As someone who has lived in Utah my entire life, and also grew up without a snow plow or snow blower, a snow shovel was and is still an essential tool come winter. Even with the luxury of an available snow blower, there are still some snow removal tasks that only some good ol’ elbow grease and a snow shovel will conquer. Like removing snow from a deck, stairs or porch, or moving particularly heavy or wet snow, something many of even the best snow blowers have issues with.
For these tasks, a snow shovel is the right tool for the job. Not all snow shovels are created equal though. Having the wrong kind of snow shovel for the job can make already laborious work even more difficult. Learning about the blade, the ergonomics of the shaft and handles, and even the weight of the shovel make a huge difference in snow removal performance.
