Lee Valley Swoe

The 66-inch ash handle means I can weed the whole border without bending once, and the blade cuts on both the push and pull so I'm not wasting half my motion. Weeds slice just under the surface and the blade still looks new after a month.

After years of hunching over a hoe, standing upright to weed feels almost like cheating. The blade slices both directions, so I clear a row in half the passes, and the ash handle has just enough spring to save my wrists.

The 66-inch ash handle means I can weed the whole bed without bending, which my back definitely appreciates. The double-edged blade cuts on both strokes so it moves fast, though the edge dulled a bit sooner than I'd like after a few weeks of rocky soil. Still, it's my go-to now.