The best snow shovels for your car is not like the shovel you’d keep in your shed. Predictably, they are much smaller and lighter, ready for you to whip out and unfold at a moment’s notice to shift snow that may be trapping your car. This makes them more than ideal in an array of handy winter products.
You’ll see such foldable snow shovels and notice they all look roughly the same. Indeed the formula is pretty commonplace, the difference lies in the quality of construction. There’s no point buying a shovel that’ll buckle and turn to rust the second it touches snow.
The other great thing about snow shovels for cars is that they’re relatively compact. This means you can store the things along with other winter items. These include little ice scrapers or maybe an extra bottle of screen wash.
The best snow shovels at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Draper Folding Steel Shovel – Buy from Amazon.
Best budget snow shovel: Silverline Folding Shovel – Buy from Amazon.
Most versatile snow shovel: Gerber Gorge Folding Shovel – Buy from Amazon.
This article recommends the best snow shovels to keep in your car over winter. We’ve also covered other valuable extras you might want to consider carrying around, such as the best de-icer products.
The best snow shovels
Editor's pick
Rrp: £14.91
Rrp: £14.91
The blade has serrated edges to deal with ice and compacted snow. A real bonus is that it comes with a vinyl storage pouch. The unfolded length is 58cm while the folded length is 24.5cm which is means storage shouldn't be an issue at all.
Pros
- Lightweight and durable
- Comes with pointy edges to cut through snow and ice
Cons
- Some may be opposed to its smaller size
The best value snow shovel
However, it's a solid steel construction, so isn't quite as strong as Draper's carbon steel shovel blade. AA's shovel also comes with a storage pouch but is fabric rather than vinyl.
Pros
- Great value
- Design allows it to cut through snow
Cons
- Not as strong as the Draper
The most versatile snow shovel
Rrp: £33.77
Rrp: £33.77
In addition to the folding steel blade, the handle slides using a push-button mechanism kind of like an umbrella. Storage is handled with a nylon drawstring bag.
Pros
- Doubles as a hammer
- Is useful for camping trips as well as shovelling snow
Cons
- Not specifically designed for snow
The best budget snow shovel
Rrp: £10.32
Rrp: £10.32
Unlike some of the others on our list, it won't double as a useful tool when going camping or digging up dirt. It's primarily a snow shovel and will come across as fairly rickety when presented with other tasks.
Pros
- Great value snow shovel
- Easily foldable and compact
Cons
- Won't be much use in other tasks
The best full-sized snow shovel
It's made from adonised aluminium for durability and lightness and features a T-handle for better grip and comfort. The bright yellow finish also means you won't be losing it on dark winter nights.
Pros
- Full sized shovel
- Aluminium structure
Cons
- Assembly is required
The best snow shovel when folded
Rrp: £10.44
Rrp: £10.44
It's pretty good value too, but unfortunately, build quality won't be as on-par as some of the others on this list.
Pros
- Great value
- Folds into compact pile
Cons
- Build quality not the best
What to consider with snow shovels
Primarily, you want to make sure if can live up to shovelling snow. In the same way that a good torch can live up to lighting a dark area. Build quality will be key, and when the snow is particularly tough and hard to move, having a shovel that’s well-built will save you in the long run. Draper’s shovel is our editor’s pick for a reason, simply because it’s well-built.
Secondly, it’s whether you’ll actually need one at all. While this notion seems to contradict the article, heavy snow occurs in certain parts of the U.K or indeed in other countries. But other areas tend to only get one or two days worth of light fall. For example, mid-winter in Scotland will be very different than in Sussex. This effectively makes the snow shovel, or even a set of snow socks, a requirement only for certain people. So, our advice is to keep an eye on the weather forecast in your area(s).
Finally, if you’re in a situation where you do need one. Are the conditions so harsh, that other winter products will be needed as well? These will undoubtedly include the likes of winter tyres, the best snow chains, and probably dome dashes of engine cleaner.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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