Lifeline Aluminum Utility Shovel

It depends on what kind of snow you are trying to move.

For example, in many parts of California, we get Sierra Cement. It comes down in flakes and then consolidates rather quickly. Then it becomes solid and impossible to move without John Deere. I got shoveled out of avalanche debris one time with a Lifelink shovel.

I've been in Utah snow that stayed powdery for three weeks after it fell. A metal grain scoop works good.

Different snow takes different shovels.

–B.G.–

As an avy trained ski partoiller I can tell you categorically that you should ONLY use a shovel with a metal blade (& metal handle).

Plastic shovels will bend and fail in avy debris snow or "Sierra Cement". This includes the "claw" type hand scoops.

In a "gilding the lily" or perhaps OCD category, akin to honing a fire-fighting axe and then placing masking tape over the edge so as not to slice oneself prior to use:

You can put a glide wax or "maxi glide" spray or liquid on a snow shovel to reduce friction and avoid ice sticking to the blade during transport.

More commonly, I do that on my ski bases and *especially* cargo sled bases to avoid the drag of an icy bottom that forms while atop the car.

I can't find the link now but there were reports of these breaking during avalanche classes circulating on facebook this winter so I probably wouldn't want to use it for my only shovel or far from the road but could be fine for light use/outfitting groups of kids to go snow caving in the spring near the car.

A voile or g3 shovel made from 6061 T6 aluminum* can be had online for $30-50 and will take all of the abuse you can throw at it.

*Here are some test results in avalanche derbies which are probably much harder then snow compacted for making blocks for shelters etc but show that 6061 T6 shovels are the way to go.

http://www.avalanche.ca/adx/aspx/adxGetMedia.aspx?DocID=5c956bbb-c147-4aed-a002-6b5c1fb66a0e&MediaID=86e068df-da99-4cc0-b686-c7364959c174&Filename=Manuel+Genswein+shovel+review.pdf

A guide friend owns one g3 for himself and one for his client friend to dig him out and convinced me to buy a g3 by standing on the blade of one. FWIW the shape of g3 blade's without a protruding "neck" makes them much easier to pack then other shovels. Voile's are great too (and may even be lighter and cheaper) but are harder to pack.