While a snow shovel is an odd item to review on a site dedicated to the outdoors as it related to San Diego, it does snow in parts of our fair city.  In addition,  I have spent many of nights gazing at the stars from a snow kitchen in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  A quality snow shovel is a critical piece of gear when backpacking in any snowy terrain.  I carried the Brooks Range Shark Tooth  Shovel through last winter, and it saw a variety of action,  from digging out tents after a particularly stormy snowshoe trip, to building snow shelters and snow kitchens on a variety of different trips.

Brooks Range describes the Sharktooth Compact Pro Snow Shovel as thus:

“The 33.5 oz. Brooks-Range Sharktooth Compact Pro Shovel™ is the choice of professionals worldwide. Aggresive Serrated leading-edge on shovel blade make short work of the toughest stubborn ice and hard pack. Only available on Brooks-Range shovels.

The heavy-duty hand D-grip can be used with mitts or gloves. The telescoping lightweight aluminum shaft gives this shovel a length of 31.25 inches to 37.75 inches, great for extra leverage in snowpack. The 10.5 x 10-inch scoop made of premium tempered aluminum has convenient deadman holes for use as an emergency anchor. The shovel shafts removes for use as stretcher bars with Brooks-Range Mountaineering Rescue Sled™.”

In my experience the Sharktooth Snow Shovel is an a heavy duty workhorse, that will last through many years of use and abuse.  While it is a heavy in comparison to many of its plastic counterparts, the aluminum blade of the Sharktooth Shovel will take on snow and ice without fear of demolishing it.  The shaft of the handle is very long, providing leverage, and the shovel will hold a lot of snow.  The blade of the shovel is serrated to help cut into hard snow and ice.  To be honest, I think the solid aluminum construction of the blade had more effect on the digging ability of the shovel than the serrated edge.

If you are looking for a solid snow shovel that will last more many years to come,  the Sharktooth  Snow Shovel is worth a close look.