I was recently at a local match, and while having a good time, I was able to place second in a couple of categories and make my way to the prize table. I have piles of gun stuff, so I’m always on the hunt for something a little different. Amongst the magazines, gift cards, and cleaning kits sat an E-tool-like shovel. I scooped it up. The Tyger shovel followed me home, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a fairly well-made and useful tool.
E-tools are already quite underrated as far as tools go. Shovels and the ability to move dirt is quite underrated by most outdoorsman, but then again, I guess most outdoorsmen don’t need to dig fighting holes. Still, at first glance, I thought the Tyger shovel would just be a useful tool to keep in my vehicle as a just in case.
After eight hours in the spring sun, I went home, drank a beer, and didn’t think much about it. The next day I explored the Tyger shovel and was surprised by what I found. This wasn’t just a folding shovel but a fairly complex multitool.
The Tyger Shovel
Tyger is an outdoor company that mostly makes stuff for off-road trucks. Deep in their website sits a set of tools, including the shovel, as well as some knives. The Tyger Shovel makes a little more sense when you consider it’s a purpose-built off-roading tool. The Tyger does off us a folding shovel, but it’s also expandable.
You can add numerous additions to the Tyger to make it longer and more capable. An E-tool is fine, but it’s a compromise due to it needs to be compact. A longer shovel is much easier to use and much less exhausting. You can add up to three additions to make the shovel over 36 inches long.
The head of the Tyger can be positioned to act as a shovel for digging, a hoe, or a hook. The bottom of the shoulder blade has a small reinforced edition to act as a hammer. Not so much for nails, but more for tent spikes. The shovel also has a straight ‘axe’ blade and a hacksaw blade as well as a wire cutter.
On top of that, each edition contains a tool. This includes, from top to bottom, a whistle, a firestarter, a knife/saw, a disgorger, a screwdriver, and an ice pick. Plenty of little tools. The entire setup breaks down and fits into an included carry case. It fits easily under a seat or a vehicle without much thought to it.
Does It All Work?
Packing a bunch of tools into a shovel doesn’t mean much if they don’t work or don’t work well. Some tools do work better than others, and it’s good to go into the Tyger with proper expectations. The axe isn’t going to split wood, but it can chop through thin brush and take down small limbs.
The hacksaw on the shovel blade is surprisingly efficient for cutting wood, and the 36 extra inches or so of reach can be handy as well. The screwdriver is, well, a screwdriver, and you get both a Phillips and flat head, but it’s a common size to fit a multitude of drivers.
The knife/saw is akin to the type of tools you find on multitools. It’s functional, but it’s no Spyderco. All around, each of the tools is handy and effective, but nothing will blow your mind. It’s a very compact package that makes for a good outdoor tool. It’s so small it’s easy to store and could be a handy bug-out item.
The Tyger multi-use shovel takes the e-tool concept to a new level and would be quite handy in the field. I guess sometimes taking second place isn’t so bad.
