You cannot go carelessly about choosing such a crucial outdoor property maintenance tool as a snow shovel, specifically if you reside in an area where heavy snow, blizzards, and snowdrifts are common in winter. Watching fluffy, light, and sparkling snowflakes slowly falling from the sky is a true joy, but things stop looking so cheerful when you walk outside in the morning and see your driveway covered in a few inches of snow from last night’s storm.
With your car buried somewhere out there, you will need the best commercial snow shovel to clear the mess faster and without putting excessive strain on your back and arms. In this post, I have reviewed the top 5 best-performing and most robust options that are excellent for lifting and tossing snow and will not burn a hole in your budget this coming winter.
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Top 5 Best Commercial Snow Shovels Models Reviewed
- SnowPlow 36” 50536 – Top Pick
- MRC Seymour Commercial – Runner-Up
- Snowcaster 70SNC 36 – Premium Pick
- Kapler Rolling
- Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR 11
A poorly chosen snow shovel will not only fail to cope with the tasks you planned to entrust it with but also seriously harm your health in the long run. To keep you safe and make your life a lot easier in winter, here is a detailed review of the best models available in the snow-clearing equipment market, along with some buying recommendations and a quick Q&A bonus section.
1. SnowPlow 36” 50536 Snow Pusher – Best Overall Commercial Grade Snow Shovel
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Although technically a pusher, not a shovel, I still choose this SnowPlow 36” beauty as my go-to snow-clearing tool, perfect for doing everyday light snow removal chores as well as some heavy-duty work. I have been a regular user for a few years now, and there are only great things to say about this snow pusher. Despite its impressive size, it feels surprisingly lightweight and maneuverable, even for a 5’6 girl like me.
The model is really capable and can get you through the denser snow as easily as through dry, light powder. If it is not too bad outside, I can clear my sidewalk in a single swoop using this babe. I love that the fiberglass handle with a D-style grip is sturdy and offers a very smooth, steady pass, and the blade is made of the UHMW polyethylene material that treats most surfaces extra cautiously.
This easy-to-operate, efficient, and highly reliable tool (not a single failure in over 3 years!) helps me keep all kinds of drivable and walkable surfaces neat and snow-free throughout winter. Unless you mind that it comes unassembled and requires some time with a screwdriver and a wrench before being put to service, you should not be disappointed.
- Strong and durable build;
- Good resistance to abrasion and wear;
- Moves larger quantities of snow than traditional or combo shovels;
- Gentle to all types of surfaces;
- Lightweight design;
- Friendly price.
- Assembling can be a bit of a pain.
2. MRC Seymour Commercial 18″x44″ Snow Shovel – Best Budget Commercial Grade Snow Shovel
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Despite its intimidating size and overall looks, the MRC Seymour snow shovel is actually a lightweight and manageable model with incredible shoveling efficiency. It proves that a snow shovel does not need to be expensive to provide top-notch reliability and performance. I like that I do not have to worry when using it on concrete sidewalks, thanks to its super-strong ABS plastic.
The 44” handle feels pretty comfortable, and the D-shaped grip allows me to balance the load on the shovel in the right way. Made of strong fiberglass, the shovel is almost weightless and easy to operate, even if you have to use it for a long time. However, the best thing about this all-poly snow shovel is its affordable price. You will rarely find a model that is so capable yet inexpensive, so this alone is the reason enough to buy the MRC Seymour 18”x44” snow shovel this year!
- Budget-friendly;
- Extra-large blade size with a design for deep digging;
- Sturdy fiberglass hand;
- Lightweight and easy to carry.
- Not suitable for heavy-duty snow clearing.
3. Snowcaster 70SNC 36″ Bi-Directional Wheeled Snow Pusher – Best Heavy-Duty Snow Shovel for Senior Users
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My father purchased the Snowcaster 70SNC snow pusher last year, and he couldn’t be happier with its performance. This double-wheeled model with a sturdy bi-directional, shallow-angled heavy plastic blade can move impressive amounts of snow and even cut through some thin ice on top of it. It is more than capable of removing heavy snow from long driveways and sidewalks; still, I would recommend switching to an electric snowblower whenever you are dealing with anything over 5” thick (especially if you have a history of back aches.)
I find it a bit overpriced for a snow shovel where the blade is made entirely of plastic. Also, I feel it somewhat lacks stability when not supported upright by the operator. However, it is a solid pick for a senior user who needs a reliable and powerful double-wheeled snow shovel. This Snowcaster model makes clearing up snow much less of an effort while also relieving pressure from the back.
- Suitable for heavy-duty exploitation: picks up more snow in much less time;
- Sturdy and durable design, with wheels adding speed to your shoveling chores;
- Strong metal handle;
- Assembles easily.
- Comes with a hefty price tag;
- The blade is all-plastic.
4. Kapler Rolling Snow Pusher, 29″x19″ Wheeled Snow Shovel – Most Durable Snow Shovel
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I have only tried this model once, but it is the memory I will cherish till the end of my snow-clearing days. My favorite features are the adjustable handle (with 5 different pushing angle positions) and the customizable shovel handle length that makes it suitable for a shorter or a taller operator. The scooping area of this Kapler snow pusher model is extensive and can make short work of some large, heavily snow-covered surfaces. Also, alloy steel, iron, and rubber used in this model are of really good quality, which is laudable given the budget-friendly price of the shovel.
- Large scoop area;
- 5-gear adjustable handle with a customizable handle length;
- Wide-diameter, wear-resistant anti-skid wheels;
- Made of excellent quality materials;
- Reasonably priced.
A bit difficult to assemble.
5. Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR 11″ 5-Ah Cordless Snow Shovel – Best Battery-Powered Industrial Snow Shovels
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The Snow Joe SS11-XR model is a handy and hard-working cordless snow shovel by a trusted brand. You can safely use it on the snow of every size and density, and its powerful lithium-ion battery guarantees a run time of about 22-25 minutes per charge. Last winter, I tried it on my friend’s driveway, and I can honestly say it is the quietest of all battery-operated shovels I have seen.
The Snow Joe shovel packs a nice punch, and I recommend it to homeowners looking to invest in a handy, lightweight, and powerful tool that can easily remove snow up to 7” deep without putting too much strain on the user’s wrists or backs.
- Quiet operation;
- Clears up well over 1,500 lbs. per a single charge;
- Ergonomic, lightweight, well-balanced design;
- Cost-effective model.
- The handle is too short.
Best Commercial Snow Shovel Buyer’s Guide
Now that you know which 5 models are the best in their respective categories, here is some more buying advice to make your shovel-shopping spree a breeze.
What factors are important when choosing a commercial snow shovel?
There are books about picking a good shovel for scooping up, tossing, and pushing snow, so summarizing it all in a few sentences is simply impossible. Still, in this section, I will try to stress the most relevant factors to consider when shopping for a commercial snow shovel:
- Weight: an ideal handheld snow shovel weight is 3-7 lbs. – anything beyond that will be too heavy to hold up for a long time.
- Length: a handy snow shovel should be elbow height or even reach your chest when upright.
- Handle type: a D-shaped handle is optimal for handheld snow shovels as it helps keep the wrist neutral while balancing the snow on the shovel.
How to choose the right commercial snow shovel for your needs?
In the past years, the industry of snow-clearing equipment has seen a lot of modernization, with shovel technology being at the frontier of that change. While these innovations can be a true blessing, they also mean that finding an ideal commercial snow shovel has become a much more challenging task.
Here are the 3 essential tips to keep in mind when shopping for the right snow shovel in 2022:
1. Always test it before you purchase it
It might feel awkward to playact shoveling snow inside a snow-free hardware store, but you must try the instrument you plan to buy to ensure it is right for you. Grab a firm hold of each shovel you are considering and make the same motions you would perform if you were shoveling snow in your driveway. The perfect shovel model must be just the right weight, easy to maneuver, comfortable to hold, and not too short to prevent your back from hunching over.
2. Make sure the blade design fits the intended purpose
As far as shovel blades are concerned, there are 2 aspects to consider. The first is the shape, and the other is the material. If you know you’ll do a lot of regular, heavy-duty cleaning in your driveway, then a plastic snow pusher-style shovel is what you need. However, for occasionally handling deep piles of snow after a heavy storm, a shovel with a flat metal blade will make for a more sensible buy.
3. Pick the handle length carefully
Picking a shovel of the wrong length might not sound like too big a deal, but it can actually be detrimental to your health and add to your back problems. Not only will it be uncomfortable to hold, but also the weight will be distributed improperly, which means more strain put on your body parts that should not be affected.
FAQ About Commercial Snow Shovels
A snow shovel is a critical item in your tool shed, so no wonder you have plenty of questions when purchasing one. Let me see if I can answer some of these below.
What kind of shovel is best for snow?
It all comes down to your specific requirements and budget. If your priority is durability and versatility, go for a steel or plastic shovel; if you seek ease of operation – opt for a wheeled model, and if you care about your time and are willing to splurge a little, an electric shovel is your pick.
What is the difference between a snow shovel and a snow pusher?
A typical snow pusher comes with a longer, narrow-curved blade making it a perfect snow removal tool for clearing large driveways with a lot of maneuvering space. The blade design is usually flat and rectangular, just what you need for scooping up and tossing snow from small walkways.
Are electric shovels worth it?
It depends on how big your yard and driveway areas are and how often you plan to exploit the equipment. While electric shovels manage many labor-intensive tasks faster than regular snow shovels, they are traditionally less powerful than snowblowers. Therefore, if you are willing to spend a little more, you might want to consider buying the latter instead.
Invest in a Professional Shovel Now – Reap the Benefits in Winter!
From personal experience, I know that clearing sidewalks and driveways after a heavy snowfall can be a daunting task that can result in your back hating you forever. With the SnowPlow 36” 50536 Snow Pusher, however, it shouldn’t be a problem anymore.
This versatile model can easily cope with snowed-over areas of any size, and – costing just a little over $100 – this durable and ergonomic snow pusher will serve you well for years to come.
Leave a comment below to let me know if this guide was helpful, and feel free to share your own snow-clearing tips and tricks!
