I've used a grafter, garden spade, folding shovel, wrecking bar, probe,spit, even a pick at some time or other and they were all needed at the time but for every dig and for mooching about I always have a bulldog round mouth with steel shaft and d handle cut down to about 2 1/2 ft. Took a little bit off the sides aswell. Stays sharp. Moves a good shovel full at a time and goes through roots well. Also carries on your back well when it's cut down. Depends where your diggin but I can dig just about all the places I go with just this spade. It's a bulldog no 2. Cheers