Like our pick but with a slightly smaller engine, the QXE shares the other unique snow-clearing abilities that make the QXE so effective. The QXE is a great machine, and the only difference between it and the QXE is that it has a cc engine instead of a cc engine. In our tests it could easily handle up to 12 inches of wet snow with little issue. It can fit the needs of many, and is a great option if our top pick is sold out. This traditional two-stage blower, ideal for 6- to inch snowfalls, is heavier and slower than our pick but offers a great combination of features for the price.
It has power steering—a must for a heavier two-stage blower like this one—a durable metal chute, a convenient electric start, and large, inch tires that help give it good grip in the snow.
This combination of features is usually reserved for blowers costing hundreds more. For small, flat paved surfaces with up to 6 inches of snow, this compact, inexpensive Ryobi beats shoveling. It maneuvers like a lawnmower, and its range-limiting cord is a constant obstacle. If your typical snowfall is only about 6 inches or less and you need to clear a small, flat paved driveway, patio, or city sidewalk, we recommend the inch Ryobi RYACS. This Troy-Bilt inch blower is for big driveways and deep snows plus inches.
It has a large engine, a thumb-operated chute control, and power steering. For larger driveways and deeper snows, we recommend the inch Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm It has a durable metal chute, heated handles, a massive cc engine, and a handy thumb-operated four-way chute control.
Compared with the Cub Cadet, it offers the same durability and reliability but is built to tackle bigger jobs. Snow blowers are complicated, feature-laden machines, so to wade through the technicalities, we spoke with Paul Sikkema of MovingSnow. Sikkema has been using snow blowers for the past 50 years and has been kind enough to share his expertise on numerous occasions since we first published this guide.
Since founding MovingSnow. To get technical details on a few models, we also interviewed Toro marketing manager Christine Cheng and senior design engineer Derek Duchscherer, as well as Troy-Bilt brand marketing director Megan Peth. Plus, we read everything we could about snow blowers, spending hours scouring the reviews of current models at MovingSnow. We also found the website of retailer Snow Blowers Direct useful for researching and comparing models. Using a snow blower is also much easier on your body, minimizing muscle and back strain.
Everyone has heard stories of people ending up in the emergency room after a session of strenuous shoveling. With a good snow blower, clearing your driveway and walking paths is almost like, well, mowing your lawn. Okay, clearing heavy snows might be more akin to mowing a field. You simply fire up the engine and direct the blower through the area that needs clearing, aiming the blown snow off to the side and out of your way.
The better models are equipped with electric start, so getting the machine going takes only the push of a button and plugging an extension cord into a nearby outlet. Thanks to power steering, you can move the blower through the snow with minimal effort—no pushing, pulling, leaning, or tugging. And a four-way chute control lets you change both the direction and distance of the thrown snow without stopping the machine.
But a full-size snow blower is a big investment that not everyone needs to make. Or, you could go with a snow shovel, pusher, or sleigh we recommend in our guide to those tools. With even six or eight snowfalls per winter, those charges can quickly add up to the cost of a nice snow blower that should last at least 10 years.
The downsides? Maintenance and storage. As for storage, a full-size snow blower takes up as much space as a particularly bulky lawn mower, so plan for it to occupy a big corner of the garage.
Snow blowers have traditionally fallen into two categories: single-stage models for places with minimal snowfall—up to about 6 inches at a time—and two-stage models for heavier-snow areas.
As a guideline, MovingSnow. Two-stage blowers are the type that most people who truly need a snow blower have traditionally owned. These designs have both a front auger the first stage that feeds snow into the machine and an impeller the second stage that tosses it out of the chute. Of course, you can skip that stuff and pay less. Larger models, with a width of 28 to 30 inches , are good for consistent snows of 15 to 20 inches or more, on driveways up to to feet.
Single-stage gas blowers are less expensive but not as powerful, and they have other limitations. These smaller blowers start to lose their effectiveness at around 6 to 8 inches of snow. Corded and cordless electric single-stage blowers are similar to gas models but tend not to have any kind of propulsion and reach their limit around 5 inches of snow.
But for small, flat, paved areas, electric models can work as long as you can get everything cleared while the machine is tethered to an outlet. Also know that gas snow blowers require ongoing maintenance, mostly oil and filter changes. All quality blowers have at least two-year warranties, and some companies and retailers sell extended service plans for in-home service and coverage of wear and tear. We recommend purchasing from a service-oriented store such as Home Depot or a local power-equipment retailer.
Ariens makes Ariens and Sno-Tek models. In many cases, these brands indicate quality differences Ariens, for example, represents a step up over the budget Sno-Tek. But in other instances, the distinctions are less clear: Troy-Bilt and Craftsman, for example, have many blowers that are nearly identical and simply sold at different retailers. In contrast, Toro makes only Toro blowers. Most of this testing time has consisted of simply using the snow blowers in a normal fashion: clearing the driveway, the walkway, and the frozen plow mess out by the mailbox.
This extended testing has allowed us to use the snow blowers in everything from deep, fluffy drifts to slushy, sloppy, day-after melts. Having several of the best-rated machines on hand for multiple seasons has allowed us to do thorough side-by-side comparisons, a process that has revealed key distinctions in performance and has helped us determine the best snow blowers for multiple situations.
The SnowMaster design is a unique hybrid style, combining elements of single-stage and two-stage models. We even put it head-to-head against a inch two-stage Troy-Bilt behemoth, and in each test the smaller SnowMaster got the upper hand. The auger, while technically a single-stage design, is atypical of those smaller machines in two ways: speed and shape.
Like their two-stage counterparts, three-stage blowers can clear a inch-wide swath of snow, or more in some cases. Even a well-maintained snow blower can have problems. On two-stage models, they protect the engine and transmission by breaking if the auger hits something too hard. Keep extras on hand. But when the machine sits idle, gasoline in the tank, fuel lines, and carburetor breaks down and thickens. Adding stabilizer to your fuel can slow down this process.
A good snow blower blends competent clearing ability with smooth, single-lever chute control that sends snow any direction you want it to go. Retailers typically have floor samples you can check out. Here are other important features to keep in mind. A longer handle on single-stage models lets you quickly change the height and direction of the snow thrown from the discharge chute.
Most gas-powered models now offer plug-in electric starting for use near an outlet, which is much easier than yanking a pull cord in cold weather. It also prolongs the life of the pull cord, your only means of starting a model that lacks electric start.
Most multistage snow blowers have four to six forward speeds—plus one or two reverse speeds—for the drive wheels, compared with just one on single-stage models. A choice of speeds can help prevent clogs while you slog through heavy snow. A handlebar-mounted trigger release on multistage models eases steering by disengaging power to either or both drive wheels.
Joystick chute controls let you change the vertical and horizontal direction of the discharge chute with the push of a lever. We respect your privacy. All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story. Sign In.
Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Snow Blowers.
Sign in or Become a Member. Find the Best Snow Blower We test, evaluate, and compare the latest snow blowers, so you can save time and money. Snow Blower Ratings by Consumer Reports. Types of Snow Blowers. Because of their limited power, save these tools for light dustings on decks and walkways.
Snow Blower Features Check out the must-have features below. Snow Blower Ratings. Video Buying Guide Watch our video below for more. Snow Blower Features to Consider A good snow blower blends competent clearing ability with smooth, single-lever chute control that sends snow any direction you want it to go.
Long Handle A longer handle on single-stage models lets you quickly change the height and direction of the snow thrown from the discharge chute. Electric Start Most gas-powered models now offer plug-in electric starting for use near an outlet, which is much easier than yanking a pull cord in cold weather. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products.
List of Partners vendors. The 4 Best Snow Blowers of Make sure you're prepared for the next snowstorm. By Camryn Rabideau. Camryn Rabideau. Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer specializing in decorating and design. She covers home products for The Spruce.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. With features like remote chute control, heated handles, and Touch N' Turn power steering, this blower makes easy work of clearing snow. Best Gas:. This top-rated machine's cc engine and inch steel auger allow you to clear snow quickly and efficiently. Best Electric:. While cordless models offer less power, they are significantly more convenient and lightweight—great if you're tight on space.
Best Compact:. Weighing under 95 pounds, this gas-powered, single-stage snow blower is easy to maneuver and store when it's not being used.
In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce. Best Overall: Troy-Bilt 28 in. View On Amazon. What We Like Crank chute control Track drive system increases traction. What We Don't Like Can be hard to turn. The 5 Best Snow Shovels of Best Gas: Ariens Deluxe 28 in. What We Like Metal chute with accessible adjustment Electric push-button start.
What Testers Say "The snow blower is gas-powered, but a volt electric push-button start ensures that the unit quickly starts—no matter how cold it is. What We Like Lightweight at just 32 pounds Long battery life.
0コメント