Snow Shovels: Ergonomic, Pusher and Electric Shovels Compared

The best snow shovel depends on the snow and the person. A wide pusher moves light snow on pavement without lifting. An ergonomic combo shovel handles heavier snow with less bending. A cordless electric shovel throws up to about 6 inches of snow off decks and walks. Anyone with heart disease should ask a doctor before shoveling.

Which type of snow shovel do you need?

Suncast, a snow tool maker, sorts manual tools into three shapes in its Snow Tools 101 guide.

• Shovel: a flat blade on a short shaft for lifting light snow, usually 18 to 20 inches wide.
• Combo: a slightly curved blade with raised sides on a short shaft, which Suncast says covers almost all snow removal needs.
• Pusher: a curved blade on a long shaft for moving snow without lifting. Suncast says pushers work best on dry snow 3 to 4 inches deep on paved surfaces.

Electric shovels are a fourth option: a small battery-powered auger on a handle that throws snow to the side.

How do these shovels compare?

These are example models, with values taken from each maker’s spec page.

What makes a snow shovel ergonomic?

The shaft does most of the work. An ergonomic shovel has a bent shaft so you stand straighter while the blade stays flat on the ground. Suncast says the bent handles on its 18-inch Steel Core Ergonomic Combo are engineered to minimize back strain.

Blade material matters too. Suncast lists shatter-resistant polycarbonate, aluminum and polypropylene or polyethylene blades. A galvanized steel or nylon wear strip on the edge reduces blade wear, and Suncast says the steel strip on the SC3850 helps break up compressed snow or light ice.

Pick blade size for the snow you get. Heavy, wet snow on a wide blade becomes a heavy load, and the American Heart Association warns that lifting heavy loads is where heart strain spikes (more on that below).

When is a snow pusher the better choice?

A pusher suits long, flat, paved stretches: a driveway, a sidewalk, a patio. Suncast’s 36-inch pusher is built for light to fluffy snowfall on driveways, decks, steps, sidewalks and patios. Its non-stick blade helps snow slide off.

Pushing is also easier on the body. The American Heart Association says pushing or sweeping snow takes a little less exertion than lifting and throwing it. A pusher makes that the default.

A pusher struggles in deep or wet snow, since it has to shove the whole load. That is when a combo shovel or a machine makes more sense.

Are electric snow shovels any good?

They fill the gap between a manual shovel and a snow blower. All three models in the table are cordless and throw snow instead of making you lift it.

• Snow Joe 24V-SS13: 13-inch path, 6-inch depth of cut, throws snow up to 20 feet, 13 pounds.
• Toro 60V Power Shovel (39909): 12-inch path, recommended for snow up to 6 inches, up to 45 minutes per charge, 22 pounds.
• EGO SNS1201: 12-inch path, throws snow up to 25 feet, 16.7 pounds with its battery.

Their limit is depth. Toro and Snow Joe both size theirs for about 6 inches. For bigger storms or long driveways, our comparison of single-stage vs two-stage snow blowers covers machines that take 9 to 12 inches or more.

Is shoveling snow bad for your heart?

It can be. The American Heart Association says the exertion of shoveling snow may lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. Ready.gov also advises avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow to reduce the risk of a heart attack.

The AHA gives several reasons in its January 2024 and January 2025 releases:

1. In one study cited by the AHA, participants’ heart rates passed 85% of maximum after only two minutes of shoveling.
2. Shoveling is mostly arm work, which the AHA says is more demanding on the heart than leg work.
3. People often hold their breath without noticing while lifting a heavy shovelful, which the AHA says causes big increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
4. Cold air constricts blood vessels throughout the body, raising blood pressure and narrowing the coronary arteries.

Should a 70 year old be shoveling snow?

The AHA does not name an age. It names risk factors instead: a sedentary lifestyle or obesity, being a current or former smoker, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and a past heart attack or stroke. It says people with these characteristics, and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty, simply should not be shoveling snow in any conditions.

Its advice for anyone with known or suspected heart disease, or risk factors for it, is to get someone else to do the snow removal. If you have a heart condition, or you are not sure whether these risk factors apply to you, ask your doctor before you shovel.

How can you shovel with less strain?

These tips come from the AHA’s January 2024 release.

• Start gradually and pace yourself. The AHA’s December 2022 release also recommends short breaks.
• Cover your mouth and nose, and wear layers, a hat and gloves.
• Push or sweep the snow rather than lifting and throwing it.
• Be extra careful when the wind is blowing, because it increases the effects of the cold on your body.
• Use a snow blower if you are able. The AHA says it raises the heart rate less than shoveling does, though you should still proceed with caution.

Dressing for the cold helps with the layers the AHA recommends. Our guide to heated jackets, vests and gloves covers battery-heated layers for long sessions outside.

What goes with a new snow shovel?

A shovel clears snow but can leave a slick film. Our guide to ice melt vs rock salt explains which deicers work at which temperatures, and which are harder on concrete, pets and plants.

A good shovel or pusher also makes a practical present for someone with a new driveway. See our winter storm gift guide for ideas by person. The full list of snow, power and car gear is in our winter storm preparedness guide.