How do you carry a shovel while Metal detecting?

[Dug]

The type of digging and where dictates what you want to carry.

When I'm in SC woods I use a military wood handled folding shovel I purchased from a military surplus store. I wear it in a swivel type hammer holder that is attached to a diver's belt. I prefer a divers belt as there is no adjustment needed regardless of what clothes you are wearing and the belt is wide so it is comfortable and less likely to slide down. I also carry a small folding pruning saw that came in it's own sheath from Harbor Freight. Great little item for root problems.

If I'm out in SC open fields I carry a regular long handled shovel over my shoulder. Great leverage, you can easily drive it through small roots with foot pressure, and you don't have to bend over to dig.

Up in Virginia where the soil can be hard clay and rock a trenching spade with the handle cut off seems to be popular as it is strong and gives good leverage. I didn't think you could break a military folding shovel but I broke one in Virginia trying to pry up through a clump of clay and small rocks.

[goodmore]

I have the model 88 Hercules from Predatortools. It has the ball on the end instead of the T and slides nicely down into a hammer holder. The guys in my club get credit for this tip.