2-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

Two-stage throwers for sloping or gravel driveways

Two-stage snow throwers will work fine on slopes and loose surfaces. For most home use, two-stagers with seven- to nine-horsepower engines will handle between eight and 16 inches of snow. Since they have more power and are self-propelled, these snow blowers will handle driveways on an incline, uneven surfaces and deeper, wetter snow. Some even feature heated handles to keep the operator's hands warm. Unlike single-stage augers, two-stage auger blades aren't supposed to touch the plowing surface and will consequently leave some snow on the ground. But you don't want to leave too much, so check to see how close the scraper bar adjusts relative to the skid shoes. Clearing paths for two-stage blowers vary between 21 and 31 inches in width.

In this category, reviewers again like Toro snow blowers. The eight-horsepower Toro Power Max 828 LXE (*Est. $1,670) tops other two-stage snow throwers. This 250-pound Toro has a 21-inch, single-pass snow cut depth, which ensures you won't be going over the same areas twice. Its Tecumseh eight-horsepower four-cycle engine has six forward speeds, two reverse speeds, an electric starter and is rated to perform better than others in very cold weather. The Power Max 828 has a 28-inch-wide clearing path and a throw distance of 45 feet. Reviewers say that the joystick control for adjusting the chute direction works especially well. The Toro snow blower's wheels can be independently disengaged via controls on the handles, which means that you can disengage one wheel to turn the machine more easily. The Power Max 828 also has a headlight and comes with a two-year warranty.

The Toro Power Max 1028 LXE (*Est. $1,770) and the Toro Power Max 1128 OXE (*Est. $1,960) are step-up versions of the 828 LXE, with ten-horsepower and eleven-horsepower engines respectively. The larger Toro 1128 OXE has a Tecumseh four-cycle overhead-valve (OHV) engine and weighs more than the other two Toro Power Max snow blowers, but it's both more efficient and more powerful. While all three Power Max blowers have a single-pass snow cut depth of 21 inches and throw distance of 45 feet, the Toro 828 LXE is rated to remove up to 2,000 pounds of snow per minute while the 1028 LXE can move 2,100 pounds and the 1128 OXE 2,200 pounds.

The discontinued nine-horsepower Craftsman 88790 (*Est. $950) was very similar to the more expensive Toro Power Max 828 LXE, but it didn't throw snow as far. Sears has replaced the 88790 with the 88999 (*Est. $1,070), which is basically the same unit. Like its predecessor, the 88999 is powered by a Briggs & Stratton four-cycle 250cc OHV engine with six forward and two reverse gears. It still has a 21-inch snow cut depth, a 28-inch clearing path, joystick chute control and a headlight. The major difference between the 88790 and 88999 is that the new model has an extended chute and slightly wider three-inch skid plates.

The Craftsman 88999 has not been tested and reviewed by experts as of this writing, but Sears.com has one owner-written review for this model with a five-star rating. The owner reports that it handles wet, heavy snow well, was free of clogging problems and that the power steering made it easy to maneuver. The chute control, however, was "a little touchy to use but okay."

One of the newer Craftsman snow blowers -- the Craftsman 88106 (*Est. $1,200) -- has 17 owner-written reviews with an average 3.9 out of five rating. A step up from the 88999, this snow blower weighs the same 220 pounds but sports bigger features, such as a Briggs & Stratton 305cc OHV engine with a 14.5 torque rating, a 23-inch snow cut depth, 30-inch clearing path, drift cutters and a slightly wider tire size. Most notably, the 88106 has a variable rather than notched gear control. On the other hand, it does not have a joystick-controlled, extended chute like the 88999; instead, the 88106 snow blower has a metal chute controlled by a single lever.

Overall, users report the Craftsman 88106 is easy to start and powerful, yet easy to maneuver. A number of owners, however, report parts and service problems, including loose nuts and bolts, broken drive belts and difficulty finding replacement parts, such as shear bolts.

The Craftsman 88999 and 88106 cost up to $600 less than the Toro Power Max 828 LXE. Depending on forthcoming expert and user reviews, these snow blowers might prove to be excellent values.

Two other brands offer models with similar features in the same price range as the Craftsman snow blowers: The Husqvarna 924SB (*Est. $1,000) and Poulan Pro PR8527ES (*Est. $1,000). The 924SB shares many of the same features as the Toro 828 LXE and Craftsman 88999 -- a nine-horsepower engine by Tecumseh, six forward and two reverse gears, a 23-inch intake height and a 30-foot throwing distance, but has a narrower clearing path of 24 inches. That means clearing a drive will take longer, but the snow blower is easier to store while still packing the snow-moving power of the bigger blowers. Like the Craftsman, we did not find expert or owner reviews for this product at this time.

The Poulan PR8527ES has received five-star reviews from a total of seven owners between Amazon.com and Northern Tool and Equipment who agree that this is a "workhorse" and an "overachiever." The 280-pound Poulan snow blower has an 8.5 horsepower Tecumseh L-Head engine with an electric starter, six forward and two reverse gears, a 27-inch clearing path and 23-inch snow cut depth. One feature it doesn't have, however, is a headlight.

If you would prefer a smaller two-stage snow blower, Popular Mechanics highlights the discontinued Ariens ST524 (*Est. $700), but SnowBlowersDirect.com recommends a comparable model, the Ariens 520E. It weighs 173 pounds, and its four-cycle, 195cc Tecumseh Snow King L-Head engine has a slightly lower five-horsepower rating compared to 5.5 on the Ariens ST524. With six forward and two reverse gears and an electric start, the 520E has a 17.5-inch intake height, 35-foot throw distance and 200-degree chute radius.

The 20-inch clearing path of the Ariens 520E snow blower is smaller than the Craftsman and Toro snow blowers. While that means it will take more time to clear the driveway, the Ariens will also take up less garage space, especially with its fold-down handles. The Ariens doesn't have independently disengaged wheels, but it does have a three-year warranty. SnowBlowersDirect.com says that it is good for "relatively small" gravel surfaces."

A slight upgrade to the Ariens 520E Compact is the Ariens 624E Compact (*Est. $900), which has similar features to the 520E. At 160 pounds, it weighs a bit less but comes with a six-horsepower, 195cc Tecumseh Snow King OHV 195cc engine and a wider 24-inch clearing path. The 624E is a best-seller at SnowBlowersDirect.com and a "Best Buy" at Consumer Guide, which gave it a top rating of five out of five. Consumer Guide says 624E is a mid-sized, mid-priced "durable unit" that packs features found on pricier machines and is best suited for consumers who have moderate snowfalls with an occasional snowstorm. We haven't seen any owner feedback on this model, however.