Whether you’re clearing an overgrown area, breaking up solid materials or removing roots and tree stumps, a pickaxe can come in very handy. Where a spade, fork or hori hori knife might fail to cut through tough materials, a pickaxe helps you apply more force.
Designed with a pointed ‘pick’ for breaking up earth and a sharp, flat ‘axe’ for chopping and cutting, pickaxes can help loosen and slice through compacted ground. They’re a great choice if you’ve come across troublesome elements like rocks, concrete and roots. You can even use them for prying things apart and for hauling heavy bags.
Remember, always wear protective clothing like gloves, steel toe cap boots and safety glasses when using a pickaxe.
The best pickaxes to buy this year
Roughneck Railroad Pick
The California-based business Roughneck is one of the most popular brands out there when it comes to pickaxes. It prides itself on creating high-quality tools for tough jobs, so it’s no wonder this one is a top choice.
The head is made with drop-forged and heat-treated alloy steel for strength, which is powder coated with a smart black finish to reduce the chances of rusting. It comes with a solid fibreglass handle, complete with a soft hand grip.
This pickaxe comes in two weights: 5lb (2.3kg) and 7lb (3.2kg). Opt for the lighter version for lengthy tasks and better manoeuvrability, or the heavier one to get more force and momentum.
Spear & Jackson 36702 Pickaxe
Spear & Jackson is one of our go-to brands for gardening tools and equipment, which is why its pickaxe has made it onto our list.
With a traditional beech wood handle and a green head made from hardened forged steel, it’s a smart choice for seasoned gardeners and landscapers. The 90cm handle comes with a useful hanging hook for easy storage.
The pickaxe as a whole weighs 2.5kg, so it’s a good mid-range option.
Ribimex Pickaxe
Ribimex’s pickaxe is crafted in Italy and designed to be lightweight as well as durable. It comes in at just 1.5kg, so it can offer good manoeuvrability and makes a great choice for anyone who struggles to lift heavier tools.
While the head is made from hardened steel for strength, the handle has a fibreglass core and an elastomer non-slip grip. The tool is 91cm in length - similar to most of the best pickaxes you’ll find online.
This design has already impressed customers and earned more than 350 five-star Amazon reviews.
Magnusson 3.2kg Pickaxe
Available from B&Q (£34.00)
This design from Magnusson is one of the best pickaxes you can get if you want a relatively heavy option for tackling tough outdoor tasks. The strong head is crafted from forged carbon steel, while the handle is fibreglass, complete with a soft grip.
Combining black and brown colouring, this pickaxe has the smart look of a traditional tool, but includes durable materials designed to stand the test of time.
Green Jem Pickaxe
Another great option is this pickaxe from Green Jem. It has a fibreglass handle, which comes with a rubber section for grip as you work.
While this pickaxe has a 5lb (2.3kg) head, it weighs 3.25kg overall, and measures 90cm in length.
Staplefords Pickaxe
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Staplefords’ outdoor tools are “designed by the trade for the trade”, so you can be sure they’re made to perform well. Here, we’ve picked out two high-quality pickaxes: one with a hardwood handle and the other with a fibreglass handle. Both come with a reinforced forged steel head.
For a traditional look and feel, opt for the smart hardwood handle. Or, if you’re after something highly durable that’ll survive tough conditions like freezing temperatures and rainy weather, try the fibreglass version.
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Unibos Pick Axe with Fibreglass Handle
This Unibos pickaxe has also earned an impressive average review score on Amazon. As with many of the best pickaxes you can buy, it has a 90cm fibreglass handle, complete with a grippy section, which helps to absorb shock as you work.
There’s also a drop forged head to lend strength and durability.
Want to read more? See our favourite splitting axes, or browse the kit you’ll need for garden tidying.