See Also
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
by Editors of Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has the best comparative review out there on snow blowers, even though some of the recommended models have been discontinued. Twelve different two-stage gas, single-stage gas and electric… snow throwers are evaluated, with the test results summarized in a ratings chart. Consumer Reports also provides a useful buyer's guide meant to help match your needs with the right type of snow blower.
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Contributors to Sears.com
The Sears website lists all currently available Craftsman snow blowers, and many also feature detailed user reviews. Since Craftsman products aren't available anywhere else, this is the best place to find… owner opinions on Craftsman snow blowers. Sears has updated its snow blower lineup for 2008-2009, and there aren't many user reviews for the new models yet. The popular Craftsman 9-horsepower 88790 has been replaced by the Craftsman 88999. The new model has not been tested by experts, and Sears.com has just one four-star owner-written review.
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Consumer Guide provides coverage of 27 snow blowers, with archived info on discontinued models. The reviews are helpful and easy to read, and although the snow blowers are rated on a scale of one to five,… there's no clear evidence that these snow blowers were actually tested. The Toro Power Shovel and the Toro CG 1800 Power Curve are named Budget Buy and Best Buy, respectively, but snow blowers from just about every manufacturer are recommended as well.
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Epinions lists 30 "available" snow blowers, but few have any user reviews associated with them. Reviews still exist for discontinued models, which might be helpful if you're considering a used snow blower.… Contributors say the Toro Power Shovel is good for small jobs, while the Toro Power Curve 1800 is praised as a good machine for users in milder climates. Site visitors also like some of the more heavy-duty Yard Machines snow blowers. Unfortunately, there are few recently contributed reviews at Epinions as of this writing.
by Roy Berendsohn
Popular Mechanics highlights seven gas snow throwers, but the write-ups for each model appear to be based on features alone; there's no indication that actual testing takes place, and it's impossible to… tell whether editors favor any particular models. The two-stage, 9.5-horsepower Yard Man; the single-stage, 3.8-horsepower Craftsman (discontinued); the Ariens ST524 (discontinued) and the Honda HS520AS are featured, though in no particular order. This article would earn a higher ranking from us if it were more current and if the models described had been tested.
by Contributors to Snow Blowers Direct
Snow Blowers Direct sells a wide range of snow blowers, but in addition, the site features nearly 70 product reviews in addition to buyer's guides. There's also a tool for comparing product specifications… and an online forum called "Snow Stories" that offers tips and advice. A large number of the posted reviews are written by the owners of Snow Blowers Direct rather than users. However, the testing methodology is not revealed, and there's little detailed information regarding the snow blowers' features and performance.
by Contributors to Abby's Guide
Abby's Guide offers a smattering of user-contributed snow blower reviews, but even then, most of the models covered are rated by only one or two people. Furthermore, of the snow blowers that do receive a… large number of comments, most are discontinued models. The Toro 826 LE is still available, however, and its Quick Stick feature, which provides chute control, is praised by all three owners posting reviews.
by Editors of Essortment.com
by Contributors
The "Best Snowblower & Lawnmower Forum" includes reviews of over 35 snow blowers, more than half of which are Ariens and Toro products. The reviews vary in length and detail but rarely compare different… snow blowers. Reviews include reply threads where users can exchange useful information about specific models, concur on product pros and cons and ask other questions. Be advised: searching the site is difficult since the reviews are not categorized.
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
GardenWeb's Tool Shed Forum is a good resource with a number of helpful threads that address specific snow-removal problems such as using snow blowers on steep driveways, the best times of the day to remove… snow, or which snow blower brands and models are best. Opinions vary widely as far as specific models are concerned, however, and most owners only have experience with their own blower, so little useful comparative information is provided. Again, since this is a web forum, be advised that searching it for specific information can sometimes get frustrating.
by Contributors to Consumer Democracy
Almost 70 snow blowers get owner-written reviews at Consumer Democracy, but their overall usefulness is difficult to judge. The posted reviews are generally a few sentences long, and most models get a… maximum rating of five (on a scale of one to five). Making things more difficult, in many cases the review doesn't specify exactly which blower model is being covered. Toro is the most commonly reviewed make, however. In these brief reviews, not much information is provided as to what earns these snow blowers their high ratings. There's also no clear way to sort the reviews, which makes searching the website time-consuming and somewhat frustrating.
by Contributors to RateItAll.com
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
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 Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025  from Amazon.com New: $324.99 In Stock.
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 Toro 38515 CCR 2450 GTS Recoil 5 HP Single Stage Gas Snowblower from Amazon.com New: $688.88 In Stock.
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