Checklist · 10 picks · 3 categories
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First apartment with a front walk? First house with a driveway?
Snow day hits different when you're the one shoveling. Start with a good shovel: Reviewed spent hours scooping, pushing and plowing to find its favorites, and Bob Vila's top pick has a second handle that saves your back. Next comes ice melt. Salt works, but it can corrode surfaces and isn't great around pets, so we added Bob Vila's salt-free and pet-friendlier picks next to its budget bag. Got a long driveway or real storms? A snow blower is the upgrade, from a cordless single-stage for small paved spots to two-stage machines for deep snow. Each card shows the drawback the testers called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you only need to dig out your car; the Winter Car Kit list has a collapsible shovel and an ice scraper for the trunk.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 30, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suncast SC3250 18-inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo | budget | $25-50 | most people and most driveways | 1 outlet |
| Snow Joe Shovelution Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel | mid | $25-50 | saving your back on heavy, wet snow | 1 outlet |
| True Temper 1627200 18-Inch Mountain Mover | budget | $25-50 | a cheap, light shovel for steps and short walks | 1 outlet |
| Manplow RevolutionX 24-Inch Snow Pusher With U Handle | mid | $50-100 | pushing packed snow off a long driveway | 1 outlet |
Best snow shovelbudget pick · 18 in blade
Best for most people and most driveways
Reviewed's best overall snow shovel: after hours of scooping, maneuvering and pushing, it's the perfect blend of versatility and comfort.
Heads up. The handle limits throwing directions, and the scoop is small
1 outlet. Reviewed best overall snow shovel.
$25-50
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mid pick · 18 in blade
Best for saving your back on heavy, wet snow
Bob Vila's best overall snow shovel: a second lift handle takes strain off your back, and Reviewed calls it a good all-purpose shovel for heavy, slushy snow or light, fluffy powder.
Heads up. The lift handle sometimes gets in the way, and the design takes some getting used to
1 outlet. Bob Vila best overall snow shovel.
$25-50
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budget pick · 18 in blade
Best for a cheap, light shovel for steps and short walks
Reviewed's best value snow shovel: simple to use, and it gets the job done.
Heads up. Backaches can happen after long sessions, and it's not great for plowing or scraping
1 outlet. Reviewed best value snow shovel.
$25-50
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Best snow pushermid pick · 24 in blade
Best for pushing packed snow off a long driveway
Bob Vila's best for packed snow: a wide U-shaped handle lets you push snow without bending over.
Heads up. Not practical for lifting snow
1 outlet. Bob Vila best for packed snow.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safe Paw Pet-Safe Salt-Free Ice Melt | mid | $25-50 | homes with dogs and new pavement | 1 outlet |
| Snow Joe Premium Enviro Blend Ice Melter With CMA | budget | $25-50 | lots of ice melt for a big driveway | 1 outlet |
| Natural Rapport The Only Pet-Safe Ice Melt You Need | mid | $25-50 | homes with pets that want Bob Vila's top pick | 1 outlet |
Best ice meltmid pick · Pick by size
Best for homes with dogs and new pavement
Bob Vila's best salt-free ice melt: noncorrosive and made to be pet-, people- and planet-friendly, and dogs played on treated areas in reviews with no problems.
Heads up. It doesn't work well in extreme cold (testers saw it melt down to 15°F, not below) and melts slower than salt
1 outlet. Bob Vila best salt-free ice melt.
$25-50
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budget pick · Bag
Best for lots of ice melt for a big driveway
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck ice melt: it did an excellent job melting ice and keeping walkways clear.
Heads up. The green dye can stain temporarily, and the sodium chloride can cause corrosion
1 outlet. Bob Vila best bang for the buck ice melt.
$25-50
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mid pick · Pick by size
Best for homes with pets that want Bob Vila's top pick
Bob Vila's best overall ice melt: it took the top award for its mix of performance and environmental friendliness.
Heads up. Needs reapplying after every snowfall
1 outlet. Bob Vila best overall ice melt.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Joe 48V 18-Inch Ionmax Single-Stage Snow Blower | budget | $300-500 | small, flat, paved driveways | 1 outlet |
| PowerSmart Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower | mid | $500+ | big driveways and the occasional huge storm | 1 outlet |
| Toro 24-Inch Power Max e24 60V Two-Stage Snow Blower | splurge | $500+ | two-stage power without gas and oil | 1 outlet |
Best snow blowerbudget pick · 18 in path
Best for small, flat, paved driveways
Bob Vila's best single-stage electric snow blower: an affordable cordless model that proved functional and consistent in a variety of conditions.
Heads up. The plastic blade may chip on hard objects
1 outlet. Bob Vila best single-stage electric snow blower.
$300-500
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mid pick · 24 in path
Best for big driveways and the occasional huge storm
Bob Vila's best bang for the buck snow blower: a self-propelled gas machine that's plenty capable of clearing the occasional big storm.
Heads up. The narrower intake means more passes, and traction drops on steep slopes and ice
1 outlet. Bob Vila best bang for the buck snow blower.
$500+
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splurge pick · 24 in path
Best for two-stage power without gas and oil
Bob Vila's best overall snow blower: a battery two-stage that doesn't need as much maintenance as a gas machine.
Heads up. Needs long battery recharging between uses
1 outlet. Bob Vila best overall snow blower.
$500+
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Bob Vila says the best time for salt is before the snow falls or after you've cleared it. Salting packed snow can help, but it isn't ideal, so shovel first.
Look for salt-free or pet-safe formulas like Safe Paw. Even then, a vet quoted by Bob Vila says eating ice melt can upset a dog's stomach, so wipe paws with a damp cloth after walks or use paw wax or booties.
Single-stage blowers clear about 18 to 21 inches and suit small, flat, paved areas, but they can throw rocks on gravel. Two-stage blowers handle wet snow, are safe on gravel and throw snow farther. Pick a self-propelled model if your driveway slopes.