Top 7 Snow Shovels

Nothing tests your relationship with winter quite like the shovel you grab after a foot of fresh powder buries your driveway. A good one makes you feel powerful, efficient. A bad one makes your back ache and your spirit break before you’ve even cleared a path to the mailbox.

I live in Vermont, so a flimsy piece of plastic isn’t going to cut it. I spent the last two winters testing dozens of winter snow shovels on everything from light dustings to the heavy, heart-attack snow the plow leaves at the end of the drive. These are the seven that survived and actually made the job easier.

 

 

Best All-Around Winter Snow Shovels

True Temper Polar Patrol 20-Inch Ergonomic

If you only buy one shovel, this is it. The 20-inch combination blade is wide enough to push decent amounts of snow but curved enough to scoop and toss without spilling everything. It’s a true do-it-all design.

The best part is the bent steel shaft. That ergonomic curve means you bend your knees more and your back less, which I really felt after an hour of clearing my walkway. A nylon wear strip on the blade edge helps it scrape cleanly without gouging my wooden deck. It’s the perfect balance of features for a typical suburban driveway.

Who it’s for: Just about any homeowner.
Who should skip: Folks who need to chip thick ice or clear massive lots.

 

 

Best for Deep & Heavy Snow

Garant Yukon Pro 26-Inch

When the 2026 Farmer’s Almanac predicts a monster season, this is the shovel you want waiting in the garage. The 26-inch scoop is enormous, like a bucket on a stick. It moves a serious amount of snow with each pass, cutting down your shoveling time significantly.

The deep scoop is designed for lifting and throwing that heavy, wet stuff. The handle is a thick, durable fiberglass, and the D-grip is big enough to use with my thickest winter gloves. It’s a beast, and at nearly 5 pounds, it’s heavy. But when you have a foot of wet cement to move, you need that heft.

Who it’s for: People in the snow belt dealing with major storms.
Who should skip: Anyone with a small walkway or who can’t handle a heavier tool.

 

 

Bully Tools 92251 Combination Shovel

This isn’t a shovel; it’s a snow demolition tool. The blade is made from a single piece of thick 14-gauge steel. I used it to hack apart the frozen, icy plow-slush at the end of my driveway, and it didn’t even flinch. I’m pretty sure I could chop wood with this thing.

The fiberglass handle is reinforced, and the whole shovel feels indestructible. It’s not great for pushing light powder, as the steel blade is heavy and wants to dig in. But for sheer toughness and ice-breaking power, nothing else on my list comes close. It’s made in the USA, too.

Who it’s for: Breaking up ice and compacted snow.
Who should skip: Anyone looking for a lightweight, all-purpose shovel.

 

 

Best Ergonomic & Pusher Shovels

Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV01

My lower back screamed with joy when I first used this. The Shovelution has a second, spring-assisted handle halfway down the shaft. It completely changes the physics of lifting. You use your lower hand to push forward instead of just lifting up, which takes a ton of strain off your back.

The 18-inch blade is a good all-purpose size, and the whole shovel is surprisingly light. It takes a few minutes to get used to the motion, but once you do, you’ll wonder why all shovels aren’t made this way. I could shovel for twice as long without feeling that familiar ache.

Who it’s for: Anyone with a bad back, or anyone who wants to avoid getting one.
Who should skip: People who want a simple, traditional shovel without moving parts.

 

 

Suncast PowerEdge 24-Inch Pusher

For snowfalls of six inches or less, a pusher is the fastest way to clear a flat driveway. The Suncast PowerEdge has a wide, 24-inch curved blade that’s designed for one thing: pushing snow straight ahead. I cleared my two-car driveway in under 10 minutes with this.

The blade has a galvanized steel strip that gives it a clean scrape and adds durability. Just know what you’re getting. It’s terrible for lifting and throwing; the angle is all wrong. But for quickly clearing a wide, straight path, it’s unbeatable.

Who it’s for: Long, flat driveways and light, fluffy snow.
Who should skip: Anyone with a gravel driveway or who needs to lift snow over a bank.

 

 

Best Lightweight & Compact Shovels

Ames Kodiak 18-Inch Poly

Sometimes you just need a basic, lightweight shovel to clear the porch or a path to the bird feeder. This Ames model is exactly that. It’s simple, weighs next to nothing, and gets the job done without any fuss. The 18-inch poly blade is tough enough for its intended use.

The straight hardwood handle is old-school, but it’s comfortable and provides good control. There’s no fancy ergonomic bend or wear strip, but that’s why it’s so affordable and light. It’s the perfect secondary shovel to have hanging right by the back door.

Who it’s for: Quick jobs on decks, stairs, and walkways.
Who should skip: Anyone trying to clear an entire driveway.

 

 

Lifeline Aluminum Sport Utility Shovel

This shovel lives in the trunk of my car from November to April. It breaks down into three small pieces and fits into a little storage bag, taking up almost no space. But when you need it, it assembles in seconds into a surprisingly sturdy little shovel.

I’ve used it to dig my tires out of a snowbank twice. The aluminum construction is super light but strong enough for digging into compacted snow. The T-shaped handle is small but effective. Honestly, every single person who drives in a winter climate should have one of these in their car safety kit.

Who it’s for: Emergency car use. A must-have for winter drivers.
Who should skip: Anyone looking for a primary shovel for home use.

 

 

How I Tested and What to Look For

A shovel is more than just a scoop on a stick. The blade material is your first choice. Poly (plastic) blades are lightweight and snow doesn’t stick to them as much, but they can crack in extreme cold or chip on rough pavement. Metal blades—usually aluminum or steel—are much tougher and better for scraping ice, but they’re heavier and can get bent.

Next, look at the shaft. A traditional straight shaft is fine, but an ergonomic S-curve shaft really does reduce back strain by letting you stand more upright. For materials, wood is classic and cheap, fiberglass is strong and weather-resistant, and steel or aluminum is durable but can feel cold to the touch.

Ultimately, the right winter snow shovel depends on the kind of snow you get, the size of the area you need to clear, and your own physical strength. It often makes sense to have two: a big pusher for light snow and a tougher, smaller shovel for lifting the heavy stuff.