I know the Lesche seems very popular, but I've used it and don't really care for it myself. Mainly I don't like no curved cup to the blade for scooping dirt out of the bottom of the hole easier. I guess I've been left behind on this trend, as it seemed before the Lesche everybody used this one that I still use...
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I prefer it still over the Lesche, for easier scooping or to shovel off another few inches of dirt in the bottom of the hole. Just seems easier to me having a shovel like blade to do that sort of thing, not to mention to get the dirt out without having to stick my hand in there. Not an issue to use my hands, of course, I just prefer less hassle whenever possible.
For the serrated edges, you can easily file deeper teeth into this digger for more easy root cutting. Never did that myself yet but I've seen others do it and it looks wicked.
The main strength of the Lesche is the ability to slice through tough sod easier. However, I sharpen my digger's edge a few times a year on a grinder and it makes it just as easy IMO as the Lesche, provided you are working with a sharp blade. Not as easy, but to the point where it's not an issue to me.
The only complaint I have with this digger is that I wish it was about another 2 to perhaps 3" longer for digging deeper plugs easier. With the advent of deeper detectors these days IMO it's very important to have a longer digger so you can get the plug out in one piece without as much need to dig further after it's removed. I hear one of the Predator tools is very popular now for this reason. Don't know it's name off hand, but it's got a curve to the digging blade much like my digger in a way, so I could see myself liking that thing more perhaps.
For a probe to pop targets, can't beat a long handled phillips screwdriver. Round off the tip so it is less likely to scratch a good find. I've used various probes meant for detecting and they either had bad handles or they would bend on me when I put side pressure on them. Tip for probing- Lay your digger down on the ground, then lay the probe at a 90 degree angle to it so the digger acts like a sea saw pivot so you've got leverage to push down on the handle of the probe and pop/pull the target to the surface. Works like a charm.
Here's the way I carry my digging tools. For years I did it the hard way sticking the digger in my apron and such. When I got the Pro Pointer I realized it was time for some sanity. 5 minutes shopping at a home improvement store and man is metal detecting so much less hassle these days. I carry this tool harness on my left hip so it's not in the way when bending down and such.
My ID chart is in the back pocket. The elastic pocket for the Pro Pointer and the tiny one to the right for the screwdriver I cut holes in the bottom so they could sit down further and not be top heavy. This picture is before I did that. Later I also cut off that dog chain clip since I had no use for it, along with the lid flap for the pocket the Pro Pointer goes into. Again, no use for it.
I think this thing cost like $7 and another $2 for the belt. It's almost like it was made for detector digging tools. The pocket with the digger has another large pocket behind it where my ID chart stays and I can also throw anything else I might want to carry (smokes, lighter, etc). In the front small middle pocket I carry an extra bolt and washers for a coil. The elastic pocket for the Pro Pointer snugs it very well, so even with a hole cut in the bottom the Pro Pointer is at no risk of falling through. Perfect size pocket for it, and again being elastic it's like it was meant for it. I can remove, use, and put back the Pro Pointer all left handed without ever having to put in digger down in my right hand.
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For an apron I just use one of those $2 home improvement store aprons with two pockets. I like it for comfort and also the ability to throw it into the washer when it gets nasty enough. Even use it when I'm water hunting.
Oh, and two other essentials IMO. First, those cheap cloth gloves that are dipped on the front side of the hands and fingers in latex or rubber. The back sides are still just open cloth. Keeps your hands dry and warm in the winter, yet in the summer they won't sweat since the back side of the hand is still open cloth. I won't hunt without them. Nice to pull them off and my hands are clean, and also not have wet hands. I also use a knee pad now and won't hunt without it too. Used to laugh at guys using them until a friend gave me one to try. Man, like night and day. Just be sure to get one that's padded on the inside yet has a plastic shell on the outside front so your knee doesn't get wet.
I think it's curious to see guys own the top of the line machines, a large selection of coils, and the best of digging tools, and research and plan a hunt to a "T", yet often they still stuff their digging in their apron or carry it in their hand. The more user friendly/less hassle the hunt is to me, the more I enjoy it. Can't tell you how many times I had to wander through the woods looking for my digger because it fell out of my apron and I didn't notice it, or it would poke me in the stomach as I bent down to dig. Those days are long gone now. Plus, the beauty of the snap on/snap off belt is it takes seconds to gear up, where as before that I was stuffing this here and stuffing that there. Not no more. Snap the tool belt on and I'm like bat man ready for action...
