7 Innovative Shovels That Make Clearing a Snowy Driveway Easier

With winter weather on the way, the hunt for the best snow shovel continues! Keep the snow—and backache—at bay this winter with one of these smart, ergonomic snow shovels.
Man pushing a shovel to clear snow from a wintry driveway
Photo: Depositphotos

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When the weather forecast calls for accumulated snow, who among us doesn’t inwardly groan, anticipating the aches and pains we’ll feel after hours spent shoveling the path and driveway? The next best thing to delegating snow-shoveling duties to someone else is doing the job yourself with a tool that makes the task a lot easier.

These are no ordinary snow shovels. These seven snow-conquering tools each have qualities that make the arduous task of lifting, pushing, and maneuvering heavy, wet snow easier on your back, hands, and joints.

Extra-Wide Blade

ManPlow Pro 42-inch Snow Pusher

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Designed for deep snow, the ManPlow is a traditional snow pusher with a U-shaped handle and an extra-wide, 42-inch blade that will make quick work of clearing open spaces like decks, patios, and driveways.

The SnoBoss’s unusual design make it easy to adapt to most any snow-removal situation: You can scoop or push with it, and it has forward grips that are easy to grasp with both hands.

Extra Ergonomic

Rugg Back Saver Snow Shovel

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Any tool called the “Back Saver” could sell itself, but this one really does work! An aluminum blade along the edge of the shovel’s lightweight polypropylene head makes it easy to break up ice and snow before shoveling. Its main draw? The cleverly contoured design, which helps prevent aches and pains by reducing the amount you have to bend to shovel.

Repurposed Grain Scoop

True Temper Poly Scoop with Hardwood Handle and D-Grip

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Many in-the-know folks think an old-school farming tool is the best snow shovel for residential walkways and driveways. Why? Because with a high-sided, trough-like scoop of reinforced thermoplastic, the grain scoop enables you to remove a lot of snow with each throw.

Wheeled Clearer

Snowcaster 36-inch Bi-Directional Wheeled Snow Shovel Pusher and Barn Shovel

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With a 36-inch blade to cut through up to 5 inches of snow on any surface, the Snowcaster will have you rolling out of your driveway in no time, without having to spend the rest of the day on the couch with aching joints. Plus, the polypropylene blade on this made-in-the-USA shovel is built to last multiple seasons.

Electric Powerhouse

Greenworks 80V 12" Cordless Battery Snow Shovel

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If you don’t have the enthusiasm or physical strength to maneuver a manual shovel, a top-rated electric shovel might be the best solution for you. Our favorite from testing, the 12-inch 80-volt Greenworks clears an approximately foot-wide swath of snow, 6 inches deep, with each pass—all on its own, with minimal effort on your part.

Collapsible Car Accessory

Lifeline Aluminum Sport Utility Shovel

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A terrific option to keep in the car during winter, the Lifeline Sport Utility Shovel works as both a backup shovel at home and a dig-out tool on a wintry road. Made of high-quality aluminum, this one is lightweight, easy to use, and breaks down into three pieces for compact storage.

 
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Jennifer Noonan

Contributing Writer

A confessed DIY junkie, Jennifer Noonan writes about home improvement, gardening, and all things do-it-yourself. The recipient of degrees in International Relations and Library & Information Science from Syracuse University, Noonan has worked in media and related fields for over 15 years, including her time at MTV Networks, where she served as Manager of Digital Programming at Nickelodeon. Today, Noonan lives in Delaware with her husband and daughters, where she is ardently teaching the next generation how to use power tools.


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