Is shoveling or snow blowing easier on the heart?

The potential hazards of shoveling snow are well known, especially for folks over 50 who may not be in tip-top shape. But in a recent test, Consumer Reports found that operating a beefy snow blower may not be much easier on the body or the heart than hoisting a shovelful of snow.

After a recent snowstorm that dumped several inches on our headquarters in Yonkers, New York, we set up technician Eric Hado with the Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor, which relays its readings via Bluetooth to a smart phone app. Then we roped off two identical segments of a paved road—about the size of a typical driveway—and had him shovel the first side wearing the Polar as it monitored his heart rate. After returning to his resting heart rate, he cleared the second patch of road with a $1,300 Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890 31AH55Q, one of the most powerful models in our snow blower Ratings.

Hado, 57 and medium build, says he's in reasonable shape and engages in a light workout once or twice a week. Before our experiment, Hado determined his resting heart rate and his target heart-rate zone, above which someone suffering from heart disease could be at potential risk. In our tests, he worked briskly at both tasks, as someone rushing to get to work might do.

While Hado shoveled, the heart monitor recorded his average heart rate at an average 152 beats per minute, near his maximum recommended heart rate. But while he cleared the identical patch with the roughly 285-pound Troy-Bilt, which maneuvers fairly easily, his heart rate was lower, at a 135 bpm average—closer to the upper end of his target zone. In the previous week he'd hit similar bpm levels while doing leg and bench presses—and working his rowing machine.

Of course, it would take a formal study to confirm whether using a shovel or snow blower is easier on the heart. But our brief experiment at least suggests that if you don't exercise regularly you should get a checkup before shoveling or operating a heavy piece of equipment like a snow blower. Even then, take your time when clearing your driveway or sidewalk.

Need a new snow blower?

Due to the prolonged winter weather, we've seen snow blowers selling briskly at nearby home improvement stores. At Lowe's we found one selling for $50 off, and the discounts are bound to get deeper still with spring only a few weeks away. In addition to the Troy-Bilt and the comparably performing Ariens 921032, $1,300, consider the compact, 24-inch two-stage Craftsman 88173, $680, and the single-stage, 21-inch Toro Power Clear 721E, $570. Be sure to check our snow blower buying guide before viewing our snow blower Ratings of more than 110 models.

—Ed Perratore (@EdPerratore on Twitter)