 Poster: A snowHead
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I keep seeing people decrying the plastic blade shovels.
Question is has anybody really broken one of these?
Mine is lexan, yes plastic, but a rather special plastic at that and probably stronger than the alloy handle. Although I have only had this shovel for 17 years I have never had to use it in an emergency and long may that continue. However it has been used extensively for clearing terraces, digging out cars, clearing pavements and allowing kids to build snowmen whilst we enjoy a meal. After all this the only signs of damage are a few chips out of the front edge.
Anybody any proof???
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Dypcdiver, ....... if you are looking for numbers then no... but I have seen 6, maybe 8 broken plastic blades and a couple of ally ones too......!
....avalanche debris can sometimes be like 40kn concrete, with the odd trees, branches, rocks etc stirred up in it. Plastic blades appear great for 'scooping' but if using the handle as leverage, they can snap easily. In saying that, I have only ever seen them snap up on the mountain, so extreme cold may very well be a factor in contributing to brittleness. I don't know enough about the composition of plastic blades, but they may also degrade if exposed to light for prologned periods. At 'only' 17 years your trusty blade must be made of stern stuff - they don't make em like they used to...... 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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BernardC,
Quote from the GE site who own the patent.
"Performance Properties
Impact Resistance
Provides the highest impact resistance of all GE thermoplastics - virtually unbreakable and remains tough at low temperatures"
Found this too.
"UV Stability
Resistant to ultraviolet light, allowing exterior use"
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Thu 25-01-07 16:46; edited 1 time in total
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I always assumed that it was to do with the edge on the shovel blade?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I recently did an avalanche safety course and had a go digging with both plastic and metal bladed shovels. I don't now how easy it would be to break either, but I certainly found the aluminium blade a lot easier to dig with. A longer (telescopic) handle also helped a lot.
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GeorgeM, would you be able to recommend a particular make and type of shovel?
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Kramer, ....I use this one
.......it is also very effective against unruly, flying boarders, as when stored in back pack, it provides an armour plated defence........ 
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I find metal cuts through debris better than plastic - a bit like how an steel ice axe pick penetrates ice better than an aluminium one
i have an ortovox professional aluminium one. would recommend it but it's quite pricey
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