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Snow Blowers: Ratings of Sources
Total of 15 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers: Faster and Easier
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ConsumerReports.org has the best comparative review out there on snow blowers. When a recommended model has been discontinued, they identify a similar model. In this review, 16 two-stage gas, single-stage gas and electric snow throwers are ranked, with their specifications and test results summarized in a ratings chart. Recommended models are identified.
2. Amazon.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Throwers
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Although Amazon.com sells a fairly large variety of snow-removal products, only the less expensive products receive many owner ratings. The Toro 1800 Electric Power Curve gets almost 600 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 out of five, with most users raving about it. The even less expensive Toro Power Shovel is earns top ratings from more than 110 owners.
3. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ConsumerGuide.com provides expert reviews of snow blowers in three categories: single-stage and two-stage machines rated at 5 to 8 horsepower, and two-stage machines rated at 9 horsepower and higher. The… reviews are helpful and easy to read, but 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 a budget buy and a best buy, respectively, but snow blowers from just about every manufacturer are recommended as well. Some reviews here date back to 2006, and we saw none more recent than Oct. 2007.

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4. MovingSnow.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blower Reviews
by Paul Sikkema
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Paul Sikkema reviews various snow blowers based on their features and overall value for the price. He also posts an ethics statement that makes us more confident in the evaluations. It's clear that Sikkema… is knowledgeable, and he offers some good insights into features. However, most of the snow blowers aren't actually tested, although it does appear that he did physically examine some of them, perhaps in the store. While not as helpful as reviews based on actual use, these write-ups do a nice job of giving you an overview.

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5. Sears.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers
by Contributors to Sears.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The Sears website lists all currently available Craftsman snow blowers, and many also feature detailed user reviews. Because Craftsman products aren't available anywhere else, this is the best place to find owner opinions on Craftsman snow blowers. Two gas Craftsman models and a Yard-Man electric snow blower get top ratings from enough owners for their input to be meaningful.
6. HomeDepot.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Home Depot sells Ariens, Toro and a few other brands of snow blowers, but most models have few if any owner ratings/reviews posted on the website. The Toro 1800 Power Curve is the only model with more than a handful of reviews; it earns an average rating of 4.1 out of five from almost 20 owners, and reviews are mostly positive.
7. Walmart.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Throwers
by Contributors to Walmart.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wal-Mart sells five snow throwers. Only two Snow Joe models have received enough user ratings and reviews for them to be meaningful; the 322P earns an average rating of 4.1 out five from over 70 users, while the larger model, the 622U1, earns a rating of four out of five from almost 115 users.
8. Lowes.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Throwers
by Contributors to Lowes.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Lowes sells Snow Joe, Troy-Bilt, and Yard Machines snow blowers, along with a John Deere model. One Troy-Bilt model has enough user ratings and reviews to give an accurate picture of its overall performance and durability.
9. Snow Blowers Direct
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers
by Editors of and contributors to SnowBlowersDirect.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment SnowBlowersDirect.com sells a wide range of snow blowers, featuring nearly 70 product reviews as well as buyer's guides. There's also a tool for comparing product specifications and an online forum that offers tips and advice. A large number of the reviews are written by the owners of SnowBlowersDirect.com, rather than users, and the testing methodology is not revealed.
10. Epinions.com
As of Oct. 2009
Toro Snow Blowers
by Contributors to Epinions.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Epinions lists 22 pages of snow blowers and their accessories, so it's best to break down a search by brand. Toro models have the most reviews here, where we found positive reviews of the Power Clear 421Q and the Toro Power Curve 1800, among others.
11. QualitySnowblower.com
March 18, 2009
Toro Snow Thrower Review: Toro Power Clear 421Q Single Stage
by "The Quality Snowblower Guy"
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This anonymous writer offers a handful of reviews, some of which are out of date. The review of the Toro Power Clear 421Q is current and thorough, however, and he extends it to the entire Power Clear… lineup. According to the review, "if you need to clear a gravel or rock covered area, or you get lots of heavy snow all year, you might want to upgrade to a two stage model. Otherwise, the Power Clear series from Toro snow throwers will make an excellent addition to your tool (or toy?) collection." Other information about snow blowers is offered on the site as well.

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12. Wise4Living.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers
by Editors of Wise4Living.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This website offers information and reviews covering a wide range of products, including snow blowers. Some of the snow blower reviews are clearly out of date, and others don't give a model number, just a… brand and engine size. The reviews that are current and model-specific give complete specs, as well as the reviewer's opinion of the model and its features. However, there's no information about the authors of this site, so the reviews aren't very reliable.

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13. Abby'sGuide.com
As of Oct. 2009
Snow Blowers Product Reviews
by Contributors to AbbysGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment AbbysGuide.com offers a smattering of user reviews, but most of the snow blowers 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 (now the 826 OE) is still available, however, and its Quick Stick feature, which provides chute control, is praised by the handful of owners who post reviews.
14. The Best Snowblower & Lawnmower Forum
As of Oct. 2009
Snowblowers Reviews
by Contributors to The Best Snowblower and Lawnmower Forum
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This website includes reviews of more than 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, discuss pros and cons and ask other questions. Searching the site is difficult since the reviews are not categorized.

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15. GardenWeb.com
As of Oct. 2009
The Tool Shed
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This 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, and 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.

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