Cazmale — Review and comparison in 2021
If you have a garden to maintain or arrange, you can’t do without a spade. Although this tool has a very long history, it is still indispensable in the field of gardening. To make it easier to find a spade that suits your needs, here is a list of products that we have prepared for you. If you want a durable multifunctional tool that will not let you down, we recommend you choose Fiskars Solid 131413 , a 117 cm spade with a triangular blade and tail made of steel, and the ergonomic D-shaped handle made of plastic. If you are looking for a shorter spade, useful especially when traveling or in special weather conditions, you can opt for Grunman S597L .
Comparative table
The product is a very practical and useful tool, being perfect for most gardening works: digging in any kind of soil, pits for trees, cleaning the ground. The ergonomic handle allows you to put less effort when working, and the quality materials from which it is made offer durability and comfort.
Some customers have complained that the material from which the handle is made is not pleasant for the skin, and the tail may be too short, especially if the user is very tall.
The model ranks first in the ranking of our recommendations. It is a multifunctional gardening tool characterized by ergonomics, as well as by high quality and functionality.
It is a durable product, thanks to the anti-corrosion blade and the fiberglass tail. It can be used in all garden work (digging ditches, canals or furrows, planting and replanting trees and shrubs), as well as on construction or archeological sites.
The spade is a little more expensive than other products with similar utility.
Depending on your needs and your garden, it is possible to use this tool quite intensely, in very good conditions of comfort. In other words, it is a product that deserves to be purchased in every household.
It is very useful in crisis situations (congestion, snow) and can be used successfully in removing snow, ice, sand and mud. It is provided with a solid blade made of high-strength boron steel alloy. In addition, it is equipped with a comfortable D-shaped fastening system to increase its efficiency.
The spade is very useful, but it is not foldable, so you must have enough space at hand to place it.
It is an extremely handy, portable spade, which is far superior to the competitors in the range in terms of stability, ergonomics and functionality.
Reviews about the best spades
If you want to burn a few stages and get closer to the perfect choice without wasting too much time with the documentation, we help you by providing you with a pot-pourri of opinions about the best spades, based on which to quickly define your options. .
Spade
Fiskars Solid 131413

The harlet is suitable, by the nature of the material and the sharpness of the blade, suitable for hard soils. This Fiskars spade is ideal for digging holes or furrows, removing roots and grass bushes, as well as for small construction works.
The spade has a hardened steel blade and a comfortable D-shaped plastic handle. It is equipped with a sharp edge, which effectively cuts the roots and plants with a stronger stem. Also, the harlet has a steel tail, thanks to which it is possible to work more efficiently and, last but not least, it increases the durability of the product.
The product has a total length of 117 cm, convenient regardless of the height of the user, ie a little more than 10% corresponds to the triangular blade (18 cm). The weight of 1.89 kg makes it easy to transport and handle. No matter how unfriendly the soil in your garden (sandy, stony or just very hard), the tool will help you tame the landscape without noticeable effort.
RICHMANN C0902

The products from the Polish Richmann Exclusive range, formerly Corona Exclusive, are made of the highest quality materials and are intended for professional and industrial applications. The C0902 is a universal shovel, very light, comfortable, but very robust at the same time, becoming the favorite choice of many as soon as they hold it in their hand.
The spade is intended for digging the soil and transferring the plants, as well as for releasing a construction area of residues. It is, therefore, suitable for work on site or in the garden. Due to the sharp blade and the robust steel from which it is made, it easily penetrates a wide range of soils: hard or wet soil, sand, gravel.
The dimensions of the blade are 29 x 19.5 cm, and the spade has a total length of 119 cm. The working part of the harlet has a structural inclination, which facilitates the work. The plastic handle “DY” guarantees easy use, and the rubber grip surface makes the tool fit well in the hands. The instrument is made of high quality materials. The tail consists of a metal shaft for durability.
STREND PRO 211716

STREND PRO is an international trading company operating on the Central European market since 1992, being one of the largest distributors of tools, abrasives, tools and manometers. They have a tradition of almost 30 years on the market for home, workshop and garden tools.
The STREND PRO 211716 spade has a rectangular metal blade, narrow and sharp, which facilitates cutting in dense soil, and the metal tail prints a high resistance of the tool. The plastic D-shaped handle attached to the light instrument (1.95 kg) protects the user from rapid fatigue.
The narrow and long blade, resistant to corrosion, is specially designed for digging narrow ditches for pipes, for drainage or for buried irrigation systems, as well as for cleaning those previously dug. It is also excellent for transplanting live trees and shrubs, cutting roots and other planting needs.
Professional spade
Grunman S597L

Thanks to the 22 x 30 cm stainless steel blade, this Grunman S597L professional spade offers better soil penetration. Besides the fact that it is very compact, this material is not afraid of corrosion at all, especially since it has been treated by electrostatic field painting. This feature is what makes this product very durable.
Apart from the blade, the tail used for this product is also made of a very resistant material, fiberglass, which is an unbreakable material. Even if you use the spade regularly, there is no risk of this tool breaking. In total, the tool measures 120 cm, which makes it easy to handle for anyone.
This is the equipment you need if you want to arrange your garden with a difficult terrain. In addition, the handle is covered with a material that is very pleasant to the touch and therefore offers more comfort in use.
Set MetaloChimice MET4292

For larger agricultural or construction works, which you will use for other help, this set offered by MetaloChimice will prove to be very useful, being a useful kit for any large household. You can have at hand, at a very convenient price, tools with which to perform several operations: digging, caring, planting, harvesting, aerating, etc.
The set contains 3 short spades, with a total length of 106 cm, with 42 x 24 cm iron blade, wooden tail and ergonomic metal handle, D-shaped and 3 professional spades, 155 cm long, with metal blade 42 x 25 cm treated against corrosion and wooden tail.
The set also contains 3 tool tails of 74 cm of lacquered wood, with a diameter of 2.5 cm at the top, with metal handle and D-shaped wood, compatible with various tools, such as spades, shovels, rakes, forks etc.
Cazma Fiskars
Fiskars Solid 131417

Fiskars Solid is a range of multifunctional tools that are managed with minimal effort and with durable structures that will not disappoint you. Fiskars 131417 spade, with metal handle and treated steel blade, serves perfectly for both treasure hunters and agricultural works.
One of its biggest advantages is easy storage and transport in a car or backpack. Due to its small size (80 cm long and 19.5 cm wide blade, as well as a weight of 1.4 kg), this Fiskar Solid spade can travel with you anywhere and at any time can help you. Separately, you can buy a cover for easy transport and storage.
If heavy loads are applied to the blade, it bends and returns to its original position. The tail is arranged at an angle of 20 °, and the handle profile is made especially depending on the grip of the hand, which guarantees a comfortable, natural working position. Reliable welding guarantees the long life of the product.
Military spade
Carface W01030556

This foldable military spade is versatile, being able to play several different roles depending on the operations you intend to carry out. Indeed, it has various functions, which you can use during gardening. We will mention in particular the use as a hammer, saw or even a hoe.
It is able to withstand various unfavorable conditions due to the thickness of the blade of 0.15 cm and its high hardness. In addition, it is very easy to assemble and disassemble simply by detaching the screw handle.
Measuring 13 x 9.2 cm as blade dimensions and 41 cm mounted vs. 15.5 cm folded, this spade at a good price also has the advantage of portability, being very easy and safe to transport and store in the included cover. It fits without problems in the trunk or backpack, being a reliable companion in expeditions or in the household.
Digging a spade
Fiskars Ergocomfort 131911

This instrument weighs a little over 2 kg, slightly more than other tools in the same category, which means that it is more compact, more robust and stronger. Therefore, it is especially useful for working in the hardest and most compacted soil, be it stony, clayey or sandy. Buyers claim that the instrument has good performance even in demanding conditions. The spade will work well when working in the garden or on slightly larger plots of land.
The D-shaped handle allows comfortable use regardless of the size of the hand, with or without gloves, while the length of the instrument (127 cm) makes it pleasant to use for taller people.
The strong welding that catches the head tail is a guarantee of the fact that the mentioned elements are well fixed to each other. As a result, you have no reason to fear that the product will be damaged quickly, which would prevent its use. The tool design offers additional strength and facilitates penetration into the ground.
Forged spades
Set MetaloChimice MET4291

On the eve of spring, when the garden (re) arrangement works begin, you will need more tools to break through as quickly and efficiently as possible. And as a miracle tool has not yet been invented to make them all, quickly and cheaply, you will have to furnish your rack as conveniently as possible.
The MET4291 set offers you everything you need to prepare your garden as well as possible: the 2 light rakes (1050 g), with 14 teeth 1 cm thick and 18 cm long, with a long wooden tail of 130.5 cm and with a diameter of 3 cm will help you clean the land of dry vegetation and level it or crush the boulders after digging, to get the perfect furrows.
The screeds weighing 750 g, with a black-painted iron blade for increased strength, measuring 28.5 x 10 cm and a wooden tail 131 cm long and 3.5 cm thick will be useful for dug and plowed. Finally, spades with a hard metal blade of 42 x 25 cm, with a total length of 155 cm, are suitable for digging, organizing irrigation systems, planting, etc.
Beorol 652011

If you need a cheap and good spade with which to turn the earth or dig pits or ditches as efficiently as possible, but you already have the tail that suits you best, you can choose the Beorol 652011 blade.
The metal model, treated against corrosion with a layer of black paint, has a triangular shape and a sharp enough edge to cope with the work. In order for the work to be easy and comfortable, the spade is provided with a foot support, on which to press hard so that the blade cuts the ground efficiently.
Mounting the tail you have on this forged spade is very easy to do. The blade already has, on the gripping surface, the necessary holes to fix it to a wooden tail, preferably well dried, in order to avoid the imminence of the feathers.
Buying guide
The most versatile gardening tool is definitely the spade. With its help, you can dig furrows and (re) plant various plants, cut roots and dig pits, ditches or canals. However, to make such equipment easy and enjoyable to use, you need to choose the best spade that suits your needs and expectations. Therefore, we have prepared a guide that will help you select the purchase criteria:

Soil: In order to be able to buy a spade at a good price, the first thing you will have to consider is the type of soil on which you want to carry out the works. If you intend to dig in sandy soils, but without stones, it is best to opt for a light model with a fairly large blade. You will benefit from a better control of the handle for making precision holes.
On the other hand, it would be best to use sharp-edged spades when digging on hard, compact ground. In addition, in this case a metal blade made of hardened steel must be added to give the tool a higher resistance.
Also, if your work targets heavy and clay soils, we suggest you select sharp and solid models. Under certain circumstances, you may face small pebbles in the ground, so that the work becomes more tiring. In this case, you just have to arm yourself with a fork-type spade, very resistant and with sharp teeth.
Dimensions: Once you have decided what design to adopt depending on the work and the soil, you will have to pay special attention to the tail, to identify how to choose the best spades this season. To determine the length of the tail that suits you, you just have to think about your height. If you are a fairly short person and buy a bigger spade, it may be difficult for you to use it. And vice versa: if you are very tall and you take a model that is too small, you will have to bend over during use. In the long run, this position can cause back pain.
On the one hand, for users measuring between 155 cm and 175 cm, the best idea would be to choose queues of about 1.65 m. On the other hand, for users taller than 1.75 m, we advise you to look for 1.80 m tails. However, you may find spades with telescopic handles. They are easy to adapt due to their adjustable lengths and therefore can be used by different users. It is the ideal tool if several family members will work with it.

Tail: Examines the material with which the tail was made. Models with a fiberglass structure are very popular, due to their light and almost indestructible features. In addition, they greatly reduce the vibrations you will feel when digging the ground. At the same time, the wooden tails are very resistant even to extreme handling and guarantee a long life.
In any case, it is important that the contact area between the tail and the spade blade does not show any manufacturing defects, because you risk breaking the mechanism from the first grip.
Ergonomics: In order to offer you the comfort you are looking for during gardening, it goes without saying that you choose models equipped with footrests. This way, you won’t have to put in a lot of effort when digging. There are also other models with 2 very large pieces, incorporated inside the blade, to ensure a firm tightening of the tool.
In addition, depending on your expectations, you have the option to use bargains at good prices, with ergonomic D-shaped or T-shaped handle, possibly with a gripping surface lined with a layer of rubber, so that it can be used even without gloves.
Weight: Weight is always a point to keep in mind when choosing a gardening tool. To make it easier to use, it is always better to buy lighter models. However, weight can affect the efficiency of a harlet.
A heavier spade can provide greater penetration depths than a lighter model. Therefore, it is important to realistically determine your needs. If you want to maintain already arranged land, a lighter spade will be less tiring. On the other hand, if you want to work difficult terrain, a harder one will be more efficient.
Price: Whether you are looking for gardening tools or from another sector of activity, price is also a criterion that should not be forgotten. The cost of spades varies between 50 and 400 lei, but you can find cheap and good spades between 100 and 200 lei. Certainly, if you need a quality spade, and your budget is not limited, it is very easy for you to find what you need.

However, if you are looking for a low-priced spade model that meets your needs, it is possible to work with less robust equipment. However, finding a good spade is possible if you check the selection made by us.
Even if you feel like you know everything about spades, don’t rush. Read on for our answers to frequently asked questions and find out 5 things to know about spades.
Frequent questions
Is there a difference between a harlet and a spade?
Except for the etymology, there are no differences. The two terms designate the same instrument, but are used in different areas, probably depending on the takeover chain: “harlet” is derived from the Slavic language, being more often used in Moldova, while in Muntenia is more common the name “spade” , from Turkish. The term “harseu” comes from the combination of the Hungarian “aso” with the Slavic “harlet”, is used in Transylvania and designates the same object.

What does a spade look like?
The spade is a tool made of a sharp metal blade, of different shapes: rounded, triangular, rectangular or elongated, attached to a long tail made of wood, metal or fiberglass.
How to sharpen a spade?
In the same way you sharpen your hoe, the spade must be sharp, depending on the work it does, ie the precise tillage of the soil. For this tool, you do not have to sharpen both sides of the edge, but only one side. For sharpening, you will only need a metal file with the right length.

Thoroughly clean the dirt from the blade and any rust stains before starting the operation, so that nothing disturbs the file. To get a good result, sand the edge to a length of 1 cm inwards and your spade will be functional again.
5 things to know about spades
The spade is a manual gardening tool used primarily for turning and loosening the soil on small surfaces and in depth. Here is other information worth knowing:
Digging the garden
It is recommended to dig into the ground to a depth of 30–40 cm. It is the ideal condition for the biochemical cycle and soil humidification. Before transplanting a root, it is good to add fertilizer.

The moment of the works
The best time to work in the garden is the cold season, when the soil is devoid of vegetation, whether it is the end of autumn, or the time after the snow melts, when the soil is looser after thawing. It is best not to take your spade out of the barn as soon as the first snow has fallen.
Handling
People usually make mistakes when it comes to managing a tool as simple as a digging spade. To use it well without injuring your back, the solution is simply not to use the force of your back to do the work, but the force of your thighs to push the instrument into the ground. Throughout the digging, the back should not bend, but remain straight. Carefully choose the spade that adapts to your body.
Rust removal
To get rid of rust, there is a simple solution that will not cost you a fortune. This is white vinegar, which has already shown indisputable results against corrosion. Take a container large enough to immerse the blade, then fill it with white vinegar so that it covers the blade. Then let it sit for 7 or 8 hours overnight for the vinegar to enter the tool. The next day, take it out and rinse it with clean water and dry it; you will see that the rust stains will disappear quickly.

Tail replacement
The first step is to remove the broken sleeve from its location with a hammer. Then take the new handle, preferably made of well-dried wood, and drill it with a 10 mm drill and ovalize the hole. Attach the tail to the blade, and push. Then check the various attachments. Wipe the blade and then treat it with an anti-rust paint before reusing it.