Now that winter’s here, it’s necessary to equip yourself with the best long ice scraper possible. Anyone can attest that one of the worst parts about winter is having a thick snow blanket all over your car, which can only be made worse by having thin layers of ice form on your windshield. To that end, we made a list of the best ice scrapers that can handle even the thickest sheets of snow.
We tested out over a dozen ice scrapers, from department store products to specialized, 3-in-1 tools, to find which ones are worth purchasing. After about a day of scraping ice off a sheet of glass, we found that simplicity was king. The Subzero 532 Ice Scraper made it to the top of our list because of its straightforward design and reliability. If you’re looking for something with a few more bells and whistles, then we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out more about our other favorite ice scrapers for the winter season.
Top 7 Best Long Ice Scraper Compared
#1 Subzero 532 Ice Scraper – Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Subzero 532 is as simple as it gets, but it gets the job done regardless. This 26-inch long plastic ice scraper comes with four rows of bristles that can easily wipe snow off any surface as well as a small ice scraper blade for thin ice buildup.
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- Great for heavy snow
- 26” long
- Comfortable to use
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- Questionable durability
- Fixed length
- Small ice scraper blade
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If you’re looking for a brush and ice scraper to use for light to moderate snowfall, then the Subzero 532 is the best option you’ve got. The 532 has four rows of bristles to brush heavy snow off of your car, while its 4-inch blade can help you crack any ice that may have built up overnight. If you need something stronger for your driveway or sidewalk, check out the best ice scraper for sidewalk.
The 532 may not have a telescoping handle or adjustable brush head like our other picks, but its relatively short length makes it very easy – and sturdy – to store in the trunk of your car for emergencies. The bristles are tough, but regular use can soften them up significantly, making this item less useful against heavy snowfall. If you need a heavy-duty snow scraper with extra reach perfect for larger vehicles, then check out the Hopkins SubZero Avalanche Snow Brush Ice Scraper. This 2 in 1 brush/scraper design is ideal for heavy snow removal and breaking up tough ice. This is certainly one of the best tools for the job.
#2 Birdrock Home Snow MOOver – Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: This pick features a swiveling brush head for cleaning awkward angles and is lightweight (0.45lbs).. The Snow MOOver is the shortest ice scraper in this list (24 inches), making it very easy to store. It’s great for small cars.
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- Most compact
- Swiveling brush head
- Compact and lightweight
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- Low durability
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The Snow MOOver features a swiveling brush head as well as an ice scraper at the base of its 24-inch long handle. The bristles on the brush are thick but not stiff enough to cause any scratches on glass or car paint, while the ice scraper has non-scratch jaws to keep any surface scratch-free while cleaning. Unfortunately, ice is not the only thing you need to clean or get rid of. You also need to keep your driveway free from leaves and other debris. Thankfully, the best leaf blower is up to the task. Check it out!
The swiveling head makes this scraper easy to store and even easier to maneuver when wiping hoods, roofs, or windshields. It is one of the best car accessories for your trunk.
#3 Hopkins 583-EP Telescoping Broom – Best Telescopic Broom
WHY WE LIKE IT: This 34” snow brush and ice scraper when fully extended is practically a snow broom. It can extend to 52”, making it longer than our previous picks, which is great for larger vehicles. We also appreciated its 10-inch long brush head that can brush away wide areas at once and its slightly bigger 5-inch scraper blade.
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- Telescoping pole
- Extends from 34–52 inches
- 10-inch pivoting head
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- Extension locks are flimsy
- Bad against heavy ice buildup
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The Hopkins 583-EP is a telescoping brush/ice scraper that’s made for large vehicles like trucks and SUVs. Its handle is a decently long 34 inches in length at base. If needed, it can be extended up to 52 inches. The brush head is 10-inches wide, but it can be pivoted for easier storage.
The 583-EP has excellent reach, and it can effortlessly clear snow sheets so long as they aren’t too thick. It can last for a decently long time with moderate use, but we recommend heavier-duty ice scrapers for areas that experience heavy snowfall. This is a great option if you aren’t using the best de-icer car spray.
#4 AstroAI 27” Snow Brush and Ice Scraper – Best Durability
WHY WE LIKE IT: AstroAI’s 27-inch long scraper has a 7-inch brush head and a 4.5-inch wide ice scraper blade for faster cleaning, and despite its plastic body, it’s sturdy and durable. This ice scraper can also be detached into two different parts for easy storage.
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- Very durable
- Made of strong ABS plastic
- 27-inches long
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- Stiff bristles
- Fixed head position
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AstroAI’s ice scraper has a unique design that makes it easily detachable for easier storage. Its shaft is made of sturdy ABS plastic that rivals cheap metal and bends less than other types of plastic. It features a 7-inch brush and a 4.5-inch scraper blade for increased efficiency, while its overall length of 27 inches makes it ideal for smaller cars.
Its fixed head makes it less versatile than other options in this list, but it can still pull its own weight. Because of the thick bristles of this brush, we recommend this item for areas that frequently experience heavy snowfall or blizzards. Obviously, this won’t work for sidewalks, but we know what will. The best de-icer for sidewalks! Check it out.
#5 Drivaid Snow Brush with Squeegee – Best Squeegee
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WHY WE LIKE IT: This model from Drivaid acts as a 3-in-1 tool that combines a snow brush, ice scraper, and squeegee. We particularly like it because it can also work as a squeegee, offering an extra dimension of utility.
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- Built-in squeegee
- Sturdy aluminum handle
- 32–46.5” long
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- Slightly flimsy swivel
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This multi-tool from Drivaid can be very handy when driving out in extreme wet or cold weather conditions. You can easily brush snow and scrape ice off of your windshield with this, but its built-in squeegee means you can completely clean any window. It has a telescoping 32-inch shaft that can extend to 46.5 inches, making it great for trucks and SUVs.
Despite the tool’s somewhat wobbly swivel, the Drivaid Snow Brush is a very reliable piece of equipment that can really help you out during heavy snowfall. This is a great piece of outdoor gear.
#6 Mallory 996-35 MAXX – Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Mallory 996-35 MAXX is a simple and straightforward brush and ice scraper model, equipped with a 35-inch long shaft that makes it suitable for large vehicles and tough bristles that are great for thick snow. The main pole is made of lightweight aluminum (0.55lbs), and its grip is molded for leverage, making it easy to handle.
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- Easy to maneuver
- 35” long
- Molded grip for leverage
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- Fixed length
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The Mallory 996-35 MAXX doesn’t have a pivoting brush head nor does it have a telescoping handle, but it makes up for it by being very light for its size. This 35-inch long ice scraper weighs only 0.55lbs, and its molded grip makes it easy to handle. It also has highly firm bristles on its brush head that lends itself well against thick snow blankets without being too oppressive to sensitive surfaces.
Its fixed length makes it a bit difficult to store inside small vehicles. If you want something smaller, then the Subzero 532 is a very similar yet smaller alternative to this one. You may also want to consider the best truck floor mats since winter can get your car dirty.
#7 MATCC Snow Brush with Squeegee and Ice Scraper – Best Quality
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
WHY WE LIKE IT: Like the Drivaid brush, the MATCC Snow Brush also comes with a squeegee along with the usual ice scraper. This 31.8” long tool has a wide-sweeping 12” brush/squeegee head for faster cleaning, and the fork-design on its ice scraper guarantees no scratches whatsoever.
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- Built-in squeegee
- Pivoting head with extendable handle
- 1-year warranty
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- Can be challenging to assemble
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In essence, the MATCC Snow Brush can fill the same niche as the previously covered Drivaid brush. The MATCC brush is 31.8-inches long when fully extended, and its 12-inch brush can quickly sweep off any snow. Its bristles hold together rather well, and they’re firm enough to handle thick snow without causing any scratches. The same goes for the ice scraper.
The main gripe we have with this ice scraper is the assembly. You need to assemble this on your own, which shouldn’t be too hard.. Thankfully, MATCC provides a 1-year warranty for this product, and in the case of mismatching parts, you can ask for a replacement free of charge. With this in your trunk, along with the best car jack, you are all set.
How We Decided
While picking our favorites, we’ve decided to narrow down the factors that would determine which item was going on this list. First off, we chose the ice scrapers that were at least 24 inches long, which is right around the perfect length to use for small cars. A 24-inch long scraper is enough for most situations, but we tried our best to include longer ones that reached up to 50-inches long for larger SUVs or trucks.
Next, we tried out the strength of each brush’s bristles. Stiff bristles can easily scratch a windshield or the paint off of a car, while soft bristles won’t really be of much help against thick snow. We tested these brushes out on a small, glass pane to see if they caused any significant damage or if they worked as intended. All of our favorites managed to pass this test, even the ones with tougher bristles than others.
Lastly, we considered the size and design of each long scraper to gauge their portability and ease of use. Scrapers over 50 inches long were definitely useful for reaching out farther, but they were impractical to bring outside of the garage. To that end, we chose scrapers that were around the 30-inch mark so you can have some options that can easily fit inside your trunk.
Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Bristle Strength
The bristles on a snow brush can potentially cause damage to certain surfaces, including most types of glass and car paint. Brush bristles that are too soft, however, may not be the most useful at sweeping off snow. - Size/Length
The length of the ice scraper affects both its usefulness and its portability. Scrapers past 30 inches are usually cumbersome and hard to store inside small vehicles, while those below 30 inches may have trouble reaching car roofs or the middle part of car windshields. - Durability
Another essential feature to consider is an ice scraper’s durability. It has to be tough against snow sheets even after regular use. Its build has to be dependable and made of quality materials, such as heavy-duty ABS plastic or sturdy aluminum. - Squeegee
Some scrapers come with a built-in squeegee. This tool adds to the efficiency of the scraper itself and helps remove melted snow from your car windows and windshields.
