There are few tasks worse than having to shovel snow. It’s not just that it’s uncomfortable, it’s also incredibly hard on the body. Those who live in areas of significant snowfall already know all about “heart-attack” snow and the attendant dangers of shoveling, but even those in areas with somewhat less frequent snowfall know that shoveling can be an incredible strain on the body.
If you’re looking for a snow blower, it’s a good idea to look for a brand that you can trust. One of the best brands is Ariens and the company actually makes several great models of snow blowers. Let’s take a look at a few of those models and find the right one for you.
The Best Ariens Snow Blower
If you don’t have time to look through a variety of specs and model types, you might want to go with our most highly recommended Ariens snow blower. In this case, you’re going to want to look at the Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Snow Blower-208cc. This snow blower is really a best-of-all-worlds model, easy to use but still powerful enough to take care of major jobs. This is an ideal snow blower for most jobs, though you may want to look closer if you have very specific needs in terms of both size and power.
How To Choose an Ariens Snow Blower
It’s always a good idea to know exactly what factors make a snow blower move from being good to being great. Because there are as many types of snow blowers, there’s no one single configuration that will be right for everyone. If you want to make sure that you get a snow blower that’s actually going to fit your needs, you’ll want to take a look at the four factors listed below.
Engine Power
Look at this one like you’d look at a motorcycle engine because you’re actually looking at something very similar here. The size of the engine is going to impact how much power the snow blower has and thus how quickly it moves through the snow. The bigger the engine, the more power you’ll get – but there’s a definite trade-off in terms of weight, size, and maneuverability when you get a bigger engine. You’ll also tend to go through fuel more quickly, which isn’t usually too much of an issue but it is something that will lead to slightly higher operating costs over the course of ownership.
Handling
There are a few factors that impact how a snow blower handles. The size is usually a fairly good indication, of course, but you’ll also want to look to see if there is any special type of drive system. Some snow blowers include powered forward motion or special turning systems, which can take away a few of the problems associated with bigger snow blowers. In some cases, though, the maneuverability of the snow blower will simply be tied to the width and weight of the device. Try to find something that is big enough to get the job done but not so big that you can’t move it where it needs to go.
Size
Size can play a few roles in how well a snow blower works. The big one is usually how much snow it can move at one time – width determines how wide of a path you can make, while depth determines how deep in the snow you can go. Size also impacts things like ease of use and maneuverability, both of which might be offset by other factors. An important thing to remember with size is that it will impact how well it can be stored for the majority of the year. Try to find something that will comfortably fit in the space you have available.
Features
A nebulous term, features can include a number of different choices and accessories that are available with any snow blower. While the Ariens models on this list tend to have fairly similar features, you may be more attracted to some than others. Some snow blowers might, for example, have headlights that are perfect for those who need to move snow early in the morning. Others might have adjustable snow chutes so that you can throw your moved snow to a specific spot. Always make sure that the features on a given snow blower work with your needs.
Ariens Snow Blower Reviews
1. Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Snow Blower-208cc
Listed as our favorite snow blower from Ariens, this is the model that most feels like it does it all. It’s got the combination between size, maneuverability, features, and power that you’ll want. It’s also got a great warranty, a sizable number of fans and enough raw strength to make your snow-moving jobs a lot easier. If you’re looking for a way to make sure that you never have to deal with moving heavy piles of snow on your own again, this is where you need to start (read our extended Ariens Compact 24 review).
The 208cc engine is the star here, giving the unit more than enough power to handle heavy jobs. Despite the engine size, though, this machine is actually fairly maneuverable. Designed for going up hills and dealing with the realities of consumer snowblowing projects, it’s easier to use than most might expect. In fact, you’ll get a fantastic amount of use out of this machine, even if you’re just planning on pulling it out on those days that are the worst of the worst.
Complaints are few and far between with this snow blower. The most common issue that is that adjusting the height has a bit of a learning curve, but even that will be overcome by the second or third time you adjust the snow blower. There are also some issues with the weight, but that again is something that most can deal with given enough time. If you’re looking for the best Ariens model on the market, this one is for you.arien
2. Ariens Path-Pro 21 in. Single-Stage Snow Blower-208cc
There are some people who really do need a much smaller snow blower than the unit listed in our best-of section. Fortunately, the 21-inch Single Stage Snow Blower takes the same amount of raw power present in its big brother and greatly shrinks down the size of the machine. Weighing in at just over a third of the weight of its big brother, this is a great snow blower for those who either need something for smaller jobs, who don’t have a lot of storage space, or who just don’t want to push around a massive machine every time they need to clear out the driveway.
The good news about this snow blower is that it’s very powerful for its size. The 208cc engine allows you to move a lot of snow very quickly, which can be helpful if you’re trying to get out of the house in the morning. Despite its smaller size it still has a very decent footprint, which means less time spent moving snow and more time getting on with your life. It’s also a bit less of a gas-guzzler than some of the bigger units, helping to save you money.
There are, as ever, downsides to this snow blower. There have been a few quality-control issues with the belts, which can be covered under the warranty. More pressing is the fact that the smaller snow blower doesn’t move quite as much snow as the bigger unit, so you will spend longer on your jobs if you’re trying to clear out a large amount of snow or if you’ve got a huge space to clear.
3. ARIENS COMPANY 921030 28″ 2 Stage DLX Snow Throw Plow
This is the big one, at least as far as Ariens is concerned. If you’re looking for the snow blower with the most features and the most power, you’re going to find it here. This is a deluxe unit meant for those who have to move an incredible amount of snow and it certainly shows in terms of the design. It’s nearly perfect, at least as far as consumers are concerned, but it’s often got more power than the average person will need. If you’re looking to complete big jobs, though, this one is for you (read our extended Ariens Deluxe 28 review).
The 254cc engine is obviously a good deal bigger than what you’ll find in most snow blowers on the market. This translated not only into a lot of power but into a surprising amount of utility. The snow blower’s got a limited self-propelling feature and a great turn-assist feature, so you’ll get a lot of utility out of this one even if you’re not used to using bigger snow blowers. You’ll also get nice smaller features like a headlight for early mornings and a chute that can be rotated in order to put snow wherever it needs to go.
The downside to this one is largely a matter of construction. Go online to find assembly directions, but whatever Ariens put in the box isn’t related to reality. It’s also very hard to get customer service help with this model in particular, though once you reach customer service it does generally do a good job. As long as you can assemble the unit, though, you’ll find that this is a great snow blower.
4. Ariens ST24LE Deluxe 24″ Two-Stage 254cc Snow Blower 921045
There’s a good middle ground between the huge snow blower models like the DLX and the smaller 21-inch models. You’ll get more than enough power to get even big jobs done, but you won’t have to deal with the tremendous weight that comes with some of the larger snow blowers. The ST24LE is a great example of trying to get everything to fit in a smaller package, with some very nice results that really make this one a consumer favorite (read our extended Ariens Deluxe 24 review).
Obviously, the biggest selling point is the ratio of power to size. While it is 250 pounds, it’s still got a 254cc snow blower engine. This means that it moves very fast, but it’s not quite as hard to push around as even some of the bigger 205cc models. The unit is also very good for throwing snow precisely where you want it – it only takes a few adjustments to toss it far away or right next to your driveway. Combined with excellent tires, this is one of the easiest models you’ll ever get to use.
The bad news is that the auto-drive feature isn’t quite as automatic as you might hope. It takes some time to get used to how this unit steers. It’s a problem that you’ll overcome in time, of course, but don’t expect to make perfectly straight lines on your first try. Beyond this, you’re looking at a very solid snow blower that will help you to get done with big jobs quickly.
Conclusions
If you’re looking for the best overall option, you’re still going to want to look at the Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Snow Blower-208cc. The 21-inch model is better for small jobs, while either the DLX or ST24LE are going to be better for jobs that need a little more power behind them. In any case, though, you can find a fantastic snow blower from Ariens that will help to make your winters a little bit easier. If you’re interested in learning more about snow blowers, make sure you check out my ultimate guide.
