Best gas snow blowers for driveways

Top pick: Ariens Classic 24 two-stage. For a normal two- to three-car driveway it's the sweet spot: a 24-inch, 20-inch-tall housing clears a full pass, the 208cc engine handles wet, plowed-in snow, and electric start means no yanking a cord at 6am. Ariens is the brand most repair shops know best.

Who the others suit:

• Troy-Bilt Storm 2420 — same 24-inch class, a solid alternative if you want a familiar name and easy parts.
• PowerSmart / 24-inch 212cc two-stage — the budget route into a self-propelled two-stage; fine for light, regular snowfalls.
• Ariens Deluxe 24 — heavier build and more power for long, drifting driveways.
• Ariens Deluxe 30 / Troy-Bilt Storm 30 / 30-inch tracked — wide, deep rural drives and big banks; the tracked one grips slopes.
• Toro SnowMaster 24 — single-stage speed for smaller, flatter drives and quick cleanups.
• Toro Power Clear 21 — light, easy to store, best for a one-car pad and light snow.

Skip single-stage machines if you get heavy, icy or plowed-in snow — go two-stage.