I've had mine for 11 years. I don't properly store or do any sort of maintenance to it, but it's still intact and gets the job done. The snap on wear strip is a necessary add-on IMO, especially if you're shoveling icy snow.
Best shovel ever,I bought one about 8 years ago now all my neighbors have them,I live in NY had 16 inches last wee had no problem,easy on your back too,The only thing is a Blower would be better in really deep stuff because your pile is really high but in 12 inches I can keep up with a snow blower! Worth the money!
Faster than a snow blower?.. Lol.. In 3 inches of nothing snow that does not even need shoveling.. Yeah ...maybe. I have one.. And it is maybe 2-3 times better than a normal shovel.. But still blows goats compared to a blowet.
@@arnoldsolof Not sure what is wrong with your neighbors, but I have had the bare bones machine running like crap (fixed it from a trash heap. free) and high powered machines. and the wovel and normal shovels of course. The crappiest snow blower is 4 times better than the wovel in my experience, (with the exception being very wet snow perhaps. The cheap snowblower would clog on that stuff), and requires 1/20th the level of physical energy from me. It is good you like yours. I like mine right now too, because I don't have a blower anymore, and it is better than a normal shovel. I think you have an unusual love for this thing though, and may be seeing it with rose colored glasses. It does make a nice lat workout though... ouch.
@@weeral1 You may be correct. I have never used a snowblower myself. My comparisons are 1) regular shovel to the levered/wheeled shovel and 2) time it takes me to clear a 3 car driveway compared to my neighbors clearing their 2 car driveways. That I personally get a bit of a workout, but don't get winded/exhausted and sweaty (as I did trying to do the job with a regular shovel). Last week we had 11 inches of snow with the bottom inch wet. The snow wovel did fine. Obviously, the deeper the snow the longer it takes. I actually prefer a little exercise. For example, instead of a riding lawnmower I use a Toro personal pace (self propelled) mower. That still requires a bit of pushing, but much less than the non-self-propelled mower that it replaced. Better for me than just sitting on my butt.
i like the looks of that because i do a lot of manual snow removal. i have been using a scoop pusher type for years and it works very good also, no lifting just pushing. i have a 40 year old blower but i have some areas it won't do the job especially when it's heavy and wet snow. i'm 73 years old and may get one of these, thnx for the info.
That hasn't been my experience over the past 10 years. When the sun comes out and hits the black pavement, it melts/evaporates traces of snow on the surface.
a truly amazing machine . I have used this for as long perhaps 15 years? so may people die from heart attacks after shovelling - this is like the best kept secret in the winter snow world. unfortunately they don't seem to sell it anymore - what happened ?
I've had mine for over ten years and now, at age seventy-five, I'm still using it. I can move a great deal of snow in a hurry and being able to catapult the snow off to the side is it's best feature. That said, it does have it's limitation. It's a long legged beast and needs room to work well. I've found an angled pattern the best for clearing my driveway going back and forth at a slight diagonal. The shovel can pick up a huge amount of snow at one time but beware; it's still shoveling and though you use different muscles those new muscles will be sore in the morning until you get used to it. I'm in Maine and we get some real snow storms. This contraption isn't perfect but I wouldn't be without it. Over ten years and it's still in great shape. Hope I last as long.
When I bought mine I purchased an extra edge guard not knowing how long the first one would last, but the first one is still going strong. I'm also in my seventies and now you have me wondering if my shovel will outlast me. It's a shame they no longer sell them. You'd think they would at least have sold the patent to an extant company to make some profit on that.
@@arnoldsolof I know. I couldn't find it recently on amazon where I got mine. I think they should seriously think about reintroducing it. I get a lot of looks from passers by when I'm out there moving snow with mine. I wouldn't be without it.
If the road is clear enough to allow that, you could. However, the tires would pack the snow onto the driveway. The shovel would not be able to shovel the tightly packed snow and those packed tire tracks likely would turn to ice later. There is a method to the madness.
Does anyone know why the company quit making them? Was it patented? If it was patented, are they willing to license this or sell the patent? This is a great idea and so many people would find this much easier than shoveling. The owners of the patent should get on Shark Tank with it. Yes. It is that good!!!!
@@arnoldsolof Thank you so very much!!! It is sad to think that with so many people with physical and/or medical conditions who could benefit from this and feel enabled by it that is not in production. Thank you again for the information!
I have seen other wheeled shovels with smaller wheels. There are significant mechanical advantages to the large narrow wheel. The narrow wheel minimizes packing snow if you go over unshoveled areas. The large wheel radius provides a higher fulcrum together with the long handle allows you to throw over 100 lb of snow with the flick of your wrist.
No the big wheel is what gives you the leverage,I pick up massive chunks of snow like igloo blocks and no strain on your back at all! But you might grow Popeye forearms like me!
I suspect your technique was off. My wife (strength issue) and my son (technique issue due to my wife delegating it to him without instruction while I was out of the country) were not able to use it successfully. Next time it snows, try it again, but watch the video closely just before you do.
@@arnoldsolofThank you for posting this review. I always learn more from what others comment on. Having looked elsewhere, the adjustments per each individual are a science. Also the gravel wheel attachment as an additional add on looks interesting enough for me as to try to mount a leaf rake on the front to see if it pushes leaves well enough to use. Could potentially be a good compost pile mover too.
I've had one of these for 5 years, I picked it up second hand. Unfortunately mine broke this morning as I was using it after the plough left a pile of snow at the end of our laneway during a freezing rain bout. I slipped and fell sideways and while doing so, the wheel broke in two places at the centre hub. Any idea where a new wheel can be purchased?
I just checked the link and they listed the shipping price at $ 21.50. Wheel (59.90) + Shipping to New Jersey (21.50) = 81.40. If you ship to Canada they just charge a $3 sales tax and no shipping. If the remainder of your shovel is in good condition it is probably worth it. If not, then I'd get a new shovel. If you amortize the cost over say 10 years and consider you have no cost in gasoline or engine maintenance costs like for a snow blower, you still come out ahead cost wise. Plus consider the beneficial health effects of mild to moderate exercise.
@@arnoldsolof Thanks for the additional info Arnold... I think I'm going to try and repair the wheel first. I can get 5 minute epoxy from the dollar store cheap. I'll repair the cracks / broken spokes and after it dries well I will encase the centre of the hub with epoxy. Should cost between $10 - $15 for the epoxy. In the meantime I have a regular snow scoop I'll use. I have a snowblower I bought cheap on kijiji (its like craigslist) that works for fluffy snow but not the wet heavy snow. I usually shovel the snow to the sides and then use the snowblower to throw it onto the lawn. I bought the Sno Wovel on kijiji also for only $25! So its been great for what I spent on it. Gotta love getting deals like that. The previous owner of the Wovel said his father in law bought it from the US and he inherited it. He had the wheel on wrong (off centre) and he couldn't use it properly. Once I put the wheel on the right way it worked perfectly. Take care from 🇨🇦
@@piratepete-thetruthisforevery1 When you do the epoxy repair if you can add some metal screws or some other mechanical reinforcement across the break(s) it is more likely to hold. It has to stand up to some very strong forces.
That looks like it would work well as a snow pusher for shallow snow. It wouldn't help you throw heavy / deep snow. For the relatively shallow snow in my video, I agree it might work faster, but to whatever extent you had to throw the snow it would be more than 3X the work/effort.
I've had mine for 11 years. I don't properly store or do any sort of maintenance to it, but it's still intact and gets the job done. The snap on wear strip is a necessary add-on IMO, especially if you're shoveling icy snow.
His neighbors must be pretty slow behind snowblower.
A little ambitious to call that 4-5 inches.
Got mine Free off of CL. Looked interesting but never heard of Snow Wovel. Fantastic. Perfect for Minnesota Snow
Wow, that was lucky!
Best shovel ever,I bought one about 8 years ago now all my neighbors have them,I live in NY had 16 inches last wee had no problem,easy on your back too,The only thing is a Blower would be better in really deep stuff because your pile is really high but in 12 inches I can keep up with a snow blower! Worth the money!
Used mine for over 10 years - I store it in one piece however - standing up. Made short work of a snow storm yesterday.
this is a nice shovel. that ismt 4-5" of snow. maybe 3:max
Faster than a snow blower?.. Lol.. In 3 inches of nothing snow that does not even need shoveling.. Yeah ...maybe. I have one.. And it is maybe 2-3 times better than a normal shovel.. But still blows goats compared to a blowet.
It depends on the power/capacity of the blower. My neighbors, I guess, have smaller units and the wovel is much faster than theirs, even in deep snow.
@@arnoldsolof Not sure what is wrong with your neighbors, but I have had the bare bones machine running like crap (fixed it from a trash heap. free) and high powered machines. and the wovel and normal shovels of course. The crappiest snow blower is 4 times better than the wovel in my experience, (with the exception being very wet snow perhaps. The cheap snowblower would clog on that stuff), and requires 1/20th the level of physical energy from me. It is good you like yours. I like mine right now too, because I don't have a blower anymore, and it is better than a normal shovel. I think you have an unusual love for this thing though, and may be seeing it with rose colored glasses. It does make a nice lat workout though... ouch.
@@weeral1 You may be correct. I have never used a snowblower myself. My comparisons are 1) regular shovel to the levered/wheeled shovel and 2) time it takes me to clear a 3 car driveway compared to my neighbors clearing their 2 car driveways. That I personally get a bit of a workout, but don't get winded/exhausted and sweaty (as I did trying to do the job with a regular shovel). Last week we had 11 inches of snow with the bottom inch wet. The snow wovel did fine. Obviously, the deeper the snow the longer it takes. I actually prefer a little exercise. For example, instead of a riding lawnmower I use a Toro personal pace (self propelled) mower. That still requires a bit of pushing, but much less than the non-self-propelled mower that it replaced. Better for me than just sitting on my butt.
i like the looks of that because i do a lot of manual snow removal. i have been using a scoop pusher type for years and it works very good also, no lifting just pushing. i have a 40 year old blower but i have some areas it won't do the job especially when it's heavy and wet snow. i'm 73 years old and may get one of these, thnx for the info.
I'd like to see how it works on 12" of snow.
I've used it on over 18" of snow. You just take layered "bites" if it is too high to get in one bite. 12 inches I could probably do in 1 bite.
It works perfect on 12 inches!
Your driveway wasn’t completely cleared tho. The snow left could cause slip and falls. To really complete the job you need twice the time
That hasn't been my experience over the past 10 years. When the sun comes out and hits the black pavement, it melts/evaporates traces of snow on the surface.
A snowblower will leave a lot more snow and ice residue than the Snow Wovel. Radiant heat from the sun removes what little is left.
@@blackdog5508 Yep!
Dang, can't find one online
a truly amazing machine . I have used this for as long perhaps 15 years? so may people die from heart attacks after shovelling - this is like the best kept secret in the winter snow world. unfortunately they don't seem to sell it anymore - what happened ?
👍👍👍🍿🇷🇺
Had it since 1901
wonderful review. Thank you very much. I just might buy one. I'm 75 and need a little help with shoveling.
You’ll love it - I used mine for over 10 years - this is my second one . Gave the first one away to spread the love.
I love this. I think you've convinced me!!
I gave one to my son about 7 years ago, and he loves his as well. They’re not real cheap, but worth every cent on heavy snows
I've had mine for over ten years and now, at age seventy-five, I'm still using it. I can move a great deal of snow in a hurry and being able to catapult the snow off to the side is it's best feature. That said, it does have it's limitation. It's a long legged beast and needs room to work well. I've found an angled pattern the best for clearing my driveway going back and forth at a slight diagonal. The shovel can pick up a huge amount of snow at one time but beware; it's still shoveling and though you use different muscles those new muscles will be sore in the morning until you get used to it. I'm in Maine and we get some real snow storms. This contraption isn't perfect but I wouldn't be without it. Over ten years and it's still in great shape. Hope I last as long.
When I bought mine I purchased an extra edge guard not knowing how long the first one would last, but the first one is still going strong. I'm also in my seventies and now you have me wondering if my shovel will outlast me. It's a shame they no longer sell them. You'd think they would at least have sold the patent to an extant company to make some profit on that.
@@arnoldsolof I know. I couldn't find it recently on amazon where I got mine. I think they should seriously think about reintroducing it. I get a lot of looks from passers by when I'm out there moving snow with mine. I wouldn't be without it.
I heard somewhere before it's easier to do your driveway when you park your cars on the road while you shovel your driveway lmao
If the road is clear enough to allow that, you could. However, the tires would pack the snow onto the driveway. The shovel would not be able to shovel the tightly packed snow and those packed tire tracks likely would turn to ice later. There is a method to the madness.
You can't make this s---- up
He rides the wheel during the summer
Does anyone know why the company quit making them? Was it patented? If it was patented, are they willing to license this or sell the patent?
This is a great idea and so many people would find this much easier than shoveling.
The owners of the patent should get on Shark Tank with it.
Yes. It is that good!!!!
Amazing that somebody isn't currently making it.
@@arnoldsolof do you know if there is a patent on it?
patents.google.com/patent/US7631443B2/en
@@arnoldsolof Thank you so very much!!! It is sad to think that with so many people with physical and/or medical conditions who could benefit from this and feel enabled by it that is not in production.
Thank you again for the information!
Good demo Arnold! 😊
I really like that shovel
Where can l buy one?
Wovel.com
I should have listened further into the video LOL
Can they make it with a smaller wheel?
I have seen other wheeled shovels with smaller wheels. There are significant mechanical advantages to the large narrow wheel. The narrow wheel minimizes packing snow if you go over unshoveled areas. The large wheel radius provides a higher fulcrum together with the long handle allows you to throw over 100 lb of snow with the flick of your wrist.
No the big wheel is what gives you the leverage,I pick up massive chunks of snow like igloo blocks and no strain on your back at all! But you might grow Popeye forearms like me!
Awesome
Used friends they. Suck. People only say they like them because they are ashamed of spending small fortune on them
I suspect your technique was off. My wife (strength issue) and my son (technique issue due to my wife delegating it to him without instruction while I was out of the country) were not able to use it successfully. Next time it snows, try it again, but watch the video closely just before you do.
@@arnoldsolofThank you for posting this review. I always learn more from what others comment on.
Having looked elsewhere, the adjustments per each individual are a science.
Also the gravel wheel attachment as an additional add on looks interesting enough for me as to try
to mount a leaf rake on the front to see if it pushes leaves well enough to use. Could potentially be a
good compost pile mover too.
I've had one of these for 5 years, I picked it up second hand. Unfortunately mine broke this morning as I was using it after the plough left a pile of snow at the end of our laneway during a freezing rain bout. I slipped and fell sideways and while doing so, the wheel broke in two places at the centre hub. Any idea where a new wheel can be purchased?
wovel.com/product/replacement-wheel-both-halfs-full-wheel/
@@arnoldsolof Thanks for the link, unfortunately the company with the replacement part no longer ships out of the USA.
I just checked the link and they listed the shipping price at $ 21.50. Wheel (59.90) + Shipping to New Jersey (21.50) = 81.40. If you ship to Canada they just charge a $3 sales tax and no shipping. If the remainder of your shovel is in good condition it is probably worth it. If not, then I'd get a new shovel. If you amortize the cost over say 10 years and consider you have no cost in gasoline or engine maintenance costs like for a snow blower, you still come out ahead cost wise. Plus consider the beneficial health effects of mild to moderate exercise.
@@arnoldsolof Thanks for the additional info Arnold...
I think I'm going to try and repair the wheel first. I can get 5 minute epoxy from the dollar store cheap. I'll repair the cracks / broken spokes and after it dries well I will encase the centre of the hub with epoxy. Should cost between $10 - $15 for the epoxy. In the meantime I have a regular snow scoop I'll use. I have a snowblower I bought cheap on kijiji (its like craigslist) that works for fluffy snow but not the wet heavy snow. I usually shovel the snow to the sides and then use the snowblower to throw it onto the lawn.
I bought the Sno Wovel on kijiji also for only $25! So its been great for what I spent on it. Gotta love getting deals like that. The previous owner of the Wovel said his father in law bought it from the US and he inherited it. He had the wheel on wrong (off centre) and he couldn't use it properly. Once I put the wheel on the right way it worked perfectly.
Take care from 🇨🇦
@@piratepete-thetruthisforevery1 When you do the epoxy repair if you can add some metal screws or some other mechanical reinforcement across the break(s) it is more likely to hold. It has to stand up to some very strong forces.
Manplow pro42, half the price and back in drinking cocoa in 10 mins on that driveway
That looks like it would work well as a snow pusher for shallow snow. It wouldn't help you throw heavy / deep snow. For the relatively shallow snow in my video, I agree it might work faster, but to whatever extent you had to throw the snow it would be more than 3X the work/effort.