Ariens Platinum 30 SHO (30″) 414cc Two-Stage Snow Blower 921051

Stepping up from the smaller Platinum SHO brings you to the 921051: a 414cc engine turning a 30-inch clearing width, for a longer driveway or anyone who would rather make fewer passes in a storm. The SHO impeller tuning carries over, so the wider swath doesn't come at the cost of where the thrown snow ends up landing.

Managing the extra width

A 30-inch deck takes more effort to swing around than a narrower one, which is why Auto-Turn triggerless steering is built in, letting each side pivot without a hand lever. Drive runs through the Disc-O-Matic system into a set of gears sealed inside a cast iron case, and quick-turn chute control redirects snow without stopping the pass.

Working in the dark or cold

A halogen headlight covers early starts, and heated handgrips make a longer machine easier to run to the end of a storm. Electric start is standard, so there's no pull cord to fight once temperatures drop.

Before you buy

A 30-inch machine takes up more depth in a garage or shed than the narrower Platinum SHO, so it's worth measuring the storage space, especially if it will sit next to a car or other equipment over the summer.

How does this compare to the smaller Platinum SHO? Same engine family, impeller tuning, and controls, just scaled up with a bigger engine and a wider deck for more snow cleared per pass.

Tank, model, and coverage? A .8-gallon tank, model 921051, backed by a 3-year consumer warranty on this new unit.

Colour and intake height? It comes in the factory orange and black finish, and the intake opening is 21 inches tall.