The Best Snow Shovel Mountaineering: Best Choices For Shopping In 2024

Scott Nelson By, Scott Nelson
Updated
Best Snow Shovel Mountaineering
Best Snow Shovel Mountaineering

Our Top Picks

1. Best Of The Best: Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV20 20-in Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel

The Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV20 is made from impact resistant blade, comfortable ergonomic handle grips, and a design that improves posture and reduces the need to bend. The durable and comfortable design improves posture and reduces the need to bend. This lightweight snow shovel also comes with a D-ring handle grip for easy and efficient use. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: RHINO USA Folding Survival Shovel w/Pick - Heavy Duty Carbon Steel

This military style folding survival shovel from RHINO USA is perfect for camping, hiking, backpacking or emergency kits. Made of tough carbon steel and it has a sharp saw tooth on one side and a pick ax on the other. It's the perfect tool to help you dig out a car trapped in snow or ice. Read Review

3. Best Design: LIFELINE Aluminum Sport Utility Shovel, 3 Piece Collapsible Design

Be prepared for any weather condition with the lightweight and durable LIFELINE Aluminum Sport Utility Shovel. You'll never know what adverse weather conditions you may run into, so it's important to have a durable and sturdy shovel on hand that can withstand any amount of weight while also being collapsible. No one wants to be caught unprepared when Mother Nature throws her worst at you. Read Review

4. Best Style: 34” Folding Emergency Snow Shovel – Rugged Compact Tool for Car

This compact, light-weight emergency snow shovel is designed with a telescopic fiberglass handle and a rugged steel blade that can easily be folded for easy transport and storage. Whether you’re traveling in the car, snow camping or enjoying outdoor activities in winter, our emergency snow shovel is the perfect tool you need to help prepare for winter. Read Review

Snow shoveling can pose a big challenge, especially in the mountains. The snow is icy cold and it’s almost impossible to dig out your steps with bare hands. With a little bit of forethought and planning though, you can make this job way easier. Before getting into the specifics of how to use a snow shovel in the backcountry, let’s look at why you should mount it instead of carrying it.

First things first: A good snow shovel is worth its weight in gold. It makes clearing even the deepest and most stubborn piles of snow a lot faster and easier. Because of this, it’s essential to have one along with you whenever you venture out into the backcountry for an extended period of time. In order to help you figure out which kind is right for you, we’ve rounded up some of the best options on the market today, so read on to learn more!

You are strongly encouraged to pay close attention to the Snow Joe Shovelution SJ-SHLV20 20-in Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel as our top product. Or you can check the RHINO USA Folding Survival Shovel w/Pick - Heavy Duty Carbon Steel as the other great option, even if the first option didn't meet all of your requirements.

Our Top Picks

  • [SPRING-ASSIST]: handle acts as a fulcrum that changes the mechanics of shoveling along with reducing strain
  • [WIDE BLADE]: 20 in. Shovel blade with aluminum wear strip
  • [COMFORTABLE]: With ergonomic D-Ring handle grips and design that improves posture and reduces the need to bend
  • [DURABLE]: Impact resistant blade
TOP Choice #2 RHINO USA Folding Survival Shovel w/Pick - Heavy Duty Carbon Steel
Our Score:
9.6
Rhino USA
  • Compact & Portable - Full 23" Long Extended but only 9" x 6" when Folded into Included Carry Case.
  • Folding Survival Shovel W/ Pick - Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Military Style Entrenching Tool for Off Road, Camping, Gardening, Beach, Digging Dirt, Sand, Mud & Snow
  • Support A Small Family Co. - Buy From a Father/Son Business in California
  • Military Style E-Tool - 2lbs of Powder Coated Carbon Steel, Tough Pickax & Sharp Rugged Saw Teeth.
  • Multi-Functional - Shovels = Great Garden Tools, Backpacking Gear and Metal Detector Accessories.
  • 3 PIECE COLLAPSIBLE DESIGN: Breaks down to 3 pieces making it easy to store and carry
  • LIGHTWEIGHT: Constructed of durable high-quality light aluminum weighing 1.3 lbs.
  • ADJUSTABLE: Shovel can adjust from 21” to 26” to 32”
  • BE PREPARED: You'll never know what adverse weather conditions you may run into
  • READY FOR WINTER: winter preparation is very important when it comes to traveling during the snowy months. A reliable and lightweight snow shovel is a must whether you’re driving to work, snow camping or snowmobiling in the back country. Our snow shovel is the perfect tool for all your winter wonderland adventures or emergencies
  • COMPACT SMALL EMERGENCY SNOW SHOVEL. DIMENSIONS: Extended Dimensions: 9" Width x 34.25" Length x 2.4" Height; Compact Dimensions: 9" Width x 22" Length x 2" Height; Weight: 2 lbs. PATENT PENDING
  • LIGHTWEIGHT & HEAVY DUTY: the lightweight aluminum construction allows you to easily maneuver the shovel when shoveling snow, dirt, mud, sand, etc. It also makes it the perfect shovel to carry when camping, back packing or snowmobiling. Designed with high quality aluminum ensuring you have a heavy duty shovel no matter what
  • MULTI-FUNCTIONAL USE: our snow shovel is great for shoveling snow but also works great with other natural elements including sand, dirt, mud, mulch, etc. It’s the perfect tool to take 4-wheeling, backpacking or camping during the spring and summer months.
  • COMPACT & COMFORTABLE: innovative folding design allows the shovel to quickly and easily collapse so you can attach to a backpack or stow away in your car, SUV, RV, truck, ATV, UTV or snowmobile. Easily packable for backcountry skiers or snowboarders.The shaft of the shovel extends to give you extra leverage while the rubber, textured handle gives you extra grip
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Heavy duty resin plastic construction is resistant to fading, durable, and easy to maintain
  • 52" TOTAL LENGTH: Measures 52" long to provide plenty of leverage for clearing snow and ice
  • SNOW SHOVEL WITH 18" BLADE: Features an efficient design to effectively clear your driveway, sidewalk, steps, and pathways of snow and ice
  • ERGONOMIC HANDLE: Ergonomic D-grip and curved 40" steel handle provide increased stability to make shoveling easier and more comfortable during repetitive use
  • ANGLED CHANNELS: Angled rib pattern on the pusher-style blade efficiently collects snow for more convenient shoveling
  • READY FOR WINTER: winter preparation is very important when it comes to traveling during the snowy months. A reliable and lightweight snow shovel is a must whether you’re driving to work, snow camping or snowmobiling in the back country. Our snow shovel is the perfect tool for all your winter wonderland adventures or emergencies
  • WEIGHT: 2 lbs.
  • 2-PACK
  • COMPACT SMALL EMERGENCY SNOW SHOVEL
  • PATENT PENDING
  • LIGHTWEIGHT & HEAVY DUTY: the lightweight aluminum construction allows you to easily maneuver the shovel when shoveling snow, dirt, mud, sand, etc. It also makes it the perfect shovel to carry when camping, back packing or snowmobiling. Designed with high quality aluminum ensuring you have a heavy duty shovel no matter what
  • COMPACT & COMFORTABLE: innovative folding design allows the shovel to quickly and easily collapse so you can attach to a backpack or stow away in your car, SUV, RV, truck, ATV, UTV or snowmobile. Easily packable for backcountry skiers or snowboarders.The shaft of the shovel extends to give you extra leverage while the rubber, textured handle gives you extra grip
  • DIMENSIONS: Extended Dimensions: 9" Width x 34.25" Length x 2.4" Height; Compact Dimensions: 9" Width x 22" Length x 2" Height
  • MULTI-FUNCTIONAL USE: our snow shovel is great for shoveling snow but also works great with other natural elements including sand, dirt, mud, mulch, etc. It’s the perfect tool to take 4-wheeling, backpacking or camping during the spring and summer months.
  • DURABLE: 2-blade high-impact, low-temperature paddle auger throws snow up to 20 feet and cuts a 11 in. X 7 in. Path
  • ION plus 24-VOLT BATTERY SYSTEM COMPATIBLE: Includes 24V iON plus 4.0 Ah rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 22 minutes of whisper-quiet runtime
  • Questions, Text 563563 to chat directly with a Snow Joe expert
  • ERGONOMIC: Lightweight design (Only 11.7 lbs.) with adjustable back-saving handle
  • POWERFUL: 400 W motor moves up to 1,620 lbs. of snow per charge
  • WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED.: Your new snow blower is backed by the Snow Joe plus Sun Joe Customer Promise. We will warrant new powered products for two years from the date of purchase.
  • ▶WINTER PREPARATION: Whether you are embarking on a wilderness adventure or preparing for emergency situations, add this snow shovel to your list of winter weather driving preparation accessories.
  • ▶GANURANTEEDG: REDCAMP offers a 365-day limited manufacturer warranty. If you're not satisfied for any reason, please contact us immediately and we will give you a reply within 24 hours
  • ▶THREE HEIGHTS ADJUSTABLE: The ergonomically designed shovel head measuring at 11'' x 8.3''/28cmx21cm ensures a larger digging volume while the adjustable handle can be modified to lengths between 22.4''/57cm and 33.5''/85cm to accommodate a variety of users!
  • ▶ALUMINUM COLLAPSIBLE SHOVEL: This sturdy sport utility shovel with metal build is superior to plastic when trying to clear mixed snow ice and wet snow. And it can break down into three pieces for easy storage. Unfolding size: 33.5''x8.3''/85cmx21cm. Folding size: 9''x14''/23cmx40cm.
  • ▶MULTI-USE: This lightweight utility shovel is perfect for car, camping, other outdoor activities and emergency use, like slicing snow and great for kids. It comes apart, which makes it convenient to keep in the trunk and easily stored. Weight: 1.27LBS/577g.
  • COMPACT AND CONVENIENT - The fast telescoping and folding design makes the most compact emergency shovel. It takes no space of the trunk or garage and can be easily attached to your backpack, ATV, SUV, snowmobile, etc. The large ergonomic D handle with GRID feature provides firm and comfortable grip.
  • SNOWPRO WARRANTY - Brewin SnowPro backs its snow removal tools with a 1-year warranty for worry-free purchase. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions when you are assembling or using our shovels.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT AND BUILT TO LAST - The SnowPro snow shovel is crafted from lightweight aluminum alloy and stainless steel fasteners with anti-corrosion anodizing surface treatment, which allows our emergency shovel last for years. The thickened aluminum shaft with unique teardrop-shaped cross section ensures the exceptional sturdiness & strength of our portable avalanche shovel.
  • KID’S FAVORITE - Extended dimensions: 8.75” Width x 34” Length x 5.5” Height, folded dimensions: 8.75” Width x 22” Length x 2” Height. Weight 1.6Lbs. Sometimes the kids need a real tool, not a toy. Thanks to the compact size and lightweight, our collapsible shovel can be a great choice for the kids’ outdoor activities.
  • DEFINITION OF VERSATILITY - Our heavy-duty constructed utility shovel is great for shoveling not only snow but also dirt, mud, sand, etc. This emergency shovel will always help you out of trouble when you are driving, backpacking, camping or snowmobiling. The SnowPro backcountry shovel is your best mate of outdoor activities.

Things To Look For When Buying best snow shovel mountaineering

There are numerous factors to consider when looking for the best snow shovel mountaineering to purchase. The easiest way to figure out the right one is to read reviews from people who have already purchased it.

Throughout this article, we will go over certain most important factors to consider when purchasing best snow shovel mountaineering. Please take your time reading and studying the items listed below!

Shaft Type

When shopping for a snow shovel, you should consider the type of shaft. Straight shafts are best for throwing, lifting and carrying snow. These shafts are useful for cutting thin ice or clearing snow.

For pushing snow, curved shafts work better. Curved shafts are better for pushing snow. You won't have to bend as far, which allows your arms and legs to do the work. However, this shaft is not ideal for throwing or lifting snow.

Handle Features

Straight handles are common on snow shovels. It is essential to learn how to grip them properly in order not strain your fingers. You can shovel safely by placing one hand close to the blade and the other on the grip. Many snow shovels have ergonomic handles that are designed to reduce your tendency to lift your body with your hands.
An additional "assist handle" can be added to the blade to improve leverage and lift power. They can provide a great boost to children and adults with poor backs. However, they are also very useful for everyone who needs a better shovel.
To reduce hand fatigue, some handles have foam padding. D-grip handles are found on many models. They look like the letter D.

Wheels And Maneuverability

If you have heavy snowfalls, or large areas to plough, it is worth looking into a snowplower that has wheels. A wheeled snowplower is a more efficient option than snow blowers. It doesn't require fuel, maintenance or any other upkeep. It is easier to move and drop larger amounts of snow with the wheels. The blade can be made from steel, which will increase strength, stability, weight, and durability.

Snow Shovel Types

You can choose from three types of snow shovels. Knowing the difference between each type will help you make the right decision about which one is best for your driveway.

Traditional snow shovels have straight shafts made of plastic or wood. For shovels that are buried under snow, the blade is rectangular and has a steep slope. Traditional snow shovel blades are typically made of plastic. But, metal can also be used.

These shovels can be used to push the snow. This shovel is ideal for quickly removing heavy snow. Push shovels work best on walkways or driveways. But, they can prove difficult with frozen snow and heavy packing snow.

These shovels can be used for shoveling, lifting, or throwing snow. They have wider blades than traditional shovels, which means that they are more flexible and can bend to a greater extent. It's best to have a combination shovel if there is only one shovel.

Materials

Snow shovel blades need to be strong and lightweight. Both have their pros and disadvantages. For clearing ice or hard-packed snow, a steel or aluminum shovel blade works best because they are lighter but very strong and have sharper edges. But, metal blades may scratch wood and stone. Plastic blades are ideal for these situations and light-to medium snow. Most sturdy handles can be made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass or wood.

Blade Design

There are basically three kinds of driveway and walkway snow shovels. This is largely due to differences in blade design.

Traditional shovels have a rectangular, flat edge that measures 18-24 inches. Pushers, however, have a longer, narrower and more curving blade.
The snow clearing process is much faster with pushers than it takes to clear driveways. The traditional shovel works better in walkways than the smaller, more difficult areas where a push snow shovel might have difficulty maneuvering.
Combination shovels have a wider and more curvy blade that a standard shovel. They can be used for scooping up snow or moving it away. Push shovels or combos work faster for large driveways.

FAQs

Is A Metal Or A Plastic Snow Shovel Better?

A plastic snow shovel works well in most situations. These shovels are lightweight and affordable. They can also be durable enough to withstand the most severe storms, provided you get a quality one.

How Do You Shovel Snow?

You can avoid injuries by learning how to shovel. Keep your knees bent and use your legs to lift the shovel. If you hold onto the edge of the blade with your fingers, it will be easier to lift snow from your back by keeping the shovel in close proximity. To work differently muscles, it's a smart idea to alternate between the left- and right-handed stances. You don't always need the whole shovel. Reduce the amount of weight you are carrying by tossing only half of it. You are more likely to get injured, even though it will take longer.

Are Electric Snow Shovels Any Good?

While electric snow shovels are useful, they shouldn't be used as a replacement for traditional shovels. It is not a wise idea to depend solely on electronic parts in winter. We recommend having a regular shovel along with an electric one.
However, an electric shovel can still be useful for clearing out non-essential parts of your property. They are often used for decks, porches, and driveways. Snowblowers and shovels can be used for walkways.
An electric snow shovel can be a great option for older family members. The shovels are a great way for elderly relatives to still help in snow removal, without having to do all the heavy lifting or pushing. It is easy to limit the work load due to its short running time of 20 to 45 minutes.

How Can You Keep Snow From Sticking To The Snow Shovel?

When snow is on the shovel it can become stuck. This makes it more difficult to pick up new loads or throw away. You can use vegetable oil or spray on the shovel's blade to stop snow sticking to it. You will get a layer of protection that keeps the snow from sticking to your shovel.

How Do You Shovel Frozen Snow?

Once snow has fallen and accumulated on the ground it will melt beneath the snow. The top can then freeze once the sun sets. A deicing solution can help you break down and remove snow that has frozen. These products reduce the melting point of ice which allows for easier movement and frees up frozen snow. For extra traction, you can add salt to the ground or cat litter at your feet.

Are Ergonomically Designed Snow Shovels Better?

These snow shovels have been ergonomically designed. Snow shoveling is a difficult task. Each winter thousands of people are injured by skipping the job. These ergonomically-designed options can be used to reduce strain and increase the efficiency of snow removal.
Although some shovels are not ergonomic, others may be needed for particular tasks. This is a case where you need to be cautious.

Conclusion

The best snow shovel mountaineering would be those who suit your needs and demands at the lowest possible cost. With more and more options available, it could be simple to find a design that satisfies all of these criteria. If you're not sure which one is best for you, take into account the 18" Poly Snow Shovel with 37" Steel Handle for another option.


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About Scott Nelson

Scott Nelson

Scott Nelson is a freelance writer who specializes in camping and wildlife topics for CampFireHQ. He has written for several outdoor magazines and websites, and he enjoys nothing more than spending a weekend in the woods with his family. Scott is an experienced camper and backpacker, and he has also spent considerable time studying the behavior of bears and other large mammals.

Read Scott's full bio