With proper maintenance, the best garden spades can last a lifetime, so a quality tool such as the Leonard Full-Strap Diamond-Point Spade may be well worth the investment.

Look for a spade with steel blades. Stainless steel and boron steel are strong, long-lasting, and rust-resistant. Carbon steel blades are super-durable and a little lighter weight but can be susceptible to moisture and rusting if not maintained properly.

Customer Reviews

I use my spade exclusively for digging holes and rooting out weeds,” says Hughes. “I always choose spades with a round point blade because I find a round blade sinks into the ground much easier than a flat-tipped blade.”

Riveted securely in place, the strap strengthens stress points on the shaft to extend the life of the spade, but the rivets can catch on hands or garden gloves. The steel strap may also make this spade too heavy for some users, however, so keep that in mind. Its long, pointed shape and curved tip allow this tool to dig deeper than most, but the shape does limit the blade’s surface area for moving soil. Sharp serrated edges on both sides of the blade give this spade great sawing capabilities, though the atypical, pointed blade limits scooping potential. Overall, it’s designed to cut, dig, and pull roots out all at once so gardening tasks are completed faster. An indulgence I would never forgo is a proper cooked breakfast. I always get up in time to have one, even – to my wife Sarah’s horror – if I have to leave at 6am and rise at 4.45am.Most spades have a traditional D-grip or T-grip handle to help hold and manage the spade. Both styles perform well, so the choice is mainly personal preference. If the handle is fiberglass, metal, or plastic, look for cushioned, rubberized coatings that offer a no-slip grip for optimal control and reduced impact on the hand and wrist. This well-balanced hybrid garden spade sports convenient no-slip grip sections on the reinforced fiberglass shaft. Air-cut holes lighten the ergonomic handle, which has two separate no-slip grip areas to accommodate different working techniques and minimize strain on hands and wrists. The large handle, however, may not be comfortable for smaller hands even when wearing garden gloves, and with various joints and grip sections this spade may be challenging to clean.