20 Must-Have Tools for Trail Builders | DIY Trail Building Essentials

[@rynoman03]

Lots of good info here Seth! Some basics that we try to use here in KS where I build trails is any post type object must be in the ground at min of 16" and be set in concrete. This is just a rule of our local parks and rec folks. We also use nothing thinner than 2x6 planks and cedar if possible due to its resistance to rot. We tend to assemble everything with decking screws with the t-25 or similar type head so folks won't try to tear our structures apart with common hand tools due to boredom or just wanting to be destructive. If you ever need to sift rocks out from dirt get some 2x4's and chicken wire and build a box and lean it against something. It works great to get that small aggregate out of your dirt for packing. Westar Energy or Evergy donates the wood to us that is recycled from their high-line poles and trusts. So for you other folks check with your local power company to see if they will let you use \ have their old poles and lumber to recycle for trail building. Evergy has a green team so if you are in the KS\MO area definitely reach out to them to see what they can offer.

[@creativeexperience1171]

I love this! I was just waking up to go build some single track

[@digvt]

As a professional trail builder here are some other suggestions: In the basic tools I would definitely add something with a hoe edge whether that be a McLeod, Pulaski, or gardening hoe to pull organic matter off and move dirt around. Also the hatchet could be substituted for a machete or folding saw. For advanced tools I would add a sledgehammer since they work wonders for compacting soil around rocks if you are building any rock gardens. With the whippersnipper I would also recommend getting a blade as well as you can clear out light brush with it a whole lot quicker than with any saw. Also safety gear, a good forestry helmet will keep your eyes, ears, and head safe when using power equipment and chaps wouldn't be a bad idea with the chainsaw.

[@kyleslater5245]

I used a grass blade and it did wonders with taking the grass and anything under 3/4 inch down to the dirt.

[@nils5861]

Agree

[@wj9054]

If you could post links to your favorite trail building tools that would be awesome!😎

[@pennypackmtb2542]

@@wj9054 I love my Battery Powered tools for general trail maintenance. I have an oversized back pack that I carry a Chain saw and Batteries in. Along with snacks and water. The weed Wacker that uses the same batteries, does not fit so I just hold onto it. Full leather gloves have become my favorite, Eye protection is a must. With battery powered tools, hearing protection isn't as important but still should be used. I also carry in the pack a 16" pruning saw and a small shovel to work on drainage. With drainage issues the solution is to find a way for the water to drain and then to fill in the mud hole. Leaving a drainage ditch. I sometimes will through in a 2 ton hand winch and towing straps to move those things.

[@pennypackmtb2542]

And a JEEP

[@samvilla6290]

Dude I just got a rogue hoe ar70 and I’m so excited to be able to get out there and get building. I’m going out today actually and I’m so excited

[@nick_john]

I live on 27 acres in Western PA and have built 2+ miles of mostly downhill singletrack and here’s my arsenal: DR Brush Mower Troy-Bilt Rear-tine rototiller Stihl Pole Pruner/Line Trimmer Ryobi Hedge Trimmer Rogue Tools Travis 7” Hoe Fiskars Machete I use the tiller to break up field grass and turn over the dirt, but it’s real value is loosening up enough dirt to create berms in flat sections.

[@HillsberryMTB]

I'm a MTB trail cutter in south west Florida and one of my most used tool is a heavy duty 19"concrete placer. Great for moving dirt, shaping berms, and scraping sandy areas during the dry winter months.

[@mtbbusiness1917]

Just purchase our first house in NC and the planning process has begun on some Backyard Trail Builds and Frontyard too. This video was super helpful in making a Lowe's to get list. Enjoying all the videos.

[@TGormania]

Great information. I use to use a reciprocating saw to start a trail route but a viewer of my channel sent me a Sandvik. Now I use that 100% of the time. Great tool (no batteries needed) for initially clearing a potential route. Highly recommend them.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Shovel, rake, chainsaw, loppers, pry bar and mattock and the vision to get it done. I built a hiking trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains during Covid. Build a trail during the wet Winter season because it makes cutting into the earth easy. Summer it's like concrete.

[@the1khronohs40]

As a contracter/handyman and hobbyist mechanic, I highly appreciate and LOVE Milwuakee battery tools! I have found nothing more reliable than them. Also, my wife is selling Stihl equipent as part of her job, and I must say that nowadays, they are hard to beat as well! Heavy Duty stuff! You make me proud, man! You also make me wanna build trails ALL over my community! 😬👍

[@diaryofanoldwimpymountainb644]

Thank you, never heard of a McLeod or Pulaski before. I obviously have lived a sheltered life

[@vt6spd]

The number one tool you need, is yourself. :) Get out there and build!!! Nice work Seth

[@Jer0da0sniper]

Would love to see more trail build tutorials like this

[@bikeninja956]

Nice video. For me, for 90% of the stuff I do, it's as follows: I go in with Echo leaf blower, sketch out the line, it's great because it get's all the overburden out from behind rocks/roots etc. vs. rake. Then I go in with a sawzall and 3/4" diam fiskers and cut all the semi large stuff (1"-3" diam) Then I hit all the large stuff with my 14" EGO chainsaw, then finally take out all the smaller stuff (under 1/2"diam) saplings and brush with a brush cutter, then trim it bald with a string trimmer. Usually 3-4' wide path. I can do a few hundred feet/day this way. If the traffic is heavy, they will burn in really quickly and will be permanent, worse case, if traffic is light, they just need a quick trim once a year...

[@Cob_luke23]

My go to tools: rake, normal shovel, and wheelbarrow. Yep that’s all you need.

[@variousartists8261]

This is a great list for small trail builds Then I saw the chainsaw

[@handsformaps3973]

I think I have equal time building/maintaining as I do riding my bike this year! Big fan of making trails better for the masses

[@for_reels-s5n]

a little tiller is a dream when trying to loosen dirt and carve landing or anything out of the hill side

[@operationreciprocity8446]

McLeod is a formidable tool. If you use a hand file, you can get a razor edge across the straight edge, and the heft a good quality forest service rated tool will chop through nearly a 2 inch branch at an angle.

[@movieman6588]

This is great, thanks for posting this video!

[@edt5276]

Great information density - no dead time. Thank you!

[@endurotruckererniedesjardins]

I use a still 170 chainsaw. They go on sale in Canada for 199.99 bucks all the time. My saw is about 8 years old. I use this saw almost every day, I drive logging truck, I'm trimming my loads with it daily and on the weekends it comes with me on my atv rides.

[@tylergreen5567]

Love your videos! Always good stuff. I’m new to mtn biking in MO. Where’s your fav place to ride in MO, besides your backyard?

[@SimplePleasuresMTB]

Nice, I was a heavy equipment operator in the past so I know some dirt tools😂but a new mountain biking area just opened close to home and so far it's pretty boring fire roads, time to make it more fun. Great video 👍

[@steyer-crmg]

Hey dude, that packing side of the crow bar could be used for hitting it with a sledge hammer to break rocks as well. 😎

[@prodbygunter]

To be honest in here trying to think of a way to innovate something and trail making came to my head. I have to do this for a college project

[@bradleyhite3476]

My family has been in the tree and landscaping business for 35 years. I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Stihl is by far the best with the exception of Husqvarna which is a close second. Echo comes in third with Red Max and Shindaiwa shortly behind. Finally you have Craftsmen which is just passable as okay. Everything else is absolute trash when it comes to a gas powered chainsaw, weed eater, or blower. Now electric is a whole different animal, stihl, Husqvarna, echo, or any major professional carpenter tool companies like Dewalt, kobalt, Mikita, Milwaukee etc are a safe bet. Just always remember to buy the premium 2-stroke mix, and aggressive chains to get the most life and productivity out of your chainsaw.

[@mlalloway3413]

Stihl is by far my favorite but some people say they burn cylinders and pistons fast but I still have them in my heart as my favorite

[@bradleyhite3476]

@@mlalloway3413 yeah, stihl can cost more to maintain when they brake down but in my opinion they don’t brake down as much. Husqvarna brakes down less if it’s a commercial XP saw but the cheap ones as bad as mass produced Chinese crap.

[@Mainlythingswithwheels]

A wheelbarrow is also a bare essential for me :)

[@ArmyMatt79]

GREAT Video!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Fiskars. I got the Power Gear Lopper, and it takes down pretty big branches and roots with no problem. You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT about the Rock Pry Bar. It makes life so much easier!!!😃 I got one a few weeks ago. I was thinking about buying a machine that takes down brush, any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[@jcee2259]

Funny. I'm going to a Salish Sea public-use area today for trail refurbishing. Using 3 hand tools off a backpack. Prefer tools made in the USA. The short handle TRUE VALUE shovel. For pushing aside thorny brush and digs. Lever away large stones. FISKRS provides me locking cutting shears for organics up to an inch diameter in a design that prevents loss of spring-action. As with the shovel my grip is comfortable. SANNO SAW WORKS in Chico, CA, made my 18 inch all organic cuts safer with a wood handle. Leg carried in hard synthetic sheath. Today it is a day walk from my residence. But, street legal dirt motorcycle 1,200 mile road trips assist volcanic speleology within the Modoc National Forest with this same carry. Recommend bear pepper spray for human and wildlife defense.

[@joesiddall9876]

10:14 if you buy a good one, its gonna be good. LOL haha

[@creationsmtb5785]

Great Video! But I think the bigger problem is space/land... the tools are important but so is the space

[@jamalbisharat5029]

Thanks for this awesome video! Do you ever to contract work?

[@FrankE.Stein-nh2mm]

I'm buying a wooded acre behind my house to build bike trails I can't wait it's gonna be great and I'm also in missouri I gotta get a McLeod

[@Adamthebuilder]

Great video!!

[@wakeboard147]

Nice video, thanks! Why no loppers (aka clippers) though? - I use them for atv trails. They make quick work of many small/medium limbs and saplings that an axe/saw/chainsaw/weed eater don't work as well for (slower/less efficient). Also, if you have a lot of small stuff, brush, briars, or even weeds (can't get to w/ lawnmower for example), you can get a blade/saw attachment for weed eater.

[@jimiletchford6244]

Are you still planning on getting down to Berm Peak?

[@BackyardTrailBuilds]

I cannot confirm nor deny

[@jessenicola4575]

I endorse having a brush cutting head for your weed whacker. If you gotta cut through blackberries and the like, they'll save you countless hours!

[@rick4677]

Trail building tools - in order from most to least important (depends on where you dig) 1. shovel 2. pickaxe/mattock 3. rake 4. broom 5. every other tool he says in the video

[@neadventures3293]

Exactly what I was looking for!!🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@joshbrowne7416]

I have a spade for clearing Bush, a spade for raking and clearing trail, and a spade for packing, a spade for moving dirt, a spade for shaping

[@RunBikeMike]

What you’re in Missouri?!? Me too :)

[@true3211]

I needed this!

[@jakebleazard3354]

You didn’t talk about loppers! I use them all the time. It also just snow a foot and a half on the new trail we put in. Any suggestions for keeping the trail like new?

[@pennypackmtb2542]

Loppers are OK, but I've long put them away and gone with a weed Wacker and carry a 16" pruning saw for thicker stuff. For stealthyness use Battery powered tools. I use the Black and Decker 12"40V Chain saw and 40V Weed Wacker. I have had other battery powered tools, but these far less expensive 40V Black and Decker tools have out performed matched power tools like Ryobi and DeWALT by years. Never ride a trail if it's muddy enough to leave ruts. There are signs you can find on the inter net that you can copy and post on the trail. I've gone as far as to have FedX print up weather poof signage. Use stainless steel roofing nails or screws. If people know someone cares, Then those that love your trails will respect this.

[@penelocent]

Loppers are one of my most used tools as well!

[@ngarmy6602]

make a video about bicycle tools what you need to work on them and life hacks for them

[@dawnkangas2968]

Awesome 😎

[@honzix]

Catchy video dude. I have just discovered your channel and hit subscribe. Thanks!

[@povtrails1219]

Does the skid steer count as a trail building tool?

[@ryanlockyer2408]

be building jumps/trails with only a shovel and for awhile i only had a shovel with 1/4 of its head and tried to build a jumps with that

[@ewartbuilt660]

Awesome video man! What about tampers and loppers?

[@davidb9271]

A handle for that rake would make it easier to use. 😄

[@thaitripz]

Great video thanx! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@EricEllingwood]

For me a starting kit would be folding saw, loppers, Maddock, shovel, dirt bag.

[@thedirtbros583]

Best KZbinr

[@EenGamer.]

I have access to most of these, but sadly haven't got any space to build a trail 😧

[@isaacpugno3388]

honestly, absolute minimum is just a shovel, i have mental tracks made just with the magic of the thing

[@AlessandroBergomi]

4 days of riding and trail building ahead!

[@648546lllooolll]

Stihl and husqrvarna are my go to brands.

[@niceaxe]

0:51 Wow it's me! (Look at my nickname)

[@drewsenthused6079]

Great viddy! Does it need to be Sawzall brand or any reciprocating saw? 😝

[@operationreciprocity8446]

*also, a Hula Hoe is a great tool for clearing any light ground cover. Kept sharp, you can even cut sod with it.

[@zionhibbert1482]

I was in Missouri and I am building a backyard trail to

[@edwardnorton3150]

Also for the mattock, theres a mini version called ADS

[@katherinecollins9636]

That is a shovel. Rounded tip. A spade has a flat edge, the blade is basically a rectangle.

[@spencerimre]

Surprised you didn't include a bucket in any of the lists haha

[@lachlanbarrett6215]

What about a circular saw also know as a skill saw???

[@jameswhyte3834]

can someone please recommend a good shovel and mcleod? preferably quite cheap

[@jameshancock18]

wish i had somewhere that i could build trails

[@gizmoto4281]

Thanks bro

[@brainranger181]

You forgot loppers. Good video bud.

[@elidenning6276]

To anyone wanting to buy a pulaski or mattock, a pulaski is actually a mattock but one end is an ax blade. These are what you see firefighters with.

[@TheBacontarian]

Cutter mattock has bigger hoe blade smaller axe, Pulaski has bigger axe blade smaller hoe. Mattock better for working in dirt, digging out stumps.

[@BikeLifewithRob]

May need to get a Mattock

[@jamieharr4459]

Lots of blow down in my neighborhood. You aren't building anything fun here without a chainsaw right off the bat ..I suggest an electric one to keep it stealthy

[@buildride5525]

Good list but id say flathead is essential for packing any lip

[@bensadler4582]

Need a wheel barrow!

[@Wirewelding]

Where did the wheelbarrow go?

[@pennypackmtb2542]

Most important tools are those that protect you so you can build longer and better, being; Gloves, Eye protection, Boots and always bring water! 30 years Experience. I know.

[@hochiagrar]

Nice

[@tonyrobinson1623]

Your "rock bar" is actually a "root bar". The chisel end is for cutting roots. The pointy one you referred to is a true "rock bar".

[@trailjockeytj6160]

Are use the Polowski that is more Patchett like and the small 2 inch wide Maddock. Then I will have a pick mattock that has the larger 3 to 4 inch blade and a pic on the other side. Strictly use my Pulaski for wood and roots, and the pick mattock for rocks and to expose my roots. My Pulaski is very sharp and I would hate to dull it. I also sharpened my McLeod on the flat side for root removal. And out of all the tools that one is my go to for most applications.

[@AndrewPardo]

great video! just to let you know though sawzall is what Milwauke calls their reciprocating saw, the actual name for that tool. But honestly at this point i think its just accepted as a sawzall

[@BackyardTrailBuilds]

Actually it says sawzall right on the side of it.

[@AndrewPardo]

@@BackyardTrailBuilds I guess I stand corrected lol

[@rafaelleeuwenberg7418]

The best tool is the excavator haha

[@victoriathegreencheekconur5477]

My tools 1: shovel 2: human body 3: glove

[@asylumDAYS]

Spade/Pala English to Spanish 😉🙂

[@evilrides2298]

what nail do you use ?? i bought the strater pack apparently lmao but all i need now is nails

[@rynoman03]

I would suggest screws over nails. We use decking screws with like a t25 bit.

[@BackyardTrailBuilds]

Depends on the job! Just make sure the nails are galvanized steel so they dont rust.

[@evilrides2298]

@@BackyardTrailBuilds oh okay, but where do you buy them? do you buy them on amazon?

[@evilrides2298]

@@rynoman03 but i don't have the money to buy a driver so... maybe one day

[@harry2005]

I love the Ryobi brand of power tools

[@jonathanwalker8310]

If I could only have 5 tools I would choose a chainsaw, tiller, McLeod, flat shovel, and a weed eater

[@zacheaxelsson2178]

Simple rule, nails bend and skrews breake

[@carinnaude1533]

A better tool for clearing brush is a machete

[@Bolie420]

You forgot the utv

[@zugdsbtngizudsgbnudsdsoiu]

I have a shovel.

[@dr.burtongooch7]

I THINK YOUR trail builds are awsome #Jesus

[@tanehenare6202]

You don't need a hatchet

[@tylerhollyfield]

I’m shocked nobody has once mentioned the most important tool of all. A machete. Dude you need to get rid of that little hatchet thing and get yourself a nice machete. Whack.

[@handlehandlehandlehandlehand]

666 likes

[@Michael_Kaczynski]

@sethsbikehacks

[@nils5861]

You should always wear gloves, Trust me

[@clubdredd1337]

This totally trailbular! You forgot safety glasses!

[@timotheyszczepanski6644]

instructions unclear. got all the professional tools, threw them on my trail with some wood, came back the next day. i now have a pile of wet wood and my drills are dead.

[@jamesbarrett2380]

YOU FORGOT PRUNERS!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH