The Best Digging Bar must make the digging of holes in the soil a lot easier and more convenient. The tool is quite handy and useful for digging holes in narrow soil. It is suitable mostly for planting potted signs and fences.
A digging bar makes puncturing the ground and loosening the soil easily when you are digging a hole. It comes with several components, including a grabber that can be closed when pushed into the soil and pulled back to dig deep holes.
Can’t wait for more to see the details of our selected 10 Digging Bars? Well, here’s a table for you with the top 3 picks at a glance:
Our Pick – Top 3 Digging Bar
In case you’re in a hurry, here are my top three recommendations for the best digging bar.
Still confused about which digging bar is best for you?
Let me help by providing detailed reviews on the best digging bar that I found in the market (and the ones you can buy online).
These reviews will definitely help you gain awareness and understanding of the best features, pros, and cons of each digging bar.
Let’s get started!
Best Digging Bar Reviewed
Below is the table that shows all the digging bar covered in this review.
| NAME | IMAGE | OUR RATING | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaughan B215 15-Inch Long Original SuperBar |  |
9.5 / 10 | $20.99 | Check Best Price |
| True Temper 1160300 Pencil Point San Angelo Digging Bar, 1 Count... |  |
9.5 / 10 | $65.74 | Check Best Price |
| Truper 30162 Bars 69-Inch Post Hole Digger / Tamping Bar,16-Pound |  |
9.0 / 10 | $67.78 | Check Best Price |
| Fiskars 60 Inch Steel Posthole Digger |  |
9.0 / 10 | $66.99 | Check Best Price |
| Truper 32406 Tru Tough Atlas Pattern Post Hole Digger, Fiberglass... |  |
8.5 / 10 | $70.49 | Check Best Price |
| Bon Tool 27-197 San Angelo Digging Bar - 14 Lb 60" |  |
8.5 / 10 | $69.27 | Check Best Price |
| ABN Jumbo Pry Bar Tool – 36in Large Breaker Crowbar with... |  |
8.0 / 10 | $29.99 | Check Best Price |
| ION TOOL Pry Bar 4 Piece Set, 8-24 inch with Hammer Top |  |
8.0 / 10 | $39.99 | Check Best Price |
Now let’s have a look at the detailed reviews of each of the digging bar covered in this article.
Vaughan B215 15-Inch Long Original SuperBar
- Essential tool for homeowners or tradesmen
- 15-Inch length provides excellent leverage
- "Shepherd's crook" Rocker head is designed for maximum prying power
It is not referred to as a super bar for nothing, it comes with special curves at both ends for easy maneuvering and digging. It is an ideal tool for homeowners and tradesmen. Comes with a 15-inch length that offers great leverage. Made from forged spring with tempered steel.
The shepherded crook rocker head perhaps is the most striking feature on this tool. This rocker head feature is included to make prying a lot easier. This product enjoys a maximum 5-star rating showing how much it is accepted by users. The blades are very sharp and can be inserted in the tool very quickly and easily.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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True Temper 1160300 Pencil Point San Angelo Digging Bar, 1 Count...
- 72-Inch bar
- Manufactured from tempered steel for maximum strength and durability
- Used for digging and prying of dirt and large rocks
AMES may not be one of the most popular digging bar manufacturers out there but this product will surely make the top list. This is a 72-inch bar considered to be one of the longest bars available. It is designed with durable tempered steel for the ultimate strength and durability.
It is most suitable for the digging and prying of dirt and large rocks. The pencil bar mouth is designed to work in the toughest conditions. The metal steel adds to the weight tremendously even though it is an efficient digging tool.
With an average online rating of 4.5/5, this tool is widely accepted. It comes with a limited manufacturer warranty that certifies it as an ideal product. It can also be used for home and some commercial or industrial digging purposes. The tempered steel is anti-rust in nature.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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Truper 30162 Bars 69-Inch Post Hole Digger / Tamping Bar,16-Pound
- TB-175, 16-pound steel demolition bar
- For digging and tamping
- Rust resistant black finish
One of the things that makes this digging bar very useful is that it can be used for multiple purposes aside from digging. For instance, you can use it to pry dirt then use the other end to tamp the hard and rocky soil. Its sharp end can penetrate light and hard soil easily with little effort.
The temper head of this tool can be used in the balancing of the ground especially around the fence and the plant. The tool is completely designed with the most durable materials that guaranty its usage for decades. The temper head, for instance, is made of welded steel and comes with a comfortable grip for easy handling.
It is designed for both regular home usage as well as industrial applications. This versatility makes the tool one of the most popular digging bars around. With the welded end, its length extends from 69 to 71 inches.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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Fiskars 60 Inch Steel Posthole Digger
- Ideal for digging deep postholes
- Offset handles let you dig postholes up to 12 inch deeper than traditional models and...
- Welded 14-gauge steel blades and 16-gauge steel shafts provide durability that far...
Looking for a pothole digger for digging longer holes in your yard? This product is exactly what you deserve. The offset handles will allow you to dig holes up to 12 inches in depth, as opposed to the traditional digger models. Your knuckles are well-protected when digging and that makes it very convenient for all users.
It comes with a welded 14-inch steel blade, alongside 16-inch gauge steel shafts that offer extra durability and that is one reason why it outlasts and out-performs wooden handle tools. This digger will not flex like the fiberglass digging bars. The blade spread measures 6 ½ inches in diameter, hence it covers more ground for better digging.
With a limited manufacturer warranty, you can rest assured that this digging bar is of top quality design. With the welded steel pivot joint, you don’t have to worry about loose and missing nuts and bolts. The unit blades of this tool are completely welded to the shaft for extra strength. The tool is powdered-coated to prevent any form of rust, hence it lasts for several years of continuous usage.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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Truper 32406 Tru Tough Atlas Pattern Post Hole Digger, Fiberglass...
- 48-inch professional grade fiberglass handle with soft cushion grip for balance and...
- For quick digging holes for fence post or plants
- Clear-coated gray-steel finished heads
Everything about this digging tool is premium. Instead of metal or wood handle, it comes with a fiberglass handle which is more convenient in the hand. The 48-inch professional grade handle works with an extra cushion grip that provides more balance and control. This is the tool to go for if you need a quick digging of holes for fence posts or plants.
The head has a clear-coated grey steel finishing for extra durability and handling. It is easy to clean through the use of a garden hose. With modern technology used in its design, there is a guaranty of a professional delivery from this tool. It is one of the most aesthetically-appealing tools you can choose in the market today.
Measures 5.5 inches and weighs just 7.5 pounds, it is very lightweight and can be carried about easily. The steel collars plus the lacquered ash handle with heavy-duty G-grips make the tool one of the most convenient. It comes with a 10-year manufacturer limited warranty.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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Bon Tool 27-197 San Angelo Digging Bar - 14 Lb 60"
- Pencil point for tough conditions
- Made from 1-Inch hex stock
- Available in several choices of lengths
This is an amazing digging bar any day anytime and it deserves to be on the top 8 lists of digging bars around. It comes with a pencil point that makes it suitable for digging the toughest conditions. Though it is available in variable length, the most popular is the massive 60-inch.
Made in the United States of America with the utmost precision, its price justifies its value. It weighs around 14 pounds and that makes it lighter than most of its main rivals.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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ABN Jumbo Pry Bar Tool – 36in Large Breaker Crowbar with...
- PRY AWAY: The ABN Jumbo Pry Bar Tool – 36” Inch Large Breaker Crowbar with Oversized...
- ANY SPACE, ANY ANGLE: Sharpened, bevel-end angled nose tip creates an extra leverage point...
- BUILT TO LAST: Heavy duty heat-treated chrome-plated long pry bar with 3/5” x 3/5”...
This is a 36-inch prying tool with strong mechanical handling that makes it very easy to strike, turn, and twist. It is not only used for digging; it can also be used for mechanical jobs such as losing ball joints, bearings, and the steering.
The tool has a sharpened and beveled end with an angle-nose tip that makes the tool slide into tight spots easily.
| PROs | CONs |
|---|---|
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ION TOOL Pry Bar 4 Piece Set, 8-24 inch with Hammer Top
- 4 Piece Pry Bar Set, comes in the following sizes: 24”, 19”, 13”, 8”.
- Quality Construction from forged square stock, will not easily bend or twist.
- Striking Cap designed for hammer striking to power through your project.
This is a shorter digging tool that measures between 8 and 24-inches. The hammered top is handy and can be used for another purpose while the other end is mainly used for digging and prying. Made from top-quality construction, with some forged square stock which means the tool will not easily bend or twist.
The striking cap on the digging tool is designed for hammer striking, especially when you want to hammer the tool deep into the ground. The handles are perfected with non-slip materials and comprise of two-tone color.
| PROs | CONs |
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How To Choose The Ideal Digging Bar
Digging bars come in different forms, and they are shaped for different purposes. The end comes with different shapes to provide different tool functionalities. The main factors you must consider when choosing a digging bar are; shape, weight, and length.
The Shape
The blunt end digging bar is broader and blunt, this one is most suitable for tamping blunt surfaces. The pointed digging bar is the best option for breaking the hardest soil materials. The pointed bar is also the best for prying the ground. The wedged end comes with an unsharpened blade for digging, prying and breaking of the soil.
The wedged end bar may not be the best for breaking the toughest grounds but will surely deliver on moderately tough grounds. The chisel shape digging bar comes with a sharpened blade for cutting plant roots. It can also be used for digging and prying. It pays to have one or more digging bar variations because you need them on different occasions.
The Length and Weight
The length and weight of the digging bar may also be an important factor to consider when making your final choices. Most bars typically measure between 5 and 6 feet or 1.5-1.8 meters in length. They also weigh between 6.8 and 10.4kg. Constructed entire with cylindrical or hexagonal forged steel, these bars have varying width dimensions.
The chisel and wedged bars, for instance, have smaller blade width that measures between 3 and 8cm and they tend to be simpler and lighter to handle in the hand. The lower weight of the chisel and wedged bars may be the reason why they are more flexible for different applications.
On the other hand, the blunt end bars do have between 5 and 8 cm in diameter, which makes them wider and heavier. These bars may not be the sharpest because their ends are blunt but they are surely useful in many other ways.
What Are The Variants Of Digging Bars?
There are a wide range of Digging bar variants around, these are;
The Bark Spud – These are the same as the long-peeling spuds that are most useful in removing barks from tree logs. They do come with wooden or steel handles that can measure between 0.5 and 1.8m.
The Hop Bar- It is useful in making holes in the ground, especially for hop poles. It measures roughly 2 meters in length and comes with a heavy, bulbous spike at the digging end. The Hop bar is heavier than the typical digging bar.
The Ice Spud – This is a variant of digging bars that is rather more popular for fishing inside icy conditions. This is a variation of the chisel digging bar, that comes with wooden handle, they are now being used to test the thickness of the ice as opposed to digging grounds.
The spud bar- This is another variation of chisel-end bar designed to removed materials through shaving or chipping action. They are quite narrow and unsharpened at the chisel end . some of these spud bars do come with plastic handles with wider chisel ends for better grip.
The Usefulness Of Digging Bars: How Versatile Are Digging Bars?
Digging bars are useful in many ways aside digging grounds or cutting the barks of trees. A typical digging bar is designed to work in 2 to 3 different ways hence they are the tool for every minor task. If you are handling complicated farm works, you just have to keep one or more digging bars for your convenience.
Made of steel, and with a long design, the digging bar may come with some tapered points. The wedged or chisel end is designed to break up difficult soil. The chisel or wedged ends also comes handy when cutting roots, and digging up holes.
While one end is wedged or chiseled, the other end is either flat or broad hence useful in tamping the broken soil back into its place. The weight and length of digging bars are responsible for their digging and breaking power.
Digging bars are very versatile in the following ways;
Fence Post Repairing
Digging bars are must-have tools for repairing fence posts. Make use of the tapered end in pounding the tool into the soil around the post to losing the ground and making the removal of the post a lot easier. Once a new post has been installed, you can use the tamping end of the bar to pack the soil securely back around the post and lock it.
Rock Removal
Digging bars are also great for the removal of rocks from the ground. The tool is specifically useful when putting a new garden and you detect medium size rocks under the soil. Make use of the bar to loosen the soil and then slip it underneath the rock to pry it out of the ground.
Break Up The Ice and Concrete
The sharp end of the digging bars is very useful in breaking up concrete which is important when you need to remove the foundation or floor. You can also use the tool to break up ice in winter seasons. If you are having some issues with ice forming around frequently used doors and pathways, a digging bar will be your best bet. You must wear some safety goggles when using the digging bar tools to break ice or concrete because pieces of the materials may fly towards you.
Useful as Paperweights
The weight of digging bars can be useful in windy conditions. You can use the tools to hold down tarps, or any other item that are inclined to blow while you are handling some duties.
How To Use The Digging Bar Efficiently
As mentioned earlier, several factors determine the choice of digging bars for your particular situation. When using a digging bar, you should also consider some factors. The size of the hole you are digging, and the condition of the soil within the digging area, are very important. You must also consider whether you will have to lift heavy objects to clear the digging area.
The size of the hole matters. For the small or medium-size hole, medium size and weight will be sufficient. In this case, the sufficient weight and length of the tool are 7kg or more, and between 1.5 to 1.75m respectively. It will be easier to dig a larger and deeper hole with an extended reach of a longer digging bar. For the very deep holes, a telegraph or post-hole digging bar will be a great choice.
If the soil you will dig is very tough, closely pack with root matter, you will require a sturdy bar with a wider or bent chisel end. The longer your chosen bar, the better you can leverage on the tool. Choose a digging bar with a long handle to give your arms and back some rest, and to make the task a lot easier.
For harder and closely parked soil, you will do well if you choose a heavier bar because it can break into. You may want to test the tool to be sure that you can lift and use it on the ground. The effectiveness of a heavy bar tool will depend on your ability to lift and drop the tool at the digging point. If you can’t lift the tool high enough, it will make sense to go for a lighter digging bar.
Do you have to lift Heavy Objects? Just as in the case of heavy and closely packed soil, using a heavier digging bar will give you an edge when moving heavier objects. Using a longer and sturdier bar for this task will be very helpful.
There are some other considerations you need to make when choosing a digging bar. If you want to tamp the base of the hole easily, you will have to choose a bar with a tamper head. An ideal post-hold digging bar of your choice must have a tamper head.
A digging bar with a non-slip finish at the handle is not a necessity when choosing a tool. If you want to work more precisely, then you should go for a non-slip handle. You will need other items such as a spade, lengthy rope, plastic tape, post-hole digger, and a measuring tape along with your digging bar for most operations.
Here’s a short video on using digging bar:
Tips And Ideas On Using Your Digging Bars
Some tips and ideas on using digging bars can be very helpful in achieving better results. These include the following;
1. Loosen the Earth before using a Digging bar
Unless you have a very soft soil that your digging bar can penetrate easily, you should rather loosen the soil with a shovel. Taking this step will ensure that you don’t work too hard when digging the ground when you loosen the sides, you can carve away the sides with the tile spade then your digging bar will easily penetrate.
Taking this is particularly important to avoid destroying the end of the digging bar too soon. It is particularly important for digging tools that are not that strong for long digging and prying.
2. String your target with a line
Don’t just jump into digging, make sure you mark the center of the digging area to avoid missing the main point while digging. Doing this will ensure the more precise digging result and you can protect your digging bar.
3. Shorter bars are better for dislodging the rocks
There is a reason why shorter digging bars are better for breaking the rocks. It is easier to apply more force with shorter bars than longer ones. Though longer bars will allow you to stand upright when digging holes but you may not apply as much pressure as you should.
4. Always use the other end to tamp the soil
Some digging bar users don’t use the tamper end and that can cause settling after digging. Make sure you choose the tamper end to compact the soil after digging to ensure that settling is avoided.
Conclusion
Digging bars come in different sizes in terms of length and width. They also come in a wide range of design, and it can be easy to get confused when choosing the right one for your needs. You may want to test several products before choosing the most convenient one for your needs.
One rule you should follow is that if you are below average in height, perhaps you should go for shorter digging bars. A digging bar of fewer than 50 inches in length will be ideal for average height and those below average height. Longer digging bars are more suited for taller people so that they don’t bend excessively, and suffer back and knee pains.
You may want to consider the handle of your bar, especially if it comes with special cushioned handle, steel handles may eventually cause discomfort in your palms after prolonged usage. G-handles and padded handles, for instance, are very convenient and you can use them for several hours.
Price should be the last factor you should consider when it comes to choosing an ideal digging bar. Unfortunately, the high-end bars usually last longer because they are made with strong and durable steel and have been treated against rust. This does not mean however that the most expensive options are the best digging bars.
If possible you should consider digging bar products that come with sets of varying bars.
Resources:
- https://www.familyhandyman.com/garden-structures/fences/how-to-dig-a-hole-pro-tips/
- https://www.hobbyfarms.com/the-versatility-of-digging-bars/
- https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/bars/how-to-use-a-digging-bar-to-dig-a-hole/
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