For the remaining four types, we’ve highlighted the worst in class, below.
SNOW BROS 2 SUN PLUS
On the flipside, none of the corded electric models we’ve tested are worth buying-they tend to be underpowered, plus you’ve got to contend with an extension cord in damp snow. It’s hard to go wrong with a three-stage model, all those we’ve tested score well enough for us to recommend. Snow blower performance in our tests varies wildly. Test The Worst Snow Blowers from Our Tests
The Snow Joe scored poor marks for speed, plow-pile removal, and throwing distance. Single-stage cordless electric: The Snow Joe iON18SB, $400, is designed like other cordless blowers but a lack of power was evident in our tests.
SNOW BROS 2 SUN PRO
Single-stage gas: The Ariens Pro Path 938034, $450, is sluggish to clear and really struggles at tackling a large plow pile of snow. Two-stage: The 30-inch-wide Husqvarna ST230E, $1,300, does well at removing snow quickly, but it has confusing controls and sub-par predicted reliability for a machine this pricey.Ĭompact two-stage: The Poulan Pro PR241, $650, turns in only average performance on most performance tests, and has the worst predicted reliability of any brand in our ratings. Three-stage: The 24-inch-wide Craftsman 88870, $1,200, lagged in snow removal speed and throwing distance, although it aced removing the snow pile at the end of the driveway and was easy to handle. Below are the worst performers in each wprst performer of all models we tested. Say all 3-stage score very good or better, and on the other side, we don't recommend a single corded electric. Snow Blowers to SkipĬharacterization of the group, universal for all, maybe reliability data too or cost
SNOW BROS 2 SUN FREE
The best still aren't as good as the best gas models, but they're better than plug-in electric models, and they free you of gas, cords, and engine maintenance. Best Single-Stage Battery-Powered Snow Blowersīattery-powered single-stage snow blowers are a small but growing category. They have an auger, just like the bigger units, but don't have the impeller that helps larger machines clear quickly. These tools are generally much smaller than two and three-stage models, and meant to clear snow up to about 9 inches deep. We test them just like snow blowers, but we use far less of the sawdust mixture-because for anything deeper, you'll want a traditional snow blower.ĬR members can read on for ratings and reviews of the top-performing gas- and battery-powered models from our latest tests. They're corded or battery-powered and can generally clear up to 6 inches of snow. Smaller and lighter, power snow shovels are designed to go places where a snow blower would be overkill (think: along a very short walkway or on an elevated deck). They range in width from 24 to 30 inches, and models at the narrow end of that spectrum are considered "compact." Single-stage models are typically 21 inches wide and can clear snow up to 9 inches deep in a single pass. Two-stage and three-stage snow blowers are the most powerful and can clear 16 to 18 inches of snow in one pass. We also look at lighter-duty, single-stage and two-stage electric blowers from brands like Sun Joe and Ego, as well as power snow shovels from brands like GreenWorks and Toro. We test single-, two-, and three-stage snow blowers from brands, including Ariens, Troy-Bilt, Honda, Cub Cadet, Craftsman, Husqvarna, and Toro. The Overall Score for each model combines results from these performance tests as well as results of our survey of thousands of CR members, which informs our brand reliability and owner satisfaction ratings. In each test we time how fast a model cuts through the dense mixture and note how far the sawdust is thrown and how clean the surface is. The mixture we use can simulate a standard snowfall or be molded into a mound that simulates a plow pile, like the ones the town plows leave at the foot of your driveway. “That's the reason we use a mixture of a certain type of sawdust, saturated with water, instead of snow." "We need to run our tests with something we can standardize, for consistency," explains Dave Trezza, who oversees snow blower testing at Consumer Reports. It's fascinating that no two snowflakes are alike, but that presents a problem for Consumer Reports' testing protocol. Below, we've highlighted the very best models from our extensive tests, plus a few to avoid. CR members can also jump right to our snow blower ratings to compare models. You can see our snow blower buying guide for more about the different types of blowers.
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