How to Snowplow-Proof Your Mailbox

Nothing is quite so disheartening in the dead of winter as a mailbox knee capped by a snowplow or decapitated by the heavy wet stuff the plow throws its way. But there are mailbox posts that revolve, seesaw, and literally spring out of the way. Bonus: Come summer, your mailbox stands more of a chance against a carful of baseball-bat-wielding, beer-swilling teens.

• The Push Me Mailstation, Return-to-Center Mailbox System, and MailSwing each swivel 360 degrees — no standing in the street to pick up bills and circulars. (pushmemailstation.com, returntocentermailbox.com, mailswing.com)

• With the Tip Up Mailbox Kit, a weight raises the box up and out of harm’s way. The mail carrier pulls a rope, brings the box back down, and fills it with those catalogs you don’t want. (tipupmailboxkit.com)

• The Alpha Mailbox Protector enlists a heavy-duty spring to give the mailbox some flexibility if it’s hit. (alphamailpro.com)