Bully Tools 92720 14-Gauge 4" Trenching Shovel, Fiberglass Handle Review (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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- Digging trenches
- Irrigation lines
- Drainage
Buy this only when you have a trench to dig: sprinkler lines, drain pipe, edging cable, French drains. The narrow 4-inch blade leaves clean vertical walls and removes far less spoil than digging a trench with a regular shovel.
Pros
- Narrow 4 in blade cuts tidy trenches for irrigation, drainage or low-voltage wire
- Long shaft plus deep blade clears a trench with far fewer passes than a spade
- Heavy 14-gauge USA steel and fiberglass handle hold up to repeated prying
Cons
- Single-purpose tool: useless for scooping piles or digging wide planting holes
- The deep narrow blade is heavy and unwieldy for anything but trench work
- Priced above a basic drain spade because of the made-in-USA steel
Specifications
| Type | Trenching / drain spade |
|---|---|
| Blade | 14-gauge USA steel, 4 in W x ~12.25 in L narrow blade |
| Handle | Fiberglass, ~45-47 in long |
| Grip | Long straight with rubber grip |
| Best for | Narrow, clean-walled trenches for pipe/wire |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a trenching shovel for?
- Cutting narrow, clean-walled trenches for irrigation pipe, drainage or low-voltage wire. The 4 in wide, 12+ in deep blade removes a tidy channel in far fewer passes than a spade.
- Can a trenching shovel replace a regular shovel?
- No — it is single-purpose. It is useless for scooping piles or digging wide planting holes, and the deep narrow blade is heavy and unwieldy for anything but trench work.
- Is it worth $52 over a basic drain spade?
- If you are running any length of pipe or wire, yes. Heavy 14-gauge USA steel and a fiberglass handle survive the repeated prying that trench work involves, which is where cheap spades bend at the collar.