When the snow begins to pile up, owning the right shovel becomes essential. Did you know that the materials in your shovel directly influence its performance and durability, as well as your comfort? Here’s how to make the right choice for effective snow removal this winter.
1. The Blade: The Centre of the Action
The blade is the component that comes into direct contact with the snow. Its size and material determine the way you push, lift, and slice the snow.
Plastic Blades
Plastic shovels are known for their manoeuvrability and lightness. They reduce fatigue, facilitate rapid movements, and help you clear snow more comfortably.
The natural flexibility of plastic also helps absorb shocks when the shovel hits an obstacle, like the curb or an uneven surface. Rather than transmitting the full impact to the handle and your arms, the blade flexes slightly, making it smoother and more comfortable to use.
In addition to being lightweight and corrosion-resistant, plastic blades stand out for their smooth surface, thus reducing the adhesion of snow and ice. The natural glide makes clearing easier and improves the efficiency of each movement.
Various Types of Plastic:
- Polyethylene (PE)
Most of our plastic consumer models are made of polyethylene (the famous “poly shovels”). These high-performance shovels are flexible and durable, even in very cold weather. They offer good cracking resistance and can be coloured to enhance visibility.
- Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene is stiffer and around 30% stronger than PE. It is ideal for intensive use and is available through the Garant Pro range.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
This material is lightweight but brittle in cold weather. Currently, it is rarely used in high-quality products. Garant does not offer any shovels with PVC blades.
Metal Blade
Metal shovels are known for their strength and durability. They are particularly effective when scraping compacted snow and breaking ice; here, plastic models tend to reach their limit.
- Aluminum
Lighter than steel, aluminum is easy to handle and corrosion-resistant. It is perfect when scraping hard snow. A word of caution: aluminum can bend under excessive pressure.
- Steel
Steel is the strongest and most durable of materials. Its weight can break the ice and scrape all the way down to the concrete. However, steel blades require more effort and must be protected against corrosion.
In a nutshell:
Plastic shovels are lightweight, affordable, and perfect for everyday snow removal. Polyethylene is well-suited for regular residential use, while polypropylene offers superior strength for more intensive use. Their manoeuvrability and variety of colours make them a practical choice for most needs.
For more demanding conditions, metal blades remain the best option. Aluminum offers a good balance between performance and lightness, while steel stands out for its strength and durability. These blades excel at scraping compacted or icy snow, where plastic models tend to reach their limit.
2. The Wear Strip: A Detail That Makes All the Difference
Attached to the underside of the plastic blade, this metal strip protects the shovel from direct friction with the ground. It reduces wear, improves scraping, and extends the life of the shovel.
Without a wear strip, the shovel wears out faster and loses efficiency over the course of many winters. For optimal performance on hard surfaces, wear strips are a must-have.
3. The Handle: Where Comfort Is Key
The handle plays a key role in posture and comfort, as well as in the shovel’s durability. It helps you control your movements, it reduces fatigue, and it prevents unnecessary strain when clearing snow. Its material and shape directly influence the sensation in your hand, as well as the tool’s durability.
- Wooden Handles
Wooden handles are warm, vibration absorbent, and comfortable with or without gloves.
Hard woods like ash, hickory, and maple are the most durable.
Soft woods like pine or poplar are less sturdy and do not last as long.
- Aluminum Handles
Aluminum is lightweight, easy to handle, and corrosion-resistant. It is ideal for long periods of shovelling. It can become very cold to the touch, which is why insulated sleeves have been added to several models. Aluminum that is too thin can become deformed during very intensive use.
- Polyethylene-Coated Steel Handles
The strength of steel is combined with the comfort of polyethylene.
It is impact and corrosion resistant and provides more comfort in cold weather.
- Fibreglass Handles
Fibreglass is strong, stable, and resistant to humidity and temperature variations.
It will not crack or rust and remains effective season after season.
In a nutshell:
Each type of handle offers a different feel and level of durability.
Wood remains a comfortable and warm classic that absorbs vibrations well, especially when made from hard woods like ash, hickory, and maple. Fibreglass stands out for its strength, stability, and weather resistance. Aluminum is lightweight and easy to handle—ideal for long periods of shovelling—while polyethylene-coated steel combines strength and comfort.
The right choice depends on its frequency of use and the effort required: wood is recommended for comfort, fibreglass for durability, aluminum for lightness, and coated steel for strength.
Choosing Well Means Investing Well
The performance of a snow shovel does not depend on a single factor, but on the right balance between the blade, the wear strip, and the handle. Each component plays a specific role in comfort, durability, and efficiency.
- The blade depends on the type of snow.
- The wear strip extends the lifespan.
- The handle determines posture, control, and endurance.
At Garant, every shovel is built to last, adding efficiency and comfort to every movement.
To find out which type of shovel is best for you, consult the article: Digging Deep: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right Shovel for Your Needs.