Toro Power Clear Review

For an inexpensive single-stage gas snow blower, the Toro Power Clear 418ZE earns impressive reviews. An expert Toro Power Clear review on Snow Blowers Direct commends its power and ease of use. The company says this model performs best in up to six inches of snow, but users report it achieves at a higher level. Toro Power Clear reviews on Home Depot, for example, say it cuts through wet, heavy snow and clears down to the pavement. (Note: Single-stage gas snow blowers should be used only on smooth surfaces.) Deep, dense snow dumped by blizzards may require more than one pass and an occasional break to clear a clogged chute, according to Toro Power Clear reviews, but users aren't complaining. We did come across one minor gripe saying the rubber paddles can't pick up tightly compressed snow. Consumers' Toro Power Clear reviews on Snow Blowers Direct are also favorable; one reports using this snow thrower to clear more than a foot of snow on a pond to make room for skating. We read a few grousing comments about having to bend way down to reach the oil filter and electric start.

The Power Clear 418ZE features an 87cc engine with recoil and electric starts, the latter good insurance against sub-freezing temperatures and a boon to users who don't want to hassle with a pull-cord. (Users say the machine starts up easily, with one or two pulls, so the electric start is rarely necessary.) Like other inexpensive gas snow blowers, it has separate tanks for oil and gasoline; it holds 1.4 quarts of fuel. The 418ZE cuts an 18-inch path with a 12-inch intake (up to 1100 pounds of snow a minute) and shoots it as far as 25 feet. A proprietary "zip deflector" on the adjustable discharge chute lets you direct the snow high, low, or anywhere in between. This model sports six-inch plastic wheels and weighs 58 pounds, which one user asserts in a Toro Power Clear review on a consumer products website is light enough to carry up stairs.

The Power Clear 418ZE is a moderately-priced gas snow blower built for moderate amounts of snow, but one that rises to the occasion to perform better than the specs suggest. It clearly deserves a spot at the top of our list.