Also called an oscillating hoe, a stirrup hoe, or a hoop hoe, the trapezoidal or stirrup metal shape at the end is sharp on both sides, allowing the blade to cut through roots in the soil.

Putting it to the test Hand weeding half of a 10-by-20-feet garden took Wirecutter staffer Sebastian Compagnucci around 15 minutes, whereas using a stirrup hoe on the other half took seven minutes.