Titanium Shovel

Super cool shovel. Blown away how light it is. I opted to buy the shovel head only and bought a 23mm od carbon fiber tube for the handle. Rubber 21mm end caps can be bought to cap the tube. You can still cook on the shovel head over the fire by removing the tube from the shovel head and just using your leatherman to pull it on and off.

I purchased this shovel in 2023 and used in to 3 camping trips (12 days total) and have been mostly satisfied with it. I would have loved to give it a 5-Star review because the Titanium Head is really great product.

The fatal flaw comes from the handle. The soft pine handle that came with the shovel along with the Pin system is significantly under rated for the application. The second bullet in the product description "NOW, chop wood with its upgraded sharped edge" is a great feature for the shovel head, but the handle is not designed for this. Out of the packaging, I questioned this capability because the reduced end of the handle that inserters to the shovel head was not pressure fit and slipped in and out of the shovel head easily. During the first camping trip, 3rd swing at a small 1/4" branch limb, the shovel handle broke at the pin joint. I think the soft wood pine and 1/4" pin hole leaves too little material to withstand any kid of chopping.

During the 2nd trip, I upgraded the handle to a 16"x1"x1" piece of cherry hardwood. I shaped the handle to an Octagon for better grip during twisting motion and alignment for chopping.

3rd trip, Shovel has worked great since the hardwood upgrade! I hope to used the shovel on every camping trip in the future.

The Good - Very light weight, Good chopping edge, nice bag, replaceable handle.
The Bad - Poor quality soft wood pine handle, pin is easily lost. (-1 Star for broken handle)

Overall, I'm satisfied with the product. Please consider upgrading the handle from soft wood pine to hard wood like Cherry, Maple, or Oak!

The Near Zero Titanium Shovel is an exceptional tool that stands out for its impressive combination of durability, efficiency, and lightweight design. Crafted from high-quality titanium, this shovel offers unparalleled strength and resilience, ensuring reliable performance in various outdoor conditions.

One of the standout features of the Near Zero Titanium Shovel is its lightweight construction, making it easy to carry and maneuver without compromising on durability. This makes it an ideal choice for backpackers, campers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize portability without sacrificing functionality.

The shovel's ergonomic design and comfortable grip enhance user experience, allowing for prolonged use without discomfort or fatigue. Additionally, the titanium material provides excellent resistance to corrosion and wear, ensuring long-term durability and reliability even in harsh environments.

The versatility of the Near Zero Titanium Shovel is further highlighted by its multi-functional capabilities. Whether used for digging, trenching, or clearing snow, this shovel excels in a variety of tasks, making it a valuable addition to any outdoor gear collection.

Overall, the Near Zero Titanium Shovel exceeds expectations in terms of performance, durability, and versatility, making it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a dependable and lightweight tool for their adventures.

Lower American river, Sacramento County, CA. Lightens my load with style. Picture to follow

Well built and overall great design. It truly needs a longer handle and i personally think it should be out of carbon fiber i ordered a 5ft long piece 34mm outside diameter and it fits more tightly to the shovel head.

I recommend this to everyone! I use this shovel every single backpacking trip whether it's clearing the ground for a tent or digging a cathole. When I'm in a backpacking group everyone wants to use it because of how useful it truly is. The convenience and pure utility this shovel provides is entirely worth the minimal weight. I will never go back to those minimal ultralight trowels that are frustrating and slow to use. Even more, when backpacking with a dog it's an essential peice of gear for proper leave no trace to quickly burry dog waste off trail in areas that allow it. 10/10 would recommend.

I read reviews on this shovel before I bought it, with some claiming with was flimsy or easily bent in soft soil. I was a bit worried that would be the case, given it is made of grade 1 titanium, the softest of the titanium grades, apparently. I have a couple Russian titanium shovels to compare to, and those are quite sturdy.

When I received the Near Zero shovel, I was relieved that I got a pretty much perfect handle, and the head appeared thick and felt quite strong. I took it right out to the yard and started digging holes in both packed, dry soil, and looser but very rocky soil, and the shovel did great. I didn't feel the slightest sense that the shovel was going to bend backwards, at all. It's a nice little unit, even compared to my Russian shovels, which are awesome, by the way. The one thing I was less than pleased with was the sharpened edge. It's really not sharp at all, just kinda grinded into a slight wedge. I pressed my finger hard against the edge and rubbed all the way down the sharpened side, and it didn't even come close to cutting me. Only reason I knocked off a star, but other than that, at the sale price, I am happy with it. I can't really say it is a great value, though. You have to REALLY want a cute little titanium shovel to buy this thing. At this point, I am a titanium shovel collector, so it was worth it for me.

I'm going to leave the edge dull as it is, but grind the other side to match because I think it helps it dig better. Also considering a carbon fiber handle upgrade lit another guy did, but my ash handle really is quite good, amazing grain.

Well made shovel and appreciate the lightweight construction. If there were more options for the handles I would have opted for a longer length and also would have hoped the handle was a tighter fit to shovel head. It’s a bit loose and rattles.

Initial impressions are good ! As expected for titanium gear it’s very light and strong. One review mentioned a pine wood handle, guessing it has been upgraded to ash as stated in the add as it feels really solid. Any wood to metal joint is bound to have a bit of play, digging and chopping I’m sure would increase this over time. I sprayed the tip with a couple of coats of rubberized spray and seal (Gorilla spray version). Once dry it fit the shovel perfectly, snug fit with no play for the shovel or pin. Hand turned a drill bit the size of the attachment pin to clean out the hole slightly. The blade portion is nice for titanium, as most already know titanium will not get a keen edge without being carbonized, good edge for the intended use. Nice piece of kit.

Awesome sauce

Needs a root cutter now on other side of sharpened edge. It also feels a little loose can you make the next version have a tighter pin with double safety feature inside of the little ball maybe you can slide a small bar thru that hugs the shovel tightly and is attached by a piece of metal wire so the two piece design doesn't get lost also be cool to have a feature to attach the pin to the shovel after taking head off so u don't lose it

Well I was expecting more I Guess. The handle is very sloppy, edge is not sharp. For $80 i was not impressed, we shall see how it does I used my old survival shovel for years until the steel head broke. Will be great in a backpack though.

I recently had the chance to use the Near Zero Titanium Shovel during a two-night backpacking trip in the Smoky Mountains. This tool proved incredibly useful for a variety of tasks, even though it’s not your typical garden shovel.
During the trip, I used it to clean out ash-filled firepits, trim small branches for firewood, and even as a makeshift dinner plate. Although it’s a luxury item rather than a necessity, it added significant convenience to our camping experience.
The tool is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for camping rather than heavy-duty digging. The titanium material, while strong, is thin and not suited for hard soil, and the short handle limits the torque you can apply. If you understand the limitations of the shovel, and use it appropriately, you will not be disappointed. Despite these limitations, everyone in our group appreciated having it along and agreed it would be a staple in our future packing lists.

Took it out for its inaugural run. Was able to level out a an area for my tent with help from a stake hammer. The blades edge was great for cutting grass. I the land was rocky and the titanium held up . No nicks or dents. The edge held up as well. This was its first run, but I’m satisfied overall. Time and use will tell how it holds up.

Nice shovel, will last a life time. I've used it for leveling the ground, digging small holes, and handling hot coals for my Bank's fry/bake. I scraped the varnish off the handle and used boiled linseed oil on it. The titanium will never rust and the handle is easily replaceable even out on the woods. The weld on it is near perfect. I give this shovel 5 stars.

The four stars is for both the shovel and handle. The shovel gets five stars and the handle three. Nothing wrong with the handle it just kinda doesn't make any sense to have an ultralight shovel and pair it with a wood handle. I purchased some carbon fiber tubing and made my own handle which is longer and lighter.

Came fast and well packaged. Shovel looks good, and for the price, can't really complain.

Ultralight Titanium Shovel

Great

It is easy to pack, unpack and use. Relieved to finally have a lightweight backpacking shovel that actually works. Happy to get rid of our other flimsy or heavy shovels.