We researched dozens of snow shovels, evaluating durability, design, and value. Our best overall pick, the Snow Joe Shovelution Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel, stands out for its ergonomic design, heavy-duty construction, and affordable price. Here are the best snow shovels. The Snow Joe 18-inch Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel can save you effort the next time a snowstorm blows through. Our best overall choice stands out due to its unique design that makes shoveling more efficient and comfortable. This model, as all snow shovels, requires two hands. But the difference here is one of those grasps a secondary, spring-assist handle, which squeezes in and out. When you apply pressure to one end, it transfers to the other, like an old-fashioned teeter-totter. The effect is that when you shovel snow with this tool, it shifts the stress of lifting snow to your hands instead of your back and makes the process go much more quickly. It does mean you don’t have to bend over as much as you would with a conventional snow shovel. But we’ve noted that it could transfer the stress from the back to the knees. The shovel’s light weight—under 4 pounds—may alleviate some of that strain, however. But to take full advantage of this unique design, it may pay to be of a certain height. In addition to the ergonomic design, an 18-inch impact-resistant aluminum blade helps get underneath the snow to make it easier to collect, lift, and deposit. We have found that this particular shovel is adept at lifting different kinds of snow, including hard-packed glop and light, fluffy powder. However, the aluminum tip at the shovel blade’s toe may not be the best for getting the base layer completely off the surface. (A steel blade would be better but definitely add to the product weight.) Finally, the assembly might prove slightly challenging, but this shovel is be worth the initial effort once you have it put together. Price at time of publish: $38 The Garant sleigh-style shovel has a 24-inch blade, which cuts a wider swath. The accumulated snow slides easily out of the poly plastic trough. A steel wear strip at the trough’s toe not only saves the trough from being cut up by what your sidewalk or driveway is made of but it also can scrape away that remaining layer that can re-freeze if it’s not removed. We also like the ergonomic handle on this model, which avoids having to bend over too much. The drawback of sleigh-style shovels is that they move snow, all right, but they deposit it a short distance away, which can account for some pile-ups. Also, a load of heavy snow can be a burden to lift if you need to move it farther away. Price at time of publish: $60 Customers say this True Temper shovel lets you cover a lot of ground quickly, and several note the design is easier on your back than a standard snow shovel. The 43-inch handle seems about right for most people to avoid excessive bending. This product ships unassembled. Price at time of publish: $35 The handle on this shovel extends from 30 to 38 inches, using a button-lock slider specially designed to be easy to operate when you have gloves on. (Although we have noted that some taller people find the handle too short, you’re not going to use this shovel for an extended period, as you would to clear the walk.) The plastic blade is 11 inches wide, with graphite construction that keeps snow from sticking. And the shovel even has a cushioned foam shaft that makes it more comfortable to handle. We want to emphasize that we don’t recommend this as a primary snow shovel for clearing walks and driveways. But it’s handy to keep in your trunk if you ever need to dig your car out of the snow. Price at time of purchase: $28 The Snow Joe’s 13-inch-wide metal blade can move up to 300 pounds of snow on a single charge, according to the manufacturer, and it can deposit snow up to 20 feet away. Also unlike standard snow blowers, the scraper blade is designed to clear the snowfall down to the sidewalk or driveway surface, avoiding the inevitable remaining thin layer of coating that can re-freeze. And, measuring just 13 inches wide, this product needs only a small storage space. Weighing less than 15 pounds, this is a fairly easy machine to maneuver, about the same weight as a weed whacker. If you have a battery-operated lawn mower, you should find starting the Snow Joe very similar: with a combination of pressing a button and squeezing the handle. We note that some users have had difficulty with the setup, particularly relating to the handle assembly. We also found that the battery, which is available only from the manufacturer, can take 8-10 hours to fully charge. So, while this is not a machine you can haul after an unexpected heavy overnight snow squall, it is still a good alternative to having a large, gas-fuming snow blower or a shovel you have to put muscle power behind. Price at time of publish: $145 As other snow shovel manufacturers, Snowcaster hasn’t seemed to find the solution to snow deposited past the blade limits—you may need an additional customary shovel to clear the piled-up snow. Finally, while the manufacturer claims it takes only 10 minutes to assemble this product, its 26 pieces may be a challenge. Price at time of publish: $131 Push snow shovels are not made for lifting and throwing the snow, but for pushing it to clear surfaces. They are best used for removing large quantities of light snow in a hurry. Sleigh-type snow shovels, with trough-like blades, fall into this category. Push shovels can be difficult to use with heavy packing snow or frozen snow. Combination snow shovels are made for pushing, lifting, and throwing the snow, so you can expect the blades on these shovels to be wider and curved more than traditional shovel blades. If you only want one shovel in your garage, shed, or sitting on your front porch waiting for the next snowfall, then it’s a good idea to get a combination snow shovel. Electric snow shovels combine the blade widths of standard snow shovels with the rotary scraping blades and distribution conduits of snow throwers. Unlike those large machines, fueled by gasoline, electric snow shovels either are powered by rechargeable batteries, like weed whackers, or connected to standard 110-volt outlets. Also unlike snow throwers, which occupy a large storage footprint, electric snow shovels are compact enough in size to be stored in small spaces.
Blade Shape
The blade on a snow shovel is the part used for pushing, lifting, and throwing the snow. The curved shape, which allows the edge of the shovel to slide under the snow, also helps collect the snow and prevent it from falling off the shovel while you push, lift, or throw it. Typically, snow shovel blade widths range from about 12 to 30 inches. Smaller blades are best for quickly scooping and tossing snow off to the side, making them ideal for shoveling narrow walkways and paths. Larger blades are better for pushing large amounts of snow across a flat surface, like a driveway or a deck. But these can be harder to lift and toss snow away. Combination snow shovels usually have broad blades with accentuated curves, so the shovel can push large quantities of snow and also lift and toss it.
Shaft
Straight shafts help give users their best hand positions for lifting, carrying, and throwing snow. They also are effective for chopping thin ice and clearing frozen snow. Curved or staggered shafts are better for pushing snow, improve user control and also may reduce lower back stress by reducing the need to bend over as much. This type of shaft can place added strain on the arms and hands, however.
Blade Material
Generally, snow shovel blades are made of plastic, or metal such steel or, more commonly, aluminum. Plastic snow shovel blades are most common because they are inexpensive and lightweight. Plastic doesn’t bend or warp in most cases, though these blades are prone to chipping and cracking. Steel is typically the most durable choice for a shovel blade because it is effective at chipping hard ice or packed snow, or lifting heavy, wet snow without bending or breaking. Steel blades increase the weight of a snow shovel, however. Increasingly, we see plastic blades with steel toe strips, which not only help protect the plastic but also can scrape snow down to the surface instead of leaving a layer that can re-freeze. Aluminum blades are a great, lightweight choice but don’t have the same durability as steel blades. Aluminum blades tend to bend and become distorted if they are used too often to chop ice or hard, packed snow.
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Additional reporting and research for this article was done by Timothy Dale, a long-time home improvement expert specializing in plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, among other topics.
