I tested DeWalt’s electric snow blower over the weekend – now my gas model feels like old school

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Living in Cleveland, winters can be brutal with lake effect snow and frigid temperatures. So in winter 2021, I bought myself one Troy-Bilt Storm 2420 Two stage snow blower. The model worked great until I took it out of the shed to prepare for the recent storm… and it wouldn’t start.

I struggled a lot with the pull cord before I remembered it had electric start. Yet a few minutes and an extension cord later, the sad, hard wheezing sound of a gas engine struggling to kick over was heard.

Since the storm had hit just a few days earlier and over a foot of snow was expected to fall, I didn’t have time to troubleshoot. Troubleshooting will include disassembling the engine, draining the fuel lines, and testing the wiring harness.

Also: Best snow blowers for unruly winter weather

And as my neighbors curiously peeked through their curtains and blinds to see me banging a piece of machinery in all sorts of ways to rapidly and violently take it apart, the bright yellow color came into view. DeWalt 60V Max Shined like a ray of hope from the back of my garage.

The DeWalt 60V Max appears to be sold out at Home Depot, but it is available here Ace Hardware and through granger.

Because it’s a single-stage model, I had some reservations about the 60V Max’s ability to handle more than a few inches of dry, powdery snow. And I was worried about the battery running out in the middle of my work. But DeWalt made some design choices that I’m glad to know.

Primarily, the company built the blower with an all-steel auger and incorporated electronic paddle controls for the debris chute.

Other single-stage models have manual shoot controls. This means that if you need to change the direction of your debris throw, you will have to stop what you are doing, turn the unit off, and then adjust the chute. And you have to do this every time you want to move the chute, which can be frustrating at best, but can be a nightmare if you’re trying to do the job in windy or bitter cold.

Also: Best extreme weather tech: Top Gear for power outages in a snowstorm

The DeWalt 60V Max has convenient paddle triggers to control shoot rotation, letting you instantly move debris downwards and away from you. You still have to manually adjust the ejection angle of the shoot, but it’s largely a “set and forget” adjustment.

As far as power goes, the model comes with two 60V batteries and a charger, letting you go from assembly – which only takes a few moments – to use in just a few hours. The control panel features battery-level indicator LEDs for each battery, so you can check at a glance how much power you have. DeWalt claims the 60V Max can tow a 32-car driveway on a full charge, and I’m highly inclined to believe them.

I have a typical suburban driveway that can comfortably accommodate six vehicles and has about 200 feet of sidewalk to maintain. With both batteries charged, I was able to completely clean my driveway and sidewalk sections twice, for a total of about 45 minutes of run time, before I even drained half their power.

And since I had so much energy to spare, I did what any other Midwesterner would do: I swept as many of my neighbors’ sidewalks and driveways as I could. I was able to clear the entire sidewalk on our side of the street, as well as two of the three driveways, before heading back to my house to recharge the battery.

Also: How to Choose a Snow Blower: The Ultimate Buying Guide for Winter Days Ahead

The DeWalt 60V Max has three power modes, including an eco-friendly battery-saver option, so your runtime may vary depending on which mode you use. Power mode can also be used to adjust your chute speed to handle heavy or dry snow. When you need to clear areas quickly, the eco-friendly mode works well with fresh powder, while the heavy-duty mode is great for wet, heavy snow and thin layers of sleet and freezing rain.

Like all other single-stage snow blowers, the DeWalt 60V Max does not have any type of self-propelled drive for the wheels. But the body of the unit is so light that it doesn’t require much muscle or effort to operate and control it. I can also physically pick it up – of course, using proper form – and carry it if necessary.

The batteries add a bit of weight, but even with both placed in the snow blower, it’s still surprisingly easy to reorient the entire machine.

My biggest complaint about the DeWalt 60V Max is that it doesn’t come packaged with a shot-clearing tool; you have to buy one separately. While this may not be a big deal, not including a tool that allows you to safely clear obstacles like packed snow and ice creates a safety hazard. Especially if an operator is in a hurry and rushes into a shoot without thinking while the unit is on.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

overall, DeWalt 60V Max The single-stage snow thrower is an impressive little unit. With three power modes, you can tackle different types of snow and extend your battery life. And electric chute controls make debris removal quick and easy.

The lightweight design makes it easy to navigate on winding and angled paths and uneven surfaces, such as inclined sidewalks. The all-steel auger is tough enough to handle any type of ice, small pieces of ice, and even sticks and other yard waste. And for about $1,000, you’ll get a snow blower, two batteries, and a charger, and countless mornings when you won’t freeze to death while manually clearing your driveway.