Snow shovels come in many shapes and sizes, and the most suitable shape for a shovel depends on the job at hand. Most commonly, snow shovels are available in straight, scoop, or flat blade shapes.
The straight blade shovel is the classic shovel shape. Its straight bottom edge makes it perfect for shoveling heavy, wet snow, as the straight edge is able to make clean cuts through the snow piles. Most straight blades allow for pushing the snow, too, making it great for smaller jobs and for thin layers of light snow. The downside of this shape, however, is that the stack of snow made by the straight blade is not as compact nor as structurally strong as a stack made with a scoop or flat blade.
The scoop blade shape is the most common type of commercial snow shovel and tends to have the best build quality. This shape is great for shoveling larger amounts of snow, as it is built to carry more weight than most other shovels. The scoop’s curved blade is designed to scoop the snow up onto a pile, making it easier to move the snow. The downside of this shape is the lack of pushing ability that other shapes provide; however, it is useful for dealing with heavier, wet snow.
The flat blade shape is like a combination of the straight and scoop blades. It has a flat bottom edge, but also curves up like a scoop to gather the snow. This shape is great for moving large amounts of snow, as it provides a good mix of pushing and scooping ability. It is ideal for the user who needs to move a large amount of snow quickly, with minimal effort.
No matter what shape of snow shovel you choose, it’s important to consider the job at hand, as well as any other needs you may have. If you only need to move a small amount of light snow, a straight blade may be your best option. For heavy, wet snow, the scoop shape is probably your best bet. And if you need something in between that offers good pushing and scooping ability, the flat blade is likely to be your go-to. No matter what the job is, the right shovel can make all the difference in completing the job quickly and easily.
