LOSTRONAUT Soil Sampler Probe 12 Inch - Tubular Contractor Grade Enforced T Handle - Stainless Steel with Core Sampling Area - Includes Soil Sample Kit Test Bags - for Garden Lawn Farm or Golf Course

The inside of the tube is so coarse and rough that it makes it difficult to push into the ground and also to get the plug out!

Lostronaut Soil Sampler, strange name. It works fine, a lot depends on how compact, damp or type of soil you have. Here in Southern California I have a sandy/loamy type soil, I did notice the more compact and dry the smaller the sample. Some spots I got nice samples and others not so nice. The tool does work, I found if you twist it while pushing down it worked for me.Now let's talk about the weld job on the handle, it's a little skimpy, welding rod doesn't cost that much, they could have welded around the whole handle (see pic). I pushed down more in the center of the handle so it wouldn't bend. For under $25 bucks I would recommend it, but they could address the welding issue, " don't be so cheap".

Cheap. Works. I attached a longer handle to it. I don’t grid sample with it. Just pull randoms on new ground or transitioning land. Pulled 50 so far with it and worked good. #defundthemedia #stopthesteal

I had the same problem as others: it simply compacted the soil and left a hole (soil did not go up the tube).From the advice of a different purchaser, I filed the inside of the tube (which was very ruff) and after that it worked well. I push it down and use a rubber mallet to drive it down further. I would give it a five if they finished the inside of the tube during the production process.

Fairly well built, skimpy welds though haven't yet been an issue. It wasn't easy to yield a complete core. Either, it crumbled in the process and/or was broken during removal. I don't know if it's a result of New England soil, but the core was so packed in the tube, I had to push hard from either bottom or top with a dowel and sometimes 16 penny nail. I was taking approx 2 dozen samples of a 2/3 acre lawn and it took about 1 1/2 hrs. My hands were pretty beat up wrestling with the cores. I loaned to a friend and he had same experience. Not sure what the problem is. The task was not as simple as expected. Easier to use a narrow hand spade shovel.