Just saw a report that says PA will have a higher than normal amount of snow this season and it made me remember that I need a new shovel.

I’ve owned one of those curved handle type shovels for 10 years now or so but the front is all worn out and the metal strip has fallen off, so I want to get a new one. Are there any that the forum can recommend that are better than others? I really don’t know if this curved shovel is actually better it seems like I’m more comfortable with a straight one to be honest.

Well, you’re certainly not a neophyte snow shoveler, but a couple of my own thoughts:

I have never owned a bent handle snow shovel, but I didn’t like them when handling them in the store. They have a much stronger side to side rotational force, and I always felt they didn’t give me as much control over the blade if I was doing anything but down and up.

My preference is for a good and stiff all-plastic blade. My favorite of the ones I own now I’ve had for 20+ years. It’s worn, but still does the job. I’ve never been impressed with the notion of a metal strip that seemed to me to be an excuse to make the rest flimsy, and then there’s the issue of its falling off and making the shovel useless at that point. A worn heavy plastic blade won’t fail completely in the middle of a job. If I need to attack ice or heavy, crusted snow, I revert to a proper metal spade to break it up and then switch to the plastic snow shovel.

I bought my wife one of those metal wide blade curved shovels last year. She seems to really like it!

Best snow shovel is about 14 years old.

First on the list is any shovel in the hands of the kid next door. Next in line is just a good snow blower. No, I don't even own a shovel, preferring to use my Toro blower. I don't even own a snow shovel. Trimming is done with either a yard sale coal shovel or my stainless steel meat shovel acquired at an auction.

Face it, shoveling hurts. If you do enough, it will kill you. I have some salt. I hate what it does to my vehicles and concrete. Still beats the hell out of shoveling.

I've read articles that suggest the only people who should shovel are early reproductive age women. They have the cardiovascular systems to survive it. Try convincing one to shovel snow some time. They have shopping and daytime TV to occupy their time.

Back in the "olden" days, when I was stupid or at least more so, we lived up on the hill. I live in KY and we have lots of hills. Luckily not as much snow as some places. But that year we got a good dumping. So in my community spirit, I went out to clear our long and bent drive. Not sure why, I had a jeep and my wife a VW rabbit.

The neighbor girl came barrelling along, blowing her horn for me to get out of the way. Almost ran over me because she wasn't stopping. She got her run and came for me. I dove over the hill and avoided dying. Then she got stuck because it was steep and not completely clear. I decided I'd cleared my fair share, collected my shovel and walked to the house. Her father witnessed the shitshow and didn't blame me one bit. Her car was kind of wedged in the drive. Took a tow truck to get it out. She parked on the street that night.

Guess I could have extracted her, but why? Some people shouldn't drive in snow. They also should select cars for the worst conditions they're likely to encounter, not the sunny summer afternoons. They need to buy tires before the old ones are completely bald. Or even have a 2nd set of tires for winter use.

Shoveling snow has a close relative, shoveling water. Both make about as much sense.

dakota snoblade!!! for 4" or less!!!

A "what" shovel?

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
I have never owned a bent handle snow shovel, but I didn’t like them when handling them in the store. They have a much stronger side to side rotational force, and I always felt they didn’t give me as much control over the blade if I was doing anything but down and up.

I used to feel the same. Felt they were a gimmick. Then the next door neighbour girl borrowed our straight-handled shovel, broke it, and they replaced it with one of those. I was not pleased... until I actually used it. Now I love it. Much less strain on the lower back, IMO. Much easier to "plow" with.

For the heavy, wet midwest snows we get here in St Louis, nothing better than a Sleigh Shovel

Neighbor from Michigan let me borrow his a few winters ago when he saw me struggling through 8" of the wet stuff. Bought him beer and ordered my own shovel the next day.

Grain shovel. Buy one here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Johnny 3eagles,

These seem to be the best I've found.

https://www.jmenterprises.com/

quote:

Originally posted by JasonATI:
These seem to be the best I've found.

https://www.jmenterprises.com/

Hmmm... Those look pretty good. I'm thinkin' The Snow Dominator might be best for the way I use a snow shovel. I remove most of our snow with one of two snow throwers, and use a shovel only for "detail work," the front porch deck, and so-on.

ETA: Then again, one of the Original Pushers might be great for those snowfalls that aren't enough to demand a snow thrower, but do need to be cleared.

Nothing like a good shovel thread.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
A "what" shovel?

Never gets old.

quote:

Originally posted by JasonATI:
These seem to be the best I've found.

https://www.jmenterprises.com/

I have two of the plow shovels and two of the scoop shovels. They work well and are high quality.

www.silverbear.biz
The Yooper Scoop.
Made in Atlantic Mine.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
Grain shovel.

This. Especially for wet heavy snows.

The very best snow shovel, hands down with no argument from anyone, is the snow shovel in the hands of a teenager getting $50 to clear my walkway and parking area.

Oh man, you guys can have all those snow storms. I’m so glad our oak trees can only drop their leaves once a year. May Santa bring all of you Bobcats and front end loaders.