Pros:+ Perfect for digging and transplanting shrubs and young trees.+ Strong enough to use as lever to pry plant loose. If I had bought one of these years ago I would have been spared replacing around a dozen broken wooden handles!+ Blade long enough to reach under plants.+ Blade comes reasonably sharp, though I touched it up a bit more.+ Foot rest saves damage to soles of work shoes.Cons:- It would be nice to include a rest for each foot, though I am managing with just the one well enough to no bother ordering a second one.- Mine came with a small cosmetic dent in the shaft. Not enough to weaken it though. Probably from handling prior to packing and shipping, since there was no visible damage on the packaging.

Best shovel ever owned!!! We refer to this type of shovel as a sod shovel because it’s great for digging or cutting wild sods for landscaping but this sod shovel with the long rugged handle can be used for everything. At first I was unsure of the long blade length but when I sharpened it I realized the extra few inches will come in handy in the years to come. Have already dug huge Cinnamon fern clumps with ease and from a distance as the shear weight of the shovel combined with gravity and a lil oomph will cut through anything!! Already bought the shorter d-handle version and plan on buying the diamond shaped version as well. Well worth the hundred a piece and also love the rubber foot pad

If youre getting after it, this isy our shovel. I was able to dig deep fence holes quickly in clay with this shovel. I wish I had one years ago.

Excellent shovel. Be prepared for a workout. Once this heavy beast is unleashed, in cuts thru whatever it in counters. Probably why it had a warning about underground power cables. Love using it to chop thru heavy ground vines.

Here's a first impression:This is simply the most impressive shovel I've ever seen. In fact, it's downright intimidating. The quality and heft are striking... I weighed it and came up with 8.2 pounds, or roughly double a typical shovel. It measures 65 inches end to end. The handle is 1.5" thick, and changes from a circular cross section to oval as it meets the blade... the long diameter of the oval being perpendicular to the shovel blade. That's an awesome design, as it adds strength along the stress axis, but also provides a better profile to mate with the blade. The weld is a thing of beauty, and wraps completely around the blade, including the steps at the top of the blade. It all adds strength and rigidity.I'm not exaggerating here... when I first picked this tool up, I wondered whether my strength and endurance were up to the task of using it. After sharpening the blade and working with it for a couple of hours, I was happy to find that it’s well balanced, and the weight comes in very handy for slicing through roots... it handles roots over an inch thick with relative ease. It didn’t cause undue fatigue, but the coming weeks will be a better test, as I’ll be working on 500’ of drain lines and ditches. I’ll give a more detailed performance review after that.Negatives: the shovel arrived with a dent in the side, clearly dented at the factory (paint and clear coat unaffected). That makes this a second in my opinion... if I pay this amount I want first quality. On the other hand, I’m sure I’ll be adding a few dents of my own rather quickly.There is a rubber foot pad included. So you choose one side of the blade or the other to attach it. I find this odd... with a shovel this heavy, I plan to alternate feet often to even the strain on my body. I would rather have two of these pads, or none at all. In fact, I removed it, partly because it’s a full inch thick and I didn’t care for how it affected the feel of the tool.All in all, it’s an amazing tool, and the steep price seems fair considering the quality. I’ll try to update this review soon after extended use.[Added 7/11/19]Okay I’ve taken this shovel through all sorts of trials, cut through all sorts of roots, dug holes and ditches and have just this to say: this is an unbelievable tool. It’s my favorite landscape tool in my garage by far. It’s simply powerful... my other shovels feel like wimps by comparison. I’m constantly reaching for this shovel and always keep it within reach. It just cuts through everything... hard clay, roots, sedimentary rock... you name it. The weight allows you to jamb it into the ground with considerable force... in fact, you have to be careful around sprinkler and cable lines. The steel is unbelievable... it simply stays sharp somehow, even if I hit rocks (it has broken quite a few of those as well).Unbelievable tool...it has redefined what a shovel can be in my mind.[Added 12/9/19]Used it to find and fix a water leak under a pine tree... lots of surgical precision (this thing will rip through PVC pipe). I keep a lighter/duller shovel for work around the pipe, but this shovel simply will not be denied. I absolutely love this tool.Unearthed a complex setting of bushes... hard work in Georgia clay. Sharpened it up and went to town. This shovel was my pry bar as well. I put ALL my weight on it to help pry up these deep main roots and it worked perfectly. I am a metalworker and know my steel... I have no idea what steel they used for this tool but I think it's unobtanium :D ... it just stays sharp... through rock and roots. ABSOLUTELY love this shovel... it makes me a warrior.

No foot handle as we talk about

Don't have a dislike. I do have a friend that can break any shovel until now. You get the picture.

I particularly liked the rubber footpad that can be installed on either side of the blade to accommodate the Leftys of the world. This is the biggest, heaviest square nose shovel I have ever seen. It should last a lifetime. :-{)}