WHAT ARE SKID SHOES ON A SNOW SHOVEL?
Skid shoes are small contact points positioned beneath a snow-removal tool. On Crack Jumper™, they are designed to encounter deck-board gaps before the blade edge, helping the shovel rise over the interruption instead of catching abruptly.
SKID SHOES HELP A TOOL MOVE OVER INTERRUPTIONS IN THE SURFACE.
Skid shoes have long been used on snowblowers and snowplows to control how the equipment interacts with the surface beneath it.
Crack Jumper™ applies that basic concept to a hand-operated snow shovel, but with a specific purpose: helping the blade transition across gaps between deck boards.
A CONVENTIONAL BLADE CAN HIT THE GAP FIRST.
When a traditional snow shovel moves across a deck, the leading edge of the blade can encounter the space between adjacent boards. That can abruptly interrupt the forward motion of the shovel.
THE INVENTION IS IN THE BLADE.
THE SHOVEL MOVES FORWARD
As the user pushes the shovel across the deck, the blade and skid shoes approach the next deck-board gap.
THE SKID SHOE REACHES THE GAP
The skid shoe is positioned to encounter the opening before the main blade edge.
THE BLADE BEGINS TO RISE
The geometry of the skid shoe helps guide the blade upward as the shovel crosses the interruption.
THE SHOVEL CONTINUES FORWARD
Instead of the blade edge entering the gap directly, the design helps the shovel transition across it more smoothly.
CONVENTIONAL BLADE VS. CRACK JUMPER™
DESIGNED AROUND HOW A SHOVEL MOVES ACROSS A DECK.
SMOOTHER TRANSITION ACROSS BOARD GAPS
The skid-shoe geometry is designed to help the shovel transition across deck-board gaps rather than meeting them directly with the blade edge.
DECK-CONSCIOUS BLADE DESIGN
Crack Jumper™ combines the skid-shoe system with a non-metal blade construction intended for use on deck surfaces as well as conventional snow-clearing areas.
CONTINUOUS PUSHING MOTION
Reducing abrupt catches can help the user maintain a more consistent pushing motion while clearing snow.
A PURPOSE-BUILT SOLUTION
The skid shoes are not decorative additions. They are the central feature of the patented Crack Jumper™ design.
THE SHOVEL ISN'T LIMITED TO DECKS.
Crack Jumper™ can also be used on other snow-clearing surfaces such as sidewalks, patios, and driveways.
The skid shoes are designed primarily to address interruptions such as deck-board gaps. On relatively smooth surfaces, the shovel operates much like a conventional pushing shovel.
A PATENTED APPROACH TO A COMMON PROBLEM.
Crack Jumper™ was developed around a simple observation: the problem was not necessarily the deck or the user. The leading edge of the shovel was encountering the gap first.
Moving the first point of contact beneath the blade created a different way for the shovel to approach that interruption.
Crack Jumper™ is an original US.SHOVEL product developed and manufactured in the United States.
MEET THE CRACK JUMPER™ SNOW SHOVEL
See the patented skid shoes, two-handed grip, adjustable handle, product specifications, and where to buy.
SNOW SHOVEL SKID SHOE FAQ
WHAT ARE SKID SHOES ON A SNOW SHOVEL?
On Crack Jumper™, skid shoes are raised contact points positioned on the blade. They are designed to encounter deck-board gaps before the main blade edge.
WHY WOULD A SNOW SHOVEL NEED SKID SHOES?
A conventional blade can catch when its leading edge encounters an interruption such as a deck-board gap. Skid shoes provide a different first point of contact.
DO SKID SHOES KEEP A SNOW SHOVEL FROM CATCHING?
They are designed to help the shovel transition across deck-board gaps more smoothly. Surface conditions, gap dimensions, debris, snow conditions, and other factors can affect how any shovel performs.
CAN CRACK JUMPER™ BE USED ON A DRIVEWAY OR SIDEWALK?
Yes. The shovel can be used on decks as well as other common snow-clearing surfaces such as sidewalks, patios, and driveways.
Deck materials, board spacing, surface conditions, and manufacturer recommendations vary. Crack Jumper™ is designed to help transition across deck-board gaps and uses a non-metal blade construction, but no snow shovel can guarantee uninterrupted movement or prevention of surface marking under every condition. Inspect the shovel and surface before use and follow the care instructions for your specific decking product.