Why does nobody talk about shovels being the wrong length?

I spent 45 minutes digging a test pit at a site near Durango last Saturday and my back was killing me. Then the field director walks over, hands me a shorter handled shovel, and suddenly I'm not straining at all. Anyone else ever realize they've been using the wrong tool for basic field work their whole life?

2 comments

2 Comments

jana_ellis954d ago

Give me a break. I've used the same standard issue shovel for years and never once thought about it. You probably just have a bad back or were digging wrong in the first place. Are we really making a big deal out of shovel handles now?

ericgonzalez4d ago

Read a study not too long ago that said ergonomic handles literally reduce lower back strain by like 40% for people doing repetitive digging. It's not about "digging wrong" or having a bad back, it's about not wrecking yourself by the time you're 50. A buddy of mine switched to one of those bent handles last spring and said he doesn't wake up sore anymore after a full day of planting. Maybe your standard shovel works fine for small jobs, but if you're doing serious yard work, the handle absolutely matters. Not a big deal until you can't bend over to tie your shoes.