TheTentLab Deuce of Spades #1

Pages could be written about an ultralight backpacking trowel...I believe the Official Moto is "They help you doo-doo the right thing." But enough has already been said about TheTentLab's Deuce #2 and #3, so I'm here to finish the Trilogy with my few inputs on this wonderfully functional and compact tool: It helps me dig tiny holes in the backcountry and has been a reliable companion for a long time. Mostly I just forget it's there...until I desperately need it.

First off, I wanted to use this opportunity to say thank you for the lovely 2022 Trailspace Top 25 Gear Reviewer awards, graciously supplied by TheTentLab and Trailspace! A comparison of the Deuce #2 (top/blue) and Deuce #1 (bottom/orange)

A few things stand out from the above comparison: 1. The lovely and proud inscription on the top towel, plus my favorite color, and 2. the "Made in Colorado" inscription on the bottom trowel, a saying near and dear to my heart (I was made in CO too). 

Also, it's very hard to tell any sizable difference between the #1 and #2 when I line them up together. Lastly, it's just really fun using 1's and 2's in describing a bathroom trowel! (Bear with me through a lot of dry humor and puns-intended...a trowel review must first and foremost be funny.)

Every year, I hold my breath in great anticipation of what fun "Top Reviewer" award may come my way and was very excited to receive a special edition of a treasured and useful item. In fact, Trailspace.com has supplied me with a whole COLLECTION of Deuce trowels over the years!

I purchased my first one in 2016 (back when there was only one version), which I used for my Colorado Trail and Te Araroa thru-hikes. Because of the scarcity of such specialty items in New Zealand, I gifting my used (but clean!) trowel to a kiwi friend at the end of my NZ adventure. I also gifted my second purchased Deuce of Spades trowel after using it for the PCT. This must have gained me some karma points, because I've literally been rewarded in spades (4 new trowels) since then!

Let's take a closer look at the Deuce #1 compared to its larger sibling, the Deuce #2:

• Deuce #1: 2.5" wide by 6.5" long /  0.45 oz
• Deuce #2: 2.6" wide by 6.8" long / 0.60 oz
• Deuce #3: 2.6" wide by 8" long / 0.97 oz

I received my Deuce #1 in 2019 and I've neglected (or shall we say poo-pooed) a review of it in all that time. The upside of my oversight is that I can confidently talk about Construction, Durability & Conditions:

Wow, I can't believe this thing has already been on five thru-hikes (and that I haven't lost or given it away yet). We're talking the Continental Divide Trail ('19), Arizona Trail ('19), Long Trail ('20), Grand Enchantment Trail ('21), Appalachian Trail ('21), Mogollon Rim Trail ('22), and the Pacific Northwest Trail ('22).

Granted, my trowel didn't see a whole lot of action on the AT, thanks to lots of brown-blazing (look it up) and nice soft soil. But all those desert SW trails really put it to the test. That's a lot of rough digging with not even a crack, dent or bend! Sure, it's lost the shine and some sharpness, but it's still perfectly functional. I'm actually trying to be the first that wears one of these down to a stub...in which case I have plenty more as back-ups.

As for the construction, The TentLab website says:

Made in the US and S. Korea of aerospace grade, US-produced 7075-T6 aluminum that meets MIL spec AMS4045. It's the go-to aluminum for satellites and aircraft because high strength aluminum makes high strength products. This grade of aluminum is available in only a handful of highly industrialized countries with technology and quality driven supply chains - it is not available in China - beware of knockoffs.

Ease of Use: The TentLab website gives the best description and videos of how to properly use this trowel if you encounter hard and rocky soils...sorry, but I decided to spare the details of my personal video, not that I have one. TMI.

As for my own experience, well, it's hard to even remember all those holes. I know that in using such a lightweight trowel in the desert SW, I learned to be very good about site selection (i.e. finding soft soils at the base of trees, rocks, etc.). I also learned to give up easily if I started digging in a spot that was just too troublesome.

I've done many 'test digs' over the years, much like the miners of old. It's not worth fighting the substrate if I can just go 10 more feet to find a softer spot or one without a large rock just under the surface. It's surprising just how much the substrate can vary in a small area. If at first you don't succeed...

I've been using the Deuce #1 in lieu of the Deuce #2 for the past four years, mostly because of the minuscule weight savings, but also because I reasoned that of my current collection, the orange color was the most easy to see and thus not get left behind. It seems to have worked. But perhaps now that my Deuce #1 has worn down a bit and given that I have another tough desert hike coming up (Hayduke route - Utah), maybe I'll go back to using the Deuce #2 for a change. Nah, probably not.

The Deuce #1 is perfect...

for fanatical weight fanatics only: those who eagerly learn the ins and outs of their gear to get the most out if it. Regularly using our Advances Techniques (graphic below) is mandatory for this trowel.

Honestly, I haven't really noticed much of a difference in using the Deuce #1 over the several years that I used the Deuce #2. It maybe takes a little more time to scoop out dirt, just because the scoop face is more shallow. But for me, the minimal weight savings and compact size are worth it. Digging huge, perfect holes is just not much of an issue, priority, or big deal for me.

But the Deuce #1 sure beats the heck out of using a stake or stick. I'd point out that my Deuce #1 is even lighter than the marketed weight of 0.45 oz (granted I've scraped off some of the aluminum over the years but it weighed 0.42 oz from the beginning...also could just be minor errors in my scale).

In conclusion, the Deuce #1 is a well-made and long-lasting product. It disappears in my pack but is there when I need it.

Thank you, Trailspace and The TentLab for this #1 (and #2) trowel!

Background

I'm no miner but I've dug a lot of holes in the backcountry. And these days, I always pack out my used TP...especially in arid regions. Just do it. Better yet, go with a bottle bidet.