Raised beds

What actually matters

Handle length is the first figure most listings give, and it is stated as a minimum and a maximum. When the two numbers match, as they do for a fixed handle listed at 36 in (91 cm), the tool has one length and no adjustment. When they differ, the handle is listed as adjustable between the two, such as 18 in (46 cm) to 32 in (81 cm).

A longer maximum matters when the distance from where you stand to the far side of the bed is large. A shorter minimum matters when you want to work close in, for example along a near edge. The gap between the two figures is the range of positions the tool can cover. A fixed handle gives up that range, and an adjustable one gives you a choice of lengths.

Check the unit before you compare numbers. Some listings give inches and others give centimeters, so a figure of 86 cm is not larger than one of 36 in (91 cm). The longest setting listed for the metric ExtendaHANDLE tools is 86 cm, or about 34 in, which is shorter than the 36 in fixed handles. The shortest setting on those same tools is 45 cm, about 18 in.

Overall length is a different figure from handle length. It measures the whole tool, so it will be larger than the handle alone. One listing here gives only an overall length of 101.5 cm (about 40 in), so you cannot read a handle length from it. If you set it beside handles listed at 36 in (91 cm), you are comparing two different measurements.

Head material describes what the working end is made of. The listings here use phrases such as heat-treated steel and tempered steel with a protective coating. Those phrases describe a material and a treatment as the manufacturer or listing words them, not a tested result. A coating is stated only for some heads, so its absence from another listing means it was not stated, not that none exists.

Handle material is listed for only three of the six tools. The listings name aluminum for one and steel for two. The listings give no weight figure, so this page does not compare how heavy the tools are. A missing handle material simply means the listing did not state it.

A warranty line is the maker's own promise, and it is worth reading as worded. Three listings describe a lifetime warranty against material and workmanship defects. The shorter wording, simply lifetime warranty, does not say what is covered, so this page cannot say either. A warranty tells you what the maker will address, and it does not describe how long a tool will last in your bed.

Read the figures as a set instead of picking one. A tool with a long handle and a short warranty line is a different choice from one with a short handle and a detailed warranty. Each specification answers one question: how far the tool reaches, what it is made of, or what the maker promises.

Which one for whom

If you stand at one edge of a wide bed, the figure to read is the maximum handle length. The largest handle figures listed here are 36 in (91 cm) for two fixed handles and 86 cm (about 34 in) for the metric adjustable ones.

If you also work in a narrow bed or along a path, the figure to read is the minimum, because it sets how short the tool can be. The adjustable tools list minimums of 18 in (46 cm) and 45 cm (about 18 in), while the fixed ones have no shorter setting. If more than one person shares the tools, a listed range gives each of them a choice of length, and a fixed handle gives one length to all.

If metal type matters to you, read the head and handle material lines. Heat-treated steel, tempered steel with a protective coating, steel and aluminum all appear in the listings, and each appears only where the listing states it.

If you want to compare the tool that lists only overall length, convert units first and remember it is a different measurement from handle length. The 101.5 cm (about 40 in) overall figure cannot be set directly against a 36 in (91 cm) handle.

If the cover in the warranty matters to you, read its wording rather than the word lifetime alone. Three listings state that the warranty is against material and workmanship defects, and three give only the word lifetime.

If you are comparing two tools, write down the same four figures for each: minimum handle, maximum handle, material and warranty. A blank in one column means the listing did not state it, so it is not a point against the tool. Matching the figure to the job in this way keeps the comparison about measurements, which is all the listings can support.

Setup and use

Compare tools in a single unit before anything else, using 1 in as 2.54 cm. On that basis, 36 in is 91 cm, 32 in is 81 cm and 18 in is 46 cm, all rounded to the nearest centimeter. In the other direction, 86 cm is about 34 in and 45 cm is about 18 in.

If a handle is listed with a range, set it to the shorter end when working close to you and the longer end when reaching. A fixed handle stays at its listed length, so you adjust by changing where you stand instead. For the tool listed by overall length, hold the 101.5 cm (about 40 in) figure against the space you have, since it covers the whole tool.

Use the head and handle material lines to confirm you are comparing like with like. Read the warranty wording on the listing page before you rely on it, since the shorter wordings do not say what is covered. Where a listing leaves a figure blank, treat the figure as not stated rather than assuming a value.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between handle length and overall length?

Handle length measures the handle, and overall length measures the whole tool. The listings here give a handle length for five tools and an overall length of 101.5 cm (about 40 in) for one. The two figures should not be set directly against each other.

Which materials do the listings mention?

The listings name heat-treated steel and tempered steel with a protective coating for heads, and steel or aluminum for handles. Not every tool lists both, so a blank means the material was not stated. The listings do not compare materials, so this page does not either.

What do the warranty lines say?

Three listings describe a lifetime warranty against material and workmanship defects. The other three say lifetime warranty without stating what it covers. Read each one as worded, since the wording differs from listing to listing.