I garden a lot, and my last hand shovel bent digging a small trench in some clay for drainage around my raised bed garden. I got this to replace that one, and I have been very happy with it so far. The handle is very comfortable, and I love that it has a reddish-orange accent color on the handle, making it easier to find when I set it down and forget where. The metal part has a good edge and is a very sturdy material. I think I would really have to try to bend this one. And at $6.99 (at the time of order), you can't go wrong on the value. This shovel would easily be double that price at a store. I am very glad I ordered this and look forward to many seasons using it.