Really depends on the snow and you.

I prefer a plastic pusher style, but I don't get lots of snow and if I do I'll shovel halfway through the storm.

I also had a steel straight shovel with a long handle to deal with the plows' windrows.

And an ice scraper.

For significant snow, nothing beat a Yooper Scooper

https://scoopsandrakes.com/snow-scoops/ and on Amazon

You should NEVER lift much less throw snow. This just lets you slide it outta the way

Watch how it works … https://youtu.be/Qxvgd1JiCJI

I’ve always had the best experience with an aluminum grain shovel.

I have a 2005 gmc Sierra with an 8 foot shovel welded to the front that’s controlled by hydraulics.

A sleigh shovel is good for deep heavy snow. You can fill it up then slide it across the snow to where you want to dump it.

Any regular show shovel from a hardware store is fine. I would suggest using a typical garden shovel to break up the big icy chunks rather than trying with a snow shovel.

I didn’t get them all at once but I have like 8-9 shovels and snow tools.

I have the pusher for light first snow and final cleanup.

Sidewalk scraper used to pry the ice off the ground. If you do the shuffle board move you can peel an entire driveway easily. So satisfying sometimes. I like the 6-7 inch blade better than garden shovels because it gives a lot of force on a smaller point and it has an angle to really wedge underneath.

Scoop shovel for throwing the light stuff, or moving heavy stuff small amounts. Don’t tire yourself out!!

Regular shovel for the wetter stuff or if I got to it late.

A medium shovel for the car and have one at home to dig out. You don’t want it too big or you’ll get tired but you need to move a lot if snow, like if your car is plowed in.

Also with digging the car, a shorty (short handled) is nice, easy to dig wheel well out and underneath when you’re stuck.

A small/narrow to clear the stairs. Regular ones feel awkward.

Really a scraper and reg shovel is all you need but when you have a garage you might collect them.

I spray mine with rainx, stays longer than Pam, wD40, silicone spray, wax, and other things that could work.

I break up ice blocks with a steel garden shovel.

I just use an ice chopper to break up the chunks of ice the plow dumps in the driveway and then just a cheap plastic shovel to scoop up the snow and smaller ice chunks.

https://i.imgur.com/dnjnQvR.jpg

I use a vintage wide coal shovel (bought at a local second-hand antique/consignment store) to break up the chunks from the plow at the end of my driveway. They typically have a shorter handle so you do have to bend over a lot more (not the greatest for your back). But I also use a sturdy regular wide snow shovel I got from home depot to help move it - which is helpful for the lighter stuff and also moving the big chunks you broke up.I've been using the same two shovels for the past 8 years and neither has given out on me yet (and neither has my back!).

I'm still using my heavy Voile Telepro Classic, but I might upgrade to the Voile Hoback this season. When I read the test that I've linked, I decided to not go too lightweight on my shovel, even though I'm an extreme weight weenie. You can see that folks on TGR are critical of the review, and I'd encourage you to read some of the very good comments, especially the response from Black Diamond.

I tend to be very conservative with safety, however.

https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/164810-Shovels-tested-Results-predictable

It definitely helps if it doubles as a hoe. You can dig about 2-3 times faster on an incline using it as a hoe. I carry a black diamond evac shovel, works great.

Metal is essential. An extendable handle is good as this gives you more leverage to dig, it’s probably more useful than a bigger blade but a bigger blade is also very useful.

Got the Ortovox Kodiak and it is awesome! The hoe mode is a fantastic addition for clearing lots of snow quickly, and the teeth on this thing are way burlier than my previous BD shovel

If you’re going to go heavier anywhere, do it with your shovel. I’m happy to carry around more oz if it means better performance in critical situations (and in digging snowpits, practice).

I'd recommed the Pieps C660. Its a great tool, and those guys deserve a little love and revenue these days.

Despite the recent beacon debacle, Pieps has been at the forefront of keeping every buddy safe in the backcountry.

For moving a lot of snow, I swear by this thing. There are cheaper variations of it, but they are trash compared to the True Temper version.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/True-Temper-23-5-in-Poly-Snow-Shovel-with-55-in-Steel-Handle/50288463

I'm a fairly strong guy and I have no problem moving it around and then dumping the snow. My wife has a harder time with it if the snowbanks are high. The trick is to not lift this, but push it up and over the snowbank and then dump it. I use it to clear my driveway and the pond skating rink. I follow up with the "snowplow" that others are talking about.

I’ll third it. I’ve had my for years for the lighter to medium amounts. It works great to pop off the packed stuff from the concrete too. Also a sled shovel to move it into the yard. And of course one with a motor and auger when it gets bad.

The “snowplow” they have them at my local hardware store probably check an ace or true value if you’re near one.

I have one and it works great, I would just maybe not go too wide if you want to use it to throw snow too and not just push it.
Amazon link too for reference but I’d go local hardware store if you can. They have them in different widths: The Snowplow "the Original Snow Pusher" 24" Wide Model 50524 https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00BVC0P60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_GCN45VPMX0QMJVWMRW01

You need 2 different shovels: A “snowplow” style for bulk moving and tossing of snow. A metal “grain” shovel for digging out the end of the driveway & for moving heavy wet snow. grain shovel example

Ariens makes a really nice one. Instead of a shovel they connect a motor to a spinning piece of metal that moves the snow and sends it to another spinning metal piece that discharges it out the top and throws it 40+ feet away. They connect that whole contraption onto a set of wheels to make it easier to move around and even power the wheels. This is the best snow shovel.

Do you need it for avalanche rescue or is it just a nice-to-have? That is probably the deciding factor. If needed for emergency rescue, I wouldn't skimp too hard on weight. If it's just a nice to have, can you use a pot instead?

Firstly, consider what is your goal? Do you want to carry a shovel to feel better about being capable during an occasional winter trip/meet a gear list requirement, or do you want to consider seriously a tool which needs to be capable as you explore more in winter conditions?

Weight should be considered, however the primary use of a snow shovel is emergency use, and as such it should be fit for purpose with weight considered as a secondary benefit. If you are travelling in a 2-person team then you are totally reliant on your teammate if avalanched, so it may make sense to prioritise the proper tool over the lightest one (which may be a better option in larger groups where you have different roles), and that proper tool is typically influenced most by conditions.

For snow shovels, effectiveness is defined by how much snow you can move effectively, and that is determined by snow condition and the shape of the shovel + to some extent the fitness of the user. When dealing with loosely bonded snowpack conditions if you need to perform a avalanche rescue you want to be moving this softer snow rapidly - and a large, deep shovel profile will let you move this somewhat 'loose' snow out of the area being cleared without it dropping off shovel back in to the extraction site. If weight saving is a concern, you can use a shorter shaft for this since you're using less force to clear the snow.

For more established snowpack conditions you will be combining chopping and shovelling, dividing heavy slab up in to a section which you can physically move and most importantly - clearing that slab from the excavation area. A longer shaft may help with this since you need greater force to move the dense snow - but there is still no downside to having a larger 'shovel'. Avalanche excavation is on average 8-10 minutes of high energy exertion for a trained rescuer, so increasing the amount of snow moved per swing makes a massive difference in extraction time, especially considering the 90% chance of survival on 15 minutes which drops to 50% after 30 minutes.

Also consider if you are a woman travelling in a 2-person group, you my want to consider a deep, broad shovel which can move around 25% more snow than a shallow shovel model which will compensate a little for weaker upper body strength. Something like the Jones Excavator Carbon is a compromise between the 'race shovels' and something which will actually allow you to be more effective if required.

Just to expand on what's already been said, the majority of shovels out there are for avalanche rescue. As such, they are pretty burly, because avalanche debris is dense, compacted snow, and you need to move a lot of it (more than a ton on average) and you need to move it fast, after a half hour, the survival rate is almost zero. First question, are you going to be in avalanche terrain? If so, both of you need a shovel, beacon and probe. If you don't know, it's worth finding out.

The shovel you linked to is a Skimo race shovel. Because you need to have a shovel for rescue while backcountry skiing, most ski mountaineering races require all participants to carry a shovel (and beacon and probe), even though the risk is almost nonexistent, so serious racers, trying to save weight will carry something like that.

Honestly, I think that shovel is a workaround for serious ski racers, and is not actually intended to see snow. No mater what your use case, I would avoid it. What are you expecting to use the shovel for?

Some general thoughts that might not be helpful at all:

I'd say it depends on the climate where you're hiking.

The last thing you want is to end up with a broken shovel in a snow storm, where your life depends on whether you'll manage to build a bivack or not.

This is a frequently discussed topic where I live, because a lot of ul shovels are simply not reliable enough for heavy duties.

If you're hiking in a "milder" climate and just need something for getting rid of some snow while setting up the camp this would probably be a good option. I usually just use my skis and a small gardening shovel. Anything goes, more or less.

With this being said, it looks interesting and I might consider getting one myself. This subforum is constantly providing me with interesting items.

And please, if you're heading out in the cold make sure to do some research on safety. To many lives have been lost due to poor knowledge on how to cope with this.

If it can save your life go for durability over weight reduction , I’ve broken a few snow shovel heads getting out of my cabin in the past .

Gallant brand Snow pusher. My neighbour has one and it’s amazing.

I like wide ones for pushing out sidewalks.

As someone who weirdly loves shovelling snow: https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/certified-snow-shovel-with-heavy-duty-grip-and-hardwood-handle-21-in-0596924p.html?ds_rl=1283573&ds_rl=1283573&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsdKbBhDHARIsANJ6-je_X0HKRyMuow_Qg6utQx27Xfp-sM4IGJIyui1DEo1EDyEJBLZf2Y4aAkQyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=459

That type is my go to, provided you have a fairly even paved/concrete drive.

I say that type because that one is a bit thin of plastic. I'd go for that style but as thick of a blade (not metal) and straight handle. The ergonomic ones are meant less for pushing and more for scooping. If you stay on your snow, pushing should work and rarely need to scoop.

And if you can manage 2,this is a good compliment for the scoop needs (walkways etc or heavy snow): https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/yardworks-heavy-duty-snow-scoop-shovel-with-steel-wear-strip-14-in-0597974p.html?loc=plp

Just shovelled 5 driveways this winter. For ice scraping any narrow flat metal shovel will do. The blue shovel at Lowes works well. Not too big, you can carry a full scoop easily. Has a lip on the top so you can throw the snow. Length is good you can hold the shovel at the base and the handle is a fulcrum to lift the snow. Wish the shovel had a second grip padding at the base.

I've been using one of those like shovels with a snowblower auger on the end that just shoots it out, it's pretty good but not for deep, heavy snow. I've heard very good things about the sleigh snow shovels though, so I'm going to get one of those to supplement.

I buy the low to mid-priced plastic shovels with good wooden handles available at the local hardware store, as in Home Hardware, Canadian Tire or Home Depot.

I like plastic shovels because they are generally lighter in weight and slightly flexible and very forgiving and tend not to cause any damage to other surfaces.

I don’t like metal shovels because they are stiff and heavy and cause damage. I especially don’t like those plastic shovels that have a strip of aluminum along the blade because aluminum is soft and tends to bind rather than slide freely along the surface being cleaned.

I got a brand called "small neighbor child". He knocks on my door when it snows and I give him 20 bucks.

But I do have a ULINE shovel which is what I use to break up ice and whatnot and that fucker is a tank.

There's a blue shovel at Lowe's that has a curve in it. I use that for most shoveling, and it looks the same as it did 5 years ago. For big snowfalls I have an Ego snowblower with the metal auger.

Depends if you want a snow PUSHER or a snow SHOVEL

Pushers are great if you have a convenient place to pile the snow.. mind you if it gets deep enough pushers are kind of useless imo but in the end they are easier on the back/body

I like a good, large, sharp metal shovel, just picked up a new Garant from Canuck Tire earlier this year. Nothing clears a sidewalk better than a metal shovel

I will say tho that if you have uneven sidewalks metal might not be the way to go. Its shocking how quickly they deteriorate .. I basically get a new one every year my sidewalks are so bad.. and living on a corner lot makes matters worse

​

I feel so Canadian right now

Plastic ergonomic is my go to. I initially refused to accept that it was any better than a normal shovel but eventually conceded that it was a superior beast.

We're gonna need your BMI, Fat percentage, breathing tests, strength tests and height to pick the best height snow shovel for you. We should also get bloodwork done to ensure all your hormones are in check before shoveling.

Further more were gonna require pictures of your side walk, grade, elevation, average of your snow moisture over 3 years, your average of snow accumulation over 3 years, texture of your sidewalk. We are also gonna require compaction tests of the snow after each heavy snowfall.

Will other people be using the shovel? This will impact the results.

I am a snow-clearing snob! Source: I'm the only one on the block right now that has a clear, bare-bones sidewalk with no packed-down ice. I work full-time and have a kid, so it's not like it's only because I have too much time on my hands. You too can be proud of your walk!

Step 1: Clear newly fallen snow early and often, with a plastic shovel. Whatever feels comfortable for you. I personally hate metal-edged shovels, because they catch on everything and will make you frustrated, especially if you have worn, uneven sidewalks with chips and edges. Don't worry if there's stuff you can't remove with the plastic shovel, we'll be doing our scraping with something else. Just clear as much of the powder as you can, as far down as you can easily go.

Step 2: If you didn't get to the snow early, you'll have to do some scraping. Buy one of these! The money is worth it!! These are designed for scraping, NOT chopping. If the snow is that impacted stuff that sticks to the concrete, this thing will eat it up like butter. Let the weight of it do the work. Put it at a low angle (to the sidewalk) and push it forward. Do tiny sections at a time. There is something very r/oddlysatisfying about seeing the chunks loosen up. Once everything is lifted, use the plastic shovel to clear the debris.

Step 3: A broom can quickly clean up any powder residue that your shovel missed. Also good for stairs.

Step 4: If you're super unlucky and have ice buildup, you might have to resort to some salt. I personally dislike it because even potassium chloride isn't good for the walks/lawn, but it is what it is. Throw some salt on and wait half a day. You'll see the salt grains eat away at the ice, making it weaker. Another go with the scraper should do wonders.

Other tips: when clearing, try to push the snow as far to the edge as possible, and maybe even clear a tiny bit of the lawn. The reason is (in addition to making room to put new snow), we've been having a lot of freeze/thaw cycles. Melt water accumulates on the sidewalk because it has nowhere to go, and then freezes leaving a rink on the sidewalk, which even the most intense scraper can't remove it. So leave some tiny space for it to drain in the lawn.

TLDR; My therapist says I need to take snow-removal less seriously, but what does he know? His sidewalks are shit.

Such an Edmontonian discussion to have. Metal-edged is definitely the way to go, however the essential piece to having a well-shovelled sidewalk or driveway is to get on it quick before people and vehicles have a chance to press it all down. A sturdy outdoor broom is also helpful.

I’m a rink attendant, my best advice to you is a shovel with a metal blade. Not only will it get rid of all the snow and bring you right down to the ice, but it will also smooth out any minor imperfections in the ice.

If you can get your hands on a power broom your back will thank you.

Next level. Drill a hole in the ice. Dump in a small transfer pump and water down the ice at night. Smooth and skateable in the morning.

i’d do anything to be there rn

The holy trinity that I've arrived at is a metal-edged plow shovel (often will flip it upside down for ice like this), shop broom, and square transfer shovel. The latter, I often flip upside down as well, and it's really good at scrape/pushing along the boards. When the snow is the right consistency on warm days, you can often manage to build in a vertical "board face" that will freeze overnight and will be much less messy than the pile edge.