Camping shovels:

A good camping shovel, while not absolutely necessary to have with your go bag, can be a very valuable tool to have at your disposal.  A shovel can make you shelter, it can dig a fire pit or a latriene hole.  A quality shovel can help you chop or split wood, it can help you forage for food, paddle a boat, you can cook on it, and it can defend your life.

Keeping a camping shovel of some kind in your vehicle, is a good idea, even if its a small trowel type shovel.  In colder climates, a small show shovel is a handy item to have in the trunk also. The best shovel for you will depend on its intended use.  What will you be using the shovel for ? Filling sandbags?  Digging a shelter?  Tending a fire ? will you be carrying the shovel in your gear or keeping it in your trunk?  Will you have a hatchet with you or will you need your shovel to do hatchet duty?  What sort of environment will you be in? Sandy? Woods?

These pages discuss some different types of camping shovels, and some specific shovels that you might want to check out.  Its not important to have the most expensive or the best shovel available, but get something dependable, that wont fall apart on you when you need it the most. 

Cathole Shovels: These are small trowel type camping shovels that are used mostly for digging bathroom holes, and smaller camp tasks. Folding Shovels: These are designed to take up less space, there's plenty to choose from, some good, some not so good. Small camping shovels: Compact shovels with no moving parts to break, generally the strongest and best option if you have capacity to stow it. Snow Shovels:  In colder climates where snow is a possibility a snow shovel can dig your car out for you, or make a shelter if you need it.