With the winter on our doorsteps, we have to be prepared for the snow season. If you need a reliable and efficient snow blowing machine that won’t poke a hole in your wallet, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the three best gas snow blowers under $500. We’ll also provide everything you need to know before picking your ideal choice.
Top 3 Gas Snow Blowers Under $500
Which snow blowing machines pass our rigid standard for quality and craftsmanship? Read on, we’ve got three amazing picks we’re covering with the following snow blower reviews.
Briggs & Stratton 1022ER Snow Thrower
Kicking off our list with one of the most affordable options on the market. The Briggs & Stratton 1022ER blower offers some solid features and specifications.
Starting with the most important aspect, the engine on the 1022ER belongs to the powerful 950 series snow engines. With the motor capacity of 208 ccs, this snow thrower is able to start directly on full power. And, it can maintain an excellent performance throughout the coldest of weather.
The 22-inch clearing width auger is lined with rubber on its edges, which protects the auger from wearing and decaying with time, improving its durability and longevity properties.
Additionally, the snow thrower is supplied with electric start button technology, which allows for a blower to start quickly with a single push of a button even in the harsh sub-zero temperatures.
Despite being powerful, the machine is relatively small in size, offering easy control and compact design that has a small fingerprint in your storage room.
The chute boasts a handle-mounted rotator for easier direction while operating, in addition to a controllable deflector to control the throwing height which can reach up to 30 inches.
Pros
- Highly affordable price
- Electric start for easy power-ups
- Highly adjustable chute
Cons
- The rubber on the blades is a bit flimsy
Craftsman Gas Powered Snow Blower
The following item on our list features one of the most compact unit in the market. However, this Craftsman snow blower has managed to pack this little beast with amazing features and innovations.
The snow thrower is powered by a 4-cycle 179 cc engine, which might be a bit disappointing until you realize that this model is almost half as expensive as its 208 ccs two-stage sister, which is not a huge difference compared to the huge price gap.
Thanks to its small size, the engine is able to turn this small capacity into large clear force, managing to dig 13 inches deep into the snow, with a powerful clearing width of 21 inches.
Speaking of portability, this is by far the smallest snow thrower that can give this amount of power in the market, so if you’re suffering from the triple threat of budget, heavy snow, and small storage spaces, then this should be an excellent solution to your dilemma.
This product offers both the quick electric start button and the regular recoil pull starter, so you can fire up the engine the way you prefer.
The plastic chute on the snow thrower is able to rotate up to 190 degrees, allowing for the maximum freedom and control while on the job.
Pros
- Easy to store
- Offers a 2-year warranty
- Can operate on deep snow
Cons
- Relatively small capacity engine
Briggs & Stratton 1696506 Snow Thrower
Last but not least, the 1696506 Briggs and Stratton snow blower offers the perfect mix between power and cost-effectiveness.
This single-stage thrower boasts a 205 cc engine, which gives a staggering 9 foot-pounds of torque, allowing for heavy-duty operation under harsh weather.
The whole body is made of steel, including the one-piece auger, giving the blower a sturdy and elongated lifespan.
This shear force is perfect for even the medium-sized driveways and backyards, which is astonishing, factoring in how small and portable this snow thrower is.
The best thing about this product is the snow shredder feature. This patent-pending technology is composed of 14 serrated teeth that crush the larger chunks of ice and frozen snow for an easier and faster work session.
The sturdy gas-fueled machine offers a 22-inch clearing width with a deep digging for up to 12.5 inches of thick snow.
Pros
- Snow shredding technology allows for faster action
- Offers a decent clearing width and height
- 3-year warranty
Cons
- The motor belt can be a bit loud
Difference Between Electric Snow Blower and Gas Snow Blowers
While shopping for a snow thrower, you’ll quickly realize that there are different types of snow blowers. However, these types can be grouped under two main categories; the electric snow throwers and the gas-powered ones.
Choosing the suitable type of power source for your snow thrower might be the most important decision to make, as nearly all the other decisions regarding the snowblower’s aspects depend on this decision, making it a clear starting point that you can begin your search from.
To make things crystal clear, let’s put out the main differences between each of the power sources, so you can settle this conflict once and for all.
Electric Snow Blowers
Since we’re comparing two power sources to each other, then the best thing to start the comparison with is the amount of power you can get from your electric snow blowers.
Electric snow blowers utilize a less powerful source of energy, which means that you’re never going to get an electric snow thrower that’s more powerful than a gas-fueled one of the same size.
With their relatively lower engine power, electric snow blowers won’t be able to cut as deep into the snow as a gas-powered counterpart.
Additionally, electric snow blowers are usually smaller and more compact than gas snow throwers, making their clearing path much narrower than that of most gas ones in the market.
Moreover, a corded electric snow thrower will restrict your mobility and cause a huge limitation to your operational area.
On the advantage side, with the electric snow throwers’ smaller build, you can store them easily compared to the bulky gas snow throwers, without eating up a huge chunk of the storage space.
They’re also lighter and easier to carry, so you can swiftly take them anywhere with little to no effort. Additionally, they’re usually quieter, more affordable, and require less maintenance compared to the loud growling gas-powered alternative.
To sum it up, while they’re easier to work with, electric snow throwers are usually more limited and can only be suitable for light snow.
Gas Snow Blowers
While electric snow throwers offer a lot of portability, convenience, and economy options, when it comes to doing the job right, gas snow throwers exceed them by a mile.
Since gas engines and motors provide exponentially more power compared to any kind of electric engines, gas snow throwers are able to cut much deeper into the snow and throw it further away.
For example, even the smallest gas-powered snow thrower can compete with the top-notch and most advanced types of electric ones, making opting for a gas engine a more budget option for those who have a relatively bigger job to do.
They also have a wider clearing path, shortening the amount of time needed to remove all the snow from your driveway. Moreover, gas snow throwers require no cords or power outlets to work. This makes them ready to start anywhere you put them.
If you have a large operation area to work on, or thick layers of snow to remove off your driveway, then a gas snow blower is your best bet. Since this article is dedicated to the gas snow throwers, we’ll focus more on them from hereafter.
The Different Stages of Gas Snow Blower Motors
Gas snow throwers come in different power stages. Each one of them offers a different level of efficiency, power, and price range. Choosing the ideal stage for you depends on your requirements, whether it’s the time needed to finish or the difficulty of the jobs.
Let’s have a closer look at each one of them, so you can decide which is the most suitable stage for you.
Single-Stage Gas Snow Blower
Single-stage snow throwers utilize a single auger in their construction. This high-speed auger works in one motion to shovel the snow into the machine so it can propel it through the discharging chute.
They usually have the least clearing power between the three stages and can only operate on a small area such as a single or double car driveways with snow that reaches up to 6 inches of depth.
If you have a small patio or driveway with little snow, going for a single-stage gas snow thrower won’t only get your job done correctly in a reasonable time, but it’ll also save you some extra cash in the process.
Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower
In addition to the high-speed auger found in the single-stage gas snow throwers, the two-stage blowers also have a slowly rotating impeller fan that acts like a corkscrew. This additional mechanism helps in gathering more snow into the machine.
The propeller chute throws the snow further than the single-stage snow throwers, making these gas-powered blowers perfect for larger work areas, such as larger driveways. They usually have more power, so they can break down larger chunks of ice without an issue.
If you have thick snowfalls that can reach more than 10 inches deep, then a two-stage snow thrower is a better choice for you.
Additionally, since they do the job faster and with more efficiency, you can get it for a smaller work area if you’re in a hurry.
Three-Stage Gas Snow Blower
If snowfall makes a real problem around your property, then you’ll be delighted to try the three-stage gas snow throwers, they provide the maximum power any blower can give.
Three-stage gas blowers utilize the powerful and high-speed auger with the intake impellers that enhance the clearing width. Additionally, three-stage gas snow throwers have an accelerator that enhances the speed of the auger greatly.
As a result, these powerful machines are able to take on the largest chunks of snow at a much faster and efficient rate compared to the two previous types. However, they’re usually a bit more expensive owing to the immense amount of sheer power they produce.
These heavy-duty beasts are designed for the most challenging snowy conditions, as they can dig into the snow for up to 20 inches deep, clearing a large driveway in almost half the amount of time that a two-stage blower needs.
Top 6 Key Features to Look for While Shopping for Gas Snow Blowers
Now that we covered the types of motors and their different stages in-depth, it’s time to check some other snow blowing features that can improve your experience as well.
Chute Material
Chutes are made of plastic or steel. Steel is great for sturdiness. However, plastic chutes are usually a better option to go for.
Plastics are more slippery, which means that they’ve got a smaller chance that snow gets stuck to them compared to steel chutes. They’re also more adaptable to weather, so they can shrink and expand easily according to weather.
Additionally, steel chutes are more prone to rust, and they need continuous clearing if the snow gets stuck inside them to avoid wearing, rusting, and denting.
If you’re still going for a steel chute, then you should be prepared to keep it clear of snow regularly to ensure its longevity.
Tires and Tracks
Tracks are harder to maneuver and steer than wheels and tires, that’s why I always recommend going for wheeled snow blowers.
While choosing tires, avoid pneumatic and air-filled wheels, as they’re problematic in snowy conditions and require refilling. Besides, refilling a flat snow thrower tire is always much harder than warmer tires.
On the other hand, airless tires require less maintenance while offering the same traction and direction control as pneumatic tires.
Clearing Width
The bigger the clearing width, the less time you’ll need to get the job done. A good snowblower will have a clearing width of 20 inches or more.
Electric Start
Electric start makes it easier to fire a blower. As you can get the engine up and running with a push of a button, you won’t have to hurt your back and shoulders trying to start it manually.
Noise Level
Gas blowers can get a bit noisy, which can be harmful to everyone’s ears, including the neighbors.
Whenever possible, try to choose a snow thrower that has a relatively lower decibels level such as 80 decibels. If you can’t find one, then I’d recommend that you use extra ear protection to avoid hearing impairment.
Additional Features
Some minor features can also add to the value of the product, such as headlights for easy operation under low light, built-in warmers protect you from the cold weather frostbites while getting the job done, and snow shredders to cut larger chunks of snow to avoid clogging.
Our Pick for the Best Snow Blower Is…
There you have it, a full guide to choose the perfect snowblower that’s efficient and budget-friendly.
When I look for an affordable gas-fueled blower, I want it to be powerful and hassle-free. For these reasons, I’d pick Briggs & Stratton 1022ER as the winner for this round.
With its great price, high adjustability, and large clearing width, this product has my name written all over it.