The 6 Best Gas Snowblowers to Dig Out After a Blizzard
Too much snow to shovel? You need a snowblower.
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There is no substitute for a gas snowblower. While battery-powered models get more and more attractive every season, they still can’t match the runtime and power of the biggest gas-powered models, especially for storms that dump a lot of snow in a short amount of time, like we've seen with recent storms in the Northeast.
Gas-powered snowblowers can carve a wide path through as much as 2 feet of snow. As long as you keep gas in the tank, they’ll run until the job’s done, making them indispensable for homeowners with large driveways and property, or those who live in an area that sees heavy annual snowfall. If you have a lot of snow to clear, the best gas snowblowers will come in handy every winter.
Get Ready for Winter: Best Snow Boots ● Best Sidewalk Scrapers ● Best Salt Spreaders
The Best Gas Snowblowers
- Best Overall: Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI Two-Stage Gas snowblower
- Best Value: Yard Force 24-inch Dual-Stage Gas Snowblower
- Best Single-Stage: Toro Snowmaster 824 Single-Stage Gas Snowblower
- Best Dual-Stage: Craftsman SB630 30-inch 357cc Two-Stage Gas Snowblower
- Best Easy to Use: Cub Cadet 2X 30-Inch Max Two-Stage Gas Snowblower
- Best for Large Areas: Toro Power Max HD 1232 OHXE Two-Stage Gas Snowblower
The Expert: I’m a freelance writer who has written about landscaping, home improvement, gardening, and home security for publications like Bob Vila, U.S. News and World Report, Popular Science, Pro Tool Reviews, and Futurism. As someone who spent many years in rural Pennsylvania, I’ve seen my fair share of heavy snow and cleared my fair share of driveways and sidewalks. A powerful gas snowblower was always my saving grace after a heavy snowfall.
What to Look for in a Gas Snowblower
Gas snowblowers are designed to move lots of snow. They’re effective against snowbanks piled up to 2 feet high, and can clear out larger zones, including wide driveways and walking paths. If you live somewhere that sees lots of snow fall each season, and you’ve got a considerable sized area to clear, then this is what you need.
Not everyone needs a gas snowblower, though. For homes with smaller needs, it may feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Gas-powered machines require more maintenance. Plus, they’re usually quite heavy, which makes them hard to use on tiered walkways with steps. If heavy snow is a rare occurrence, we’d recommend going with an electric snowblower instead, which will be more nimble and won’t produce any fumes.
Single-Stage or Dual-Stage
Most gas snowblowers feature either a one-stage or two-stage mechanism, depending on how the snowblower collects, processes, and expels snow.
Single-stage snowblowers, also known as “snow throwers,” use an auger to pull in snow, break it up, and throw the snow out through the chute in a single action.
Dual-stage snowblowers also use an auger to pull in snow, but send it into a spinning impeller that mashes it up before spitting it out through the chute. Separating the snow pulling and snow crushing/throwing mechanisms allows the dual-stage snowblower to move snow more quickly and throw it a longer distance, which can be helpful when clearing larger driveways. These robust machines also work better on gravel, since their augers are slightly elevated and won’t draw rocks into the tines.
With an extra component that requires a more powerful engine to operate properly, dual-stage snowblowers are larger, making them more difficult to maneuver around tight spaces. If you have a small walkway or gardens with uneven ground to avoid, operating one may feel unwieldy. As you might expect, dual-stage snowblowers also cost more than their single-stage counterparts.
As with deciding between electric and gas snowblowers, consider the size of the area you normally clear before picking a single- or dual-stage model. Single-stage snowblowers work well for clearing walking paths and the average-sized two to four car paved driveway. Dual-stage models are ideal for clearing deep snow from long paved or gravel driveways.
Clearing Width and Intake Height
A snowblower’s clearing width and intake height determines how much snow it can move with each pass. The larger the snowblowers intake, the more quickly you can get the job done.
Most single stage gas-powered snowblowers have intakes that range from 22- to 24-inches wide, while dual-stage snowblowers can have intakes that are up to 32-inches wide. The height of the snowblower’s intake, which is sometimes referred to as “clearing depth,” indicates the maximum snow depth it can handle. The intake height for a gas snowblower ranges from 18- to 21-inches.
Purchasing the snowblower with the widest, tallest intake may seem like a no-brainer, but keep in mind that there’s a correlation between intake dimensions and the overall size of the snowblower. The largest gas snowblowers will have a harder time maneuvering through tight turns. Ultimately, you should choose the smallest option that can effectively clear the paths you need and the amount of snow you expect to see.
Throwing Distance
A snowblower's job is to take snow in front of you and move it somewhere out of the way. With a more powerful snowblower, you can send the snow further away. That’s crucial when you’re clearing out a large space and you need to pile it up dozens of feet from you.
Single-stage gas snowblowers can launch snow up to 40 feet, while dual stage snowblowers have a snow throwing range of 50 feet or more.
Some gas snowblowers come equipped with a throttle on the dashboard that allows you to adjust the throwing distance by changing the speed of the impeller, allowing you to target a specific snow-piling plot.
Additional Features
Beyond the basics, many gas snowblowers have additional features that make them easier to use. Since they weigh hundreds of pounds, many are self-propelled so you don’t have to push them forward. Most also have electric starters that eliminate the need to pull a starter cord. Some even have built-in power steering that automatically slows one wheel for easy turning.
Other quality of life features abound: You may find dashboard controls that allow you to change the chute direction and snowblower speed with one hand, LED headlights for late-night (or early morning) jobs, and handlebars that heat up to keep your hands nice and toasty as you work.
How We Selected the Best Gas Snowblowers
I consulted with the editors of the Popular Mechanics test team, which has spent years reviewing dozens of snowblowers, to highlight their favorite gas snowblowers. I also have a fair amount of experience using them, and included my observations. Lastly, I consulted dozens of customer reviews from online retailers to see what customers have loved and hated.
Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.
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