Quick verdict
An 18 inch poly blade shaped to both push light snow and lift and throw heavier loads, with a nylon wear strip that protects decks and patios and a bent steel handle with a D-grip that keeps the back straighter. True Temper is a long-established American tool brand and this is its everyday combination shovel. It will not clear a long drive after a blizzard as fast as a dedicated pusher, and it does everything a typical household needs.
Strengths
- Combination blade pushes light snow and lifts heavy
- Nylon wear strip does not scratch decking or pavers
- Bent steel handle with D-grip reduces bending
- Poly blade is light and does not rust
- Long-established brand with consistent quality
Weaknesses
- Eighteen inches is narrow for long driveways
- Poly does not chip ice like a steel edge
- Wear strip eventually wears through on rough concrete
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Shovel for Most Snow
Pushers move light snow fast and cannot lift; scoops lift and are slow across a wide area. A combination blade does both well enough for a household. True Temper’s 18 inch poly shovel has that shape, a nylon wear strip along the edge that will not score a deck, and a bent steel handle with a D-grip that keeps the user more upright. It is the everyday shovel from a brand that has made them for generations.
This review is based on the maker’s specifications and on how poly combination shovels perform generally. We have not used this shovel ourselves.
Push and Lift
For a few inches of fresh snow, push in long strokes to the edge of the path and the curved blade rolls it ahead. When it piles, the scoop shape lifts and throws. Eighteen inches is a width one person handles comfortably with a load of wet snow; wider pushers are faster on a long drive and heavier to lift.
Surfaces
A steel edge scores wood decks, composite boards and pavers. The nylon wear strip slides over them and still scrapes to the surface. On rough concrete the strip wears over the years; it is the part designed to.
Handle
The bend raises the grip so lifting happens with straighter back and bent knees rather than bending at the waist. The D-grip gives control when throwing. At 54 inches overall it suits most adults; very tall users may want a longer pusher for the drive.
Poly
A poly blade is light, which matters over a hundred lifts, does not rust and does not freeze snow to it the way bare metal does. It does not chop ice; that is a job for a steel chopper.
Who Should Buy It
- Households with paths, steps and a short drive.
- Deck and patio owners who need a non-marking blade.
- Anyone with a sore back from straight-handled shovels.
Common Owner Complaints
Narrow for a long driveway and no good on ice. Add a wide pusher and an ice chopper for those.
Technique Tips
Shovel early and often; two passes of four inches are easier than one of eight. Push snow to the downhill or downwind side of the path so the next clearing is not into a bank. When lifting, keep the blade close to the body, bend the knees and turn the feet to throw rather than twisting the back. Spray the blade with silicone or cooking spray before wet snow and it slides off instead of sticking.
Care
Knock snow off and hang the shovel to dry so the steel handle does not rust at the socket. Check the handle rivets each winter and store it out of sun in summer, which keeps the poly from going brittle.
Alternatives to Consider
A 24 to 30 inch pusher for long drives. A steel-edged shovel for packed snow on concrete. A wheeled snow plow shovel for big flat areas.
Verdict
For the snow most households get, one well-made combination shovel does the job, and this one adds a deck-safe edge and a back-friendly handle at a fair price. Push first, lift second and it will last many winters.
Full specifications
True Temper 1603400 18 Inch Poly Combination Snow Shovel and Pusher with Ergonomic D-Grip Steel Handle FAQs
Push light snow in long strokes to the edge, then lift and throw what piles up. The blade curve suits both, which is the point of a combination shovel.
No. The nylon wear strip and poly blade are the right choice for wood and composite decking and pavers that a steel edge would score.
The bend puts the grip higher so you lift with less bending at the waist. It reduces back strain over a long clearing.
It will push slush and scrape thin ice. Packed ice needs a steel ice chopper.
