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To endure the more severe working conditions, the buckets will have a thicker front lip with horizontal straps across the back and a thicker bottom or back plate. GET runs the gamut from wide teeth to rock-penetrating points.

"Over the last two years, we've seen a dramatic change from the general-purpose to the heavy-duty bucket to cover multiple applications," says Gabriel. "That's because a heavy-duty bucket is more versatile and can dig black dirt as well as rock."

To determine which type of bucket is best for your application, consider where you're digging. "Soil conditions across the United States are different," Gabriel says. "In Wisconsin, you may be able to use a general-purpose bucket with high capacity. But if you're digging in Miami, you will likely need a coral bucket — a severe-duty bucket with teeth close together so it can chip away at the ground."

Various soil types also have different weights. Those weights become important when you consider how you will use the bucket, i.e., whether you're digging over the side (which will reduce capacity) or front/back.

"To be productive, you will want to get the largest bucket you can for the material and working conditions," says Horton. "If you have light, soft material, you can get away with a larger bucket. If you get to very hard soil or even rock or compressed conglomerate material, you need a shorter, smaller bucket to keep your breakout force high enough."