Updated: 02/19/2021 18:37:11
Expert: Konstantin Borisovich Polyakov
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Falling snow is a beautiful sight, but it also means you'll soon have to get your shovels out to clear yard walkways, parking lots and garage driveways, and other areas that utility vehicles don't cover. To do this, it is important to have suitable equipment that is convenient and durable. Today, snow shovels are made of plastic, polycarbonate, polypropylene, steel or aluminum. They differ in configuration and size. Our experts have figured out which products are purchased more often than others and why. This review of the best shovels will help you choose the right shovel for your needs based on features and reviews.
FISKARS SnowXpert 1026793
The next participant in this collection is FISKARS SnowXpert 1026793. This shovel is very similar to the previous one.
It has a deep bucket with high edges and a width of 35.5 centimeters, which allows you to collect large amounts of snow at a time. And the reinforced aluminum edge on this bucket will protect the tool from damage if the shovel suddenly collides with ice or a hard object hidden under snowdrifts. In addition, the manufacturer has equipped the bucket of this model with ribs that prevent wet snow from sticking.
The FISKARS SnowXpert shovel differs from the previous heroine of our rating only in the material of the handle. Here, aluminum is used instead of wood. Therefore, such a shovel weighs only 1300 grams. Thanks to its lightweight design, you won't get tired even if you have to clear large snowdrifts. It is also worth noting that for ease of use, this shovel is equipped with a handle. And thanks to its height of only 133 centimeters, it will easily fit into the trunk of most cars. So you can take it with you everywhere.
The owners speak strictly positively about this shovel, and it does not have any drawbacks. So I can confidently recommend you the FISKARS SnowXpert shovel for snow removal.
- Dimensions: 1330 x 355 x 200 mm.
- Weight: 1.3 kg.
- Aluminum handle.
- Aluminum edge.
- Handle on a handle.
- Ribs on a ladle.
Rating of the best shovels for snow removal
| Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
| Best short shovels for snow removal | 1 | Fiskars SnowXpert 1019347 | 1 086 ₽ |
| 2 | ECOS 501 71 cm 28x21 | 450 ₽ | |
| 3 | Finland 1360 32x29 | 493 ₽ | |
| 4 | Airline AB-S-07 28x21 | 1 192 ₽ | |
| 5 | Fiskars Solid 1019353 | 889 ₽ | |
| Best Mid-Size Snow Shovels | 1 | Gardena ClassicLine 17550-30 | 1 071 ₽ |
| 2 | Finland 1023 41x49 | 573 ₽ | |
| 3 | Fiskars SnowXpert 1026791 | 1 900 ₽ | |
| 4 | Shrew 0235-Alumax 37.5x50 | 1 670 ₽ | |
| 5 | Palisad 6156929x61.5 | 775 ₽ | |
| 6 | Wolf-Garten SR-M 60/ZM-V4 23x60 | 1 700 ₽ | |
| 7 | Fiskars Solid 1026794 38x25.5 | 999 ₽ | |
| The best scrapers for snow removal | 1 | Fiskars SnowXpert 1003470 | 4 300 ₽ |
| 2 | Finland 1714 68x83 | 2 057 ₽ | |
| 3 | Gardena ClassicLine 17560-30 | 2 710 ₽ | |
| 4 | AL-KO 160180 61x80 | 3 990 ₽ | |
| 5 | Gardena 03260-20 | 4 670 ₽ | |
| 6 | Cycle Expert Iceland (8143-00) 44x79.6 | 1 027 ₽ |
Automotive tools
It is very convenient to have a shovel for your car in winter. Dig a rut if the car is stuck, clear a parking space or remove precipitation that accumulated during the night. This type of snow shovel is distinguished by several characteristic parameters:
- light weight;
- small bucket size;
- compact dimensions overall;
- light material from which the shovel is made.
There are both full-fledged types of shovels, as well as collapsible or folding ones . The latter take up significantly less space in the car.
Screw design
This is a more advanced modification of the usual manual device. Shovels with an auger operate as follows. When a person moves the device around the site, the auger touches the ground with its edge and begins to rotate. Thanks to this rotation, the snow begins to be thrown away from the shovel.
The snow mass is thrown up to 300 mm to the side. This value depends on the speed at which you will move the tool.
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On both sides along the trajectory of movement, the layer of snowdrifts will increase. Therefore, this design is more suitable for cleaning garden paths. But if you want to clear a strip wider than the size of the bucket, you will have to work for a very long time.
This type of tool is preferable when harvesting loose mass. It is not suitable for clearing the area of compacted and compacted snow. Among the well-known models are, for example, Forte QI-JY 50 or Patriot Arctic.
What are there
Depending on the manufacturing method, it can be factory-made or home-made. You can build a tool with your own hands from wooden beams and plywood with a thickness of at least 5 mm. Step-by-step instructions detailing how to make the equipment yourself can be found on various Internet resources. This option will be cheaper, but will be less convenient to use.
The functionality of factory models is much wider than that of a home-built instrument. As a rule, they are made of metal or plastic. Snow removal tools are classified according to the type of purpose, they can be:
- Standard;
- Scrapers;
- Screw;
- For cars;
- Dumps.
Standard
These are the most popular models. Used for throwing and shoveling snow from roads. They are also suitable for cleaning the local area in a private area. Visually, the tool looks the same as a regular scoop tool with a greatly enlarged bucket. The bucket with this option can be made of aluminum; various types of plastic; galvanized steel; plywood with a special coating.
The most budget options are made of plastic. A significant disadvantage of such models is their softness, which does not allow the tool to be used when raking frozen and compacted snow masses. They are only good for clearing recently fallen, still loose snow.
The characteristics of aluminum will give strength and lightness to the scoop part, which explains the popularity of aluminum and duralumin models among users. After all, such a tool is suitable for raking snow of any hardness. The only drawback will be the high cost, compared to counterparts made from other materials.
Galvanized buckets have sufficient strength and are also suitable for clearing any type of snow layers; the downside of the steel model is its high weight, which is something you should pay attention to when purchasing. The manufacturer can significantly reduce the weight and thickness of the metal due to stiffening ribs without loss of strength characteristics.
The advantages of traditional plywood are low cost and light weight. Such material requires additional strengthening, because in itself it is very fragile. Therefore, metal strips are used to strengthen the plywood scoop. But even a metal edging will not provide sufficient strength to the instrument. Inexpensive plywood models are not suitable for removing ice.
Scraper
Scrapers or scrapers are used exclusively for shoveling snow. It is impossible to use them for throwing. Scrapers are equipped with one or two handles. The appearance of the device is a piece of sheet metal bent at an angle.
Equipped with two handles, the scraper is perfect for cleaning wide areas of the road. The rear part is in a position perpendicular to the ground, while the front, pointed, like a knife, enters the layer of snow cover. A single-handle device is commonly used for stripping roofs.
Auger
An auger is a kind of screw conveyor (a metal rod with a spiral welded around it). This type of equipment can be called the most productive when cleaning fresh, not yet compacted snow mass. After all, it is not the brute physical strength of a person that is used here, but the rotation of the mechanism leads to the movement and throwing of snow to the sides. The auger blades are installed at a certain angle to the snow mass, which is what ensures the rotation of the device. To eliminate mistakes when choosing a suitable tool, you need to take into account that although the auger mechanism is very convenient to use, it is not suitable for compacted drifts, and is also poorly effective when cleaning wet masses.
Automotive
Types of shovels for motorists are made with a telescopic (folding) handle, which, when folded, can easily fit into a car.
This tool is used to dig up a vehicle. Scoop parts can be aluminum or steel. Therefore, a snow shovel for a car will cost more than a regular one.
Blade
The equipment is made in the form of a bulldozer blade on wheels, which are located at the rear on almost all models. The wheels take the weight of the blade itself, which makes cleaning much easier. Effort is expended only to move the unit forward. The downside is that this device, like a scraper, has only one function – the raking function. It is impossible to throw snow with a blade.
Main varieties and their features
There is a wide variety of snow shovels, from the simplest to mechanical ones. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at them in more detail. And while everything is relatively simple with ordinary hand shovels, there is no specific standard that allows you to separate mechanical shovels from snow blowers.
Auger
An auger shovel is a combination of a shovel and an auger - a special device shaped like a screw. Typically, the auger in shovels has 2-3 turns. The principle of operation is quite simple - when the shovel is pushed forward, the ribs of the auger begin to rotate from contact with the surface and push the snow to the right or left of the direction of movement.
Manual
If the auger shovel is set in motion or its direct operation occurs only due to human muscular power, it is classified as a hand tool.
Mechanical tool
This category includes shovels in which a mechanism is responsible for removing snow, and the worker only pushes the shovel forward.
Mechanical non-self-propelled
If an auger shovel does not have the means to move it during operation, it is called non-self-propelled. Typically, a similar mechanism is equipped with skis to reduce slipping.
Self-propelled
If an auger shovel has wheels or tracks, it is classified as self-propelled. It is much easier to push such a shovel.
Electric shovel
In fact, it is a type of auger, or more precisely, its mechanized version. The shovel is activated not by the worker’s muscular strength, but by an electric motor. Connecting the tool to electricity is traditionally done using an extension cord. There are also cordless shovels, in which the energy source is located on the shovel itself. Their power is slightly less than that of shovels powered from the mains using an extension cord.
Such devices are a wide scraper with a long handle. Their handle consists of 3-4 rods folding into each other. The length of such a handle in working condition can reach 9 m. In addition to removing snow from roofs, similar devices are used to knock down icicles.
Features you need to know when choosing a snow shovel
You cannot buy a snow shovel without familiarizing yourself with all its characteristics, then the process of working with the tool will become very difficult for you. You will spend a lot of effort and energy cleaning a minimal area. It is for this reason that before going to the store you should know all its properties.
1. Tool weight. The heavier it is, the worse you will remove snow. The lightest materials are plastic and aluminum.
2. Handle and scoop. Attention is paid to the size of both. Especially, a woman will buy a snow shovel. If the wrong choice is made, it is not difficult to encounter overwork among the owners of this tool, because the wider the shovel, the more snow it can take. And this is not always good. This criterion should be considered individually, taking into account not only a person’s body weight, his height, but also his overall physique.
3. Additional nuances of the shovel. Pay attention to the sides. The tool can be with one or three sides. Opt for the third option, this way you will increase your work efficiency, because the snow will stop falling.
4. Edges and ribs. The ribs of the tool ensure its sliding on the snow, which makes cleaning easier. The edge can be of three types: aluminum (used to improve the performance of plastic or wood), steel (useful for removing old snow) and plastic (used to clean an unusual area).
Other important criteria
In order to choose and buy the right snow shovel, you need to pay attention to a number of other features, on which both the durability of the tool and the ease of working with it will depend:
- Weight - the less it is, the better. However, lightness should not be ensured by low strength, but by optimizing the design, using more advanced materials, etc. On average, snow shovels weigh about 2 kg.
- The size of the bucket should be such that it is comfortable for you to work with it. The larger the bucket, the more force it will take to throw the snow collected onto it. At the same time, using a small shovel will take too long to move the snow. Therefore, you need to find the optimal size for your personal physical capabilities. Remember: snow removal is a distance race, not a sprint race. You shouldn't put maximum productivity at the forefront.
- The shape and configuration of the bucket - it can be either straight or curved, and also have a different number of sides. For quickly clearing large areas, models with a wide flat bucket that can be used as a scraper are more suitable. To carry and throw snow, as well as clear large snowdrifts, it is better to use deep shovels with high sides. If the terrain of the area being cleared is uneven, then it will be more convenient to work with a rounded shovel, while on flat areas straight shovels are more productive.
- The elasticity of the bucket is an important characteristic for plastic models. It should be such that the shovel is capable of removing dense snowdrifts and does not break under strong pressure.
Suitable cutting
To a large extent, the ease of use of a snow shovel, performance and durability depend on how the handle (handle) is made. First of all, it must be light, durable, not freezing on your hands and not slippery. It is most convenient to use snow shovels with an ergonomic V-shaped handle, since this shape optimally matches the anatomical features of a person. This non-parallel grip distributes the load throughout the body more effectively - therefore fatigue occurs later. In addition, in professional shovels the handle is connected to the bucket at a certain angle, due to which a powerful lever is formed that facilitates work.
The material used to make the cutting can be different:
- Wood is a classic of the genre. Wooden handles are affordable and practical. This is also a “warmer” option, since wood does not heat up as much in the cold as, for example, metal. The disadvantages include relatively lower strength and durability, and sensitivity to humidity. In addition, burrs and splinters may appear on the wooden surface, which will have to be sanded down.
- Aluminum is a strong and durable option, and if you choose an ergonomic shape, it is also very comfortable. It is desirable that the metal handle have rubberized pads. They will prevent the handle from slipping and will not freeze your hands.
- Composite plastics are the most advanced, but also the most expensive option. Such cuttings combine low weight and high strength, in addition, they are much warmer than metal. However, the cost of a high-quality composite is higher than all other options. Cheap models with plastic handles are usually unreliable.
The length of the snow shovel handle should match your height. If you choose a short model, you will have to bend over often when working, and this will create excess stress on your back. Therefore, give preference to a length that will allow you to clear snow without bending. However, a handle that is too long is inconvenient - such a shovel will be harder to swing.
Snow shovels with replaceable handles are more practical. If you need to clean hard-to-reach spaces, you can install a short handle on them. And for clearing large areas, a long and powerful handle is installed. Telescopic snow shovels are also available. In some of these models, the handle can extend several meters, which even allows you to clear snow from the roof of a cottage. However, keep in mind that monolithic handles are more reliable and durable.
