DMOS Elite Shovel Review

krick3tt

Adventurer
When I expressed my amazement that it was $300 the initial thought was what can it do that a $30 shovel can't. How light it may be is no issue as a shovel is as heavy as what is being shoveled, right? What it is made of is not as important as how long it will last getting beat on a rescue mission clanging into rocks and pebbles as you dig out the tires on your $65K whatever.
I have had the $30 shovel strapped to my roof rack for 4 years and use it to dig holes to crap in and to help me get out of stuck situations, also to scatter sand/dirt over my fire to extinguish it before leaving the area (when fires are permitted).
Apparently the makers of this little gem saw the potential of marketing it to 'Overlanders' who will seemingly pay oodles of money to have the latest product made from the priceless unobtanium to adorn their enormously overpriced and fragrantly outfitted vehicles.
I think I will stick to the $30 shovel. The guy that uses it is usually riding with me and the girl, ha, try to find one that willingly digs your vehicle out of the mud. If you have one of those guard her with all you are worth.
 

PredatOBR

New member
Quick update. I ordered and received another shovel and mount combo. Here is a link: https://agency6.com/collections/shovel-mount-combo

I am really impressed with build quality and powder coating. The mount accepts several different size mounting points and they even included 2 sets of bolts depending what you are mounting to.

Here are a few pictures and also where I was able to mount on my truck camper. Super stoked on this and I had never heard of Agency 6 until I was searching for a small shovel and mount online.
 

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outback97

Adventurer
Quick update. I ordered and received another shovel and mount combo. Here is a link: https://agency6.com/collections/shovel-mount-combo

I am really impressed with build quality and powder coating. The mount accepts several different size mounting points and they even included 2 sets of bolts depending what you are mounting to.

Here are a few pictures and also where I was able to mount on my truck camper. Super stoked on this and I had never heard of Agency 6 until I was searching for a small shovel and mount online.

What is this? A shovel for ants?
 

gatorgrizz27

Well-known member
They seem like a waste of $ to me unless you have some sort of stringent size restraints. I carry an $11 “hobbit shovel” since it fits under my 3rd row seat, I’ve always got it. When I think there’s a higher chance of getting stuck, I throw a regular full sized fiberglass handled shovel in the back, it could just as easily strap to a rack.


This place sells fiberglass poles and ferrules, it would be interesting if someone found a setup where the shovel could be cut in half for storage and then pinned together.

 

gatorgrizz27

Well-known member
I did that to my Landcruiser shovels. Anybody can do it if they have a lathe. Basically its a scaled up version of a two piece pool stick.

Yeah the same place sells threaded male/female fittings, but for a shovel a sleeve + pin setup should do the job fine.
 

Photobug

Well-known member
I have a DMOS. It is a local company and I could have bought their last model for much cheaper when it was on closeout but I hesitated. I got my Delta on kickstarter for $149. Up till recently I had a cheap probably sub $20 shovel shoved somewhere in the back of my truck. It would be miserable to have had to dig anything with that shovel but it was there if needed. 2 weeks ago I was on a 7 day adventure. I was swapping out the spare and could not get the jack up high enough but was able to dig a small ditch and get a spare back on. A few days later I hit a hidden trench (hidden in shadow) and my tow bar got sunk deep.

Both times the DMOS shovel made quick work of the digging needs. It was easy to work with. If it wiggled i did not notice it. It is not a precision tool it is a shovel. It works, it is solid, it is heavy duty. It is probably better at digging than the many shovels I have in my yard. Is it worth the $150 I paid maybe not, I felt stupid paying that much for a shovel. I would twice as stupid at paying $300 for one, no matter how cool it was.

Reminds me of the story of the millions NASA spent to build a pen that would work in space, the Russians used pencils.
 

BigSwede

The Credible Hulk
I looked at those when they came out, as a collapsible/breakdown shovel would be a great thing to have along. As it stands right now I only carry an E-tool type shovel, which is better than nothing... but not much better if you have to dig out from a high-center hangup in the middle of the vehicle. But then again, I don't travel by myself much. Self-recovery is a whole 'nother perspective.

Anyway, I shied away from buying due to the price and, more importantly, they just didn't look like a good shovel to me. Again, better than nothing, considerably better in fact, but for that $$ it should be freaking awesome.

Note that I say all of this without ever trying one out, so take it for what it is worth.
 

bas157

Member
There is always the Hi-lift "Handle All" option, which can be a shovel, axe, pick-axe and sledge hammer. All fits in a small bag that can be stashed fairly easily. I found one years ago in the Cabela's bargain cave, have yet to actually need it though. Want to save some weight, leave the sledge head at home.

Or this thing I just stumbled across on amazon. (NO experience with it, just found it 1 minutes before posting this) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N68G8E1
 

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