REVIEW – If you spend any time with a vehicle in the outdoors, you’ll encounter a need for a shovel. It can be for digging out of a snowbank, cleaning out a fire pit, or for me most recently, seeing an awesome patch of wild roadside black eyed susan and bee balm (wild flowers) to dig up and bring home. The Gerber Dredge is just such a shovel. It’s stout and robust enough for the toughest jobs, but folds up to fit under the back seat of a pickup.
What is it?
The Gerber Dredge is a folding shovel designed to be kept in a vehicle or overlanding rig, but is great for anywhere that space is at a premium.
What’s included?
- Just the shovel
Tech specs
Click to expand
Open Length: 45 inches
Folded Length: 25 inches
Weight: 6.75 lb
Materials: Steel blade, aluminum core, Glass-filled nylon shaft and handle with molded grip
Design and features
The Gerber Dredge is a full size shovel that folds up. The blade and handle both fold 180 degrees onto the shaft, collapsing from 45 to 25 inches. When unfolded, you can lock the blade into two positions – a normal shovel position, and a hoe position with the blade unfolded 90 degrees relative to the shaft. The blade is pretty sturdy steel with some hefty welds attaching the blade to the folding bracket. The step plates on top of the shovel are larger than on a “normal” shovel, and are grippy as a bonus. The handle is pretty ergonomic, with a rubber overmold that is comfortable and grippy to use.
Performance
This shovel does two basic things – digs, and folds. It digs very nicely, with a full-size sturdy blade. I actually tried to break it by digging some really large rocks out of a garden on the side of my house, but it held up well. It’s much sturdier than I thought it would be for a folding shovel, which in my experience have been flimsy and cheap. So short of any serious abuse, it should dig well for a lifetime. It’s a bit heavier than a “normal” shovel so digging for a while can be tiresome, but for a quick campsite cleanup or helping a buddy out of a mud hole, it’s a great option.
The folding is pretty easy. To unlock the blade you just turn the large cylinder on the shaft which releases the blade. Then push the same cylinder down to allow the handle to fold. Repeat to unfold. That’s about it!
What I like about the Gerber Dredge Folding Shovel
- Very sturdy
- It folds!
What needs to be improved?
- A bit expensive for a shovel
- Heavy compared to standard shovels
Final thoughts
If you are looking for a folding shovel for keeping in your truck, camper, or anywhere else where space is at a premium, the Gerber Dredge is a great option. It will do the work of any “regular” shovel, but can fit under your seat.
Price: $150
Where to buy: Gerber or Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Gerber. Gerber did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
