Save Time-and Your Back-With an Ergonomic Snow Shovel

Our testing has shown us there is a lot more to choosing the right snow shovel than you think.

- BRADLEY FORD

FOR MANY FOLKS, SNOW SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND the corner. Retailers, from big home centers to local hardware stores, are already stocking up on winter essentials. If you wait until the flakes are falling to go snow-shovel shopping, you could be at the mercy of what's available.

There are traditional short-handled models with flat blades, long-handled models with wide blades designed to push snow, and ergonomic models with oddly bent handles. For this test, we focused on versatile ergonomic models, with both shoveling and pushing capabilities.

HOW WE TESTED 

Because we test shovels before the cold weather arrives, we use wet sawdust as a proxy for snow. Wet snow weighs, on average, about 20 pounds per square foot, so we spray down our pile of sawdust, mix it well, check the weight of a cubic foot, and repeat until we hit 20. Then we spread the sawdust out in a 6-by-8-foot area, 5.5 inches deep, for a total of 22 cubic feet of "snow."

We use each shovel to clear the test area and clock how long it takes us, working at a steady, consistent pace. Additionally, we scoop up as much sawdust as each shovel blade will hold, to measure how much weight it feels like compared to how much the sawdust actually weighs. Finally, we assess comfort-in regard to position of the back, arms, and hands of the person doing the shoveling and ease of use.

SHOVELING VS. PUSHING