I need to be honest.

When I initially saw the Earth Talon shovel I thought the pointed end was absolutely nothing more than a gimmick.

After putting it to the test in the hard, rocky soil of the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, I’m a fan.

Distinct Design
The Earth Talon shovel is specifically created for usage in rocky and tough clay soils.

Overall, it looks like any properly designed shovel– but with part of the blade shaved off. That 2-inch point is meant to focus energy (the force you put in when digging) into a smaller sized surface area, increasing the digging power of the shovel blade. In other words, you can dig deeper and easier with all of your energy focused on that point.

Does it really make a distinction?

I sent my partner into the backyard to dig a trench for the new TV cable television. 10 minutes later on he came inside to inform me “Wow, that shovel is incredible!” No, he hadn’t completed trenching in 10 minutes however the Earth Talon shovel was making the job much, much easier.

Not only did it sink through the gravel, sand and dirt with relative ease, however it rapidly chopped through big, tough roots. Simply put the Earth Talon’s point on the root, step down on the foot rest and the root is severed. Additionally, raise the shovel and slam it down onto the roots. It might not cut the roots cleanly, however it sure does the job.

Related Article: Shovel vs. Spade: What’s the Difference?

The shovel was likewise efficient at prying up rocks (not stones!). I was concerned that the point may flex however after an afternoon of getting rid of rocks to make a new vegetable bed there was no damage at all to the point.

The Earth Talon did an excellent job of getting under the surface area and then cutting through the soil and gravel horizontally. This made trenching simpler and, although we do not have turf here, I’m sure it would make quick work of eliminating sod.

We likewise attempted utilizing the Earth Talon shovel to collect unwanted aloe plants that had spread out throughout the yard and to dig planting holes for some brand-new penstemon plants. Collecting weeds was simple; the point severed the roots and appeared the plant with ease.

The shovel is extremely effective as is, I anticipate that sharpening the blade would make a huge difference (the shovel gets here with a protective cover over the point however the edge isn’t sharp), specifically for cutting through roots.

Scoops Less Soil Than Traditional Shovels
Digging holes with the Earth Talon shovel needed a little more effort– not due to the fact that it was challenging to dig to the required depth (that part was easy) but since the blade design makes it hard to scoop up a lot of soil.

Imagine sinking the blade half method into the ground, drawing back, and then raising the soil with the shovel. Due to the fact that a big piece of the blade is “missing out on,” you can only scoop about half as much soil just like a regular shovel. In the end, we resorted to digging holes with the Earth Talon shovel and scooping out the soil with an old, rusty shovel from the garden shed.

Steady and Versatile

It looks like the shovel would be unsteady (I was sure that it would lean to one side each time I pushed the point into the ground), that showed not to be the case. Besides the excellent penetration, utilizing the Earth Talon seemed like digging with any other shovel.

The point on the blade likewise has a few unexpected benefits. Since it’s smaller sized than a typical shovel, you can enter into tight places with the tip (just like utilizing a trowel). It was also useful for scribing lines on the ground and poking holes in bags.

Strong Construction
We tried both the wood and fiberglass handle variations of the Earth Talon. If strength or endurance is an issue for you, I ‘d suggest the wood managed shovel.

The blade on the Earth Talon shovel is made of hardened, tempered steel with a powder-coated surface and an extended steel neck. It’s strongly attached to the shaft with 2 rivets– there was no looseness at all– and a steel shank where the 2 connect.

There’s a foam grip at the end of the deal with, offering you a little more grip and cushioning for your hands.

The foot rest is nice and large and is well-positioned, making it easy to stomp down on the shovel without harming your foot. My other half discovered he didn’t require to use the foot rests since of the shovel’s excellent penetration however if you have less upper body strength, the foot rests are a nice addition.

Recommendation
5 Shovels Rating from Gardening Products ReviewWe give the Earth Talon a 5-shovel score. It has outstanding penetration in hard, rocky soil (significance that it takes less energy to dig), is durable, comfortable to use, and does what it’s meant to do extremely well. In my spouse’s words, “This is the very best shovel I’ve ever used for trenching and digging in tough soil.”