Whether you're expecting heavy snow or a wintry mix, the battery-operated Snow Joe snow shovel will dig you out in no time.
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Sure, there is a bright side to shoveling snow. The fresh (albeit cold) air, the workout and the warm cup of hot chocolate waiting for you when you’re finished. The Snow Joe snow shovel will help you get to that cup of cocoa even faster.
“Electric snow shovels are basically a hybrid between a snowblower and a regular snow shovel,” says Skye Durrant, co-founder of LawnGuru. “They’ve got a small electric motor that powers a spinning auger to scoop snow and throw it a short distance, usually 10 to 20 feet. You still have to push it manually like a shovel, but the auger does most of the heavy lifting.”
You can certainly depend on the Snow Joe to do the heavy lifting. How do we know? We tested six different electric snow shovels and the Snow Joe was our favorite cordless model.
On Sale
We Tried It
Snow Joe Cordless SS13 Snow Shovel
This battery-operated snow shovel can throw up to 300 pounds of snow per minute.
What is the Snow Joe Snow Shovel?
The Snow Joe SS13 is a cordless, electric snow shovel. Its 400-watt motor is powerful enough to blast through 300 pounds of snow per minute. It cuts a path 13-inches wide and 6-inches deep and throws snow up to 20 feet. According to Durrant, this is precisely what you want in an electric snow shovel. “Look for a model that can throw snow at least 15 feet. Anything less, and you’ll probably end up moving the same snow twice,” he explains.
This electric snow shovel weighs in at 14 pounds and has a dual-handle design that allows you to push through the snow without bending or stooping.
According to our testers, the battery takes an hour and a half to fully charge and has a 30-minute run-time. They also appreciated that it includes a cover and ice scraper.
How We Tested it
The Snow Joe snow shovel was one of seven models tested by Sheri Kaz during a series of January snow storms. Sheri was able to assemble this shovel on her own in just 15 minutes before taking it out into a wintery mix of heavy snow and slush.
Sheri notes that the Snow Joe shovel feels powerful and durable. And while the plastic scraper wasn’t able to remove snow as effectively as her snow blower, it certainly made things easier. “This machine made easy work of the top layer of heavy, wet snow,” she writes in her full electric snow shovel summary. “Overall, it performed well in all types of snow, including the slush.”
Although the Snow Joe made quick work of clearing Sheri’s driveway, she found that its bulky bottom made it heavy to push. After 30 minutes of use, Sheri notes that her hand was fatigued from holding the trigger. She was also disappointed to discover that this shovel doesn’t have adjustable louvers to direct the output of the snow.
Snow Joe Shovel Features
IONMAX 24-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery System
The 4.0-Ah battery takes 110 minutes to fully charge and has a 30-minute runtime. This cordless mobility allows you to clear walkways, steps and driveways without tripping over an extension cord.
400-Watt Motor
Thanks to its powerful motor, the Snow Joe can plow through up to 300 pounds of snow per minute. According to Sheri, this shovel performed well in all types of snow but really shone in powdery snow and slush.
Heavy-Duty 2-Blade Paddle Auger
The Snow Joe’s auger throws snow up to 20 feet away. However, Sheri found the heavy-duty design does make the bottom bulky and heavy to push.
Accessories
In addition to the 13-inch cordless shovel, battery and charger, the Snow Joe snow shovel comes with an ice scraper and cover for storage.
Pros
- Cordless mobility
- Performs well in all types of snow
- Cuts through snow plow remains
- Powerful and durable design
- Includes storage bag and ice scraper
Cons
- Output direction isn’t adjustable
- Bulky bottom makes it heavy to push
Product Comparison: Snow Joe vs Greenworks
Sheri tested seven different electric snow shovels to find the best. In addition to the Snow Joe shovel, she also tested the Greenworks electric snow shovel. Both models were easy to assemble and performed well but there are a few key differences.
The Greenworks snow shovel has a ton of great features. At under $100, it’s certainly an affordable tool. It’s also sturdy yet lightweight, performs well and folds for easy storage. Sheri also found that it was easier to maneuver than the Snow Joe. However, it is corded which means you’ll have to have an extension cord handy every time you use it. If you don’t mind a cord, then you’ll want to read all about this model in our full Greenworks snow shovel review.
Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with either snow shovel. But if you don’t want to worry about tangling yourself up in extension cords in order to clear your driveway or sidewalk, then the Snow Joe snow shovel is your best bet.
Final Verdict
If you don’t want to be tethered by a cord, then the Snow Joe is your best bet. In spite of its bulky bottom and stationary output direction, the Snow Joe snow shovel was Sheri’s top pick in the cordless category for price and performance.
Where to Buy the Snow Joe Shovel
On Sale
We Tried It
Snow Joe Cordless SS13 Snow Shovel
The Snow Joe snow shovel performed well in all types of snow and its cordless mobility is unmatched.
The Snow Joe snow shovel can be purchased directly on the Snow Joe website as well as Walmart, Lowe’s and Amazon.
FAQ
Is Snow Joe a good brand?
Our tester described the Snow Joe shovel as powerful and durable. During testing, it performed well in all types of snow. Additionally, 78% of Amazon users have given this snow shovel a four-star rating or better for its snow throwing capability and ease of use.
Where can I buy Snow Joe?
Snow Joe is available on the brand’s website as well as big box retailers like Walmart and Lowe’s. It’s also available on Amazon.
Why You Should Trust Us
At Family Handyman, our editors and testers have evaluated a wide range of snow removal equipment. We’ve put everything from simple, manual snow shovels to powerful snow blowers to the test in order to help you make informed buying decisions. For this series of articles, we tested seven electric snow shovels with a range of features and price tags in order to determine which models are worth your hard earned money. We also consulted with the co-founder of LawnGuru, Skye Durrant. We aim to provide full transparency in each product review and will never recommend a product that does not meet or exceed our expectations.
