Which garden tools are the best of breed?

I received an email yesterday from a Landscape Juice reader who needs some help with identifying what tools to buy.

It looks like Mr Jolly has had a frustrating experience thus far - I will print the question here and again in the network.

Can anyone help?

"Dear Landscape Juice,

Help!

I need to invest in some decent hand tools for gardening - ones that will not bend or break after a couple of uses. In the last two weeks of normal garden use I have managed to bend or break the following :

1 Wickes 'heavy duty builder's fork'
1 cheap digging spade1 cheap digging fork
1 cheap half moon lawn edging spade
1 expensive half moon lawn edging spade
1 standard spring tined rake
1 cheap soil/garden rake
1 cheap hand trowel

It' s ridiculous that goods clearly not fit for their intended purpose should be on sale - regardless of the price. Should I go for Spear & Jackson's top of the range products across the board?

I notice they are selling a lot of cheaper looking plastic handled tools in Woolworths these days - which appear to be just bog standard tools simply stamped with the Spear & Jackson name.

Are they cashing in on their brand and selling inferior goods now? Should I avoid all DIY superstores and go to an overpriced garden centre? Also, I can't buy anything online at the moment. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Mr Jolly"

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