best 2-stage snow blowers

The Best 2 Stage Snow Blowers

Hey There, it’s Madison and in today’s article I plan on going into what I feel (as a Minnesota Girl, Born & Raised) are the absolute BEST 2 Stage Snow Blowers you can buy today!

For most people, winter is a season of snow and blizzards. For some people, it's also the season of shoveling.

2-stage snow blowers are designed to help shovelers in their arduous tasks by making the chore, well...easier. It does this by effectively clearing the snow off of hard surfaces like walkways, driveways, patios and decks.

#1 Choice - Husqvarna ST224 (Best for Large Driveways or Pathways)

Perfect for homeowners with large driveways or pathways, the Husqvarna ST224 is our #1 choice due to it's self-propelled 208 cc 4-stroke engine, power steering, and its ability to clear out just about all types of snow, quickly.

The controls are easy to master, it's easy to move around due to being self-propelled and my 68 year old grandmother has no problem using it either!

This is my #1 choice for Gas-Powered snow blowers, and I think you'll love it too! 

Husqvarna ST224

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Self Propelled, Has 6 Speeds Including Reverse
  • The electric-start makes it a breeze to start up and go
  • The Power Steering on this model makes it easy to handle, definitely worth the upgrade!
  • Moves all types of snow, wet & dry

Cons

  • At 198.6 pounds, it's not exactly light weight.  The power steering is a MUST, and makes it quite manageable.
  • The (self-propelled) reverse speed is a bit too slow to be useful.

Our Top Two-Stage Recommendations

Recommended
Husqvarna ST224 24-Inch 208cc Two Stage Electric Start Snow Blower

Husqvarna ST224 24-Inch 208cc Two Stage Snow Blower

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Husqvarna ST224 is our #1 choice due to it's self-propelled 208 cc 4-stroke engine, power steering, and it's ability to clear out just about all types of snow, quickly.

PowerSmart Snow Blower, 212cc 2-Stage Gas Snow Blower Thrower

PowerSmart PSSAM24 Snow Blower, 212cc 2-Stage Gas Snow Blower

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

The PSSAM24 is a 2-stage gas snow blower, featuring a self-propelled (6-forward and 2-backwards speed) engine


Ariens ST28DLE Deluxe SHO 28 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO 28 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

Ariens Deluxe is a snowblower to get when you're waging a fierce war with the elements of winter, not when you need a little shoveling done.

#2 Choice - PowerSmart PSSAM24 212cc 2-Stage Gas Snow Blower

The PowerSmart PSSAM24 is definitely up there among the high-quality snowblower, AND - for a fraction of the price of the more expensive models!

The engine, blades, and all the technology it boasts will get the snow out of your space as efficiently and swiftly as one can expect from a machine of its price.

If you're looking for a snowblower to last you a long time, and get that snow away from your driveway as quickly as possible, then the PowerSmart PSSAM24 is a buy you won't regret.

PowerSmart Snow Blower, 212cc 2-Stage Gas Snow Blower Thrower

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Despite the 212cc gas engine not being super powerful, it packs quite a punch and surprised us with how much snow it can move 
  • It's durable. The machine is made from good quality steel and does not rust easily. It can also easily deal with wet and hard snow alike.
  • It's built to last. Of course with a little TLC now and again, you have a snowblower that can last you many, many winters. You get the PowerSmart PSSAM24 when you're one of those people who doesn't want to keep buying snowblowers every wintertime.

Cons

  • Shipping problems. Though rare, some reviewers have complained that the unit was delivered either damaged or missing the necessary instructions. If it's your first time dealing with a snow blower, then using it without reading the instructions first is not recommended. 
  • It might be too much for some people. Some people might not need a powerful machine. If you live in a place where it is not snowing often, then this machine will be overkill.

#3 Choice - Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO 28 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower 

Though not a perfect machine (no snowblower is perfect), it comes very, very close to being so.

It has every feature that comes with most new snowblowers in the market while retaining that classic flare for power and performance the classic snowblowers had.

I can easily say that I recommend this machine so long as it fits the needs of your property.  

It's got so much POWERRRRRRRRR, I can't recommend it enough!

Let's put it this way, the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO is a snowblower to get when you're waging a fierce war with the elements of winter, not when you need a little shoveling done.

Ariens ST28DLE Deluxe SHO 28 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Classic, reliable engine power. There is very little worry that I have where the engine is concerned. The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO easily has one of the most powerful engines I've ever seen on a snowblower
  • Can be used in harsh winter conditions. If you have a large property that is situated in an area that receives a lot of heavy snow, then getting the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO might be a no-brainer.
  • Easily controlled & Self-Propelled! I cannot stress enough how enjoyable it is to have everything you need to control a large machine like this right in front of you. I freaking love it!
  • Capable of dealing with large properties or even entire parks. The wider clearing path it gives and the fact that it's one of the most powerful snowblowers I've ever encountered makes it ideal for large property owners. Anything smaller might simply waste the unit's capabilities.

Cons

  • Augers are susceptible to wear and rust. The augers are made purely out of steel and that, for me, is a problem. The one thing the newer snowblower models have over this machine is that their augers sport a rubber edge. Having a rubber edge makes the blade last longer while also protecting the surface of the pavement you're plowing through.
  • It's really, REALLY heavy. Though once you have the machine up and running, the augers help greatly in moving the machine forwards. When the machine isn't running, it would be practically immovable if it wasn't for the wheels.

Conclusion

If you want to remove large piles, then a two-stage snow blower is for you. These types of snow blowers can handle large amounts of wet, heavy, packed or powdery snow at once with ease.

These machines do take up more room than other types of snowblowers, but they're worth it if you're tired of dealing with the manual labor that comes with shoveling. The best two-stage snow blowers can clear all the ice and heavy piles in one go.

About the Author

Madison Meyers is a Minneapolis native who knows what it takes to survive in the land of 10,000 lakes.

She’s made it her mission to make sure people never have to shovel again by combining her love for snow with the entrepreneurial skills she picked up at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer

Liberty Snow Blowers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

All search results
>