Are stainless steel garden tools worth it over aluminum?

It depends on use. Across specialist communities, stainless and forged-steel heads are praised for cutting through dense, rocky soil and roots, while reviewers also note some thin stainless tools can be brittle and snap under prying. Aluminum sets like the Fiskars cast-aluminum trowels are valued because they will not rust and stay lightweight, though they are less suited to heavy prying than solid steel. For occasional planting, aluminum is fine; for hard digging, heavier steel earns its premium.