There aren’t a lot of options when it comes to portable trail building tools one can tote in a pack. While researching options for an easy-to-carry trail building tool, our search took us from modular survival shovels to combi tools to trunk shovels. The problem with these options: the handles are either too short or too long to be carried in a hydration pack and easily portaged to the build site. Then we discovered the Inteletool, an interchangeable head tool featuring a telescopic handle.
The telescopic handle and removable heads offer options for trail builders looking for an option that can be easy to transport. Telescopic handles start at $70, and with the Pulaski axe head ($92 on sale), a base set up will set you back $162. Our budget setup would be the Pulaski head plus a spade head, which would cover a wide range of tasks. There’s also a handle with McLeod head combo that will set you back $191 that’s a viable option for trail work.
Inteletool offers 22 tool heads to cover a wide range of tasks. For trail builders, a pulaski axe head, rake head, round point shovel head ($71), McLeod head ($78) are also available for the tool, providing an alternative option to the Trail Boss.
A heavy duty male tool head threads into the female Inteletool telescopic pole that is secured with a nylon collar lock. The telescopic handles are offered in a range of lengths for differing tasks. Our pick is the shortest offered, the 2 to 4 foot. 24″ is a bit long to squeeze into typical hydration packs, but should still fit a wide range of backpacks without needing to carry a trail builder specific pack.
For more info, check out Inteletool.com