My experience tells me a good, metal scoop shovel with a narrow width for heavy, deep snows, and a wide, curved shovel for lighter snows, say 4" or less. I find on the wider shovels plastic is fine.

Of course the best shovel of all is that of the neighbor kids as you drink another tom and jerry and watch from the sunroom.

I look at my collection of snow shovels the same way an experienced wood-carver looks at his chisels. Different shovels for different jobs. I use a 24" plastic pusher for general clearing out. The classic metal grain shovel is for busting down the snow bank at the end of the driveway left by the snow plow. If the Eskimo have 18 words to describe the variants of snow, I have at least some of the shovels needed for the plethora of snow types we encounter each winter.

I've had terrible experience with fiberglass shafts-- they do not have enough torsional rigidity to manage heavy snow.

So now I use a big Ariens.

Ash and aluminum grain shovel. Light weight and high volume plus a great ride downhill when you are done with shoveling.

One thing I won't do again is buy one of those shovels with an "ergonomically" curved handle. The shape of the handle made it easier on my back for a while, but being plastic and flimsy, the screws started coming loose and the shovel didn't shovel any more. Those steel core shovels are the way to go.

Speaking as a snow-free sidewalk nerd, I place my ditto firmly under the aluminum grain shovel. It's as versatile as you're going to get. You can really get under the snow with one of those.
Now I even try to sweep away the snow (seriously) with a deck brush. My 90 year old firecracker of a neighbor would always beat me outside to shovel and sweep his sidewalk to bone-dry, domestic perfection, and it was making me look like a slouch so I started doing it too.

and I can't stop.

This is the dorkiest, and best, post (and comments) I've ever seen on Perfect Duluth Day. Ever.

"Torsional Rigidity"

24" steel core (with ergonomical red handle...) and beat up orange pusher.

i also have a pole chisel that i borrowed from work last spring to break up some ice dams on the sidewalk.

Hazel's currently using her trusty sand shovel and a few sand toys to play in among the mounds of snow that've appeared in our yard.

I'm really considering picking up a long handle grain shovel to add to my arsenal.

I agree this is a good post and a topical discussion, but no one is answering a key question: WHERE can you buy a good shovel? I'm in the market, too, and was thinking of trying Dan's Feed Bin.

1) Plastic with plastic handle for very light snow.

2) Wood handled aluminum grain shovel for the plowturds.

3) Just bought my first snowthrower. Single stage craftsman. I love clearing the entire block.

My entire house, yard, driveway are covered by a dome. Interior heated with a Toshiba micro nuclear plant. Brick, meet 16 ton weight.

I have fond memories of our snow scoop. Of course you wouldn't use that on your deck. Try a Hardware Hank for a good shovel.

Christopher Walken's my Weapon Of Choice

I love this post thank you very much- It isn't dorkies post ever. Well I don't think it is at least, I've read a few others that are pointless and dorkie but that is just me.

Being the oldest of 5 daughters and 'moving snow' my entire life - okay since I was 6, honestly 6, I love it all with this post. These are silly thins one wouldn't think was important but it really is. There are my 2 cents. Okay one cent.

I, to have bought my first snow thrower and it get's things done a lot faster. If you can afford one, it is the best way to go. I have a very elderly neighbor who is a widow and I can do our two driveways in under an hour. For shovels I have two fiber glass one's from Denny's Ace Hardware. They have a great selection of shovels to choose from!

Clarification:

Dorky = good

Best = best

On subject, DO NOT buy an $8 plastic shovel from Home Depot. It will last exactly two days before disintegrating.

John Deere riding mower.

Leave it to Beverly to point out that I get an F in reading comprehension.

That said, I still say what you need is a neighbor kid and another tom and jerry.

Yo-Ho
24" Poly Pusher

http://www.yo-ho.com/

I found these at L&M. Just the right angle for throwing snow off my deck. Just the right size for clearing the sidewalk. They seem to sell out early so buy extras and keep them in the garage attic. They last about three or four years before the blade starts to chip.

Flame Thrower! Works every time.

Grain hog. Definitely the best, and a shop broom for the deck.

I use a heavy plastic one. ALL plastic, including the handle. I got it cheap at menard's or something. Ours is reinforced with a metal strip along the edge (mandatory) and is decorated with black plastic from our porch fire about three years ago when I used it to shuffle burning debris onto fifth street. No one was hurt, and more to the point, the shovel has help up like a trooper.

The grain shovel is great for plow leavings, true, but it hurts the back of us long tall daddies.

I gambled last year on an electric snowthrower (Toro 1800 Power Curve), and have been pleasantly surprised. Yes, shackled by a cord, and no, not an enormous amount of power, but any snow I'm not lifting is good. And I don't come in with eau de 2-stage.

I'm thinking of sending one to my mother.

i'd be housebound & dead without my snowblower. my gnawed rotten corpse would be found sometime in april surrounded by empty pabst cans and 2 super hyper ptibulls.

Amen to the aluminum grain shovel. It is great for roof cleaning and fender boogers from your car. Plastic shovels are fine but stick to the ash handle. The blade must also have a metal edge so you can get down to the pave to avoid a rink on your doorstep, unless you want Aunt Flo to land on her head when she comes to visit for the holidays.

I'd suggest a car. Use it to get the hell out of this Nordic frickin' hellhole.

ironic1: I would never give you an F. Grades are so judgmental.
More on snow: I tried to use the snowblower, and my forearms weren't strong enough to hold down the safety levers for more than 10 minutes. Can they can be loosened? Don't make me find the owner's manual!

I love this post!

There is no substitute for the metal scoop made in West Duluth by Solem and Sons. This invention from the great white north is available at Marshall Hardware in Lakeside.

I tell you what it is $60.00 but I have no idea why I never got one untill this year.

Get the snow early and it is a piece of cake to remove or shall I say slide!!!!!!

Think and buy local!!!!Green and lean is the snow removeing machine!!!

Peace
Todd

When Mr. Calk and i moved to Duluth from a much warmer clime, where snowfall that stuck was a rarity, I told him that he would be responsible for snow removal on our property, as we moved here b/c of his job. Almost 15 years later, that rule still holds. I don't do shoveling if I can help it.

Ah.. I forgot the indispensable roof rake.