{"id":10767,"date":"2022-12-29T15:19:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T20:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techwriteredc.com\/?p=10767"},"modified":"2022-12-29T15:20:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T20:20:04","slug":"barebones-hori-hori-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techwriteredc.com\/barebones-hori-hori-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Barebones Hori Hori Review | It’s Not Just For Gardening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, you think the perfect garden tool doesn\u2019t exist? Then I have a surprise for you. The Barebones Hori Hori cuts, slices, trims, saws, digs, scoops, and looks good doing it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese designs\u2014its name translates to \u201cdig dig\u201d\u2014the Barebones Hori Hori combines all the best aspects of a gardening knife and a spade, with a few extra features thrown in. It\u2019s a formidable garden knife that does the jobs of multiple tools in one compact, smartly designed package. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Barebones Hori Hori: First Impressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Impressive right out of the box, the Barebones Hori Hori has solid heft to it, and an appearance that calls to mind a survival knife with elements of a hand trowel. The curved hollow-back blade gives it its shovel-like appearance, and the blade has a straight edge on one side and a serrated edge on the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tool feels very comfortable in hand. The edge is not especially sharp, but considering that this is a tool that\u2019s meant to be used as both a knife and a shovel, it doesn\u2019t really need to be. I love the look of it, including the rich finish of the wood handle and the black blade coating, which has a stonewashed look to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measurements & Specs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Barebones Hori Hori has a 6.75-inch blade, with an overall length of 12 inches. It weighs 0.8 pounds, and has a full tang blade made of heat-treated 4Cr13 stainless steel. The walnut wood handle is held in place by two sturdy steel rivets, and has a lanyard hole with a copper ring accent. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Design & Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the impressive aspects of the Hori Hori\u2019s design is how many features and uses are incorporated into what is, ultimately, a very simple tool. It wouldn\u2019t be inaccurate to call the Barebones Hori Hori a multitool, but there\u2019s nothing contrived or gimmicky about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The straight edge of the knife is perfect for cutting through the stems and stalks of plants, while the serrated edge is quite adept at cutting thicker, woodier plant materials with a sawing motion. The serrated edge is, surprisingly, sharper than the straight edge, so one has to be careful while using it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a twine cutter on the straight side of the blade, and it doubles as a bottle opener. It\u2019s a handy feature when you want to indulge in a well-earned cold one after finishing your garden chores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The blade is curved like a shovel, though it\u2019s not as broad as a typical garden spade. It\u2019s very effective for digging and planting, even in hard soil. The blade is also thick and sturdy enough for heavy-duty tasks like digging and prying roots out of the ground. The Hori Hori also has inch markings on the concave side of the blade up to six inches, which is very useful for planting seeds at a certain depth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The steel is corrosion-resistant, and also offers high strength and wear resistance. It\u2019s moderately easy to sharpen, so if you want to hone your blade to a sharper edge than it comes with, it\u2019s not too hard to do so using a standard whetstone or puck sharpener. This isn\u2019t a knife that needs to be shaving-sharp to be effective, but I do like to sharpen mine a little better than the factory edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final Thoughts on the Barebones Hori Hori<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a firm believer in having the right tool for the right job. The Barebones Hori Hori is a really excellent gardening knife and tool, but it\u2019s important to understand not just what it is, but also what it\u2019s not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I say that because it\u2019s not really a knife in the traditional sense. While the Hori Hori can easily do the jobs of multiple garden tools, it can\u2019t replace a good survival knife<\/a> if you\u2019re planning on using it for bushcraft. I would argue that it\u2019s a little too heavy to constantly carry on your hip (though a matching sheath is available) and its rounded shape and concave blade make it rather unwieldy for bushcraft jobs like feather sticking, batoning and food prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is a truly outstanding gardening companion. I\u2019ve used it for planting, weeding and harvesting in our home garden throughout the most recent season, and found it useful for a surprising variety of tasks. Thanks in part to the handy inch markings, it might be the best tool ever devised for planting bulbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Barebones Hori Hori is also a perfect tool for anyone who is interested in foraging and gathering wild foods. It\u2019s great for digging up wild onions, harvesting wild mushrooms and picking fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth noting that the Hori Hori comes at a very reasonable price. With a little care (i.e. cleaning after each use and oiling the blade periodically) it should last a very long time. I fully expect to be using mine for many years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n