Trail Tool on the Go: Reviewing the Clyde Jr by Backslope Tools
On a recent trail scouting mission, I strapped the Clyde Jr to my pack and hit the trail. The route had seen better days—ruts forming, water not shedding properly, and a few stretches that clearly needed drainage work. I wasn’t out there for a dig day. I was scouting. But the Clyde Jr changed the way I approached the task.
Backslope Tools designed this one with portability in mind, and it shows. At just 24 inches long, with a slim, balanced profile and a sheath that makes pack carry simple and safe, the Clyde Jr is a trail builder’s secret weapon when you’re on the move. It’s lightweight and compact, and with its protective cover, it doesn’t tear into your backpack or jab you in the ribs as you hike or ride.
The Clyde Jr is the smaller sibling of Backslope’s original Clyde—a full-size, 48-inch tool built for bigger, sustained trail work. Where the Clyde is made for long days and heavy digging, the Clyde Jr is designed for mobility and quick touch-ups. Both feature the same head—a sharp, durable combination of a rogue-style hoe on one side and an axe-like flat on the other—but it’s the handle length that makes the Jr more packable and nimble in the field. If you’re managing a crew, the Clyde might be your go-to for the day. If you’re out scouting, riding, or hiking solo, the Clyde Jr is what you reach for.
The moment I saw water pooling, I stopped, pulled the Clyde Jr off my pack, and went to work. In minutes, I was carving out a quick drain, clearing debris, and restoring flow. Then I was back on the move. That’s the real beauty of this tool: it’s not designed for all-day swinging or heavy bench cutting. It’s for those in-between moments—scouting missions, maintenance checks, or trail rides where you want to carry a tool that’s up for real work without weighing you down.
It won’t replace a full-length Rogue or McLeod on a crew build day, and it’s not supposed to. But for crew leaders, trail stewards, and anyone who sees trail work as a constant part of how they move through the landscape, the Clyde Jr is an excellent piece of gear to have lashed to your pack or bike.
Backslope Tools nailed the form and function. It’s a tool that makes spontaneous trail work possible without sacrificing quality. The kind you grab when you’re already out there and just want to leave the trail better than you found it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sean Benesh
Sean is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Trail Builder Mag. He is also the Communications Director for the Northwest Trail Alliance in Portland, Oregon. Sean also spends time in the classroom as a digital media instructor at Warner Pacific University.
