Buying Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025

The bottom line: perfect for average storms between 4-8". Compared to a shovel, this blower will cut your time in half and save your back - it can even handle the crud at the end of the driveway if it's not too deep and you go slower. The cord takes some getting used to, but the light weight is a big advantage.

My driveway is a two-wide (20'x50'), and last year I could barely keep one side clear using a shovel - and I'm in good shape! The Toro allows me to clear the entire driveway in the same amount of time (or less), and have enough energy left to help my neighbors shovel out. I'm sure it will need more than one pass for storms over 8-10" (we're supposed to get a foot or more today), but we only get a few of those each year. For average storms between 4-8", this unit seems perfect.

The light weight is really nice - my driveway has a significant slope, and I wouldn't really trust a heavy gasoline-powered unit on that angle. On the other hand, the Toro can be driven with one hand, sort of like a household vacuum. I haven't tried it on my front steps yet, but I'm tempted to - out of the question with a gas unit.

Minor gripes: the "locking" mechanism is a joke, and I wish there was a normal On/Off switch in addition to the handle. The cord takes some getting used to, but once you have a workable system, it's not bad. It also would be nice if the unit had a light on the front - days are short this time of year, and the unit is already wired for electricity.

For me, this is the perfect solution for most Maine storms and will allow me to keep my whole driveway clear without being exhausted afterward. For the big stuff, I'll just make an extra pass whenever it accumulates 7-8" and finish the rest when the storm is over.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.