Long Handled Shovel

Transparency Disclaimer: We manufacture all our tools locally in South Africa to support local industry and reduce ecological footprint. However, we were unable to have this style of shovel head made without purchasing our own press die (the template that presses the shape out of steel plate), the cost of which is  currently beyond our reach. We therefore imported the heads and do assembly here in South Africa, creating local jobs and making use of locally grown wood. Get in touch if you want to know more 🙂

A bit of history

In South Africa, long-handled shovels are weirdly rare even though they’re common in the rest of the world. That’s no accident. It’s a legacy of our extractive mining and farming systems, where short-handled tools were manufactured for labourers working in confined pits and trenches. The results: long-term spinal damage, poor ergonomics, and a bad habit that stuck.

It’s time to dig different!

Why the long handle?

While your old regular D-handle spade will always have its place in digging into compacted clayey soil,  the long handled shovel is built for shifting more than digging. It’s perfect for compost piles, soil beds, mulch, sand heaps, wood chips, and even mixing cement. It’s the tool you need when you’re moving material, not digging into hard soil to plant trees.

We kept the design simple, strong and smart. The longer handle gives you better leverage and an upright working posture, which means more control, less effort, and fewer visits to the chiropractor.

Specs

2 mm steel head

35 mm x 130 cm handle (eucalyptus saligna, sealed with ProNature eco-friendly sealant)

Tool length: 157 cm

Care and Maintenance

Always remove excess soil residue after use and store in a dry place. The handle can be oiled every six months or so with Pronature sealant, linseed oil, beeswax, or any other natural wood sealant.