My kids got me a Wovel for Christmas. A wovel is a new type of snow shovel that is ergonomically designed to move a lot of snow pretty effortlessly. It was one of Time Magazine's products of the year for 2006. Here's the web site for it: http://www.wovel.com.
We finally got enough snow here in the Pittsburgh, PA region that I could use it last night. I must say, it really does live up to its billing. I have the trifecta of problems when it comes to shoveling snow - bad back, bursitis in the upper right hip, and severe arthritis in the right hip . It was so easy to push the snow with the Wovel, as well as throw it off the snow shovel. I really did not have any back/hip pain while using it.
I should have followed the DVD instructions about how to use this thing. I started at the bottom of my driveway and worked my way up. Unfortunately, the Wovel is not like a regular snow shovel that you can manipulate in some tight spots. It works best if you shovel in long, straight lines. In fact, I was pushing snow easily for up to 60 feet - and could have gone longer, if I had more driveway to clear .
I really think that it is faster than a snowblower, as it claims on its web page. It usually takes me 75 to 90 minutes to clear my driveway and parking area behind our house (that area is at least 33 feet by 30 feet alone) - with the norm being at least 90. I did it in about 60 minutes last night - and that included when I had to switch to my regular shove near the end (due to my not planning on using the Wovel properly :).
My kids got me the optional attachments, so that it can be used on a gravel/unpaved driveway as well. The two optional attachments that I think should come standard with the Wovel are the padded handles and the steel wear bar for the shovel blade itself - which is made out of plastic.
We finally got enough snow here in the Pittsburgh, PA region that I could use it last night. I must say, it really does live up to its billing. I have the trifecta of problems when it comes to shoveling snow - bad back, bursitis in the upper right hip, and severe arthritis in the right hip . It was so easy to push the snow with the Wovel, as well as throw it off the snow shovel. I really did not have any back/hip pain while using it.
I should have followed the DVD instructions about how to use this thing. I started at the bottom of my driveway and worked my way up. Unfortunately, the Wovel is not like a regular snow shovel that you can manipulate in some tight spots. It works best if you shovel in long, straight lines. In fact, I was pushing snow easily for up to 60 feet - and could have gone longer, if I had more driveway to clear .
I really think that it is faster than a snowblower, as it claims on its web page. It usually takes me 75 to 90 minutes to clear my driveway and parking area behind our house (that area is at least 33 feet by 30 feet alone) - with the norm being at least 90. I did it in about 60 minutes last night - and that included when I had to switch to my regular shove near the end (due to my not planning on using the Wovel properly :).
My kids got me the optional attachments, so that it can be used on a gravel/unpaved driveway as well. The two optional attachments that I think should come standard with the Wovel are the padded handles and the steel wear bar for the shovel blade itself - which is made out of plastic.