A cordless snow shovel is smaller and lighter than a cordless snow thrower, so it is an ideal tool for clearing snow from small areas such as sidewalks and walkways. For example, the Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR cuts a path through the snow that is 11 inches wide and 7 inches high. Here is our review of the 24V-SS11-XR cordless snow shovel.
Is the Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR easy to use?
The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR is designed to be light and easy to use. It weighs only 11.7 lbs, so most people can handle it with ease. Of course, very tall persons might have to bend because the overall size might be a little too short for them. In general, this cordless snow shovel will probably be easier on your back when compared to lifting and throwing shovels full of snow.
Will this cordless snow shovel wake up the neighbors?
A cordless snow shovel is much quieter than a single stage gas snow blower, so it probably will not annoy the neighbors. It is less powerful when compared to an ordinary snow blower, but it is also a lot quieter.
Can the 24V-SS11-XR clear gravel surfaces?
No, do not use it on areas where there are loose gravel or stones. The snow thrower does not have skid shoes that raise it off the surface. Instead, it has a scraper bar at the bottom which slides along the surface. Therefore, it might pick up gravel stones that can either damage the auger blades or damage objects in front of the snow thrower.
Is the 24V-SS11-XR too small for a driveway?
This cordless snow shovel is too small for clearing snow from anything larger than a single driveway with a hard surface. It is definitely unsuitable for unpaved driveways. The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR only cuts a narrow 11-inch path through the snow. You might run out of battery power before the driveway is cleared.
A cordless snow shovel works better for clearing snow from steps, sidewalks and decks. Putting it another way, a single stage cordless snow thrower with a directional snow chute such as the Snow Joe iON18SB might be a better choice for clearing light snow from a hard driveway.
What snow depth can the 24V-SS11-XR tolerate?
The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR has a maximum snow cut depth of 7 inches. Generally speaking, it would probably perform well in light, fluffy snow up to 6 inches. However, it does not have the power to remove heavy, tightly packed snow or ice.
How long before the battery needs recharging?
The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR has a rechargeable 24-Volt lithium-ion battery with a 5.0 Ah capacity. The specifications on the Snow Joe website states that the run-time per charge is up to 27 minutes.
The 24V-SS11-XR cordless snow shovel can also be powered by the EcoSharp LITE 24V 2.0 Ah lithium-ion battery. Yet, the run-time will be much shorter. The 5.0 Ah battery offers the longest operation.
Snow Joe says that it takes up to 197 minutes to recharge the 5.0 Ah battery with the charger. If you are concerned that one battery might not be enough, then you could buy a second battery. You can then use the spare battery while the first one is charging.
Conclusion
The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR is meant to reduce the back-breaking work associated with shoveling snow. Its cordless battery power means that you do not have to worry about an extension cord, oil or gasoline.
A cordless snow shovel does have its limitations, of which the run-time is the most significant. You will not get more than 30 minutes of snow throwing. This might be enough for sidewalks, but is probably too short for clearing a driveway. In addition, a cordless snow shovel does not have a directional snow chute: as a result, it can only throw the snow forwards.
The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR cordless snow shovel might be worth it because it puts less strain on your back compared to an ordinary snow shovel. For the most part, this cordless snow shovel clears light snow from smaller areas, but wet or icy snow will require more passes.
At the end of the day, what matters most is getting the job done while saving your back and saving you money. The Snow Joe 24V-SS11-XR cordless snow shovel offers you cord-free snow throwing at a reasonable price (check price on Amazon).