Reviewer tested: 13 best snow blowers & snow throwers under $500, $1,000 and $1,500

]

Best snow blowers and snow throwers, according to reviewers (Photo via Getty)

Yahoo Lifestyle Canada is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Canadians are no strangers to dealing with harsh winter weather conditions and sky-high snowfalls. This winter, cities across the country have been hit with record-breaking winter storms, including in parts of Ontario, Vancouver Island and the Yukon. This heavy snowfall has inspired many to swap out their shovels for a snow blower or thrower.

Snow Blower vs. Snow Thrower: What’s the difference?

While they essentially perform the same task, snow blowers and snow throwers are, in fact, two different things.

A snow thrower is a single-stage machine, meaning it uses a rotating auger to pick up snow and cast it out of the shoot in one continuous motion.

A snow blower, on the other hand, works in two stages. Similar to a snow thrower, it uses a rotating auger to scoop up snow, but rather than immediately shooting it out, it feeds the snow into an impeller (a powerful fan) which blows it out of the chute.

Snow blowers versus snow throwers: What’s the difference? (Photo via Getty)

Do I need a Snow Blower or a Snow Thrower?

There are a few factors to consider to determine whether you need a snow blower or a snow thrower.

Snow conditions : If you don’t typically get a lot of snow, a snow thrower may be a better option as they’re smaller and less powerful than a snow blower, which means they tend to be less expensive. If you’re used to seeing heavy snow conditions, you’ll be better off with a snow blower as they’re larger, more powerful, and equipped to handle heavy snowfall.

Gas-powered vs. electric: Many snow throwers are corded, meaning you can rely on your home’s electricity for power. However, that also means you have limitations on how long the cord is and where you can take your machine. On the other hand, snow blowers tend to be fuel-powered, so you have flexibility on where you can take them, but in turn, they require gasoline and more maintenance than their electrical counterparts.

Story continues

If you’re interested in investing in a snow blower or snow thrower this winter season, scroll down to shop 13 reviewer loved-and-tested snow blowers and throwers under $500, $1,000 and $1,500.

Best Snow Blowers & Snow Throwers under $500

Snow Joe Ultra 15 A 21-in Corded Electric Snow Blower Push (Photo via Lowe’s)

This large electric snow blower delivers the power of a gas machine with the convenience of an electric unit. Earning an average rating of 4.5 stars out of more than 220 reviews, Lowe’s shoppers say this budget snow blower is “better than expected” and say it handles “over one foot of snow without a problem.”

$259 at Lowe’s Canada

Mastercraft 2 x 20V Cordless Snowblower, 20-in (Photo via Canadian Tire)

This cordless snowblower features compact wheels for easy maneuverability in winter-weather conditions and is ideal for quick and painless snow removal on mid-sized driveways and walkways. It’s a “mighty snowblower for the size,” writes one Canadian Tire reviewer. “I love this little guy. It’s so light and easy to move around. […] I’ve had a chance to use it in -45 C, and it still lasted over an hour with those cold temperatures.”

$450 $500 at Canadian Tire

GreenWorks 2600502 13 Amp 20-Inch Corded Snow Thrower (Photo via Amazon)

This user-loved snow thrower features a 180-degree directional chute for manageable snow throwing and an electric start for a hassle-free operation. It has earned an average rating of 4.2 stars from Amazon shoppers who call the design “very lightweight,” which is “good for general maneuverability.”

$249 at Amazon

Snow Joe SJ623E 18-Inch 15-Amp Electric Snow Thrower (Photo via Amazon)

With more than 4,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.2 stars, Amazon shoppers say this electric snow thrower is a “time saver” and “much lighter than you realize.” The snow thrower boasts a 15-amp motor and can move up to 720 pounds of snow per minute. I “can’t believe how good it is,” raves one reviewer.

$250 at Amazon

Snow Joe SJ615E 15" 11 Amp Electric Snow Blower (Photo via Amazon)

An “Amazon’s Choice” pick for electric shovels, this four-star-rated snow blower is a wallet-friendly solution for mid-sized driveways and walkways. It’s “more powerful than expected,” writes one shopper. “Nice and light” and “easy to move around.”

$188 at Amazon

Best Snow Blowers & Snow Throwers under $1,000

Briggs & Stratton 2-Stage 208cc Gas Snow Blower with Power Steering (Photo via Canadian Tire)

This best-selling Briggs & Stratton snow blower is perfect for moderate to heavy snow on medium driveways and pathways. It has a wide 24-inch clearing width and features six forward speeds and two reverse speeds. “Excellent snowblower. Works well and gets the job done quickly,” writes one reviewer. “It’s even easy to use at night because of its bright LED light.”

$900 $1,300 at Canadian Tire

Ariens 18-Inch Single Stage Gas Snow Blower (Photo via Lowe’s)

This top-rated snow blower comes with an 18-inch clearing width and 12-inch intake height, making it ideal for snow with depths of one to eight inches. The Ariens snow blower has an average rating of 4.6 stars from Lowe’s shoppers who call it a “snowstorm champ” and “all I hoped for and more.”

$639 at Lowe’s Canada

Toro 18-Inch Power Clear 518 ZE Snowblower (Photo via The Home Depot)

This reviewer-loved gas snowblower comes with a push-of-a-button electric start and quickly and easily clears up to 18-inches by 12-inches deep snow. With more than 2,300 reviews, Home Depot shoppers say it’s a “fantastic” machine. “I love this little guy. It’s light enough to muscle around but still has plenty of power to handle the biggest snowfalls.”

$770 at The Home Depot

EGO POWER+ 56-Volt Lithium-Ion 21-In Cordless Electric Snow Blower (Photo via Lowe’s)

With an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 2,300 reviews, Lowe’s shoppers say this Ego Power unit is a “great snow blower” with a “great battery life.” The cordless snow blower is as powerful as gas and combines the power of any two Lithium-ion batteries to clear heavy, wet snow with ease. “It did our entire driveway, walks, neighbours walks, 50 metres of sidewalk across the street to the mailboxes, and parts of neighbours driveways too — and still showed about 25% charge remaining. WOW!”

$949 at Lowe’s Canada

Snow Joe 21-in 100-Volt Max Lithium-ION Cordless Electric Snow Blower (Photo via Lowe’s)

This reviewer-backed snow blower offers up to 30 minutes of continuous runtime on a single 5.0 Ah battery charge. Its maximum auger speed moves up to 16 tons per charge, delivering fast and efficient snow removal. “I bought this battery-powered snow blower this past December, and it hasn’t disappointed,” writes one shopper. “In fact, it has far exceeded my expectations. Dare I say it, it’s better than any gas-powered snow blower I’ve owned.”

$799 $999 at Lowe’s Canada

Click here to sign up for Yahoo Canada’s lifestyle newsletter.

Best Snow Blowers & Snow Throwers under $1,500

Briggs & Stratton 1696619 Dual-Stage Snow Thrower (Photo via Amazon)

This supersized snow thrower features a 27-inch wide clearing path with a 20-inch intake height, perfect for large driveways and heavy snowfalls. With an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 600 reviews, Amazon shoppers are “so impressed” by the Briggs & Stratton unit, saying it “cuts through chunks and icy snow easily.”

$1,343 at Amazon

Ego Power+ 56-Volt ARC Lithium 24-in. Self-Propelled 2-Stage Cordless Electric Snow Blower (Photo via Lowe’s)

This cordless two-stage snow blower delivers the power and performance of gas without the resulting noise, fuss or fumes. With an average customer rating of 4.5 stars, Lowe’s shoppers say it offers a “fantastic performance.” Storms are “no problem for this snow blower,” writes one shopper. “I was actually shocked as my old gas blower didn’t have the power to get through the plow drift at the end of the driveway. If you’re hesitant or have doubts, forget about them. This snow blower is awesome. Till the next storm!”

$1,299 at Lowe’s Canada

PowerSmart Dual-Stage 24-Inch Gas Snow Thrower (Photo via Amazon)

The PowerSmart two-stage snow blower cuts through tough snow and keeps it away from the chute to prevent clogging while blasting snow and throwing it up to 40ft. “You cannot beat this snow blower,” raves one Amazon shopper, saying it’s worth the money, and they “would buy it again.”

$1,100 at Amazon

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.

11 Snow Blower Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

]

St. Lawrence County sees first big snowfall of the year

]

OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) - Snow blowers were busting it up on sidewalks and driveways. Plows out early and often. St. Lawrence County’s first big snowfall has everyone trying to stay ahead of it.

“Out here, I just have a break from work and shoveling the sidewalks for the mailman. And we had the kitchen pipes freeze last night, so I have to redo some plumbing insid,.” said Ogdensurg resident Alex Wightman.

Some parts of St. Lawrence County received as much as 8 inches overnight. Ogdensburg and areas along the river saw the heaviest snowfalls.

Wightman said he was well prepared for what was ahead after his first foray into the North Country.

“First time I came here was 2013. It was during that arctic blizzard thing. I said, ‘What the hell is this place?’” said Wightman.

Being prepared was also the theme of the day for plow crews.

“We’re ready to go. It will keep us busy no doubt around the clock, but we’re prepared for it,” said Donald Chambers, St. Lawrence County Highway Superintendent.

It wasn’t the area’s typical lake effect snow. Instead it pivoted into the area from the south, bringing warmer temperatures with it. Snow was mixed with frozen rain at times.

“Nor’easters seem to come on quick and very widespread,” said Chambers.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through 1 AM Tuesday. That warning and the Martin Luther King holiday kept traffic light on area roads.

Once the snow tapers off, they’re expecting temperatures to plunge again. But the winds will persist. And that should lead to frigid wind chills.

It is expected to warm on Wednesday. Snow could fall throughout the day before winding down in the evening.

Snow Day Is A Mix Of Clearing Driveways, Helping Neighbors And Having Fun In Saxonburg

]

By: Jessica Guay, Chris Hoffman and Shelley Bortz

SAXONBURG (KDKA) — Main Street in Saxonburg looked like a winter wonderland Monday afternoon.

It was a wonderland for kids off from school for the day, but not so much for the adults who had to dig out after the snowstorm. Some areas of Butler County got more than 8 inches of snow.

Tina Gibbs, with PennDOT District 10, said crews are clearing the main roads and secondary streets and they won’t stop until they are done. She recommends drivers should still take it slow and avoid distractions while driving.

For those people that could stay home, it was a mix of enjoying the day while also clearing sidewalks and driveways.

Kids ran outside to have some fun, jumping in the snow and making a snow igloo in one neighborhood.

“I was really excited. I told my sister to look out, she just woke up and she was like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ like she wasn’t even prepared for that, but last night it was pretty deep, too,” Dominic Cardamone said.

The adults got out their shovels and snow blowers and spread the ice melters.

WATCH: KDKA’s Jessica Guay reports

“I use a John Deere tractor with a front-end loader, a back blade, and just pushing her along. [We] probably [got] about 10 inches here. You’ve got to change your angle how you approach it, just help out the neighbors,” Eric McLaughlin, of Saxonburg, said.

Residents are also cleaning all the snow off their vehicles and getting any ice off of windshield wipers. Which is a good idea if you have to hit the roads today.

It was much of the same story in neighboring Beaver County, which got more than 6 inches of snow.

While it was around 3 p.m. Sunday when most people saw the first snowflakes in Beaver County, snow continued throughout the night into the early morning hours. James Lohry says he waited until Monday morning to shovel since he had the day off.

“It’s kind of filling in behind you as you go because it’s still a little bit windy, so as you’re kind of pushing some, you get some of that little light drift that pushes back so you have to go back over that spot again. But I’d say probably a solid 8 to 10 inches of heavy-weight too, so it’s been a challenge,” he said.

Across the street, neighbor Bethann Snowden salted her sidewalk. She said she expected the snow because meteorologists at KDKA gave viewers like herself enough notice. Plus living in this area all of her life, she’s used to all the snow.

“This has been the first one in a while. We’ve been lucky the last couple winters, it hasn’t been too bad,” she said.

It wasn’t all work in Beaver County either. Kids took advantage of their day off from school and went sled riding.

Watch: More than a foot of snow leaves Erie residents digging out Monday

]

Snow continues to fall and Erie residents are shoveling their driveways and digging their cars out of more than a foot of snow.

Chelsea Swift was live from the City of Erie with more on current conditions.

Chelsea was live from the City Streets Department on French Street where city plows are heading to neighborhoods with odd-even parking.

The storm started Sunday night around 7 p.m. and continued across the region throughout the night.

Many residents are still working to dig their cars out of the snow and are using snow blowers and shovels to clear off driveways and sidewalks.

It’s the first heavy snowfall of this winter season, and Erie City Streets Department plow trucks have been prepared for this day since Thanksgiving.

City Streets employees are working 12-hour shifts to help manage the slippery roads. About 30 city plows are currently out on the streets.

A representative says right now they are concentrating on odd-even parking areas.

For news delivered right to you, subscribe to JET 24/FOX 66/YourErie.com’s breaking, daily news & severe weather email lists

“We’re playing catch up. We’re trying to get through the inner city right now. People are not complying with the parking regulations. For some reason everybody’s going somewhere and we have lots of cars stuck in the middle of the street. So our plows are basically sitting behind them or having to back out of the street to get down to another street. So, something that usually takes about two hours is taking four or five because they can’t get through the areas,” said Jeff Gibbens, superintendent, Erie City Streets Department.

City Streets representatives are recommending residents stay off the roads so plows can get through.