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With a spade you can dig ditches and holes or dig up soil. Depending on the intended use, the garden tool should have certain properties. You can find out what these are and what else you need to look out for when buying the utensil in our guide. In addition, you will find recommendations for good spades, which are very popular with Amazon customers.
A spade is a must for digging and digging holes
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Fiskars garden spade for hard, stony ground, pointed, length: 125 cm, high-quality boron steel, grey/black, ergonomic, 1001568
EUR 32.90 To the product| kind | full metal spade |
|---|---|
| material | boron steel |
| shape of the leaf | pointed |
| width of the sheet | 19 cm |
| overall length | 125 cm |
| shape of the handle | D handle |
Fiskars is probably the manufacturer with the most spades on the market. There is a whole range of designs - there is a suitable model for every need. The winner in our comparative test is one of the bestsellers on Amazon and has been rated extremely positively. With its pointed blade, it is particularly suitable for rough digging in the garden. He should be a real universal spade and is considered excellent workmanship. Tall people benefit from the overall length of the spade.
our recommendation
WOLF Garten 73ADA005650 AS-D Spade, RED
To the product| kind | full metal spade |
|---|---|
| material | boron steel/plastic |
| shape of the leaf | around |
| width of the sheet | 19 cm |
| overall length | 123 cm |
| shape of the handle | D handle |
The characteristics of the WOLF-Garten spade are similar to the characteristics of the Fiskars test winner. However, it has a round spade blade, which makes it ideal for digging up loose soil. The reviewers on Amazon are extremely satisfied with the model and describe it as very stable.
our recommendation
Spear & Jackson 4454BS Traditional Stainless Steel Spade
26.22 EUR To the product| kind | full metal spade |
|---|---|
| material | stainless steel/hardwood |
| shape of the leaf | around |
| width of the sheet | 21 cm |
| overall length | 97 cm |
| shape of the handle | Y handle |
If you want a really quaint, rustic spade, Spear & Jackson is the best choice. It combines the classic materials of stainless steel and wood. The fact that the manufacturer gives a full ten-year guarantee on the spade is a testament to its high quality. The customers at Amazon praise the beautiful appearance and the functionality of the garden tool. Only the comparatively short length is criticized by (larger) people.
Purchase Criteria
kind
spring spade: The simplest variant of the spade usually consists of a wooden handle and a steel blade. A small metal spring, usually positioned at the front, connects the stem and blade - hence the name spring spade. The whole thing is fastened with a screw or rivet. The advantage of such a variant is the very low price. However, the connection between the handle and the blade is relatively unstable, so that the handle can break if the load is too high. Spring spades should therefore only be used to dig up loose soil.
double spring spade: As the name already suggests, the double spring spade is basically constructed like a classic spring spade - but with two springs. As a result, it is much more stable than the simple version and is therefore also suitable for rough digging work. The cost of a double spring spade is of course significantly higher.
full metal spade: Here, both the blade and the handle are made of metal or steel* (e.g. stainless steel). The elements are welded together. In the case of high-quality welded seams, such a spade is extremely robust and durable. Conversely, if the weld seams are of inferior quality and subjected to heavy loads, the seams can tear. As a result, the garden tool is generally unusable.
tips
Sometimes only the lower part of the handle is made of metal/steel, while the upper part is made of wood. Some manufacturers also integrate plastic details (such as the handle).
* There is a small but important difference between metal and steel: While metal always means a pure metallic substance (e.g. iron), steel is defined as an alloy of different metals with iron in the main role.
special spade: The three species mentioned form the main types. There are also a few special spade variants. We summarize these briefly for you:
- Field spade: 60 cm long, mainly used by the military
- Fork spade: also digging fork, blade with mostly 4 short tines, for digging at tree or bush roots
- Folding spade: mini spade, folds down to approx. 20 cm, camping utensil
- Conifer spade: particularly slim blade, practical in confined spaces, ideal for cutting out perennials
- Hole spade: also hand excavator or post hole digger, looks like pliers with 2 spade blades, quickly bores holes in the ground, perfect for setting fence posts
- Rode spade: also tree nursery spade, used to remove whole root balls, tool for digging
- Peat spade: very slender (approx. 11 cm) and high (approx. 30 cm) spade blade, for cutting peat, now only rarely offered (since peat removal is harmful to the environment)
- Pneumatic spade: works with compressed air, for non-tiring gardening, often multifunctional spade with several attachments
our recommendation
scheppach compressed air spade Aero²Spade for the compressor (compressed air hammer 27 joules, 6.3 bar, combination device with quick-change system, compressed air chisel incl. 5 tool attachments set)
134.24 EUR To the productmaterial
The handle of a spade is usually made of wood or metal or steel. Inexpensive wood versions are often made of birch wood, more expensive versions are made of ash wood (hardwood with high flexibility). Metal/steel handles are normally made of stainless steel and are classified as of similar quality to ash handles. Boron steel handles are also common.
The spade blade is made of powder-coated steel or stainless steel. Stainless steel versions usually cost a little more, but are also a bit easier to care for than other steel variants. You have to repaint the latter from time to time so that the coating remains intact and the blade does not start to rust.
tips
At this point, a brief note that it is best to store your spade indoors, whether in the tool shed, in the garage or in the basement.
shape of the spade blade
The spade blade can be either pointed or round. If you mainly want to dig ditches and holes in hard soil with your garden spade, you should opt for a model with a pointed blade. If you need the garden tool primarily for the annual cultivation of your beds, you are making the right choice with a round spade blade. The latter allows faster digging of the earth.
Spade blade width
The width of the spade blade usually varies between 18 and 23 centimetres. With a wider blade, you'll get the job done faster in open areas. On the other hand, a narrower blade plays out its advantages when things are literally getting tight.
length
If you want to dig while standing and without straining your back, you need a spade that is long enough for your height. Use the following guidelines as a guide:
- Spade length from 100 to 110 cm for 160 to 175 cm tall people
- Spade length from 115 to 125 cm for people 176 to 190 cm tall
tips
Some spades have a telescopic handle, so you can adjust the length within a certain range to suit your physical requirements.
handle ergonomics
Most spades come with a T, D, or Y handle. All variants are considered ergonomic. Ultimately, you can only find out for yourself which one suits you best (in your hands) by subjecting various spades to a practical test.
tips
A D or Y handle has the advantage that the gardening tool is easier to hang up, which can make storage easier.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a spade and what is it for?
A spade is a tool for digging in the garden. It consists of two parts: a handle and an elongated, flat spade blade. The two elements are either connected by a screw or rivet or welded (now the typical variant). Basically, the spade is a special form of the shovel.
Which brands offer good spades?
The best-known and most popular spade brands include Fiskars, Gardena and Baack.
Where is the best place to buy a spade?
Spades are available from hardware stores, for example OBI, Hornbach, toom, Bauhaus or hagebaumarkt. Sometimes you will also find what you are looking for at discounters (Lidl or Aldi). The models offered there are generally homegrown and of solid quality. But: For the largest and best selection of spades, there is no way around Amazon.
How much does a spade cost?
The price range is wide. There are cheap spades from ten euros, but also professional versions for 50 euros and more. Ultimately, it depends on your requirements and, of course, your budget, how much you should spend on the garden helper. What is certain is that you do not necessarily have to buy the most expensive model to buy a good spade. Even relatively inexpensive specimens for 20 to 30 euros can be made of high-quality materials and have first-class workmanship.
Are there spades for children?
Yes, there are actually spades for children who want to help mum or dad with gardening. These are particularly lightweight and relatively short.
our recommendation