Updated on Jan. 14, 2025
This is our second winter testing the Earthwise Snow Shovel. After using it in heavy snowfall, we can confirm it's one of the easiest ways to shovel your deck, patio and sidewalk.Â
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In a love/hate relationship with winter? Well, don’t let the thought of shoveling snow get you down. I found the right tool for the job. The Earthwise 16-inch Electric Corded Snow Shovel is so easy (and, dare I say, fun?) to use that you’ll look forward to the next snowfall. As a lawn and garden expert, I know that manual snow removal tools can be a chore to use, but this miniature electric snow blower takes the exhaustion out of the equation.Â
I’ve had my eye on electric snow shovels for a few years but wondered how well they actually worked, so I splurged on a cordless snow blower instead. It was a great solution for the driveway, but I still needed to shovel parts of my property by hand. Luckily, I got to try the Earthwise snow shovel, and it’s undeniably 100 times better and faster than using an old-school shovel. Here’s why you’ll love it, too.
Imagine a pint-sized snow blower that clears snow without you doing the heavy lifting. The Earthwise SN70016 shovel we tested is a wheeled 16-inch snow shovel that runs on electricity. This 14-pound machine is lightweight, compact and portable. As a result, it clears snow from those awkward or tight places that a big traditional snowblower can’t. The Earthwise snow shovel moves an impressive 430 pounds of snow per minute and makes quick work of blowing snow up to 8 inches deep.
Plug it into an outdoor extension cord and save your back. It’s ready when you are. No more fumes, gas or waiting for a battery to charge. The 6-inch rear wheels provide a base to keep this snow shovel upright (unlike other electric snow shovels), offering stability and ease of use.Â
This tool is especially helpful for anyone who needs to shovel a deck or porch with stairs. It’s light enough to pick up and carry or push from place to place with very little effort.
VIA MERCHANT
The Earthwise 16-inch, 12-amp corded snow shovel is great for clearing sidewalk paths, decks and driveways.
Pros:
Cons:
One of the things I love most about the Earthwise 16-inch corded snow shovel is the directional output that allows you to throw the snow where you want it. The big directional knob at the base of the unit adjusts the throwing angle left, right or center. The lever is easy to reach and large enough to operate with mittens. And because the shovel stands upright, you don’t have to struggle to adjust.
I tested seven electric snow shovels and the few with a directional chute had small sticky adjustment dials prone to icing up. The user-friendly large directional knob makes the Earthwise snow shovel the best choice for people with bad backs or mobility issues. In addition to the trigger handle, the Earthwise shovel has an auxiliary handle that easily adjusts for height, comfort and handling.Â
Depending on the consistency of the snow, this powerful 12-amp shovel is capable of blowing snow up to 30 feet out of your way. The dual-curved plastic auger is surprisingly effective in icy or packed snow. It chews it up and spits it out with ease!Â
I received the Earthwise corded snow shovel several weeks before our first snowfall, which was wet and slushy. The machine required some assembly with a handful of screws and bolts, including attaching the wheels. When I accomplished that task, I was ready!
My back patio has uneven, crumbling pavers. The space is tight and requires hand shoveling, mainly because my cordless snowblower gets hung up on the uneven surface. So, I was excited to have a better tool to help me with the taxing drudgery of shoveling. Admittedly, this is a challenging space to try out a new tool, but I was careful not to get too close to the surface that likely had random gravel, debris or hidden sticks. Luckily, the wheels on the Earthwise shovel make the auger easy to tilt up when the ground isn’t completely flat or smooth.
 
The first snow was very wet, with an inch of accumulation, so this wasn’t the optimal test, but I’m pleased to report that the Earthwise could move the slush. The machine surprised me with how far it hurled the soupy snow. The deeper the snow, the further it flew.
Naturally, living in the northwestern part of the United States, I had more opportunities to use the Earthwise snow shovel with different types of snow. When we received 18 inches of heavy, wet snow in 24 hours, I used the Earthwise multiple times to clear my patio and front porch area. I also had the opportunity to test it against other powered shovels on a variety of terrain. It pushed through 6 inches of heavy snow, although it struggled a little more and was slower than blowing away the same amount of fluffy stuff.Â
Of course, the driveway was the least challenging of all. There, I could control the Earthwise with one hand, as easily as pushing a vacuum cleaner, and I used my free hand to control the cord.Â
As a final test, I tried using it on the grass to shovel a path for my little dog. The snow was already at least 8 inches deep, and the wheels dug in, making it harder to maneuver than the other shovels I tested. Aside from that difficult task, I enjoyed using the Earthwise snow shovel and found it highly effective in turning a strenuous chore into a quick and easy task.
From slushy and wet to ice-glazed to powder snow, the Earthwise snow shovel made my life so much easier. It took a fraction of the time to let this tool shovel my snow compared to digging it out manually, plus it was gentle on my back, wrists and shoulders.Â
Two of our main concerns with the Earthwise Snow Shovel are its plastic body and corded design. So, we sent Senior Editor Katie Bandurski out in the snow this season to test the shovel again. Katie used the same Earthwise shovel we tested last winter to determine how the device would perform in used condition.
“It worked pretty well,” Katie says. “It did a good job of throwing snow and getting down to almost clean pavement. We got about six inches of snow, and it got through all of it in one pass. Plus, I like that I didn’t have to worry about adding gas.”
However, Katie did mention that the plastic parts feel delicate and a bit tricky to maneuver. “I would suggest only using this shovel on small areas, like a patio, entryway or sidewalk,” she adds. Because of its corded design, the Earthwise Snow Shovel may not be well suited for larger driveways.Â
“Be prepared to hold down the trigger, which can be tough with cold, gloved hands,” Katie says. “If you have the budget for it, I’d recommend going with the Earthwise Cordless Snow Shovel. Truthfully, the cord is pretty obnoxious. You have to plug it into an extension cord, so the total cord length depends on your extension cord. I found myself getting twisted up frequently and worried I’d run over the cord. I think the cordless version would be much better, especially for larger driveways.”
If you have stairs to shovel, the Earthwise Electric 12-inch Corded Snow Shovel is a convenient option to consider because it lacks wheels and is narrower than the 16-inch wheeled Earthwise. The 12-inch shovel is suitable for up to 5 inches of snow and moves 300 pounds per minute with a 10-amp motor. It’s not as powerful as the 16-inch version, but if you want a smaller tool that will tuck away in a closet, this may be the right choice for you.
If you prefer not to be tethered to an extension cord while shoveling, we recommend opting for one of Earthwise’s cordless snow shovels or snow blowers. The Earthwise SN74016 Cordless snow shovel is similar to the corded version with a 16-inch clearing width and 8-inch clearing depth with 6-inch wheels and dual blade auger. And because it’s cordless, the advantage is greater mobility. Be aware that the cordless model is 5 pounds heavier and requires a battery and charger.
VIA MERCHANT
The 16-inch Earthwise corded snow shovel requires nothing but the time to read the directions and attach the parts. I’ll admit that I’m not naturally mechanically inclined, and assembly of anything has never been easy for me, so when I opened the box and laid out the parts, I panicked. Laying before me were 11 screws and bolts of varying lengths, two wheels, an axel, some handles, plastic-covered wing nuts, the base of the machine and a folding handle that housed the wiring.Â
However, I’ve found that patience is my best tool when tackling an assembly project. I gathered my screwdrivers, turned on some tunes, grabbed a cup of coffee, read the directions and took it one step at a time.Â
To assemble the Earthwise snow shovel, first line up the main handle, snap it together and secure it with the bolt. Next, plug the long handle into the base unit that houses the motor and auger. Then secure the two pieces with four more Phillips head screws. After that, screw in the auger directional knob. Then, it’s time to mount the wheels to the bracket and secure the bracket to the machine. Lastly, attach the auxiliary handle, and it’s ready to roll.
It took me an hour and a half, but I’m a novice at assembly. To my credit, other users have mentioned that the directions aren’t especially user-friendly, though it took more adept users only 20 minutes to assemble.
The best shovel to buy is the one that does the heavy lifting for you. An electric snow shovel, whether it’s battery-powered or corded, will be the easiest way to remove snow. We tested seven electric snow shovels, and everyone who tried them agreed that a power shovel was much easier to use than a conventional manual shovel.
I tested four battery-powered snow shovels and found them all to work well. If you’re looking for a beast, the Ego Power+ Multi-Head Snow Shovel Kit proved to be a heavy-duty workhorse, whereas the Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel is a solid choice with plenty of power, an affordable price and a lighter body.Â
Cordless and corded snow shovels are worth every penny if they take the backbreaking labor out of snow removal. The only downside to a battery-operated snow shovel is the battery’s run time. If you have a large area with heavy snow and run out of power, you may need to wait hours for your battery to recharge. Whereas a corded snow shovel is ready whenever Mother Nature strikes.
Corded units generally weigh less and will not be as fatiguing to maneuver. The beauty of a cordless snow shovel is that you aren’t tethered by a cord. So, if you like to routinely shovel your neighbor’s walk, you’ll appreciate the freedom of a battery-operated snow shovel. Either way, you’ll spend less effort and time cleaning up the neighborhood.Â
The Earthwise electric snow shovel exceeds many customers’ expectations. Amazon customer William Grieszmer writes this five-star review: “Easy to assemble (20 minutes) and does a very good job of throwing the sidewalk snow on my city sidewalks. Works well to clean up down to minimal thickness, but is not intended to absolutely clean the sidewalk, additional scraping or treatment would be needed. However, this power shovel does a great job for which it was intended. Much lighter and maneuverable than even the smallest electric classic snowblower. I am very satisfied with the product.”
Another Amazon customer, Kristin asks, “Where was this 30 years ago?” She writes, “I have been doing snow removal for 35 years. Central Pennsylvania, wooded area. When we do have snow, it can be exhausting when you do not have machines to do the work for you. The decks and pressed concrete cannot have ‘metal’ that scrapes, so this ‘shovel’ is a major plus. Due to horrendous spine and joint issues, not to mention a hip replacement, this thing made it so much more comfortable to do snow removal. Hope it lasts forever!”
Jeffrey N. Gawne shares, “This was an easy-to-assemble, powerful little snow thrower! I used it this past winter for my decks and sidewalks. There are times that I don’t want to get the walk-behind snowblower out. This is directional, so you have the option to throw snow from about 45 degrees left to 45 degrees right. It made it through the winter with flying colors. You will want to be careful around the kids, pets, etc.; the whirling plastic blades are like a woodchipper out front, so be careful with deck posts. I bought one with a cord, so I wouldn’t have to worry about batteries running down. This is worth the money, in my opinion.”
The Earthwise snow shovel will absolutely make your life easier. I’ll let the machine lift 430 pounds of snow per minute any day rather than relying on my aching back. Plus, this tool saves so much time. Heading out the door for work in the morning means I don’t have to get up two hours earlier to clear the snow before it freezes for life. Talk about easy to operate and maneuver. Removing snow has never been easier. Â
I love the stability of this machine. It stands upright, unlike many other electric snow shovels. Plus, it’s easy to stop and start. You can move the cord or change the angle of the output without bending over to pick it up off the ground (again). I highly recommend this shovel, especially for seniors or people struggling to lift a heavy load. The only hard part is keeping a grip on the trigger. Â
For a medium-duty snow thrower, the power and durability of this machine seem substantial while staying on the light side. The auger slices through chunky snow impressively well, and I’ve never had issues with clogging or overloading the motor. Unlike a large snow blower, I didn’t experience vibration.
I don’t expect this snow shovel to last forever since it’s mostly made of plastic, but Earthwise offers a two-year warranty and replacement parts when the scraper blade or belts wear out.Â
I wish I had invested in an electric snow shovel years ago. Even though I own a snowblower, this handy snow removal tool goes places my snowblower can’t. The cord is a little cumbersome, but the featherweight and stable design is worth the hassle. For under $125, it’s way more affordable than multiple trips to the chiropractor.
VIA MERCHANT
Why break your back shoveling when the Earthwise snow shovel can do the heavy lifting for you? This 14-pound machine goes places a traditional snowblower can’t—at a fraction of the cost. The Earthwise sells out fast, so grab yours today on Amazon. Then clear your deck, patio or sidewalk of slushy, heavy or powdery snow.
