I love my shovel. I have a shorter 40" garden shovel and it is the best. I tend to carry it around when the dog and I are out walking. I always find a weed or two that needs removing or it is a good weapon if a beast tries to attack me. Will take a picture of it later. 100% feel one should not skimp on the purchase of a shovel.
Long ago I was a landscape laborer. My "supervisor" said if I had a shovel in my hand today, I'd have a shovel in my hand a year from now. I did. I eventually owned my own landscaping biz. And, yes, I still had a shovel in my hand. 15 years later my back had had it. I started teaching with that unused college degree. To this day I avoid the shovel. Not laziness. An hour or two will cripple me for weeks. FYI. It's not the lift that gits ya. It's the twist at the end. I'm a big believer in rental equipment. I can still drive a tractor.
Also a long time back, my father tried to force fit my hands to a hoe. Didn't work, so he tried a rake. As far as I know those were the only failures he had in 90 years of life above grade. D-handled shovels fit, dammit.
Some shoveling is side to side out of a backhoe front bucket for example. I use my legs and sort of lever it over. Of course gravity is always your best friend too. I can still put most people to shame going out or going in which makes me think “why did I quit college after only one day?”
Both. Once they said I had some kind of speech/assignment due at the end of the semester I bounced and never returned. What speech could I possibly give that would be of interest? Besides I’m not a fan of getting up in front of people. I’ve done ok since then just a slow start.
I hate giving speeches too, But if I have to it's best to cover those ears or run since I hate talking to myself,lol
