A.M. LeonardRound Point Closed Back Shovel with Ash Handle - 48 Inch Length

I'm 6'2", over 300lbs, and I needed to dig a hole through clay intermixed with rock slabs and roots. This shovel took me jumping on it, scraping across rock slabs, chopping through 1" roots, prying on stumps, prying up rocks, and it handled it all with ease. At no point did it feel like it was going to give up before I did. The handle was a very comfortable length, even for my size, and gave me a very solid-feeling sense of control over exactly where the shovel head was going to go. The head was solid and efficient. The weight was substantial, but that came in handy as I let gravity help me scrape down the sides of the hole. Similar to the difference in using a hammer vs a sledge hammer...the heavier tool just gets more done per stroke. In no time, I had dug out two holes 18" across and 2' down! In contrast, I had previously purchased the top of the line shovel at the nearest big box home improvement store, and the shovel head itself folded in half after only getting an inch into the dirt. Thank you A.M. Leonard for making a quality tool!

This is exactly the shovel I was expecting. The strength and rigidity from the closed back makes all others exactly what they are - junk. Pay the extra money and get this shovel. It is worth every penny.