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Snow Blowers
- Electric snow shovel Toro Power Shovel *Est. $100
- Single-stage electric snow blower Toro 1800 Power Curve *Est. $300
- Budget single-stage gas snow blower Craftsman 88780 *Est. $500
- Best single-stage gas snow blower Toro Power Clear 621 QZE *Est. $750
- Small two-stage gas snow blower Craftsman 88957 *Est. $700
- Large two-stage gas snow blower Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP *Est. $1100
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Large two-stage gas snow blower
- Powerful engine
- Heated handgrips
- Power steering
- Headlight
- Heavy
- More power than some may need
- Bulky
The two-stage Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP can handle heavy snowfalls and wet, heavy snow. Welcome features make it easy to handle, including power steering and heated handgrips. With a 30-inch clearing path and a single-pass snow cut depth of up to 21 inches, this model can clear lots of snow quickly. The Craftsman Pro 88830 (*Est. $1,100) is essentially the same snow blower; both it and the Troy-Bilt are manufactured by MTD. If you don't need this much size and power and are willing to forgo extras such as power steering and a headlight, experts recommend the 24-inch Craftsman 88957 (*Est. $700) .
Ease of operation is a highlight
Although the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP is big and heavy, experts and owners say it's quite easy to maneuver, thanks to power steering and the ability to disengage wheels while you make a turn. It has extra features such as heated handgrips, a headlight, and even reflective strips to make it more visible in dim light. One-handed operation frees the other hand to steer and use the joystick that controls the angle and direction of the chute.
The blower's 357cc, overhead valve engine runs smoothly, owners say, as long as you perform proper maintenance. It has six forward and two reverse speeds. One owner says he uses the recoil start even though this blower has an electric starter, and the engine starts quickly every time with just a couple of pulls. The Storm 3090 XP is loud enough that hearing protection is recommended. The only complaints we saw were from a couple of owners who had to change the bulb in the headlight after just two or three uses.
Size and power make for efficient snow removal
With a 30-inch cutting path and a 21-inch intake height, the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP moves a lot of snow quickly, according to reviewers. Several owners report using it to clear 15 to 18 inches of snow, and one says it throws the snow at least 30 feet. A few use it to remove piles left by snowplows with no difficulty. Although the 3090 XP can handle wet, heavy snow, Tim Carver of AsktheBuilder.com warns users to go slowly to avoid clogging the auger. MovingSnow.com's Paul Sikkema says the Troy-Bilt "will handle the worst snows and still clean 1-inch snowfalls quickly and cleanly." We saw no owner complaints about this blower's performance.
Best reviews for the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP
ConsumerReports.org conducts comparison testing on the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP and 18 other 26-to-30-inch two-stage gas snow blowers for its latest ratings update. The chart identifies the Craftsman Pro 88830, the Yard Machines 31AH65FH and the MTD Pro 331AH65FH as comparable models. Paul Sikkema at MovingSnow.com reviews the 2011 Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP, and Tim Carter has a video of the Craftsman Pro 88830 on his website, AskTheBuilder.com. Owners post comments about the Storm 3090 XP on Troy-Bilt's website and about the Craftsman Pro 88830 on Sears.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org includes the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP among 19 26-to-30-inch two-stage snow blowers in its latest ratings chart. Blowers are ranked based on objective tests of their performance. The chart includes the Craftsman 88830, the Yard Machines 31AH65FH and the MTD Pro 331AH65FH as similar models whose performance should be comparable to that of the Troy-Bilt 3090 XP.
Review: Snow Blowers Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, As of Dec. 2011
Paul Sikkema calls the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP "an alternative to the Craftsman Pro 88830," and says the only difference between them that he can find is the Craftsman has drift cutters while the Troy-Bilt does not. He writes, "If you have a bad back, weigh less than 130 pounds or are shorter than 5.5, check this Troy-Bilt out! Of course, if you are larger you will also like this machine."
Review: 2011 Troy-Bilt Storm 30 in 357cc Snow Blower Model 31AH55Q5711 Review, 2011 Best Buy?, Paul Sikkema, Aug. 30, 2011
Tim Carter's four-minute video gives safety tips for using a snow blower and shows Carter operating the Craftsman 88830. He demonstrates the blower's features and says, "I love this machine."
Review: Craftsman Snowblower Video, Tim Carter, Not dated
4. Sears.com
About 60 owners review the Craftsman Pro 88830 here, giving it an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. A few people complain that their blower never worked and a couple of others say it doesn't perform well in "low, slushy snow," but most users express satisfaction.
Review: Craftsman Professional 30" 357cc Dual-Stage Snow Thrower w/ EZ Steer, Contributors to Sears.com, As of Dec. 2011
Just more than 20 owners review the Storm 3090 XP here, with 90 percent of them saying they would recommend it to a friend. They give the blower an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. One user says it "removes a lot of snow, quickly, but it's not too big for a woman to handle."
Review: Storm 3090 XP Snow Thrower, As of Dec. 2011
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