Suncast SC3250 18-Inch Ergonomic Shovel/Pusher Combo Review
The bent-handle combo shovel that's been saving backs for a decade — poly blade, galvanized wear strip, and a grip that keeps you upright.
The verdict
Suncast's SC3250 is the shovel we'd hand anyone who still clears by hand: an 18-inch poly blade that works as a pusher or a scoop, a galvanized steel wear strip that keeps it scraping clean for years, and the ergonomic bent steel-core handle that lets you push and lift without folding in half. It's not the lightest or the cheapest, but it's the one that makes the next morning hurt less.
Typical price: ~$50 (typical street price — current price shown on Amazon)
Buy on AmazonWhat we like
- +Ergonomic bent handle reduces bending on every lift
- +18-inch poly blade pushes light snow and scoops heavy snow
- +Galvanized steel wear strip scrapes clean and lasts
- +Steel-core handle with a comfortable D-grip
- +Made by the same people who make your deck box — durable
What to know
- −Heavier than a bare poly shovel
- −18 inches fills fast with wet snow — that's intentional, but it's slower
- −Bent shaft takes a few storms to feel natural
Full review
The SC3250 shows up on nearly every list of best snow shovels, and for once that's earned. The design principle is simple: a bend in the shaft means the blade sits flat on the ground while your hands are higher and your back straighter. Push a few feet and you've got a scoop of snow; lift, and the bend gives you leverage instead of asking your lumbar spine for it. After a 30-minute driveway, the difference versus a straight shovel is noticeable.
The blade is the other half. Poly slides better than steel and doesn't stick to wet snow, and the galvanized wear strip along the edge keeps it scraping to bare pavement long after a bare poly edge would round off. At 18 inches it's deliberately not huge: a wide blade full of wet snow is 30 pounds, and you'll lift that a hundred times. Eighteen inches keeps each load manageable.
It's heavier than a cheap poly shovel and costs three times as much. It'll also still be in your garage in ten years, and you'll reach past every other shovel to grab it. If you want something lighter for steps, add the True Temper; if you want to stop lifting altogether, add a pusher. But this is the one everyone should own.
Best for: Every household's primary hand shovel — steps, walks, the strip in front of the garage, and full driveways when the blower's not worth starting.
Specifications
| Blade width | 18 in |
|---|---|
| Blade material | Poly with galvanized steel wear strip |
| Handle | Ergonomic bent, steel core, D-grip |
| Overall length | ~52 in |
| Use | Push and scoop (combo) |
| Weight | ~4 lb |
| Surface safety | Paved, pavers, decks |
| Warranty | Limited (Suncast) |
Ready to get one?
We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it's how we keep the reviews independent.
~$50 typical price
Buy on AmazonHead-to-head comparisons
Alternatives in Snow Shovels & Pushers
Premium Pick
The Snowplow 36-Inch Snow Pusher
A 36-inch UHMW poly pusher that moves a driveway's worth of light snow to the edge without one lift — the tool snow blower owners didn't know they needed.
Best Value
True Temper 18-Inch Ergonomic Poly Shovel/Pusher
A lighter, cheaper ergonomic combo shovel from the name that's been on shovels for a century.
Easiest to Use
ErgieShovel 18-Inch Ergonomic Push-Scoop Shovel
The shovel designed around your posture: an offset steel shaft and second grip that let you move snow with your legs instead of your back.