Best Snow Blower: This high-capacity one-stage, two-stage, and three-stage machines will quickly clear your driveway. If your area only experiences a few winter storms, you might be better off hiring a local plowing service or digging out with a shovel to clear your driveway. If there is more snow than that, your best chance is to choose a snow blower that is matched to the amount of snow and the amount of effort you wish to put into removing it.
The 6 Best Snow Blower Product Reviews
One of the more considered investments you’ll make as a homeowner is a new snow blower, yet the appropriate machine is out there. “Manufacturers offer a selection of models to choose from, whatever size, price point, and power supply meets your needs,” says Kris Kiser, president, and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.
The specialists at the Good Housekeeping Institute road-tested various models and combed through reams of specifications and test documentation to determine the winners in each category.
We also joined up with Brad Ford, Popular Mechanics’ test editor, who has examined dozens of snow blowers over the years, simulating severe snowfall with dump truck-size piles of wet sawdust; Ford also uses snow blowers at his home in eastern Pennsylvania, where 18-inch snowfalls are common.
In addition to assisting us in finding the best snow blowers available this winter, Ford discussed the features that matter most, from headlights to heated handgrips, as well as why it might make sense to choose from the ever-improving category of battery-powered snow blowers, especially if you want a greener alternative to gas that “won’t tickle your neighbors at 5 a.m.,” as he puts it. The following models won a spot in our roundup of the finest snow blowers based on all of those factors:
1. Power Max HD 828 Snow Blower
• Gas as a power source
• Two-stage blower mechanism
• Self-propelled with an engine
• 45-foot throw distance
• Length of clearance: 28 inches
This self-propelled Toro snow blower will get the job done in all but the snowiest circumstances, thanks to its sizeable 28-inch clearing deck and two-stage action that can fling snow up to 45 feet. If you live in the suburbs, it should have no issue blasting through the icy pile left by the town’s snow plows vehicles at the bottom of your driveway.
The Toro Power Max offers many features that our engineers seek, like an LED headlight and a “Quick Stick” chute control that allows you to target the blown snow in multiple directions quickly.
It also includes an electric start, though, as with many gas blowers. You’ll need to plug it in with this function to get it started. Last but not least, the Toro is well-built, with steel construction throughout all essential components, so it should last many seasons if properly maintained.
2. 2X 26-inch Gas Snow Blower
• Gas as a power source
• Type of blower: two-stage
• Transmission: manual
• 40-foot throw distance
• Width of clearance: 26 inches
Despite having a narrower clearing path than the Toro, this 26-inch wide two-stage snow blower with a six-speed motor offers virtually the same power and control for hundreds less. The small design, along with single-hand turning, provides excellent control and maneuverability, which is especially useful if your driveway and walkways have many twists and turns.
Electric start, LED headlight, and plastic, non-marking skid shoes that won’t scrape pavement, decorative pavers, or fancy garage floor coatings are just a few of the features available on the Cub Cadet.
3. 3X 30-inch Snow Blower
• Gas as a power source
• Type of blower: three-stage
• Self-propelled with an engine
• 40-foot throw distance
• Width of clearance: 30 inches
If you live in a snowy area or have a large driveway to clear, you might consider upgrading to a three-stage snow blower, which is named for the accelerator that helps discharge more snow at a faster rate. Cub Cadet came up with the idea a few years ago, and its performance continues to astound our engineers, with the caveat that it’s overkill in all but the most extreme conditions.
The 30-inch clearing path of this beast of a gas blower is as broad as they come. The self-propelled engine and track construction provide excellent traction and stability on hills (Cub Cadet also has a version of its three-stage snow blower with tires, good for getting around the flat ground). Electric start, LED headlight, and heated handgrips are among the features you’ll like in cold weather.
4.100-Volt iONPRO Cordless Snow Blower
• Battery as a power source
• Type of blower: two-stage
• Self-propelled with an engine
• 52-foot throw distance
• Width of clearance: 24 inches
Battery-powered snow blowers, like electric cars, are improving in performance, albeit they’re still not as fast or strong as gas snow blowers. Battery-powered snow removal is worth considering if your snow removal needs are more modest, with typical snowfall in the six- to 12-inch range. Our engineers put this two-stage Snow Joe model through its paces and discovered that its 21-inch clearing path was on the narrow side, necessitating more passes to plow the driveway.
However, the self-propelled engine and dual 100-volt rechargeable batteries had incredible power and throwing distance. The Snow Joe’s run time is less than thirty minutes, making it ideal for less severe wintry weather.
5. Cordless Single Stage Snow Thrower
• Battery as a power source
• Type of blower: single-stage
• Transmission: manual
• 35-foot throw distance
• Width of clearance: 21 inches
Single-stage snow blowers aren’t designed for blizzards because they only have one drill blowing snow, but they can handle minor snowfalls quickly. This Ryobi would be ideal in metropolitan areas with shorter driveways and front pathways.
It has a reasonable cleaning path of 21 inches and runs on two 40-volt rechargeable batteries for a claimed 40-minute run duration. Ryobi claims the machine can hurl snow up to 35 feet, which Ford believes is probably true in light, dry snow, but anticipate decreasing a little in heavier, wet snow.
6. Corded Electric Snow Thrower
• Electricity as a power source
• Type of blower: single-stage
• Transmission: manual
• Throwing range: 20 ft.
• Width of clearance: 21 inches
A corded electric snow blower eliminates the need for gasoline and requires minimal engine maintenance. The disadvantage is the power cord’s annoyance and the fact that they don’t create a lot of power.
They can be a good choice if you only need to clear light snowfall from a deck, patio, or small driveway. Snow Joe’s single-stage corded snow blower isn’t as strong as its battery-powered sibling, but it should suffice for small snowfalls. It has a clearing path of 21 inches and a reported throw distance of 20 feet.
Before you buy a snow blower, there are a few things you should know.
Before you buy a snow blower, ask yourself the following questions:
What are the many snow blower types?
Snow blowers are usually classified according to their power source: gas, electric, or battery.
• The most prevalent are gas snow blowers, which use normal unleaded gasoline from the gas station.
• Electric snow blowers feature a cord that can be plugged into a 100-foot extension cord (the greatest length the cord can be and still transfer enough power to the snow blower).
• Rechargeable batteries power battery-powered snow blowers, which have average run periods of 30 to 60 minutes.
Is a one-stage, two-stage, or three-stage snow blower better?
This is yet another classification for snow blowers, making the decision-making process a little more complicated — especially now that there are a few three-stage snow blowers on the market. Here’s how it works in a nutshell:
• Single-stage snow blowers: These blowers have a single paddle that takes up snow from the ground and ejects it up the chute, whether they are gas, electric, or battery-powered. There are limits to how much snow can be thrown and how far it can be dragged through the machine. Plus, because they’re usually not self-propelled, you’ll have to perform the heavy lifting.
• Dual-stage snow blowers: These blowers start with a similar augur design but include an impeller, which is a fan-like mechanism that helps discharge snow out the chute. Two-stage machines can move more snow at a faster rate and fling it farther with the increased force. For easier cleaning, they’re frequently self-propelled.
• Snow blowers with three stages: As you might expect, these snow blowers contain a third component called an accelerator that helps transfer snow from the drill to the impeller. Snow blowers with three stages are the most powerful and throw the furthest. Commercial-grade machines are always self-propelled and run solely on gasoline.
Consider how much snow your home gets in single dumping and how far you need to toss it when deciding which snow blower is right for you (basically, how wide is your driveway). If you get hit by multiple blizzards a year and have a two-car driveway or more extensive, you’ll want a gas-powered snow blower with two or three stages for maximum power and self-propelled operation; these rugged machines can even blast through the icy pile that municipal snow plowing trucks leave at the foot of driveways. A two-stage blower — whether gas, electric, or battery-powered — should be able to handle a couple of six- to 12-inch snowfalls in a regular season. A single-stage snow blower with any power source will suffice if it’s less than that.
How do you pick the best snow blower for your needs?
Now that you’ve learned about the many types of snow blowers, you can choose the right one by balancing the following factors:
• Noise: One of the significant drawbacks of strong gas snow blowers is noise. That’s not good for your ears (which is why we strongly advise using ear protection when running these devices), and it’s not good for your neighbors, especially early in the morning. Consider a quiet electric or battery-powered snow blower if you don’t have a lot of wet, heavy snow. “You won’t need ear protection, and your ears won’t be ringing at the end of the task,” Ford says.
• Wheels vs. tracks: Most snow blowers have wheels, which make maneuverability easier, mainly if they’re driven by an engine, as two-stage snow blowers are. On the other hand, channels offer more grip and stability, giving them an edge on slopes or over uneven surfaces, but they’re also more challenging to turn.
• Electric start: This is far more convenient than tugging a pull rope in the dead of winter. The electric start on gas vehicles requires a power cord hooked into an outside outlet.
• Headlight: Most two- and three-stage snow blowers have this function. “It’s a must in my book,” Ford says, “especially if you have to clear out to the road and work in low-light scenarios.”
• Heated hand grips: Freezing fingers make it difficult, if not impossible, to blow snow. “I have a large area to cover, and if we receive 18 inches of snow, I may be dealing with snow removal for five hours,” Ford adds.
• Joystick chute control: If the neighbors (and their cars) are close by, this handheld operation makes it simple to change the vertical and horizontal direction of the discharge chute.
What are the snow blower’s maintenance requirements?
Check the shear pins regularly, as they protect the engine by breaking if the auger jams. You’ll also want to check the belts for wear and tear, maintain adequate tire pressure, and, of course, clear the area you’ll be blowing of any sticks, toys, tools, or the like before the storm arrives so you don’t run over them and harm the machine.
Check the oil level in gas snow blowers before each usage. If the machine will stay idle for an extended period, drain the tank or apply a fuel stabiliser to prevent gasoline from breaking down and clogging the fuel lines and carburetor.
Because cold temperatures can cause snow blower batteries to degrade, keep and charge them inside your home for battery-powered blowers.
Is it safe to use a snow blower?
When used correctly, yes! First and foremost, do not place your hands within the chute. If you need to clear a clog, turn off the snow blower and use the clean out tool provided by the manufacturer. Because of flying boulders and other missiles, it’s also crucial to make sure no one is standing in front of the snow blower when it’s in operation; always keep children and dogs inside when using the equipment. Finally, only use a surge protector rated for outdoor use while using an electric snow blower, and be careful not to run over the cable.
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