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.

This article is about the 2018 Craftsman Snow Blowers at Sears but first:

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. Because of that, I will first explain the three different Craftsman snow thrower lines available this year. Then I will go through the Craftsman at Sears machines you know and love.

Three Different “Craftsman” snow blowers this year.

 1. Craftsman At Sears

Craftsman at Sears is the trusted name and products you know.  Snow Blowers are sold through Sears.com and your local Sears store. All the parts, warranty repairs, and service are the same as before through SearsPartsDirect.com and Sears Repair Services.

Craftsman at Sears will continue to have a complete line of snow throwers ranging from the most economical to models with all the features you want. In fact, they added new models this year to improve and expand the line.

2. Craftsman At Sears Hometown Stores

Sears Hometown Stores is independently owned and separate from Sears and Stanley, Black & Decker. Currently, they carry Craftsman (at Sears) snow blowers and the residential series Husqvarna machines. You can view snow blowers on the Sears Hometown Stores website but you have to go to your local HomeTown store to purchase them. They will offer you a purchase or lease option.

3. NEW BRAND! Craftsman At Lowes, ACE. Craftsman.com, etc.

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 they will be independently developing their own line of Craftsman snow blowers, parts, and repair network.

The model numbers are completely different. You will have to get parts, warranty work, and service through Stanley, Black & Decker.  Apparently, Craftsman.com was also sold to SBD and currently states,

WHO SHOULD I CALL FOR PARTS & REPAIR?
If you are in need of parts and/or repair for your CRAFTSMAN product, please call our customer service line, 888-331-4569.

WHERE CAN I GET MY TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REPAIRED?
For all repairs, call 888-331-4569 or email us at craftsman@sbdinc.com and we’ll handle all your repair needs.

(Specifically for Snow Throwers:) WARRANTY SERVICE
With proof of sale, call this number to obtain the warranty coverage stated below: 1-888-331-4569.

The four Craftsman (SBD) models currently for sale at Lowes are made by MTD but it’s unclear if SBD will continue to use them, switch to another manufacturer, or build their own.

What’s New For Craftsman At Sears

I repeat – Craftsman at Sears is the trusted name and products you know.  Snow Blowers are sold through Sears.com and your local Sears store. All the parts, warranty repairs, and service are the same as before through SearsPartsDirect.com and Sears Repair Services.

Craftsman at Sears four new models for this fall:

New 2- stage Model 88781: The old 24 inch 88172 is getting a new larger 208cc engine. Check it out here: Craftsman 88781 24″ 208cc Electric Start  At around $599 it’s a great deal if you want an inexpensive snow blower.

New 2- stage Model 88789: This new model adds the “Quiet Engine” to the best value 24 inch,  88173. The 88173 was one of the best value snow blowers and with the addition of the new engine is also one of the quietist! Check it out here: Craftsman 88789 24″ 208cc Quiet Dual-Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

New 2- stage Model 88794: This is a new 28-inch value model. It has the long chute with the quick turn feature, 243cc engine and power steering all for around $899. It’s $100 less than the 28 inch 88394 with the Quiet Engine making it one of the best value 28 inch snow blowers! Check it out here: Craftsman 88794 26″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snow Thrower

New Single Stage 88980: This new 21 inch, 208cc snow thrower features a new remote chute and deflector control at a much better price than before. Check it out here: Craftsman 88980 21″ 208cc Single Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

In addition, expect EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE PRICING and all models this fall!

How this article is laid out:

I’m going to start with the economy models first and then the most popular Deluxe models. After that, I’ll review the heavy-duty models followed by the 3-stage snow blowers. I’ll leave the single stage machines for last.

Reading Craftsman Snow Blower Reviews:

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 to liking your new snow blower. Please read this article to learn more: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS – Read This For The Truth

Let’s get started!

2-Stage Economy Craftsman Snow Blowers

Craftsman has 2 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 88781 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 80 inches of snow or less a year it’s a great choice.

Model 88789: The 24 inch 88789 keeps up the tradition of the original 88173 to be one of the best value snow blowers on the market. It works well for 2 car driveways up to 80 feet or so and can easily handle a 12 inch snow.  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 80 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement, and blacktop. The deep lug tires and 208cc engine are just 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. Last but not least, the long discharge chute puts the snow where you want it and is very easy to use. This model does not have power steering but is light enough for most people to use. 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 smaller driveway this is one of the best choices. It is still one of the best value machines out there.

Model 88781: If you have to have the least expensive 2-stage snow blower on the market this is the one.  The 208cc 24 inch 88781 is most like your old 5 hp Craftsman that you are replacing it with. It’s a simple snow blower capable of handling 8 to 12-inch snows and clear that end-of-driveway drift. This snow blower will take you longer to clear your driveway – but it will still get the job done. It’s a much better snow blower for most people than a single stage snow thrower. It’s one of the few snow blowers in this price range with electric start. The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Craftsman 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 or have a lot of traction for clearing the snow plow drift.

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links below to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

Sears Stock Item #	88781	88789	88173 (Black Friday?)
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 208 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 / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Solid Axle
operation control		single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / manual	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute
tire size	13” x 4” X-Trac	13” x 4” X-Trac	13″ x 4″ X-Trac
headlight
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel panel	steel panel	panel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute		Yes	Yes
drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$599.99	$699.99	(Black Friday?)
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88781 24″ 208cc Electric Start	Craftsman 88789 24″ 208cc Quiet Dual-Stage	Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower

Sears always has special financing offers for you.

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

2-Stage Deluxe Craftsman Snow Blowers

Craftsman snow blowers are among the most popular snow blowers. Along with the Model 88789 above the Deluxe models in this group make up a large share of snow blowers sold in the U. S. They are just the right size and power for the majority of the homes and driveways north of Interstate 80.  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 but for most of us they are just the right combination of features, power and price.

Model 88640: If I wanted a new snow blower this year for my 2-car Midwest driveway this snow blower would be on my shortlist. It has large tires for the best traction on gravel and turf and power steering so anyone can use it. The discharge chute is simple to use, won’t bind up and is long so the snow goes where you want it too. The engine controls have been redesigned so they are easier to see and use.

The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Craftsman 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 60-80 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 80 inches or so a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement and blacktop. The deep lug tires are better and larger than Craftsman has ever installed on a 24-inch snow blower so it will have excellent traction. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. This model has power steering and is light enough for most people to use. Don’t expect this model to clear heavy, wet lake effect snow, but it will handle the snow plow drift at the end of your driveway well.

Model 88794: This new snow blower is the big brother of the 88640 above. 28 inch, 243cc engine. All the same features – just a larger size. This is one of the best value snow blowers for your typical midwestern driveway. Best of all this snow blower is a good, quality American made snow blower that costs the same or less than the Chinese models that are trying to sneak into the country.

Model 88394: This is one of the better value snow blowers in the 28-inch size. It has all the features you want including headlight, drift cutters, long-lasting poly skid shoes and 4-way chute control. The power steering makes it easy to use the Quiet engine makes it a great engine to operate. If you need “stealth mode” to keep peace in the neighborhood this snow blowers engine is 45% quieter than the standard Craftsman 208cc engine. This is a great snow blower if you have a 2-car drive 100-150 feet long, live in an area that gets up to 80 inches of snow a year and also have gravel and turf areas to clean.

Model 88396: This is one of the large frame snow blowers that just about anyone can operate. It’s balanced very well and the controls are right where they need to be. The controls on the redesigned engine are easy to see and use. This snow blower has been around for quite some time and has proven to be an excellent, dependable machine. It’s great for larger areas and 16” x 6.5” X-Trac tires give it the extra traction and flotation needed to work well off the pavement. It is very smooth and easy to use so it works well on 2-8 inches of snow just as well as a 14-18 inch’er.  Yes, Like I’ve been saying for the last 10 years – the electric chute control and thumb-joystick on this snow blower is bulletproof.

Sears Stock Item #	88640	88794	88394	88396
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243cc OHV Quiet Engine	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	24″	28”	28″	30”
intake height	21”	21”	21″	21”
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” 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	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	4-way EZ Rotation Chute	4-way joystick	4-way electric
tire size	15” x 5” X-Trac	15” x 5” X-Trac	15” x 5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight		LED headlight	LED headlight	LED headlight
skid shoes	Deluxe Glide-Tech	deluxe Glide-Tech	deluxe Glide-Tech	Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
drift cutters			Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$799.99	$899.99	$999.99	$1,199.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88640 24″ 208cc Dual Stage Zero-Turn Snowblower	Craftsman 88794 26″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snow Thrower	Craftsman 88394 28″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snowblower with Quiet Engine	Craftsman 88396 30″ 357cc Dual Stage Zero-Turn Snow Blower

Did you know Sears.com has free layaway on snow blowers?

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

Heavy-Duty Craftsman Pro Snow Blowers

Last year Craftsman introduced this new snow blower to replace the old, tired 33 and 45 inch models but no one really explained why it’s such a leap forward for Craftsman… 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 Model 88976 and Model 88978 snow blowers are completely new 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 these snow blowers if you have a long driveway to clear, or you get large doses of heavy, wet snow. These are high-end homeowner snow blowers, not commercial machines but I would have no problems recommending them to a church or other business that needs to clear large areas once or twice a week.

Compare this new heavy-duty Craftsman Pro to the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, Ariens Platinum 30, Husqvarna ST330P and the Toro PowerMax HD 1028.

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

This model has the new Craftsman sloped engine design. It’s much easier to see and use the engine controls.

This year Consumer Reports rated this snow blower and its fraternal twin – the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, as the two of the best 2-stage machines. In addition, it scored just as well as the Cub Cadet 3X HD. 

By the way, the only difference besides the service/parts between the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm and the Craftsman Pro is the Craftsman has a separate hand crank for the chute and lever for the deflector. The Troy-Bilt uses the electric joystick. The Craftsman Pro also has drift cutters, LED lights and an extra front light. You can watch my videos of the Arctic Storm here to get an idea of how well this snow blower works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=vNHWM3JYG4c and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJb3_PqKoI&t=121s

Sears Stock Item #	88976	88978
engine	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357 cc OHV	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 420 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric
clearing width	30″	34″
intake height	23″	23″
auger / impeller	14″ serrated auger / 14″ impeller	14″ serrated auger / 14″ impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / remote pitch	crank / remote pitch
tire size	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight	LED in dash plus LED light bar	LED in dash plus LED light bar
skid shoes	Large Deluxe Glide-Tech	Large Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes – Metal	Yes – Metal
drift cutters	Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1,499.99	$1,699.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 31AH8DSH799 30″ 357cc Dual-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering	Craftsman 31AH8ESJ799 34″ 420cc Dual Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering

You can also lease Craftsman Snow Blowers

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

3-Stage Craftsman Pro Snow Blowers

Craftsman makes a snow blower for just about every driveway in the U.S.  So, they offer two 3-stage machines.  The snow blowers work well if you typically get 8-16 snows.  These snow blowers don’t work well on solid, frozen snow and tend to be a little messy when blowing snow falls less than 4 inches.

Someday I’d like Consumer Reports to explain how these two snow blowers rate lower than the Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet counterparts. They are made for Craftsman by MTD and use the same parts and come off the same assembly line as the Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet machines. The ONLY difference is the color. Maybe their way of testing is not as an exact science as they’d like you to believe…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H451OQnNgzk

Sears Stock Item #	88870	88874
engine	4 cycle / 277cc OHV	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric
clearing width	24″	28″
intake height	21″	21″
auger / impeller	12″ / 12″ / 12″ 3 Stage System	12″ / 12″ / 12″ 3 Stage System
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	4-way joystick	4-way joystick
tire size	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	16″ x 6.5″ X-Trac
headlight	LED headlight	LED headlight
skid shoes	Deluxe Glide-Tech	Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes
drift cutters	Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1,199.99	$1,399.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88870 24″ 277cc 3-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering	Craftsman 88874 28″ 357cc 3-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering

Single Stage Craftsman Snow Blowers

Sears Stock Item #	11683	88780	88980
engine	4-cycle / 123 cc OHV	4-cycle / 179 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV
starter type	recoil	electric	electric
clearing width	21”	21”	21″
intake height	13”	13”	13″
auger / impeller	Snow Claw	Snow Claw	Snow Claw
speeds	auger propelled	auger propelled	auger propelled
Drive Control
operation control
chute control	manual	manual	2-way joystick
tire size	8″ x 2″	8″ x 2″	8″ x 2″
headlight			LED
skid shoes	n/a	n/a	n/a
handle	ergonomic	ergonomic	ergonomic
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute
drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$399.99	$499.99	$569.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 11683 21″ 123cc Single-Stage Snowblower	Craftsman 88780 21″ 179cc Single-Stage Snowblower w/ Electric Start	Craftsman 88980 21″ 208cc Single Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

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