If you live somewhere that gets snow, then by now you’ve seen your first snowfall of the season.
For some it’s beautiful. For others it’s a moment of panic as they dig their snowblower out from whatever summer lawn equipment it’s entombed behind, wondering if the gas left in the tank is still good.
Then there’s just the chore of grinding away at accumulated snow and packed ice as the motor growls like a disgruntled yeti. It’s enough to make you want to stay inside and wait for the spring thaw.
Thankfully EGO Power+ has a better solution.
What Is It?
The EGO Power+ 24-in. Self-Propelled 2-Stage XP Snow Blower outperforms its gas powered counterparts with just two 10-amp batteries (that are compatible with all their other tools). It is, as the name implies, self-propelled with variable auger speed and an adjustable 50-foot throw.
You might not think that two batteries is enough to clear your icy mess, but the 24-in model can clear a 24-car driveway (the larger, 28-in version runs on two 12-amp batteries and can clear a 32-car driveway). It’s also got excellent convenience features like super-bright LED lights by the handles and above the auger and hand warmers integrated into the handles.
Unboxing And First Impressions
Uncrating and assembly are relatively trouble-free, as is the case with most EGO products.
The two seriously chonky tires make the snowblower easy to maneuver (and roll off the shipping pallet). It’s also uses a fair amount of plastic in its construction, so it’s lighter than most gas-powered snow blowers. Once on solid ground, you just have to bolt together the chute and handle assembly. Though you’ll likely want a second set of hands when assembling the handle as the wiring harness is difficult to keep out of the way.
The snowblower comes with a light but durable dual-battery charger that’s meant to be brought inside so that you aren’t charging/storing your batteries in the cold (you’ll get the best performance from the batteries if they aren’t left outside in freezing temperatures). A word of warning, you might want to do the initial battery charge on a day warm enough to open a window. The first charge brought with it a distinct plastic odor.
You start the snow blower with a simple push button (which has to be pressed and held to turn it off, which is nice). Once on, you can switch on the lights and hand warmer.
Operationally, the snow blower is a self-locking dual-lever affair. One side controls auger speed, the other controls the self-propel speed. Just make sure your path is clear when you get the blower moving, it tends to take off when you first start it up (though once you get going, the self-propelled motion is easy to handle). The levers are a great safety feature, as there’s no chance the snow blower will move or the auger blades will run once you release the handles. They lock immediately upon release, allowing you to clear any obstructions.
Speaking of, the snow blower comes with a hard plastic obstruction clearing tool that clips to cowling above the auger. It feels a little cheap, compared to the build of the rest of the unit, but I think the material choice is intentional, as the plastic won’t be as cold in hand as a metal tool would. Whether it’s dense enough to clear rocks and debris from the neon green auger blades on a gray winter morning remains to be seen.
It would also be nice if the blower adjustment was motorized. It’s a joystick-like manual lever that’s easy enough to manipulate…when it’s not covered in ice and snow. That said, the action is smooth and I’ve used enough EGO power tools at this point to trust that it’ll work as intended once the weather gets bad.
Should I Get It?
Having to clear your driveway is a thankless, seemingly Sisyphian task. The one thing that makes it worse is having to endure a small bore motor roar and sputter while you do it.
Not only is the EGO Power+ 24-in Snow Blower quieter (I won’t say quiet because the augers still make a racket and there’s a distinct electric whine when it’s propelling itself) it’s more reliable. There are no engine parts to break, just two batteries to keep topped off. Plus, keeping your hands warm and lighting your path makes early morning and dusky clearing sessions more bearable.
Here’s the part where I usually drop the needle on price and hem and haw about how you’re paying more but getting a machine that’s going to last longer and serve you better than a gas-powered model. But, honesty, $1,799 at retail is right in line with 24-inch gas-powered snow blowers. Yes, you can find cheaper…but not of the same quality. With a competitive price, it makes absolutely no sense to get a gas model, unless you have logistic reasons that you have to rely on gas, like if you have an extremely large area to clear of snow.
Even then…buy an extra pair of batteries and have them waiting in reserve and stop having to worry about all the troubles that come with gas-powered tools. Then, in the spring, you can get battery versions of EGO Power+ mowers and yard tools and use the same batteries to power them.
So why wait? Give your toolshed a battery-powered makeover now. Start by breaking up with your old snow blower. The EGO Power+ site has all the details (plus where to buy near you).