On Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:19:18 +0000, Clive George wrote:

Probably most efficient (and a lot faster) to move as much as you
can
shift with each shovel load, so the bigger lighter shovel should
be
better.

Nah - there's a sweet spot between too heavy and too light. Same as
gearing, and it'll vary between people.

And it will vary with the snow. Nice light dry powder is not a
problem to shift with a large shovel/scoop, apart from the fact it
blows about all over the place bit like tidying leaves in a breeze...
But heavier wetter sticky snow and a large shovel is almost too heavy
to lift.

What is important is the handle, a plain straight stick is OK for
just ploughing through a couple of inches of none too sticky snow.
However if you need to lift and the load isn't balanced on the blade
it makes it harder work as the plain round handle rotates in your
gloves, a proper T or D end to the handle is a great help.

We have the cheap red plastic blade straight handle type for general
clearing around the house and a plastic one with a D handle. They
last two or three seasons before either breaking or wearing out. In
the car I carry a proper metal shovel. Bear in mind that you may have
to deal with ice as well as snow, plastic just doesn't cut it with
ice.

A folding/collapsable shovel might be OK provided it is full size and
rigid when assmebled. A short handled shovel is harder work than a
longer handled one as you lose the mechanical advantage the longer
handle gives you.

--
Cheers
Dave.