I’ll be honest with you — when I first began researching and reviewing the best ice scrapers on the market, I found myself giving the topic more thought than some other product reviews I’ve worked on: Do people really care about ice scrapers? Is this something they’re curious about?

Sure, you can head to your local dollar store and pick up the cheapest option the store has on the shelf. I don’t blame you if you do. But, when you invest in something as important as an ice scraper — the handy, should-be-in-your trunk tool that can really save you in a weather emergency (like your snow blower) — you’ll be thankful.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think there was a whole lot of variety with ice scrapers until I did my homework. Of course, I was familiar with the handheld plastic scrapers and some that are dual-sided for scrape-and-brush convenience, but there are more types as well. Some are even heated, some are fit for your windows (or both) and others look synonymous with weed whackers — the heavy-duty tool that’s a more premium way to shave ice from your vehicle.

Ahead, you’ll find all of my testing notes. And, perfect timing, too. I put on my puffer coat, my scarf, my hat and gloves to do the hands-on work of putting ice scrapers to the test. Spoiler alert: yes, each one is unique, and yes, each one is worth the pick-me-up.

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Testing ice scrapers seems like a far-fetched ordeal (but, don’t let the New York Post fool you — we test everything, even ice cream scoops). You certainly don’t want to eat ice cream in the extreme cold, so let’s hop right into the review criteria I kept in mind when using each model, so you can go back inside after scraping and treat yourself to some hot soup instead:

Birdrock Home 24″ Snow Brush with Detachable Ice Scraper for Car (2-Pack)

I own a 2021 Hyundai Tuscon (which, I highly recommend; it was my favorite purchase of 2023 by far). Because it’s my new little baby, I’m even more determined to take care of it as such — and, this ice scraper is a tool that now lives inside of my car.

Ready to tackle any weather condition, the Birdrock Home 24″ Snow Brush with Detachable Ice Scraper for Car (2-Pack) is the fully functional ice removal tool that I knew, from first use, would be my go-to option among others in the litter. I’ve never been treated to such nice, thick bristles and a well-made scraper that didn’t scratch or mark up my dash (the most critical factor) and allowed me to remove an entire blanket of snow from my compact SUV in around 15 minutes or so.

For stubborn NJ snow in the middle of January, I’d say that’s a feat in and of itself.

I love that it’s practically handheld size, equivalent to the length of most handheld vacuums. The PVC bristles were sturdy enough to brush off the snow off my vehicle almost instantaneously yet flexible enough — particularly at the tips — to reach snow in the hard-to-reach nook and crannies of my car, like the crevices between my windshield wipers and my dash.

For less than $25 on Amazon, it’s the crème de la crème. And, with nearly 4,000 Amazon shoppers singing its praises, I’m not the only one who thinks so.

For only $4, this is the only tool you’ll need to remove ice on small areas of your car. Luckily, the SubZero Windshield Scraper is at Target, and you better grab it while you can.

It doesn’t look revolutionary at first glance — but it is. I wouldn’t say it’s strong enough to power through a couple of inches of set-in snow but it’s just what I love to use for my morning commute (on days where I unfortunately have lost the who-gets-the-garage-spot-today game in my household — thanks mom and dad).

All jokes aside, it’s made well for only costing $4. I love the rubber grip and surprisingly aggressive scraper at the bottom — a scraper that, despite cutting through snow, doesn’t leave a mark on my car’s paint.

I don’t know about you, but I was a bit nervous to use a heated ice scraper. I’ve seen kitchen horror stories occur in my household (you know, the ones that start with hot water and end in glass shattering), so I was a bit wary of using one on my very expensive car that I certainly didn’t want to transition into a trip to the body shop. However, this ice scraper works wonders.

With the Zone Tech Extendable Heated Ice Scraper with LED Light, I was able to head outside after sundown and perfect the exterior of my car, rendering it clear as day. Though I don’t like that it comes with a cord (I prefer my appliances and devices cordless, like my vacuums), it wasn’t a dealbreaker. And, hopefully, you won’t have to use this all too often.

What I love most about this ice scraper, in particular, is its built-in rubber squeegee to wipe away excess water. For one, I don’t want water seeping inside my car’s leather interior and, secondly, I want an unobstructed view after I’m finished scraping. With the handy light and ergonomic handle, I achieve just that.

For SUVs and trucks, you want to invest in the Snow MOOver Extendable Snow Brush with Detachable Ice Scraper. While my mom enjoys using this model on her four-door Lexus sedan, it’s surely more equipped for larger cars since you can stash it in your backseat or trunk when done, without compromising too much room. However, if you opt to store it in your garage or shed, this has the get-it-done-quicker appeal.

For starters, I learned that this model comes with an ice scraper and jaws. So, you use the jaws to break up the ice, then use the scraper to remove it. I loved this feature because it allowed me to scrape faster (and, when it’s 18 degrees outside, that’s important).

Additionally, I felt like I had a strong grip on this ice scraper despite its nearly human-sized design. It’s an exceptional tool that makes an even greater gift for anyone you know with a car. Let’s just say everyone in my family is fighting over it.

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