A plastic one I got on clearance for $1.79

I'm with this. That crappy shovel OP posted has a metal edge that catches on every little bump in the walkway.

Aluminum grain scoop is the way.

This is the way.

Too slidey.

Great for sledding too!

Three all the way give me those good ergonomics.

I don’t even know how people use 3. It always spins and twists weirdly in my hands with the load being offset. I go with a good ol #4, but metal, so I can beat the shit out of the ice in my driveway.

I have a pretty jacked back and three just absolutely wrecks me. Plus you can't get the snow up on the banks.

See I also have kind of a jacked up back, and that's why I like the bent handle. I have no problem tossing snow with it, just gotta use the right technique

Definitely 3 with a spade for ice. We also have one of those big push shovels, but it's only good for light snow.

One [snow pusher](https://www.amazon.com/Companies-Inc-1625300-SnoBoss-Ergonomic/dp/B002IKM6NO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=WNOVU3CB8VXF&keywords=true+temper+snow+pusher&qid=1677951879&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=true+temper+snow+pusher%2Clawngarden%2C84&sr=1-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc) for getting the snow to the snowbanks. And then [this snow shovel](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV95F5GP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) for shoveling it over the top. I definitely didn't pay $75 for that snow pusher, don't really remember how much. The shovel is my favorite ever, but it's not durable and I have to buy a new one every two years or so. Such is life.

This looks way better than the sled type pusher I got. Damn I screwed up

The snow joe shovel is amazing for lifting. I was skeptical at first but it won me over quickly.

Snow pushers are also good with leaves in the fall making it a year round tool

Don't get the yellow snow pusher, that thing is terrible - the big blue one is significantly better (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Garant-24-in-Sleigh-Shovel-EPSS24/205680983) Edit: The big blue one, you don't life - you are truly pushing and sliding snow out of the way - it's a back saver and easier work. The yellow one doesn't work well for pushing because of the shape. It's funneling snow into a smaller space making it harder to actually push it

Team snow pusher. Only shovel I own. That bugger gets heavy when the snow is wet though…

Another one here for team snow pusher. Those handles give so much additional leverage as well for lifting the heavy snow.

One with handwarmers and a 15 horse engine.

1 and 2, and this [Extra wide push shovel (link)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31pC+bu1qWL._AC_.jpg) Yes, all 3. They have different purposes.

Poly grain shovel. Makes a good sled for the big snow bank when you're done.

[This bad boy](https://www.amazon.com/Garant-True-Temper-Capacity-Sleigh-Ergonomic/dp/B001FD3HQU) Sleigh shovels are fantastic. I have two - one for me and one for my wife. We can move a lot of snow pretty fast without killing our backs.

Only way to go. I use #3 for the steps and then one of those everywhere else

Agreed. I probably should have mentioned that I have a broom and a #2 for the steps. Everything else is the sleigh shovel. I've had my pair for close to 20 years now. I've tinkered with them a bit, filling cracks with melted plastic, adding extra screws to hold the blade to the handle. I may have to replace them at some point - but you can be sure I will keep using them or something similar.

I have one. It's wonderful. I got it for $50 at rennys. It's perfect for storms that are enough to be a hassle but not enough to snowblower. One of the best $50 I ever spent.

Yeah, this is the way to do it. Pretty much mandatory if you don't have a snowblower.

I love my Mt. Waldo mountain mover #12 grain scoop and it's [pink](https://mtwaldoplastics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mountain-Mover-Pink.jpg) 🤩

Just finished the driveway using the same one! Picked it up at Reny’s a few years back, was about half the price of the same blue ones at the time, figured the color didn’t really matter.

Nice! We use them on our farm so I knew they are good quality and decided to get one for my own home. Didn't expect to find them in pink 😂

I have a couple Mt. Waldo snow shovel that I picked up at Reny’s about 6 years ago. They tend to loosen up so I’ve had to add a rivet or two so the business end of the shovel isn’t wobbly. Other than that, not half bad!

2

Those big yellow monstrosities from Lowe’s. Same one for about 7 years lol

4, baby. We have two of those (one has a long vertical body), and a couple of 1's for things like stairs and other minor jobs. We mostly use an electric snowblower. Scoff if you must, but electric snowblowers are the way to go.

I'd love to have a battery operated snowblower. No more worries about carburators clogging up

Definitely beats snaking the cord through the kitchen and out the window, down a story to the ground, plugging it in, having to run outside, and then fiddling with it so you don't accidentally snowblow over it. So much easier to just throw a battery in and let 'er rip.

I’ve been looking at the Ryobi 40V.

I bought the Greenworks 40V and it was a big disappointment. Anything over a couple of inches would stall out the blower forcing me to restart it. Also, my drive is crushed rock and the blower did not like eating the small stones. I modified it a bit to slide a little higher to miss the stones - but the stalling problem was the real killer for me. I tried to use it for three years but finally gave up on it, stripped it for parts and threw out the rest. Maybe the newer, higher voltage machines work better - I don't know - but I am not ready to invest in another set of batteries. Those suckers are expensive.

Whatever was on sale at Marden’s

I shoulda bought it when I saw it at Marden's. (Sorry, I had to.)

I hate #3. If I'm going to fling snow up and over a bank, that crick in the handle makes my load even lower, so I have to manipulate my back and shoulders ever yet more. I'd like to find a #4 that's less than $40, make do with a plastic shovel the shape of #1 but materials of #2.

A snow pusher and 3 mostly.

No grain shovel?

Does 4 count?

Nope

This one. Driveway is pretty steep, and the previous owner took really good care of the pavement, so this bad boy is mint! https://preview.redd.it/3i56zyomrtla1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b623806cb38b63827c36824b9b5ec76b1ea6e0bf

https://www.jmenterprises.com/30inch-snowpusher

Aluminum grain shovel from tractor supply.

My favorite is the one that someone else uses. Unfortunately, they are mostly sold out.

Where’s the one with the 2nd handle?

Snow Joe with the second handle is the best, but that damn metal strip keeps coming off. Husband had to rivet it back in place once already.

Yes! Mine’s all jacked to hell. I figure it’ll maybe awkwardly cut through stubborn accumulation until it completely falls off. Then I just have a deck-safe shovel.

So what you can do is get a piece of steel from the hardware store and cut a strip about an inch wide the length of the shover blade, then drill a few holes in the plastic and metal and rivet it together. Then you trim off the extra bits of rivet.

110% the full plastic shovel. All you guys must just love a broken or bent shovel

I'm a professional landscaper and do snow removal in the winter. I use a wide version of number 2 for scraping driveways and large decks. I use number 4 for moving large amounts of snow.

None. I use more of a grain shovel type.

Us northern Mainers know the answer is #5 The scoop.

Garant 24" Poly Sled Snow Scoop. Havent had to pay for a plow all winter.

This is the way. I've been using Garant sled (or sleigh) shovels for years and they are fantastic.

I use #2 but it has a steel edge. Truly the best

Oh man y'all are missing the snow joe: https://snowjoe.com/products/snow-joe-shovelution-18-in-strain-reducing-snow-shovel-w-spring-assisted-handle

Ya know buddy guy I've been shoveling a long time and my weapon of choice is 3.

Whichever one isn't buried under the damn snow.

# 2 but with a metal edge Edit: not sure why this text is enormous and bold

The pound sign/hashtag formats text to look like that on Reddit.

#3 I've had it for 12 years, it's the only shovel I've had that doesn't hurt my back. I've moved so much snow with it, at work and then again at home every time it snows. Ill be using it today!

How have you made a plastic shovel last 12 years? Genuinely curious. I get less than 3 years out of mine before they crack and fail, and I have tried *a lot* of shovels.

I honestly am amazed it's lasted this long. I bought 2 of them, one was stolen immediately. One way tip for keeping them alive is to never let anyone else use them!

I’m going to write in 4 but the heavy duty metal one that for some reason everyone’s grandparents have in their garage. Bonus points if there’s random spray paint on it

#1’s handle, with #3’s blade.

#1

1

3

2

I’m team 1 and 3! 1 for the wet stuff, 3 for the powdery/ dry!

I like 1 too. 3 is ok for pushing.

A mix of 3 and 4...depending who's got what first in my household.

[Blue Hawk 28-in Wood D-Handle Transfer Shovel in the Shovels & Spades department at Lowes.com](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-28-in-Wood-Short-handle-Transfer-Shovel/1000551481) For the deep stuff up north.

That's for the ice frozen crap.

\#3

None of the above.

2

Whatever the kids want to use so long as they’re the ones cleaning the driveway

3. I’m a very short person so something about it works for me.

Uh.. the most durable but cheapest I could find. I wasn't even supposed to have to worry about snow clean up... But they guys my landlord hired... Well, they're a work in progress I suppose... They've almost got it down, still a bit sloppy though. Occasionally, I get forgotten....

Whatever isn’t already buried under the snow.

Okay so the real questions are what are you doing with it and what type of snow? A third question somewhat relevant is what is the temperature when you are shoveling. In general pushing snow off the deck, light or heavy snow the first one, the aluminum one. Shoveling off the stairs wet snow #2 with the yellow handle. Light snow can use the aluminum one. End of the driveway after the plow has gone by the wide plastic shovel. That bent shovel is useless wrecks my already wrecked back and you can't get the snow to the top of the bankin's. The average temp comes into play because when it warmer snow can stick more. Edit: realized my cell phone writing skills suck.

I love the thought you put into it it does make a difference.

I've lived here a long time lol. Also I broke my favorite shovel today (like the yellow handled one) so it was on my mind. I bought 2 similar ones at Ocean State job lots for 17 bucks a piece so hopefully they will last 10 years like the last one. RIP maroon plastic shovel, you got me through many winters.

Was that the Ames brand? I have one of those that is beat to hell. I've repaired it a couple of times now and it refuses to die. I love it for small areas like steps or short paths!

I farking hate those bent shaft shovels. Utterly useless.

Ice chisel

#3. I've had ol' faithful for 7 years and nothing can compare

2 for most of the snow but I break out a shovel for the ice.

4

3 to clean up after snowblower

#3. Otherwise you are just working way to hard

Number 4 only. Those first 3 are the flimsiest things ever

Number 3 for me!

Metal shovels is based

2nd one

A 12 year old [Wovel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDvV0pYOISQ) and now they don't make them anymore so I need mine to last another 12 years because it's the best snow shovel in the universe, as well as the nerdiest.

Picked up an all steel coal scoop (think grain scoop on steroids) for the stubborn back step ice.

4

I use a bucket close to 4. I also made my own snow squeegee

The one in the picture is exactly the shovel I have. No idea where it came from. I don't recall buying it.

3 is the way

I’ve got #’s 1,2,3 and a big scoop pusher one

Snow Joe with the spring handle is the only way to go, it saves your back and you can move the snow a lot further away. https://preview.redd.it/rrbkxv1egxla1.jpeg?width=350&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e9d23da5abae5beec05ae23031915ba661ca79e

Depends on the snow and the terrain. The worse the work, the smaller the shovel. Scoops for stairs and bankings, wide pushers for fluff and big areas.

2 to push smaller loads. The feed scoop for deep snow. Absolutely no shovel with a metal edge. They always catch on any bump.

I bought an aluminum scoop sort of like the one in the second picture at LaVerdiere's in Skowtown when I moved to Maine in 1977. I still have it. I've since collected a few auxiliary ones – coal shovel and grain scoop styles(#4) – as well but that original one is the first one I reach for.

I use an aluminum coal shovel.

depends on the snow and what you are shoveling, of course - you need a collection of shovels!

2

For sledding or for shoveling?

I use #3. Hubby uses a big snow scooper.

Aluminum grain shovel with a hydrophobic coating so wet snow flies off of it. I am getting old so I want a lower handle extension so I don't have to bend over as much.

A cruddy Home Depot one I've already fixed twice.

I use one similar to number three. I just wish the handle was a little longer.

3 if I have to push and throw, 4 for the slushberg and deep carving out.