You ever figure on just fabricating your own digging tool. Some things it seems like they are just designed to break and get in back into the store to buy a newer version and maybe some other stuff you really do not need.
One of my digging tool I use I found in the forest in Switzerland, actually found two that day. Both are called a Hookaroon, always been a big collector of small forestry hand tools, but these where not like the American made stuff I had collected my whole life, they where from a German firm called Mueller or Müller (depending on what keyboard you have).
Darn thing just leaned against a tree, no sign at all of any forestry work done. I can not even think of a time when tree had been taken in that area.
Anyway, i was headed down to a stream to dig cracks and flips rocks, and thought, well if I can break them then I will add them to my collection. The five footer was a beast, but the little one about a foot and half was really good. Only used the five footer a few other times since, but the little one is my good to tool now when I head out for cracks or flipping rocks.
Sure was not made for it, but it does the job like it was.
Told my neighbour there about it, he watches after our property for us because we do not live there. He loves to hunt nuggets too, well a Swiss nugget is more like what some folks in the US on the youtube call pickers and do not seem so enthusiastic about.
Fella told me that he also has a German Hookaroon, but that he made his own shovel. He said you either buys German made stainless or make your own gear. LOL Then he said but nuggets in Europe do not pay for high quality german stainless, so he made his.
Back in Texas on the ranch we often made our own tools; took and old disc that was not worth saving and cut up one of the disc and made some post hole diggers, root busters and a hoe. I would bet you get your hands on something like that and you could make a pretty good long lasting tool. Seen plemty of the same repurpose skill in Lousiana. Heck if you do not have something laying around in the yard then just head to Toledo Bend, used to find all sorts of good stuff on the river banks there.
Tools these days (since the 80s) seems like they are made for city folk trying to decorate their garden sheds.