Wood vs. Steel Broadfork Handles: Which Should You Choose?
Handle material changes the weight, feel, and intended use of a broadfork. Neither wood nor steel is automatically right for every farm. The important question is how much leverage the tool will regularly see.
Why choose wood?
Wood handles keep a broadfork lighter and comfortable for routine work. The GOAT™ All Wood weighs 15.7 lb and is intended for established beds, prepared soil, and routine aeration.
For growers working permanent beds that are already in good condition, that lower weight can make repeated passes easier.
Where wood reaches its limits
Wood handles can break if the tool is heavily leveraged in hard, rocky, compacted, or previously unworked ground. Those conditions can require significantly more force than routine aeration of established beds.
If difficult ground is a normal part of your work, choosing the stronger configuration from the beginning is the better approach.
Why choose steel lower handles?
The GOAT™ Bottom Steel uses steel lower handles where the tool sees the highest leverage while retaining ash grips above. It weighs 20.5 lb and is the better choice for rocky, hard, compacted, or previously unworked ground.
A simple decision rule
- Established beds and prepared soil: choose All Wood if lower weight is the priority.
- Hard, rocky, compacted, or unworked ground: choose Bottom Steel.
- Unsure which conditions you will encounter: favor durability if you expect frequent heavy leverage.
Handle choice should match the conditions, not just personal preference. For a complete comparison of tine design, width, and model selection, see our broadfork buying guide.