Pack Shovels · #9
Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig
Vargo
Reader rating
Rate it and you move it. Community ratings re-rank this product inside its Top 10 list.
Expert-picked, reader-ranked. Our editors choose the products and the launch order; member star ratings move picks up or down over time.
Titanium ultralight digger. Not a real snow shovel — the right pick for three-season backpacking where you only need a cat-hole tool.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight, barely noticeable in a pack
- Durable titanium construction resists bending and corrosion
- Serrated edges aid in cutting through small roots
- Effective for digging cat holes in most soil conditions
- Simple, one-piece design ensures reliability
Cons
- Not suitable for heavy-duty digging in rocky or frozen ground
- Premium price point due to titanium material
- Too small for snow shoveling or larger tasks
- Can be uncomfortable to use in very hard soil without gloves
Best uses
- Ultralight backpacking
- Through-hiking
- Bikepacking
- Leave No Trace compliance
- Three-season camping
Specifications
- Material
- Titanium
- Weight
- 1.25 oz (35g)
- Length
- 8 inches
- Blade Style
- Serrated Edges
- Intended Use
- Cat Hole Digging
- Durability
- High for intended purpose
Pricing
We don't publish a price we haven't verified. The retailer links below open the live listing for this exact model.
Best for
Ultralight backpacking, Through-hiking, Bikepacking, Leave No Trace compliance, Three-season camping
Where to buy the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig
Prices and stock change often, so check the current Amazon offer before you buy.
Some links are affiliate links. Buying through them supports our testing at no extra cost to you.
The Vargo Dig Dig Trowel is a niche tool, but for those who understand its purpose, it excels. It's not a snow shovel, nor is it designed for heavy-duty digging in rocky, frozen, or heavily rooted soil. Instead, it’s a meticulously crafted ultralight solution for digging cat holes and managing small tasks around camp in three-season conditions. Its titanium construction is the star here, offering an incredible strength-to-weight ratio that makes it almost disappear in your pack. This isn't a tool for everyone, but if your primary need is a reliable, featherlight personal hygiene implement for backpacking, it’s a top contender. While its minimalist design might initially suggest fragility, the titanium build holds up remarkably well to its intended use. You won't be prying boulders with it, but for breaking through softer topsoil and creating a neat, deep cat hole, it’s highly effective. The serrated edges are a thoughtful addition, providing a slight advantage in cutting through small roots or compacted earth. It’s a specialized tool, but for hikers, backpackers, and bikepackers obsessed with shaving grams, it represents an ideal balance of function and weight. Its price point reflects the premium material and design, positioning it against other ultralight options rather than general-purpose shovels.
Construction & Materials
This trowel is constructed entirely from titanium, a material prized in outdoor gear for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. The design features a concave blade with slightly serrated edges on one side, which aids in cutting through small roots and compacted soil. The handle is a simple, ergonomically bent section of the same titanium, offering a comfortable grip for its size. The overall build is remarkably robust for its weight, with no moving parts or welds to fail under normal use. This material choice is what differentiates it from cheaper plastic alternatives and even heavier aluminum options, justifying its position as a premium ultralight tool.
Real-World Performance
In the field, the Dig Dig performs exactly as advertised: it excels at digging cat holes. Its sharp, serrated edges make quick work of breaking through duff and cutting small roots, allowing for a clean, deep hole. While it's not a tool for hard-packed or rocky ground, it handles typical forest floor and soft soil conditions with ease. The lightweight nature means you barely notice it's in your pack, and the sturdy titanium instills confidence that it won't bend or break with appropriate use. For those who prioritize Leave No Trace principles and minimal pack weight, this tool is highly effective and reliable within its specific operational envelope.
Weight & Packability
At a mere 1.25 ounces, the Dig Dig is one of the lightest dedicated trowels available. Its minimalist profile means it takes up negligible space in a pack. It's thin enough to slide into a side pocket or alongside other gear without adding bulk. The lack of a separate handle or folding mechanism contributes to its sleekness and lack of snag points. For ultralight backpackers, through-hikers, and anyone counting every gram, this trowel is an ideal companion. Its weight and compact form factor make it an almost unnoticeable addition to essential gear.
Durability & Longevity
Titanium is notoriously durable, and the Dig Dig lives up to this reputation. It resists bending, corrosion, and general wear far better than aluminum or plastic trowels. While it's not indestructible – extreme prying against large rocks could deform it – for its intended purpose of digging in soil, it's built to last for many seasons of use. The simple, one-piece construction eliminates common failure points found in more complex designs. This is a tool you buy once and expect to use for years, provided it's not misused or subjected to forces beyond its design limits.
Alternatives & Value
At its price point, comparable alternatives are typically other ultralight titanium or carbon fiber trowels, such as the Montbell U.L. Folding Fire Pit Trowel or various smaller, custom titanium models. Cheaper plastic trowels like those from TheTentLab are lighter, but less durable and less effective in compacted soil. Aluminum options offer a middle ground in price and weight but lack titanium's strength. The Dig Dig's value proposition is its blend of extreme lightness, robust durability, and effective digging capability for cat holes, making it a premium choice for serious gram-counters who demand reliability in their essential gear.
How we chose
We started with a long list of pack shovels that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Load carriage
- How the suspension handles the loads the pack is actually rated for, over long days.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
- Value at its price point
- Compared against the closest competitors in the same tier, not against cheaper gear in a different class.
Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig — frequently asked questions
- Is the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig worth it?
- We rank it #9 in Pack Shovels. Titanium ultralight digger. Not a real snow shovel — the right pick for three-season backpacking where you only need a cat-hole tool.
- What is the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig best for?
- Best for ultralight backpacking, through-hiking, bikepacking and leave no trace compliance. Standouts: extremely lightweight, barely noticeable in a pack and durable titanium construction resists bending and corrosion.
- What are the downsides of the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig?
- Not suitable for heavy-duty digging in rocky or frozen ground, Premium price point due to titanium material and Too small for snow shoveling or larger tasks.
- What are the key specs of the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig?
- Material: Titanium · Weight: 1.25 oz (35g) · Length: 8 inches · Blade Style: Serrated Edges · Intended Use: Cat Hole Digging
- Construction & Materials — what should I know about the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig?
- This trowel is constructed entirely from titanium, a material prized in outdoor gear for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. The design features a concave blade with slightly serrated edges on one side, which aids in cutting through small roots and compacted soil.
- Real-World Performance — what should I know about the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig?
- In the field, the Dig Dig performs exactly as advertised: it excels at digging cat holes. Its sharp, serrated edges make quick work of breaking through duff and cutting small roots, allowing for a clean, deep hole.
Compare side by side
Put the Bushcraft Trowel / Vargo Dig Dig against any other pick on this list — specs, price, pros, cons and reader ratings.