The 10 Best Small Survival shovels (2023 reviews)

We consider a small survival shovel to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your needs from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Tyger Auto Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For Digging cat holes: Buy: TAC9ER Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For poop: Buy: Sahara Sailor Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For car trunk: Buy: Redcamp Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For trail riding: Buy: Rhino USA Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For overlanding: Buy: iunio Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For beach: Buy: Tabor Tools Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For Digging At The beach: Buy: Dartmoor Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For Every Outdoor adventure: Buy: Huzsv Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best For Offroad: Buy: Ginzors Small Survival Shovel READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Tyger Auto Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

Tyger Auto line of shovel come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. This is the "apple" of multipurpose survival shovels. It is a proud car culture innovator powered by a group of adventure seekers with lifelong automotive parts experience. It is a fully grown pine tree with a thick bark. It is great for small to medium size branches and for chopping off the kindle from a larger round. This compact shovel can be easily stored in your vehicle to help you dig out tires or break glass in emergencies.

This style of locking mechanism is better than stronger, more secure and much faster than the screw type locking mechanism. It features are a little ridiculous for camping use. This tool is a lot easier to explain away in a court of law than a.

• Super well-made, nice size bag and organized everything perfectly in it
• Good investment for long term

Best For Digging cat holes: TAC9ER Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

If you often find yourself scrambling for convenient and suitable shovel, tac9er small survival shovel is your end point. If you just need a shovel, this is a good one. It is great for digging cat holes and fire pits, even in compact and rocky soil. The thick layer of paint may even round off all four edges a bit. It is great for metal detecting. The threaded lock system ensures the blade stays put, keeping you safe and protected.

This is great for metal detecting. It does clear tall grass well, for setting up a tent though. It is great for digging cat holes and fire pits, even in compacted and rocky soil.

• Very rigid and reliable when fully extended
• Nothing fancy, but durable, lightweight and compact
• Good brand reputation

Best For poop: Sahara Sailor Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

This ultimate survival shovel incorporates 12 other functions and tools, including a shovel, hoe, saws, bottle opener, cleaver, whistle, knife, fish scaler, emergency hammer, flat. It is a very high quality sturdy material. The material feels good in the hands, no slippery grip. The other cheaper folding shovels are pretty flimsy and the shovel part itself is fairly thin metal which easily bends.

The shovel feels durable and it’s lightweight. It comes in a nice box for gift-giving. It's easy to assemble and modify, and all of the many mini-tools are built to work well. The weight when fully assembled is really nice and balanced.

• Feel very firm and sturdy when working
• Sharper with more of a cutting angle
• Amazing for camping or general emergencies
• Built and has a multitude of handy and essential features

Best For car trunk: Redcamp Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate shovel. The redcamp small survival shovel is exactly that - it's a simple shovel that hits all the right notes. For a decent size shovel it folds up to a compact size and comes with a convenient pouch to store it in. The case has two loops so it supports nice on the belt. It's also an easy addition to keep in the car trunk for emergency use. This is great, feels great and closes up to a very compact size.

This folds up very compactly and is easy to store yet when unfolded it's rigid and strong and is ready to do whatever your shoveling task requires. The included bag is great and feels well made, too.

• Great for the beach for filling neso type sun cover bags with sand
• Nice and compact to keep in the truck for "stuck in the snow" emergencies
• Collapsible light weight but durable/rugged metal construction well fitted for its purpose

Best For trail riding: Rhino USA Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

You don't have to use a giant garden shovel to plant smaller plants and this Rhino USA folding survival shovel makes perfect size holes for smaller plants. It feels a solid piece of kit. The Bolt that holds the shovel tight is stout and holds fast. It isn't so much sharp as it is blunt.

The pick comes quite close to the user's face when digging with the shovel end. It's also good to keep on hand in your car, especially when you live in the areas, of rough and switch back roads, where rain run off, can get muddy, with a timber brush. This little shovel feels solid, doesn't rattle when set up to dig.

• Makes it so much easier to break the ice off the asphalt
• Well built and very helpful in the garden
• Good investment for long term

Best For overlanding: iunio Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

This is a great emergency shovel, good construction, and versatile carry case. It comes in its own molle case that is stitched well with thick material. The shovel head and the pick can be secured in position by a twist lock. It can be stacked to make a "pig-sticker" for spear fishing. It's easy for you to hang it on your belt to carry after the shovel folds up to small parts. The shovel comes with a very nice molle bag, and if you can origami well, you can fit both the shovel and the axe in these same bag.

The carrying pouch is well built and designed. All of the components fit into the carrying pouch easily, and there's room for an extra extension bar, or two.

• Great for digging out a campfire spot
• Great addition to survival or camping equipment even use around the home and garden
• Highly recommend, light weight and compact great for all types of trips or adventures

Best For beach: Tabor Tools Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

This is a decently sturdy little shovel/large garden spade. It is made to be compact in size when folded so it can easily be packed on a camping or beach trip or carried out to the garden. It is a must for campers or 4 wheeling fun. It works well for shoveling camp fire coal. It is a great compact shovel that makes it easy to have it permanently in your car during winter up in the North, where unexpected heavy snowfall can quickly make your car get stuck, especially when leaving a major road.

It is made of strong tempered forged steel, the shovel measures 18” long when unfolded, including a serrated on one side of the blade so it can be used to saw off lightweight branches. It comes in a convenient carrying pouch with a loop, so the shovel can be attached to a belt or backpack.

• Perfect tool to have on hand for camping
• A great tool to keep in your vehicle or camping kit
• Great for having it permanently in your car during winter

Best For Digging At The beach: Dartmoor Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

Compared with other shovel in this category, the dartmoor small survival shovel has a convenient design. The Z tactical military shovel is a rugged tool for digging, shoveling, sawing, chopping, and entrenching. This ergonomically designed handle measures 11.8” while the 6.3” x 4.7” shovelhead increases your digging volume. It is easy to assemble and dig a small hole. It is perfectly in a small pouch. It’s sturdy and durable as well.

This shovel is very compact and works well. It is light weight, folds up fast, and sturdy. The serated edge comes in handy to cut through roots. It is easy to use for digging and built to last.

• Very easy to carry fits in any medium size or larger
• Easy to use, great for car camping
• New and hot release

Best For Every Outdoor adventure: Huzsv Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

This survival shovel is essential for digging out a deep fire pit, sanitation holes, or digging your car out if it gets stuck in the snow. You can use this folding shovel for anything like digging snow, sand, dirt, mud and more. The extended back shovel can reach up to 40.1 inches (approximately 102 cm) to meet any of your needs. It has an excellent grip and a balanced weight.

This shovel folds up into a high quality and super compact camping waist pack that fits on your belt. The multi-tool that comes with this kit is a nice welcome and will surely be put to use out in the field. It gives you confident to use the shovel and axe.

• Lots of great tools for camping or possible roadside emergencies
• Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For Offroad: Ginzors Small Survival Shovel

Buy on Amazon

The tubes that you screw together come with survival tools that go inside them and you can even add your own tools inside the tubes. The head of the shovel has many edges allowing several usage options, depending on your needs. There’s a small folded sheet with visuals that will let the user know how to assemble the shovel. The locking device can adjust the angle of the shovel from 30,.

The shovel has all kinds of interesting features, including the end cap. The head of the shovel can be locked open securely and also at 90 degrees. It is however small and light enough to pack, but extends to a very useful length.

• Great tool and camp shovel combo
• The ultimate survival guide for any situation
• Feels sturdy, flint works and the knife screws in conveniently
• The ultimate guide to surviving anywhere