Thinking about doing some trail building? Wondering what tools you’ll need if you’re blazing a biking trail?
Few things can be more satisfying than building a biking trail or maintaining one to ensure that both you and other riders get plenty of enjoyment out of it. However, if you’re not fully equipped for the job, it may be much more difficult than it needs to be.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 7 tools you should add to your arsenal if you’re building a biking trail.
1. Folding Saw
One of the best tools you can use for trail building is the folding saw. A folding saw can help clear away branches as needed but is also extremely portable, making it a great tool to carry in your backpack.
2. Secateurs
Secateurs are not only helpful for clearing away limbs but are even more portable than a folding saw. With this tool, you can easily trim away small branches or stumps, and luckily, it won’t cost you too much to get your hands on either.
3. Spade
While a shovel can help clear a trail, the spade is an even better option.
A spade can do just about anything a shovel can do, but thanks to its sharp point, it can help you to break ground much more easily. You can then use the tool to pack down and dig up dirt or even to chop through roots with ease.
4. Tarmac Rake
The tarmac rake is another great tool to have when you’re clearing a path for your mountain bike. Tougher than a conventional rake, the tarmac rake is great for dealing with small amounts of undergrowth, and for maintaining and clearing pathways.
5. Mattock
A mattock is another invaluable tool that can be extremely helpful when building a biking trail. The mattock can be useful for loosening up the soil, but can also serve other functions as well. It’s a great tool to use to chop away at stumps and roots.
Compared to other tools, the mattock can do especially well breaking up harder materials such as rocks and tough dirt.
6. Hoe
A hoe can also be very useful when building a trail and serve a variety of purposes.
Especially great for breaking up the top layer of soil, the garden hoe is a great starter tool to use on upper layers of organic material. Then, you can use some of the tools listed above where a little more strength is required.
7. Portable Bucket
While a wheelbarrow is one potential option for hauling dirt and debris, a bucket or tub can be particularly useful when in the woods.
Unlike the wheelbarrow, a bucket or tub will be much more portable, allowing for more maneuverability. For even more functionality, you may want to get a 5-gallon bucket with a bottom handle.
Choosing the Perfect Trail Building Tools
If you’re getting started with trail building, you need to make sure that you don’t forget to bring some of the above items with you. Each of these tools will make your time building a biking trail much easier to handle and will allow you to get it done in record time.
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