Ames True Temper 1627100 Arctic Blast 18-Inch Mountain Mover Poly Snow Shovel with Ergonomic Handle

Comment: Really? $145.96? Is this a joke or is simple price gouging during a very snowy winter? This is not a $145 shovel. It's a decent shovel, handles comfortably and does a good job in light to moderately heavy snow. It's the first shovel I've had with the ergonomic handle, which took a little getting used to. But it serves it's purpose, allowing the shoveler to stand more upright while digging, and I like it now. But my shovel broke today while digging through some snow that had gone through a few freeze-thaw cycles and had gotten pretty iced up. Lifting and pushing into some icy stuff the blade cracked at the back of the hole where the handle inserts and I stood there with the handle in my hands and the poly blade still there in the snow. So I checked at Amazon to see if I could replace it quickly in time for the next blizzard, and I discovered that the same shovel I had paid perhaps $25 for a couple years ago now costs $145. Really? I figured it must be a typo, but I couldn't find it anywhere else on the site for a more sensible price. Anyway, I drilled and screwed the remainder of the material forming the insert hole (in the blade) into the handle. It tested out well in the same snow it broke in and feels like a pretty solid repair that should last, so I guess I'm kind of thankful that sticker shock sent me to my workbench. Anyway, this is a good $25 or $30 shovel, which is what you'll pay at your local hardware store (less than $25 on other websites right now for exactly this model, 1627100). It's not a $145 shovel.

Comment: I bought this shovel in anticipation of the "3-5 inches" of snow that Southern Maryland was supposed to get this weekend. We ended up with 10-11 inches of light, fluffy snow, but this shovel handled it without difficulty.

The positive features of this shovel were it's stability and ergonomic design. The shovel was stable enough that I could pick up a full load of snow and carry it across the driveway without the shovel twisting and dropping snow. The ergonomic design kept the shovel surface parallel to the ground without me having to lean down too far. This was great with the light snow because it allowed me to get a full shovel-full on every scoop.

The only negative thing I have to say about the shovel is with regard to the handle. It is a plastic hand-hold, fastened to the aluminum handle with a small sheet-metal screw. During use the blue plastic handle developed a white line around it's circumference, passing through the screw. The fact that this weakness appeared after only 3 hours of use leads me to believe that this will eventually be where the shovel fails. Having only used the shovel for one day, I can't say how long that will take.

Overall, this shovel worked great for me and I would recommend it. However, if the next time it snows the handle breaks off in my hand, I'm not going to be happy.

Comment: With having recent spinal surgery, I was in need of a shovel that would help me easlly move snow and other winter weather precipitation. Upon receiving this shovel I had discovered that the design of it would definitely help me in protecting my back. With the Christmas Eve Blizzard that we had in Lawton, Ok the shovel arrived on time for me to continue with snow removal which was not a chore at all due to the ergonomic design of the shovel.

Comment: it is a sturdy shovel with one exception. they need to do a better job of connecting the handle to the shovel. I had to take the 2 self tapping screws out & put in 2 machine screws & locknuts. I had to do this because after 2 snowstorms, the self tapping screws became loose.

Comment: I won't know until it snows, but I had hoped the shovel would be sturdier than it seems. However, it should do the job.