Winter is coming, and this time it is not just a line from a famous TV show. The lucky few that live in a warm area need not worry, but the ones that actually have to deal with the cold weather and snow can be quite unfortunate. There is always a pavement to be cleared of snow or a car that needs to have the ice scraped off.
It is not a pleasant activity but it is mandatory, and every single driver has to wake up earlier during the winter in order to clean the car. The luckier ones might have a garage that will keep the car safe away from freezing temperature, but for everyone else, it is simply a nightmare. Not having some tools around to remove the ice and snow turns things from bad to worse.
Ice Scrapers… The Tool That Should Not Be Missing From Any Car Trunk
The good thing about ice scrapers is that they are cheap for the most part. Like with any other product there are models that have an unjustified price tag, but those do not present a point of interest for our list. A good ice scraper needs to be cheap, well made and it must not leave scratches on the window. Everyone that buys an ice scraper gets it to clean windows, and if the scraper is made from a very hard plastic with sharp edges, undesired accidents might happen.
What we did is to select 10 ice scrapers that have been selling well and come with positive feedback from the ones that already used them. It is difficult to create a genuine top 10 list since there are so many ice scrapers which are why for our list we focused on what makes sense, products that are worth spending money on, as there are far too many different models available on the market.
Best Ice Scrapers in 2019
With all these things set it is time to get right into our list of the top 10 ice scrapers starting with the worst and ending with the best. The vast majority of them are very cheap, but we also selected more expensive models. Without further ado, here are the top 10 best ice scrapers in 2019.
10. Hopkins S24-994 Mallory Maxx XS 10″ Ice Scraper with Foam Grip
Not everyone puts a lot of time into thinking what ice scraper to buy, but Hopkins did invest some effort into making something cheap and well made. The S24-944 is a simple scraper that was made to be very compact, easy to use and dirt cheap at the same time. It is made entirely out of plastic, but it is durable enough to break through ice without scratching the windshield.
The model was made with a foam handle to improve grip and comfort while using it. Its scraping edge measures 10 inches in width which should be enough to get the job done fast and easy. Having a shorter handle also means it will make it easier to apply more force in order to remove thick ice. With the aid of strong ice chippers, the scraper will not break and should be durable enough.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Foam covered handle
- Compact
Cons:
- Does not come with a brush
- Foam handle is easy to remove by accident
9. BirdRock Home 55″ Extendable Snow MOOver and Ice Scraper
BirdRock is another small brand that has just a handful of products. One of the more useful ones is the home extendable snow and ice scraper. It is not a traditional automotive ice scraper as it was designed to be used around the house well. This is mainly because it has an extendable handle making it easier to reach difficult areas. At the same time, it is just as good when used to remove ice off windshields.
The model is made mostly out of plastic with an aluminum insertion in the part that extends. The handle itself is covered with a soft foam that prevents it from getting too cold when holding it. It is not as firm as a solid handle, but it has its utility. The model makes it easy to clean snow off the top of the car or break the ice off the windows.
Pros:
- Can extend up to 55 inches
- Solid jaws that can break ice
- Ice scraper can be removed
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side
8. Hopkins 886-PKUS Mallory Pink Snow Tools 31″ Snow Brush
Hopkins 886-PKUS is a great pick for the ones that do not like the small and compact ones. It is a larger model that comes with a decent construction and a long handle. Unlike other models, it has an aluminum frame that makes it a bit more solid and a plastic scraper that will prevent it from scratching windows and windshields.
As with all other models, it was made to break the ice, but it also comes with a brush that can be used to push snow off the roof of a car. Having a longer handle makes it easier to use especially with having to deal with zones that are more difficult to reach. It measures about 31 inches while the ice scraper is rather small. Its biggest advantage is the fair price tag as there are similar models for prices that are twice as high.
Pros:
- Comes with a snow brush
- Long handle
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Foam handle will deteriorate easily
7. Snow Joe Edge SJEG01 Ice Scraper with Brass Blade
The Snow Joe Edge ice scraper is one of the few models that is actually made with a metal blade. Plastic scrapers seem to be the most popular, but Snow Joe made an interesting model by using a brass blade. Being made out of metal does not mean that it is more likely to scratch a windshield. Brass is a soft metal that can be bent easily, but it is durable enough.
In terms of construction, the model is fairly simple. It has a short handle that gets wider towards the blade. It offers a decent grip, but it does not feel very solid. The manufacturers made the scraper rather thin which can be a bit concerning. It does, however, feel lightweight and it is very compact making it ideal for car windows and windshields.
Pros:
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Brass blade
Cons:
- Does not seem very durable
6. Hopkins 999CT Mallory 35″ Ultra MAXX Snow Brush
Hopkins 999CT Mallory is a popular snow brush that was designed to last and serve even the ones with large cars such as SUVs or trucks. It has a longer handle that makes it easy to reach difficult areas such as the roof. Its construction makes it quite solid with an aluminum frame. This also makes it quite lightweight which helps a lot when having to use it for more than 10 or 15 minutes.
Like most other scrapers the model has a foam coated handle. This helps a lot as the aluminum frame can get very cold. At one end the model has a snow brush while on the other it has a regular plastic ice scraper. The price is fair, and the build quality is decent. The only problem that this model has is the same as with all other models, and that is the foam padding on the handle that comes off easily.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Long handle
- Snow brush
Cons:
- Foam padding comes off
5. Hopkins 16619 Subzero 51″ Ice Crusher Pivoting Snowbroom
Hopkins 16619 is a great all-in-one tool that will prove to be useful in multiple situations. It can be used to clean windows, brush snow off the car or even break the ice off the windshield. Its reliable construction and placement of tools make it one of the best options for the ones that do not mind spending a bit extra as it is not as cheap as some would like.
At one end of the tool, we have the ice scraper. It is made out of a hard plastic material that can break trough ice. The other end has a brush and a window cleaner. The hand grip is as expected covered with a foam material. It does improve comfort especially when the temperatures outside are very low.
Pros:
- Comes with ice scraper, brush and window cleaner
- Reasonably priced
- Good construction
Cons:
- Poor quality foam padding
4. Hopkins 532 Mallory 26″ Snow Brush with Foam Grip
Hopkins 532 Mallory is a good pick for the ones that need something cheap to deal with the snow and ice. It was designed with car owners in mind as it has a compact form factor and a decent construction. It measures about 26 inches which are not short, but it is not long either. The model is long enough to make it easy to remove the snow off the roof of the car.
Removing the ice off the windshield and windows is fairly simple as the scraper is made out of a hard plastic material and it is very durable. It will not cause any kind of scratches and to make it even more comfortable to use the manufacturers added a foam padded handle.
Pro:
- Cheap
- Well made
- Durable scraper
Cons:
- None
3. Hopkins Subzero 16621 Ice Crusher Ice Scraper
Hopkins offers a lot of different ice scrapers. It is probably the most dominant brand in the industry, and for the most part, their models are quite decent. The Subzero 16621 is a simple ice scraper that was made to be cheap and reliable. It does not have any kind of brushes or other extras. It is just a simple ice scraper with a short handle and plastic construction.
The model has an oval shape with a soft foam grip and a blade with a width of 4.5 inches. It is not as big as some would like but it works pretty well. The scraper was designed to be very small and can fit even inside the glove compartment. It measures 11 inches in length, and it is quite durable but not hard enough to cause scratches.
Pros:
- Very compact
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Cheap
Cons:
- None
2. Hopkins 19520 Subzero 22″ Super Deluxe Snowbrush
Hopkins 19520 Subzero is one of the most popular ice scrapers on the market. It has been selling well due to its low price tag and because it is more than just a simple scraper. The model actually comes with a snow brush mounted right in the middle of the tool. It has a longer handle in order to allow the brush to be used on the roof or hood of the car. Other than that the model is fairly standard. It has a plastic body, but no foam covered handle.
Not having a foam covered handle will prove to be an advantage. The scraper is less likely to slip in the hand of the user. The scraper has a bear claw shaped blade that helps break the ice but without leaving scratch marks on the glass.
Pros:
- Cheap
- Comes with a heavy duty brush
- Claw shaped ice scraper
- Durable
Cons:
- None
1. CJ Industries F101 Ice Scraper with Brass Blade
The CJ Industries F101 is by far one of the most popular models in our list. It has a simple construction and a very low price tag. The scraper itself was designed to be very small and fit inside a tool box. It has a slim profile handle and a sturdy construction. The plastic used for the scraper is a bit different as it can bend but it will not shatter.
Unlike most other ice scrapers this particular model comes with a small brass blade. Having a metal blade makes it a bit more reliable and since brass is not as hard as some of the other metals the scraper will not scratch delicate surfaces. It is an ideal choice for the ones that need something cheap and compact.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Cheap
- Metal Blade
Cons:
- None
Things To Keep In Mind
Ice scrapers can come in many types and shapes. Some of them are simple while others have additional features such as a window cleaner and a brush to remove snow. Smaller models usually only have the scraper which is good enough for the ones that need something small that can fit inside the glove compartment. The ones that need more of a multi-tool might want to look at some of the bigger models. They are more expensive, but they can also have additional tools built-in.
A thing to look out for is the foam padding. Most ice scrappers have them with only a handful not having any kind of padding. The foam layer does serve a purpose, but most of the times it will come off after using the scraper for a few times. It can still be used without the foam, but if the frame is made out of aluminum, then it will feel very cold when holding it without the foam padding. Plastic models are usually better.
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