Craftsman 31AE5HTG799

Reviews say the Craftsman nine-horsepower snow blowers are your best value for deep snow (8 or more inches) and big driveways. The Craftsman 31AE5HTG799 has a 28-inch wide clearing path, along with a joystick chute control and independent wheel disengagement for better maneuvering. It has six forward and two-reverse speeds, as well as a headlight. It costs more, but the Toro Power Max 828 LXE (*est. $1,500) has a longer throw distance that's better for wide driveways.

We found the best snow blower ratings at Consumer Reports magazine, although it ranks only the belt-drive model, and a subscription is required to see the rankings chart. While some Consumer Guide snow blower reviews say they involve hands-on testing, we saw no indication of testing for its evaluation of the Craftsman.