Let's be real...

First things first:  Let's be real about our selection of snow-throwers.  In all truth, MOST snow throwers people purchase are seriously underpowered.  People pay $100 less simply to find themselves laboring horribly over the back of a snow thrower instead of just paying the extra $100-$150 and getting something that will use the exact same amount of energy (or less) and will do all of the work FOR the person who purchased it.  And let's face it, that's the whole reason you buy a snow-thrower in the first place, isn't it?  You didn't purchase a snow thrower so you could stay out longer hours and get yourself stuck in the snow due to having what really just amounts as a larger and more complex shovel!  lol.  So seriously, when you are selecting a snow thrower, let's keep it as simple as possible, but let's keep it REAL.  You want something with the power to actually get the job done and you want something with enough size to actually tackle a heavy snowfall. 

Okay, I can't stop laughin, but seriously...  Seriously.  Southern states only!

Woah, don't hurt yourself out there with something too small!

Do NOT buy underpowered equipment!  After all, what costs more, you paying massive medical expenses for the rest of your life due to a fall or injury while removing snow, or a couple hundred dollars ONCE to avoid all that?  I think the answer is obvious.  So first, you need the power to remove what you need removed (likely 3HP for lighter snow and 4.5-5.5HP+ for heavier snowfall areas) and you need the ability to remove it (self-propelled so you're not shoving around a complex shovel using your strength - otherwise you'd be better off just using a shovel to be real about things here).  Also, don't mess around with a single stage.  They jam constantly and will only cause trouble in the long run, even serious injuries including loss of a hand or arm (yikes!).  So forget about single stage, get a two stage.  This way, you have one stage that chops and tosses the snow into the machine, and the second stage specifically dedicated to tossing the snow up and OUT of the machine.  Get a single stage and you'll see just how right I am!  You'll have snow falling back into the machine and jamming it up CONSTANTLY, particularly on those days when you have a lot of snow to remove. 

Like this here.  Sure it has "some" power, but it's SINGLE stage.  It WILL jam!

Lastly we deal with size in regards to clearing width and height.  Now while you can get away with a little in the area of height (but even then, this means repeatedly advancing and retreating with the snow thrower - a real waste of time and real pain), you can NOT avoid the width issue.  You want something that actually clears a walking path in one pass.  This means 18"+ width.  In truth, 24" would be even better and is ideal for nearly every situation.  It is quite large, without getting crazy, and that means fewer passes to clear that snow, which means less time out in the cold and more efficient work being accomplished.  And that is what it is all about - efficiency.  Now maybe you have a special case then and you need the 18" for a tight path or an area next to the garage?  But remember, NEVER use this as an excuse to save $50-$100 only to give yourself a LOT more work to perform and nearly twice as long in the cold.  Again I repeat, what is cheaper, a ONE TIME shot of $50-$100 added on, or a lifetime of medical bills (or worse)?  So let's keep perspective and keep things real.  Take care of yourself, take care of your family and take care of your life.  And you do this by being real about things and getting the appropriate tools needed to actually efficiently tackle what is otherwise a potentially dangerous job. You can find a great

Now that's more like it.  Self-propelled, 2 Stage, 4 Cycle and with some REAL power.

You can find two really decent, yet still below $900, machines right here:
24-27 inch, 208cc, electric start and 4 stroke - plus self-propelled, multiple speeds and a reliable chute that actually works! ha, so they're the top of entry level, but realistically a lot more than you should need, unless you're in a really, really heavy area, then you should be looking into something double wide, commercial, etc.

24inch - http://amzn.to/1Ojpr9d
27inch - http://amzn.to/1RsI2jg
Double-wide/Commercial - http://amzn.to/1Lu34IV

After all, like most jobs, snow removal is only as good and efficient as the tools you bring to the job.  And I'll tell ya, there's a LOT more that goes into this than just these few points here, and I'll be covering these points and going into greater depth in future posts, but for now this should give everyone something to think about in terms of what is a good or a bad idea in terms of a purchase when choosing the right beast for throwin snow.