Are electric snowblowers any good, or just a corded compromise?
Worth it, for moderate snow and a driveway near an outlet
The moment a shovel stops feeling like enough
You're standing at the door at six in the morning, coffee going cold in your hand, looking at snow burying the driveway you have to clear before work. The shovel is right there, and so is the ache in your shoulders from doing this by hand last winter. This is usually where people start asking whether electric snowblowers are any good, or whether they're just a cord and a compromise dressed up as a solution.
How a corded electric snow blower actually clears snow
The WSnow22 is a single-stage machine, which sounds like a downgrade until you watch what a single stage actually does. A steel auger, tipped in rubber so it grips snow and ice without chewing into asphalt or decking, spins directly against the ground and does two jobs at once: it scoops the snow and throws it, in one motion, through a chute you can swing 180 degrees. That's the whole mechanism, and it's why the machine sits under 35 pounds. There's no separate stage adding weight and moving parts, just one auger doing the collecting and the launching. Power comes from a 120-volt, 15-amp motor at the end of an extension cord, not a gas tank or a battery pack. That trade shows up in daily use two ways. First, there's no pull-cord, no fuel mixing, no charge sitting half dead in the garage: you plug in, press a button, and it runs as long as it's plugged in. Second, you're tethered to an outlet, which means your range is the length of your cord, not the size of your property. It's rated for a 13-inch depth pass, 22 inches wide, throwing snow up to 25 feet clear of the path you just cleared, which matters more than the number suggests: point that chute wrong and you're re-clearing your own driveway an hour later. Dual LED lights up front mean the dark early clear isn't done by feel.
So this isn't a machine bought to fight a blizzard, it's a plug-in tool built to keep a moderate snowfall from turning into a Saturday of shoveling. The auger and the cord are the same trade: less weight and less mess, in exchange for a leash back to the house.
Who the WSnow22 electric snow blower is for, and who should skip it
Worth it if
- your snowfall usually stays under a foot deep
- your driveway or walkway sits within reach of an outdoor extension cord
- you want a light machine you can lift, store, and start with one button
- you'd rather plug in than deal with gas or a battery
Skip it if
- you regularly get heavy, wet, or deep snow
- your driveway is long or far from an outlet
- you want to roam the whole yard without a cord in tow
- you need a heavy-duty two-stage machine for ice-packed drifts
Not for long driveways, heavy wet snow, or anyone who doesn't want a cord underfoot.
Is the WSnow22 worth it, or just a corded compromise
If your snow rarely gets past a foot deep and your driveway sits within reach of an outdoor cord, this is a quiet, sensible yes. If you're clearing heavy wet snow off a long rural driveway, or you don't want a cord in the equation at all, this isn't your machine, look at a two-stage gas or battery unit instead.
Picture the next snowfall: you plug in at the outlet by the garage, flip the chute toward the lawn instead of the neighbor's driveway, and walk a clear path in the time it used to take to warm up the shovel. No gas can to keep filled, no battery to remember charging the night before, just a cord and a button. It won't erase every kind of snow day, but for the ordinary ones, that's most of them, it turns a dreaded chore into a ten-minute errand before coffee.
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Before you go
Is it worth buying an electric snow blower?
It's worth it if your snowfall stays moderate and your clearing area is within cord reach; the trade for lower weight and no fueling is a tether to an outlet.
What are the disadvantages of electric snow blowers?
The main one is the cord itself: your range is limited to how far the extension cord reaches, and they're generally built for lighter, shallower snow than gas machines.
Who makes the best electric snowblowers?
Westinghouse, Toro, and Snow Joe are the names that show up most often in corded and battery electric models, each aimed at light to moderate residential snowfall.
Do electric snowblowers work as well as gas?
For deep, heavy, or wet snow, no, gas two-stage machines have more power; for routine falls under a foot, an electric single-stage machine like this one clears just as fast without the fueling.
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By the numbers
earn an unconditional yes at full priceOut of 132 home & garden products we have reviewed. This one is a yes with a condition attached.
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Full spec sheet
| Power Source | ac |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | electric |
| Voltage | 120 volts |
| Ideal Snow Depth | 13 inches |
| Maximum Throw Distance | 25 feet |
| Item Dimensions D x W x H | 46.5"D x 22.6"W x 37"H |
| Item Weight | 34.6 pounds |
| Clearing Width | 22 inches |
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