The 5 Best Gas Snowblowers Can Move Mountains (of Snow)

This model from Champion Power Equipment lists at $899, which is a good price point considering many two-stage snowblowers are more than $1,000. But it’s not short on features. This model gives you push-button electric start, a self-propelled drive system, remote chute control, and an LED headlight for clearing snow at night. After all, the snow doesn’t always stop falling during work hours.

It also handles fairly deep snowfall with a 24-inch width and a 20.5-inch height. To help keep the blades safe on uneven terrain, you can adjust the height to handle that, or clear areas like gravel paths. Another feature we really like is the ability to turn the wheels 180 degrees to help make tighter turns. Features like that can’t always be found at this price point, which is why it’s our pick for a snowblower that packs a lot of value.

Key Specs

A medium-sized property that only gets a moderate amount of guaranteed snowfall each year doesn’t need a two-stage snowblower. A single-stage model is fully capable of clearing your driveway and sidewalks. This model from Toro has plenty of power to get that job done, with a 212-cc engine that should cut through even wet snow and throw it up to 40 feet away. This model is also self-propelled to help you do the pushing.

Some of the features we like on it are a trigger and slide that can change the direction of the discharge chute from the handle and a push-button electric start—both make operating it a little bit easier.

Like most single-stage snowblowers, its intake is lower than a two-stage, so you can only expect to clear snowfall up to 9 inches. If you commonly get much higher than that, you’ll want a more robust snowblower, but if you only have a few moderate snow events each winter, this Toro will get the job done.

Key Specs

The Toro Snowmaster 824 QXE stands apart from other single-stage gas snowblowers because of its intuitive controls and powerful engine. With a 252-cc engine, it chews rapidly through snow, carving a 24-inch path through banks up to 18 inches high.

With a lighter, more compact frame and automatic steering, the 824 QXE is easier to maneuver than its dual-stage counterparts. And, unlike most single-stage snowblowers, the auger is slightly elevated, so you can use it on gravel surfaces without having to worry about sucking rocks into it.

This machine also brings lots of special features to make the clearing process easier. Not only is it self-propelled, but it features a “personal pace system” that automatically adjusts the snowblower’s speed to match your walking pace, so you don’t have to fumble with speed controls. If you're familiar with Toro's self-propelled lawn mowers, this system should be familiar.

The snowblower also has a push-button starter and joystick-operated chute control, which makes it easy to adjust your snow output on the fly. If you’re looking for a snowblower to clear up to 18 inches of snow from a small to medium-sized driveway, the SnowMaster 824 QXE is a worthy choice.

Key Specs