Best Two-Stage Gas Snow Blowers

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 187 lb

The Compact 24 is the cheapest way into a real Ariens two-stage, and the appeal is that the money went into the metal: all-steel bucket and dash, cast-iron gear case with a 5-year warranty, and the same Auto-Turn steering as the Deluxe line. Owners consistently call the build quality absurd for a $1,300 machine, and the 120V plug-in electric start means it fires on the first press in January. The honest knock is the 223cc engine — forum owners report it bogs in deep, wet snow at anything above the lowest speeds, and it's noticeably happier in fluffy powder than in the slush a plow leaves at the end of the driveway. At 187 lb with a 20-inch intake it's genuinely maneuverable, which is why it sells to people with one- or two-car paved driveways in moderate-snow states. Against a Toro Power Max 824 OE, the Toro clears wet snow with less drama, but the Ariens is the sturdier machine you'll still be running in 20 years. Buy it for the frame, drive it a gear slower in the heavy stuff.

Best for One- to two-car paved driveways in moderate snow regions where build quality matters more than raw wet-snow power.

24" wide · 50 ft throw · 246 lb

The Deluxe 24 is the machine owners tell people to buy when they ask 'what's the safe choice?' — and the current 921069 keeps that formula: 252cc AX engine, a big 14-inch auger AND 14-inch impeller (most 24s run 12-inch impellers), dual-belt drive, and a 21-inch-tall steel bucket that swallows EOD piles. Owners love that it throws heavy snow a real 40-50 feet and that the cast-iron gear case is basically lifetime hardware. The eternal comparison is Toro's Power Max 826 OXE: the Toro is ~50 lb lighter with slicker chute controls and an anti-clog system, while the Ariens counters with a steel chute, sturdier frame, and better distance. Knocks are real but minor — Auto-Turn can wander on rutted gravel until skids are dialed in, heated grips are no longer standard on the Deluxe line, and several Home Depot reviewers report factory bolts backing out early ('torque everything before first use'). It's the default pick for two-car driveways in serious snow country, and resale is the best in the class.

Best for Two-car paved driveways in snow-belt states — the do-everything 24-inch that handles wet Nor'easter loads without drama.

30" wide · 50 ft throw · 276 lb · heated grips

The Deluxe 30 is for people who clear a lot of area and want fewer passes: a 30-inch bucket knocks a three-car driveway down 20% faster than a 24, and the 921071 keeps the goodies — 14-inch auger and impeller, dual-belt drive, cast-iron gear case, LED light, and (unlike the smaller Deluxes) standard heated handgrips. Owners praise how planted the 276 lb frame feels punching into end-of-driveway berms, and Auto-Turn keeps it from being a wrestling match. The honest physics problem: it runs the same 301cc AX as the Deluxe 28 SHO but spreads that torque across two extra inches of bite, so in a foot of wet-slop you'll be dropping to the granny gears while a 28 SHO keeps trotting — the forum crowd's rule is 'buy width for light-to-average snow, buy the SHO for slop.' It's a favorite of Upper Midwest owners with wide concrete driveways and long frontage sidewalks. Against Toro's Power Max HD 30-inch, the Toro clogs less in slush; the Ariens throws farther and its steel chute will outlive the Toro's plastic one.

Best for Wide three-car driveways and long frontage in average snow regions — maximum coverage per pass with dealer-grade build.

28" wide · 50 ft throw · 233 lb

The Deluxe 28 is Ariens' best-selling size and the machine you see chained down on half the trailers in Wisconsin every November: a 28-inch steel bucket, 14-inch auger and impeller, cast-iron gear case, and the 252cc AX engine, at a price that undercuts the SHO version by about $150. For most storms it's all the machine anyone needs — owners report 8-10 inch clearings at near-top gear and honest 40-50 foot throws in dry snow. The catch the forums flag: it shares its 252cc engine with the Deluxe 24, so those four extra inches of bite come out of your speed in wet, deep snow — if you regularly get slop, the 28 SHO's 301cc is the smarter $150. Auto-Turn makes it pivot like a much smaller machine, and the new generation dropped weight to 233 lb, which owners with sloped driveways appreciate. Heated grips slid to the options list this generation, an annoying delete at $1,649. Against Toro's Power Max 828, the Toro's anti-clog and Quick Stick chute are slicker; the Ariens is the more overbuilt frame with better resale. The default big-driveway pick for average snow.

Best for Two-to-three-car driveways in average snow regions — maximum width per dollar in the Ariens line.

24" wide · 45 ft throw · 184 lb

The Power Max 824 OE is the price of entry to Toro's two-stage world and probably the best value in the lineup: $1,399 gets you the same 252cc engine as the flagship 826 trims, a 24-inch bucket with a full 20 inches of intake, and a legit 45-foot throw. Toro's Anti-Clogging System is the sleeper feature - it meters what the auger feeds the impeller, so heavy wet snow keeps flying instead of packing the chute - and there are no shear pins to snap; hardened gears plus an engine that deliberately stalls on impact stand in for them, which unnerves first-timers and delights everyone else. The Quick Stick joystick moves chute and deflector in one motion and is genuinely nicer than Ariens' crank. What you give up versus the 826 OHAE: no triggerless steering, no hand warmers, no headlight - and 184 pounds takes some muscle in turns. Against the Ariens Compact 24 (223cc), the Toro throws farther and clogs less; Ariens counters with auto-turn steering. Over 1,100 Ace reviews average 4.5 stars. The pragmatist's two-stage.

Best for The value-focused buyer stepping up to their first two-stage for a 4-10 car driveway who can skip heated grips and auto-steer.

28" wide · 45 ft throw · 240 lb

This is Toro's heavy-duty tier - HD frame, commercial-grade auger gearbox, 16-inch deep-lug tires, and a 21-inch-tall all-steel bucket that eats the end-of-driveway berms a standard Power Max nibbles at. With the 265cc 928 OAE discontinued, this is now the 28-inch machine in Toro's HD line, keeping the ubiquitous 252cc Premium OHV; spec-sheet shoppers fret about the displacement, but owner reviews (4.5 stars, 400+) say it powers through plow walls without drama because the Anti-Clogging System keeps the impeller loaded steadily instead of gulping. Triggerless steering makes 240 pounds pivot like 150, the Quick Stick flicks the steel chute through 200 degrees, and there are no shear pins - hit a frozen newspaper and the engine stalls rather than snapping hardware. The comparison everyone runs is the Ariens Deluxe 28: similar money, Ariens has auto-turn and the dealer cult, the Toro clogs less and steers easier. Knocks: no hand warmers at this price (the kit is $126), and it's a garage hog. For 100-foot drives and plow-strike duty, the honest pick.

Best for The long-driveway owner who fights a municipal plow every storm and wants HD durability without stepping up to 300cc money.

30" wide · 45 ft throw · 290 lb · heated grips

The 1030 OHAE is the biggest snow blower most homeowners should ever need: a 302cc Toro Premium four-stroke swinging a 30-inch all-steel bucket with 21 inches of intake, throwing snow up to 45 feet. It's the machine for 150-foot rural driveways, drifted-in corners, and the concrete berm the county plow leaves at 5 a.m. - owners report it barely notices two feet of accumulation taken in sensible bites. Triggerless steering is what makes 290 pounds livable, unlocking the inside wheel as you lean into turns, and the hand warmers, LED light, and Quick Stick chute control mean you never take a glove off. Toro's no-shear-pin gearbox and Anti-Clogging System carry over from the rest of the line, so maintenance amounts to oil changes and a friction disc someday. Knocks from the 4.5-star, 220-plus review base: it's enormous to store, heavy to load in a truck, overkill for under 40 feet of pavement, and its price bumps against the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO, which brings 414cc for a few hundred more. If snow is a lifestyle problem where you live, this ends the conversation.

Best for The rural or lake-effect homeowner with a huge driveway who wants one machine that never meets a storm it can't out-muscle.

26" wide · 40 ft throw · 238 lb

The Storm 2620 is the sweet spot of Troy-Bilt's two-stage line: the 243cc engine the 2425 should have had, a 26-inch bucket, and an in-dash LED headlight, usually a couple hundred dollars under the equivalent Cub Cadet 2X 26 — which is the interesting comparison, because they're corporate siblings built in the same MTD plants. What the Cub buys you for the extra money is trigger power steering, a 21-inch intake, and the IntelliPOWER governor; what the Troy-Bilt gives up it partly returns in simplicity and a lifetime chute warranty. Walmart owners rate it 4.3 (small 19-review sample), praising the easy assembly, cold starts, and honest 30-40 foot throw in dry snow; the recurring knocks are the no-power-steering workout on turns, a 20-inch intake that rides over the top of tall plow berms, and the usual MTD carb-gumming if fuel sits. Snowblowerforum's take on the Storm line: solid value, not a lifer. For a 2-3 car driveway seeing 8-14 inch storms a few times a winter, it's arguably the best price-to-width ratio in name-brand two-stages.

Best for Value-focused buyers wanting maximum name-brand clearing width under $1,400 on a mid-size driveway.

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 250 lb

The 2X 24 is Cub Cadet's entry two-stage and the one owners usually point at when someone's budget won't stretch to an Ariens Compact 24. The IntelliPOWER 243cc engine is the real story — an electronically governed carb that Cub claims holds up to 18% more usable power, and owners do report less bogging in wet snow than the old HP version. You get trigger power steering and a tall 21-inch intake at a price where Ariens gives you neither. Owner sentiment runs genuinely positive (4.1 across 381 Home Depot reviews) on power, throwing distance, and maneuverability, but the honest knocks are real: it's MTD-built, so the forum crowd questions long-term durability versus an Ariens gearbox, several long-term owners report carburetor gumming that demands religious fuel stabilizer or end-of-season draining, and the plastic chute parts feel cheap next to the steel elsewhere. Buy it for a 2-3 car paved driveway in 12-inch snow country; skip it if you regularly face wet coastal cement — that's where the 26 or 28-inch bigger engines earn their keep.

Best for First-time two-stage buyers with a mid-size paved driveway who want power steering without paying Ariens money.

30" wide · 40 ft throw · 280 lb · heated grips

The 2X 30 MAX is for people who looked at a 26-inch machine and said 'wider.' A 357cc engine drives a 30-inch bucket with a 23-inch intake and 14-inch augers and impeller — genuinely big-storm hardware — plus heated grips and a light bar that cheaper 2X models skip. Home Depot owners land at 4.1 over ~380 reviews, with repeated 'outperforms any other snowblower' takes on its appetite for foot-deep snow, though several wish first gear crawled slower for heavy wet stuff — the classic MTD friction-disc gearing complaint. The owner-forum frame is familiar: for the same $1,900 you're at Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO money, and the forum crowd takes the SHO's bigger impeller and legendary gearbox for long-haul durability, while the Cub counters with more width, a taller intake, power steering, and heated grips as standard. If your priority is clearing a 3-4 car driveway fast in a climate that dumps 12-18 inches at a time — and you'll run stabilized fuel to keep the carb happy — the MAX is one of the best width-per-dollar buys in the class.

Best for Owners of wide 3-4 car driveways in heavy-snowfall regions who want maximum clearing width with creature comforts.

26" wide · 40 ft throw · 270 lb

The 2X 26 IP is the volume seller of Cub Cadet's two-stage line — same 243cc IntelliPOWER engine as the 2X 24 pushing a 26-inch bucket, which is the sweet spot most people actually need. Home Depot owners rate it 4.0 over 300+ reviews: they love the easy starting, 40-foot throw in cold powder, and the trigger steering; the recurring gripe is that the 243cc runs out of breath in deep wet snow at full width, and the chute can clog with heavy slush — a handful of reviewers flat-out say it doesn't handle soft wet snow well. That's the trade the spec sheet hides: Ariens puts a 254cc on its 24-inch Deluxe, so Cub is spreading similar power across two more inches. The owner-forum take is consistent — Cub Cadet buys you more features per dollar (power steering, tall intake, LED lights), Ariens buys you a burlier gearbox and impeller for the long haul. For a typical suburban 2-3 car driveway that sees mostly under-a-foot storms with the occasional dump, this is a lot of machine for ~$1,300, and the 5-year gearbox warranty softens the MTD-durability worry.

Best for Suburban owners with a 2-3 car driveway who want maximum width and features under $1,400.

30" wide · 40 ft throw · 274 lb · heated grips

The ST 330 is Husqvarna's residential flagship: a 389cc engine rated at 11 hp gross, a 30-inch bucket with a 23-inch intake, cast-iron auger box and three-blade impeller, plus the comfort kit — heated grips, LED lights, and a deflector extension in the box. Around $1,849 it plays against the Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI and Platinum 30 SHO, and on paper it gives little away while costing less. The catch is the record: this exact model was in the July 2023 CPSC recall (auger pulley bolt could loosen and lurch the machine into drive — free dealer repair, so verify on leftover or used units), and its 3.4-star average across 17 Acme Tools reviews reflects real grumbles about drive-belt slip in the deepest snow and cables that need seasonal adjustment, alongside genuine praise for the engine's grunt. Owners in the snowbelt who maintain it report it shrugging off two-foot storms; buyers expecting Ariens-grade set-and-forget reliability are the ones who end up disappointed. Strong value, honest flaws.

Best for Heavy-snowfall homeowners with wide driveways who want near-Ariens-Platinum muscle and comfort for hundreds less.

28" wide · 55 ft throw · 239 lb

The Deluxe 28 SHO has been the enthusiast consensus 'sweet spot' Ariens for a decade — you pay about $150 over the standard Deluxe 28 and get the Super High Output impeller setup that spins a 14-inch impeller off a higher-torque engine, moving a rated 72 tons per hour and throwing heavy snow a genuine 50-55 feet. The current 921072 swaps the old LCT 306cc for a new 301cc AX, and forum owners report it 'starts in two pulls or less and shoots snow wherever you want,' though a vocal minority wishes Ariens had put the 389cc on it. Build is classic Ariens: steel everywhere, cast-iron gear case, dual-belt drive. The knocks: handwarmers went from standard to optional on this generation (a genuine downgrade at $1,799), and Auto-Turn still wants properly set skids on gravel. Compared to a Toro Power Max HD 828, the Toro has nicer chute ergonomics; the Ariens out-throws it and holds value better. It's the machine for 2-3 car driveways in lake-effect and Nor'easter country, and the one Ariens dealers themselves most often recommend.

Best for Larger two-to-three-car driveways in heavy-snow regions where throw distance and wet-snow capacity justify the SHO premium.

24" wide · 55 ft throw · 267 lb · heated grips

The Platinum 24 SHO is the classic 'small bucket, huge engine' play: the current 921074 hangs a 389cc AX — the same displacement class as machines a foot wider — on a 24-inch housing with the Super High Output impeller, and the result is a rated 73 tons per hour and 55-foot throws that simply don't slow down in wet, knee-deep snow. This is the machine snowblower forums recommend for lake-effect and mountain-town driveways too narrow or steep for a 28. You also get the comfort kit the Deluxe line lost: standard heated handgrips, LED light, and one-hand interlock. Two honest gripes: Ariens dropped the old EZ-Launch EFI engine (the discontinued 921053 started easier at altitude and sipped less fuel — the new carbureted 389 is stronger but thirstier), and at $1,999 you're paying Deluxe 30 money for a 24-inch cut. At 267 lb it's dense but Auto-Turn keeps it nimble. Versus a Toro Power Max HD 828 OAE, the Ariens throws farther and feels more overbuilt; the Toro clogs marginally less. For deep-snow owners who prioritize power density over width, this is the one.

Best for Short, narrow, or steep driveways in extreme-snow regions — lake-effect and mountain towns where power matters more than width.

28" wide · 60 ft throw · 339 lb · heated grips

This is the machine the forum flex threads are about: a commercial-grade 420cc AX engine, a 23.5-inch-tall Pro bucket with 16-inch serrated augers, hydrostatic drive, and Ariens' party trick — RapidTrak, a track system that flips between wheel-speed mode, full track mode for slopes, and a dig-in mode that rotates the housing down to shave hardpack. Owners describe standing at the end-of-driveway berm and simply driving through it while neighbors rock their wheeled machines back and forth; the hydro lets you feather speed to exactly what the snow allows, and it moves a rated 79 tons per hour with 60-foot throws. Reported warts: it does a poor job scraping packed tire tracks (the tracks ride up), a few owners have chased drive-skipping under heavy load, the track hardware is exposed to slush, and at 339 lb and $3,199 it's double the cost of a Deluxe 28 SHO that clears the same width. Buyers are steep-driveway owners, heavy lake-effect victims, and people who plow for elderly neighbors half the block.

Best for Steep, long, or brutal-snow driveways — the buy-once machine for people who clear multiple properties or face 2-foot lake-effect dumps.

27" wide · 40 ft throw · 205 lb

The 1227MD (sold in current production with S1227 badging) is the value counterpunch to the $1,650 Ariens Deluxe 28: a 27-inch steel bucket, notched steel augers, aluminum gear box, and Briggs' own 1150 Snow Series 250cc engine — cold-rated to 20 below — for roughly $500 less. Owners consistently say it has 'plenty of power to throw snow, even wet snow,' and its 40-foot rated throw holds up in real use; the Free Hand control that lets you crank the chute while still driving is a genuinely good piece of design. What you give up versus the name brands is refinement and serviceability: there's no trigger or power steering, so the solid axle makes end-of-pass turns a workout on a machine this size; heated grips and power steering are reserved for the pricier 1227MDS; and one recurring owner complaint is that pulling the impeller/wheels for service requires a bearing puller most homeowners don't own. As a straightforward, well-powered two-stage for average Midwest winters at a near-Costco price, though, it's one of the best honest values in the 27-inch class.

Best for Value-focused owners with two-car driveways in average snow regions who want name-brand-engine power without the $1,600+ price of an Ariens or Toro.

26" wide · 45 ft throw · 194 lb · heated grips

The 826 OHAE is the sweet spot of Toro's two-stage line and the machine most often cross-shopped against the Ariens Deluxe - the forum verdict is that you can't go wrong either way, but the Toro's Quick Stick chute control beats Ariens' crank and it typically costs a few hundred less. Same proven 252cc four-stroke as the 824 OE, but the extra $100 buys the stuff you actually feel: triggerless Auto Steer that unlocks the inside wheel when you tip into a turn, hand warmers, an LED light for 6 a.m. storms, and a 26-inch bucket. The Anti-Clogging System meters intake so wet lake-effect snow keeps moving, and there are no shear pins - the engine stalls on impact by design, which owners initially distrust and later brag about. Honest knocks: 194 pounds is real weight when the drive is disengaged, friction-disc speeds need occasional cable adjustment, and the poly upper chute looks ordinary at this price. At $1,499 with a 45-foot throw and 20-inch intake, it's the default recommendation for anyone clearing a four-plus car driveway in serious snow country.

Best for The snow-country homeowner who wants the full comfort package - auto-steer, heated grips, headlight - at the mid-tier price.

30" wide · 40 ft throw · 239 lb

The ST 230 is Husqvarna's play for people who want a 30-inch cut without paying Ariens Deluxe 30 money — at $1,499 it undercuts that rival by several hundred dollars while packing a 301cc engine, power steering, LED lights, and a 23-inch intake that swallows plow drifts. The current generation (redesigned in 2023) fixed some sins of the old ST230P, but forum and retailer sentiment on this family is genuinely mixed: owners love the throwing power and the four-position adjustable handle, while critics pile on the friction-disc drive that can slip in deep snow, plastic cable pivots that fail out of warranty, and chute rotation that feels vague next to an Ariens crank. Husqvarna also dropped the heated grips the old P models had, which stings at this price. If you get a good one — and plenty of people do — it's a lot of machine for the money; just budget an hour each fall for belt, cable, and skid-shoe checks, and know the Ariens holds resale better.

Best for Large two-to-three-car driveways in moderate-to-heavy snow country where budget matters more than brand cachet.

27" wide · 43 ft throw · 253 lb · heated grips

The ST 327 is the sweet spot of Husqvarna's 300-series — a 27-inch machine with the same 301cc engine as the 30-inch ST 230 but with heated grips, a cast-iron three-blade impeller, and a stouter belt system, hands-on testers have measured it launching snow up to 43 feet. Consumer Reports rated the previous 227/327 generation very good for plow piles, throwing distance, and handling, and that DNA carries over. The honest caveats: early units (sold July 2022 to February 2023) were part of a CPSC recall for an auger pulley bolt that could loosen and lurch the machine into drive — Husqvarna dealers fix it free, but check the serial on any leftover stock. Beyond that it's the usual Husqvarna story: excellent spec-per-dollar at $1,699 versus an Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO at $2,000+, offset by a friction-disc drive and cable hardware that demand seasonal attention and a dealer network thinner than Ariens' in some snow states.

Best for Snowbelt homeowners with medium-to-large driveways who want 300-series muscle and comfort features without Ariens pricing.

23.8" wide · 49 ft throw · 243 lb

This is the smallest of Honda's track-drive HSS line, and the one owners point slope-dwellers to when wheels just spin: hydrostatic tracks claw up steep or gravel driveways, the auger height lever lifts the bucket clear of loose stone, and the GX200 engine is the same commercial mill that runs rental fleets for decades. Owner sentiment is near-reverent about build quality — 'Honda smooth' comes up constantly — but you must know the history: 2015-era HSS machines had a well-documented chute-clogging saga in wet snow, and Honda's fix was a redesigned, larger-opening chute available free under warranty (current production has it baked in). The other rub is price: at roughly $3,299 you're paying Ariens Platinum 24 SHO money plus a thousand bucks for a 23.8-inch cut, and Honda has exited single-stage snow blowers entirely in the US, so dealer support is the bet you're making. For deep-snow country on a grade, though, nothing this size works like it.

Best for Steep, icy, or gravel driveways in serious snow country where traction and longevity outrank width-per-dollar.

28" wide · 52 ft throw · 276 lb

The HSS928ATD is the Goldilocks of Honda's track line and the model snowblowerforum lifers usually mean when they say 'just buy the Honda': a GX270 pushing 1,900 lb/min through a 28-inch bucket, hydrostatic tracks that hold a grade like a tank, and joystick chute control that owners describe as fantastic. Home Depot reviewers call it 'easily the best snowblower made,' and the engine routinely outlives the driveways it clears. Honesty file: this platform was at the center of the HSS wet-snow clogging saga — Honda's redesigned larger-opening chute (free under warranty, standard on current units) mostly settled it, but heavy slush can still slow the 270cc more than the bigger HSS1332. At about $3,599 it costs $1,300+ more than an Ariens Platinum 24 SHO and turns slower than Ariens' auto-turn wheels, yet nothing in the price class matches its traction or fit-and-finish. With Honda winding down parts of its US power-equipment line, grab one while dealer channels are still full.

Best for Heavy-snowbelt homeowners with sloped or gravel driveways who want a buy-once machine and can stomach the price.

31.9" wide · 56 ft throw · 298 lb

This is the biggest gas snow blower Honda sells in the US and the machine snowblowerforum threads simply call 'awesome': a GX390 moving 2,750 lb/min through a 32-inch bucket with a 56-foot throw that reviewers joke puts snow in the neighbor's yard. Notably, the wet-snow clogging complaints that dogged the HSS928 barely touched this model — the bigger impeller and 389cc of torque keep heavy slush moving, and current units carry Honda's redesigned chute anyway. Owners' actual gripes are practical: it's 298 lb, it fills half a shed, turning the tracks takes shoulders since there's no trigger steering, and at about $3,999 it's up against the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO and Professional RapidTrak, which cost less and steer easier. But for lake-effect country, long steep gravel drives, or anywhere the plow leaves a four-foot wall, this is the no-drama pick — commercial-grade everything, decade-plus service life, and traction that makes chains-on-wheels rivals look silly.

Best for Lake-effect and mountain-country properties with long, steep, or gravel driveways and routinely deep, heavy snow.

24" wide · 35 ft throw · 206 lb

The ST 224 has been Husqvarna's volume seller for a decade, and the current version quietly fixed the old model's biggest gripe by adding trigger power steering as standard. It's the classic first two-stage: 24-inch cut, 23-inch intake, 212cc engine that starts on the first pull (owners brag about this constantly), and a hands-on tested throw of 30-35 feet — good with powder, adequate with wet cement-snow. Around $1,099 it sits between MTD-built box-store machines and the Ariens Compact 24, and that's exactly how the ownership experience reads: sturdier auger housing and a 10-year cast-iron gearbox warranty on one hand; a friction-disc drive, stretchy control cables, and plasticky chute hardware that generate most of the complaints on the other. Note that heated grips, which the old Lowe's-era 224 had, are gone from the current spec. Treat the first-season belt adjustment as scheduled maintenance and it'll clear a two-car driveway for years without drama.

Best for First-time two-stage buyers with a standard two-car driveway and regular 6-14 inch snowfalls.

27" wide · 40 ft throw · 212 lb

The ST 227 is the quiet overachiever in Husqvarna's lineup — Consumer Reports scored the previous generation very good for plow piles, throwing distance, surface cleaning, and handling, and this 254cc version keeps that recipe: 27-inch cut, 23-inch intake, power steering, and only 212 lb to push around, barely more than the 24-inch model. At about $1,299 it substantially undercuts the Ariens Deluxe 28 while clearing nearly as wide a path, which is why value-hunters on the forums keep landing here. The trade-offs are familiar Husqvarna: the friction-disc drive is the weak link owners baby (one aging rubber disc is a $40 part but a knuckly job), control cables stretch, and the current generation dropped the heated grips the old ST 227P included — you have to jump to the 300-series to get them back. If your snow is regular but rarely apocalyptic, this is arguably the smartest width-per-dollar buy in the whole Husqvarna range; just do the fall belt check religiously and keep a spare set of shear pins in the toolbox.

Best for Value-focused homeowners with wide driveways or long sidewalks in moderate snow zones who don't need comfort extras.

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 352 lb · heated grips

The ST 424T is Husqvarna's current 400-series commercial track machine and its most direct shot at the Honda HSS724ATD — same 24-inch class, same hydrostatic-track formula, but roughly $400 less at about $2,899, and it counters with things Honda skips: electronic fuel injection for reliable cold starts and altitude compensation, factory heated grips, an all-steel control console, and trigger power steering so the tracks turn without wrestling. The 301cc EFI engine and cast-iron impeller are rated for commercial duty, and reviewers consistently single out how confidently the tracks climb steep, deep-drifted driveways. The honest counterpoints: at 352 lb it's the heaviest machine in its width class by a wide margin, the 400-series is too new to have Honda's decades-deep reliability record or resale value, published owner reviews are still scarce, and it's dealer-channel equipment, so parts support depends on your local pro dealer. If you like the Honda track concept but want EFI, warm hands, and easier steering for less money, this is the modern pick.

Best for Steep, long, or gravel driveways — and light commercial use — where a Honda track machine is the alternative but EFI and easier steering appeal.

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 208 lb

The Storm 2425 is Troy-Bilt's entry two-stage and one of the cheapest name-brand paths to real auger-and-impeller snow clearing. The formula is simple: a 208cc engine, 24-inch bucket, 20-inch intake, and the Just One Hand control layout that lets you adjust the chute mid-pass — a feature bargain machines skip. Owner sentiment on the Storm line is steady rather than glowing: it starts easily, handles 8-12 inch storms fine, and the lifetime chute warranty is a nice touch, but the 208cc is the smallest engine you'll find pushing a 24-inch bucket, so wet heavy snow forces half-width bites, and there's no power steering, headlight, or heated grips at $1,229. The owner-forum framing is blunt: this is an MTD value machine — the same bones as a Craftsman 24 — so buy it for the price and the dealer network, not for heirloom durability; an Ariens Compact 24 costs ~$100-200 more and out-muscles it with a 223cc and better build. For light-to-moderate snow regions where the driveway is two cars and the budget is firm, it's a sensible, honest workhorse.

Best for Budget buyers in moderate snow regions who want name-brand two-stage basics on a two-car driveway.

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.

28" wide · 65 ft throw · 304 lb

This is the top of Toro's walk-behind line and it is built to a commercial spec — the five-year warranty carries a one-year commercial term, which most residential machines will not do at all. The 420cc engine and 21-inch intake put it in the same conversation as the Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak, and the 65-foot throw is the longest in this catalog by a clear margin. At 304 lb it is also the heaviest wheeled machine here, which is the honest cost of that capability: it is not a machine you turn around casually at the end of a pass. Worth knowing before you buy — Toro lists heated grips as accessory 131-6460 rather than standard equipment, which contradicts a good deal of dealer copy.

Best for Long or steep driveways in heavy-snow country, and anyone who wants a walk-behind with a warranty that survives light commercial use.

30" wide · 55 ft throw · 274 lb · heated grips

The Platinum 30 SHO is what the Deluxe 30 becomes when Ariens stops economising: a 414cc AX engine instead of the Deluxe's 306cc, the Super High Output impeller, handwarmers and a remote deflector as standard, and an in-dash chute lever rather than a crank. Thirty inches of clearing width and a 21-inch intake put it at the top of the residential range without crossing into the Professional line's price. Against the Toro Power Max HD 1428 OHXE it gives up ten feet of throw and the commercial warranty term, but it is thirty pounds lighter, two inches wider, and carries heated grips as standard rather than as an accessory.

Best for Wide or long driveways in serious snow country where a 24-inch machine means too many passes and heated grips are not negotiable.

28" wide · 40 ft throw · heated grips

The 2X 28 sits between the 2X 26 and the three-stage 3X line, and the reason to want it is all-wheel drive — both wheels pull, which is the difference between climbing a sloped or unpaved driveway and spinning one tire on it. IntelliPOWER is Cub Cadet's name for an engine tuned to hold output as load rises rather than bogging, which is the usual complaint about mid-size two-stage machines in wet snow. Heated grips, dual LED headlights and trigger power steering are all standard at this price. Cub Cadet does not publish a weight for this machine on its own product page, at Tractor Supply, or at Home Depot, so it is left blank here rather than guessed.

Best for Sloped, long, or unpaved driveways where a single-wheel-drive machine loses traction, in up to a foot of snow at a time.

34" wide · heated grips

Thirty-four inches is the widest machine in this catalog, and the Arctic Storm's pitch is straightforward: the same 420cc engine as Toro's $2,949 flagship, six more inches of clearing width, and a $1,250 lower price. What you give up for that is a three-year residential warranty instead of five, a brand with a thinner dealer network than Toro or Ariens, and a machine whose sheer width is a genuine storage problem. The electric four-way chute control is unusual at any price — most machines in this range still use a crank for rotation and a lever for pitch.

Best for Long, wide rural driveways where the number of passes is the thing that actually costs you time.

23.8" wide · 49 ft throw · 220 lb

This is the wheeled sibling of the HSS724ATD already in this catalog, and the choice between them is the whole story. Tracks give you grip on ice and slopes and the ability to tilt the bucket; wheels give you a machine that turns without fighting you and costs less. Both run the same commercial GX200 engine and the same hydrostatic drive, which is the reason people buy Hondas in the first place — the speed lever is continuous rather than stepped, so in deep snow you can creep at whatever pace the auger will actually take. It is also the only Honda in this catalog with an Amazon listing, which matters only because every other Honda here is dealer-order.

Best for Flat-to-moderate paved or gravel driveways where Honda's engine and hydrostatic drive are the draw, and the ice-grip of tracks isn't needed.

27" wide · 40 ft throw · 234 lb · heated grips

Champion is better known for generators, and the snow line is priced accordingly: a 301cc engine, a 23-inch intake and heated grips for a little over $1,100, where Ariens and Toro want $1,700 and up for the same numbers. The catch is the one that applies to the whole value tier — a two-year warranty against three or five, and a service network built around big-box returns rather than dealers who stock parts. The 23-inch intake is the specification worth noticing here; it is taller than the Cub Cadet 2X 28's and matches the three-stage machines, which is unusual at this price.

Best for A wide driveway on a budget, where the intake height and engine size matter more than dealer support.

24" wide · 40 ft throw · 163 lb

The pitch here is a Briggs & Stratton engine at a price where the value tier usually fits an unbranded clone. At 163 lb it is one of the lighter 24-inch two-stage machines in this catalog — about 25 lb under the Ariens Compact 24 — which makes it easier to turn and store, and correspondingly less planted in heavy snow.

Best for A standard two-car driveway where a recognised engine brand matters but a dealer network doesn't.

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.