The Best Snow Removal Equipment for Your Home

Shovel smart, not hard and save yourself the backache with the best snow removal equipment. Numerous snow shovel types and variations are available to homeowners, from the basic design to the highly unusual. And they also run the gamut in price, from a few bucks to upwards of $40 to $50 per shovel. But price doesn’t necessarily reflect job performance. We like the Snow Joe Shovelution as the homeowner’s snow shovel of choice.

The chief selling point is the shovel’s spring-loaded second handle. It’s engineered to alleviate the back strain associated with shoveling by transferring greater lifting leverage to the lower hand. This allows the user to utilize their more powerful upper-body muscles to lift and throw each shovelful of snow more efficiently and effectively. Manufacturer Snow Joe claims this spring-loaded mechanism reduces user back strain by up to 30%. D-ring handle grips also provide the user with added comfort and improved ease of use.

Altogether, Snow Joe’s Shovelution weighs in at a manageable 3 pounds and has a total length of just under 25 inches. Snow Joe also includes a two-year warranty on the shovel. It’s available in an 18-inch poly-blade model as well. Pop on a self-heating jacket and some rechargeable hand warmers, and you’ll be good to go.

As with anything designed with mechanized components and intended to operate in winter conditions, the shovel’s greatest asset—the spring-assisted handle—could also be its greatest point of vulnerability over time. While the aluminum blade provides an excellent cutting edge, it is vulnerable to wear and tear from the rigors of uneven pavement and hidden obstacles. Lastly, commenters on online forums who were taller (more than 5 feet 10 inches in height) suggested slightly longer handles to mitigate potential fatigue issues.

Pros

• Impact-resistant blade increases durability
• Designed for ergonomic comfort and stability
• Wide, 20-inch poly blade manages a lot of snow
• Reduces back stress
• Available in several sizes and colors
• More than 18,000 five-star reviews on Amazon

Cons

• Spring-loaded assist could be vulnerable to malfunction
• Blades aluminum wear strip prone to bending and wear
• Could fatigue taller users
• Best-suited for smaller outdoor spaces like walkways and parking spots