The initial impressions of the entrenching tool itself are quite good if not impressive to say the least. The package that the tool comes in is more of a cardboard clamshell with a mission statement from the manufacturer on the back. The manufacturer themselves being well known for their firearms in particular their pistols have come forth and put in modern design augmentations into this entrenching tool. In terms of design, the tool itself has a utilitarian design aesthetic in both form and function. The shovel head can swivel into several positions as marked by the indentations in the hinge; such positions allow a user some variability in terms of their digging and entrenching function. Upon closer inspection, there are more nuances to take into account, take for example the locking mechanism of the entrenching tool; it is a large turn-style knob in which turning clockwise tightens it while turning counter-clockwise loosens it. Furthermore, a closer look at the locking knob reveals that there is a flat slot cut into the knob itself. The function of the slot is to further tighten the locking mechanism through the use of the spine of the included push saw. In addition to this function, the locking knob is held in place by a heavy duty flat-head slotted bolt that can also be adjusted by the included push saw. The included saw as mentioned before, is kept inside the hollow handle of the entrenching tool and can be access by unscrewing the end cap counter-clockwise from the handle; once removed the saw can be attached to the handle by inserting it in reverse and putting the end cap over the saw and tightening it down clockwise to secure it into place. In terms of the design of the saw itself, the saw is a push-type saw in which the cutting teeth of the saw is in reverse, which would mean that the cutting action of the saw for removing the most material is in the forward pushing motion. While this design maybe counter intuitive to most other saw designs out there, its functions may be intended to serve as a root saw in which case while digging, users may find themselves upon a tree root that requires removal. As for the design of the handle itself, it is indeed hollow and extends by which requires the user to turn the bottom half clockwise to loosen the lower half. Once the lower half of the handle is extended, the user must turn counter-clockwise to tighten the handle for proper digging and entrenching usage. The choice of materials in the design of this entrenching tool in that for some user may seem questionable, in which case while the head of the entrenching tool is made of carbon steel, the handle is made of a polymer plastic, the same kind that can be found on Glock’s pistols. How reliable or durable can this entrenching tool be if made of polymer plastic? For the most part, Glock pistols of been around for quite some time and being well known for their reliability, durability and usage, it is a question that is up to the user to determine for themselves. The use of polymer plastics for the design of this entrenching tool would be to cut down significantly on the weight as part of the many tools a user may carry with them while adventuring. The inclusion of the storage pouch is an addition to the entrenching tool; however it leaves more to be desire as the quality is not quite the same as the entrenching tool itself. The pouch is made of soft canvas with a belt loop stitched to the back with two square thin metal rings for attachment, the bottom of the poach has a metal drain hole for excess moisture or water and the flap of the pouch is kept closed by two strips of Velcro. The entrenching tool has the appearance of a regular shovel in that many of which will find self-explanatory in term of usage. It functions in much in same way a regular sized shovel would except it is much shorter. The build quality of the entrenching tool itself is quite solid, stiff and heavy-duty and performs excellently as intend. When compared to other entrenching tools on the market and even ones distributed by the military, they mostly have similar design aesthetics with a triangular handle with three joints and sections that fold up into a compact form. While for many users other there with experiences of these types of entrenching tools on the market, this particular one can be another option to chosen from and well worth taking into consideration. Overall, I would say that this is an excellent and quality built entrenching tool in a great and simple design.