In this blog we’re going to try to give you some idea of what to look for when buying a spade. A spade’s a spade right? But not all spades are created equal. There are a lot of things to think about.

Take it from someone who has broken more spades than he should have (sorry for destroying your spade Liz!), the quality can differ massively. Normally, for me, it’s the shafts that break under pressure.

To be honest, I think that was more my fault than the spades. I probably shouldn’t have been trying to lever out those huge shrubs. You can buy spades with solid steel shafts, which I now use for anything like that. However these things happen all the time and as with a lot of tools, the more basic models tend to break more frequently.

Here are some things you should look out for when buying a spade.

Robust

The material that the spade is made of and how thick the blade is important. Thin blades can bend and warp under pressure. You might think “I could never do that to a spade” but you’d be surprised how much pressure you put on them when you are digging.

It is important, as I’ve mentioned above, that the shaft is made of a robust material. Over time faults can form in wood and then one day, snap!

You can also snap shafts by trying to lever out trees that are too big or still too well rooted (sorry again Liz).

Weight

The weight of your spade is really dependent on you. I would think carefully before making your choice. I prefer a heavier spade because it cuts through the soil easier, however using them for long periods will put strain on your back. I have had back problems and they are no joke. I would aim to strike a balance. You’re the only person that knows what you can manage so try and be honest with yourself.

Length

You should try and choose a spade length that works for you. Longer spades mean you don’t have to bend as much but it can take a while to adjust to a new digging angle. The length should relate to your height and it might be worth testing some out before you buy.

Best Spades

Here is Gardenwilds top 5 best spade.

No. 5 |

Coming in at number 5 is our first recommendation and, not only ours, the RHS also endorse this spade, so it must be doing something right. It is a robust digging spade with a sharp blade and a good weight. So far it has done well at cutting through soil, roots and other plant material. It’s also well balanced and gives it good leverage.

The only side now is the foot tread is quite narrow so when you stomp on it you feel it… maybe I should stop stomping on it so hard.

For these reasons this is No. 5 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.

No. 4 |

This is a really well made, robust spade! We’ve been using this spade for a couple of weeks now and its a really solid spade. It’s got a good handle length and is really well balanced, helpful when doing job like turning over borders. The foot tread is a bit wider on this one so I’ve been stomping away no problem.

Overall I would say that this is an extremely comfortable and good all-purpose spade.

For these reason this is No. 4 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.

No. 3 |

This is a interesting one and probably isn’t one for the home gardener but you never know. The handle is insulated up to a 1000v which is something I suppose you don’t know you need until you really need it. A 1000vs isn’t something I’m keen to experience.

The spade is designed with a curved edge in order to reduce the chance of nicking or cracking pipes while digging in the border. This is something that is useful all the time. There seems to be pipes in the strangest places and if your not careful (all the time) they can easily get a crack without you even noticing.

For these reason this is No. 3 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.

No. 2 |

I had to put one in that had a solid steel handle for the people like me, who are a bit more heavy handed.

This is obviously really robust and durable. We’ve been using this spade to smash out tree root and lever them out of the ground. If you’re looking for a heavy duty spade that can tangle with bigger roots look no further.

It is very heavy! So, like I’ve said above, if you don’t want a bad back you need to be honest with yourself about whether you should be using this. And if you are going to for how long at a time.

For these reason this is No. 2 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.

No. 1 |

Here’s our number 1! We love this spade. The blade is made from hardened carbon steel and forged from one piece which makes unbelievably strong and durable. It also stays sharp for a long time and cuts through compacted soil with ease. The shaft and handle are a good length and comfortable. It ticks all the boxes

For these reason this is No. 1 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.