Snow Blowers Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Snow Blowers. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Snow Blowers, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Snow Blowers. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Snow Blowers prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Snow Blowers Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Snow Blowers Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Snow Blowers: Faster and easier Editors of Consumer Reports Oct. 2004, updated July 2006		Consumer Reports last updated its snow blower section over a year ago. Even so, it’s still the best comparative review out there on snow blowers. Twenty-three two-stage gas, single-stage gas and electric snow throwers are evaluated and put through the paces. Results are summarized in a ratings chart. There's also a good buyer's guide here on matching your needs with the right type of snow blower.

Snow Blowers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Snow Blowers Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Amazon.com	Snowblowers Contributors to Amazon.com As of Nov. 2007		Although Amazon.com sells a fairly large variety of snow removal items, few receive owner ratings. The Toro 1800 Electric Power Curve Snow Thrower gets about 275 reviews and an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Most users rave about this product. Yard Machines products are also top sellers, and they receive fair to good reviews. SnowJoe electric snow blowers receive many reviews, most of them positive.
3. Sears.com	Snow Blowers Contributors to Sears.com As of Nov. 2007		The Sears website lists all of the available Craftsman snow blowers, and most have detailed owner reviews. Since Craftsman products aren't available anywhere else, this is the best place to find owner opinions on Craftsman tools. Owners have high praise for the Craftsman 5.5 Gas Snow Thrower 31AS6BCE799, although not for the smaller Craftsman 31A-3CDE799. Another top-rated model is the Craftsman 9 hp Gas Snow Thrower 31AS6HEG799. Most reviewers do not like the Craftsman 4 hp Gas Snow Thrower 88140000 as much.
4. Epinions	Snow Blowers Contributors to Epinions As of Nov. 2007		Epinions lists 30 “available” snow blowers, but few have any reviews. Epinions still has reviews for discontinued models, which might be helpful if you're considering a used snow blower. Contributors like the Toro Power Shovel, saying it's good for small jobs. The Toro Power Curve 1800 gets nice comments for mild climates, and site visitors also like some heavy duty Yard Machines snow blowers. Unfortunately, there are few recently written reviews at Epinions.
5. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	White Out Roy Berendsohn Dec. 2002		Seven gas snow throwers are highlighted in this article, but these units do not appear to have been tested, and write-ups for each model appear to be based on features alone. It's impossible to tell whether editors favor 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 rank more highly if it were more current and if these models had been tested.

Snow Blowers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Snow Blowers Ratings Comments on Reviews

6. Consumer Guide.com	Snow Blowers Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Nov. 2007		Consumer Guide's coverage of snow blowers is easy to read, but there's no indication of how selections were made. Although we read an occasional critical comment about wheel size or features, there's no clear evidence that these snow blowers were tested. The features information is helpful, but the logic behind the 36 recommendations isn't disclosed, which makes us question objectivity and credibility. Snow blowers from just about every brand are recommended.
7. Abby'sGuide.com	Snow Blowers Contributors to Abby’s Guide As of Nov. 2007		There is a smattering of user reviews for snow blowers on this site, but most models are rated by only one or two people. Of the snow blowers that get more comments, most are discontinued models. One still-available model is the Toro 826 LE. Its Quick Stick feature, which provides chute control, is praised by all three owners posting reviews.
8. Money Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Buying a Snow Blower Gerri Willis Nov. 22, 2004		This article offers five tips on buying the right snow blower for your needs. The first tip discusses your "snow profile" -- how much and what type of snow you get, along with the type and size of your driveway. Gerri Willis also suggests test driving models and maintaining your machine once you purchase it. Learning safety measures is another tip. Finally, the writer quotes some of Consumer Reports' top-rated snow blowers.
9. The Toronto Star >> Details/Subscribe	When a shovel isn't enough Michael B. Davie Jan. 16, 2003		This article offers more of a general buyer's guide than a review, and the models listed do not seem to have been tested. After a rundown of the various types of snow throwers, reporter Michael Davie suggests several representative models from Toro and Murray. No ratings are included.
10. GalTech.com	Best Snow Blowers Editors of Galt Technology Not Dated		This article is a detailed explanation of what snow blowers are and how they work. No models seem to have been tested, nor are they rated. There are a few suggestions for each category of snow blower: Single stage, two-stage and electric. The editors seem to choose models based on their horsepower. A few Honda models are suggested, with the Toro brand mentioned in general.
11. About.com	Electric Snow Throwers David Beaulieu Not Dated		Although site guide David Beaulieu says electric throwers are right for some people, he doesn't make any specific recommendations. Electric snow blowers are best for less severe climates and for those with driveways between 100 and 150 feet (because the extension cord should not exceed that length).
12. The New York Times >> Details/Subscribe	Machines For Dealing With Snow Jay Romano Nov. 2, 2003		This overview of the various types of blowers includes interviews with marketing representatives from Toro and Simplicity. Along with an explanation of the types of throwers, writer Jay Romano includes some safety tips. No particular models are recommended or rated, but two-stage gas blowers are indicated as appropriate for most people.
13. GardenWeb.com	The Tool Shed Forum Contributors to GardenWeb As of Nov. 2007		There are a lot of helpful threads in this forum for specific snow removal problems, such as using snow blowers on steep driveways, the best times of the day to remove snow, or which brands and models are best. Opinions vary widely, however, as far as specific models are concerned, and most owners only have experience with their own blower, so there is little useful comparative information provided.
14. Consumer Democracy	Reviews and Ratings of Snow Blowers Contributors to ConsumerDemocracy.com As of Nov. 2007		Almost 70 snow blowers get owner-written reviews in this article. The reviews are mostly only a few sentences long, and most models get a rating of 5 on a scale of 1 to 5. Toro is the brand most reviewed. In many cases the model of the snow blower is not given. With these brief reviews, not much information is provided as to what earns these models their high ratings. There is also no clear way to sort the reviews, which makes searching the site time-consuming and somewhat frustrating.
15. RateItAll.com	Snow Blowers Contributors to RateItAll.com As of Nov. 2007		Fifteen snow blowers are listed here, but only nine are reviewed. Each model gets just one or two owner-written reviews, so the information isn’t very helpful in identifying the best snow blowers.