If you get lake effect snow, Noreaster snow, New England snow, “Snowcrete” or just that spring snowstorm that left you 14 inches of snow that’s almost too wet to make a snowman with, here is a list of the best snowblowers for heavy wet snow.

There are actually quite a few heavy-duty snowblowers that can handle heavy wet snow but you won’t find them on anyone else’s lists. You won’t find these heavy-duty snowblowers on Amazon, at most big-box stores, or your local hardware store. You can get a few through The Home Depot, but most of them are dealer only snow blowers.

Before I list the snow blowers – if you are not quite sure you need a heavy-duty snow blower please check out these articles:

• The Best Snow Blower For 2019
• Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS,
•  What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here!
•  13 Snow Blower Features And Myths That Matter
• 5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2019
• Toro SnowMaster® 824 QXE (36003) Buy Here at The Home Depot. The unique design handles wet snow better than any other single-stage snowthrower. Check out my video on YouTube. lightweight, self-propelled snowblowers that clear snow fast from your hard surfaces. These snow throwers will clear up to 18-inch drifts. Many people are buying these instead of a 2-stage snowblower. If you have a larger hard surface driveway to clear and don’t get more than 8 inches at a time they are a great choice.

If the snowplow leaves you a wet mess or a solid rock wall of snow – these 2-stage snow blowers will power right through it! Good for areas of the country that get 30-120 inches of snow a year!

• Ariens Deluxe 24 Model 921045 Buy Here at The Home Depot. The Ariens Deluxe 24 and it’s bigger brother Ariens Platinum 24 are unique in the 24-26 inch size. They use a larger, 14-inch impeller and discharge chute so it is very, very hard to clog them on heavy, wet snow. I highly recommend the Deluxe 24 to anyone who struggles with the drift the snowplow truck leaves at the end of the driveway. It’s all-metal and pretty much indestructible. It’s also very easy to use because it has automatic steering (AutoTurn) and basic chute and deflector controls.
• Toro Power Max® 826 OXE (37799) Buy Here at The Home Depot.
• Husqvarna ST424? I have not reviewed it at this time but will most likely make this list.
• Ariens Platinum 24 SHO Model 921050 and Ariens Platinum 24 SHO EFI Model 921053.  24 inch, 369cc. Model 921053 with EZ-Launch EFI Engine. These two 24 inch snow blowers have over-the-top power and can handle any type of snow and any driveway including gravel and turf. Yet, they are very easy to use. If you have a small driveway but get a lot of snow this is a great choice. It will clear any amount/type of snow. It will not clog on heavy/wet snow. Because it has a larger engine and more capacity than all other 24 inch machines it works well for 2-3 car wide by 80-120 foot driveways. It has great traction for sloped driveways. This is one of the few snow blowers I recommend for Lake Tahoe and their 200-400 inches of snowfall per year. It’s also the best choice for areas that get lake-effect and the North-East U.S. that gets the “Noreasters.” Some of you will feel the price is too high for the EFI model but this heavy-duty 24-inch snow blower with Electronic Fuel Injection will not have the starting issues carburetor engines have on today’s fuels. Please use the dealer locator at Ariens.com to find a store near you:
• Ariens Deluxe 28 Model 921046 Buy Here at The Home Depot.  
• Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Model 921048 Dealer Only.  Check out my video on YouTube. More power than the Deluxe 28 and the SHO impeller will throw snow up to 55 feet!  The Deluxe SHO is one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost twice as much
• Toro Power Max® HD 928 OAE (265cc Auto Steering), Toro Power Max® HD 1028 OHXE (302cc Trigger Steering) Check out my video on YouTube.  Toro PowerMax HD snow blowers have been good machines for years and they have made some improvements recently including an all-metal double-jointed chute and all-metal impeller housing. 14-inch impeller, no shear pins, and a new stronger gearbox. They are very easy to use. They now have two engine sizes for typical and heavy snowfalls.  Power Max® HD series is also one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost much more.
• Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28.  Buy Here at The Home Depot This snow blower is a game-changer in the residential snow blower market.  All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers.
• Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28. Buy Here at The Home Depot  This snow blower is a game-changer in the residential snow blower market.  All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers.
• HUSQVARNA ST 427T. This new snowblower is their new Pro model. It’s designed for professionals who need a maximum-performance snow blower for commercial applications. Features include electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine, onboard electric starter, all-steel control panel, heated handles, LED headlight, continuous track treads, hydrostatic gearbox, and a cast iron impeller. Working width is 27 inches.
•  Recommended: The Ariens Professional RapidTrak 28 in. Hydro 420cc Model 926060 Buy Here at The Home Depot  is arguably the best snow blower for ALL conditions. With the high-speed RapidTrak, it will clear 15 inches or more as fast as you can walk! It has higher capacity, stronger engine and is considerably faster to use. This is arguably the biggest, baddest snowblower on the market right now. It throws snow farther, has more capacity, is faster, and has better traction than anything else right now.Ariens and Toro both have over-the-top commercial 28-inch snowblowers that outperform anything else on the market. They are designed to handle more snow in a week than the typical residential snowblower handles in a year. If you have large areas to clear and/or get over 100 inches of snow a year seriously consider one of these.
• Ariens Deluxe 30 Model 921047 Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube.
• Cub Cadet 2x 30 in. 357cc Fuel Injected (EFI) Model# 2X 30 EFI. Buy Here at The Home Depot.
• Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI 30 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 921049. Buy Here at The Home Depot.
• Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30″. Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video of the 34-inch version on YouTube.
• HUSQVARNA ST 430T. This new snowblower is their new Pro model. It’s designed for professionals who need a maximum-performance snowblower. Features include electronic fuel injection (EFI) engine, onboard electric starter, all-steel control panel, heated handles, LED headlight, continuous track treads, hydrostatic gearbox, and a cast iron impeller. Working width is 30 inches.
• Ariens Platinum 30 SHO 921051 Dealer Only.  Check out my video on YouTube.
• Toro Power Max® HD 1232 OHXE (38842) Buy Here at The Home Depot.
• Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34 Snow Blower Buy Here at The Home Depot. Check out my video on YouTube.
• Honda 32 inch: The HS series Honda tracked snowblowers were the industry standard for years. The new HSS models have inherited that reputation although there are now other brands with machines that have higher capacity and are faster when clearing large areas. Dealer Only.

Professional/Commercial Dealer Only Snowblowers

Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Available with Briggs & Stratton or Ariens AX engine.

Professional: Toro Power Max® HD 1428 OHXE Commercial (38843)

Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Hydro EFI

Professional: Ariens Professional 28 Hydro RapidTrak Available with Briggs & Stratton or Ariens AX engine.

Professional: Ariens Professional 32 Hydro RapidTrak Available with Briggs & Stratton or Ariens AX engine.

Professional: Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI

Professional: Toro Power Max® HD 1432 OHXE Commercial (38844)

The post The Best SnowBlower For Wet Heavy Snow appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

The post Toro Power Max HD 928 OAE Detailed Walk-Around Review appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Briggs & Stratton has been quietly refining their snow blower line for the last three years. They have developed the well-received snow shredder single stage and redesigned their two-stage offerings so the snow blowers are easy to use. For 2018 Briggs & Stratton offers single stage, snow shredder single stage, Standard Series two-stage and an Elite Series two-stage.

How this article is laid out:

This is a very comprehensive article so it will take you a while to read through it. I’m going to start with the Single Stage and Snow Shredder models. After that, I’ll review the Standard and Elite 2-stage models.

Reading 2018 Briggs & Stratton Reviews:

1. When you read snow blower reviews you are going to find reviews that state “the engine would not start,” “the engine won’t stay running.” and “the engine runs rough.” You will find these reviews for all brands and sizes of snow blowers. 98% of the time engine problems with name brand snow blowers are either fuel or operator related. Snow engines run/operate differently than your lawn mower engine and because of that, I suggest educating yourself on how to store fuel, how to keep your fuel clean and how/why your snow blower engine runs the way it does will go a long way to liking your new snow blower. Please read this article to learn more: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS – Read This For The Truth
2.  Reviews. B&S snow blowers come in a box and you have to install the handles, adjust the skid shoes, make sure the cables are routed correctly and the belt tension adjusted properly. The majority of the negative reviews are from owners who had problems with these steps. Don’t bother to read B&S reviews that are more than 2 years old.  B&S has updated all their snow blowers in the last three years.
3. Belt Problems. The B&S 2-stage snow blowers are listed as light-medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.  If you are reading this “after-the-fact” order a drive belt and impeller belt NOW in case you need it this winter.
4. Menards: Menards sells a lot of Briggs & Stratton snow blowers but please be aware – Menards has a return policy for gas-powered equipment that is very restrictive compared to the other retailers. Be sure you understand it BEFORE you buy a gas powered snow blower from them. (It basically says that if you put gas in it – it’s not returnable. They will help you to find a repair center though)

By The Way – All Opinions are Mine.

Keeping up with snow blowers is almost a full-time job. The U.S. manufactures currently sell hundreds of different models made here in the U.S. alone. In addition, there are always another dozen or so foreign manufactures trying to wedge their way into your pocketbook. By the way – a quality $500 two-stage snow blower no longer exists. The cheapest 2-stage snow blower I can recommend is now $699.

I normally spend most of July and August talking to the different snow blower manufactures about the new models they have coming for the fall. Usually, in September the manufacturers are shipping the new models to the dealers and I spend the time I need to inspect the new models as local dealers put them out on the sales floor. Sometimes that also involves traveling to the manufactures assembly plants or corporate offices to look at, demo and talk to the snow product managers. In October, I travel to the GIE-EXPO in Louisville, KY. GIE-EXPO is the largest lawn and garden equipment dealer show. There I get a chance to demo machines plus talk to the engineers and company management about all the features, fixes and new rumors.

In addition, I keep a dozen or so of the current snow blowers at my home for testing and answering your questions. I use these snow blowers when it snows. You can find those videos on YouTube. When you go over there please subscribe to my YouTube channel

So Let’s Get Started!

If you have any questions please ask in the comment section below. Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube Channel when you are done here. Please subscribe to get the latest videos.

2018 Briggs & Stratton Single Stage

B&S makes two types of single stage snow blowers – three rubber paddle models and three snow shredder models. This first section covers the rubber paddle models.

Just to be clear, single-stage snow blowers only work well for areas of the country that get a little snow. They will clear 1-6 inches of “normal” snow but they don’t work well clearing heavy/wet snow. They also don’t throw snow very far and they don’t work well on the end-of-driveway snow. B&S singles stage snow blowers will clean down to the pavement so they are good for cleaning up driven on snow and sidewalks that have been walked on. They are good choices for patios and decks because they only weigh about 100 lbs and can be lifted up steps. If you live north of Interstate 70 I don’t recommend them as your primary machine. Consumer Reports has not rated the rubber paddle B&S models.

Note: The Model# 1696737 does not have electric start.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696737	1696715	1696727
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	6″ Light	6″ Light	6″ Light
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Single Stage	Single Stage	Single Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	22 inch	22 inch	22 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-30 ft	3-30 ft	3-30 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	On Chute	On Chute	Remote
TIRE SIZE	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in
TIRE TYPE	NA	NA	NA
STEERING	NA	NA	NA
DRIVE TYPE	Auger Propelled?	Auger Propelled?	Auger Propelled?
SPEEDS	NA	NA	NA
LENGTH	47 in	47 in	47 in
WIDTH	23.1 in	23.1 in	23.1 in
HEIGHT	40 in	40 in	40 in
WEIGHT	93 lbs	93 lbs	93 lbs
GEARCASE	NA	NA	NA
GEARCASE WARRANTY	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER PROFILE	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER DIAMETER	NA	NA	NA
AUGER DIAMETER	10 in	10 in	10 in
AUGER TYPE	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle
SKID SHOES	NA	NA	NA
SCRAPER BAR	NA	NA	NA
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Consumer, 90 days Com	3 yr Consumer, 90 days Com	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	On Chute	On Chute	Remote
TONS PER HOUR	NA	NA	NA
TYPICAL PRICE	$399:	$431	$513:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Snow Shredder Single Stage

B&S Snow Shredder single stage snow blowers have are unique because they have metal paddles and metal teeth in the front rotor. These teeth are designed to rip up hard-packed and frozen snow. If you usually wait until the next day after a snow the snow shredder can help to clear that foot tall frozen snow plow drift at the end of your driveway.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696506	1696847	1696741
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	9″ Normal	9″ Normal	9″ Normal
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 11.5 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Single Stage	Single Stage	Single Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	22 inch	22 inch	22 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	12.5 inch	12.5 inch	12.5 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-30 ft	3-30 ft	3-30 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	On Chute	On Chute	On Chute
TIRE SIZE	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in
TIRE TYPE	NA	NA	NA
STEERING	NA	NA	NA
DRIVE TYPE	Auger Propelled	Auger Propelled	Auger Propelled
SPEEDS	NA	NA	NA
LENGTH	46 in	46 in	46 in
WIDTH	23.5 in	23.5 in	23.5 in
HEIGHT	40 in	40 in	40 in
WEIGHT	89 lbs	89 lbs	98 lbs
GEARCASE	NA	NA	NA
GEARCASE WARRANTY	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER PROFILE	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER DIAMETER	NA	NA	NA
AUGER DIAMETER	10 in	10 in	10 in
AUGER TYPE	SnowShredder Serrated Auger	SnowShredder Serrated Auger	SnowShredder Serrated Auger
SKID SHOES	NA	NA	NA
SCRAPER BAR	NA	NA	NA
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	On-the-Go	On-the-Go	Electric
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$568:	$610:	$665:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Standard Two-Stage

Just two notes: 1. The Standard B&S are economy, solid axle snow blowers. These three snow blowers have decent traction for its size but without power steering, they can be hard to turn. I don’t recommend these snow blowers to someone with a bad back or is not used to moving heavy machinery. The 1696610 is a basic, economy model. The other two have remote chute and deflector controls.

2. The B&S 2-stage snow blowers are listed as light-medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.  If you are reading this “after-the-fact” order a drive belt and impeller belt NOW in case you need it this winter.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696610	1696614	1696619
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	10-12 inches/light-fluffy	10-12 inches/light-moderate	10-12 inches/light-moderate
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 1150 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Two Stage	Two Stage	Two Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	24 inch	24 inch	27 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	20 inch	20 inch	20 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-35 ft	3-40 ft	3-40 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	Manual	Remote	Remote
TIRE SIZE	13 in x 3 in	14 in x 5 in	14 in x 4 in
TIRE TYPE	Snow Tread	Snow Tread	Snow Tread
STEERING	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Solid Axle
DRIVE TYPE	Friction Disk	Friction Disk	Friction Disk
SPEEDS	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse
LENGTH	51.9 in	58 in	58 in
WIDTH	25.6 in	25.6 in	28.4 in
HEIGHT	45 in	44 in	44 in
WEIGHT	175 lbs	184 lbs	211 lbs
GEARCASE	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum
GEARCASE WARRANTY	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm
IMPELLER PROFILE	3-blade	3-blade	3-blade
IMPELLER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER TYPE	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open
SKID SHOES	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible
SCRAPER BAR	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	Old Style Wire & Crank	In-Dash Crank	In-Dash Crank
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$665:	$775:	$880:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Elite Two-Stage

The B&S Elite 2-stage snow blowers are listed as medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.

The biggest difference between the Standard and Elite is the Elite all have trigger style power steering, remote, chutes, and deflectors. They also have the open auger design so they will not clog as quickly as some of the other brands.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696807	1696815	1696828
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	Moderate-Heavy	Moderate-Heavy	Moderate-Heavy
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 1150 Snow Series	B&S 1450 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)	306cc (10 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Two Stage	Two Stage	Two Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	24 inch	27 inch	30 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	20 inch	20 inch	20 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-40 ft	3-40 ft	3-40 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	Remote	Remote	Remote
TIRE SIZE	16 in x 5 in	16 in x 5 in	16 in x 5 in
TIRE TYPE	Snow Tread	Snow Tread	Snow Tread
STEERING	Trigger Power	Trigger Power	Trigger Power
DRIVE TYPE	Friction Drive	Friction Drive	Friction Drive
SPEEDS	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse
LENGTH	58 in	58 in	58 in
WIDTH	26.4 in	29 in	32 in
HEIGHT	44 in	44 in	44 in
WEIGHT	213 lbs	236 lbs	241 lbs
GEARCASE	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum
GEARCASE WARRANTY
IMPELLER PROFILE	Steel 3 blade	Steel 3 blade	Steel 3 blade
IMPELLER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER TYPE	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open
SKID SHOES	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible
SCRAPER BAR	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	Quick Turn	Quick Turn	Quick Turn
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$699	$799	$1399

Thanks For Reading This Far!

Yes, You need a new gas can! Now is a good time to remind you that with your new snow blower you should buy a new gas can and fresh fuel. Check out this article:  Check out The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower

Still Looking? Start Here: The Twenty Best Snow Blowers – September 2018 – Which Snow Blower Is Best For You?

If you have any questions please ask in the comment section below. Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube Channel Please subscribe to get the latest videos.

The post 2018 Briggs & Stratton Snow Blower Review – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Great News! The biggest change in the Snow Blower Market this year is Troy-Bilt is now at The Home Depot! Settle in get comfortable. This article is only 5532 words

My Opinion: 

I have no problems suggesting the Troy-Bilt Storm Models below for any area of the country that averages up to 80 inches of snow a year including Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburg, Minneapolis, Long Island, and New Jersey.

I have no problems suggesting the Heavy Duty Arctic Storm 30 and 34-inch models. They can handle any snow you get, no matter where you live in the U.S. They love heavy, wet snow like the East Coast regularly gets.

Why the change?

Troy-Bilt will now get the recognition they deserve. Troy-Bilt makes a complete line of well-built residential snow blowers ranging from the most economical to the largest capacity residential machines. Now that The Home Depot will be carrying Troy-Bilt you will be able to easily purchase the model you want and get the great service The Home Depot offers. (I’m also noticing a lot more local dealers and farm stores carrying Troy-Bilt.)

My opinion:  Since Lowes is now going to be the “exclusive” big box store for new Craftsman products and since floor space is finite at these big stores Troy-Bilt will have even less floor space than they had in the past. So, I’m very glad Troy-Bilt is now available at the Home Depot. The real winner now is you because you will have better access to the complete line of dependable Troy-Bilt snow throwers.

As you most likely know Stanley, Black & Decker (SBD) purchased the Craftsman name this year – but not the products. What that means for snow blowers is Stanley, Black & Decker will be independently developing their own line of Craftsman snow “throwers”, parts, and a repair network. At this time it looks like Lowes will be the primary seller for these new models. (My local ACE Hardware doesn’t have a clue if they will get the SBD Craftsman) The models at Lowes are completely different from the Craftsman at Sears models you know (and love). With the new models at Lowes, you will have to get parts, warranty work, and service through Stanley, Black & Decker. The four Craftsman (SBD) models currently for sale at Lowes are made by MTD but it’s unclear if SBD will continue to use that manufacture in the future, switch to another manufacturer, or build their own.

Problems with Troy-Bilt Snow Throwers:

If you have spent any time at all researching snow blowers, the Internet is full of horror stories about all brands or models of snow throwers. You can ALWAYS find someone who is unhappy with their purchase. In reality, snow throwers from major brands like Troy-Bilt are dependable and will last many years if you size it properly for the area you have to clear, and the amount of snow you usually get. Read the operator manual before you use it the first time, and perform a few simple preventative tasks every fall/spring.

I don’t like the fact that there will be a group of Internet trolls that will make you think twice about buying a Troy-Bilt for your suburban driveway. Across the board, Troy-Bilt is one of the best value brands out there. Troy-Bilt Storm models are well designed, good snow blowers for about 90% of the U.S. They will last years with a little maintenance once in a while.

Reliability: Consumer Reports is the only organization that regularly asks readers to rate the snow blowers they own. Owners rate Troy-Bilt snow blowers as the second best of all the brands. (Honda is first – Husqvarna is last) Reference: CR Subscription Required

Parts & Service: Parts and repairs are easy to get. Parts can be ordered through MTDParts.com, the Troy-Bilt website, your local Troy-Bilt service center, Amazon.com, and The Home Depot. Shear pins and belts are even available at most Walmarts and Menards that stock snow blowers. (Arnold is MTD’s parts division)

Special Offer For MovingSnow Customers! Sign Up & Save 10% On Your Next Order at MTDParts.com! Coupon Applied After Sign-Up.

Build Quality: Of course – you get what you pay for with most brands and Troy-Bilt is no exception. With Troy-Bilt, you get a good price on a better than average snow blower across the entire line. The current models are all built well, built to last, and easy to use.

Check out all the Troy-Bilt snow throwers at THD here: Troy-Bilt Snow Bowers at The Home Depot

Troy-Bilt has one “game changer” feature that no one else has!

Troy-Bilt has airless tires on select models never go flat, offer great traction in all conditions, and make even the solid axle machines easy to turn. These tires are an industry game changer for solid axle snow blowers.  I’ve used them for two years now and I actually like the design better than the Michelin Tweel. I like them so much I would like to see 20-inch and 24-inch versions for lawn tractors and zero-turns. The airless tires really make a difference.

How this article is laid out:

I’m going to list the 2-stage and 3 stage snow throwers together by size. I’ll leave the single stage Squall machines for last.

Let’s get started!

24 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

Troy-Bilt has two 24-inch snow blowers that are inexpensive, yet do the job for many homeowners. The machines use the same quality parts as the more expensive machine – they just don’t have as many features.  They have the same warranty as the more expensive models. One model, the Storm 2460, is one of the best value snow blowers on the market today.  If you live in a subdivision with a 2 car driveway and get 60 inches of snow or less a year it’s a great choice.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 MY 24 inch Best Value Choice: The 24 inch Storm 2460 keeps up the tradition of one of the best value snow blowers on the market. It can easily handle a 12-inch snowfall but can also clear that 24-inch drift as needed.  The high intake also means it can clear that huge snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. I highly recommend this snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 80 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 60 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement, and blacktop. The 208cc engine is just the right size for this snow blower. The airless tires really make a difference. They give you all the traction of the 15-inch X-Trac pneumatic tires but the tread design makes them VERY easy to turn on this solid axle snow thrower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. Last but not least, the long discharge chute puts the snow where you want it and the EZ chute control is fast and very easy to use. (My opinion) This model does not have power steering but is light enough and with the airless tires – it’s very easy to use for most people. Yes, there are a lot of bigger, larger, and more expensive snow blowers on the market, but if you just want a decent 2-stage to clear your “typical” suburban driveway this is one of the best choices. 

Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 If you have to have the least expensive 2-stage snow blower on the market this is the one.  The 208cc 24 inch Storm 2410 is most like your old 5 hp Troy-Bilt, Craftsman or Murray that you are replacing it with. It’s a simple snow blower capable of handling 8 to 12-inch snows and can clear that end-of-driveway drift. This snow blower will take you longer to clear your driveway than any other 24 inch that Troy-Bilt sells – but it will still get the job done. It’s a much better snow blower for most people than a single stage snow thrower and built better than the Chinese imports. It’s one of the few snow blowers in this price range with electric start. The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Murray which means it can clear that 21-inch snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. This is a decent snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 40-50 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 50 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement and blacktop. The deep lug tires are the right size for this snow blower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. This model does not have power steering but is light enough for most people to use. Don’t expect this model to clear heavy, wet snow well, throw the snow more than 25 feet or have a lot of traction for clearing the snow plow drift.

Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490 I’m not a fan of this snow blower but that doesn’t mean it’s not the best one for you. The combination of the huge engine and 3rd stage allows this snow blower to throw snow much farther and has about twice the capacity of the Storm 2460 above. It has all the premium features Troy-Bilt offers – power steering, hand warmers (that work), 4-way chute control, long discharge chute, and headlight. It absolutely loves 12-15 inches of normal snow and it’s fun to watch how far it will throw the snow! What I don’t like about this snow blower is the front – 3rd stage auger spins about 10 times faster than the side augers. In 2 to 4 inches of snow that “fan” just splatters snow all over the place. That means to clean your driveway in one pass you always have to have the uncleared part of your driveway to the right of the machine. In other words, you have to start in the middle of the driveway and keep turning left at the end of the pass. I have not been able to plug this snow blower but in wet snow, it tends to pack the snow inside the housing and you’ll have a lot of cleaning to do before you put it away in your garage.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2410	Storm 2460	Vortex 2490
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 277 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	24”	24”	24″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / 12” 3rd stage/impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering
operation control		single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / manual	EZ Rotation Chute	4-Way Joystick
tire size	13” x 4” X-Trac	15” x 5” Airless	15″ x 5″ X-Trac
headlight		Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Small Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute		Yes	Yes
Other Options			Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price	$599	$699	$1099
Buy Here From THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2410	Troy-Bilt Storm 2460	Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490

When you read snow blower reviews you are going to find reviews that state “the engine would not start,” “the engine won’t stay running.” and “the engine runs rough.” You will find these reviews for all brands and sizes of snow blowers.

98% of the time engine problems with snow blowers are either fuel or operator related. Snow engines run/operate differently than your lawn mower engine. Educating yourself on how to store fuel, how to keep your fuel clean and how/why your snow blower engine runs the way it does will go a long way towards liking your new snow blower. Please read this article to learn more: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS – Read This For The Truth

26 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

If a 28-inch snow blower is too big for your garage but you want something larger than a 24 inch, a 26 inch is a good choice. Troy-Bilt offers the inexpensive Storm 2660 and the great value Storm 2665.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2660 The Storm 2660 is the 26-inch version of the Storm 2460 above, It has the good 208cc Troy-Bilt engine, solid axle, good tires, and extended chute. It does not have a remote deflector control.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2665 MY 26 inch Best Value Choice! New! Exclusive to The Home Depot! The Storm 2665 adds a larger 243cc Troy-Bilt engine and a remote deflector. Solid axle, good tires, and extended Quick EZ-Rotation chute. At $799 it is one of the best value 26-inch snow blowers. I can highly recommend this snow blower for most people who get up to 80 inches of snow a year, have a 2-car 100-foot driveway and want more power than the snow blower you now have.

Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP If you have a small, steep driveway this is the best choice on the market today! The Storm Tracker 2690XP is one of the most underappreciated snow blowers around. It has the best traction of any 24-26 inch snow blower. It has heated handgrips, power steering, and a good 208cc engine. In other words, it has all the features of the high-end residential snow blowers plus tracks for a reasonable price. In fact, it has a larger engine and all the features of the Honda 24 inch tracked snow blower for HALF THE PRICE! Yes – it will last just as long. 

The electronic 4-way remote chute/deflector control on the Storm Tracker 2690XP is the best electric chute design on the market. All the gears, motors, and controls are sealed up under the dash so it’s protected from any moisture. The joystick right by your right thumb is the easiest to use.  This electronic chute control has been around for over 10 years and has proven to be completely reliable.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2660	Storm 2665	Storm Tracker 2690XP
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	26”	26”	26″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute – No deflector control	EZ Rotation Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute
tire size	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	D-Track with SelecTrac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options			Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$781	$799	$1199
Buy Here at THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2660	Troy-Bilt Storm 2665	Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP

Troy-Bilt snow blowers are among the most popular snow blowers for price and capacity. The Storm models are just the right size and power for the majority of the homes and driveways north of Interstate 70.  In other words, if you normally get 2-14 inch snows and average 40-80 inches a year these are great machines. They all have a 21-inch intake height so they will handle drifts and the occasional blizzard. No, they don’t have the capacity of the heavy-duty, “snow belt” machines that cost hundreds more, but for most of us, they are just the right combination of features, power, and price.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 Best Value 28 inch! The Storm 2860 does not have power steering but with the airless tires, it is still VERY easy to use. The extended chute with remote deflector puts the snow where you want it. The EZ Chute rotation control is fast, easy and won’t wear out. The 243 cc engine has plenty of power for snows up to 14 inches but it still can handle those 18-20 inchers if you drop it down a gear.  I have used this snow blower extensively over the last two years and it has been up to the task for any snow I’ve gotten up here in Northern Wisconsin! You can check out my videos on YouTube/Paul Sikkema to see it in action. It’s a great value snow blower and even includes heated hand grips that work!

Troy-Bilt Storm 2890 Best Value 28 inch with Power Steering! It’s also the Quietest Gas Powered Snow Blower on the Market! The Storm 2890 has all the features of the Best Value 2860 above and adds power steering and the Troy-Bilt quiet engine (with Noise Guard Technology) for only $100 more. 

Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 Best Value Tracked Snow Blower! The Storm Tracker 2890 has all the features of the Storm 2860 and 2890 models and adds a larger engine and 3-point track drive! Yes, it has power steering that works perfectly and hand warmers that work. The combination of power and 3-point tracks make it the best choice for steep driveways. For the price, this is an exceptional deal if you need a tracked snow blower! One of the unique features of the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker over a wheeled unit is you can adjust the skid shoes to clean your smooth driveway and patio well but you can also raise the front of the snow blower up just a little to clear soft gravel driveways, turf and other “rough off road” areas just by moving a lever on the side of the machine. Using the same lever you can also lock the front down so you can easily scrape hard packed snow off your driveway. This snow blower, with the 3-point tracks, has a lot more clearance under it than the $3000 Honda snow blowers and the Chinese made machines with the old 2-point drive system. Because of that fact it won’t get stuck as easily clearing paths and trails as the 2-point models. 

28 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2860	Storm 2890	Storm Tracker 2890
engine	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 277 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	28”	28”	28″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute
tire size	15” x 5” Airless	15” x 5” Airless	D-Track with SelecTrac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$899	$999.99	$1299
Buy Here at THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2860	Troy-Bilt Storm 2890	Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890

Troy-Bilt Storm 3090

Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 The Storm 3090 is one snow blower that I love to hate. Let me explain. This snow blower has been around in various forms and colors for over 10 years. It’s been sold under many names, Craftsman, Craftsman Pro, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, MTD, MTD Pro Yard Machines, Remington and even the new Craftsman at Lowes. The engine and controls change but the rest of the machine has stayed the same. (I have the Troy-Built XP version here with the electronic joystick.) It’s a dependable snow thrower. It doesn’t break. The current engine on the Storm 3090 has plenty of power, starts well, and is very reliable. You will rarely break a shear pin (unlike the 3-stage snow throwers) and belts last for years. But:

The problem I have with the snow thrower is the front auger flights are too close together and that design severely limits its capacity.  If you have 4-8 inches of snow to clear, the Storm 3090 (and it’s cousins) does a good job. But, if you try to clear 10, 12, or more inches these tightly spaced auger flights limit the amount of snow going into the snow blower and the snow piles up in front of the machine. If you keep driving the snow blower it actually looks more like a snow plow than a snow blower because the snow piles up in the front.  Its even worse in heavy, wet snow – the front auger will plug up into a solid cylinder of snow and no snow can get to the impeller.

If you look at the front auger on this 30-inch snow blower the six closed auger flights are much closer together than the four flights on the 28-inch machine. The extra auger flights are too close together and that’s where the bottleneck is with this otherwise good snow blower. 

So, if you need a snow blower to clear a large area and only get up to 10 inches of snow the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090  can be a good choice because its a dependable machine at a good price but if you get that occasional heavy-wet snow or regularly get snows deeper than 10 inches a better choice is the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 below.

Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30-34 Heavy-Duty, High Capacity Snow Blowers

Yes, I saved the best for last! Last year Troy-Bilt introduced the new heavy duty 30 and 34 inch Arctic Storm snow blowers to replace the old, tired 33 and 45-inch models but no one really explained why it’s such a leap forward for Troy-Bilt… I won’t spend any time explaining why the old MTD built models were so bad. Let’s just say – they are gone! – and move on.

The Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 and  Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34  snow blowers are a new design and very heavy-duty. They feature thicker steel, better components including all steel discharge chutes, 14-inch high capacity impellers, and 14-inch front auger systems. These new snow blowers even have handle supports so using them is much easier than the old models.

It’s big and awesome but balanced well and surprisingly easy to use. I highly recommend the 30-inch heavy duty snow blower if you have a long driveway to clear, or you get large doses of heavy, wet snow. The 34 inch is has a larger engine and will throw snow as well as the best red and orange commercial snow throwers. These are high-end homeowner snow blowers, not commercial machines but I would have no problems recommending the 34-inch version to a church or other business that needs to clear large areas once or twice a week.

Compare this new heavy-duty Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, Ariens Platinum 30, Husqvarna ST330P and the Toro PowerMax HD 1228.

I’ll say it – “For half the price as the Honda 32 inch you get a snow blower that will perform the task faster.”

In 2017 Consumer Reports rated this snow blower and the $3000 Ariens Rapidtrak – as the two of the best 2-stage machines. In addition, it scored just as well as the Cub Cadet 3X HD. 

Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30  If you live around Lake Tahoe, on the East Coast or any other area of the country that gets a lot of heavy, wet snow this is one of the best value, heavy-duty snow blowers on the market. It has large 16″ X 6.5″ X-Trac tires for great traction. It has the large 14-inch impeller and 14-inch front auger to quickly move all types of snow through the machine. It has the highest intake height of any of the current snow blowers so it will take on deep drifts efficiently. The snow blower including the chute is made of heavy, reinforced steel so it will last. 

The 357cc engine on the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 has plenty of power for this snow blower. Yes, there are other 30-inch snow blowers with larger engines but this engine is a good choice for both power and fuel economy.

The 420cc engine on the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34 has over-the-top power. In two years I have not found snow deep enough to slow this 34-inch monster down.

Heated handgrips and the electronic 4-way chute make it fun to use. Don’t listen to your grouchy old neighbor who tells you electric chute controls break and are not worth the money. I’ve sold thousands of MTD made snow blowers with this specific control and it is bulletproof! It’s easy and fun to use and much faster than the Honda electric chute control!

One of the unique features that I really like on this snow blower is the square tube running from the top of the handle down to the frame. This reinforces the handle assembly and makes the snow blower very solid and easy to turn. This is the only residential snow blower that has this “commercial” feature.

I highly recommend this snow blower for homeowners who have long driveways with drifts. The trigger power steering allows the snow thrower to move in a straight line without much effort on your part. If you want to turn or make a small course correction just pull the small trigger under the handle.

You can check out my videos on YouTube/Paul Sikkema to see the Arctic Storm 34 in action.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 3090	Arctic Storm 30	Arctic Storm 34
engine	4-cycle / 357 cc OHV	4-cycle / 357 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 420 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	30”	30”	34″
intake height	21”	23”	23″
auger / impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute
tire size	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel reinforced	steel reinforced
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers  drift cutters	Hand Warmers  drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1099	$1499	$1699
Buy Here at THD ->	Storm 3090	Arctic Storm 30	Arctic Storm 34

21-inch Troy-Bilt Single Stage Snow Blowers

Troy-Bilt makes a snow blower for just about every driveway in the U.S. but I’m not a fan of owning a single-stage snow blower as your only, primary snow clearing tool. Why? Yes, single-stage snow throwers are faster to use on that light dusting to 4 inches of snow but they don’t handle that end-of-driveway pile the city snow plow leaves you well at all.  Yes, the Troy-Bilt models will clean packed down snow a 2-stage can’t but if you have to throw the snow in a certain spot, over bushes or over a wall they don’t have the throwing distance to perform those tasks. They do make a great “second” snow blower and compliment your 2-stage for tasks the 2-stage is too big for.  They do work well for patios, raised decks, 2-4 inchers, and cleaning snow off the sidewalks and around the doorway to your business. In other words, if you live North of Interstate 70 you should not consider a single-stage snow blower for your primary snow removal tool. If you do buy one I suggest the 208cc models. The 123cc is too small and the 179cc engine has a history of being hard to start.

New! Exclusive to The Home Depot! Squall 208 EX

Sears Stock Item #	Squall 123R	Squall 179E	Squall 208 EX	Squall 208 XP
engine	4-cycle / 123 cc OHV	4-cycle / 179 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV
starter type	recoil	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	21″	21”	21″	21”
intake height	13”	13”	13″	13”
auger / impeller	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle
speeds	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle
Drive Control	NA	NA	NA	NA
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	Manual Chute	Manual Chute	Manual Chute	Remote Crank Chute
tire size	8” x 2”	8” x 2”	8” x 2”	8” x 2”
headlight			LED headlights	LED headlights
skid shoes	NA	NA	NA	NA
handle	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	NA	NA	NA	NA
drift cutters	NA	NA	NA	NA
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$359	$399	$499	$599
Buy Here at THD ->	Squall 123R	Squall 179E	Squall 208 EX	Squall 208 XP

The post 2018 Troy-Bilt Snow Blower Review – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Here is a list of the most common questions that people have asked over the last three years to help them find the best snow blower. Take your time and read through the questions. I’ve also included a suggestion for a snow blower that will work well in that situation. It’s just a suggestion based on experience so feel free to continue the discussion in the comments below if you have a different snow blower in mind.

Finding the “Best” snow blower for you can be an overwhelming task. You have over 400 gas and electric snow blowers available in the U.S. In addition, different parts of the country have different amounts of snow, get different types of snow and each one of you has a different size area and type of surface to clean so some snow blowers may work for you but many won’t. But, MovingSnow is here to help.

What is the best snow blower for me?

NOTE: Links to retail sites are affiliate links. When you click on the link and buy something from that site I make a small commission from that sale.

Yes, There really is a snow blower built for you. You may also want to read this article to after reading this list: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS

How did you like the list? Please let me know in the comment section below?

1. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Snow Blower – The 20 Best Snow Blower List
2. Best cheap 24-inch snow blower – Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers 2018-2019
3. Best value 24-inch snowblower without power steering for most people – Ariens Compact 24 or Toro 824 OE
4. Best value snow blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 28 in. 243cc
5. Best value snow blower with power steering for most people – There are four – Troy-Bilt  Storm 2890 | Toro Power Max 826 OXE 37799 | Ariens Deluxe 28 921046 | Cub Cadet 2X 28″ HP
6. Best 24-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 24 SHO EFI
7. Best 26-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Cub Cadet 2X 26 HP | Toro Power Max 826 OXE 37799
8. Best 28-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 28 SHO RapidTrak
9. Best 30-inch Residential Snow Blower on the Market – Ariens Platinum 30 SHO
10. Best Value Single Stage Residential Snow Blower – Toro Power Clear 721 E 21 in.
11. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Residential Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Squall XP 21 in. 208cc
12. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Residential Snow Blower for most people – Toro SnowMaster
13. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Single Stage Commercial Snow Blower – Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. 208cc
14. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best 2-Stage Snow Blower for most people – Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO
15. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best 3-Stage Snow Blower for most people – Cub Cadet 3X 28
16. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Cordless Single Stage Electric Snow Thrower – Right now there is none that I can recommend.
17. MovingSnow’s Choice of Best Cordless 2-Stage Electric Snow Thrower – Snow Joe ION8024-XRP 24-Inch
18. Easiest To Use Snow Blower – Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE
19. Easiest To Use 2-Stage Snow Blower – Cub Cadet 2X 24 | Craftsman 88640 24 | Husqvarna ST224P
20. Easiest To Use Large Frame Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 in. | Ariens Deluxe 28 | Toro 928 Model 38840
21. Best Snow Blower for a small driveway – Troy-Bilt Storm 2460
22. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 60-foot driveway – Husqvarna ST224P | Ariens Compact 24 in. | Troy-Bilt Storm 2460
23. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 80-foot driveway – Troy-Bilt | Cub Cadet |Ariens Deluxe 28 |
24. Best Snow Blower for 2 car, 100-foot or longer – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 in. | Ariens Deluxe 28 | Toro 928 Model 38840
25. Best Snow 2-Stage Blower for my 105 lb spouse (small/short) – Cub Cadet 2X 24
26. Best snow blower for my bad back. – Cub Cadet 2X 24
27. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 24 | Ariens Platinum 24 EFI
28. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Cub Cadet 3X 26
29. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 28 | Toro Power Max HD
30. Best 30 Inch Snow Blower for heavy, wet snow – Ariens Platinum 30 |  Toro Power Max HD
31. Best Value 32-36 Inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34. |  Toro Power Max HD
32. Best snow blower for long single car driveways – 28-inch models are the easiest for long driveways
33. Best snow blower for large areas – 30-36 inch works well.
34. Best Starting Snow Blower – Any Ariens with EFI –
35. Fastest Snow Blower – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro
36. Fastest Snow Blower For Your 2-car Midwest Driveway – Toro SnowMaster 824 QZE
37. Biggest/Baddest/Highest capacity snow blower – Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI More Capacity than the Honda  HS1336iAS
38. Best Commercial Snow Blower – 5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2018
39. Quietest 24 inch Gas Snow Blower – Sears Craftsman 88789
40. Quietest 26 inch Gas Snow Blower – Sears Craftsman 88694
41. Quietest 28 inch Gas Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Storm 2890
42. Best Wheeled Snow Blower For Steep, Paved Driveways – Ariens Deluxe/Platinum | Toro Power Max HD
43. Best Snow Blower For Steep Gravel Driveways – 6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
44. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Ariens Compact 24 in.
45. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt 2665
46. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower without power steering – Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 28 in. 243cc
47. Best 24 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 24 EFI
48. Best 26 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Cub Cadet 2X 26″ HP Model 31AM5CVS710 | Power Max 826 OXE Model 37799
49. Best 28 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 28 | Toro Power Max HD
50. Best 30 Inch Snow Blower with power steering – Ariens Platinum 30 |  Toro Power Max HD
51. Best Residential 33-36 Inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34
52. Best Value 30 inch Snow Blower – Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30
53. If you have a small, steep driveway this is the best choice on the market today!Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP
54. The Snow Blower Everyone Thinks Is The Best via Social Media – Honda Power Equipment
55. Best Rated Snow Blower on Amazon – Husqvarna ST224P
56. Best Rated Snow Blower on Home Depot – Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower
57. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites 3-stage – Cub Cadet 3X 30″ PRO H
58. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites 2-stage – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro
59. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Compact 2-stage – Husqvarna ST224P
60. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Single-Stage – Toro Power Clear 721 QZE 38744
61. Best Rated Snow Blower on Reputable Review Sites Cordless Electric Snow Thrower – EGO SNT2102 is not self-propelled.
62. Most Expensive walk-behind snow blower – All Honda Snow blowers with the HS1336iAS being the most expensive at $7999.
63. Longest Throwing Snow Blower – Ariens RapidTrack 28 Hydro Pro and Toro Power Max HD 1428 OHXE
64. Best snow blower for heavy-wet snow – Any of the Ariens Platinum Models | Toro Power Max HD
65. Best snow blower for drifts – Install drift cutters on any current 2-stage Ariens, Troy-Bilt, Toro, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet for cutting drifts. A track snow blower works best for wind-blown drifts.  6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
66. Best snow blower for gravel – Any 2-stage snow blower  (adjust the skid shoes to their highest position)
67. Best Snow Blower that can be used all year long – Gravely PRO-QXT
68. Best Snow Blower for paths and trails – 6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019
69. Best Snow Blower For Hauling Around – Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. 208cc
70. Best Snow Blower For The Long Island Area 2018-2019 – Ariens Deluxe 24 (Small Driveways – heavy/wet end-of-driveway snow)
71. Best Snow Blower For The Boston Area 2018-2019 – Any snow blower with a 14-inch impeller (Ariens Deluxe-Platinum | Toro Power Max HD | Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm
72. Best Snow Blower For The Midwest 2018-2019 – Any 2-stage snow blower on this list based on the size and type of driveway.
73. Best 2-Stage Snow Blowers For High Altitudes 2018-2019 – Any of the Ariens with EFI.
74. Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers With Power Steering 2018-2019 – Article still being written
75. The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower

*MovingSnow has been helping you find the best snow blower for over 12 years now. In the last 3 years alone over 5 million people visited the site and over 3000 people a year have asked the question in the comments? “Which snow blower is best for me?” 

Yes, There really is a snow blower built for you. You may also want to read this article to after reading this list: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS 

This article is a compliment to: The Twenty Best Snow Blowers – September 2018 – Which Snow Blower Is Best For You?

The post What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here! appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Let’s be practical. There are cheap snow blowers and then there is junk. This is a list of the cheapest snow blowers that I can recommend on the market today. These snow blowers are from reliable companies that have real local servicing dealers and parts availability. All will clear your one-two car driveway in areas that average 40-60 inches of snow a year. All of the snow blowers on this list have reliable engines and tires with a good snow tread design. As long as you are in no hurry they will handle 2-10 inches of snow and the occasional 18-20 inch drift well. Yes, most will plug if you try to move wet snow.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2460

If you live in an area that gets heavy-wet snow (for example, Boston or Long Island) these are not the best choice. I suggest a higher HP, higher capacity 24-inch snow blower like the Ariens Deluxe 24.

All of the snow blowers on this list use a solid axle. That means both wheels spin all the time so when you turn the inside wheel keeps spinning. For smaller people or people with bad backs that can make these snow blowers hard to use.

All of these snow blowers now use a 208cc engine and include a 110-volt electric start. That gives you around 6 1/2 HP compared to your old 179cc 5 HP. These snow blowers will all throw snow farther and faster than your old one.

Before I show you the list I have one more very important item to discuss – fuel. 

The biggest issue with small gas engines today is they won’t start when you want them to. But the Number One reason they won’t start is bad fuel – not something wrong with the snow blower’s engine. Today’s pump gas starts to go bad after only 30 days of sitting around your garage in an old vented gas can. Here are a few tips to help:

DO NOT fill your new snowblower with the gas you have sitting around in your garage. Pour that old fuel in your vehicle and go buy fresh 87 Octane fuel. Today’s engines are designed to run on E10 or less 87 Octane fuel. Here are three other solutions to help your snow blower start every time.

• Buy a new gas can. The latest gas cans are sealed so the fuel doesn’t go bad as fast. The ones I recommend pour very well. Check them out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 
• Use a fuel stabilizer. I always put 2 tablespoons per gallon of SeaFoam in my fuel when I go buy it. That way the fuel is always treated and it will last me over a year. before it goes bad. Check it out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 
• Use TruFuel or similar pure gas. It’s expensive compared to gas but it has a 2-year shelf life. I use it in the snow blowers I test but don’t use very often and they all start on the first pull. Check it out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 

$699 or less:

Spending about $699 gives you a high arc long chute so the snow blower throws the snow farther and you can place it where you want it. Some of these snow blowers like the Ariens and Toro even have a remote deflector control for even more control of the snow. All of these snow blowers have larger 13-inch tires and have a lot more traction than the $599 snow blowers listed at the end of this article.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Please click on the “Buy Here” link to read more details about the snow blower you are interested in.

1. Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 24 in. 208cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Airless Tires Model # Storm 2460

This snow blower has a lot to offer for the price and I have a feeling it will quickly become The Home Depot’s best selling snow blower. For my Mid-Western 2 car, 70-foot driveway, brick patio, and turf that I clear for my dogs – it is a perfect size.

There are three unique features of the Troy-Bilt 2460 that allow me to put it as Number One on this list.

1. Airless Tires. I’ve been using Troy-Bilt snow blowers with the airless tires for a couple of years now and I really like how much traction they have and how easy the snow blower turns. Even on a solid axle snow blower like this one, they are surprisingly easy to use.
2. Poly Skid Shoes. The long poly skids don’t leave brown rust marks on your pavement or patio and they last a long time.
3. Now Sold At The Home Depot. I am very excited that Troy-Bilt is now available through the Home Depot. Over the last five years, Home Depot has quietly become the online leader in outdoor power equipment. They are very easy to work with if you have a problem with your snow blower. They will help you set up service if you have the standard factory warranty and if you decide to purchase one of their protection plans – the price is reasonable and will repair your equipment as quickly as possible.

Buy Here: Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 24 in. 208cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Airless Tires at The Home Depot

2. Ariens Classic 24 in. 208cc 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model # 920025

The Ariens Classic gets great reviews for its size and price. The Classic features an all steel remote chute and deflector. In fact, it’s a solid machine with more metal parts than the other snow blowers on this list. Be aware that the Classic has snap-ring pins that hold the wheels on the axle. With one of the pins moved to the freewheel position the snow blower will turn easily – but you lose half your traction. The snow blower comes from the factory with one of the pins in the freewheel position so it’s easy to move around the sales floor. You will want to move the pin to the locked position when you use it the first time

Buy Here: Ariens Classic 24 in. 208cc 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

3. Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model 88173

The Craftsman 88173 has been around for quite a while now and four years ago I gave it the “Best Value” award. It continues to be a good, basic snow blower at a great price.

Buy Here: Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model 88173 at Sears

4. Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610

Like most of the snow blowers on this list, it does not have a headlight. It also does not have an easy to use chute rotation. For example, with the #1 Troy-Bilt above you can move the chute quickly from one side to the other with just 2 1/2 turns of the crank. This snow blower requires many more turns. It is very light compared to the other snow blowers on this list (about 170 lbs) so it will have more traction issues in deeper snow.

Buy Here: Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610 at The Home Depot

It is also available through Amazon Prime for the same price: Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610 at Amazon

5. Poulan Pro PR241 24 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 961920092

I’m listing this Poulan Pro because many owners like it but I’m not going to recommend it right now. A lot of owners have complained that the plastic dash cracks after a year or so of use. Many also complain that the chute doesn’t stay in position and wanders around while you are blowing snow.

Buy Here: Poulan Pro PR241 24 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 961920092 at The Home Depot

6. Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at The Home Depot

You can feel confident that every snow blower in the Toro is built well and built to last. The 724 OE is no exception. The Toro Power Max is listed on all the websites right now for $799 but there is a rumor that Toro is dropping the price to $699. Let’s watch and see what happens.

Buy Here: Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at The Home Depot

Buy Here: Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at ACME Tool

$599 or less:

Do you remember that small MTD snow blower you or your neighbor owned 15-20 years ago? It had a 5 hp Tecumseh or Briggs engine? It threw snow – not very far – but it did get that 6-8 inches of snow off your driveway. It handled the snow plow drift at the end of your driveway as long as you got out there early in the morning before it froze into a rock hard wall.

The only disadvantages that these snow blowers have a short chute and hard to use chute rotation. The old style short chute limits as to how far the snow blower throws the snow and since it does not have a remote defector it harder to aim the snow just where you want it. This is especially irritating when the snow is light and fluffy – the snow blows all over and most of it in your face

If you are interested in either of these snow blowers please click on the “buy here” link to read more on the Sears or Home Depot site.

7.  Craftsman 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower 88781

Buy Here: Craftsman 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model # 88781 at Sears

8. Troy-Bilt 24 in. Two-Stage 208cc Electric Start Self Propelled Gas Snow Blower Model # Storm 2410

Buy Here: Troy-Bilt 24 in. Two-Stage 208cc Electric Start Self Propelled Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

9. Poulan Pro PR240 24 in. 179cc Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower Model # PR240

Buy Here: Poulan Pro PR240 24 in. 179cc Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

Did I miss any other good, cheap snow blower? Please let me know in the comments below.

The post 9 Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers 2018-2019 appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

A track snowblower can be a huge advantage. This article will discuss why you may need a tracked machine and the 7 best on the market this fall. Note: Some of the snow blowers on this list are only available through your local dealer.

If you decide a track snowblower is not the best choice for you please check out this article The Best Snowblowers For You! Fall 2020

Why You May Want a Tracked Snow Blower:

• If you have a sloped driveway. If your driveway slopes enough that a wheeled unit has a hard time going up the hill a tracked snowblower offers a lot more traction.
• If you have packed down snow and/or ice under the snow. Tracks offer a lot more traction for icy conditions and the front of the auger housing on most track drives can also be locked down to scrape driven on snow off cement and blacktop better than wheeled units.
• If you have sidewalks that get plowed full by the city snowplow. The extra traction of the tracks will help you push through that heavy snow.
• If you have uneven terrain to clear. If you have grass or dirt trails or paths to clear. Track drives have the extra traction you need to clear turf and soft ground.
• If you get a lot of drifts where the snow packs so hard you can walk on it. Again, the extra traction of the tracks will help you push through that heavy snow.

Three Types Of  Track snowblowers on the market this fall.

Two-Point.  Original Design. Found on Husqvarna, Honda, and most Chinese made snow blowers.  This design has been around for at least 30 years. The rubber track is driven by a lugged wheel and another wheel the same size keeps the track tight and on the ground. Originally the drive wheels were metal but today most are plastic. They are generally very slow compared to the other types. They generally don’t have a lot of clearance under the transmission so they will get stuck easily when trying to clear “off-road” areas. Most 2-point track systems will let you lock the front of the snowblower 1-2 inches off the ground for transport.

A little secret: Most hydro snowblowers that use trigger steering all use the same transmission. There are only a couple of variations on the market. So – the transmission gear ratio on a track drive with small drive wheels will be slower than another model with larger drive wheels. That’s why a Honda tracked snowblower is considerably slower than the Husqvarna track drive or the new Toro TRX with the large drive wheel.

Three-Point.  Newer design. Found on Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, Ariens, Husqvarna, and on the new Toro Power TRX HD. 3-Point tracks give you more clearance under the snow blower’s transmission so you won’t get stuck as often in deep snow. Most also have a larger main drive wheel than the 2-point systems so they are faster and they will allow you to get your area cleared faster.

RapidTrack.  Latest design.  This system is unique to Ariens snow blowers. This track drive uses a drive wheel that’s basically the same size as regular snowblower tires. This gives you the speed and maneuverability of a wheeled unit but also the traction of tracks when you need it. I’ll discuss how it works below.

Recommended

1. Ariens Platinum 28 SHO RapidTrak: 28 inch 369cc $2399

The Ariens Platinum RapidTrak is the best value tracked snow blower for any homeowner who wants to clear snow fast, have the best traction when you need it, and all the features you can get on a high-end residential snowblower.

First, the Ariens Platinum is a top-end residential blower. It includes heated handgrips, Super High Output (SHO) impeller, Auto-Turn Steering Technology, and a premium Ariens engine. The tall 21” housing height eats up the drifts. The 14” SHO auger and impeller blow snow up to 55 feet and will clear up to 75 tons/hour. In my opinion, the Ariens Platinum SHO handles regular snow, heavy snow, wet snow, and even slush better than any other residential snowblower on the U.S. market. 

 Second, tracks are unrivaled when it comes to traction, but you can’t beat a wheeled snow blower for maneuvering around objects. The Rapidtrak system is exclusive to Ariens and allows you to switch between a wheeled or tracked machine with just a single lever mounted on the right handle.

 Preset adjustments on the RapidTrak system allow you to change between three different positions. Track Mode (position 1) is for typical snow removal, tracks are flat on the ground, providing significantly more traction than a wheeled snowblower. Wheel Mode (position 2) turning and traversing around objects. In this position, the rear of the tracks lifts off the ground, leaving the snowblower with just the tracks around the big wheels contacting the ground. The snowblower acts just like a wheeled unit. In fact, in this position, the snowblower is well balanced and very easy to turn. Finally, Dig-In Mode (position 3) delivers extra traction for those extreme snow conditions. Opposite of Wheel Mode, in this setting, the rear of the tracks push down and lock. This not only gives the tracks maximum traction, but the slight downward angle of the tracks pitch the auger at a steeper angle into the snowbank allowing you to clean hard-packed snow.

In my opinion, the Ariens RapidTrak is the second most significant technology improvement in walk-behind snow blowers in the last 15 years. (Overhead valve engines (OHV) engines with electronic fuel injection (EFI) being the most significant)

After you look at all the advantages the Ariens Platinum RapidTrak is the best value tracked snowblower for anyone who wants to clear snow fast, have the best traction, and have all the features you can get on a high-end residential snowblower.

This is a dealer only snowblower so here is a link to the Ariens website where you can read more and find your local Ariens dealer.  Ariens Platinum 28 SHO RapidTrak.

2. Toro Power TRX HD 1428 OHXE and Power TRX 1432 OHXE 28 or 32 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

If you want all-out power, speed, and the ability to handle any type of snow you get but and you prefer trigger-style steering the Toro TRX is the way to go. Available in 28 or 32-inch widths these commercial snowblowers will clear snow as fast as you can walk and throw it up to 60 feet. In addition to throwing very, very, very far they are also able to throw the snow right next to you if you want. The double-jointed steel discharge chute puts the snow exactly where you want it to go.

• These snow blowers are built so tough, they don’t use shear pins.
• Unmatched stability, track drive allows you to clear snow from the toughest terrain and steepest slopes.
• Adjust with ease, with the push of a lever, adjust your housing up for climbing and transport, flat to blow snow off a driveway or down to dig into deep snow with Toro’s quick-adjust auger housing lever
• Total speed control, change your speed on the go with the infinitely variable hydrostatic powered transmission
• Powered precision moves, powered with Toro’s king, a 420 cc engine and controlled with power steering for smooth, tight turns
• LED headlights and hand warmers
• Chute control, quickly change the chute and deflector direction with a single, smooth motion thanks to the Quick Stick chute control
• Toro’s patented Anti-Clogging system allows the snowblower to handle heavy, wet snow and light fluffy snow easily without clogging
• This machine is right at home on your two-car drive, large to extra-large driveways, big jobs, heavy accumulation, and making quick work of serious snow, like 15 in. plus of snow

Available through The Home Depot, ACME Tool,  or your local Toro dealer

3. Ariens RapidTrak Pro 28 in. 2-Stage Electric Start 420cc Gas Snow Blower Model# 926060 $3099

If you have a long driveway or a huge area to clear and get a lot of snow, I’m including two commercial snow blowers in this list.  The Ariens RapidTrak 28 and RapidTrak 32 are heavier duty commercial tracked snowblowers that arguably are the best-tracked snow blowers on the market this year. They have the largest engines and the highest capacity of any other snowblower on this list. I used the 28-inch hydro version all last winter and in my 40 years of experience, it is the best and one of the easiest snow blowers I have ever used. (watch my videos on YouTube)  If you have a large area to clear, live in an area that gets 100 inches of snow or more a year, or use a 2-stage snow blower to make money with, it is hands down, the model you should buy. The Ariens RapidTrak 28 in. 2-Stage Electric Start 420cc Gas Snow Blower Model# 926060 $3099 and the Ariens RapidTrak 32 in. 2-Stage Electric Start 420 cc Gas Snow Blower Model# 926069 $3399 (Home Depot Links)

4. Cub Cadet 3X 30″ TRAC 30 inch 3-Stage 420cc Cub Cadet engine Model No. 31AH7EVZ710 $1999

Cub Cadet claims that this 3X auger/impeller system will handle twice as much snow as their 2-stage snow blowers. That is true – but understand that claim does not mean it will handle more snow than a high output 2-stage system like the ones found on the Toro Power Max HD and Ariens Platinum snow blowers. It’s not better – just different. That said,

 First, The Cub Cadet 3X TRAC is also a high-end residential snowblower. It has heated handgrips, remote chute/deflector controls, a steel chute, and three high output LED lights. It also features a huge 420cc engine so it will power through just about any type of snow.  Cub Cadet’s 12″ Induction Accelerator quickly pulls snow, ice and slush through the machine twice as fast as their 2-stage units.

Second, The 3-point track provides a lot of traction and the larger top drive wheel makes it considerably faster than the old 2-wheel tracked systems. Triggers under the handles let you steer the snowblower with just your fingertips.  Cub Cadet’s (MTD) trigger power steering is dependable and the easiest of the two and three-point track systems to use.

You can purchase the Cub Cadet 3X 30″ TRAC through your local Cub Cadet dealer or The Home Depot here: Cub Cadet 3X 30″ TRAC (Home Depot link)

For smaller driveways, there is also the 26 inch 357cc 3X 26″ TRAC. $1599 (Home Depot link)

Like Ariens and Toro – Cub Cadet also has a higher capacity PRO series but they do not offer a track drive Pro model.

5. Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 Snow Blower Model 28 inch 277cc Troy-Bilt engine No. 31AH7FP4766 $1299

The Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 is a great value, residential snowblower. Heated hand grips, easy to use remote chute/deflector, unbreakable high arc poly chute, 3-point track drive, headlight, and even reflective stripes on the auger housing to help keep you safe at night.

The 3-point track provides a lot of traction and the larger top drive wheel makes it considerably faster than the old 2-wheel tracked systems. Triggers under the handles let you steer the snowblower with just your fingertips.  Troy-Bilt’s (MTD) trigger power steering is dependable and the easiest of the two and three-point track systems to use.

In my opinion the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 is a great value snow blower and will be a good choice for medium driveways that average 40-80 inches a year. It’s not the fastest snow blower on this list but it is dependable and will last you a long time. 

You can purchase the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 through your local Troy-Bilt dealer or The Home Depot here: Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 Snow Blower (Home Depot link)

6. Ariens Compact Track 24: 24 inch 252 cc 

This Ariens Compact Track has plenty of power and average capacity.  It is a great choice if you have a small steep driveway and/or have sidewalks that get a lot of snow.

7. Honda 28 inch 270 cc HSS928AT / HSS928ATD $2709 $2909

Honda snowblowers throw the snow a long way and the previous HS models have a rabid fan base. But, compared to the other tracked snow blowers available today the HSS series with it’s small 2-point tracks and mediocre power are outdated.  They are much slower than the Ariens, Cub Cadet or Troy-Bilt models listed above.

Yes, the Honda AX engine has a long, well-deserved reputation but today’s OHV engines on the other snow blowers are just as good. The HSS series does not have a lot of clearance under the snowblower so they get stuck in deep snow more often and I repeat – even with a hydro transmission – they are slow. The #1 Ariens also has about 30% more capacity than this Honda (77 tons per hour for the Ariens verses 57 tons for the Honda) The electric chute control is slow and it takes forever for it to move all the way from one side to the other. The models sold in the retail stores do not have electric start – you have to find a Honda Powersports dealer to purchase one with 12-volt battery start ($200 more).

My opinion: To be clear, this is a good, well-built snow blower – it’s just not as fast and just does not have the capacity of the other machines. Worst of all -it’s just way over-priced for what it offers.

Buy Here: Honda 28 inch 270 cc HSS928AT (Home Depot Link)

There is also a 32-inch version Honda 32 inch 389cc HSS1332AT (Home Depot) $3189

8. Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690 XP Track SnowBlower 26 inch, 208cc Model No. 31AM7BR3766. $1199

Before you buy this snow blower based on the price please read the entire description below.

 This snow blower is the least expensive tracked unit on the market! What’s more, it has all the ease-of-use features and a larger engine than the Honda 24 inch 198cc HSS724AT which costs twice as much!

The Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690 XP has all the high-end bells and whistles that make it a very easy to use snowblower. Heated hand grips, bulletproof and quick electric remote chute/deflector, unbreakable high arc poly chute, 3-point track drive, headlight and even reflective stripes on the auger housing to help keep you safe at night.  The only thing lacking about this snow blower is the size of the engine. I can only recommend this snowblower to the few people who don’t get a lot of snow but have a steep driveway to clear. Don’t buy this snowblower because you just want a tracked unit because it is underpowered for most applications. It will handle 2-8 inch snowfalls well but it will be VERY slow on 12 or more inches of snow.

My opinion: If you have a steep driveway or off-road area to clear AND you live in an area of the country that gets 40-60 inches of snow on average this may be a great choice for you. In fact, if you are currently are happy with the power of your 24-26 inch 208cc snowblower or your 28-inch 243cc snow blower this tracked model is a good choice for you. (This 208cc engine has more power than your old 5 HP Tecumseh or Briggs)

Buy Here: Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690 XP Snow Blower (Home Depot Link)

Maybe:

Husqvarna ST430T 30 inch 420cc $2999.

I’ve had a Husqvarna ST430T around here since 2018 and it throws snow a long way. But even with the huge 440cc engine it just has average capacity compared to the newer Ariens and Cub Cadet models. In other words, it’s a good dependable snow blower – but outdated. Because of the high price it has not been a good seller so most of the retailers no longer carry it though Husqvarna Snow Equipment Dealers will be able to easily get one for you. (watch my videos on YouTube)

Not Recommended.

Honda 24 inch 198cc HSS724AT / HSS724ATD ( ACME Tool Link)

For a whopping $2349 you get a recoil start, underpowered 198cc engine, old style 2-point track, and mediocre capacity tracked snow blower. This snow blower has the smallest engine on any 2-stage snow blower – but the highest price for any 24-26 inch 2-stage snow blower. So unless you are “that guy” who just has to have a snow blower with a Honda engine on it I suggest staying far away from this one!

Ariens Platinum SHO Track 28: 28 inch 369cc

As a wheeled snow blower the Ariens Platinum SHO is a great snowblower. It’s a high capacity, dependable machine. The Auto-Turn steering makes it very easy to use. But with the 3-point tracks installed it’s a whole different monster. The tracks have too much “rubber-on-the-ground” and it makes the snowblower very hard to maneuver.

Any Chinese Track Snowblower.

The current crop of Chinese track snow blowers are mainly 2-point drive and lack a nationwide parts/repair network. For the same money, you are much better off buying the Troy-Bilt snow blowers on this list.

The post 7 Best Residential Track Snowblowers For 2018-2019 appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Landscapers who clear snow, Municipalities, Schools, Gov’t Agencies, and Property Managers in heavy snowfall areas need snow blowers that will last much longer than the residential models you find at your local big-box store.  Most of these commercial owners use a snow blower more on one snowfall than a residential owner would for an entire year. Because of that most commercial snow blowers are built with heavy-duty components not found in residential snow blowers. One inch axles, cast iron skid shoes, huge engines, and other components. This article is a list of the best walk-behind commercial snow blowers available in the U.S. market.

What is the best size? In my opinion, a 28-inch snow blower is the best choice most of the time. 28-inch snow blowers tend to be easier to use so your crews or smaller employees can use them for longer periods without tiring. The only reason I would suggest the 32-36 inch sizes is if your sidewalks are 32-36 inches or you are clearing large open areas such as empty parking lots.

Tracks or wheels? Tracked snow blowers have more traction than wheeled snow blowers but wheeled snow blowers are more maneuverable. Tracked snow blowers work really well if you have sidewalks that get snow from the snowplow trucks. They will push through that hard, heavy snow much better than wheeled units. 2 and 3-point track drive systems are usually slower to use because they use the same internal gearing as the wheeled units. The exception is the Ariens RapidTrack. The RapidTrack’s main drive wheel is the same size as a conventional wheeled unit’s so it will travel as fast.  In addition, the rear portion of the RapidTrack is easily raised up so that the snowblower becomes as maneuverable as a wheeled unit.  The RapidTrack is a giant leap forward for snowblower traction and usability. If you need to clear paths and trails the 2-point track systems like the Honda’s have less clearance under the snowblower than the 3-point and RapidTrack systems.

Is impeller size important? All the commercial models listed except Honda use a 14-inch impeller. A 14-inch impeller will throw all snow well, throw it long distances and even wet, sloppy snow rarely plugs the discharge chute. In my opinion, the Ariens, Toro and Cub Cadet snow blowers can clear snow twice as fast as the same width residential snowblower with a 12-inch impeller.

Skid Shoes: Ariens and Toro offer cast iron skid shoes. Cub Cadet offers its “cool blue” skids shoes. Cast iron and cool blue last many times longer than conventional steel skids shoes and don’t leave the brown rust marks on your concrete.

Engines? The bigger the engine, the faster and farther a commercial snowblower can move snow. If production is important to you the larger engines for a given size snow blower will help you meet those goals. FYI: Honda GX engines have a long and well-deserved reputation for reliability – but the competitors have all caught up.

Note: All snow blowers have 110-volt electric start except the Ariens/Toro Single-stage and all Honda snow blowers.

Which are the 5 best commercial snow blowers? Let me know the ones you prefer in the comments below…

Ariens Commercial Snowblowers (1-Year Commercial Warranty)

Ariens is the only company to offer EFI (electronic fuel injection) on specific snow blowers. EFI is the future because it does not use a carburetor and in my experience starts first pull all the time. To start – all you do is turn the key and pull the starter rope (or push the starter button) – no fuel shutoffs, choke controls, etc. to deal with.

Ariens Professional 28, $2,199, 28” Clearing Width, Gear Drive Wheel, Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton 420cc

Ariens Professional 28 Hydro RapidTrak, $3099, 28” Clearing Width, High-Speed Track, Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton 420cc

Ariens Professional 28 Hydro EFI, $2,799, 28” Clearing Width, Gear Drive Wheel, Ariens AX EZ-Launch EFI E-Gov 420cc

Ariens Professional 32 Hydro RapidTrak, $3399, 32” Clearing Width, High-Speed Track, Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton 420cc

Ariens Professional 32, $2,499, 32” Clearing Width, Gear Drive Wheel, Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton 420cc

Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI, $3,499, 36” Clearing Width, Gear Drive Wheel, Ariens AX EZ-Launch EFI E-Gov 420cc

Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. $649, Ariens AX 208cc, Single-Stage Remote Chute, Recoil-Start Gas Snow Blower

Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. $599, Ariens AV, 208 cc Single-Stage Manual Chute Recoil-Start Gas Snow Blower

Toro Commercial Snowblowers (1-year Commercial Warranty)

Toro has had one single stage snow blower for years that is, in my opinion, the “standard” snow thrower that the snowplow guys throw in the back of their plow trucks. This year they are adding two new 2-stage snow blowers that are designed for Landscapers who clear snow, Municipalities, Schools, Gov’t Agencies, and Property Managers in heavy snowfall areas.

Toro Power Max HD 1428 OHXE $2199, 28 inch, Gear Drive Wheel – Optional 3-point Track, Toro 420cc (NEW-no website link yet)

Toro Power Max HD 1432 OHXE $2499, 32 inch, Gear Drive Wheel – Optional 3-point Track, Toro 420cc (NEW-no website link yet)

Toro Power Clear® 721 R-C (38751) $599, 21 inch, Single Stage Recoil Start Heavy Duty Paddles, Toro 212cc

Cub Cadet Commercial Snowblowers (5-year limited commercial warranty)

Note: While Cub Cadet offers a commercial warranty on all their snowblowers, they have three that are specifically aimed at the Pro user. These are high capacity snow blowers with 14-inch impellers and will throw snow farther than any other model they sell.

Cub Cadet 3X 30″ PRO H $2399. 30 inch, Three Stage Hydro Wheel, Cub Cadet 420cc

Cub Cadet 3X 34″ PRO  $2299. 34 inch, Three Stage Gear Drive Wheel, Cub Cadet 420cc

Cub Cadet  3X 34″ PRO H $2599. 34 inch, Three Stage Hydro Wheel, Cub Cadet 420cc

Honda (36-month Commercial Warranty)

Honda HSS928AT / HSS928ATD $2709 – $2909, 28 inch, Hydro 2-wheel Track Version, Honda 270cc (D is 12 volt electric start)

Honda HSS928AW / HSS928AWD $2579 – $2789, 28 inch, Hydro Wheel Version, Honda 270cc (D is 12 volt electric start)

Honda HSS1332AT / HSS1332ATD $3189-$3389, 32 inch, Hydro 2-wheel Track, Honda 389cc (D is 12 volt electric start)

Honda HS1336iAS $7999, 36 inch, Hybrid 2-wheel Track, Honda 389cc

Simplicity Signature Pro Commercial Snowblowers (1-Year Commercial Warranty)

Simplicity P1524E $1799, 24 inch, Friction Drive Wheel, B&S 1450 Professional Series 306cc

Simplicity P1728E $2199, 28 inch, Friction Drive Wheel, B&S 1650 Professional Series 420cc

Simplicity P2132E $2499, 32 inch, Friction Drive Wheel, B&S 2100 Professional Series 420cc

Simplicity P2138E $2799, 38 inch, Friction Drive Wheel, B&S 2100 Professional Series 420cc

The post 5 Best Commercial Snowblowers 2019 appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

 Best Gas Can: No-Spill 1405 2-1/2-Gallon Poly Gas Can (CARB Compliant). This gas can pours easily and quickly. I always suggest not keeping more than a month’s worth of fuel on hand so the 2 1/2 gallon capacity is just the right size. There is a 5-gallon size available.

 Fuel Stabilizer/Treatment I Use. Sea Foam. When I go buy my gas I put 2 tablespoons ( 1 ounce) per gallon right in the storage can. That way all my fuel is treated and I don’t do anything else when I put the item into storage. Note: You can buy SeaFoam at most hardware, auto, farm and WalMart stores

 Best Snow Shovel: Suncast SCF2950 20-Inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo with Fiberglass D-Grip Handle And Wear Strip. I purchased 2 of these in 1997 for my snow plow trucks. I still have them and use them every year. They get left outside most of the year and still look like new. You can roll the snow in front of you like a snow plow when pushing 2-4 inches.

 Easiest Snow Shovel on Your Wrists: Suncast SCH2790 20-Inch Snow Shovel/Pusher Combo Same shovel as the best one above but with a Shock Absorbing Spring D-Grip Handle And Wear Strip

 Best Economy Snow Shovel: Suncast SN1250 18-Inch Snow Shovel with Wear Strip. This has a metal wear strip like the more expensive ones above so it will last many years.

 Best Ice Scraper: Myself I have the Bully Tools 92200 Heavy Duty Sidewalk and Ice Scraper with Long Steel Handle and I use it for a lot more than chipping ice. It’s a great tool that will last you forever. I’ve used it to remove linoleum, glued carpet, roof shingles and even as a pry bar when I was removing railroad tie landscape timbers. The Razorback Ice Scraper  is also a great choice. A lot of people like the wood handle.

If you would like to see more tools and equipment I recommend please visit my Amazon Shop.

The post The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

This top 20 list of the best snow blowers is based on my hands-on reviews over the last 15 years, plus discussions, interest, intent to buy and sales of residential snow blowers on MovingSnow.com. This list is not reflective of actual sales by the manufactures or retailers. Other websites and forums will have a different viewpoint than MovingSnow.com. For the record: No one pays me to review their product but a few manufacturers do let me use their products for testing. When they do I always will tell you up front. The information here –  like my snow blower videos on YouTube is to help you decide which is the best snow blower for you – not to promote a product for you to buy.

“Best” means different things to different people. Some of you look at Amazon’s best-selling snow blowers, while others read every word of Consumer Reports Recommended Snow Blowers list. Please remember, the best snow blower as rated by a review site, online review or even by MovingSnow.com is not the always the best snow blower for you. It may be too big or too small for your particular driveway/area to be cleared. It may not be able to handle the heavy/wet snow your area gets a lot.

There are many factors that you should consider including the area you want to clear, the surface you want to clear and how much snow you usually get.  MovingSnow’s goal is to help you find the best snow thrower for you. You can read this article to help: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS

This article may also help: What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here!

I will be making many more YouTube videos about snow blowers this year so please click on this link and subscribe YouTube/Paul Sikkema

All of the “best buy” lists including mine only cover residential snow blowers. Specifically, economy, homeowner, and a few heavy-duty models.  No list that I am aware of covers all the snow blowers currently for sale. (There are well over 400 U.S. made alone) So, If you need/want to make money with a snow blower, if you have miles of sidewalks to clear, if you pay someone to operate your snow blowers for hours at a time go here  5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2018-2019

Yes, You need a new gas can! Check out The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower

Canadian Snow Blower Buyers:

Snow blowers in Canada are similar but not always exactly like the models offered in the U. S. You can see the models offered at Lowes.ca and HomeDepot.ca here: Feel free to ask me about a specific model in the comments below.
LINK: Snow blowers at Lowes Canada. FYI – I do NOT recommend Snow Beast or DEK!
 LINK: Snow Blowers at The Home Depot Canada. FYI – I do NOT recommend Snow Beast or DEK!

Top Twenty Snow Blowers for 2018-2019

When you are done with the list below you can go to these pages to read more about each snow blower and brand:

• 2018 Ariens Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You?
• 2018 Toro Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You?
• 2018 Husqvarna Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You?
• 2018 Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers – What’s New and Exciting!
• 2018 Craftsman Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You?
• 2018 Cub Cadet Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? 
• 2017 Honda Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? Just a list and includes electric start models. Reviews Coming Soon.
• 2018 Briggs & Stratton Snow Blowers – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You?
• What Is The Best Snow Blower For Me? – All Your Questions Answered Here!
•  6 Best Track Snow Blowers For 2018-2019

NOTE: All the links below will take you to a retailers website where you can read more and buy. If you want to know more before you buy go to the articles listed above. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments below. If I send you to another website like The Home Depot and you purchase a snow blower there, please assume that I make a little commission from that sale. That money is used to maintain MovingSnow and TodaysMower. It’s also used to buy demo and operational equipment to improve these sites. 

Please note: To make it easier for you to decide I have changed the list this year so the best snow blowers are rated by size – not one big list like everyone else uses. This list changes slightly from year to year and there are a few new snow blowers for the fall of 2018 that may make the list.  

 20-24 Inch Single Stage

I don’t talk much about single stage snow throwers because all of them except the Toro SnowMaster are too small to be your primary machine if you live anywhere in the U.S. north of Interstate 70. None of them (except the Toro SnowMaster) will throw snow more than 20 feet or so. Because of that, you will end up with much taller piles of snow along your driveway which can cause more drifting right on your driveway the next time it snows.  For example, I use 2-stage snow blowers most of the time so the piles next to my driveway are never more than 2-3 feet. My neighbor across the street has a single stage and his piles are always so high that they block his view of the road when he leaves his driveway in his pickup! The ones listed here are the best snow blowers and make a good choice to “compliment” your 2-stage machine. They are great for quickly cleaning that 2-4 inch snow you got last night or cleaning snow off a pavement/sidewalk that has been driven/walked on.

1. Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE 24 inch, 212cc single stage.  The SnowMaster will clear 2 inches to 14 inches well and is faster to use than a 2-stage. Even though I really, really, really like this snow thrower it is for a very specific buyer. Who is it for? It’s really fast to use if you have a hard surface, smooth patio/driveway. It throws snow as well as a $700-$999 2-stage machine. With Toro dropping the price to $699 I feel it is one of the best value snow blowers on the market.  It may not be the best for you because it’s so lightweight it will run out of traction trying to clear 10 inches or more of heavy/wet end-of-driveway snow. The paddles do not touch the surface like other single-stage snow throwers so it won’t clear packed snow. You can clear gravel and lawn without damaging the machine but with the Personal Pace controls, it’s very hard to do. Because it’s so lightweight you will also have problems going up a steep driveway and even more problems going down that steep driveway.  If you go “offroad” with your snow blower  – buy the 2-stage Ariens Classic, Troy-Bilt Storm 2460  or Husqvarna ST224P instead.  There is another more powerful model,  Toro SnowMaster 824 QXE 24 inch, 254cc single stage. With a larger engine, it’s my pick for areas that get 2-18 inches of snow at a time. BUY HERE at The Home Depot: SnowMaster 724 QXE 24 in. Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower
2. Toro PowerClear 721 E   21 inch, 212cc. It just works really well and lasts a long, long time. Has electric start.
3. There is a new Ariens Commercial Single Stage without electric start that is a better choice if you haul your snow blower around to clear other people’s driveways Ariens Commercial SS 21 in. 208 cc Single-Stage Manual Chute Recoil-Start Gas Snow Blower
4. Briggs & Stratton 22 in. 208cc with Snow Shredder Auger. Just a good full-featured single stage snow thrower that gets good reviews.
5. Honda HS720AS 20 in. 190cc. Honda’s best single stage. It’s a Honda – but it’s more expensive than the top performing Toro models. A lot of owners hate the chute controls but like the way the snow blower throws snow.

 24 Inch. 2-Stage.

The 24 inch models are the best snow blowers for 1-2 car driveways, up to 60 feet long. They are relatively small and easy to handle. The models with automatic or power steering are the easiest to use for anyone who can walk and use both hands. There are dozens of 24-inch models that will handle most Midwest but only a few that will handle the heavy, wet snow the east coast gets on a regular basis.

1. Ariens Deluxe 24. 24 inch 254cc. There are only three heavy-duty 24-inch snow blowers on the market that will handle heavy snow and not clog. This is one of them. What makes is so special is it uses a 14-inch impeller and auger. All the other brands use a 10 or 12-inch impeller so they will clog more and won’t throw the snow as far. Yes, it’s more expensive – but if you get heavy wet snow and have a small driveway it’s the best choice.  It’s a very basic snow blower that blows snow better than most. It has power steering (automatic – no triggers), simple crank chute control, locking deflector control, and a headlight.
2. Husqvarna ST224P 24 inch, 208cc. For four years in a row now this is the highest rated gas snow blower on Amazon. 4.7 out of 5 Stars! Works well for a 2-car by 80-foot driveway. This model has power steering and can handle any type of driveway including gravel and turf. It is great for areas that get up to 60 inches a year. It has a unique feature where you can adjust the handle height for short people. BUY HERE at Amazon: Husqvarna ST224P
3. Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 24 inch, 208 cc. My favorite best value snow blower. For all types of snow, about 60-inch average snowfall a year, and will clear gravel/turf areas. It does not have power steering but uses the new airless tires that give you great traction yet turn easily. 
4. Best Value: Cub Cadet 2X-24.  This 2-stage snow blower with power steering is one of the best values on the market. It’s a great price at $799. It’s been around for a long time and it’s always my first choice for people who average about 60 inches a year with a 2 car 60-foot driveway and want an easy to use snow blower. It works well for gravel, hard surface and turf. It’s balanced well and the handlebars are lower than most other snow blowers so it works well for shorter people. In fact, if you are under 6 Feet, can walk and use both hands you can use this machine. It comes with long-wearing poly skid shoes that won’t scratch your delicate pavers or leave brown rust stains on your concrete. It has all the features of the more expensive machines except hand warmers but they can be installed by your local Cub Cadet dealer.
5. I also like the Ariens Classic a lot for a best value snow blower. It is basically an updated and improved Ariens Sno-Tek that has been Home Depot’s best selling snow blower for quite a while. It does not have power steering.
6. Briggs and Stratton 1696614 Dual-Stage Snow Thrower with 208cc Engine and Electric Start. This is just a good, excellent value machine. This is one of the most popular 2-stage snow blowers on Amazon. It does not have power steering.
7.  Cheapest: Troy-Bilt Storm 2410  If you must have the least expensive snow blower, this is the BEST least expensive snow blower available. There is no need to even consider a Chinese made snow blower anymore. For $599 you get a good engine, 6 speeds forward, 2 reverse, good tires, poly skids and a machine that will handle your 40-60 inch Midwest winters. It’s simple, easy to operate and has an excellent review rating. It does not have power steering.
8. Tracked: There two tracked 24-inch snow blowers available but are no tracked 24-inch snow blowers that I can recommend. If you want a small tracked snow blower for steep driveway and trails look at the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP
9. Snowmageddon:  Ariens Platinum 24 Sno-Thro 24 inch, 369cc with EZ-Launch EFI Engine. This machine has over-the-top power and can handle any type of driveway including gravel and turf. Yet, it is very easy to use. Some of you will feel the price is too high but this heavy-duty 24-inch snow blower with Electronic Fuel Injection will not have the starting issues carbureted engines have on today’s fuels. If you have a small driveway but get a lot of snow this is a great choice. It will clear any amount/type of snow. It will not clog on heavy/wet snow. Because it has a larger engine and more capacity than all other 24 inch machines it works well for 2-3 car wide by 80-120 foot driveways. It has great traction for sloped driveways. This is one of the few snow blowers I recommend for Lake Tahoe and their 200-400 inches of snowfall per year. Please use the dealer locator at Ariens.com to find a store near you:

 26 Inch. 2 car driveway, up to 80 feet long

The 26-inch models are the best snow blowers if you want something bigger than a 24 inch but still want a lightweight, easy to maneuver machine. A 26-inch snow blower will easily go through a 32-inch door without scratching the door or the door frame. All of the models listed here are good dependable snow blowers with the Toro PowerMax 826 OXE being the best for heavy, wet snow.

1. Best Value: Cub Cadet 2X 26″ HP. MY 26 inch Best Value Choice! There is a lot to like about this Cub Cadet and it is a great choice for people who average up to 80 inches a year and have about a 100-foot 2-car driveway.  I really like the chute controls and the dash with 2 LED headlights. One feature most people miss is it now has taller tires so it will have better traction and the handles will be just a little taller than the older models (like the Craftsman). Power steering, metal chute, long lasting skid shoes make this a great snow blower for the price.  Note: Picking the Number One snow blower is an impossible task. This snow blower is very comparable to the No. 2 listed Toro Power Max 826 OXE below. The Toro handles wet snow just a little better than this one but the Toro is $200 more.
2. Toro Power Max® 826 OXE (37799) 26 inch, 252 cc engine, automatic steering,  and Toro’s famous Quick-Stick Chute Control. Picking the number one best choice for a snow blower is the most difficult task I have. Does it throw snow well? Does it clear heavy, wet snow? Is it easy to use? Can most people use it? Is it built well and will last a homeowner many, many years? Does it have a nationwide parts and service network? Will the dealers service it even though you bought it at a Home Improvement Store? This snow blower answers all those questions with a resounding YES!.  The only reason the snow blower never made the list before was it had small tires (Model 37781) but for 2017 they installed the larger tires it needed!    Home Depot Link: Power Max 826 OXE 26 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower. My Review Link. 2018 Toro Snow Blowers Note: This is not a high-capacity snow blower but it does have auto/power steering, a good engine, handles all types of snow well, great chute control and is very easy to use for most people. It is a very good choice for a typical 2 car wide driveway 60-120 feet long.  It works well for the snow falls you typically get if you live in Minneapolis, Omaha, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh or Long Island  (average 40-100 inches of snow a year). If you live in areas that get 100-200 inches like Boston, Buffalo, Salt Lake, and Lake Tahoe please look at the heavy-duty Toro Power Max HD 928 OAE instead.
3. New! Exclusive to The Home Depot! Troy-Bilt Storm 2665 New!  The Storm 2665 has a larger 243cc Troy-Bilt engine than most other 26 inch machines and a remote deflector. Solid axle – no power steering, good tires, and extended Quick EZ-Rotation chute. At $799 it is one of the best value 26-inch snow blowers. I can highly recommend this snow blower for most people who get up to 80 inches of snow a year, have a 2-car 100-foot driveway and want more power than the snow blower you now have.
4. Husqvarna Model ST227P, 27-Inch   27 inch, 254cc. Good all-around residential snow blower. 60 inch or less average snow per year. Note: I do not recommend the ST230P
5. Briggs and Stratton Model 1696619 27 inch, 250cc. Just a good value machine. It does not have power steering.
6. Tracked: Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP This is one of the hidden gems in the snow blower world. It is priced $100’s less than all the other tracked machines and has a smaller 208cc engine. Yes, it has heated handgrips! It’s an excellent snow thrower at an excellent price for steep driveways that average less than 60 inches of snow a year!
7. Snowmageddon: I haven’t decided if there is an over-the-top 26-inch snow blower but the Husqvarna ST327P comes very close. I have one here I’ve been testing for a few years and it is a better-than-average snow blower.

 28 Inch. 2 car or larger driveway, up to 150 feet long.

The 28-inch models are the best snow blowers for most people and the most popular because the wider width lets you get done faster. The brands all have good value machines in this size.

1. Best 28 inch on the market! Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28. This snow blower is a game changer in the residential snow blower market.  All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers. If you have been considering a Honda seriously look at this snow blower instead. It has higher capacity, stronger engine and is considerably faster to use.
2. Best Value for heavy, wet snow! Ariens Deluxe 28 and Deluxe 28 SHO. 28 inch 254/306 cc. For driveways up to 150 feet and 100/150 inches of snow a year. They don’t clog when blowing heavy, wet snow. This is the standard heavy-duty snow blower that everyone else is trying to beat.  The Deluxe 28 a very basic snow blower that blows snow better than most. It has power steering (automatic – no triggers), simple crank chute control, locking deflector control, and a headlight.  The Deluxe SHO is one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost twice as much.
3.  New and Improved!  Power Max® HD 1028 OHXE Toro PowerMax HD snow blowers have been good machines for years and they have made some improvements this year including an all-metal double jointed chute and all metal impeller housing. 14-inch impeller, no shear pins, new gearbox. They are very easy to use. They now have two engine sizes for typical and heavy snowfalls.   Power Max® HD 928 OAE (265cc Auto Steering), Power Max® HD 1028 OHXE (302cc Trigger Steering) Power Max® HD series is also one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost much more.
4. Best Value: Troy-Bilt Storm 2890 Best Value 28 inch with Power Steering! It’s also the Quietest Gas Powered Snow Blower on the Market! The Storm 2890 has all the features of the Best Value Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 below and adds power steering and the Troy-Bilt quiet engine (with Noise Guard Technology) for only $100 more.
5. Best Value: Troy-Bilt 2860. See video here. Best Value 28 inch without Power Steering! The more I use this snow blower the more I like it. It’s very easy to use and has plenty of power. This is a great “basic” snow blower and one for the best value snow blowers! It does not have power steering but the airless tires make is very easy to use. This model has just the basics for a reasonable price.  It features the new airless tires and very simple and long-lasting chute control. Extended chute, and good hand warmers. No power steering or complicated 4-way chute controls. Of course, it has electric start. This is a nice size snow blower for most driveways that is surprisingly easy to use with the new airless tires – even though it does not have power steering. I consider this a great snow blower for most areas of the country that get 40-70 inches of snow a year. It can easily be adjusted for cement, blacktop, gravel driveways. It will fit through the 32-inch side door on your garage. With the long-wearing poly skid shoes, you can also use it on your stained concrete or nice patio. You can even adjust it for clearing a section of the lawn for your dogs.  Note: This is not a high-capacity snow blower. It is a very good choice if you live in Minneapolis, Omaha, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh or Long Island. If you live in areas that get 100-200 inches like Boston, Buffalo, Salt Lake, and Lake Tahoe please look at the heavy-duty machines. 
6.  Good Value:  Cub Cadet 2X 28″ HP 28 inch, 272cc quiet engine. Full-featured, including power steering, decent power.
7. Tracked: Ariens Platinum SHO Rapidtrak 28. This snow blower is a game changer in the residential snow blower market.  All the traction of a tracked unit and the speed and ease-of-use of a wheeled unit. In addition, it handles heavy/wet snow better than all other 28-inch snow blowers.
8. Snowmageddon: Ariens and Toro both have over-the-top commercial 28-inch snowblowers that outperform anything else on the market. If you have large areas to clear and/or get over 100 inches of snow a year seriously consider one of these.  Toro 28 in. 420 cc Model 38843, or the Ariens Professional 28 Model 926065. The Ariens Professional RapidTrak 28 in. Hydro 420cc Model 926060is arguably the best snow blower for ALL conditions. With the high-speed RapidTrak, it will clear 15 inches or more as fast as you can walk!

 30 Inch. Large Areas But Easy To Use

The 30-inch models are the best snow blowers if you have large open areas to clear but still want a snow blower that is relatively easy to use. When trying to decide between a 28 inch and 30-inch snow blower remember. A 28-inch snow blower will clear an 8-foot wide driveway in two passes (round trips) A 30 inch won’t clear that long driveway any faster because you still need to make 2 round trips.

1. Starts Every Time! Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI. 30 inch with 15 ft. lb. EZ-Launch EFI Engine. This snow blower engine will not have the starting issues carburetor style snow engines have on today’s fuels. This is one of my favorite large area snow blowers. Auto-Turn makes it simple to use. Dual belt drive and simple chute controls make it dependable and easy to use. Works well for a 2-car by 200-foot driveway. This 30 inch snow blower is more expensive than most on this list but what it offers is well worth the money. BUY HERE or use the dealer locator at Ariens.com to find a store near you: Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI. 
2. Best Value:  Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm XP 30 Snow Thrower.  30 inch, 357cc. This machine will redefine large area residential snow blowers because it’s a very heavy-duty, high-capacity machine at a very competitive price.  Very easy to use. For any size driveway and any amount/type of snow. Consumer Reports has rated the 30-inch version as one of their best 2-stage picks.
3. Tracked: These are the best for any terrain. Driveways, turf, hills, ditches –  Pulling your car out of the ditch. (Am I kidding?) also Husqvarna Model# ST330T, 30 inch, 414cc engine, track drive. The ST330T best for any terrain. Driveways, turf, hills, ditches – The ST330T is one of the highest power snow blowers on the market and will go where no walk-behind wheeled snow blower will go. It is slower than the Ariens RapidTrak models but it has more under chassis clearance and more capacity  than the Honda HSS928ATD or Honda HSS1332ATD
4. Snowmageddon:  Ariens Platinum 30 SHO. Model 921051. This dealer only snow blower has over-the-top power and capacity and will last many, many, many years. It will clear 12-15 inches of snow as fast as I can walk and throw it 50 feet or more! If you average over 100 inches of snow a year seriously consider this snow blower. If you average over 200 inches it is probably the only residential snow blower that will do the job for you.

 32-36 Inch. Best For Large Open Areas.

The 32-36-inch models are the best snow blowers if you have large open areas to clear. Just keep in mind that most of these are considerably heavier than the 28-inch models and harder for most people to use.

1. Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm XP 34 Snow Thrower.  34 inch, 420cc. This machine will redefine large area residential snow blowers because it’s a very heavy-duty, high-capacity machine at a very competitive price.  Very easy to use. For any size driveway and any amount/type of snow. Consumer Reports has rated the 30-inch version as their best 2-stage pick.  (and I like it and the Craftsman version also)
2. New and Improved! Power Max® HD 1232 OHXE Toro PowerMax HD snow blowers have been good machines for years and they have made some improvements this year including a 32-inch version, an all-metal double jointed chute, and all metal impeller housing. 14-inch impeller, no shear pins, very easy to use. They now have two engine sizes for residential and commercial users.  Power Max® HD 1232 OHXE (375cc Trigger Steering) The Power Max® HD 1232 OHXE is also one of the farthest throwing snow blowers on the market and has a much greater capacity than the Honda Snow Blowers that cost much more.
3. Ariens has large area snow blowers but they are all commercial models.  5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2018-2019
4. Tracked: Honda HS1336iAS. You can check out this $8000 machine through the link to Honda’s website.
5. Snowmageddon:  5 Best Commercial Snow Blowers 2018-2019

The rest of the snow blowers that get all the publicity. Why they are not on the list.

3-Stage Snow Blowers:

Don’t let the advertising hype or dealer sales pitches fool you. A 3-stage is not better than a 2-stage – it’s just different. Yes, a 3-stage snow blower has about 50% more capacity than the same brand’s 2-stage machine but that does not mean they are better than another brand’s 2-stage snow blowers. Remember a dealer is always going to tell you their snow blower is better than the dealer’s across the street. Read more about 3-stage snow blowers here: Is a 3-stage better than a 2-stage? 

30-inch MTD Built Snow Blowers:

Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 357cc 4-cycle Electric Start Two-Stage Snow Thrower, 30 inch Craftsman at Lowes, Cub Cadet 30 inch 2-stage, and Craftsman 88396.   30 inch, 357cc. All of these models are all basically the same snow thrower – just different paint and repair support. It’s a dependable snow blower but for most people, it just doe not have the capacity of the more recent 30-inch designs. The closed front auger with 6 auger flites severely limits its capacity and the 12-inch impeller does not spin fast enough to throw snow as far as the more recent designs.

Husqvarna ST230P

The Husqvarna ST230P is another 30-inch snow blower that looks like a great deal because of the price but suffers from poor performance and impeller belt problems. If you live in an area that averages 40 inches or so a year it will work but if you live on the East Coast or anywhere else that get’s heavy/wet snow you will be severely dissappointed. If you alreadty own one I strongly suggest you keep a spare impeller belt on hand and know how to change the belt.

Cordless Electric Snow Throwers:

Myself, I really want a battery operated snow blower! I’ve replaced my trim mower and leaf blower with a cordless electric. I threw away my gas string trimmer because there are now excellent cordless ones to replace it. My cordless hedge trimmer will run for hours on one lithium battery. Ryobi even has a riding mower that works for up to 2-acre lawns.  Troy-Bilt now has a Lithium-ion battery powered riding mower. Why is developing a cordless snow blower that works for most people so hard?

EGO 21 in. 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Single Stage Electric Snow Blower with (2) 5.0Ah Batteries. I originally had this cordless electric on the top 20 list but with research and my testing, it’s not quite what I thought it was.  I’m leaving it off the list permanently. Yes, every other blog and YouTuber is raving about it.  So why do I have an issue with it? It looked like a great machine at GIE-EXPO but I didn’t ask the obvious question – how is it different from a gas single-stage snow thrower?

This snow thrower has the front rubber paddles like a gas unit but they don’t contact the ground and pull the unit forward like the gas-powered single stage snow throwers paddles do.  It’s like the other corded electric power shovels that you have to push yourself. It is hard to use on old snow and driveways that are not perfect. Since you have to push it through the snow I would be scared of trying to push it up a sloped driveway for fear that I would slip and fall. So I am only going to recommend it for smooth, level driveways, sidewalks, and patios. I can’t recommend it for older, rougher driveways, sidewalks and patios with cracks that stick up and catch the front scraper of the snow thrower. I can’t recommend it for sloped driveways.  If you are still interested please watch this video before you buy. The owner doesn’t push it up-hill and it leaves a little snow like a 2-stage machine. EGO 56 volt snow blower. Here is another practical video. Watch the sections where he is trying to clear the end-of-driveway snow.  EGO 56Volt snow blower,,,   I’m not saying “don’t buy.” I am saying that this is not like the snow blower you now own. If you can always get out and clear your snow right away, don’t drive over it with your car, and don’t let the end-of-driveway snow plow pile freeze this may work for you.  This model has enough battery capacity to easily clear a 2 car, 50 foot paved driveway.  There is a second model with larger batteries here. EGO 21 in. 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Single Stage Snow Blower with (2) 7.5 Ah Batteries

Here is a typical end-of-year review of the EGO Snow Thrower: “I too love cordless-the only gas equipment. All I have left is my lawn mower and snow-blower so I was eager to try this. However, the auger not touching the ground is a big problem for me. My single stage 208cc gas does and it helps to pull it along. I have a 75 ft single driveway and 200 ft of sidewalk (double lot on a corner). It had enough juice to do it, but constantly having to push, push, push to get through the snow-it was a major workout. It throws the snow fine-no problem there. But wow-it was a major pain pushing this thing. We’ve had over 100 inches of snow this winter (so far), so I’m glad I returned it.”

I’m guessing they don’t let the auger touch the ground because it would just use too much battery power…

I also wanted the Snow Joe iON24SB-XR 80V Max  to be on this list. But I have some real issues with how slow it travels. (There is a new 2017 model but I have not had a chance to check it out. I’m hoping the 2017 Black versions will have the speed issue fixed.)  I have spent some time with it clearing cement, blacktop, gravel, and an old, rough patio. It throws snow really, really well. It’s a unique snow blower and is very, very quiet. Here is a video: Snow Joe iON 80V 2-stage tested in snow – Is it for you?.

Honda 2-Stage Snow Blowers

Honda HSS928ATD, Honda HSS724ATD, and Honda HSS1332ATD. Yes, the Honda 2-stage machines did not make the list and probably won’t. Yes, I know they have the Honda engine, everyone, raves about. Yes, They trow a wonder plume of snow a long way. But, they are just too expensive for no electric start, (a $200 option), underpowered, plug with wet snow and are using an antique track drive system (read slow).  Just so you know, the models Home Depot is carrying this year do not have electric start. You can actually buy the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm XP 34 Snow Thrower. or Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO for half the price and have a much higher capacity, more heavy-duty snow blower. If you need a tracked machine Ariens, Troy-Bilt, and Cub Cadet all have competitive models that will do the job faster for a lot less money.

Poulan Pro and Jonsered Snow Blowers have dropped off the list. The snow blowers continue to be good machines but you can now buy a Husqvarna with better dealer service for the same price. Husqvarna, Jonsered, and Poulan Pro are made in the same factory and Husqvarna’s have more features. Update September 23, 2018. Husqvarna just announced they are closing the snow blower assembly plant in Georgia and moving it to their South Carolina assembly plant. They also stated they are discontinuing gas-powered, walk-behind lawnmowers, roto-tillers and garden-lawn tractors at lower price points.

Faster and easier to use is the wave of the future. The Toro SnowMaster is just the beginning……

If you have questions feel free to leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading this very long post.

The consumer is now in charge.

 Today’s buyer doesn’t go to the dealer first. Instead, they do all their research online and only go to the dealer if they can’t get the product online or at a local retailer. Today’s buyer wants the online interaction of the manufacturer, dealer, and retailer. It’s no longer what a report or article says is best. The consumer can now do the research and make the decision without ever looking at the info hidden behind a subscription or walking into a dealer.  Today’s consumer talks not only to his neighbor but also his peers, family, and friends. And they are all just a keystroke away.

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