Making snow forts, sculpting magnificent snowpeople, and starting snowball fights all add up to a helluva good time. Moving pound after pound of frozen water particles from your driveway or front walk with a shovel is not. These electric snow blowers will save you time and heavy labor without sucking up a ton of fossil fuels.
Corral nature’s icy tears into neat piles. Amazon
This robust choice packs a 15-amp motor capable of moving up to 800 pounds of snow per minute. If you live somewhere with moderate amounts of snowfall, the 35-pound Snow Joe can clear a path 21 inches wide and up to 12 inches deep, and throw powder about 20 feet away. You can also adjust the chute 180 degrees to ensure your snow goes to the correct side of the path and doesn’t block your car in. Make the job easier by taking this baby out during the storm, and take advantage of the bright and wide halogen light on the front to work into the evening or predawn hours.
Cut the cord. Amazon
Cordless snow throwers might cost more, but for people without access to outdoor outlets, it’s totally worth it. This GreenWorks machine clears a swathe of space 20 inches wide and up to 10 inches deep across patios, sidewalks, driveways, or the walkway between your home and your barn. The efficient brushless motor is powered by an 80-volt lithium-ion battery; it gives you about 30 minutes of use on a quick charge and up to 45 minutes of runtime on a full charge. Just turn on the LED lighting when you’re clearing snow in the dark, and adjust the direction of the chute away from the wind. The battery also works with other GreenWorks yard maintenance tools for year-round convenience.
Don’t forget to clear your plowing surface of rocks. Amazon
This Earthwise cordless model clears a broad path 22 inches wide and up to 12 inches deep with the aid of a 40-volt 4Ah battery. Lob snow at a max of 30 feet away and 600 pounds a minute so you can get back inside faster. The discharge chute adjusts left to right, up and down for precise angling of your output. And though it has a similar price point to the Greenworks machine, keep in mind that it weighs 9 pounds more (a total of 42 pounds)—a deciding factor depending on how much you’ll use it and where you’ll store it.
This actually looks like fun to use. Amazon
If you hate shoveling and live in a spot where snow rarely accumulates over a foot, this handy corded machine will be a great fit. At just 16 pounds, it’s portable but still manages to clear a path through your winter wonderland that’s 16 inches across and up to 8 inches deep. The adjustable chute system works like the heat and AC vents on your car and has a wide stream, so you won’t be able to direct your snow with as much precision as other models. It still flings powder up to 30 feet though, so watch where you’re aiming. The model is svelte enough to lift over knee-high snowbanks and best for small jobs.
More time for drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire. Amazon
Similar to the Snow Joe, the the popular Toro 38381 features a 15 amp motor and can clear an 18-inch-wide path. It also gives you more control over how you throw your snow: A lever on the chute allows you to change the direction of the output, and a zip deflector lets you to manage the height of the output by tilting the chute and locking in the angle. If you live in the upper latitudes, where melting is a glacier-slow process, this option makes it easier to pile up the snow until spring. The ergonomically designed handle offers various comfort levels for frequent and infrequent users. Plus, the blower only weighs 25 pounds, saving you some effort lugging your machine in and out of the garage. You’ll get an additional two inches of snow-clearing depth (for a foot total) from each pass along the driveway.