Best Single-Stage Snow Blowers

With winter just around the corner, it is time to get ready for snowstorms. While shoveling is good exercise, after the first few days, it just feels like a hassle. Plus, in some parts of the country, it snows so much that you have no option but to invest in a machine or stay indoors. Hence, getting a snow blower is pretty important since manually dealing with all that snow can get physically and mentally taxing.

This article is all about helping you find the best single stage snow blowers for the upcoming winter season. These snow blowers are perfect for 8 to 10 inches of snowfall.

​Top 10 Single-stage Snow Blowers: Comparison Table 

We studied the market and picked some of the best single stage snow blowers for you to choose from. Below is a comparison table to help you compare different products.

Best Single Stage Snow Blowers: Buying Guide 

Before jumping into buying a snow blower for your home, there are a few factors that you need to consider. Finding a snow blower can become a pretty daunting task if you don’t know what you are looking for. Thus, to understand the factors that you need to consider while investing in a snow blower, go through the following buying guide.

Types of Snow Blowers 

There are three main types of snow blowers most commonly available on the market. These are:

Electric Snow Shovel: This is the most basic type of snowblower or the most basic upgrade one can make from a shovel. It is quite like a shovel that just picks up the snow and throws it forward. 

In terms of snow removal, this lightweight and compact device will do most of the labor, but the user has to exert some power in order to maneuver it around the area being cleaned. 

These devices are meant to be used in smaller areas and can clean up an average path width of 12 inches.

Electric Snowblower: This is the most common type of snow blower that is used, especially in houses with larger driveways.

Unlike gas blowers, they do not produce emissions when you turn them on, hence they are said to be good for the environment. Plus, they will benefit you as well, as there is little to no risk of inhaling pollutants. 

Moreover, electric snow blowers are easy to maintain and handle. The best part is they work seamlessly and quietly.

Gas Snowblower: Gas snow blowers are more powerful when compared to electric snow blowers. 

Electric snow blowers can clear out a maximum of 1-foot snow before they start struggling. Hence, if you have a very big driveway, it's better to invest in a gas snow blower rather than an electric one. 

Most gas snow blowers come with 200cc to 400cc engines and have a wide range of clearance. They have a large throwing distance as well, ensuring your wide driveway keeps clean even when the snow is being thrown away. 

However, on the downside, they require more maintenance and can be a little expensive to buy and run.

Technologies Used

As far as the technologies used in snow blowers are concerned, there are two main types. The most common one is single-stage which we will be discussing in this article and the other is two-stage which can handle more snow.

Single-stage Snowblowers

As mentioned, this is the most common type of snowblower used in homes. It is lightweight, compact and easy to move around. It is said to be suitable for medium-sized driveways and sidewalks. 

Areas with a larger and heavier amount of snow can cause the product to choke, hence, it is not advised for areas with more than eight to ten inches of snow. 

They usually come with a paddle-like spindle which picks up the snow and throws it out in a parabola. These don’t work for heavy and wet snow either.

Two-stage Snow Blowers

Two-stage snow blowers are specifically designed for heavy and wet snow. Unlike single-stage snow blowers, two-stage snow blowers do not just suck snow up to throw it out. These snow blowers, with the help of a set of paddles, pick wet and hard snow up, break it into pieces and throw it out. 

They are not only heavy-duty but also have a high ground clearance and have larger wheels for easy maneuverability. The rotating chutes increase the height and range of parabola making it ideal for larger lawns and driveways.

Clearance Width

While choosing the right snow blower for your home, the clearance width of the product plays an extremely important role. The wider the clearance width, the lower will be your effort since you will be able to clear more area in fewer passes. As a result, you will have to spend less time in clearing your driveway out. However, you will have to make a compromise between the clearance width and the size of the product which affects the maneuverability factor as well as price. Hence, making a compromise is inevitable.

Intake Height

The performance of a snowblower greatly depends on its intake height. It determines how much can you let it snow before you know your snow blower will not be able to handle it. 

The minimum intake height that a snowblower has is four inches which are usually pretty common in electric snow shovels. This goes up to about two feet in two-stage professional-grade snow blowers, however, the single-stage units that we will be talking about and the ones that are most commonly used usually have an eight to ten inches intake height which is good for the US but in Europe and Canada you might need stronger units.

Throwing Distance

Another important factor to consider while looking for a snow blower is the throwing distance. You don’t want to throw the ice that the machine picked up back in your driveway, do you now?

Snow shovels have a 10 to 20 feet throwing distance range which is perfect for small driveways. Snowblowers for domestic use come with a throwing distance range of 20 to 25 feet while professional-grade snow blowers have a throwing distance of 30 feet or more.

Accessories

Not getting a snowblower with accessories and extra features will not kill you but if you invest in a snowblower that comes with accessories or features like headlights, drift cutters, and skid shoes then you will enjoy more benefits. 

You can buy most of these items separately but that will add to the total cost.

Best Snow Blowers Under $350

#1 Snow Joe SJ625E Electric Single Stage Snow Thrower

This Snow Joe snow blower is one of the most powerful electric snow blowers on the market. 

Sporting a powerful 15-amp motor, this beast can clean up to 800 pounds of snow per minute thanks to its 120 volts motor capacity. Usually, electric snow blowers are not as powerful as gas snow blowers, but this particular product blew our minds away with the power it brings to our tables. 

It is capable of clearing up a path 21 inches wide and 12 inches deep. The dual blade auger ensures that all the snow has been picked up. Overall, the device is pretty durable and sturdy. The best part is, all this is offered at an extremely reasonable price.

#2 Power Smart DB5023 18-Inch 13 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

Sporting a 13-amp powerful motor, this Power Smart snow blower is a single-stage snow blower and has a wide clearance area. 

The blower has a cutting path of 18 inches wide and 8 inches deep, which is more than enough for most parts of the United States. For precision, Power Smart has added a rubbed tip to the augers, this way it picks up snow close from the pavement leaving less room for slippery residue snow. 

Thanks to its powerful motor, the snowblower throws away the snow up to 30 feet away from picking point. Users with a wide driveway can benefit from this feature.

This electric snow blower comes from one of the most famous turf maintenance and snow blower manufacturers of America, Toto. It is constructed using top of the line materials and is quite durable. 

With a high plowing capacity of 700 pounds of snow per minute, this machine is ideal for patios, pathways, and small driveways. 

This particular snow blower is a fan favorite mainly because of its power curve technology, easy to use controls, and portability. 

It has a clearance width of 18 inches and an intake height of 12 inches.

Best Snow Blowers Under $500

#4 Yard Machines 123cc 21-Inch Single Stage Gas Snow Thrower

This gas snow blower by Yard Machines comes with a 123cc OHV 4-cycle gas engine at the helm which is joined by a self-propelling auger. The combination of these two features is what gives the device its high power and precision. 

The chute installed is clog-resistant, hence, while clearing up hard and wet snow, the user will not have to worry about clogging of the chute. Its 7 inches snow tires make it easy to control, steer, and maneuver the device even on slippery surfaces. 

Unlike many gas-powered snow blowers, this single-stage snow thrower is lightweight, making it easy to store and use. The cherry on top is 21 inches wide and 13 inches deep path cutting ability.

#5 Poulan Pro 961840001 Electric Start 136cc Single Stage Snow Thrower

This snow blower by Poulan Pro comes with some impressive specifications. 

Talking about the internals, it is powered by a 136cc LCT engine which features an electric start. For easy maneuvering, the manufacturer has installed a self-propelling auger which moves the snowblower forward as it clears the snow. 

Featuring a high clearing width of 21 inches and a 13 inches intake height, this device comes with the ability to deal with heavy snowfall. 

It only weighs 80 pounds and has large-sized buttons for its controls, making it easier for users to control the device even with snow gloves on. 

Thanks to its propelling augers, lightweight and easy controls, this product is one of the most user-friendly snow blowers on the market.

#6 Remington RM2120 123cc Electric Start Single-Stage Gas Snow Thrower

Another gas-powered snowblower that made it to the list of best snow blowers is this Remington RM2120 powered by a 123cc 4-cycle. The 4-cycle engine is famous for its high power and efficient performance. 

The ergonomic design of the engine does not require mixing of oil and gas making it an easy to maintain unit. 

Like all the gas-powered snow blowers, this one also comes with a push-button electric start and has a high path cutting ability with 21 inches clearance width and 13 inches intake height. 

The chute is adjustable between 0 degrees and 190 degrees. The product has a snow throwing distance of 20 feet.

Best Snow Blowers under $1000

#7 Honda Power Equipment HS720AA 20" 187cc Single-Stage Snowblower

This Honda snow blower is one of the most powerful snow blowers out there. 

Despite its high price tag, it is a common fan favorite because of its powerful and easy to start engine. 

With a snow throwing distance of 33 feet, this snowblower features a clearance width of 20 inches and intake height of 10 inches.

The chute is adjustable and can be deflected by 204 degrees. The snowblower also sports semi-self-propelling augers.

#8 Troy Bilt Squall 2100 Single Stage Snowblower 208cc ES OHV

This sporty looking snowblower by Troy boasts an efficient and ergonomic 208cc 4-cycle OHV Electric Start engine. With the typical gas snow blower path cutting specifications i.e. 21 inches clearance width and 13 inches intake height, the machine comes with a remote-controlled two-way polymer chute that can be adjusted 190 degrees on either side for efficient snow disposal. 

It is backed by two years of manufacturers warranty as well.

#9 EGO Power+ 21" 56-Volt Lithium-ion Dual Port Snowblower

The only battery-operated snowblower that made it to the list of top 10 best snow blowers is this one by EGO. 

This cordless snow blower comes with two Li-ion batteries offering 60 minutes of battery life can be a good option for users who do not want to handle the hassle of a wires unit.

We think the runtime is more than enough considering the robust engine and high clearance width. However, the product weighs 90 pounds which is quite heavy for a snowblower, even heavier than some gas operated ones. 

It also features built-in headlights.

#10 Ariens Path-Pro 21 in. Single-Stage Snowblower-208cc

Last but not least is this Ariens gas-powered snowblower which weighs 107 pounds, making it one of the heaviest units on the list. It is mainly manufactured for janitorial use and is quite durable. 

In terms of build quality and capability, this snow blower has a very high rating. 

It features a 208cc gas engine which provides enough power to clear huge amounts of snow in less time. The chute and the handle both are adjustable which makes the overall operation easier.

Best Single Stage Snow Blowers: Conclusion

Like any product, there are a plethora of snow blowers on the market. Some of them are from renowned manufacturers while others are from emerging companies. Different models are tailored according to different requirements. In this article, we have tried to cover every type of snow blower to ensure you find the one that you need.

While they are all good, we suggest that you pick one according to your needs. Go through the buying guide and get your hands on the best single stage snow blower so that you do not have to worry about having to deal with snow during winters. 

We have covered all kinds of products. You will have no difficulty in finding what you need.