[Erick Estrada]

I've been searching for years for the perfect shovel and my latest which is like the first option (without the ribs) and complete aluminum. It's light, gets right down to the cement and is easy enough to push and the only gripe is that it does catch on edges but that's the price of getting down to the cement.

Plastic ones work really well on fresh, unpacked snow but are useless trying to remove packed snow.

Tried a bent handle shovel and hated it. They cost more but simply don't feel right for lifting snow. I've read that they are better for the back if you lift snow but it just felt too awkward for me to bother changing my technique. I threw it in the garbage after last winter as it just didn't work for me.

Wide pushers are great for pushing but useless for lifting so you will need a 2nd shovel for lifting if you go with one of these.