(Disclaimer: The Amazon links in this blog post are affiliate links, so I can make a few extra coins to help pay for a fraction of the cost to host this website. #CommissionsEarned)
The short answer is the EGO+ 21″ SNT2122 from Amazon.
Explanation
Do you have an old snowblower that needs to be replaced? Is it too big and heavy for you? Would you like something lighter? My dad is getting older in age and his snowblower is at least 20 years old. He lives in the south side of Chicago, so he gets a good amount of snow every year.
My brother and I did research on what would be good for a 70+ year-old. (and yes, we’d prefer he would use a snow service instead, but he likes clearing his driveway and sidewalk in the winter)
Or maybe this is your first snowblower. This advice will work for you too.
At first, we considered the handheld EGO model. POWER+ 12” Snow Shovel SSA1200 (Available at Amazon for $209—affiliate link)
But this handheld EGO model does NOT come with a battery. The batteries usually go for $200-$279 a piece. The standard charger is $100. The rapid charger is $160. Let’s
Cost of handheld snowshovel
If you buy one battery and this EGO model:
$209 (snowshovel) + $200 (battery) + $100 (charger) = $509But will you really clear your driveway and sidewalk on one battery? No. You’ll need two batteries.
$209 (snowshovel) + $200 (battery) + $200 (battery) + $100 (charger) = $709Teaser: if you buy a 21″ snowblower with two batteries and a charger, it’s $699.
It’s a bit surprising that the handheld model (with two batteries and charger) is $709. Whereas the actual snowblower with wheels (with two batteries and charger) is $699.
Seems like it might be a better idea to get the 21″ snowblower. I can see this handheld snowblower being hard to get snow away, because it has no wheels. The wheels take a lot of the work out of operating it. Your dad’s hands and arms will probably get tired and sore with holding a hand-held model. I’m 49 years old, and my arms get tired when I operate a weedwacker on my driveway. A weedwacker! Imagine trying to operate like a weedwacker, but it pushes snow. I’d be exhausted!
Wheels are good. A snowblower with wheels would be easier to operate.
The snowblower to get
Three years ago, I bought the EGO+ 21″ SNT2122. I love my EGO. It’s light and quiet. It gets the job done. My neighbor, who is 70+ years old (the same age as my dad), tried out my snowblower last winter. He loved it. He said he’s tired of pushing his big heavy snowblower around. He declared next winter he’s buying this model.
This EGO model continues to be a strong seller (via Amazon for $699. )
Batteries
- Uses two batteries.
- It does my driveway and the sidewalk, and sometimes I can do my neighbor’s driveway. All on the two batteries. (My driveway is long and wide—120 feet long, 15 feet wide. The apron opens up to 30 feet wide. I live in the west suburbs of Chicago, so we see a good amount of snow every year.)
Performance
- It’s light. Not a monster to push.
- It’s quiet. I’ve run it at 6 am with no worries about disturbing neighbors.
- I haven’t tried it with like 12 inches of snow. If you are a senior, I hope you aren’t out there clearing 12 inches of snow with ANY snowblower)
- Wet snow sometimes does get stuck. To dislodge the wet snow, I rock the snowblower back and forth. That usually knocks the snow out. (I don’t know if a steel auger would fix snow getting stuck.)
- It really cleans the snow off the driveway/sidewalk. My neighbor has one of those big metal-auger gas snowblowers. And he doesn’t get all the snow off the sidewalk. I can go out and run mine, and it gets all the snow off down to the bare sidewalk. It’s beautiful.
Plastic auger vs. steel auger
Prior to 2026, the $699 EGO snowblower had a plastic auger. This was model SNT2102. In 2026, EGO updated this model to have a steel auger. Same price. New model number is SNT2122.
The great news is that you get the steel auger for the same price of what a plastic auger used to cost. What a great upgrade!
Includes the batteries
I did the comparison of buying just the model, and then the batteries/charger separately. As you can imagine, you save money by buying the snowblower model package that comes with two batteries and a charger. I’m including prices only for the package.
- Ace Hardware $699
- The entire package (snowblower model, two batteries, charger)
- Usually arrives in two days
- Amazon $699
- The entire package (snowblower model, two batteries, charger)
- With Amazon Prime, usually arrives in two days.
I’m not sure which way your dad would want it. Delivered right to his doorstep, so he doesn’t have to lift it out of the car. Or have it sitting on his doorstep.
Links
Here are links to both Ace and Amazon, for both plastic and steel.
Plastic auger
- SNT2122 $699 https://amzn.to/4gAFnXm
- SNT2122 $699 https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/snow-removal-and-equipment/snow-blowers/7062633
The Amazon links are the official EGO store (not some third-party). If you do buy off Amazon, use my links. I get 4% of the purchase price. (and don’t let that sway you either way. If your dad wants Ace, that’s totally cool).
Love,
Matt
(Disclaimer: The Amazon links in this blog post are affiliate links, so I can make a few extra coins to help pay for a fraction of the cost to host this website. #CommissionsEarned)