The Black ADA Invader in stainless steel is the classic UK ‘plug maker’: short, light, and built to cut neat, controlled holes on pasture and plough without tearing the turf to bits. The numbers tell the story. At roughly 870 g and 670 mm long, it’s about as compact as digging tools get in detecting, and that size/weight balance is its whole appeal. The stainless construction resists rust and shrugs off wet British weather; the narrow 175 × 87 mm blade and the small 125 mm-wide step let you focus power where it counts.

In the field, that translates to tidy work on pasture and quick recovery on plough. The sharpened ‘ripper’ edge helps start a plug and work through light roots, while the rubber grip stops slip when your gloves are muddy. Both the manufacturer spec and multiple UK retailers list the same dimensions, and UK community posts back up its longevity—people report years of use with only basic maintenance. If you’ve ever found full-length garden spades ungainly around thorn, stubble or tight hedgelines, the Invader’s compact frame feels purposeful rather than compromised.

There are trade‑offs. The Invader’s short shaft means more bending over versus mid‑length D‑handle spades, and the slim blade is about precision, not moving lots of soil per scoop. On heavy clay, thick root mats or baked summer ground you’ll work a little harder than you would with a broader, heavier tool. That’s exactly why Black ADA also sells the Extended Invader: same head geometry, extra leverage. If your permissions are mainly deep ridge-and-furrow or very compact pasture, the longer variant is worth a look; but for most arable and mixed pasture days where you’re cutting medium plugs and moving fast between signals, the standard Invader is a sweet spot.

Ergonomically it’s simple but sensible: a straight tube with comfortable rubber grip and foot plates on both sides, so you’re not forced into a left‑ or right‑foot stance. The stainless blade sheds wet soil better than painted mild steel and doesn’t need repainting after a season, which is handy if your kit lives in a damp shed. Because this is a detectorist‑designed tool, the geometry is tuned for controlled, cone‑shaped holes that close cleanly—exactly what landowners prefer on pasture. Price varies by retailer, but the Invader typically undercuts premium stainless D‑handle spades, and spares are easy to source from UK stockists.

Bottom line: if you value lightness, tidy plugs and rust‑proofing over brute digging power, the Invader Stainless remains a very UK‑friendly choice. Pair it with a hand trowel for surgical tidy‑ups and keep the extended variant in mind if your back prefers a longer lever.