Snow Blowers

Snow blowers (often also called snow throwers) remove snow and ice much more quickly than a shovel, but they take some getting used to because they're awkward to maneuver. There are several types of snow throwers.

Single-stage snow blowers come in two varieties: gas and electric. Both types use a rubber-tipped auger that scoops up snow and either propels it forward or ejects it through a chute in one motion. Since the auger blades actually scrape the driveway or sidewalk, you can't use them on gravel drives, as they would eject stones along with the snow. The clearing path for both gas and electric single-stage blowers is from 11 to 20 inches, depending on the model. Two-stage snow blowers are even wider, up to 31 inches.

If you get deeper snow and have a greater area to clear, or if you have a gravel driveway, you'll need a two-stage gas-powered snow blower. The first stage of this type of snow thrower is a slow-turning metal auger, different from the rapidly spinning auger of single-stage snow blowers. The second stage is a fast-spinning impeller that takes the snow from the auger and zaps it out the chute, which, naturally, consumes more power. These machines are powered by a four-cycle engine (at 5 to 11 horsepower) with at least four forward and several reverse speeds, so they're actually self-propelled. You provide the guidance and make sure not to run over things you don't want scooped up and shot out of the chute.

Electric snow blowers

Electric snow blowers both cost less and weigh less than their gas-powered counterparts -- generally weighing in at 10 to 25 pounds. They also aren't as noisy. Since they plug into an outlet, you'll have to contend with a cord, but you'll escape the motor maintenance associated with gas snow blowers. Electric blowers are not as powerful as gas-powered blowers, however, and they are only appropriate for clearing small areas, such as flat, paved sidewalks and short drives. Electric snow blowers don't do well moving heavy loads of snow, so they are best for climates that get small snowfalls of less than four inches or for fresh, fluffy snow. If you live in an area with harsher winters, a gas-powered snow blower would be a better choice.

The least expensive electric snow blowers are called power shovels. These have a small motor and auger assembly that pushes snow ahead of you. There are no wheels, so you still have to push it along the driveway or sidewalk. Owners reporting to Amazon.com and Epinions say you'll still get a good workout with a power shovel such as the Toro Power Shovel (*est. $110) , but you'll save your back from bending and lifting loads of snow. Professional reviewers agree. The Toro Power Shovel works well, but it certainly isn't effortless. This model is inexpensive, and if your needs don't amount to much more than clearing your front porch, deck, patio and sidewalk in light snowfalls, the Power Shovel can take the stress off your back. The Power Shovel also converts into a broom if you flip it over and change the rotor. You can then use it to clean leaves, debris and dirt.

Amazon.com has good owner-written reviews for the more expensive Yard Machines Snow Fox 31A-040-800 (*est. $200) . This small electric power shovel has a 12.5-inch clearing path and looks like a small lawnmower. Owners say it's a good choice if you need something in between a powered broom and a real snow blower. The Snow Fox is best for decks and sidewalks, but some owners say it does a decent job on small driveways after a light snowfall. Most owners say it's simple to use, and its 22-pound weight is easy to handle. You'll need to be within range of an outlet, of course

An even smaller electric power shovel, the 12-inch electric Snow Joe 322 (*est. $90) , gets good scores overall from about three dozen owners posting comments to Amazon.com. The Snow Joe weighs about 13 pounds, so it's easy to handle. Reviewers say the Snow Joe works best in fresh snowfalls of a few inches on small driveways, walkways and steps. A few note that it's awkward to hold, however. Overall, we found better reviews for the Toro Power Shovel.

Although it's more expensive than other electric snow blowers, the Toro 1800 Power Curve (*est. $300) has a bit more oomph, though it's still only appropriate for light snowfalls (light fluffy snow or four inches or less of heavier snow, only) and short, flat driveways. It weighs 24 pounds. Of significance is the fact that the Power Curve has wheels, so it's easier to push than a power shovel. This snow blower is also wider (18 inches), so clearing an area will take less time than with a power shovel, which generally can clear a path of only 12 inches in each pass. The Power Curve snow blower throws snow up to 30 feet away and has an adjustable chute, so you can shoot snow off the side. Experts say the Toro 1800 Power Curve does a nice job, as long as it's used in appropriate conditions. More than 275 owners on Amazon.com give it very high marks, but the Power Curve snow blower simply isn't built to handle ten inches of wet snow on a long driveway. For tougher winters, a gas-powered snow thrower will be more suitable.

Gas-powered snow blowers

Single-stage gas snow blowers are heavier (50 to 100 pounds) and more expensive than electric snow throwers, but they can handle more challenging snowfalls of up to eight inches or so, and they’re a good choice for average-length, flat drives and sidewalks. They are also wider than electric snow blowers (20 to 24 inches), and you aren't tethered to a cord, though you will need to deal with fueling. Most gas snow blowers have two-stroke engines, so they take a mixture of gas and oil. Gas-powered engines need routine maintenance, much like a lawnmower. Most gas snow blowers have an electric starter, so you don't need to pull on a cord. The wheels are not powered, so you'll still need to push, but since the auger touches the sidewalk or driveway, it can help move the blower forward.

Since the auger actually scrapes the surface being cleared, single-stage snow blowers aren't good for gravel or any other surface with loose material, but they do make a cleaner sweep than two-stage snow throwers. Toro is a reviewer favorite among single-stage gas-powered snow blowers. The is a mid-priced snow thrower that does well in hands-on testing and is preferred by some owners posting to GardenWeb.com's Tool Shed forum. The Toro 2450 GTS has a 20-inch clearing path and a recoil start. A version with an electric starter costs about $50 more. Throw distance is about 30 feet.

Reviewers say the Toro CCR 2450 GTS does a better job than inexpensive gas-powered single-stage blowers, such as the Craftsman 88140 (*est. $270). The Toro makes a cleaner path and throws snow farther. Throwing distance becomes more important on wider driveways. If the blower doesn't throw past the far edge of the drive, you'll end up blowing some of the same snow twice.

Toro has several single-stage snow blowers in its new Power Clear line. So far, we haven't seen any professional reviews for these models, and there aren't yet many owner-written ratings. According to the manufacturer, the snow blowers in the Power Clear lineup have a new “Power Propel” drive system that should increase maneuverability. The Toro Power Clear 221R/E (*est. $600) has a 1,700-pound snow capacity and a 21-inch clearing width. It weighs 74 pounds and can throw snow up to 30 feet. The Power Clear 221Q (*est. $660) is almost identical to the Power Clear 221R/E, except it allows the user to control chute direction with a joystick. It also weighs 74 pounds. The Toro Power Clear 421Q (*est. $760) has a higher capacity of 1,800 pounds and a longer throw distance of 35 feet. It weighs a few pounds more than the other two Power Clear single-stage snow blowers.

Though more expensive than the Toro CCR snow blowers and Power Clear snow blowers, the Honda HS520AS (*est. $800) also scores points in reviews. The Honda snow thrower has a cleaner-running four-stroke engine, which doesn't require mixing gas and oil and produces fewer emissions than two-stroke engines. The Honda has an electric start and a 20-inch clearing path. Like most snow blowers, the Honda has a two-year residential warranty. Both the Honda and the Toro CCR snow blowers are heavy (87 and 71 pounds, respectively) and take up about as much space as a lawnmower. We've included the less expensive Toro CCR 2450 GTS in Fast Answers, although the Honda is well worth a look if you're interested in the environmental benefits of decreased emissions. The Honda model is available mainly through independent authorized Honda power-equipment dealers.

Two-stage gas-powered snow blowers

Two-stage snow throwers will work fine on surfaces with loose material and on slopes. For most home use, two-stagers with 7- to 9-horsepower engines will handle between eight and sixteen inches of snow. Since they have more power and are self-propelled, these snow blowers will handle sloping driveways, uneven surfaces and deeper, wetter snow. Some even keep your hands warm with a heater in the handles. Unlike single-stage augers, two-stage auger blades aren't supposed to touch the plowing surface and will consequently leave some snow. But you don't want to leave too much, so check to see how close the scraper bar adjusts relative to the skid shoes. Clearing paths for two-stage blowers vary between 21 and 31 inches.

Here again, reviewers like Toro snow blowers. The 8-horsepower Toro Power Max 828 LXE (*est. $1,500) tops other two-stage snow throwers. This 250-pound Toro has a 28-inch clearing path and a throw distance of 45 feet, which ensures you won't be going over the same areas twice. The four-cycle engine is rated to perform better than others in very cold weather. There is an electric start and a backup recoil start, along with six forward and two reverse speeds. The Power Max snow blower has a joystick control for adjusting the direction of the chute, and experts say this control works especially well. The Toro's wheels can be independently disengaged via controls on the handles -- that means you can disengage one wheel to turn the machine more easily. The Toro has a headlight and a two-year warranty.

The Toro Power Max 1028 LXE (*est. $1,600) and the Toro Power Max 1128 OXE (*est. $1,800) are larger versions of the 828 LXE, with 10 horsepower and 11 horsepower respectively. While all three have a throw distance of 45 feet, the Toro 1028 LXE is rated to remove up to 2,100 pounds of snow per minute, and the 1128 OXE is rated for up to 2,200 pounds. The two smaller Toro snow blowers have the same Tecumseh 4-cycle engine and weigh the same. The larger Toro 1128 OXE has a Tecumseh OHV (overhead valve) 4-cycle engine and weighs more than the other two models. The overhead valve engine is both more efficient and more powerful.

Toro has a new line of two-stage snow blowers called Power Throw. The first model in the line, the Toro Power Throw 522E (*est. $1,000), is smaller and less expensive than the Power Max models. The Power Throw 522E is a two-stage, 5-horsepower unit that weighs 143 pounds and has a clearing width of 22 inches. It throws snow up to 30 feet. According to the manufacturer, the compact size allows increased maneuverability without sacrificing power. We haven't yet seen reviews on this model, but we hope to see it tested alongside other snow blowers in its price class.

The 9-horsepower Craftsman31AE5HTG799, also sold as the Craftsman 88790 (*est. $950) is very similar to the more expensive Toro Power Max 828 LXE, but it doesn't throw snow as far. The Craftsman snow blower also has a four-cycle engine, joystick chute control, independent wheel disengagement for steering, a 28-inch clearing path, six forward speeds, two reverse speeds and a headlight. One review says the Toro's joystick control works more smoothly than others, but if you don't need to throw snow 45 feet away, the Craftsman is an excellent value.

The most-reviewed Craftsman snow blower on the Sears.com website is the two-stage, 5.5-hp Craftsman 31AS6BCE799 (*est. $650). Most of the 60 owners posting reviews at Sears.com give it high praise, with a total overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. According to owners, it’s easy to start and operate, and this model performs well even in snowfalls exceeding one foot. It weighs 190 pounds. The clearing path is 24 inches, as opposed to 28 inches on the pricier Craftsman 31AE5HTG799. It has 190-degree chute rotation and a chute clearing mechanism, with five forward speeds and two reverse speeds. This could be a good choice if you don't generally need to deal with wet snowfalls of over 12 inches. This snow blower is larger than Craftsman’s other 5.5-horsepower two-stage snow thrower, the Craftsman 31A3CDE799 (*est. $500), which is not well reviewed. The smaller model weighs 115 pounds, but it lacks chute rotation and has a shorter intake height of 16 inches (compared to 21 inches on both the Craftsman 31AE5HTG799 and 31AS6BCE79).

If you would prefer a smaller two-stage snow blower, Popular Mechanics highlights the Ariens 5520 Compact (*est. $700). This 5.5-horsepower snow thrower has a four-cycle engine, six forward and two reverse speeds and an electric start. The chute control is manual -- there's no control on the handles. The Ariens doesn't have independently disengaged wheels or a headlight, but it does have a three-year warranty. The clearing path is 20-inches, smaller than the Craftsman and Toro snow blowers. While that means it will take more time to clear the driveway, the Ariens will also take up less garage space.

A slight upgrade of the Ariens 5520 Compact is the Ariens 5524E Compact (*est. $780), which has similar features. However, the upgraded 5.5 horsepower snow blower has a 24-inch clearing path compared to the 20-inch clearing of the 5520. The chute is taller, so the snow is thrown higher and farther, and it rotates 195 degrees. Nobby tires prevent slipping on slushy snow and ice, and the model has reversible skid shoes.

The two Ariens Compact snow blowers have been updated. The Ariens 520E Compact (*est. $660) is comparable to the Ariens 5520. It weighs 125 pounds and has a slightly lower power rating of 5 horsepower. The Ariens 5524E Compact has been recently been superseded by the Ariens 624E Compact (*est. $760). The newer version weighs 160 pounds and has 6 horsepower. We haven't yet seen reviews -- professional or otherwise -- of these two new Ariens snow blowers.

One of the most popular snow blowers at Amazon.com is the 5.5-horsepower Yard Machines 31A-3CAD700 (*est. $500) . We found some of the same complaints for this model as we did for the Craftsman 31A-3CDE799 (*est. $500) discussed earlier -- perhaps not a surprise since Yard Machines makes both models. Reviewers say the Yard Machines version is light and easy to maneuver, but it runs into trouble with heavy or wet snow, Some owners note that the tires have trouble keeping pressure -- perhaps due to the plastic rims. A smaller Yard Machines model, the 3.5-hp, 21-Inch Yard Machines 31A-240-800 (*est. $350) , receives mixed reviews. Many say it's not up to snowfalls of more than a few inches and has trouble clearing wet snow.

Important Features: Snow blowers

Here's what experts say to look for when choosing a snow thrower:

• All machines should have a deadman control for safety; if you release it, the machine stops.

• Check for easy deflector and chute adjustment. This changes the direction and height the snow is thrown. You don't want to have to stop the machine and get out tools to move the chute. Instead, look for a simple crank, preferably on the control panel.

• Choose a clearing width that matches your needs. There's no point paying for a 28-inch width if you have a narrow front walk. Conversely, if you're plowing a large driveway or small parking lot, you'll want the widest clearing path you can afford.

• Pick the right amount of power. If you regularly get 12- to 18-inch snows, you'll need a two-stage model with 7 to 9 horsepower. Mid-range snow blowers (5.5 to 8 horsepower) are good for moderate accumulations on a regular basis, while a single-stage snow blower is adequate for light snow and smooth surfaces.

• Make sure you can handle your machine. Those two-stage, 250-pound monsters will blitz through a ton of snow, but they're heavy and often tricky to steer. If you're strength- and/or patience-challenged, go for a smaller model that's more tractable.

• Headlights are another handy feature, since days during snow season are so short. Halogen lamps offer the best light.

• If you have limited garage space, some single-stage models have folding handles for compact storage.

• A serrated blade on the auger is great for breaking ice and hard snow.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Two-Stage Snow Throwers: (With Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Toro Power Max 828 LXE (*est. $1,500)	-
1 each	Craftsman 88775, Craftsman 88790, Yard-Man H5Q3G, Yard Man E5KLF, Troy-Bilt Storm 10030, Ariens ST524, Honda HS724WA, Toro 826 LE , Ariens 926 DLE
# of Picks	Single Stage Snow Throwers: (With Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
3	Honda HS520AS (*est. $800)	-
3	Toro 1800 Power Curve (*est. $300)	details
3
1 each	Craftsman 88521, Toro Power Shovel, YardMan E295, Snapper LES3190E

Reviewers highlight Toro models most often as the best choice for most homeowners. However, the Honda HS520AS scores points for its cleaner four-stroke engine on a single-stage snow blower, and the Craftsman 88790 (also sold as the Craftsman 31AE5HTG799) is a good value.

Sponsored links