I do a lot of artifact hunting and this thing is killer. I have a small shovel I use most often but the times I’m in the river and the water is too deep to bend over and pick something up…..yeah, that’s where this thing comes in. I didn’t want to spend over $100 on a shovel but this thing will definitely outlive me. I bought the version with the detachable 2 piece handle—even the handle is metal and welded to the pole. It will definitely take the abuse of hitting rocks and kicking it down into the clay. It’s well built but not terribly heavy—easy enough to strap to a backpack and hike to your favorite spots with. Well worth the money.