Head to head

Troy-Bilt Storm 2425 vs Cub Cadet 2X 24 IntelliPOWER

Quick take: The Cub Cadet 2X 24 IntelliPOWER costs $30 less.

SpecTroy-Bilt Storm 2425Cub Cadet 2X 24 IntelliPOWER
Price~$1,229~$1,199
Rating—4.1★ (381)
TypeTwo-Stage GasTwo-Stage Gas
Power208cc Troy-Bilt 270-XU OHV243cc Cub Cadet 875-W0 IntelliPOWER OHV
Clearing Width24"24"
Intake Height20"21"
Throw Distanceup to 40 ftup to 40 ft
Weight208 lb250 lb
Starting120V electric + recoil120V electric + recoil
Heated GripsNoNo
Drive & Handling6 forward / 2 reverse friction-disc drive with Just One Hand operation — you can hold the drive lever and still work the center-mount crank chute or the dashboard remote pitch lever with the other hand. No trigger steering, so end-of-run turns take some muscle.6 forward / 2 reverse friction-disc drive with trigger-controlled power steering on both grips — squeeze a finger and it pivots at the end of a run instead of muscling it around. Chute is an overhead crank (200 degrees in 2.5 turns) with a single-lever remote pitch control.
Warranty3-year residential, lifetime chute3-year residential, 5-year auger gearbox

Pros & cons

Troy-Bilt Storm 2425

  • ✓Among the lowest prices for a name-brand 24-inch two-stage
  • ✓Just One Hand design keeps both chute controls reachable mid-pass
  • ✓Electric start plus recoil is dependable in the cold
  • ✓At 208 lb it is easy to handle and store for a two-stage
  • ✓Serrated 12-inch steel augers self-feed into crusted snow
  • ✗208cc engine is undersized for wet snow at full 24-inch width
  • ✗No trigger power steering — turning takes real effort
  • ✗No headlight or heated grips at this price
  • ✗MTD friction-disc gearing: first gear still fast for deep snow
  • ✗20-inch intake is shallower than Cub Cadet's 21-inch equivalents

Cub Cadet 2X 24 IntelliPOWER

  • ✓Trigger power steering makes end-of-driveway pivots nearly effortless
  • ✓IntelliPOWER 243cc engine holds RPM in wet snow better than old carbureted HPs
  • ✓Throws snow a legitimate 30-40 feet in cold, dry conditions
  • ✓21-inch intake height is class-leading at this price
  • ✓5-year limited auger gearbox warranty on top of 3-year coverage
  • ✗Carburetor is prone to gumming; owners report seasonal carb maintenance
  • ✗MTD build quality — more plastic in the chute assembly than an Ariens
  • ✗No heated grips at $1,200
  • ✗Friction-disc first gear is still faster than ideal for heavy wet snow