As faithful readers know, I'm a tireless advocate of functional fitness. First, it means achieving a level of fitness that enables you to function optimally, to work, play, and suck the marrow out of every day. Second, it means engaging in an activity - such as commuting to the office by bike - that accomplishes something while contributing to your fitness.
As a teenager, I used to clear our Gladwyne sidewalk with a blade attached to two wheels with a lawnmower-like handle. For years, I've been searching for something similar, and I found it in the Snow Pusher Plus.
This clever tool was conceived by LaVell Asay, a Utah jack-of-all-trades. He experimented and eventually designed a device that consisted of a small plow blade mounted on lawn mower wheels and guided by a lawn mower handle. With it, he could clear the entire block's sidewalk in less time and with less effort than it took him to shovel the sidewalk in front of his house.
With the help of his wife and friends, he perfected the device and began offering it for sale. I've been using it for several winters and I'm a satisfied customer.
To begin with, the Snow Pusher Plus is simple and sturdy, without moving parts that can slice off your fingers. Nor does it require gas and oil, or make obnoxious noise and exhaust. It disposes of powdery snow effortlessly and does a superior job with wet snow, scraping surfaces clean. It's light, and the handle height and blade angle are adjustable. Since the wheels bear the weight, it's easy on your back. But because you supply the power, you'll get plenty of exercise. When the snow is deeper than a foot, pushing the plow can require some oomph. Afterward, I usually feel deliciously sore in my chest, shoulders, and back.
