The temperatures are dropping, and nights are drawing, meaning we are nearing winter. Besides, if you live in some part of the world, you will experience a lot of snow. Moving snow from your property continuously takes a lot of time, and yet it will still be covered by a new layer before daybreak. Clearing with a shovel is back-breaking and won’t do an excellent job as you will leave areas with thicker ice or snow on your driveway or pathway.
If you live in areas prone to snow, you should consider buying a 2-stage snow blower. The practical machine cuts through the snow; it grinds while aerating it using two systems of rotating blades and ejects it with a lot of force to throw it off the ground to a far distance. The machine reduces the time you spend while shoveling snow and leaves your sidewalk, driveway, or path clear within no time. Also, with high-quality models, you could manage your property comfortably.
Two Stage Snow Blower Reviews
Best Overall
Key Features
Rating: 4.6/5
Husqvarna manufacturers are not only known for the chainsaws, but they also produce durable engines that power a wide range of machinery in your yard to help you be an efficient homeowner. They have models that allow a variable choice of size and power options. The unit comes with a 208cc built engine for heavy to moderate snowfalls.
Our Verdict
We recommend this snow blower for homeowners experiencing adverse winter conditions. The powerful unit is easy to store and also works well even in rugged surfaces.
Best Premium
Key Features
Rating: 4.2/5
If you are looking for a powerful way to ease the snow removal needs, Troy-Bilt Storm 2625 snow thrower offers ample snow clearing snow comfortably. This unit uses a dependable 243cc 4-cycle OHV gas engine with an electric start and allows you to quickly clear snow by choosing from the 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds.
Our Verdict
Troy-Bilt Storm 2625 snow thrower is powerful and a compact choice for those who have a large area to clear or live in places with regular heavy snowfalls. It features reversible skid shoes to protect your surfaces from scuffing.
Best Value
Key Features
Rating: 4.5/5
This product features a superb design with a dashboard that allows for heated grips, a cup holder, power steering, chute control, and shifting for general comfort while working. It also comes with LED headlights to light your way during nights and days.
Our Verdict
This is a powerful solution for clearing heavy snowfalls off your territory. It easily cuts through ice and snow. It can remove a large area and reduce your fatigue with its user-friendly design. Although the motor is small, it cuts through any hard-packed ice or snow with ease.
Key Features
Rating: 4.4/5
The Briggs & Stratton dual-stage snow blower is a powerful machine with a 208cc engine that drives the augers to cut through the ice and snow with ease.
Our Verdict
This is a perfect machine for places that receive regular snowfall. Homeowners looking for a dependable snow blower for their small properties will highly benefit from the product.
Key Features
Rating: 4.2/5
If you stay in an area receiving more substantial volumes of snow frequently for extended periods, you need a piece of machine that will help you deal with deep snow and ice day after day.
Our Verdict
Poulan Pro is an excellent choice for a homeowner to clear large snow and light snow capacity. It lasts for more extended hours, which is enough to complete the job.
Buying Guide
When buying a snow blower, you need to check specific features to get a good pick. The model you choose should have the right features that ensure it has a high performance. Additionally, other than these features, you also have to consider a few criteria or factors before deciding which product you will invest in.
Key Features
Headlight
Headlights ensure you can work any time of the day, whether early morning or night. LED headlamps are an ideal accessory for the dark days. The lights allow you to see further than using street lights.
Heated Grips
You will be in the snow when it is too cold, and therefore, you will need something to warm you up. Gloves can work but not as much as heated grips. The heated grips will make you feel better, and they are very comfortable to wear. They are not so hot that they can’t be held properly, which is suitable for icy weather.
Large Tires
This is another excellent feature that will make your experience with two-stage a lot easier. Those models with larger tires provide better traction and hence, better steering. If it can steer easy, you will be capable of removing snow quicker than the hard to drive type. Large tires help you save a lot of time during harsh winter as it takes several hours to remove snow using a smaller, hard to maneuver thrower or blower.
An electric starter
It is good to have it, although it’s not a necessity. In case you settle on a model with a manual starter, it can still be useful. The electric starter allows you to plug it into a power receptacle so that you don’t go the old-fashioned way. Having this feature is going to save you effort and time. Furthermore, most newer options come with this electric starter feature in place. But if you have a tighter budget, the cheaper models might not offer one.
Factors to Consider Before Buying
Ground material
Your ground material is also essential when choosing the right model. These snow blowers work perfectly on concrete or gravel grounds because the auger never touches your floor. If you have a different ground material, you need to look for other models within your price range.
Average snowfall depth
The average snowfall depth depends on your residence because some countries and states receive higher average depths than other areas. If you are dealing with harsher winters, you may have to consider a two stage blower. On the other hand, if you only receive light snowfalls, a single-stage snow blower will be perfect. So, depending on the amount of snow that falls in your property throughout the year, you can calculate the average depth.
Usage
Of course, you only buy equipment when you already know how you are going to use it. Purchasing it will be a waste of money when you don’t have snowfalls in your location or only rare. In areas where you hardly see snow, you better stick to your shoveling. Before thinking about buying one, check thoroughly how much you will benefit from the machine. If you will only use it five times or less in a year, it isn’t worth investing.
Your lawn or driveway
A two-stage snow blower covers a large area, and so if your walkway or driveway is of considerable length, it will be excellent. You should look into the details of the product before purchasing it. There are more models that handle greater distances.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Tracked Snow Blowers Better?
Wheels make it easy to maneuver around and control, unlike the ones without. Tracks will offer better traction for the steep inclines. Wheels can get stuck sometimes in places where tracks would still roll. The track drive system is stable even in slippery slopes or uneven ground.
Is a 2-Stage Snow Blower Worth It?
This is a great choice if your driveway is wide, hilly, or long and a regular snowfall in your location exceeding 8 inches. If your driveway is gravelly, a two-stage option will be a great choice.
How Often Should the Oil in the Snow Blower Be Changed?
A snow blower uses similar oil to that used in motor vehicles, and you don’t have to change its oil after every three months like it’s done for a car’s engine. You should remove the oil after using it for a whole year and putting the machine away for the summer and spring.
Final Verdict
Many two-stage snow blowers are available for you in the market for removing snow, but these best top-rated options offer a perfect example of the best in the industry. Choosing a 2 stage snow blower is dependent on your property size, climate, preferences, and personal needs. However, for a residential one, Husqvarna ST224 208cc heavy-duty machine will work perfectly. The large housing and 243cc engine are capable of powering your unit through a nasty winter. Its size is also within the range of an easy to store solution. You can work anytime, as it comes with LED headlights to keep you working even in the dark or early mornings.