The Best Snow Blower

Buying Guide

The winter months can be tough for a large portion of the U.S., with 16 of the 51 largest cities seeing about two feet of snow on average each year. If you live in one of those states, keeping your walkways, driveway and vehicles clear is essential in order to get out of the house.

Snow blowers have come a long way in recent years, doing more of the work with less effort from you. Conveniences like heated hand grips and remotely operated chutes make the process of eliminating snow from your yard easier, and an increasing number of snow blowers offer these features.

No matter which snow blower you choose, you’re likely going to find it’s more than a little noisy. You’ll need to plan to wear earmuffs, earplugs or both at all times to protect your hearing. If you wear earplugs, make sure you roll them tightly so they’ll fully cover the eardrum before you insert them. Also, wear boots that feature plenty of traction on the undersides to avoid slipping while you’re clearing snow away.

Speaking of safety, it’s important to remember that in the chute of every snow blower is a dangerous blade. If your snow blower becomes clogged, do not attempt to unclog it with your hand, even if you’ve turned the unit off. You can prevent clogging by spraying the chute and blades with cooking spray before getting started. Another way to keep clogging at a minimum is to manage snow levels by clearing it away in stages, as it accumulates.

If you must unclog your snow blower, make sure you practice safety precautions in doing so. Turn the machine off, disengage the clutch and wait at least five seconds after you’ve cut power. The blades will continue to turn for a short time afterward, which is why so many injuries occur each year. Use an object like a stick or broom handle to clear away the clog, avoiding putting your hands near the blades even if you’re sure they’re no longer turning.

It can be tempting to look for the snow blower with the most power and farthest reach. However, if you’re in a tight residential area with neighbors all around, you likely won’t benefit from having a blower that can toss snow 50 feet and cut an extremely wide path. By keeping that in mind, you may be able to save a little money on a unit that’s better suited to your environment.

• A powerful snow blower can be a huge relief, as you’ve probably learned if you’ve ever tried to shovel piled-up snow. The higher the capacity of your blower, the quicker you can get out of the cold. Capacity is especially important if you live in an area that gets large amounts of snow in a short timeframe. The Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower can tackle up to 18 inches and depths of up to 10.
• Distance is also an important factor. While you can adjust the direction and distance your snow blower can pitch snow, having a wider range of options gives you more flexibility. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower can shoot snow as far as 50 feet away. In comparison, the Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower can only toss snow up to 20 feet away.
• Although with distance, it may initially sound like the further, the better, if you live in a tight residential area, having such a wide distance can be a problem. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower’s range is so wide, it’s more suited for larger yards.
• For smaller yards, it may be worth considering an electric snow blower, which operates using a cord, requiring no gas or oil changes. The Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower is electric powered, meaning you can just plug it in and start blowing. However, with this model, you may want to invest in an outdoor use-designed power cord to give you the reach you’ll need.
• Snow blowers use blades to cut through denser ice and snow, which helps prevent clogs. The Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower has steel blades, which can slice through ice more efficiently than a plastic blade ever could.
• If you deal with persistent snow throughout the winter months where you live, you’ll likely find you’ll spend way too much money on fuel for your snow blower. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower is built with a fuel-injected engine to help cut down on the gas you’ll use every time you get a new snowfall. However, you may find this fuel efficiency comes at a cost since the engine doesn’t have as much power as other snow blowers in its category.
• One thing worth considering in a snow blower is how it will affect your driveway, yard and walkways. The Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower has rubber covering its blades to avoid damaging the ground surrounding your house. That means when spring comes, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful green grass buried beneath all that snow.
• Self-propulsion is one feature that can really come in handy, particularly if the area you’re clearing is hilly. Some models are heavier than usual, but make up for that by building in self-propulsion. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower is also self-propelled and uses belt drives that keep the unit moving forward.
• Steering can also play an important role in a snow blower’s ease of use, helping you maneuver around your yard. Consider an option that offers power steering, which means you can even move it around using one hand if necessary. The Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower, on the other hand, has no built-in steering assistance. However, it is lightweight and has easy-to-turn wheels, which makes up for that somewhat.
• The chute plays an important role in your snow blower’s operation. It tosses the collected snow, so it’s important to be able to easily control the direction and distance. Some snow blowers have a control panel that has a remote rotator near the control panel that lets you easily manage the chute’s actions. The Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower’s chute control comes as a crank near the handle, which gives you the ability to change the direction of your chute up to 200 degrees.
• Although the Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower has useful built-in controls, you won’t be able to adjust the handle to your own height, which can be an inconvenience, especially if multiple family members will be using the same blower.
• You’ll often see a snow blower advertised as “electric start,” which is listed as a benefit. Electric start simply means you can push a button to start it up. The Cub Cadet 3X Snow Blower and Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower are both gas-powered snow blowers with electric start.
• Traction can be tough when you’re dealing with snow and ice. For that reason, you’ll need a snow blower with good tires. Some models come with 15-inch tires designed to cover any terrain. The 16-inch tires on the Cub Cadet 3X Snow Blower also give you great grip. No matter what tires your snow blower has, though, you can always benefit from having some chains around for those extra-slippery snowfalls.
• The Cub Cadet 3X Snow Blower has heated hand grips, which helps keep you a little warmer while you work.
• Snow blowers can be on the pricy side. Plan to spend in the $1,000 range, with some blowers coming in a little cheaper and some going over.
• It’s important to prepare for noise with any snow blower you choose. You can never go wrong by protecting your ears against this noise, no matter how loud your snow blower is. However, you may cut down on some of the noise by going with an electric blower like the Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower, rather than a gas-powered one.
• Before you start shopping, consider where you’ll store your snow blower during the warm months. Some models are 58.5 inches long x 40.5 inches high x 24 inches wide, compared to the Snow Jow Ultra Electric Snow Blower, which is 45 x 19 x 38 inches. The Cub Cadet 3X Snow Blower is 36 ½ inches from its bottom to the top of the handles.