Reddit reviews SOG Folding Shovel Survival Shovel – Entrenching Tool 18.25 Inch Foldable Shovel Camping Shovel w/ Wood Saw Edge and Tactical Shovel Carry Case (F08-N),black

Back when I was trying to choose a good shovel it was a debate between the Cold Steel Special Forces Shovel and the Chinese Military Issue shovel.

I ended up going with the Cold Steel version for a couple reasons: one, price. I just can't justify spending almost $100 on a shovel. Two, complexity. The Cold Steel version is simple, extremely rugged, lightweight, and just works. It's tough as hell, does the job it's supposed to do, and I really have no complaints. It's based off the Russian Spetsnaz shovel. The Chinese version just looks like it's too complex for its own good.

I'd really recommend the Cold Steel one unless you have a lot of disposable income and don't mind the problem inherent to more moving parts.

Other options include the Glock entrenching tool,the popular SOG entrenching tool and the US Military entrenching tool.

I'd still recommend Cold Steel's offering over all of these.

SOG Entrenching Tool F08-N - Folding Shovel, High Carbon Steel

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038A05X6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_ib8Kyb5SCR12B

Similar to the style used in the army. Any folding style like this. You can unfold it into an L shape to use it as a hoe or as a seat (to rest a cheek on when doing your "business" in the woods. Or just use it straight like a normal shovel the it folds into a small package about the size of a thick notebook for hauling.

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You should definitely get a folding shovel!

If its a Wrangler and you have decent tires - ie Semi Aggressive All Terrains or Light Truck Tires and 31+ inches, I wouldn't even bother unless you really feel a lot of resistance. Pure road tires, definitely air down. On my LJ I have, it's stock with 31" Semi Aggressive AT tires and I almost never aired down in the 13 years I owned it. It's seen I don't know how many beach miles up and down the east coast. There was noticeable difference when I did air down though (less throttle needed, ran cooler), but it still did fine. If you do air down, about 15-18 PSI is where you want it, much lower and you risk the tire falling off the rim.

With the new Jeep in the pic, I didn't air down at all, the 35" tires treated the beach like it wasn't there. They were at 40 PSI and I will likely never air them down for the beach again. I probably could have gotten out there in 2WD on it's current setup.

Beach driving has a lot more to do with momentum management than most other factors. Airing down just helps that little bit more. If you are in loose sand, don't stop, keep it moving at a steady pace or even give it more speed before you hit the loose sand. That's the biggest factor when I watch people get stuck. They panic and slow down instead of keeping the vehicle moving. There is a really soft and torn up section where it's a turn to get to the ocean front and it's where everyone gets stuck cause they take it too slow and stop the car in the horribly loose sand, I pull people out of there all the time.

Some other Tips

• Bring a Shovel - useful for digging out - mostly to help non jeep owners get out ;) - I use a surplus army one but something like this - https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Entrenching-Tool-F08-N-Folding/dp/B0038A05X6/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1494981775&sr=1-1&keywords=folding+shovel
  
• one or two 2x6 boards 2-3 feet long - useful to put in front of tires to provide traction and lift the Jeep if you bog in the sand - also if you need to jack the Jeep for any reason it provides a platform. - Acquired at any Hardware store
  
• If you start to get stuck and are throwing sand/digging yourself in - STOP - Get out and assess your predicament. It's a lot easier to stick the boards in front of the tires when you aren't in sand up to your chassis. The deeper you go, the more sand YOU have to move out of the way.
  
• No winch would be needed, a tow strap is fine - I have spent summers with my tow strap pulling people out of the sand with the stock tow hooks on the front and back - https://www.amazon.com/Grip-Heavy-Duty-Tow-Strap/dp/B000I60HV8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1494981378&sr=8-5&keywords=tow+strap - $22 and great piece of mind - I don't use any metal hooks or d rings, it works fine without them for the beach
  
• If it's somewhat popular beach and you do get stuck, most any other Jeep owner would help you out. I do it all summer long for anyone I see stuck. It's actually a lot of fun to help recover vehicles and to see the look on peoples faces when they are relieved about what they are going to do. Don't be embarrassed about it, own it and learn from it, gotta get better somehow.
  
• Wash the undercarriage when you are done. The salt and sand will quickly rot you out.
  
  Trust me, it's not too difficult. Keep your momentum, if you do start to get stuck, don't make it worse, get out and use your tools to get you out or ask for help.
  
  Good luck! If you have other questions, id be glad to answer, PM me :) I expect to see pics!
  

Yeah the gerber e tool is EXTREMELY overpriced. This one is only $16

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0038A05X6/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp_1_1?colid=25PKQCCBPVIPQ&coliid=I2IBQMX73C7NT9&vs=1

>Then you provide a list of things that are not in your pack that would be more useful than the gun.

But those things I listed are in my pack, or strapped to it. Bear Canister, trauma/first aid kit, shovel, and a sleeping bag in a trash bag in a waterproof stuff sack mounted on the outside of my pack.

>and your pack isn't full... so why not add those things?

But my pack is full. It's a nice balance of mass and volume. I add what I need based on Probability. I carry a rattlesnake bite kit if I'm going into areas with rattlesnakes, but if I'm heading up to an alpine lake, then the snakebite kit stays and extra layers / emergency blankets are added. It's all about the probability of what you will face. Twenty-five years ago, when hiking in north Alabama, I carried a .357 because of the freaking crazies that inhabit the Sand Mountain area. Had to pull it once, too when I was threatened by a drunk.

>Lastly, we'll probably have to just accept that we have different definitions for "lightweight"... a loaded LC9 weighs as much as my shelter. It would be the heaviest piece of gear in my entire pack.

That's an understatement. I enjoy carting around 40#. Any more than that becomes a problem for my ankles.

Honestly, get a folding shovel instead. I keep one in my car for Michigan snow. Got me out of a ditch once, just need a few feet to get starting traction.

Best $20 you can spend, IMO. Portable and heavy duty:

https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Entrenching-Tool-F08-N-Folding/dp/B0038A05X6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542031084&sr=8-3&keywords=collapsible+shovel

e-tool

https://www.amazon.com/SOG-Entrenching-Tool-F08-N-Folding/dp/B0038A05X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498002367&sr=8-1&keywords=e-tool

swiss army knives are sooo 1900s, Gerber multi-tools are better, the tools lock.

Also, military entrenching tools are designed to be used as knives, so you can cut rope, and they are heavy enough to be used as a hammer. I've used them as a small hatchet as well.(cutting up small bits of kindling for a fire).