Two-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

Two-stage throwers for sloping or gravel driveways

Two-stage snow throwers have more powerful engines than single-stage blowers do, and they can handle between 8 and 16 inches of snow. These heavier blowers are self-propelled and can tackle driveways on an incline, uneven surfaces and deeper, wetter snow. Some even feature heated handles to warm the operator's hands. Unlike single-stage augers, two-stage auger blades aren't supposed to touch the plowing surface, so two-stage blowers can be used on gravel driveways and other loose surfaces. As a result, they leave a thin layer of snow on the surface being cleared. Most consumer-grade, two-stage gas blowers have clearing paths ranging from 21 to 31 inches wide.

The Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP (*Est. $1,100) gets the top nod from reviewers in this category. Its 357 cc, four-cycle engine gives it plenty of power, and extra features like power steering, heated hand grips and a headlight make it easy to use. With its 30-inch clearing width, 21-inch intake height, and a 12-inch serrated steel auger, experts say this model should move through deep snow easily. The Storm 3090 XP has six forward and two reverse speeds and boasts one-handed operation, so the user can adjust the direction and angle of the chute (using the joystick) without stopping the machine. An older version of the Storm 3090 XP with a 305 cc Briggs & Stratton engine is still being sold; this newer version has a different manufacturer's product number, 31AH55Q5711.

The new Craftsman Professional 88830 (*Est. $990) is essentially a rebranded version of the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP (both are manufactured by MTD). The 88830 is given a Best Buy award by reviewer Paul Sikkema at MovingSnow.com, based on an analysis of its features. Since it's a new model it doesn't have many owner reviews yet, but a couple of owners give it high ratings at Sears.com. Tim Carter of AskTheBuilder.com has a favorable video review on his website, which is particularly helpful because it shows this snow blower in action. Both the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 XP and the Craftsman Pro 88830 come with two-year warranties.

The Craftsman 88791 (*Est. $900) replaces the top-rated 88999 in Craftsman's 2009 snow blower lineup. The 88971 features a 277 cc OHV engine (instead of the 88999's 250 cc unit) and a 28-inch clearing path. The Craftsman 88791 two-stage snow thrower lacks heated handgrips, but in terms of features (including power steering) it is otherwise identical to the more powerful Craftsman Pro 88830. Paul Sikkema at MovingSnow.com says that the Craftsman 88791 is "a great value for the features and price compared to many of the snowblowers offered by other manufacturers." The Troy-Bilt Storm 2840 (*Est. $900) is Troy-Bilt's version of the same model, but it also includes heated handgrips.

A good budget-priced two-stage snow blower, the Craftsman 88957 (*Est. $600) recently replaced the Craftsman 88955, which had performed relatively well in comparison tests, especially given its low price. This new model is exactly the same, with one added feature: it now has one-handed operation, just as more expensive Craftsman models do. The Craftsman 88957 features a 179 cc engine, a 24-inch clearing width, and a 12-inch serrated auger. Like other Craftsman snow blowers, it has six forward and two reverse speeds, plus an electric push-button starter. There's no power steering, and a headlight is optional. Paul Sikkema at MovingSnow.com recommends the Craftsman 88957 snow blower for medium-duty use and calls it the best value for the money of any snow blower on the market.

The Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 (*Est. $600) two-stage blower is virtually identical to the Craftsman 88957. It has the same size engine and clearing path and the same features, with one exception: The Troy-Bilt blower doesn't have one-handed operation. More than 20 owners weigh in on this snow thrower at Lowes.com, and an additional 15 or so rate it on Troy-Bilt's website. They give it an average rating of 4.5 out of five, and most say they're pleased with its performance. The only complaint is that it lacks a one-handed operation feature -- something that can be easily remedied by buying the Craftsman 88957 instead.

A reasonably priced Ariens two-stage snow blower is the Sno-Thro Deluxe 27 (*Est. $1,000) Formerly the Ariens Sno-Thro ST927LE, this blower has performed well in comparison tests and gets good ratings from owners. The Ariens Deluxe 27 is powered by a 250 cc Briggs & Stratton engine, and has six forward and two reverse speeds. Its 14-inch serrated steel auger is larger than those of most of its competitors, with a 27-inch clearing width and 50-foot maximum throwing distance. Other standard features include an electric starter and a halogen headlight. A few owners give this Ariens snow thrower rave reviews at Home Depot's Canadian website. There's a good video review on YouTube, in which the owner says, "Up here in the northern Panhandle of Idaho we get enough snow to keep pretty busy. My Ariens 927LE eats it up like it's frosting!"

Also well-reviewed is the Ariens Sno Thro Compact series, which includes the Compact 20 (*Est. $800) and the Compact 24 (*Est. $850). Each has a Briggs & Stratton 205 cc engine with six forward and two reverse speeds, an electric starter, a joystick chute control, and a throwing distance of up to 35 feet. They differ only in the width of their clearing paths; as indicated by the model numbers, the Compact 20 clears a 20-inch wide path and the Compact 24 a 24-inch path. Paul Sikkema at MovingSnow.com says the Compact 20 "is one of the best small snow blowers on the market." A review at Wise4Living.com recommends both models because they "combine outstanding snow clearing with handy storage" due to their compact size. Ariens snow blowers are covered by a three-year warranty.

A more expensive model, the Toro Power Max 828 OXE 38634 (*Est. $1,700), has a 250 cc Briggs & Stratton four-cycle engine. The Toro Power Max 1028 0XE 38644 (*Est. $1,800) is a step-up version of the 828 OXE, with a 305 cc Briggs & Stratton engine and the same clearing width, 28 inches. Both blowers have six forward and two reverse speeds, electric starters, and can throw snow up to 45 feet. The Toro 828 OXE is rated to remove up to 2,000 pounds of snow per minute, the 1028 OXE 2,100 pounds . Reviewers say that the joystick chute control on these models works especially well. Each model also has a headlight, and comes with a two-year warranty.