PowerSmart Snow Blowers

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 187 lb

The PS24 (long sold as the PSSAM24) is the budget disruptor of the two-stage world — a Chinese-built 212cc 24-incher that routinely sells for half the price of a Troy-Bilt Storm 2425 and a third of a Cub Cadet 2X 26. Amazon owners hold it at 4.1 across 470+ ratings, and the sentiment is remarkably consistent: it assembles in half an hour, starts easily on the 120V plug-in, and genuinely moves 8-12 inches of snow — several owners are surprised it handles wet snow at all. The honest knocks are why it's cheap: the steel is thinner (housing corners can bend during assembly), the chute-gear lock nut backs off until you Loctite it, choke levers snap, and parts/customer support is the horror-story section of every review thread. The owner-forum verdict: a lot of machine for the money, zero heirloom potential — ideal as a first blower or rental-property unit. If you clear 60+ inches annually or expect decade-long service, spend up for the Troy-Bilt or Ariens; if you need two-stage capability for the price of a good single-stage, nothing touches it.

Best for First-time or budget buyers in lighter snow regions who want two-stage capability at the absolute lowest price.

26" wide · 45 ft throw · 145 lb · heated grips

PowerSmart's 26-inch is the widest machine in this catalog under $1,000, and it pairs that with a Briggs & Stratton engine and handle warmers. The compromises show up in the details rather than the headline: 180 degrees of chute rotation where most machines give 200 or more, a 20-inch intake that is an inch or two short of its size class, and a two-year warranty. At 145 lb it is remarkably light for 26 inches of width, which helps in the garage and hurts in wet snow.

Best for A wide driveway on a tight budget, in regions where the snow is frequent but rarely wet and heavy.