If there’s a single reason to get yourself a single stage snow blower, it would have to be purely to wipe that smug grin off your neighbors face that you’re met with each and every time that it snows. You know exactly what we mean! You’re out there with your shovers bringing that ever-approaching future appointment with the chiropractors that ever-closer while your neighbor is just quickly walking up and down as if he’s mowing his lawn.
You then get back into the warm a good hour after he has, in pain with frozen feet and a sore back only to look back to see that it’s snowing heavily again and realizing that you’re going to have to go through the very same thing again in a few hour’s time.
Why not do something about it and get yourself a snow blower? These do not have to be as expensive as you might think as you’re only going to need a single-stage snow blower most of the time. As long as you do not let the snow get higher than around 6 to 8-inches, you’ll be able to wear your own smug grin as you quickly clear your driveway and yard within a matter of minutes.
Now before you start panicking about which one to get or what it’s you need to be considering before purchasing – we’re here to tell you that we’ve gone and made it all so much easier for you. Through our buying guide and reviews of what we believe are the 11 best single stage snow blowers that money can buy, you’re going to get all the information that you’ll need.
We’re confident that one of the blowers that we’ve reviewed will suit your budget and your needs – so why not get started by reading through our buyer’s guide?
Nothing comes close in terms of value for money to the Snow Joe Ultra SJ623E 18-Inch Electric Snow Blower. This has to easily be the best single stage snow blower when it comes to value – a top combination of performance, portability, functionality, and build quality.
We could have picked from two or three for our premium choice but the Briggs & Stratton stood out purely for its no-nonsense approach to brute strength and raw power. A 250cc engine with electric starter and the ability to cut through 12” high deep and wet snow.
We chose the Toro 38381 1800 Power Curve Electric Snow Blower as our Editor’s Choice for a number of reasons. It’s from a leading and reputable brand, it’s extremely lightweight and portable, and it outperforms pretty much anything else out there in its price range.
We thought we’d start things off with one of our favorites straight from the off. The Snow Joe iON18Sb Ion Cordless Single Stage Snow Blower will do a great job of clearing your driveway or yard of the white stuff.
Definitely, one of the more portable and easier to use of the snow blowers on our list, this mid-ranged model weighs just 32lbs, is cordless, and will give you 50-minutes of operation from each full charge of its rechargeable 40-volt lithium-ion battery. Capable of moving 495lbs of snow per minute, that equates to 24,750lbs of snow moved in a full charge – if you even need to move that much of course.
The auger on the Snow Joe iON18SB is made of steel and it is that and the two connected rubber blades that will be responsible for cutting through the snow and throwing it up the chute. You’ll be able to enjoy clearing a path in this thing that is 18-inches in width and through snow that is as high as 8-inches in depth.
As for the chute, this is auto-rotate and will be able to throw expelled snow as far as 20 feet. This is not as far as some but will be more than enough for most of you. A bright LED headlight is another feature of this snow blower and this just makes it easier to operate at night – obviously.
Summing up, this is a great snow blower if portability and ease of use are your top priorities. It’s light enough to be picked up and with no cord, you’re not going to be getting in any tangles.
PowerSmart offers up a range of snow blowers/throwers but for this list of the very best single stage snow blowers, we’ve opted for their DB7005 21-Inch Single Stage Snow Blower. This is their mid-range offering which offers more power than their smaller and lighter electric blowers while it’s also more durable.
Under the hood, you have a 196cc engine which will not only be able to get you through the snow of up to 8-inch in height but will also help the augers to give you a little bit of help propelling the blower. As for the clearing width, the DB7005 will be able to clear 21-inches of snow as you go along. That is up there with the largest from our reviews and will allow you to make short work of your driveway.
It does weigh in at 70lbs which is twice the weight of electric snow blowers but a little lighter than many of the other engine-powered variations on our list. The mobility really is not that bad either as we found it quite easy to handle compared to its many of its peers. As for the chute, this can be rotated 180 degrees which allow you to find the perfect position to throw the snow and it will reach distances of up to 30-feet.
We really like this PowerSmart snow blower but if we had any complaints at all, it would be that it requires a manual recoil start to get it going. As you can imagine, doing that out in the cold can get a little annoying if it doesn’t start up after the first two or three pulls. That said, a two-year manufacturer’s warranty helps to ease the pain a little.
If you’re familiar with snow blowers, there’s a very good chance that you would have heard of Toro. These guys are the country’s leading manufacturers and have an excellent reputation for the products that they produce. In fact, this particular Toro single stage snow blower is so good that we have decided to make it our Editor’s Choice.
This is the Toro 3831 1800 Power Curve Electric Snow Blower and it offers a fabulous mix of being affordably priced excellent performance, and mobility. With a weight of just 25lbs, you’ll literally be able to pick it up and carry it with ease and with a clearing width and height of 18 and 12-inches respectively, you’re going to be blowing quite a lot of snow quickly.
A 12-inch intake height, in particular, is very impressive as this is usually only manageable by two-stage snow blowers. We also found that it could deal with moderately wet and heavy snow too – though this required a little bit more work from our end as well.
The chute can be controlled from the handles which give you full control on where which direction the snow is thrown without you having to bend over to change it. We also like the wheels on the 38381 as they’re big in size (around 6-inches) and give you good amounts of traction.
There’s also no recharging necessary with this snow blower as it is corded and plugs straight into the main which could either be seen as a positive or as a negative. We can see both sides of the coins but not having to mess around with refilling the gas or plugging it in to charge is a plus for us.
In terms of the raw power and the sheer amount of snow that you’re going to be able to shift, you’re not going to find better than the Briggs & Stratton 1696741 250cc Single Stage Snow Blower. This thing is as big, heavy, and durable as anything on our list but you’ll have no problems clearing the snow due to its 22” mouth width, 12.5” intake height, and powerful 250cc engine.
The great part about that engine is that it has an easy electric starting mechanism that can be used in temperatures as low as 20°F. Even the chute can be controlled electrically from the handlebars which are a big plus for its functionality and efficiency. Large serrated steel augers are what will be responsible for cutting through the snow and that chute will then throw the collected snow a good 30-feet in your chosen direction.
Now admittedly, the Briggs & Stratton 1696741 might be considered a bit overkill for some of you but in terms of pure performance, this thing really cuts the mustard. This and its price are why we’ve selected it as our premium choice. If you have larger areas to clear and regularly get deep snow, you’re not going to find a single stage snow blower that’s nearly as effective as this one.
You’ll even be able to work on slopes as the self-propelled auger will make light work of them while you’re left with the task of just aiming it in the right direction. What’s more, you’re given a 3-year limited warranty which will help protect your purchase.
Next up we have the Poulan Pro PR100 21-Inch Single Stage Snow Blower, another popular model when it comes to the remnants of a Jack Frost visit from your driveways. This is powered by a 136cc engine and is semi-propelled due to the rubber augers helping to pull the snow blower forward. Furthermore, you’ll be able to cut your way through 13” x 21” inch of snow. That said, any snow above a height of 6-inches is going to take a bit of patience and work on your part as this works optimally in snow measuring around 6-inches or lower.
The engine is a manual start and that combined with a large auger that measures 8-inches in diameter, four thick rubber blades, and deep tread tires measuring 7” x 1.5” that will make clearing the snow so simple. We also like the design of the chute which can be manually rotated a good 180° and will throw the snow a good 20-feet.
Other features that we’re fond of on this single stage snow blower is that of the ergonomically designed handles, the fact that those handles can also be folded away easily, and an easy to access control panel.
All in all, the Poulan Pro Pr100 makes for a good choice of snow blower and is priced at just about the right amount in our opinion. There might be other snow blowers out there that are better in certain respects but as an overall package, this is a very solid one.
This is the second Snow Joe we’ve featured on our list and what can we say, other than being suckers for a catchy brand name, we’re really impressed with their single stage snow blowers. For one, this one, in particular, is a very cheap snow blower that easily outperforms its price tag. This is exactly why we made this our Budget Choice and we certainly have no regrets about that.
So what are you getting for your money? Well, to put it simply, performance that’s going to cost you three, four, or even five times as much from its competitors. On top of that, it’s extremely lightweight due to being electrically powered which means that there is no heavy engine inside. Instead, you have a corded 15-amp electric motor which gives your snow blower its power.
What’s even more amazing is that many single stage snow blowers will not be able to get their way through much more than 6 to 8-inches in height of snow. With the SJ623E you’ll be able to clear snow as high as 10-inches and each clearance that you make will also be 18-inches wide.
The auger and its four blades are also constructed of heavy-grade steel, something else that’s usually reserved for more expensive models. It’s actually quite difficult to see how they managed to manufacture this and avoid making a loss on it let alone make a profit.
Also impressive is the 180-degree rotatable chute which can propel the evil white stuff a good 25-meters in the direction of your choosing. You’ll even be able to use it at night or in low-light because it also has a halogen headlight to guide your plowing. Then, just to top everything off, you’re even covered by a full 2-year warranty. Seriously, at this price, the Snow Joe Ultra SJ623E is a no-brainer.
It’s fair to say that when it comes to engines, Honda knows their fair share and now you can take advantage of that superior expertise to cut through the snow on your driveway using their Honda Power Equipment HS720AA 187cc Single Stage Snow Blower.
Although this one of the more expensive snow blowers on our list, you’ll quickly see that it’s worth it. The easy-start Honda GC190 engine as you might expect is where it really shines but it also excels in just about every other area as well. With 187cc under your hood, you’ll be amazed at how quickly this thing moves through the snow – it practically pulls you through it in fact.
As well as the obvious power that Honda provides, this snow blower also brings a lot of finesse and efficiency to its purpose. There are not many snow blowers that will allow you to clear right down to the ground. Furthermore, an intake height of 12” is excellent and this is also combined with a decent clearing area of 20” as well. This makes it ideal for heavy snow or larger driveways or parking areas that you need to clear. It also impresses in the chute department as it can toss snow a good 33-feet and can be rotated a full 204-degrees.
If you wanted something that has similar specs and performs almost as well as the Honda above but at a reduced price, the Troy-Bilt Squall 179cc 21-Inch Single Stage Snow Blower is well worth a look. This weighs about the same, has a similarly powered-engine, and cuts a similar path in the snow of up to 13-inches deep and 21-inches wide.
That engine is not on the same level of the Honda but you’re definitely going to be getting something that is more than able to handle the job. You’re able to electrically start the engine through the press of a button which as you can imagine, is always a nice feature compared to having to physically recoil start an engine.
The chute on the Troy-Built Squall can be rotated 180-degrees and the distance it throws is definitely over 20-feet. There are no controls for the chute on the handlebars which is a bit disappointing but you really only have to set it once in each direction that you’re going.
We’re big fans of Briggs & Stratton single stage snow blowers and that’s why this is the second model of theirs among our reviews. This particular snow-eater comes in at a fairly hefty price but performance wise it’s right up there with the very best. With a 205cc engine providing the grunt, a serrated steel auger, and the ability to carve through snow as high and as wide as 12.5-inches and 22-inches respectively, this will be able to clear your driveway in a quick and efficient manner.
That engine comes with a push-button electric start feature that you can rely on in even the coldest of cold weather and it will pull you along to make your job even easier. This snow blower has been designed to be as lightweight as possible and while it’s still fairly heavy, it’s one of the lighter gas engine models on our list.
We particularly like the steel auger and the fact that it’s housed in steel as well. It really gives off a tough and durable feel that gives you confidence that this thing can take a beating and last a good few years. Additionally, being made in the USA is always going to be a big selling point and that’s exactly where Briggs & Stratton products are manufactured.
If you wanted a cordless battery-powered snow blower that packs as big a punch as those with gas engines, the EGO 21-inch Cordless Lithium-Ion Single Stage Snow Blower is going to among your best bets.
Fitted with a strong steel-constructed auger, this 4-amp engine will easily be able to handle depths and widths of snow up to 13-inches and 21-inches respectively. This puts it right up there with some of the more powerful engine-powered single stage snow blowers except this comes with minus the fumes, gas, and loud noises.
You’ll also like how you’re able to decide just how far you want the snow to be thrown as well as which direction. This is all done via a handle-mounted lever on the shoot which means you do not even have to bend over the machine to make your adjustments. You can adjust the distance to be anywhere up to a maximum of 35-feet while you can rotate the chute up to 180-degrees.
A steel construction, LED headlights, foldaway handle, and an impressive 5-year warranty are the other big positives about this snow blower. The only negative is that you’ll only be able to use it for 40-minutes at a time. You can, of course, get around this by purchasing additional batteries and keeping them, all charged, however.
Bringing our list of the best single stage blowers to an end is the Yard Machines 123cc 21-Inch Single Stage Snow Thrower. This is another good option to consider as it measures up quite nicely to similar models in terms of price.
That 123cc 4-cycle gas engine might not be as powerful as some others but it certainly has enough grunt to get the job done. In fact, combined with the 21” clearing area and an intake height of 13”, this can actually deal with the sort of snow levels that’s normally reserved for two-stage snow blowers.
The clog-resistant chute does a great job of dispelling all collected snow and that can be manually adjusted to face the direction that best suits you and your circumstances. Additionally, the wheels which have been specifically designed for snow and ice offer good performance too. When combined with the pull of the augurs and the engine, you’ll have no problems pushing your way through deep snow.
Well, this depends on one thing really – does it snow regularly where you live? Are there a few months of the year where it snows consistently and you struggle to get out of your home or go to work? Even if you answered yes to those questions, you still do not ‘need’ to get a snow blower but having one would certainly help. Shoveling snow is fine if you’re young, fit, and healthy but even then, it can get quite monotonous.
Sometimes it’s easier to just bite the bullet and cough up some money so that our life is easier. You can save your back, your time, and your poor little tootsies from freezing. You’ll also be able to spend more time in front of the fireplace and can go to the window and laugh at anyone out there shoveling away. You just became your annoying neighbor!
Things to Consider Before Buying a Snow Blower
So now that you’ve decided that buying a snowblower might be the logical choice – and so that you can take that smug grin off your annoying neighbor, you’re going to have to consider a few things first. It’s not as simple as buying the first snow blower that you see as each is designed to work better in different environments, with different types and depths of snow, etc.
Here are the four main considerations that you’ll have to think about:
The size of the area you’ll need to keep clear of snow
Most of you will only need to clear your driveways so that you can get your cars out and if that’s the case, a single-stage blower is going to provide you with more than enough to get this done. That said, if your driveway is much more than 60 feet long, you might want to consider a two-stage snow blower instead.
The sort of depths of snow that your area regularly sees
On average, a single-stage snow blower will be able to clear snow with a depth of up to 8-inches. That will be more than enough for most of you but if you’re regularly confronted with snow with depths of 16-inches or more, a two-stage or three-stage snow blower should be considered instead.
The type of snow that your area regularly sees
If you normally only experience light snow in your area, a single-stage snow blower will be able to deal with it easily enough. Some that have serrated steel blades may even be able to handle heavier or wet snow as well. That said, a two-stage snow blower will be better equipped for this is you experience heavy snow often. A three-stage will also be able to handle heavy and wet snow but will be able to clear it faster and more efficiently.
The terrain you’ll be using it on
The terrain you’ll be using the snow blower on will also affect your decision on which to buy. Flat terrain will not cause any problems and therefore you could go for a push-propelled or auger-assisted snow blower. However, if you’re going to be working on slopes, you might want to consider using an engine-driven snowblower so that the snow is easier for you to clear.
Main Features of a Snow Blower
Once you understand more about what you need to consider before choosing a snow blower, you’re then going to want to know a bit more about the features that they have. Some will be electric, some gas, and some battery powered. They will also differ in the materials used to create the augur or how far they can throw collected snow. In fact, there are tons of product-specific features that you should be looking at considering before choosing your ideal snow blower.
How They’re Powered: Engine powered snow blowers will offer the best grunt in most cases but you’ll also find plenty of them that are powered by electric or batteries which can be recharged. Always check the CC of the engine if you’re going to go for a gas-engine-powered blower as you’ll want to make sure it offers the type of performance that you need.
How They’re Started: Electric and battery-powered snow blowers will just be switched on but if you’re getting an engine blower, will it require manual recoil starting or have a push-button electric starter?
Clearing Width and Height: A feature that is usually high on people’s priority lists is just how much snow a blower can shift as it’s moved along. This will be calculated by the clearing width and the height intake. The larger these two are, the more snow you’re going to be able to clear. You’ll also need to know the height especially if there’s a chance that it might not be tall enough for the height of snow that you usually experience.
Propelled/Semi-Propelled/Push-Propelled: Auger Material: Auger materials are usually either rubber, plastic or, steel with the latter offering the best performance in our opinion. The augur is what will cut through and collect the snow before sending it up the chute.
Chute Features: How far does the chute throw any snow it expels? Does it rotate so that you can specify the direction it goes?
Additionally, other cool features such as heated handles, remote controls for the chute, headlights, speed controls, and the size and type of tires should also be features that can be found on snow blowers.
Single Stage vs Two-Stage and Three-Stage Snow Blowers
To give you a little bit of help when deciding which is the best type of snow blower to go for, take a look through a short summary of what single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage are best used for.
Single-Stage: For most homeowners, a single stage snow blower will offer more than enough. They will easily handle small to medium-sized that have amassed up to 8-inches of snow. These are usually lightweight compared to the others and the easiest to handle.
Two-Stage: These are designed for snow that is above 8-inches and is of the heavier and wetter type. They’re also better designed to cope with larger areas and will, therefore, be used commercially or professionally in most cases.
Three-Stage: A three-stage snow blower is not too much different to a two-stage in terms of the depths that they can clear, it’s just that they can do it a lot quicker. They are known to clear snow in one-tenth of the time it would take a stage-two.
Conclusion
Did you find what you’re looking for from the above? If not, good luck finding better as we’re confident those are the best single-stage snow blowers on the market right now. Well, either way, you could always go and get yourself reacquainted with your shovels and put up with your smug and grinning neighbor for a few more years!
Jokes aside, a snow blower can make all the difference in the right circumstances and can be more than worth the investment. Obviously, if you only get light snow for a day or two each year, there’s little point but if you’re used to seeing a lot of it, there is plenty of time and effort that can be saved by just dipping your hands into your pockets and stumping up the money for one of the best single-stage snow blowers found above.
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