If you are in the market for purchasing a snow blower, it is essential to know what you are buying. With every purchase, there comes a necessity or need that must be met. We can help you choose the best single-stage snow blower to fit your needs when the winter months bring on the piles of snow in the walkways. Let's look at the differences between a single-stage and a 2 stage snow blower first.
Single Stage VS 2-Stage Snow Blower
A single-stage snow blower is the cheapest and considered the most basic. A rotating auger expels the snow and ice through a chute as it throws the snow out of the way. These blowers can only handle up to 8 inches of snow and are not designed for long driveways or large areas. It is intended only for small areas. They are also slower-moving machines and not made for inclines.
A 2-stage snow blower is more powerful and discharges the snow away from the machine. It has an impeller instead of an auger and drives the snow and ice upward. Instead of shifting the snow, it actually throws it out of the pathway as it discharges more snow and ice. Snowstorms with more than 8 inches of snow would require a 2-stage snowblower.
Single Stage Snow Blowers Comparison
| Specs | Cub Cadet 1X | Honda Single-Stage Snow Blower | Toro SnowMaster 824 QXE | Ariens Path-Pro 21 in. | Briggs & Stratton 1022E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | OHV Engine, 4-stroke | OHC, 4-stroke, Premium residential grade | Toro premium 4-cycle OHV engine | 4-cycle | 4-Cycle OHV |
| Displacement | 208cc | 187cc | 252cc | 208cc | 208cc |
| Clearing Width | 21″ | 21″ | 24” | 21″ | 21″ |
| Fuel tank Capacity | 0.5 gal | 0.29 gal | 0.77 gal | 0.33 gal | 0.14 gal |
| Chute Rotation | 190° | 204°, 220° | 210º | 180° | 200° Manual |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
1. Cub Cadet 1X
This snow blower has a 208cc OHV Engine and is operated with a push-button electric start system. It has a high-performance auger propelled drive system that works with the user to go at their own pace. At a walking speed, the user can easily maneuver and operate the snowblower.
- Four-cycle motor
- High-performance auger drive system
- The chute is effortlessly controlled from the operator's station. The excess snow can be thrown in any direction desired.
- Clearing width: 21 inches
- Chute Rotation: 190 degrees
- Able to move six inches in depth of snow.
2. Honda Power Equipment Single-Stage Snow Blower
This snow blower packs a powerful punch to moving snow out of the walkways. Some have a recoil system with a four-cycle gas motor and can hold a fuel capacity of .29 gallons.
- Displacement: 187cc
- Engine: Honda GC 190
- Clears: 20″
- Throws: 33 feet away
- Easy to operate and control
- Has Electric Push start
Some Cons
- No headlights
- Bogs down in heavy or wet snow.
3. Toro SnowMaster 824 QXE
This single-stage gas snowblower is a self-propelled 24 inches with a 252cc OHV four-cycle motor. It is easy to start with the electric start push button, and the chute control is a single motion.
- Throws snow up to 45 feet
- Easy to handle
- Matches walking speed in self-propel mode
- Shreds snow quickly preventing bogging down
- The best traction with a rear-wheel-drive system.
- Tall auger housing and Toro's Auger is guaranteed for life
- 3 year limited warranty
- Designed for asphalt and concrete surfaces
- It has a compression-loaded scraper for continual scraping of the ground.
4. Ariens Path-Pro 21 in.
The new Ariens Path-Pro is a new and improved single stage snow blower. Ariens is a well-known and trusted name in the snow blower business. This piece of equipment is no different, it does a good job of move snow up to 12 inches deep.
Power Source: Gas Powered Ariens AX Engine
Dimensions: 41.75×22.75×25.75 inches
Weight: 95 pounds
Engine Displacement: 208cc
- Electric Starter: No dead batteries to worry about.
- Single Stage System: Auger feeds the snow into the machine and out through the chute
- LED Headlight for nighttime operation
- Semi-Pneumatic Tires: Allow for smooth steering and operation.
- Ergonomic Handle: Made for comfort and puts less strain on the arm muscles.
5. Briggs & Stratton 1022E
The Briggs & Stratton four-cycle motor is most trusted in the field of all equipment. It is powerful enough to cut through 10 inches of snow, and its design with rubber-tipped auger and steel structure has a solid throwing distance.
- Electric Start
- Gas Powered
- Dimensions: 33.1x25x23 inches
- Weight: 93 pounds
- Wheel Size: 8 inches
- Displacement: 208cc
- 3 year limited warranty
- 22-inch clearing path with 12.5-inch height
Single-Stage Snow Blower Buying Guide
The information listed below is what we find are the highlights of each needed item. It can help with making the decision as to which snowblower may work best for the consumer.
Electric VS. Gas Powered
Today's technology finds more equipment in the brushless category. Electric or battery-powered snow blowers work great; however, they may not have the time limit needed to get the job done. The longest they last we find is 45 minutes to an hour at best. This may clear off a walkway but may not clear everything needed if you have a long driveway or a large area to clear off.
Gas-powered motors are more robust, and refueling is the only worry when operating snow blowers. If the battery runs out, the time it takes to recharge the battery does not compare with the short amount of time it takes to refuel. It can take as little as two minutes to refuel versus 30 minutes or more to recharge a battery. Small jobs, battery-powered equipment works best. For bigger jobs, gas-powered is the way to go.
Clearing Width and Depth
When buying a snowblower, make sure the clearing width is no less than 20 inches. Anything less than that, you are not really doing too much in work. The less among the snow blowers will cover a depth of 4 inches. Some can go as deep as 10 inches. The deeper the machine can go, the better it will clear off the area. The same with the clearing width. The more inches wide you can cover, the better job the machine is handling.
Size
Size is not really a big deal when shopping for snowblowers. The biggest plus in size is when it comes to storage. Some handles fold over, while other snow blowers are small and compact. The size should be easy to maintain by the operator whether in use for cleaning or moving the equipment from point A to point B.
Terrain Type
Single-stage snowblowers work best on flat concrete or asphalt surfaces. They are designed to pick up with the auger, move the snow and ice through the machine, and throw out the chute. In any other terrain, the machine will have a difficult time removing the snow and ice.
Wheels vs. Tracks
Wheels always work better for snowblowers. Tracks may hold better traction but are more challenging to maneuver. Sometimes the tracks may come off on turns. This will never happen with wheels, so tracks may seem appealing, but they may be more trouble than they are worth.
Comfort and Maneuverability
It is designed with extensive use and handle of the equipment in mind for the user. Most of the handles on snowblowers are ergonomic. Like everything, the user should try before they buy to see if the handles work for them. It is designed to have less strain when maneuvering the equipment from one end of a driveway to the other and among all the twists and turns the machine may encounter.
Conclusion
We hope that the information listed sorts out some of the most prominent ideas about the purchase of your next snow blower. After using the equipment, we find the best single-stage snow blower will always be in the opinion of the user and their needs.
Each home front is different, and each location may have a different amount of snowfall. By giving the specs to each, we hope it painted the perfect picture of the job you, the consumer, wish to see as the ideal outcome.
What Do You Think?
What is the best single stage snow blower for you? Let us know in the comments!
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