In case you haven’t noticed, winter is in full swing in most of the country. If you live somewhere other than right along the Southern California coast or South Florida – and you own a car – you need an ice scraper, especially if you park your car outside at night.
But how do you go about picking the best ice scraper? The kind of car you have, where you live and even your height might be factors in your decision. Take the next step in winter preparations by choosing an ice scraper that best fits your needs.
Short-Handled Scraper/Snow Broom Combo
This type of ice scraper is only a foot or two long, but it comes with the two features snow-dwellers needs most from this tool: a scraper and a snow broom. The broom portion sweeps snow off the car, an important first step for reaching the ice beneath. Then the scraper takes care of the ice.
This could be the best ice scraper for you if:
- You live where snow and ice are both common.
- You either have a small car or you’re tall enough to reach across the hood of your larger truck, van or SUV.
- You want the most affordable way to sweep snow and scrape ice off your car.
Long-Handled Scraper/Snow Broom Combo
These upscale ice scrapers come with much longer handles. Many are three feet folded up and extend to a length of five feet or longer. Cushiony grips and easy-to-use locking mechanisms make sweeping and scraping your car a breeze.
This could be the best ice scraper for you if:
- You live where snow and ice are both common.
- You have a large truck, van or SUV and have difficulty reaching across the windshield.
- You’re willing to spend a little more money for a more comfortable, convenient ice-scraping experience.
Ice Scraper with Glove
One of the worst things about winter is constantly having cold hands. It doesn’t help if you have to scrape ice off your car and you didn’t bring gloves with you. That’s where the built-in glove feature found with some ice scrapers comes in handy. The only problem is there’s no snow broom attached.
This could be the best ice scraper for you if:
- You live where ice is common, but snow isn’t, so you don’t usually worry about bringing gloves with you.
- You either have a small car or you’re tall enough to reach across the hood of your larger truck, van or SUV.
- You want an affordable way to scrape off ice without cluttering your car.
Swedish Ice Scraper
If you’re looking for something completely different, the Swedish ice scraper is a good choice. Its minimalist design makes it look more like a math student’s protractor than an ice scraper. The laser-cut and diamond-polished acrylic edges have excellent scraping abilities. But alas, this version has no snow broom.
This could be the best ice scraper for you if:
- You live where ice is common, but snow isn’t.
- You either have a small car or you’re tall enough to reach across the hood of your larger truck, van or SUV.
- You want an affordable way to scrape off even the thinnest, trickiest-to-remove ice without cluttering your car.
In short, there’s no such thing as a hands-down best ice scraper for everyone. The best one for the owner of an SUV in Minnesota differs wildly from the best one for the owner of a sporty coupe living in lowland West. Hopefully this guide gives you a better idea of which type of ice scraper you should select for your needs.