And therein lies the real beauty of this Corona trowel (and the three-tined hand cultivator also in their "Comfort" line): the tool is a single casting of beefy, rust proof aluminum, with metal thick and sturdy enough to easily stand up to normal wear and tear, not to mention abnormal wear and tear like unearthing bricks or foot-ball sized rocks from the yard (and on both counts, I know of which I speak!). The red rubber handle is thick enough to get a firm grasp on, with a surface texture that will always give you a solid grip, in a bare or gloved hand.

Putting a polished finished on an aluminum garden tool may seem like a needless extravagance, but Corona deserves a kudos for the treatment they've given this small shovel: the super smooth blade surface means less dirt sticking, and it's easier to clean and keep clean. Even better, the edges and corners of the blade are so nicely rounded that you can actually slip the diminutive digger right into your back pocket with absolutely no worries about dicing your dungarees or piercing your posterior!

Of course, the flip side of it's rounded edges is that it won't cut through hard ground or thick grass quite as readily as a sharper-edged hand shovel would, but in my opinion, the trade-off is well worth it to get a tool this durable. And also remember that this is cast aluminum, not stamped steel - if you push it beyond its limit, it will break like a cracker, not bend like a piece of beef jerky.

The great thing about the Corona Clipper Company: they understand that there is a real need for and benefit from using quality materials and elegant design in every tool they manufacture...even something as simple as a five dollar hand shovel.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Corona Clipper  Jan 13, 2007
By S. C. Wertz "Steve Wertz"
This is a replacement/augmentation trowel for an identical one I bought years ago. The first one has a very blunted nose now. All in all it is the best garden tool I've ever owned. I would highly recommend it for its comfort and durability.

1 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Strong, elegant tool for ease in gardening  May 28, 2011
By Observant I
This wonderfully useful tool is elegant in appearance and design. The texturized grip overlaying the single-piece aluminum alloy is soft with a little "give," and very comfortable. The handle offers sufficient length to grip without being overly long. This trowel is balanced, just light enough to prevent strain but still substantial enough to dig down deep and do some serious garden work.

This Corona 12-inch trowel with comfort grip (CT3010I) is very strong, and used for its purpose, should last for years. I have no concerns about breaking or bending this tool. If by some incident the tool does break, I am happy for the lifetime guarantee. I happily use this and the narrow Corona CT3050i Comfort Weeder for almost all of my digging and weeding needs in my small garden (save those that require a full shovel).

Nice, sturday, gets the job done.  Oct 20, 2011
By C. J. Vazquez
I have small potted plants and this trowel works great for me. Durable and easy to handle, it's a great addition to anyone's gardening toolkit.

Excellent form to fit with the hand.  Aug 30, 2011
By Taupa6257
This is a very sturdy and well made trowel. The form fit to your hand brings comfort and ease to work with. The trowel can easily get into hard dirt with no problem. How often have you used a trowel and the actual "trowel scoop" starts to bend? Not this one. It is very sturdy and well made. I would recommend this product to anyone who would use this tool as a primary weeder or even a digger to transplant. That is how sturdy the trowel is. For the cost and quality I give this product 5 stars. Hopefully those of you who purchase this product will agree. Happy gardening!