Pennypacker
Banned
- May 5, 2013
- 123
- 89
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Save your moans, I need some help choosing a scoop.
1. The obvious choice would be a stealth scoop. Normally I'm all for getting the best, but holy smokes that is an expensive shovel. I'm looking at a 920iX Hybrid on the bay, its $411 CAD dollars with shipping, not including customs. Say I wanted to splurge for a nice handle, then I would be looking at $583 PLUS customs, well over $600 for a shovel. lol
I can blow a stack of bills with the best of them, but I am kinda taken aback by this. They have smaller models, and an older model, but I wouldn't want to "settle" for anything in that snack bracket.
2. A more rational choice is a Stavr scoop. Most of their models would cost me about $225 shipped, plus customs. The hardest part is deciding which model, as there are several. Something like the Monstrik or Evroexcavator might do. I have done a fair amount of research on these, I think they are sturdy enough.
3. "SKIF" sand scoop. As you many know there are other sellers of scoops on eBay from the Ukraine. Most are obviously not as nice as the Stavr, perhaps copies, however this "SKIF" scoop in particular looks fairly decent, albeit maybe a little rough around the edges. A great price of $140 shipped plus customs. Is anyone using one of these? He seems to have sold a fair amount, the feedback is positive, although the feedback is generally left right after purchase and may not accurately reflect performance.
(google "skif scoop ebay" if you want to see it.)
All of the scoops mentioned are comparable in size, 2mm metal thickness and have similar structural support. (Although the sunspot is the biggest @9" and has a couple extra gussets on the inside I think)
I will be using it with a 10" Excalibur in the freshwater. (I may use it on the dry beach too, but first and foremost I would like a sturdy water digger.)
Digging will be sand mostly first, AFAIK, but I'm sure I will end up in some silt and clay, potentially weeds or a few rocks as well.
So ya I'm kinda disappointed with the stealthscoop pricing, but I would sure like to have one, they are sexy. I like to think that a top quality digging implement would last a long time, therefor not really needing a lifetime warranty if it inflates the price. Perhaps I am mistaken, not sure what to expect yet as far as durability goes with these. I will agree you get what you pay for, to a certain extent. I certainly don't have to spend $600 to get a decent land shovel that's for sure.
So maybe you can talk me into the stealth, or perhaps provide a review of the SKIF.
P.S. I kinda like those round "Henry" scoops or the one made by "Evolution", but at around 6" I feel they are too small for water detecting. I may be interested in a 7" or 8" if such a thing exists.
Thanks
1. The obvious choice would be a stealth scoop. Normally I'm all for getting the best, but holy smokes that is an expensive shovel. I'm looking at a 920iX Hybrid on the bay, its $411 CAD dollars with shipping, not including customs. Say I wanted to splurge for a nice handle, then I would be looking at $583 PLUS customs, well over $600 for a shovel. lol
I can blow a stack of bills with the best of them, but I am kinda taken aback by this. They have smaller models, and an older model, but I wouldn't want to "settle" for anything in that snack bracket.
2. A more rational choice is a Stavr scoop. Most of their models would cost me about $225 shipped, plus customs. The hardest part is deciding which model, as there are several. Something like the Monstrik or Evroexcavator might do. I have done a fair amount of research on these, I think they are sturdy enough.
3. "SKIF" sand scoop. As you many know there are other sellers of scoops on eBay from the Ukraine. Most are obviously not as nice as the Stavr, perhaps copies, however this "SKIF" scoop in particular looks fairly decent, albeit maybe a little rough around the edges. A great price of $140 shipped plus customs. Is anyone using one of these? He seems to have sold a fair amount, the feedback is positive, although the feedback is generally left right after purchase and may not accurately reflect performance.
(google "skif scoop ebay" if you want to see it.)
All of the scoops mentioned are comparable in size, 2mm metal thickness and have similar structural support. (Although the sunspot is the biggest @9" and has a couple extra gussets on the inside I think)
I will be using it with a 10" Excalibur in the freshwater. (I may use it on the dry beach too, but first and foremost I would like a sturdy water digger.)
Digging will be sand mostly first, AFAIK, but I'm sure I will end up in some silt and clay, potentially weeds or a few rocks as well.
So ya I'm kinda disappointed with the stealthscoop pricing, but I would sure like to have one, they are sexy. I like to think that a top quality digging implement would last a long time, therefor not really needing a lifetime warranty if it inflates the price. Perhaps I am mistaken, not sure what to expect yet as far as durability goes with these. I will agree you get what you pay for, to a certain extent. I certainly don't have to spend $600 to get a decent land shovel that's for sure.
So maybe you can talk me into the stealth, or perhaps provide a review of the SKIF.
P.S. I kinda like those round "Henry" scoops or the one made by "Evolution", but at around 6" I feel they are too small for water detecting. I may be interested in a 7" or 8" if such a thing exists.
Thanks
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