Truper 5 lb Pick Mattock Review
- 5 lb forged, high-strength carbon steel head
- Pick end for rocky ground, wide mattock blade for heavy digging
- 36" fiberglass handle with a shock-absorbing grip
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A two-ended digging and breaking tool: a pick for rocky ground and hard clay, and a wide blade for trenches and roots. Here's what its 5 lb head and 36-inch handle suit.
Quick verdict
The Truper 5 lb Pick Mattock pairs a forged carbon steel head with a 36-inch fiberglass handle and a shock-absorbing grip. The pick end breaks rocky surfaces and hard clay, while the wide mattock blade digs, chops roots and clears trenches. It is a straightforward, weather-resistant tool for ground a shovel can't start, and its 5 lb head balances breaking power with control over a long day.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Two tools in one head: a pick for breaking, a blade for digging
- Forged, high-strength carbon steel head
- Fiberglass handle stands up to weather better than wood
- Shock-absorbing grip dampens vibration from heavy strikes
- Mid-weight 5 lb head stays manageable through long sessions
What could be better
- Few published details beyond the core specs, such as blade width
- A 5 lb head breaks rock more slowly than heavier picks
- Hard, tiring work if you're not used to an overhead swing
Key features, explained
Forged 5 lb carbon steel head
The head is forged from high-strength carbon steel and weighs 5 pounds. That makes it a mid-weight mattock: heavy enough to break compacted ground and rocky soil with each swing, yet light enough to keep swinging accurately through a long trenching job. Forging gives steel a dense, tough structure, which matters on a tool whose entire purpose is being driven into rock, clay and hardpan.
Pick end and mattock blade
As a pick mattock, the head has two working ends. The pointed, precision-ground pick breaks rocky surfaces, loosens hard clay and works out embedded rocks. The opposite end is a wide, flat mattock blade for heavy digging, cutting through roots and clearing trenches. Together they handle the jobs a shovel can't start, breaking ground that is too hard, too rocky or too root-bound to dig, so you can shovel out the loosened soil afterward.
36-inch fiberglass handle
The handle is 36 inches of fiberglass, which Truper says is significantly more durable and weather-resistant than traditional wood. A mattock lives a hard life, often left out on a job site or in a truck bed, and fiberglass won't swell, shrink or let the head work loose as moisture comes and goes. The 36-inch length allows a full two-handed swing, letting the weight of the head do most of the work.
Shock-absorbing grip
Hitting rock sends a jolt up the handle. Truper gives this one an ergonomic, shock-absorbing grip that dampens vibration from heavy strikes, reducing hand fatigue and making long sessions more comfortable. It won't remove the impact entirely, so gloves are still worth wearing, along with safety glasses and sturdy boots, since chips of rock and soil can fly when the pick end strikes.
Where it fits
Truper positions this mattock for demanding construction, landscaping and road work, and it is just as useful around a property: digging post and tree holes in rocky soil, cutting trenches for irrigation or drainage, breaking up old compacted paths and grubbing out roots. Keep a clear zone around you, swing with control rather than full force, and reach for a digging bar instead of the pick when a large rock needs serious leverage.
Truper 5 lb Pick Mattock specs
| Brand | Truper |
|---|---|
| Model | TP-5MX (also listed as TP-5M, 18647) |
| Type | Pick mattock |
| Head weight | 5 lb |
| Overall weight | About 3.28 kg (7.2 lb) |
| Head | Forged high-strength carbon steel |
| Working ends | Pointed pick and wide mattock blade |
| Handle | 36 in fiberglass |
| Grip | Ergonomic, shock-absorbing |
| Prices change often. See the live price: Check Price | |
Who should buy it?
Great for
- Breaking rocky, compacted or hard clay ground before shoveling
- Digging trenches and post holes where roots get in the way
- Landscapers and contractors who want a weather-resistant handle
Skip it if
- Your soil is loose enough for a shovel alone
- You need to break large rocks, where a bar or sledge does better
- You can't comfortably control a two-handed overhead swing
Frequently asked questions
What is a pick mattock used for?
Breaking and digging tough ground. The pick end breaks rocky surfaces and hard clay, and the wide mattock blade digs, chops roots and clears trenches.
How heavy is the Truper pick mattock?
The forged head weighs 5 pounds. The complete tool, with its 36-inch fiberglass handle, is listed at about 3.28 kilograms, roughly 7.2 pounds.
What is the difference between a pick mattock and a cutter mattock?
A pick mattock pairs a pointed pick with a wide digging blade, which favors rocky or compacted soil. A cutter mattock swaps the pick for an axe-like blade aimed at roots.
Is a fiberglass mattock handle better than wood?
Truper says its fiberglass handle is significantly more durable and weather-resistant than wood. It also won't swell or shrink with moisture, which helps keep the head tight.
What safety gear should I wear with a mattock?
Safety glasses, gloves and sturdy boots. Keep bystanders well back, since the pick can throw rock chips and soil when it strikes.
Final verdict
The Truper 5 lb Pick Mattock is a no-frills ground breaker done right: a forged carbon steel head with a pick and a wide blade, a 36-inch fiberglass handle that stands up to weather, and a grip that takes some of the sting out of each strike. It isn't a glamorous tool, but for rocky soil, hard clay and root-choked trenches, it does the work a shovel simply can't.
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