Everyone needs good handy tools that you can always depend on. These are the basics that you really will need in your shed if you are planning on doing basically anything in your backyard.
I was very stingy for a long time and that led to buying and keeping the bottom of the barrel for tools. That leads to harder work and sometimes dangerous situations as an axe head flies off or your shovel handle breaks in half as you’re leaning on it. Sometimes it’s better to go big for your home. These are the best bang for your buck, but some of them are definitely worth a little more money.
Yard Work
Yard work can be both a challenging and yet infrequent task and these essentials can be everything that a weekend warrior needs to get the job done. Often times it is easy to think that any old tool will get the job done with a little bit of elbow grease, but believe me when I say that an effective well maintained tool makes a world of difference when your spending your weekend working rather than relaxing. You deserve it.
Shovels
This shovel on Amazon made by Friskers is my favorite choice for an all around shovel. If you are doing any substantial work having a long handle can really give you the leverage and hold you need. The handle makes for a definite ease of use and the slightly oversized step gives a little more comfort when you’re on harder ground.
This shovel on Amazon is a close second because of how easy it makes use. I personally like a shortened shovel for a lot of jobs because it can be easier to handle and the super sharp blades with powder coated carbon steel make this a little too easy, if thats a problem that is.
Rakes
This leaf rake on Amazon is more than just that. It is actually very effective at moving everything from leaves to sticks and even some rocks. Getting leaves from bushes is easy due to its straight rather than angled design. Having to assemble the head to the fiber glass shaft is well worth it.
This heavy duty rake on Amazon is just like it sounds…heavy duty. Not necessarily for leaves due to how bulky it is, but for moving anything substantial this 10 gauge steel gets the job done.
Pruning Shears
These pruning shears on Amazon will last you through all of the abuse and more. It is inexpensive for a high quality and is really just what you need for tighter spaces where longer loppers may be unusable. If you find yourself in the garden a lot and you want something that will surprise you when it cuts of the stem before you even feel the resistance then this is your pick.
These loppers on Amazon have quite the interesting gear setup, but it gives you power that you never thought you had. Cutting quite large branches with these gives you the leverage you need without the back braking part.
Hand Saw
This folding pruning saw not on amazon(they don’t sell this one) comes with a price that is well worth it. The razor sharp edge feels like it just doesn’t dull with semi regular use. 40 bucks won’t seem like a lot with impulse hardened teeth that are chrome plates which means hardly any maintenance. If you want on a little less out of pocket cost than get it here.
Wheelbarrow
This is wheelbarrow on Amazon is my favorite for the backyard warrior. It is highly stable due to its wide design and does not way nearly as much as a traditional wheelbarrow which is why you are buying a wheelbarrow in the first place. Its handle design also makes it much simpler to turn around and drag rather than push which I personally think is more effective at moving over bumpy ground.
Mattock
This mattock on Amazon has good multi-purpose ability with a lighter weight that adds to the versatility. I honestly do go back and forth between heavier verse lighter, but this tool is the reason I don’t but a hoe on this list because it is great for digging up small plots. If you are going for a larger area to till than you might just have to invest in a garden hoe for that specifically.
Axe
This axe on Amazon for larger projects is the best all around. Let me just say I did struggle to determine if I should put an axe on here because maybe its not essential and the mattock above contributes slightly to this, but I love axes and I can’t even begin to describe all of the different ones and purposes for all of them in a single page, but if you need one with a little hmph then this is it.
This hatchet on Amazon may actually be a better choice for homeowners. I am not just recommending it because it looks super cool, but for everything from cutting up larger limbs, small trees to a log of general purpose stuff. If your a camper than there isn’t much of a reason to not buy it.
Handyman Tools
Handyman tools are pretty much essential unless you are going to hire someone to do everything. When I say these are the basics of the hand tools you need I really mean it.
Hammer
This hammer on Amazon is probably my favorite overall just because it provides the basics of what you need in a strong hammer with a little weight behind it that won’t make your hand hurt if you hit something a little too hard. There is a surprisingly large variety of hammers out there and I have to say if you already have one that is doing fine, don’t replace it. If you get this one you won’t have to and it is at a price that won’t break the bank.
Saw
This hacksaw on Amazon will be the only one you buy. I have cut down a Christmas tree, through metal, treated lumber and much more with it. It is versatile and once it gets going it will be hard to stop. The blade has kept up surprisingly well even when I was cutting through metal sheets.
Multi-tool
I buy Leatherman…period. I have had others, and maybe I am biased but with a 25 year warranty and I have even heard stories of them replacing them significantly after 25 years I have no doubts. I have had others that I received for Christmas and hang me downs, but I always wind up with this one in my pocket. I have had the Wave for years, but if I could get the newest one out there every time they come out with a new rendition I would.
Pliers
This set of pliers on Amazon is all you might need. For a long time I tried to go without pliers thinking foolishly that I would only need them for select jobs, but that has not been the case. This set should do very well for general use, but I am a little bit more of an extremist now and sometimes you just need to treat yourself well with this set. I quickly got frustrated when my pliers would slip and strip away the nuts, but sometimes you just need that iron grip and I was running into that a lot.