Depending on where you live, the first snowfall of the season can either be an inspiring, romantic event, or it can be an extremely unwelcome sign of long months of inclement weather to come. Regardless of your emotional response, there's one thing you'll definitely have to do when you feel the soft melt of early flurries on your brow: that's right, it's time to break out those snow shovels. Unfortunately, depending on how much has fallen, shoveling your space can be difficult and potentially dangerous work. From pulled backs and torn ligaments to heart strain, there's a host of potential problems that may arise when you have to face the seemingly infinite white landscape of your driveway. That's why we recommend being prepared long before the first flakes fall. We've dug our way through the reviews and cleared out a path to the five best shovels available today. Snow Joe Shovelution Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel Spring Away the StrainThis cleverly designed steel-bladed snow shovel by Snow Joe features a spring-loaded handle to quickly clear out snow without straining your back.Best OverallFind on Amazon Anyone who lives in a region that gets more than one blizzard a year knows that when it comes to effectively shoveling your driveway and patio, getting an early start is key. Yes, you may be heading out to shovel several times a night, but at least you’ll actually be able to leave the house the next morning. And while clearing out light snow seems like an easy task, we guarantee that on the third or fourth trip out in the evening, your back will be saying otherwise. Bending up and down and flinging snow out with enough heft so it doesn’t stick to the blade is a straining move to repeat over and over again while out in the cold. That’s why the ingenious engineers at Snow Joe designed this shovel with a second spring-loaded handle that heaves the snow out of the shovel without hurting your lower back. While it won’t help you much against icy, heavily packed snow, this shovel will be your go-to tool for lighter snowfalls, be they dry or wet. Pros: 18″ Shatter-resistant polypropylene blade 2-year warranty Cons: Hard to use if you are very tall (over 6′) Metal edge can get caught on the ground Hopkins SubZero Auto Emergency Snow Shovel Travel Without TroubleThe Hopkins SubZero Auto Emergency Snow Shovel is a must-have item for those unexpected moments on the go.Best to Keep in the CarFind on Amazon No matter how many times we check the weather app on our phones, convinced that we definitely don’t need an umbrella today (because there’s no way the weather app can be wrong so close to the start of that special event), the reality is that sometimes, we still get soaked. And while ruining our suede shoes is one thing, coming out of work to find our cars hopelessly stuck in a blizzard that just passed by is another. This emergency snow shovel from Hopkins was designed precisely for those latter situations. Lightweight and compact for easy stowing in your trunk or backseat, this little lifesaver has an easy-to-maneuver plastic blade that will help you dig your tires out quickly and efficiently so you don’t catch a cold. And while the SubZero shovel isn’t specifically designed for icy, heavy snow, it’s still capable of delivering surprising results in some tempestuous situations. Pros: Lightweight (1.2 lb) 9.5″-wide plastic blade D-shaped handle with soft grip Extendable to 37″ Cons: Handle can come loose Can’t hold too much snow in one load True Temper Poly Snow Shovel For Comfortable ClearingThis ergonomically-designed shovel is curved to assist you in pushing away even the thickest piles of snow.Most ErgonomicFind on Amazon If you’ve been keeping tabs on snow shovel design trends in the past few years (ok, we haven’t been following them that closely either), you may have noticed the growing market popularity of the bent handle. We agree that on first glance, the look of the shovel makes one wonder if there was an accident somewhere along the production line, but believe us when we say that this curve serves a very particular purpose. And that purpose is a hot buzzword of the modern era: “ergonomics.” An ergonomic object basically means that it is designed to be efficient and comfortably used for its intended function. So in the case of bent-handle shovels, the design makes it so that when you push the shovel, biomechanical stress is kept away from your lower back. If you’re clearing away a lot of snow often, a shovel with this design may be the perfect one to ensure your back stays pain-free. Do note, though, that this particular design makes lifting full loads harder, so keep this in mind when thinking about what kind of shoveling you tend to perform. Pros: 18″ plastic blade Nylon wear strip to prevent against scratching of surfaces Oversized D-grip to accommodate gloves Cons: Not effective against ice Harder to lift heavy piles Garant True-Temper High Capacity Sleigh Shovel Shove More Snow SafelyMove large piles of snow faster and with less back strain with this ergonomic, large-bladed sleigh shovel from Garant.Best for Deep SnowFind on Amazon Shoveling snow takes effort – between all the bending and heaving, it’s no wonder that we often come back from a quick driveway clean-up sweaty and panting, no matter how light the snowfall may be. But what if we told you that clearing your flurried surfaces could be as easy as pushing a shopping cart? The Garant True-Temper High Capacity Sleigh Shovel can make the shoveling experience as light and pleasant as moving about your local supermarket. Customers of all shapes, sizes, and ages love this particular shovel because it allows them to swiftly scoop and shove large piles of snow faster and with less strain on the wrist and back than traditional designs that require lifting and heaving. From the long, easy-to-use handle to the large bucket size that lightens the load of even the heaviest snow piles, this sleigh shovel lets you push the snow away from your high-access areas in no time. Blizzards, beware. Pros: 23.5″ blade length Steel edge wear on the blade 45-liter snow capacity Ergonomically bent Cons: Higher price point Wet snow may be harder to move Emsco Group Bigfoot Children’s Snow Shovel Not Just Kidding AroundTurn an annoying chore into a great bonding experience. Your kids will love shoveling by your side with this specially-designed snow shovel just for them.Best for KidsFind on Amazon Every mom knows that when you’re washing dishes or sorting laundry, it seems like your toddlers just can’t get enough of “helping” you, but then when you assign them the same tasks as a teenager, suddenly all desire to participate disappears. And while we can’t do anything to change this little bit of irony, we can harness those early moments while our little ones are still young. Shoveling snow may seem like an absolutely frustrating activity for the parents, but kids love it – and for good reason. They get to put their snowsuits on, grab their big-kid shovel, and basically spend their time romping about whilst occasionally scooping a pile here and there. But just because they aren’t particularly helpful in the long run doesn’t mean there’s no benefit to the exercise. Involving your children in chores such as this is a great way to teach responsibility while also spending quality time together, and this kids snow shovel by the Emsco Group allows you to do both. Lightweight and plastic for both ease of handling and safety, the Bigfoot Children’s Snow Shovel is surprisingly sturdy for its small size. And after you work up a good sweat together, you can enjoy a steaming hot chocolate knowing that everyone participated in a job well done. Pros: Safe non-metal composition Lightweight (1 lb) Non-stick plastic blade Great cost value Cons: Not meant for more heavily packed snow Frequently Asked Questions What’s the proper way to shovel snow to reduce back strain? Though we know that you just want to get the job done and return to your hot cup of tea, rushing the process will actually do much more harm than good – even if you do feel like you’re saving time. Take a few moments to stretch your muscles before heading out there, and dress in warm layers. When you heave piles of snow, make sure to bend your knees, lift with your legs, and keep the blade close to you to lessen lower back strain. Switch between your left hand and right hand when shoveling to work different muscles; likewise, switch up your grip on the handle from palm under to over every so often. Lastly, if there’s a lot of snow, clear the top layers first before doing the bottom so you’re not doing too much heavy lifting. Should I just save myself all this hassle and get a snow blower? This is entirely up to you, but we promise that shoveling snow isn’t that bad when you do it properly and have good equipment. A snow blower is a worthwhile investment (definitely a much pricier investment than the man-powered techniques we listed above) only if you live in an area that gets snowed in all the time, or if you have a large surface area to clear every time it does. Also, snowblowers take up more storage space than your average shovel and also require fuel and maintenance. But still, some households prefer a quick (albeit noisy) snow-removal process. We just recommend making the decision when you’re back inside rather than when you’re huffing and puffing with your brand new shovel, as your judgment may be a bit flurried. Related posts:Powered by SearchIQ The Best Snow Boots For Dogs Read more The Best Dog Deshedding Tools Read more The Best Dog Strollers Read more