The Greatest Snow Shovels of 2024-2025

We examined 9 of the very best snow shovels in the marketplace that will help you discover the proper one in your skills and local weather. Our skilled testers are year-round residents in a few of America’s snowiest mountain cities. Throughout the previous couple of historic snowfall winters, we spent a whole bunch of hours (sure, a whole bunch!) shoveling driveways and sidewalks in Crested Butte, Colo., Lander, Wyo., and South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

Many people dwell for the joy of a powder day, however in fact, dwelling in a ski or mountain city within the winter isn’t all enjoyable and video games. As temperatures drop and the white stuff begins to pile up, residents begin getting ready for the added seasonal challenges of heating their properties and preserving their driveways and walkways away from snow.

Whereas snowblowers will help clear massive zones, proudly owning a high-quality snow shovel is crucial. Try the Suncast 20″ Combo Shovel & Pusher for a easy, versatile, and inexpensive shovel, or the two-handle Snow Joe Shovelution for a extra ergonomic design.

Editor’s Observe: We up to date this information on November 27, 2024, with the addition of the The Snowplow “The Unique Snow Pusher” snow shovel.

The Greatest Snow Shovels of 2024

Extra Nice Snow Shovels

Greatest Snow Shovels Comparability Desk

How We Examined the Greatest Snow Shovels

Testing snow shovels is fairly easy. We gathered the very best snow shovels we may discover and set our testers unfastened in all of the completely different snow situations. 

We famous the sturdiness of every shovel and the way the shovel dealt with in several snow situations. We additionally paid explicit consideration to how we felt utilizing the shovel. Did the ergonomic design truly assist? How did the size really feel, and was the grip usable when carrying cumbersome gloves?

Then, we thought of the very best use of the shovel. Not all shovels serve the identical objective. Some work higher for lighter snow, some for heavy moist snow, and a few for smaller areas versus massive driveways. 

Our testers like to play exterior. Meaning dwelling in a few of the snowiest locations within the US. Once you like winter actions, snow shoveling is a part of the sport. Stable shovels are vital whether or not used for shoveling out homes, vehicles, or testing avy situations. 

Contributor Constance Mahoney lives within the coronary heart of the Colorado Rockies and isn’t a stranger to epic snowfalls. A self-proclaimed “snow farmer” within the winter, Constance is aware of the worth of a reliable snow shovel; her winter snow elimination job depends upon it. Whether or not she is up on a roof or digging out sidewalks, she is an skilled on shovels.

With our most up-to-date replace of this Purchaser’s Information, Lake Tahoe resident Nick Bruckbauer contributed some suggestions after withstanding one of many snowiest winters on document. After rising up in Wisconsin and ultimately migrating out west, Nick likes to say, “You haven’t actually lived in a ski city till you do your personal snow elimination!“

Purchaser’s Information: The right way to Select a Snow Shovel

Variables akin to local weather, kind and quantity of snowfall, and the realm it’s important to preserve clear must be thought of when selecting the very best snow shovel for you. There’s no common reply for everyone. Many of us construct an arsenal of shovels to sort out every thing Mom Nature throws at them all through the winter season. Under are just some issues to think about.

Your Location and Snow Kind

The kind of snow you get makes an enormous distinction in the kind of shovel that works greatest. For colder climates, with lighter, drier snow, a snow pusher is a superb possibility. Principally, something with a blade over 24 inches isn’t meant for lifting, it’s as a substitute designed for merely pushing snow away.

Should you dwell in a location that will get massive quantities of moist snow (hey, Sierra Cement), you then’ll need a true shovel. You’ll want one thing which you could raise to maneuver heavy snow out of the way in which. Additionally, take into account for those who recurrently shovel off a deck or different construction which will want to slot in a smaller house or supply improved maneuverability.

Shovel Model

When selecting between shovels, maybe probably the most obvious distinction is the general model. Right here, we’ve subdivided shovel kinds into three classes — conventional shovel, pusher, and mixture — and every serves its objective.

Conventional Shovel

Historically formed snow shovels have been round for a very long time and have maintained their reputation for many years. These instruments typically have a easy bucket design that enables customers to scoop and toss snow away simply.

Typically talking, conventional shovels have a wooden shaft and plastic blade — although some heavier-duty choices are manufactured from aluminum, metal, or one other metallic alloy. The AMES Aluminum Scoop is an instance of a conventional snow shovel. Yow will discover conventional snow shovels in all lengths, and the longer the shovel, the extra leverage it has.

Our prime general choose, the Snow Joe Shovelution, has a reasonably conventional blade form, however is mixed with an ergonomic dual-handle, enhancing consolation and effectivity.

Pusher

In recent times, folks have gravitated extra towards shovels designed for pushing snow, known as “pushers.” For some, it’s simpler to push piles of snow than to raise and toss, particularly as a result of pushing is simpler on the again. The Snowplow “The Unique Snow Pusher” is our best choice for a pusher snow shovel with its sturdy and sturdy poly blade and strong development. The Garant Nordic 24-Inch is one other sensible choice for those who want an all-metal blade.

This shovel model is designed to position underneath a pile of snow and slide ahead, clearing a path in its wake. Pushers work nice for mild snow — even in massive portions — however could be a actual problem when the precipitation is moist and heavy. Snow sleighs just like the Garant 24-Inch Sleigh Shovel are the latest addition to this class.

Mixture

Mixture snow shovels are exactly what they sound like: appropriate for each pushing snow and lifting and tossing. The Suncast 20″ Combo Shovel & Pusher is our best choice on this regard. Whereas it might not do both in addition to a shovel devoted to a particular job, combo shovels are a superb center floor, and are very versatile for a wide range of snow situations.

Many individuals welcome the flexibility of combo shovels, because it’s uncommon for a winter storm to cater completely to a particular kind of shovel. Folks discover themselves pushing, lifting, tossing, and even chipping following a snowfall usually. Should you solely plan on having one shovel in your quiver, a combo shovel just like the Suncast or the Bully Instruments Combo could be the proper transfer for you.

Straight vs. Curved Shaft

Should you’ve spent any time searching for shovels, you’ve doubtless seen a stark distinction in shaft design — notably straight and curved choices. Every design is supposed to create a mechanical benefit in several conditions, and the proper shovel shaft design for you depends upon how you intend to make use of it.

Straight-Deal with Snow Shovels

Shovels with straight handles are optimized for chopping, lifting, and tossing snow. A straight deal with permits customers to attain the very best hand place to raise, carry, and throw snow. As well as, shovels with this design higher lend themselves to chopping blocks or clearing significantly cussed areas of hardpack snow.

Curved-Shaft Snow Shovels

When it’s essential push snow round, attain for a curved-shaft shovel. Whereas the shaft’s curvature hinders one’s means to securely and effectively raise a heavy shovelful of snow, it’s completely designed for pushing. Bent handles are specifically designed to restrict lower-back stress when a push pressure is utilized shifting ahead. Curved-shaft shovels typically stop customers from extreme bending and overuse when shifting snow on the bottom.

Blade Materials

Like shovel model, shovel blade materials performs a significant position in figuring out the very best snow shovels for any given scenario. Generally, shovel blades vary from heavy-duty metal to light-weight plastic, with just a few choices in between. As if selecting a shovel for design, take into account local weather and snow kind when blade supplies.

Plastic blades, just like the Bully Instruments One Piece Poly Shovel, work extremely properly for mild snow and huge shoveling jobs.

Metal blades are a superb possibility for moist, heavy snow or chipping hardpack and ice.

Aluminum blades are an ideal light-weight possibility however received’t maintain as much as the difficult activity of shifting massive portions of moist precipitation.

Typically talking, plastic blades are the most typical blade obtainable, and for good purpose. They will deal with most jobs and are probably the most environment friendly at doing so. If in case you have just one shovel in your storage, a powerful plastic-blade possibility will in all probability suffice.

Worth & Worth

In addition to the electrical Snow Joe 24V SS10 ($180), just about all the snow shovels that we examined fall inside the $40-60 worth vary. Spending a bit extra to the higher finish of that worth vary can typically yield barely higher supplies and development, like within the case of The Snowplow “The Unique Snow Pusher” ($60).

However, we’ve additionally had nice success with inexpensive shovels, just like the Suncast 20″ Combo Shovel & Pusher ($34). We’ve used this shovel for 4 seasons now within the moist and heavy snow of Lake Tahoe, and have hardly any noticeable put on and tear.

In lieu of the worth tag, we’d suggest you prioritize the shovel model, the shaft and blade design, and the supplies that greatest swimsuit you and your native snow situations.

Continuously Requested Questions