Best snow blower 2022: It’s time to ditch the shovel

A snow blower may seem like a superfluous piece of equipment until you wake up one winter morning to find your driveway, and car, buried under a foot or more of snow. Deciding which kind of snow blower to buy depends on how much snowfall your area gets per year, what kind of snow you get, and how long your driveway is. A single stage snow blower is best for light accumulation, short driveways, and powdery snow. Two and three stage snow blowers are best suited for heavy, wet snow, deep accumulation and drifts, and longer driveways and walkways. You can also get powered snow shovels, which are handheld snow blowers that are great for clearing off patios and decks, or even lawn mower mounted models for wider clearing areas and better throwing distance. 

Snow blowers also come with either a gas or battery-powered engine. While both are comparable in clearing speed and power, battery-powered snow blowers are cleaner-running than their gas counterparts, making them ideal for cities and HOAs that may have restrictions on engine emissions. The downside to battery-powered snow blowers is that they have relatively short run times and very cold temperatures can drain batteries of charge or damage batteries and chargers. Gas-powered models can run as long as you have gasoline available, which is ideal for anyone with a longer driveway or who helps out elderly neighbors to clear their walkways; the downside is that you have another engine to maintain with fuel treatments in the off season and regular oil changes.

Below, I've rounded up some of the best snow blowers available. I've broken down their features such as engine capacity, auger configuration, and clearing capacity to help you decide which is right for you.

This handheld, powered snow shovel is a great option for anyone who lives in a multifamily home, apartment, or in areas with very little annual snowfall. It's design is similar to a string trimmer, using a 40V battery for power; the single auger can clear accumulation and drifts up to 6-inches deep, and can throw snow up to 22 feet away. The shovel uses a variable speed trigger to give you tons of control over how you clear off walkways, patios, and decks. This bundle includes a 40V battery and charger, but if you have other 40V Ryobi equipment, you can seamlessly integrate this powered shovel into your garage lineup.

This snow blower attachment is a godsend to anyone who has a snow removal business, lives in a rural area, or lives in an area that gets a ton of heavy, wet snow. It mounts on the front of your 100 Series John Deere lawn mower, which eliminates a second engine to maintain and provides better maneuverability than a standalone snow blower. The 44-inch tub and dual auger system can blast through drifts and accumulation up to 18-inches deep, throwing it up to 50 feet away. It also comes with a set of drift cutters (a pair of metal brackets designed to knock down very tall drifts for safer removal), tire chains, a counterweight bracket, and counterweights for safer operation in icy conditions. The augers have a one-handed operation design, so you can safely run the blower attachment and steer your mower, while an elongated crank allows you to adjust the thrower chute angle without having to get off the mower.