Oh! What a chore shoveling snow can be.
When it comes to snow shoveling, I can safely say I haven't had much experience in that department. I've always lived in Tyler, and it usually doesn't snow a crazy amount here. But 2021 was different; there was a lot of snow that was pretty unusual for East Texas.
The snow was so deep one day that my husband couldn't go to work. Anyway, we decided to invest in a brand new snow shovel in case the upcoming winter is just as snowy. I searched for shovel options, but the recurring comments were complaints from tall people not being able to use them.
So, I started my search for the best snow shovel for a tall person so that my husband could use it easily too. Hi! I'm Stacy, and I hope you go through this list and find the best snow shovel for you. So, without further ado, let's begin.
Top 5 Snow Shovels For Tall People
1. Snow Joe SJ-SHLV01
One of the first options I went for was the SJ-SHLV01 model by Snow Joe. This strain-reducing snow shovel is perfect for tall people as one does not need to bend to use it.
Product Highlights
First of all, I wasn't sure if I'd find any snow shovel that would be easy for my husband to use. He's pretty tall, and the previous shovels always required him to bend a little. That's when I came across this option that claimed to have an ergonomic design that reduces the pressure of lifting a heavy load.
What's more, it gives leverage while lifting to the other hand, so you don’t feel any discomfort. But the best part is the tall people-friendly design that improves posture and eliminates the need to bend. Also known as the “Shovelution,” this model reduces the effort on the muscles of the upper body.
Besides, this product has a wide 18-inch shovel blade with an aluminum wear strip which is exceptionally durable, as it resists shatters and high impact. The Snow Joe also features a spring-loaded D-ring shovel grip that makes the task of throwing and returning snow comfortable.
What's There To Like About It?
One of the first things I liked about this model was the strain-reducing solution it offers. Not only does it prevent back pain and incorrect posture, but it also reduces the chances of injury.
We won't need the shovel throughout the year where I live, so it's essential for me to know that it can be stored securely. To store it, all you need to do is make a loop with the retaining strap around the spring-loaded handle. Then, secure the other end to the knob on the upper pole.
What's There To Not Like About It?
There is no doubt that the double handle design makes shoveling snow more effortless, and the shovel itself is pretty durable. So, I didn't have much to complain about when it came to using this product.
However, there was one aspect that I think could be improved. It works fine if you are shoveling snow on a smooth surface, but working on the pavement with cracks can be slightly tricky.
Pros and Cons of Snow Joe SJ-SHLV01
Pros
Cons
- Impact-Resistant Blade: Built with a durable, heavy-duty blade that stands up to tough jobs and resists wear, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Ergonomic Comfort: Features a D-Ring handle grip designed for maximum comfort, improved posture, and reduced need to bend, minimizing strain during use
- Spring-Assisted Design: Innovative handle acts as a fulcrum, enhancing the mechanics of shoveling while reducing stress on your back and arms
2. ErgieShovel ERG-SNSH18
The next option I decided to review was the ERG-SNSH18 model by ErgieShovel. Weighing a mere 4 pounds, this polycarbonate shovel comes with an added handle that allows you to shovel more with less effort.
Product Highlights
ErgieShovel makes various gardening products ranging from bow rake, garden hoe, leaf rake, muckrake, and push broom. But I decided to check all their products another time because I was focused on their snow shovel. Their snow shovel has a large 18-inch blade, and the overall product is pretty lightweight at 4 pounds.
This product was specially designed to give your back a break. It reduces the strength and muscle required to shovel snow. It mainly does this because of the extra-large handle that provides extra leverage. The handles have a good grip so that you can use both hands and the upper body to lift snow instead of engaging your back.
Moreover, the design is suitable for tall people. And you can even shovel more snow with lesser effort due to the 18-inch wide blade. All in all, this is a pretty good option if you want to work smarter, not harder.
What's There To Like About It?
Just like the first product, I liked this shovel since it required less effort to remove a whole lot of snow. If you use both handles and shovel sideways, you can remove thick inches of snow without bending the back too much. And that is precisely what I'm looking for in a snow shovel.
Also, anyone in the family can use it; it's that simple a product. And when you do not need the shovel for the rest of the year, you can dismantle it and store it safely.
What's There To Not Like About It?
Now, if I had to select a second-best option, I'd go for this one. That being said, it does not mean this product was free of faults. I found that this snow shovel was a bit on the flexible side, which can mean different things for different people. For some people, this flexibility might actually hinder the proper removal of snow.
Pros and Cons of ErgieShovel ERG-SNSH18
Pros
Cons
- Lightweight & Easy to Use: Weighs only 4 pounds, making it effortless to lift and handle for quick, efficient snow removal with less strain, greater ease, and improved control.
3. Emsco Group 1083
Emsco Group has a wide range of snow shoveling products. A few of them are car truck snow shovel, pusher snow shovel, combination snow shovel, and a standard snow shovel. Out of all the products, I decided to review the extra-large combination snow shovel.
Product Highlights
While searching for the best snow shovel for a tall person, I came across the 1083 model by the Emsco group. The variety of snow clearing products they offered is what piqued my interest in this brand in the first place. After evaluating all the types of products, I decided to check the largest one in further detail.
Now, it wasn't as if the other options were smaller, but this extra-large shovel is the ultimate snow removal solution. It has a hybrid blade that functions as a standard snow shovel, a scoop shovel, and a snow pusher shovel. The lightweight material makes it easy to scoop or push snow despite its larger size.
And, the poly D-grip handle is designed for optimal comfort and gives better control over the shovel. Furthermore, the lightweight material makes it easy to scoop or push snow despite its larger size. And compared to metal shovels, this lightweight shovel does not stick to the snow.
What's There To Like About It?
Emsco is a trusted brand and is the original maker of the plastic shovel. They have a complete line of snow shovels and ice scrapers that are made in the USA. When it comes to the 1083 snow shovel, I liked the massive blade that is perfect for removing snow faster.
Another thing I liked about this product was the D-grip handle, which was durable and scratch-resistant. It makes the scooping and throwing of snow effortless.
What's There To Not Like About It?
Unlike the other two handle snow shovels I reviewed earlier, this option has only one handle. That itself is not an issue because you get a firm grip even with one handle. But I felt that the plastic material might cause trouble to some people. Indeed, when I checked user comments online, they mentioned not being able to scrap well sometimes.
Pros and Cons of Emsco Group 1083
Pros
Cons
- Multi-use shovel – this Bigfoot Mega Dozer snow shovel by EMSCO is the ultimate snow removal solution. It has a hybrid blade that functions as a standard snow shovel, a scoop shovel, and a snow pusher shovel.
- Lifetime handle - the Poly d-grip handle is designed for optimal comfort, giving you finer control over the snow shovel and is for a lifetime.
- Lightweight material – make shoveling easy and convenient with this combination snow shovel. Compared to a metal shovel, this product’s blade is made of durable, lightweight polyethylene in the USA and does not stick to snow.
4. COFIT Retractable Snow Shovel
Up next, I have the perfect snow shovel for tall and short people alike. The retractable snow shovel by COFIT is your best bet if you do not like bending.
Product Highlights
Let's begin with the most impressive feature - the adjustable length of the handle. At its shortest, the length is 21 inches, and the maximum size is 42 inches. So, the good thing is you can adjust the shovel to suit your height. It's also pretty lightweight, so anyone can lift and use the product with ease.
Essentially, it is made of superior aluminum alloy, which is a sturdy material, and the connections are much more stable. I can say so with assurity because the makers have conducted thousands of tests that show pretty incredible results. Results consistently showed that this shovel could withstand 90 pounds of weight, making it strong enough for snowy weather.
Apart from that, the product is lightweight and labor-saving. With a strong build and elaborate length, it weighs less than 2 pounds, i.e.,1/3rd the weight of a steel shovel of the same size.
What's There To Like About It?
I liked that this snow shovel was treated with an advanced coating using technical methods. It has a smooth surface, is environment-friendly, and is not likely to be scrapped after use. In fact, the coating will remain intact even if you use the shovel to move sand instead of snow.
Another thing I definitely liked was the length options this shovel provided. It's an ideal feature for a family like mine with drastically different heights. This feature further allows you to detach all parts and store them.
What's There To Not Like About It?
I was pretty impressed with this option and found a couple of unique features in this product that were missing in the rest. However, I wanted to get a second opinion, so I searched for some customer reviews online. A few users claimed that the different parts snap into place easily, but they shake slightly at each connection.
Pros and Cons of COFIT Retractable Snow Shovel
Pros
Cons
- Free splicing length: The snow shovel can be spliced into 4 different lengths, 25/32/37/43 inch (65/82/93/110 cm). The merit of this splicable design is that the snow shovel for car won't stretch randomly during use making it impossible to control the length of the car snow shovel. You can get the job done without bending over or padding your feet, while the multiple assembly lengths are also suitable for people of different heights
- Metal snow shovel: The snow shovel for driveway is made of high-quality aluminum alloy material, which is thicker and resistant to pressure and falls, and the connection is more stable. The portable shovel can withstand more than 90 lbs, allowing you to easily shovel snow, soil, sand, or grains, absolutely strong enough for winter snowy weather use
- Portable: Especially lightweight and labor-saving. The winter shovel weighs only 1.78 lb/ 800 g, about 1/3 the weight of a same size steel shovel. It's detachable and max length of one piece is no more than 15". With this portable size, The compact size and light weight of this shovel makes it the ideal camping shovel or backpacking shovel, it also can fit easily into a car trunk or under a car seat
5. Radius Garden 90111
The final product I decided to review was the 90111 model by the company Radius Garden. This 18-inch lightweight shovel comes with a durable handle that allows faster removal of snow.
Product Highlights
I was about to end my search after finding the top four snow shovels for my list. But, before I could purchase one and move ahead, my curiosity got the better of me. This particular model by Radius Garden had an interesting appearance, so I had to check it out.
After reading a bit about it, I realized that this brand had released a line of snow shovels designed to reduce injury. These shovels prevent fatigue of the wrist and hands. Even people with arthritis can use this shovel easily. It achieves this due to its hybrid plow design that allows for plowing and lifting of the snow.
It would be a great disservice to talk about this product without mentioning the removable foregrip. This feature is a back-saver, especially for tall people, because it reduces the strain on the back. What's more, you can attach the shovel fore grip to other gardening items like rakes and pitchforks.
What's There To Like About It?
I didn't get a chance to mention this before, but the snow shovel blade has a polyethylene scraper at the base. This added feature leaves no scratch marks and makes it easier to remove packed snow from the ground.
One of the best things about this brand and product is that they are specially designed to reduce back pain and limit back bending. That sounded pretty good to me because I was looking for something just like this model.
What's There To Not Like About It?
Most of the aspects regarding this product were quite likable. But, as a user, it was vital for me to check for the downsides of the product before shortlisting it. I found that some people in the reviews section claimed that the handle was too flexible to be comfortable. Consequently, the flexibility hindered the easy removal of snow for some folks.
Pros and Cons of Radius Garden 90111
Pros
Cons
- Easy-to-use snow shovel with a durable polypropylene blade
- Heavy-duty, strain-reducing snow shovel with a powder-coated steel shaft
- Snow shovel with an aluminum scraper at the base of the shovel blade
Buyers Guide
Here are a few things you must consider before buying a new snow shovel-
1. Type Of Snow Shovel
Although there are plenty of tools for snow removal, snow shovels can be categorized into three main types - traditional, push, and a combination snow shovel. Traditional ones have rectangular blades not larger than 18-24 inches. This shovel is effective in smaller areas, especially where the pusher shovel cannot reach. Traditional shovels are available in almost all lengths and different materials like plastic and wood.
Push snow shovels are built differently from traditional snow shovels. They are larger in size with curved blades for plowing larger amounts of snow. The push shovel is great for removing soft snow from driveways. In fact, it removes large quantities of soft snow at once. If you need an all-purpose shovel, the combination snow shovels come in handy as they can push, lift, and toss snow.
2. Length Of Shovel
One of the more critical factors for me was shovel length. I didn't want my husband to bend much while shoveling, and since he is tall, a shorter shovel wouldn't serve the purpose. On the flip side, a very tall shovel would be inconvenient to use for a shorter person because it won't give any leverage.
Similarly, make sure to select one that matches your height; otherwise, you might have to bend for shoveling snow.
3. Blade Material
The next important aspect to consider is the blade size, material, and design. When it comes to blade materials, an ideal one should be able to remove fluffy and icy snow. But different types of blades can serve different purposes.
If you live in frigid conditions where the snow becomes hard, icy, and slushy, you should opt for a steel blade to cut through the ice. If you face light snowfall, a plastic blade should be good enough.
Plastics can be pretty strong, and they make the most common option for snow shovels. But note that plastic is not efficient in breaking and chipping ice, so you might need other options like metal and aluminum. Aluminum blades are lightweight, but they cannot perform difficult tasks like removing wet and hard snow.
4. Blade Size
Snow shovel blades come in a range of sizes, primarily between 12-30 inches, and you can select the correct size depending on your requirement. Smaller shovels are good for scooping snow, while the larger ones can effectively push heavy snow.
To keep sideways and driveways clear of snow, a shovel with a larger blade would be ideal. If you prefer to carry larger amounts of snow at once, a wider blade would be suitable.
5. Blade Design
Shovels can either scoop or plow the snow. Clearing a flat area or pavement would require the use of a plow design for the shovel. As the blade moves forward, the snow collects in the blade. Thus, the scooping design is better suited to deal with corners, smaller areas, stairs, and uneven pavement.
6. Type Of Handle
The handle can be a game-changer when it comes to something as tedious as shoveling snow. It can get pretty annoying if your hand often slips from the handle while shoveling. This is why the grip and type of handle are important.
Essentially, there are two types of shovels - straight handle shovels and curved shaft shovels. The straight-handled ones are good for lifting, copping, and tossing snow. So you should opt for this type if you'll need to cut blocks of ice.
On the other hand, the curved shaft shovel is excellent for pushing snow. It's designed to remove pressure on the lower back while pushing and reduces the need to bend excessively while shoveling.
7. Handle Material
Steel, wood, fiberglass, aluminum, and plastic can be used to construct the handle. However, aluminum and steel handles are the most durable, but they are cold to touch without gloves. Plastic handles are lightweight but tend to break when too much weight is applied to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few simple ways that will help you clear the snow quickly. The first thing to do is grab your shovel as soon as it stops snowing. The longer the snow sits on the ground, the heavier it gets. Removing soft snow is much easier than hacking away at frozen slushy ice.
One issue which is the cause of much frustration is the sticking of soft snow to the shovel. Instead of clearing the driveway, one has to repeatedly remove the snow from the shovel, which takes more time than actual shoveling.
A quick way to prevent this is by adding a lubricant to the shovel, which will allow the snow to slide down without much effort. It doesn't have to be expensive; regular cooking oil or wax would do.
My Final Recommendation
After checking several options and shortlisting five of the best snow shovels, I needed to narrow it down to one versatile product for my family. So, I chose the SJ-SHLV01 model by Snow Joe. This shovel has an ergonomic design that requires less bending for tall people and is equipped with a D-grip handle that quickens the act of shoveling.
Moreover, the next best snow shovel was the ERG-SNSH18 model by ErgieShovel. It, too, has a good grip and is designed for effortless shoveling. With that, I hope this guide helped you decide on the perfect snow shovel for you.
I’ll see you next time, happy winter!