ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (2021)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Where to Buy Tools
    • Best Tool Kit Upgrades
    • Best Extension Cord Size
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Safety Gear
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Tool Brands in Every Category
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
    • More Buying Guides
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Hand Tools > Black & Decker Telescoping Garden Tools

Black & Decker Telescoping Garden Tools

Jul 15, 2014 Stuart 9 Comments

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

Black and Decker Telescoping Shovel

I just became aware that Black & Decker makes a whole series of telescoping lawn and garden tools. These tools, like the trowel or mini shovel shown here, have “lightweight steel handles” that extend out from 25″ to 37″. Most if not all of the tools look to have 5 year warranties.

On one hand, extendable tools help to save space. They might also be easier to use when you’re working closer to the ground and could benefit from a tool sized between handheld and full-size ones.

Advertisement

But on the other hand, I have had terrible experiences with extendable and telescoping tools. I tend to bend or break extendable tools fairly quickly, regardless of whether the handles are made of plastic or metal. There are exceptions to this. My Voile avalanche shovel has lasted 4 winter seasons now as my portable auto shovel, with no signs of frailty in the handle.

Black & Decker’s telescoping garden tools, which includes a trowel, small fan rake, combination “culti-hoe,” angled cultivator, and a 5-tine cultivator, sound really good on paper. The tools all feature rust resistant powder coating, steel construction, and comfort grip handles.

That these have “lightweight steel” handles makes me think they’re made of hollow thin-walled tubing, which is something that doesn’t usually work well with extendable tools. A few reviews are positive, others seem be negative, with complaints focusing on the telescoping handles. A lot of the reviews I’ve seen are from unverified buyers, which is just something to keep in mind.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

A quick search shows that there are actually a number of brands besides Black & Decker that make telescoping garden tools. If you’ve tried these tools, or any other brands’, would you recommend them? Or are my concerns about the handles being weak and light duty valid?

Advertisement

Related posts:

No related posts.

Sections: Hand Tools, New Tools Tags: lawn & gardenMore from: Black & Decker

« New Review Casts Confusion About Makita 18V XPH07 Drill Torque Rating
New Fein FMM 350 Q MultiMaster Oscillating Tool Review (2014) »

9 Comments

  1. fred

    Jul 15, 2014

    I think that these may be made by Bond Mfg. (Dorcy International) with the Black & Decker name applied under a licensing agreement. My wife uses the rake and seems to like it for light-duty jobs.

    Reply
  2. Michael

    Jul 15, 2014

    I’m not a huge fan of anything that telescopes. They just aren’t as strong and durable as solid wood or a single piece of welded steel. Telescoping tools might be good for light users, though.

    Reply
  3. Jason

    Jul 15, 2014

    The only telescoping tool that I could see as even being remotely useful would be a shovel and that would be for storage in a vehicle and to only be used during emergencies. Sure it wouldn’t have the strength of a normal handled tool, but it might be enough to get you out of a situation.

    Reply
  4. Kent

    Jul 15, 2014

    I don’t see any reason for telescoping handles, other than to put them in the car to get home from the store.
    I own a house, so I also have a shed and a truck. No need to make things more complicated that they need to be – like a shovel with moving parts.

    Reply
  5. Mike

    Jul 15, 2014

    If it telescopes, it breaks. No exceptions.

    Come to think of it, most any tool designed to do more than one thing is crap. If you need a short shovel, buy a short shovel.

    Reply
  6. Paul

    Jul 15, 2014

    I have a Winged Weeder WW800 Junior with Telescoping Handle that I use all the time. I have regular gardens and a few raised beds. It’s nice to adjust the handle to work in the raised beds.

    The key is to remember which way to turn the handle to loosen it. I keep turning it the wrong way and getting it so tight I have to use a strap wrench to loosen it 🙂

    Reply
  7. T Krusling

    Jul 16, 2014

    I have used a folding army shovel for ten years. Not really telescoping, but compact. Moved at least two full size truck beds full in that amount of time with that little guy.

    Stihl telescoping pole pruner is nice, never had any issues with it.

    Reply
  8. Peter Leone

    Feb 23, 2017

    I have has bad experience with these telescoping shovels. I have purchased two of them and both have gone bad. No problem with the telescopic feature but the shovel end bends under the slightest force against it. Once it is bent and bent back to its original position the metal is stressed and will break off.

    Reply
  9. Garry

    Aug 8, 2022

    I have used some telescoping tools in the past. wold never expect to replace a full size shovel or rake. However I found they worked well in looose sold midseason and when trying to get into areas under bushes between house abd boughs.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

Recent Comments

  • Roger on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “A hammer is a hammer. However, from all the hammers I’ve held, a wood handle feels instantly comfortable. Comparing it…”
  • Rx9 on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “Not a fan of rankings, per se, but relevant performance stats are always welcome. That’s one of the great things…”
  • Rx9 on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “The rankings are trivially easy: #1. Stanley Kirk Burrell #2. Mercedes-Benz 300E 5.6 AMG #3. Charles Martel #4. Walter Stacy…”
  • blocky on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “My search for the best has often lead me to conclude: THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD TOOLS! So now, I…”
  • JoshtheFurnaceGuy on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “I agree that noone can verify a “best hammer”. That said, some are and aren’t worth the money. Estwing makes…”
  • Ciccio on I Gave up Searching for the Best Tools: “I have an old 20 oz Bostitch, kinda heavy and big hitting head, and a 12 oz Eastwing , but…”
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Euro Hand Tool Brands
  • Best Tool Brands
  • Best Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Tools for New Parents
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure