TheTentLab DirtSaw Deuce #2

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note: Current production is the DirtSaw® Deuce® #2 (US patent D1059976) — the toothed evolution of the original Deuce of Spades™. Old smooth-edge versions remain on clearance; buyers should confirm the DirtSaw teeth. No stable conventional SKU found; identified by model name "DirtSaw Deuce #2". A packaging barcode 850026564204 was observed on the Sky color variant (from product imagery) — not confirmed as a universal SKU.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

The 2023 DirtSaw update was the main recent change: obtuse DirtSaw teeth, recessed root-cutting teeth, grip undulations, and reinforcing "ray-bends" were added while retaining the #1/#2/#3 size structure. Ray-bends are claimed to make the #2 65% stronger against bending in the middle and ~3× stronger at the hole. The older non-DirtSaw versions are still on sale ($14.95–$16.95 by size), which is how you can tell them apart — the current model is the toothed one. No documented 2024–2026 changes found.

Overview

The #2 is TheTentLab's most popular size: a 0.60 oz (17 g) cathole trowel machined from 7075-T6 aluminum. It is designed to be used right-side up, upside down, sideways, and half-sideways — sawing, prying, probing, and scooping — with the wide smooth DirtSaw teeth cutting dirt without snagging roots or hands. Its 6.8 in length doubles as a cathole depth gauge (a proper cathole is one Deuce deep: 6–8 in).

Key Specs

Pricing

• MSRP (DirtSaw #2): $20.95 — thetentlab.com, observed 2026-09-20
• Street: $21.95 at some US retailers, observed 2026-09-20
• Old smooth-edge #2: original MSRP $19.95, on sale $15.95 (Fire color) — clearance, not current

In the Box

The trowel ships with no packaging — TheTentLab describes the Deuce as "designed to need no packaging" and 100% recyclable where aluminum is accepted. Trowel only.

Warranty

Lifetime warranty per TheTentLab: "bend or break one and we'll replace it for just the cost of postage," with a claim link on the manufacturer's Deuce page. Exact exclusions beyond postage cost are UNVERIFIED.

Support & Parts

TheTentLab (Denver, CO) sells direct and via ultralight retailers (Garage Grown Gear, Ultralight Outdoor Gear UK). No spare parts are applicable to a single-piece trowel; support is the replacement guarantee above. Response-time claims are UNVERIFIED.

Community Verdict

Grounded in actual discussions, no fabricated scores:

• TheTentLab calls the #2 its most popular trowel; long-term backpacking reviews (e.g., pmags) treat it as a classic because it is dramatically lighter and more compact than orange plastic trowels while digging better.
• The DirtSaw teeth are the differentiator in hard ground; the manufacturer's "advanced techniques" (upside-down probing/sawing) are widely referenced in UL forums.
• Tradeoff echoed by users: thin aluminum edges are less comfortable in hand than thicker tools, and some users in very rocky ground still prefer heavier, sturdier trowels.

Leave No Trace realities: Dig catholes 6–8 inches deep (one Deuce deep) where permitted — TheTentLab's own page stresses this. Rules vary by area: some alpine, desert, canyon, coastal, and high-use areas require packing out solid waste; toilet-paper rules also vary (pack out where required, use minimal elsewhere). A trowel doesn't make any site diggable — check local regulations first.

Community Verdict — appended voices (Sept 2026)

• Valley and Peak: several long-distance hikes, minimal wear, the edge stayed sharp — the durability best case.
• Knownothingnomads: "one of the best-made trowels on the market"; lifetime warranty = send a picture, pay ~$4 US postage, old one recycled.
• REI critical reviews (5 reviews, 3.0 avg): "awful against roots" and "useless in anything but sand"; one older smooth-edge Deuce snapped its tip in rocky Yellowstone soil (old smooth gen, not the DirtSaw).
• TheTentLab, July 2026: their anodizer raised prices 240%, putting continued US production in doubt — a 2026–27 price/supply risk to watch.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality

• The DirtSaw update (teeth + ray-bends) specifically fixes the old gen's bending: strength up ~65% claimed, 3× vs the smooth Deuce.
• Minimal wear over long-distance use is the reported norm; anodizing wears cosmetically.
• Roots and rock are the enemy: blunt teeth can't power through roots, and prying with the tip can snap it (even the DirtSaw) — the REI breakage report is from rocky Yellowstone soil on the older smooth edge.
• Warranty reality: send a picture, pay ~$4 US postage; replacement honored; the old one is recycled per Knownothingnomads.

Version history — year by year

• 2023: DirtSaw update — teeth, ray-bends, +65%/3× strength, patent D1059976.
• 2024–2025: Stable product; Lime variant MPN 850026564440; US (Denver/Arrow Sheet Metal) and Korean (DAC) production both active, warranty identical.
• 2026: $20.95 held; TheTentLab reported July 2026 that their anodizer raised prices 240%, putting US production viability in doubt — no product changes documented.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• No rival trowel exists in the 184-spec catalog — an honest gap.
• Within the family: #1 (15 g, narrowest), #2 (17 g, the sweet spot), #3 (35 g, big digs, ~2× stronger than #2).
• Outside the catalog (context only): Coghlan's plastic trowel (~$2) — cheaper, heavier, weaker; not part of this catalog.

Care & maintenance

• Rinse dirt off; check for bends after rocky soil.
• Don't pry rocks or roots — leverage breaks tips, even the DirtSaw.
• Use the hang hole to clip it on; the trowel is tiny — bright colors help keep track of it.
• No harsh abrasives on the anodizing.

Buying traps

• Smooth-edge (non-DirtSaw) #2 still clearing at $14.95–16.95 — the teeth are the DirtSaw tell.
• Color batches: US vs Korean production — identical warranty per TheTentLab.
• eBay/PicClick resellers at $30+ over MSRP; REI carries limited colors; Amazon "Deuce of Spades" listings may be the old generation.

Images

• ../images/deuce-of-spades-trowel-1.jpg — Primary. DirtSaw Deuce #2 in blue/Sky anodized finish with DirtSaw teeth and packaging barcode visible. 1094×1094 px. Source page: ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk (DirtSaw Deuce #2 listing).
• ../images/deuce-of-spades-trowel-2.jpg — Studio product shot on retail CDN. 500×500 px. Source page: garagegrowngear.com (Deuce #2 by The TentLab).
• ../images/deuce-of-spades-trowel-3.jpg — Alternate product view. 1094×1094 px. Source page: ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk.

All three validated HTTP 200 with image content type, converted to JPEG via PIL, verified with file.

Research date: 2026-09-20. All prices USD. Prices, availability, and specs should be live re-verified before purchase.

• [research workspace] — In-use: orange Deuce #2 stuck in gravel. 525×595 px. Source page: trailspace.com (Deuce of Spades #2 reviews).
• [research workspace] — Official TentLab "Deuce Advanced Techniques" instructional diagram. 384×500 px. Source: m.media-amazon.com (Amazon ASIN image set).
• [research workspace] — DirtSaw Deuce #2 in green, product view with weight marking. 384×384 px. Source page: worldo.app (DirtSaw Deuce 2 listing).