Shelby tube samplers are thin-walled, hollow steel tubes, which are driven into the ground to extract a relatively undisturbed soil sample for use in laboratory tests used to determine density, permeability, compressibility and strength. Each tube has one end that is chamfered to form a cutting edge and the upper end includes holes for securing the tube to a drive head. Shelby tubes are useful for collecting soils that are particularly sensitive to sampling disturbance, including fine cohesive soils and clays. The tubes can also be used to transport samples back to the lab as well.