Honda HSS928ATD vs Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro
Quick take: The Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro costs $400 less; the Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro throws snow farther (up to 60 ft); the Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro has heated grips for the January mornings this all exists for.
| Spec | Honda HSS928ATD | Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,599 | $3,199 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Two-Stage Gas | Two-Stage Gas |
| Power | 270cc Honda GX270 | 420cc Ariens AX |
| Clearing Width | 28" | 28" |
| Intake Height | 21.7" | 23.5" |
| Throw Distance | up to 52 ft | up to 60 ft |
| Weight | 276 lb | 339 lb |
| Starting | Electric key start (onboard battery) + recoil | 120V electric + recoil |
| Heated Grips | No | Yes |
| Drive & Handling | Hydrostatic track drive you steer by leaning on the bars — infinitely variable speed means you match ground speed to snow load perfectly instead of hunting gears. The electric joystick flicks the chute anywhere in seconds, and the auger-height lever raises the bucket for gravel or drops it to scrape. | Infinitely-variable hydrostatic drive — squeeze and go, no gear stops — riding on RapidTrak tracks with three positions: wheel mode for speed, track mode for slopes, and dig-in mode that tips the bucket down to attack ice pack. Electric 200-degree chute control and Auto-Turn steering. |
| Warranty | 3-year residential and commercial | 3-year residential / 1-year commercial |
Pros & cons
Honda HSS928ATD
- ✓Track traction and low center of gravity handle slopes wheeled machines can't
- ✓Infinitely variable hydrostatic speed in forward and reverse
- ✓Electric joystick chute control is the best in the business
- ✓52-foot throw clears wide driveways without re-blowing the same snow
- ✓Onboard battery key start — no cord, reliable in deep cold
- ✓3-year warranty covers commercial use, not just residential
- ✗$3,599 street price is nearly double a comparable wheeled Ariens Deluxe
- ✗Wet-snow chute clogging plagued earlier HSS928 units — insist on the updated chute
- ✗No trigger steering, so tight turns take real effort at 276 lb
- ✗No heated grips at a price where Husqvarna and Ariens include them
- ✗Dealer-only sales and seasonal stockouts make it hard to buy mid-winter
Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro
- ✓Hydrostatic transmission feathers ground speed infinitely — no stopping to shift in changing snow depth
- ✓Dig-in track mode tips the 23.5-in bucket down to chew through EOD hardpack and ice crust
- ✓420cc AX engine holds RPM in wet chest-high berms that stall 300cc-class machines
- ✓Electric chute rotation plus remote deflector — full 200-degree control without leaving the bars
- ✓Heated grips, LED lighting, and reinforced handlebars are all standard commercial kit
- ✓Track traction climbs slick inclines where wheeled machines spin out
- ✗$3,199 is roughly double a Deluxe 28 SHO for the same 28-inch swath
- ✗Tracks ride over packed tire tracks instead of scraping them — wheeled machines scrape flatter
- ✗Some owners report drive belt/track skipping under maximum load requiring dealer adjustment
- ✗339 lb — moving it without engine power is a two-person job
- ✗Exposed track mechanism packs with slush and demands post-storm cleanout if stored outside