sides of the shovel form a gentle or abrupt slope from the base to the tip. From the footrest to the tip, the sides of the shovel create a gradual or aggressive slope. Shovels are typically used for digging in the dirt in flowerbeds or around the campground.

Shovels are generally smaller than spades, and some have handles that are foldable or telescopic. Backpackers and hikers who require a camping shovel can choose compact collapsible shovels. They are also a fantastic emergency item to keep in your truck if you are heading out on rougher terrain. 

What Are the Different Varieties of Shovel Handles?

Wood

For a classic feel and superb control, the handle is curved throughout the length of the handle. When grain is deposited in the shovelhead, it is lined up vertically for optimal handle strength. A robust handle/socket connection is made possible by the large-diameter base. The handle end is notched to allow it to flex to adapt to the curvature of the handle blade while also giving core support through the neck and featuring through rivets for a secure attachment. Unlike Composite or Fiberglass, this category usually includes a D Grip option.

Fiberglass

For an exceptionally robust design, multi-chambered, thick-walled fiberglass with a honeycomb inside spans the length of the handle. The fiberglass is protected from splintering by a resin veil exterior, while a UV-protected separate fiberglass exterior provides extended service life. A Poly expander occupies the bottom socket region to maintain neck strength, while a robust fiberglass core at the shovel edge provides a strong bonded link to the shovelhead. For a secure handle-to-blade connection, use a tapered poly adapter insert.

Composite

Although it is more durable than wood, it nevertheless has a wood-like feel and shape. These shovel handles have a smooth poly coating with UV inhibitors, making them more weather resistant than wood. Strength is provided along the length of the handle by a tubular fiberglass core with a second honeycomb fiberglass tube within. The shovel blade has a solid fiberglass core for a strong riveted attachment to the shovelhead.

All steel

The handles on several of our shovels and spades are made entirely of steel. These are among the most powerful designs available, but they come at a cost in weight. These handles have a tubular to oval form that enhances strength and a completely welded end cap covered by a rubberized grip for good handling. After that, the blades are completely welded to the handle, resulting in an incredibly robust handle to blade connection. Unlike Composite or Fiberglass, this category frequently includes a D Grip option. 

What Are the Different Varieties of Shovel Handles?  

Tools with a low lift

Caprock shovels and some round point shovels, as well as spades, are examples of low-lift shovels. When digging away plant material, splitting perennials, digging straight down, or redefining landscaping bed boundaries, a more vertical digging angle is preferable.

High lift tools

This is the most popular shovel seen at home improvement stores. The majority of square point and round point shovels belong to this category. When loading or spreading materials, or cleaning up trenches, or planting holes, these instruments are at their finest. When scooping or spreading, the high lift angle lets the user stand more erect.

The Top Square Point Shovel You Can Buy in 2023

1

Nupla Square Point Shovel

– Best Overall
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Buy on Amazon
Check Price on Walmart

The ergonomic grip is a crucial component of the handle. This shovel also features an ergonomic handle that gives the most comfort. You would be much less exhausted since your hands will be less strained. The blade is 9-7/8 inches wide by 11-1/2 inches tall. Nupla ergo power handles are rated at the highest level of performance. So, you can rely on this shovel for heavy-duty use.

Pros
  • Nupla square point shovel is lightweight, which makes it ideal for extending shoveling
  • Perfect for breaking up packed snow
Cons
  • Undoubtedly not a professional-grade tool, but it should suffice for amateur gardening
2

Jackson Professional Tools Square Point Shovel

– Runner Up
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Buy on Amazon

The smooth back blade of this shovel minimizes dirt and mud buildup. This tool also includes a double tapered forged blade to ease dirt penetration and an expanded blade socket for a stronger blade to handle connection. It is perfect for moving garden trash, sand, dirt, or sandbags. With this shovel, you can shape beds, mix concrete, and level places like driveways or other hard surfaces. The blade has a solid shank for added durability.

Pros
  • Strong and well-built shovel for long working hours
  • The knob is thick to offer a secure grip
Cons
  • The wood splintered soon enough after few uses
3

Truper 31657 Square Point Shovel

– Honorable Mention
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Buy on Amazon

For strength and economy, a 47-inch high-quality waxed hardwood handle is used made of white ash to provide the best balance of resistance and flexibility. Cushion grip with a 9-inch length for better control and less hand strain. Single rivet connects to rolled step blade for stable foot positioning. It’s well-made for occasional use at a fair price.

Pros
  • Handles are made of white ash for the best balance of resistance and flexibility
  • Cushion grip for better control and less hand strain
Cons
  • Relatively small and breaks after few uses
4

Ashman Square Shovel

– Contender
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Buy on Amazon

The Ashman Square Shovel is a well-balanced blend of ergonomically designed construction, high craftsmanship, and long-lasting sturdiness, as well as two-handed handling. The product’s practical use is the inspiration for the design. They tested it in real-world settings and developed and rebuilt it until they had a prototype worthy of being in the hands of a client.

Pros
  • It may be used for a variety of things, including transplanting tiny shrubs and trees
  • A soil piercer because the blades are tuned with precise equipment
  • Provide a firm grip that lowers the risk of mishaps while in use
Cons
  • Heavy for its size
5

Z & G D Hand Shovel

– Also Consider
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Buy on Amazon

This 29.6-inch All Metal Spade Shovel is the perfect shovel for digging. This rock digging little D spade shovel features a rust-resistant construction. Comfort and strong grip are provided by the D-handle flathead spade shovel.

The Z & G tiny d handle spade shovel has a compact handle and is ideal for landscaping. The Z & G flat head garden spade shovel with d handle is durable for digging.

Pros
  • Ideal for small beds as it is small and sturdy
  • Not only perfect for adults, but the kids can also handle it easily
Cons
  • It has poor craftsmanship that is not much durable

People Also Asked

Q: What is the price range for a good shovel?

A: Garden shovels may cost anywhere from $16 to $50, depending on size and brand. On the other hand, camping shovels with a foldable form or multi-tool capability may cost up to $230 or more.

Q: What Shovel Size Do I Require?

A: Your application also determines the size of shovel you need. You will need a shovel with a big scoop and a plastic lip for scraping to move soil about the garden. If you are going camping, though, your requirements are likely to be somewhat different.

Q: During a dig, what muscles are used?

A: During the digging exercise, the hamstrings, calves, and glutes will be utilized. Digging will work your core muscles as well.

Garden Tools
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By Garden Gate Review Team
The Garden Gate Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you choose the best products for a beautiful and bountiful garden and backyard. The content is created by The Garden Gate Review Team. Garden Gate’s editorial staff is not involved. Garden Gate is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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