Agency 6 is an outdoor and adventure parts manufacturing company that makes everything from recovery gear to accessory locks and more. All of their parts are made in the USA. They test all of their products extensively so they can stand up to the elements while out on the trail and each part comes with a lifetime warranty.
I have been using the Agency 6 Long Shovel for a few months now, and after testing it out, the question still stands – Can It overland? In this post, I’ll go into the specifications, its uses, and my thoughts on it as a dependable offroad tool.
Find It Online
- Red: Check Price
- Black: Check Price
Table Of Contents
Specifications
Let’s get some of the specs out of the way, so you can understand what makes it stand out from others.
- 2.5 lbs
- 6061-T6 Aluminum
- Powder Coated Wrinkle Red
- 32 Inches Long
The shovel does not flex at all, even when putting my weight into the handle to leverage out a rock, it hasn’t shown hardly any sign of wear. Now that I think about it, I just inspected the blade and the powder coat has scratched off only at the tip of the blade, even after digging more than a dozen holes in rocky dirt and the sand. Very impressive.
If you’re looking for something a little more compact, you can check out James’ review of the Agency 6 Adventure Mini Shovel and Mega Mount. It’s a smaller option, with a super awesome mount that looks good on a full or mid hoop bumper.
Can It Overland?
Now, what do I mean by, can it overland? I don’t need a shovel to dig a trench, I need one that can do the things an overlander needs.
What does it need to do? I’m glad you asked. Everyone has different needs for their gear. For me, it needs to be able to do the following and in the following order of importance.
- Dig a toilet hole
- Dig a fire pit
- Dig my truck out of snow, sand, and mud
- Personal protection
I’m going to break it down quickly and easily how it performed at the tasks I put it through.
Performance
When digging a toilet hole, it kicks ass and has not let me down.
The shovel has a slightly more difficult time starting a hole in the seriously hard ground because the blade is a little thicker than a traditional option since it is aluminum and not steel. The fix is usually to walk 3 feet in any direction and start a new hole and typically you get into a little softer dirt. Digging a poop hole is/was a success!
When digging a fire pit, once again it’s all about site location. I usually pick a spot away from roots and rocks to not catch tree roots on fire but also to make the digging easier.
You typically don’t have to dig very much, but just make a good size circle. This shovel does a great job of digging fire pits with no issue.
Additionally, I can give an overwhelming yes to digging my truck out of the sand.
The blade is nice and wide and doesn’t flex at all while moving large amounts of sand. The long handle helps with reaching underneath the truck to dig out the middle of the truck when getting really buried.
Now for personal protection. This may not seem like a legitimate concern for some but better safe, than sorry.
You can absolutely use this tool to protect yourself from a dog, pack of coyotes, rattlesnake, a big scary spider, or a couple of dudes that like your truck and want it. The Agency 6 Long Shovel is perfectly balanced for a solid quick swing to inflict some pretty serious damage.
Additional Benefits
There is one thing that is almost impossible to test but something that I noticed while using the Agency 6 shovel. Because of the lighter weight and better balance, I feel that I exert less energy to dig the same hole with a traditional heavy steel one that weighs more than double the Agency 6. Of course, this is completely my perspective but something to consider.
I have been carrying a traditional short 40” steel digging shovel with a handle for years. I keep it on my rack and use it all the time for all the above-listed tasks. It always performed well except for 1 task, self-protection. The steel is too heavy to be able to make a swift attack. Again, this is not a main use but should be pointed out. When you first pick up the Agency 6 shovel it feels more like a perfectly balanced weapon.
Mounting & Storage
When I first received my shovel, it did not come with any mounting kit, so I put it in the back of my truck since I still had my steel one mounted on my Quick Fist attachment on my Prinsu Rack over the cab of my Tacoma.
After a couple of uses of the new Agency 6, the tried and true old steel went in my shed, where it belongs, and the Agency 6 took its rightful place in the quick fist mounts. This shovel didn’t quite fit as tightly as the old steely since the shaft is a bit thinner but it still fits tight enough not to move while driving at highway speeds or on the trail.
Final Thoughts
Why switch from a traditional one to the Agency 6? The answer is simple, it’s badass and it performs. There isn’t much more to say. It’s lighter, just as strong as my old steel shovel, it digs well and is very balanced. Plus, you can wield it like Conan the Barbarian!
This is a compact lightweight powerhouse of a shovel and will fit nicely in your overland or off-road kit. I have no doubt it will last just as long, if not longer, than a steel version since it will never rust on your roof rack. Mounting is easy and functionality is even better. I say it is a worthy addition to your kit.
