Do you own any battery equipment like this around your home? Be sure to check out my 2 years later review of my Tesla Model 3 ... I had some interesting things happen. ruclips.net/video/Q2GhoDQa6tA/видео.html
I've was in the Industry for 30+ yrs. Electric Snowblowers at this point are actually only good for Powdery conditions anything more and either they won't work worth a crap or you will diminish their life expectancy drastically. The best units for the Northeast is minimum 5 hp 2 stage but 8hp 2 stage will get through almost anything including heavy snow if you take time. Bigger better applies to Snow since you just never know what it will be heavy or lite. But here's a tiny bit help that many miss. On most all Gas powered Snowblowers you have 2 wheels BUT most of the time they come set-up for 1 wheel drive. You actually need to look and make sure the hubs both have drive pins, 1 will actually be bolted already. Also always have spare auger pins in case of shearing them which will happen sooner or later. Anyone with health issues ot wants less messing issues get an electric start option. And finally I've personally owned and given away 6 units over my life in the NE areas. Out of all those units which are still being used total out of pocket maintenance cost is less than $100 for all 6 to date going back upwards of 25-30 yrs of use. Very little off year maintenance just some gas additive and a occasion start helps. Hope this helps anyone still up there. Luv Y'all
I've made mindful investments into both Ryobi and Ego, so I own all Ryobi hand tools and garden tools (trimmer, edger, hand tools). For Ego, I own a lawn mower, the Power+ Snow Blower (single stage), a 14" chainsaw, and a portable 3KW power block. The snow blower is more of a snow thrower as compared to your two stage, but I've been able to clear my 2 car wide, 3 car deep driveway and sidewalk on one charge. In no way have those snows been as big as the one in your video. The power block helped keep the kitchen fridge and sump going during a 10 hour outage last winter, and was invaluable when two of my friends were out several more days but required that I do evening runs to their houses to pickup, charge and return batteries. The chainsaw is fantastic, and only requires cleaning, adding chain oil and quick chain tension adjustment during use. And the lawnmower has been my favorite purchase for years now, typically able to mow a 1/4 acre on one 3Ah battery. My property has another 1/4 acre of wooded area with dead trees that needs to be reclaimed for lawn. When the lawn is ready, I'll be pricing out an Ego Zero Turn riding mower. Right now it's about $5k, which doesn't compared favorably to just replacing the my current mower with a self-propelled 21" dual port that comes with 2x5Ah batteries for ~$800. I can get a power wall instead! Thanks Matt!
I have a 20yo gas powered huge 2stage snowblower, over the years I've had to fix or replace almost everything on it; last winter I was again having carb problems but then the electric starter motor also died, and I needed something asap to get thru the rest of that snow season ....so over the years I'd gone battery or corded on all my other lawn tools(corded Sunjoe tiller, chainsaw, power washer, and detacher/verticutter; then just Greenworks 80v Pro battery mower, backpack leafblower, string trimmer/edger, hedge trimmer ...but obviously not the top-of-the-line best stuff you can get today) so thought I'd just grab Greenworks' lowest cost 80v battery snowblower - I figured it would be horrible on my very long 86 squares(most people only have like 12) sidewalk and double driveway - but surprisingly it did it! and now this winter I'm still using it instead of the gas/oil big one ...yes I do have to change batteries, yes the single stage chute does clog with slush, no it is not driven so I have to push it, yes it is very hard to get thru the snowplow pile at the end of the driveway - but heck, it still gets the job done; and much easier to use, no maintenance, simple to store and saves space, quicker to start and run with no guesswork on if it will, no sloppy refueling or running out and having to go buy more, and I can pick it up and carry it around(to do my big back deck for the dogs) where it took 3 guys to barely be able to load my old one into a truck to get it fixed as much as the old gas one cuts thru everything with ease and power(including always having to help out the neighbors) it is a complete pain to use and a year round hassle; I don’t need to have my life centered around having the best snowblower when 90% of the time I only have to quickly do 2”~6” of snowfall occasionally 2 months out of the year... the rare times I suddenly get over a foot(which has happened this year) I’ll just run out there and give it a fast pass before it all comes down(that’s what the lights on it are for btw, so you can hit it at night) and then I have no problem giving that second run in the morning....plus for just the little battery one(which I already have the juice for with compatible packs) it cost 10X less than the huge old one: before all the maintenance, upkeep, fueling, and effort I used to have to do .... if I break one every 3 years, I will still be ahead
These types of high energy consumption devices should have a plug-in option too. Not saying I would want to use it plugged in all the time. But it gives you that ability in a pinch to finish that last 10-15 percent when the battery dies out. I used to mow my neighbor's lawn for her using her plug-in lawn mower. The thing worked fine. And with proper technique, you didn't have to worry about running over the cord.
After using a service for a couple of years I bought this snowblower I'm a 74 year old woman with a pacemaker I found the snowblower easy to use with no vibration I should also mention that I live in southern Ontario Canada So far this year it has been fantastic Easy to use and cuts like a hot knife through butter I was able to clear my driveway an two others using half of the battery life we had about 6 inches of snow Fantastic I would recommend it even though it cost $2000 Canadian
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies A lot of Southern Ontario is in the snow belt. I am. Environment Canada says my average yearly snowfall is just over 4m. Well over 13'. Now what?
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies This year has been a strange one. Even us in the Okanagan Valley in BC has gotten a ton of snow and minus 26 weather for days on end. Has warmed up considerably but much of the snow and ice is lingering
I agree...I inherited my dad's Ariens 824 that he bought in 2003. I get it tuned up every other winter and it runs like a champ...also live in Wisconsin so it has been put to the test many of times 👌
I bought a snowblower for 100$ a few years back and it has been pretty easy to keep going... if I wanted to speed 1000s I would just get an ATV and plow
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
The cells inside a pack cost maybe $125, total manufacturing cost for one should be around $150. I don't know how much stuff this company sells, but they could probably lower the markup on replacement batteries if they'd sell in higher volumes.
@@w0ttheh3ll Cells inside for two 56V 7,5Ah batteries(that is only 0,84 kWh) cost only 100 $, manufacturing maybe MAX 40 $, so 140 $ all together for two batteris. The rest is their profit (660$ of profit).
Getting up at 5 am to clear two feet of wet snow so you can simply leave the house in two hours isn't as "romantic" as it sounds. 40 years of doing it winter after winter, tells me that. It's all relative, I suppose. That being said, go after your goals.
After delayed snow clearance by a contracted service I decided to purchase a snowblower for the first time. I used other reviews and chose the Ego 2 stage. Found a refurbished unit for about $1100 with full warranty. I have found your reviews to be reliable and hoped you were not going to find too many downsides. I feel even better about my choice now for South Dakota winters and the deep piles left by plows. The extra cost is worth it to me to not have gasoline and oil stored in the garage. I also own other Ego equipment.
Batteries have their place imo. My 25 year old MTD 8/26 with an 8hp tecumseh still fires up and runs great. If you can get 25 years out of those batteries than that’s impressive lol.
I have a 1991 MTD 5/24 that I just repowered this year with a used Tecumseh 8hp. Good machine and I love the trak drive system. That's why I still have it.
@justin. I'm guessing you do maintenance on your snowblower. I know my dad takes his in for maintenance so even though I know my batteries won't last 25 years I will spend less than my dad does on maintenance for his gas powered Ariens than buying another set of batteries.
@@jeffreyjohnson3225 Eh, hard to say. Over the course of 25 years, considering its 400 a battery how many will you go through in 25 years? Also the batteries may simply stop being produced as things change. Then what? You have obsolete batteries you can't replace. The very power source. A gas blower? well, aside from the typical maintenance any blower goes through (blades, bearings, corrosion, broken plastic) it would only suffer maintenance on the engine, oil changes, filter changes, spark plug. Not all that much considering these costs are small as opposed to a big 400 dollar bill when you batt dies. Then theres the question about the motor itself, how long do the diodes and windings last on that? The electrical, will the solder vibrate and separate causing electrical issues down the road? A typical gas snowblower is a known design, its simple and thats an engineers dream, working efficiently with the most simple design. These new battery operated Snowblowers are relatively new and we haven't the long term research yet to see how reliable they really are. When batteries become more dense in energy storage maybe it'll become a better option
@@sacr3 that makes perfect sense. I know I have had my other ego stuff for 5 years which they have not changed the battery design so far and they are still working strong. I agree with everything you say and I know you have an extra benefit than myself since I don't do maintenance on my own and don't really want too and I know my dad Spends about 100 every year to 2 years on his blower. With that being said here is hoping I don't run into any of the stuff that could possibly happen with electric but as of right now if it doesn't than i am happy I went with it. Snojoe on the other hand has changed the designs of there battery and that would suck. Ego has the same design. I hope they stay with the same design but technology changes all the time. Even if things break or I can't get replacements in 10 years and I have to replace it. I'm fine with that. 2 electric in 20 years.... Still less than my dad pays. Lol Like you said. "Only time will tell"
Matt - one thing you can tell your viewers that will help them maintain and get the most out of their batteries is to keep them inside (or in a heated garage). I had a brain fart and had my 40V Ryobi snowblower batteries in my unheated garage last year and power/range was significantly reduced. After I came inside and thawed out and realized what I had done. Now that they are stored/charged in my basement all is well. Appreciated the review! EGO seems to have great products. I was buying Ryobi stuff before they are out so I have some brand stickiness with them but always considering moving to EGO.
Bought the Ego 21" Self Propelled lawn mower 2 years ago. Loved it. Bought the Ego leaf blower and the Ego string trimmer last summer. Love them. This winter I am seriously considering switching to an Ego snowblower. To be honest, the price of any Ego product in Canada is pretty steep, but as I age I put more and more value on "ease of use" and "ease of maintenance". Thanks for your candid review 👍
Totally agree. I'm from MN, so I know snow. A few years ago I started switching over to Ego stuff, and got my hands on a used Ego snowblower. I was surprised how good of a job it did. Other thing is that it's relatively light weight compared to all the other snowblowers I've used all my life. No oil changes, no spark plug changes, no non-starts when it's -20, no need to get it tuned up, etc. I thought the torque would be bad, but it's just not, the thing throws. However, as the batteries wear down it doesn't throw as far so I simply did the areas first that I need to throw the snow the furthest and work my way toward the outsides of the driveway, etc. It all depends how heavy the snow is and the amount as to how long the batteries will last before needing a recharge. Another benefit is how quiet it is. This is my first year away from MN in the winter, so my sister is using it this year, and while she hasn't gotten a lot of snow this year she has had to use it and has commented on how easy it is to use and how well of a job it does.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I lived in Maine for twenty years, so even though I now live in Florida I can appreciate your comments. The battery life may not be as big as issue as some think, I couldn't do all of the snow clearing when I lived in Maine using the snow blower, there was still substantial shovel work. Porches, steps, and decks still need to be cleared. The battery recharge can be done while doing other tasks. There is one other factor that starts to be more important as one gets older. I have an 80v kobalt chain saw and a 40 volt leaf blower. I find their battery life is just about as long as mine. I need breaks to recharge my reserves now that I've gotten older and I don't mind sitting down for a bit with a beverage while waiting. It's a good excuse to watch a little golf while waiting 😏
I laughed at your comment about breaks. In my late 20s, I hand shoveled our driveway and walkways. No problem at all. Now in my 60s with a riding, a self propelled, and a small electric snow blower, I take breaks. Plus, there is recovery time at the end.
This is my first winter in Maine after 25 years in the desert southwest. I bought the EGO 2-stage. I'm 70 years old. We just had our 5th snowstorm, this last one was 8" of heavy wet snow. This EGO did great, no oil, no gasoline, no noise. When the batteries are done, so am I. They take 2 hours to recharge, I take 2 days! Bottom line so far, I love this machine.
I totally relate. But snow is a different animal. I get anxious leaving it there overnight and if the storm is late in the day that becomes an issue for me. Will it rain a little? Will it freeze? Will the wind create more drifts? IMHO, they need to come up with a battery that can be recharged in an hour without affecting battery longevity which I've read is an issue with fast charging. Or sell me new batteries for $100 so I can afford enough backups.
Does Ego work with Greenworks pro batteries? I’ve enjoyed every greenworks pro item except the snowblower. It’s kinda shitty construction. Nothing to do w the battery.
Except for the chainsaw. It works ok...fine for a suburbanite, but it's nothing compared to a stihl or husky..gas or electric. It is however, cheaper than both though.
I bought my stage 1 EGO snowblower about 2 years ago and I love it. I am a little lady having a 3 doors garage and do the snow all by myself. It’s been a lifesaver for me.
Lubricate the snowblower chute and blades with vegetable oil prior to using. That helps, especially with wet snow which tends to clump and clog the chute. For big snowstorms, greater than 16", it's best to clear the driveway twice, once mid-storm, but even the single-stage snowblower can get through deep snow too! Two of my 3 properties have driveways longer than 100 feet. I have multiple batteries and swap them out of the charger as needed. I can shovel as fast as the blower but, with so much to do, it's a relief having the blower too. Love my Ego tools: old single-stage snowblower, lawnmower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, and lawn edger. Being from Buffalo, I too know snow!
@@funiwant I keep a bottle of vegetable oil in my shed expressly for oiling tools, so I don’t have to run out and buy an additional product, it’s readily available and very inexpensive. I also avoid using toxic materials, and products which generate unnecessary amounts of waste, whenever possible. You’re absolutely correct that spraying silicone is less messy, but I also avoid exposing myself, and others and the environment, to toxic material in the air, which I will breathe while applying, and on my fingers, which could end up in my food or my children’s food. These are minor exposures but accumulate over a lifetime and should be avoided. Just to share the logic of my madness :-).
"light snow" - so what. Do a real test, on city snowplow dump of wet snow at the end of the driveway - after you've driven over it with a medium sized car at least once and after the slush and snow have been sitting there for at least 8hrs.
@@01mustang05 Even my 4-cycle gas-powered snow blower struggles with that. How about asking a fair-minded question, like can it handle 6 inches of wet snow?
@@moonrich3492 Really? My nearly disabled neighbor and his 4-stroke 2-stage with power steering doesn't struggle with that. I've used it for an entire season a couple years ago and it did all the work while I mainly just steered the thing. You admit that such conditions as I've stated exist ("Even my 4-cycle gas-powered snow blower struggles with that."), yet you imply criticism by stating "How about asking a fair-minded question"; you lack good judgement and your said snowblower must not be good enough, just like the electric snow blower in question.
I've had a Toro gas powered snow blower for about 25 years, still going strong with no issues. The batteries are a big part of the cost of an electric model and I doubt they will last anywhere near that long. The EGO battery has a 3 year limited warranty
There are A LOT of these battery snow blowers being sold on the secondary market because many people find it takes 2-3 charges to completely clear their drive ways after a heavy snow fall. Then the batteries are almost completely worn out after 2-3 years of use and have to be replaced for nearly the price of a brand new blower. It's a similar situation when it comes to lawn mowers. It takes at least two batteries to mow an avg. sized lawn, and the batteries may have to be replaced after ~3 years if you mow frequently because they degrade quickly.
@@Hotsparks66 I could have used one 7 or 8 years ago when I lived over in Garland (DFW Metroplex) as we got over a foot of snow. But on the other hand by the next morning it was all gone anyway. So $1300 to save waiting 24 hours once is a decade is a bit steep. :)
I’ve lived in Canada for a period, ...but I’m a Brazilian Living in Brazil hahaha Thing is - I picked this video because I found it curious lol 🤷♂️ Maybe it’s because I had to shovel snow and I know how awful it is 😆
I'm using a 1977 Ariens 8 horsepower 2 stage snow blower. All I put in gasoline, frequently change the engine oil and grease the auger. The machine is a beast and is in exceptional shape. The machine was my father's,bought new, now its mine. It's 45 years old and still running great. Do you really think a battery snow blower will last 45+ years?? Not to mention two batteries plus two spare batteries at 400 dollars every 5 years make buying a 1400 dollar electric snow blower absolutely foolish.
I have two Ariens as well, a 24 and a 30 and I really like them both. But I don't love the oil changes and the carb cleaning and I am hopeful that the next gen of battery snowblowers will be better.
Thanks for the informative review of the two-stage model E-Go blower, which is a tempting step up from the single-stage E-Go snowblower that I've had for three years now. Living in Maine, we certainly get our share of snow. I usually have to use a shovel to break up the hard-packed snow left by the snowplow, but then I can clear it and anything else with the E-Go. Most jobs I can do on a single charge, though I can overheat the batteries at times after a half hour or so and then have to wait for them to cool down. There's certainly some sacrifice in terms of power compared to my neighbors' gas-powered machines, but not polluting or smelling of gas, not having to refuel the thing, nor do any maintenance whatsoever, is a fair trade-off in my mind. And since I charge the E-Go batteries using solar electricity, it's nice to know that I'm using the sun to clear snow off my driveway.
I've just switched my equipment for work to Ego and I love the blower, yes you do need batteries it's cheaper to just buy the equipment I think then the battery but the mower what I like is the fact that you can slow down your forward speed which means that you get more cuts per inch snow throwing in your case I can't wait to try out the lawn mower next year. There is a pro battery pack which will last 8 hours. You have so much more control, while blowing a customer's driveway it's not a problem just walk into that garage which you can do with a gas blower but you have to be quick because I have set off the fire alarm. What I found is that when you are using them all day less noise and gas fumes just makes your day so much better
the price is typical of battery powered lawn and property care . My son in law let me use his Stihl string trimmer . i threw it on the ground after about five minutes of it NOT being able to get through tall grass and the battery going dead within minutes . This was a new machine with fully charged batteries and considered the premier machine in its class . battery powered lawn care machines are worthless.
@@siriosstar4789 Battery may not be appropriate for a pro, but it is FANTASTIC for a homeowner, I have a chain saw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, and blowers. No worry at all about some godforsaken small gas engine being a bitch. The only gas tools I have are a lawn tractor and big Stihl BR600 blower for spring and fall cleanup.
@@siriosstar4789 battery powered lawn care items are better suited for suburban home owners. I have an electric craftsman trimmer that has a 5.6 Amp Hour battery that gets me through the lawn in 1 charge. I do not think electric will work with commercial property and larger property.
@@grilledcheese2419 yes , for light work they are great but for all day work in thick grass/ weeds , it's not practical ,,,yet . Maybe the power will get better in the future .
I spent $120 for my used 1985 Snapper snowblower and love this thing. It's super easy to maneuver and maintenance is also super simple. I bet mine outlast yours and it's already almost 40 years old. But hey to each their own.
@Jay Browne congrats but I never started how old I am. I bought my snowblower used. So your math says I'm over 80? Your math certainly doesn't add up! Oh I have several snow shovels to, so now how old am I?
@@t3chninja_official Jay didn't say anything about how old your are. He said he was under 80. That's all. Where you see math in that answer is a complete mystery; but why you have several mystery shovels since you can only use one at a time, perhaps it's your math that's suspect! Stick to the what was said not what you think was said and life will be a whole lot smoother.
@@crinolynneendymion8755 Well the reply was to to me an I took it as being made fun of by reading between the lines. If that's not their intentions, my bad. My response was a smart-ass one but you failed to read between the lines. So try to keep up! Anyway back to the subject in the video....
Nicely done and thorough video. I believe I will stick with my Troy-Built I got last year here in NE Ohio. $750 and no cost for extra batteries. It is a beast that goes through whatever the plow can push into the end of my driveway with no problem. I do mine and my neighbor's sidewalks, and one neighbor's driveway in addition to my own (she had surgery and shouldn't be out there shoveling). I have nothing against electric devices if the move is parallel or an improvement. The double cost of the blower, plus additional cost for spare batteries is a deal breaker.
I use a used Ariens like yours Put a impeller kit on it. Tears thru snow. I love the sound of a gas engine. I can tune it up for next to nothing. $400 battery? woah
The Ariens I own has served me well for the past 12 years here in Boston area until this season when it started to act up. Many online reviews for electric blowers are a mixed bag. While I am still on the fence, your review is definitely the most informative one for me and answered many of my questions. Given how fast technology evolves nowadays, I think I will wait till the fall before making the final decision. Thanks so much for the review!
So if the gas snow blower cost 1,000 dollars and lasted 12 years so far than your cost per year is less than $100.00. I have never used even close to 5 gallons of gas in a year clearing so, so the cost of gas is almost nothing.
Last winter, I upgraded from a shovel to a small plug-in SnowJoe blower. It is limited mostly by the length of my extension cord, so that will be my big purchase this year. Plug in is way cheaper than battery operated, but you do have to manage the cord. All in all, it was a great bang for my buck.
I have a 100' driveway with a good width in parts. I tried the Sno Joe but in the end I think it took me longer. You always have to reposition it to throw the snow and manage the cord. It's not that helpful for below 3" a push shovel is better and above 6" it's tough going. Also hard to work in windy conditions where the snow can only be blown in one direction - and I could only blow one way, because the other way went directly into my neighbors driveway. Generally couldn't blow that far in the wide sections. About the only thing I can say about it, is that it was better for my back, but still there was some heavy pushing. Fortunately my back is better now and I'm just sticking with the shovel. I do a lot of hand plowing and not lifting.
If this is your only battery operated yard tool, then it's a potential downside. But it can cover a surprising amount of space before needing to charge.
@@UndecidedMF if I were to invest in their batteries, and run a host of tools, what's the likely hood they switch to an all new system when I'm all in. I've been burned before on hand tools, 9.6v, 12v,14.4v,20v... that's my worry with evolving tech.
@@treborheminway3814 We may never know until it happens but if you are not familiar with Ego one of their biggest claims is that every Ego battery can be used in every Ego tool. They currently all have the same physical design and are all 56 volt batteries. Even their newest 1O Ah battery which is larger than all previous version will fit in all their tools. You could even take the battery out of the Ego string trimmer and and put it into the new Ego zero turn mower. Many other brands have batteries that are specific to a certain tool. If you do switch and that is your concern I would say that Ego may be your best best. I made the switch and so far couldn't be happier but time will tell.
@@UndecidedMF I've purchased nearly all the milwaukee outdoor products vs ego except for the 7.5 amp ego lawn mower. I went back and forth between the ego 18 inch vs the milwaukee 16 inch chainsaw. I am glad I purchased the milwaukee as I have 4 12 amp batteries and 4 9 amp batteries. I only had one 7.5 ego battery. I found out how quick the chainsaw likes to drain or thermally overheat the batteries so I am switching every 10-15 minutes. I feel like the ego may have been better but the singular battery and waiting to charge is the biggest factor if you already are on a system to stay in that system.
I bought the EGO 2 stage snow blower to replace a gasoline one. Got to use it today, and it out-performs my old one, besides being lighter and easier to handle. Best purchase I have made in a long time. I also have the EGO self propelled lawn mower, and love it too. EGO is the way to go :)
The best thing about this technology is not smelling like gasoline exhaust after using the snowblower. And gas snowblowers are seriously heavy. Using one is a workout, even though it's self propelled. If this is a lot lighter, that alone is worth it.
You like, a soyboi or something? dude could not finish the driveway on 2 batteries and... calling that a driveway is being generous... that's NOTHING rofl... half the driveway was cars...
I’ve got the smaller single stage and I love it. I, like you, have multiple tools so I have multiple batteries to use. I live in Pennsylvania, and we get multiple snow storms a year. The 2 stage would be better and I think not having to worry about storing, buying and using gas and oil and the other maintenance ever again is great. My batteries have lasted for years in my mower mowing a large yard. I like to fiddle with small engines and don’t mind doing maintenance and small repairs to carberators, etc, but I’m never going to do it again. This is too easy, clean, and efficient to ever deal with the gasoline engines again.
I have the Ego backpack blower that I use on light snowfalls in colder weather as it is not great with wet snow. It works well while it is running, but I usually only get 15 minutes before the battery dies which is often not enough.
I’ve been waiting for a quality video on this new 2-stage Ego. I’m very interested in it and you answered the exact questions I had. Thanks as always for a great video and objective review!
I live in Minnesota, and have a pretty big driveway. I run the auger at the lower speed and it still throws the snow farther than my 2 stage gas one ever did. I have never ran the batteries dead, in fact there are usually two bars left lit on the battery when done.
I’ve owned several gas two stage blowers and currently own the EGO single stage blower for the past 5 years. What a difference! No fumes, no maintenance, hardly any noise. My seasonal storage routines exist of carrying it to the basement and back to the garage. Power is incredible. I have plenty of other EGO equipment too, so that does help. I’m capable and have for years done all my maintenance on all my past gas machinery/vehicles. It’s just I have more of my life now to do the things that matter rather than maintaining everything. Electric power equipment has improved my lifestyle immensely.
I live in MN, so winters are not battery friendly, so I keep my batteries indoors. When I need to use the snowblower, I walk out with warm batteries and the batteries don’t really get hold before I am done. Granted I have a driveway I can clear in 30-60 minutes. I have had batteries die when stored in my garage in the winter, so that is another reason not to store them in the cold.
Bespoke battery prices can be obscene. I purchased my mother a very lightweight O2 concentrator from Inogen for $2,500 because the company that was supposed to supply her one through Medicare had it back ordered for over 9 months. I thought it was worth it to allow her more mobility. But the cost of extra batteries was obscene. They sold regular batteries for $300 and double batteries for $500. I bought a single extra battery and then bought a 20,000 mah battery bank that I could plug the AC adapter into. But it would only run the machine for maybe 90 minutes. We got stuck in an access a ride cab when NYC got paralyzed by a surprise 3" of snow. It took us 8 hours to get home. All the batteries had been charged when we left, but she ran out of power on all of them. She bought 2 double batteries the next day. Fortunately they were on sale and only cost her $700. She was doing rehab at a nursing home and needed to use her O2 concentrator and had a hard time charging all her batteries in the machine. So I bought her a $250 external battery charger. She passed a way less than 2 weeks later. So today, in my hall closet is $4,000 worth of an O2 concentrator and extra batteries with an external charge. But because it is medical equipment I am not allowed to sell it or donate it. It will come on handy when I am older. I'll be 55 in a couple of weeks and never smoked. So they are liable to be in my closet a long time.
How''s that? The only real wear item - the battery - is easily replaced. Storing gasoline engines reliably for half the year is a PITA. I'd take the ego over a gasser if I needed one. Thank goodness where I'm at in the mid-atlantic big snow are pretty rare.
@@02hreblue30 What about them? Replacing one is still cheaper than taking a gasoline fouled engine in for service. Never mind not having to deal with gasoline or oil in your garage or storage shed. I admit I was VERY skeptical, but after showing several RUclips videos like this to a friend who lives in PA he picked up an Ego blower and is over the moon happy with it. I have a little electric Snow Joe - if I was going to replace it I'd replace it with one of these in a heartbeat. I may be replacing my gas mower this year with an Ego. I'm tired of messing with gas and the Ego folds up and stores a lot more compactly.
@@DocNo27 I have had TWO Toros for 15 years each and done nothing but put fuel stabilizer in them and start them routinely. I have electric starts and rarely use it. Still maintenance on electrics with belts etc. I have NEVER spent 400 on any service ever. Only service ever was for a front gasket on the transaxle
I live in the south, so a snow blower has never been needed here. I own the EGO Mower, Leaf Blower, and String Trimmer. I LOVE them all. The Mower came with the larger battery, and will mow my front and side yards (I don't have grass in my back yard). My lot is .75 acre with about half of it covered in grass. The Blower was able to clear leaves from my grassed areas on a single charge of the large battery that came with my Mower. The String Trimmer works great, and I tend to use it with the smaller batteries that came with the Blower and the Trimmer. No problems with it. I have the Carbon Shaft version.
I have it. I absolutely love it. It's perfect for New Jersey weather. Nearly all of my lawn care products are Ego so I have plenty of batteries. It is pricey but I think it's worth it. I think it's great if you commit to Ego and have more than one set of batteries on hand.
The biggest problem with snow removal is operator error. Whether it be a snow blower, shovel, broom or plow there is a little common sense needed. I watch a neighbour struggle with a single stage blower which I recovered from the trash the next day. The next storm I brought it back over and did a demonstration and he was amazed. He hadn't unboxed his new one yet and returned it.
I have a 30+ year old Sears gas snowblower. When I got it Sears offered a five year service contract ($300'ish) which included an on site tune up each year. After the five years were up Sears offered to renew that service contract for about $350'ish, and I jumped to re-sign. After 10 years they had dropped that service so every year I get it serviced - oil change, belts tightened and so forth - privately. About three years ago I asked the service guy, who is probably older than I am, if my machine was on it's last legs. He told me that he doubted that I could get the quality and size of mine for less than $2000. I figure with the annual service fee and gas for the winter season it costs me about $100 a year to keep the old thing running. At the price of that electric one and the stupidly high price for batteries I think that I'll keep the gas snow blower for as long as I can.
I live in Canada and already own 2 other EGO products(the LM2135SP mower and the ST1623T Trimmer). I just loooooove their products and, like you mentioned briefly, the torque is quite impressive on those electric tools. I stumbled onto your video as I'm looking to change my gas snow blower and was looking for a 2 stage electric one. Hold and behold, EGO makes one too and your "review" helped me decide into getting one, regardless of the steeper higher price. That being said, one point I'd like to comment on .. and you made it sound like a "negative" aspect of the snow blower. You stated that your driveway is 16'x42' and that when you tested the blower you had received 15" inches of snow with 24" inches at the entry point. In my book and if you ran out of power 5 minutes before completing the task, the blower performed ADMIRABLY in those conditions. Personally, I'm used to getting out more than once during a major snowfall and this to remove some of the accumulated snow just so that even with my gas powered blower, I don't have too much snow to deal with in one single time. If i were to get and use the EGO blower and keeping that philosophy in mind, I could recharge the batteries during that "intermission". Just a thought. Thanks for a great review though.
I really appreciate this video. In my view, it's as good as it gets. I have the same Ego products that you have and I'm very happy with them. If I had any reservations about getting this snow blower, you took care of them nicely. Thanks again!
That's a good review. I was looking at cordless electric snow blowers as a quieter alternative to our 20 year old Craftsman gas blower. It is not as big a deal now that I am retired, but it was disappointing when I would have to clear the driveway (and the berm!) by hand when I had a snow blower. The snow depth review was great as well. Most of our snow is like your range, but we occasionally get more than two feet. A storm 2 years ago dumped 40 and a fraction inches in just over a day, shutting down Flagstaff altogether as the plows worked on clearing enough to provide emergency services. Similarly, we get our share of wet snow; it sounds like the Ego handles it as well as my current firebreather does. I wax the chute regularly, which helps. Battery life is not a top concern. I now look for excuses to take a break in about the time frame I would expect the batteries to last. While I was working (and subject to 24/7/365 callout, which was common in winter) it could have been a deal-breaker.
I bought the Ego SNT2405 2-Stage snow blower Thursday. I never had a snow blower before and I live in NJ. We just got walloped with Snow Blizzard Keenan. I have a driveway that’s about 6 cars long and 3 cars wide. Holy hell this blower was a beast. In 25 minutes time I cleared most of the driveway and a 60 ft walkway and still had green light. I only stopped because I needed coffee. Forget gas this blower is a beast.
I'm very happy with my EGO 2 stage snowblower. It easily does my driveway, nearly 200 feet of sidewalk, and my nearly 500 Sq ft patio with battery charge to spare. Based on my experience, the reviewer should have easily been able to do 14" of snow on his driveway on one set of batteries. The key is to leave the auger on the eco setting. That setting easily handles everything except the plowed-in end of the driveway - you kick it up to turbo just for that. Doing things this way should net you 45-60 minutes of runtime on two 7.5 mAh batteries, depending on how much snow you're moving. More than enough for most residential properties.
Hey Matt, I know this is an old video but wanted to say thanks for it, Being up here in Rochester we generally get pretty decent snow. I just replaced MY last piece of gas equipment with a Ryobi 2 Stage. Its massive and so sweet. Benefit is, now that I bought it I am guarenteed that we will not have any real snowfall for at least 3-4 years. Its a known thing. Anyway, just got my new snowblower and came across this video.
Used this Ego for first time today. It is literally insane how nice this thing is. Lighter, faster, more powerful, quieter. I mean wow. So each to kick up the speed of the ejector or walk speed. So easy to change directions and angle on the thrower. Much more so than anything I have used. Almost a joy to use.
I'm looking into buying my first snowblower as I'm 53 now with a total of 7 surgeries on both legs, and a weaker by the year lower back. I was looking at the same snowblower here in Nova Scotia, Canada. I, like you live right in a bend so I get stupid amounts of snow from plows, it's not unusual to get snow banks between 2 and 4 feet high. I don't mind paying a steep price for the right equipment, as long as it works well and can last a few years. The same snowblower here is $2200 + taxes (CAD of course), but after watching your video, I'm convinced that even though it pretty steep, that this will be the snowblower for me. Thank you for your video, you've help me tremendously, I had no idea which snowblower to get before your video. I can't say I'm looking forward to the next snowfall because I hate winter with a passion, but at least it will make it tolerable now. Cheers!
I haven't used the snow blower in a few years but I have used I'll walk behind from 14 in all the way up to a tractor mounted one at 16 ft. I honestly have never had an issue really handling them and they've always done extremely well in a Canadian winter. I can't say I've used electric at this point other than my e-bike and that does terrible battery wise
My Ariens is 4 years old and has been used twice. It never starts when I need it (like today). I am taking it to my local dealer to sell it tomorrow. My neighbors Briggs & Stratton starts every time.
@@nodak81 I have the single stage EGO and I've NEVER had to quit snow removal because its "underpowered". MY neighbor had a small, electric powered, snow blower and YES it was just too underpowered to remove anything but 1 or 2 inches of snow. Don't know the brand name. SO...some electric powered snow blowers ARE underpowered but the EGO's, both the single stage and the 2 stage, are DEFINITELY NOT!
I bought one last year. Got rid of my beast of a gas snowblower. This thing is fantastic, so easy to move around. I’ve had their mower for over five years with no problems. All my other equipment is ego too. Recently had five inches and this thing cleared my double driveway in half the time.
well the ultimate test for a snowblower is wet snow ... it's easy to blow light fluffy snow . when it comes to heavier snow there is only one that will do the job and it's a Honda ! that's why they cost double
I purchased the two stage EGO as well, and had a similar experience with battery life. Thankfully, I tackled the plow berm first - so the hardest work was done before my 7.5 amp/hour batteries ran out. I plan to buy more EGO equipment, so a swap of charged batteries should solve the issue for me as well. One important (feature?) to remember if you buy one of these, that is not explicitly stated in the manual, is to push the power/safety button EACH TIME before you engage the auger switch. Otherwise, the auger won't work. I was quite confused until I figured that one out. Overall, I'm impressed with the two stage. I purchased mine still in the box, and assembly is minimal. Mine was exceedingly hard to come by, though. Shipments this season have been sporadic. I had success calling ACE Hardware's corporate offices and checking when they expected the next shipment into the closest warehouse near me from the manufacturer. I followed up with a local store to make sure they were getting some of that lot, and let the manager know I wanted one. Then, I got there early on the arrival day to make sure I didn't miss out on one of the three on the sales floor. No one, not even EGO, could tell me a way to put one on backorder. I was willing to pay ahead of time, but no one would except payment without stock in house. Lowe's even took an online order, then called me 20 minutes later to cancel me in favor of an in-store customer. Still, it was worth the effort. I bought the kit version which is the blower, charger, and two 7.5 a/h batteries.
Thank you for this review! It's so hard finding a fair assessment of this machine. Most people don't compare it to their previous gas snow blower or didn't have an equivalent gas-powered machine to compare it to. The price has always thrown me off b/c size-wise it looks like a $500 blower, but to know you feel like it compares to your $1,000 Ariens puts this on my consideration list (as someone who also has other EGO batteries).
Glad you found it helpful. My Ariens felt like was built like a tank, so some of the plastic elements on this may give it a "cheap" look. But it feels solid too and it's much easier to handle. Since this video I've used it several more times on even heavier snow. It's continuing to impress ... but with the heavier snow it did drain the batteries faster. Overall, still give it the big recommended thumbs up.
The torque of electricity is incredible so the throwing power is an advantage. The disadvantage of these machines is their light weight. Yes I say that's a disadvantage. I've watched a lot of videos and these machines act more like a good single stage at EOD. They get the job done but it's more work than a solid well built 2 stage gas blower with some heft. Traction is your friend for EOD.
@@UndecidedMF So with the heavier snow recently, were you able to finish the job on a single charge? I am in Boston area shopping for the next snow blower to replace my 12 year old Ariens.
I'm a big Ego fan too... mower, blower, trimmer. I live near Rochester, NY, so yeah, I know we can get hammered. My driveway is about 50% bigger than yours, but I literally gave away my gas snow blower because of the maintenance. I will definitely get the Ego snow blower in the future, but for now I'm sticking with my $10 shovel. I'm retired so who cares how long it takes, and I'm in good shape so I'm not going to drop dead.
I have an old single stage Toro 2450 with a two stroke Suzuki engine from the year 2000. I just went through it last year and put on new scrapers and a carburetor etc. It is very powerful and light weight and I just run 32:1 on the gas/oil ratio. I have never had any trouble even in deep snow. There is no way I would trade it in for an electric model. What happens when the power fails in winter and solar panels are covered with snow??? An electric snow blower is an expensive high tech solution to a low tech problem. I save $1300 and don't have the headaches of charging batteries and worrying about running out of power.
I have/had the Ego 21" self propelled mower, backpack leaf blower, and weekwacker for 6 years in total. Excellent quality products but the batteries ultimately come up short. After 4 years the 7.5 was shot and I rebuilt it myself using a battery style welder and a bunch of new 18650 cells. Significantly cheaper than buying a new battery but the welder itself was expensive. It technically paid for itself on rebuilding the 7.5 battery and I have two 2.5 batteries I need to rebuild next.
Yeah, I'm glad I dont have too big a front and back yard, that way, i use plug in electric snow blowers and lawn mowers etc with a extension cord. I dont trust batteries lasting 5 or 10 years down the line, and going the battery route is more expensive. But I see why folks choose it over gas versions.
I've had the lawnmower for 6 years or so. The plastic is faded, and I thought it finally broke down a couple of years ago, but it just turned out that the handle was a little crooked. Once I figured out the possible problem, the fix took 5 seconds, and it's still working today. I now have the leaf blower, the hedge trimmer, the weed eater, and the Nexus battery bank. I'm thinking about the snow blower now... I've bought several batteries also for my Nexus in case of a power outage, and the only one that has pretty much conked out is the one that came with the lawn mower 6 or so years ago. It still sort of works if you use it immediately after charging it, but if you leave it a few days, the charge doesn't hold anymore. All the other batteries (even the little ones that come with most of the Ego) still hold a charge.
I bought a small rechargeable snow thrower last winter from sams. I live on a regular city lot, three car garage, meaning the driveway is three car width and 28 feet long. I bought it to handle smaller snow amounts. Pros - it threw the snow nicely. It was light weight. Cons - it was narrow, 9-10 inches wide, battery didn’t handle the side walk and driveway without dying . Motor burned out after 3 uses.
Great review, I recently purchased my (hopefully) last gas-powered snowblower. Battery powered ones are dang close but the cost/performance compared to the gas mowers just wasn't there for me right now. As mentioned in the video spare batteries are basically a requirement especially as the bundled batteries age and lose capacity/performance. And spare batteries are just so expensive even when compared to fuel costs.
well, I switch from Stihl gas powered lawn equipment to Ego and I’m so glad I did. We have a lot of wet snow in Indiana. Ego just released a new model and if it wasn’t for me buying the Toro for wet, heavy snow, which absolutely works great. and like you I have about five battery sitting around. ego came out with a new model this year, which nobody has tried. I might wait till next winter to buy it.. It’s a single stage with auger driven paddles to pull you through the snow.
Found this video interesting because I have a mid-level Ego mower. I do like it a lot, and the cross-compatibility with their other products is a big win in my books.
How many months or years before the batteries won't recharge? A gas engine can be maintained for 10 - 20 years. I had a battery powered lawnmower that the batteries died after a couple of years and then the company didn't make them anymore. I tried to rebuild them with 12 volt batteries but that only lasted a couple of months before they died. I found a cheap used gas mower.
My second winter with it and I LOVE it!! Need one for my father, now. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we get a lot of snow. I'm 110 pounds and have no problem zipping this thing around.
I like the idea of being able to snow blow at early hours in the morning without disturbing my neighbors. I have worked as early as 3am and had to dig out.
I wouldn't worry about it. Windows are without a doubt going to be closed. Snow absorbs a ton of sounds. At the most it will be light hum of the engine that they hear. After all it's the sound of home ownership. Can't walk on egg shells around your neighbors when you have to dig yourself out.
The one thing I would add to the section about the multiple batteries is if you choose to not pair the batteries with the snow blower you are also choosing a reduced life for them. The reason for this is that you are going to be stressing the batteries differently over their life if you use them with the blower as a dual, then singly with a weed eater or a mower. The batteries will wear differently and then when you go to pair them you may not get the expected performance as one battery will need to pick up the slack of the other one. Something to keep in mind. Also for the same reasons when you do finally need to replace the batteries for the blower you should buy them in pairs. It would be completely acceptable to use the batteries in other devices that need dual batteries too, I did not add that above. Just keep them paired at all times together.
Mom got a new lawn/garden tractor about 4 yrs ago with a blower that she can clear her entire driveway but only does half as she doesnt really need it all. Over 350 yds that she clears. Till i get my own place my tractor lives at home still so i put my blade on and wipe it all out and i widen it up some. If i struggle i just raise the blade and take the top half and make more passes but the ol 2 cylinder JD is always up for a workout
Perhaps the matter of arm strength and ability to control man sized adult equipment may also come into play here. But hey, the plastic controls don't rust - what more could you want.
I have an EGO 16" chainsaw and that thing is MONEY!!!!! My local rep who sells them ordered their riding lawnmower, you heard me....riding. I'm still not ready to give up my Sprinter 170 4X4 because I like glamping, but I'm sold on the household products. Thanks Matt
I just moved into a rural home in Illinois with a reasonably large and long gravel drive/parking area. First time I’ve had to worry about my own snow since my mother sent us out to shovel the drive when I was a kid. I really didn’t want a gasoline model but was a bit worried about negative reviews on electric models. I shouldn’t have been. The single-stage Masterforce model I picked up lets me do pretty much my entire drive on a single battery charge! I kind of expected the thing to last 15 minutes, but I get at least 45 minutes to an hour out of it. And it only takes a single (fairly inexpensive) battery pack, so I could have a second charging and waiting if I wanted. I LOVE my electric snowblower and can’t imagine ever using a gasoline model now.
I use a corded Greenworks snowblower. It s about 10 years old. It only cost about $120 which is super inexpensive. It is a very simple one stage blower and it is also maintenance free. Being electric it creates no smelly and harmful fumes. It is very quiet, smooth and powerful. I highly recommend corded blowers to anyone with average driveway size and usual snow heigh up to about 8 inches.
I purchased the ego, weed eater. The battery went bad and while I was waiting for the battery ( They warrantied the battery) I purchased the leaf blower as I needed a battery and was happy with the power ego had in the weed eater. The leaf blower works well for small jobs and It's quick and easy. My wife was always trimming the bushes by hand as she did not want to spend the time to get extension cord for electric trimmer for small jobs. So I purchaced the ego battery hedge trimmer. Was great purchased for her. However that battery went bad ( they warrantied that battery also). I do not know how long batteries will keep their power level and they are expensive. Right now I have enough batteries to not have to worry about it. I am retired and now with my six kids out of the house I have a little money. In the past I would have went with plug in devices as the price is very high for ego products. So if you have the money and want the quickest and simplest then battery is the way to go. If you don't like spending money like me 10 years ago they are not worth it. I'm saying this as some one who owns the product. Of course I do not know what the battery life is, so that is a big question mark.
I have a new Ego blower. 2 storms it was great, but for one storm TRACTION was the issue. My Ego was worthless with a heavy wet snow. I dug out the Toro/Lawnbow which I planned to give away. I'm glad I still had it. I have since purchased chains for my Ego but have not tried them yet.
Do you own any battery equipment like this around your home? Be sure to check out my 2 years later review of my Tesla Model 3 ... I had some interesting things happen. ruclips.net/video/Q2GhoDQa6tA/видео.html
I've was in the Industry for 30+ yrs. Electric Snowblowers at this point are actually only good for Powdery conditions anything more and either they won't work worth a crap or you will diminish their life expectancy drastically. The best units for the Northeast is minimum 5 hp 2 stage but 8hp 2 stage will get through almost anything including heavy snow if you take time. Bigger better applies to Snow since you just never know what it will be heavy or lite. But here's a tiny bit help that many miss. On most all Gas powered Snowblowers you have 2 wheels BUT most of the time they come set-up for 1 wheel drive. You actually need to look and make sure the hubs both have drive pins, 1 will actually be bolted already. Also always have spare auger pins in case of shearing them which will happen sooner or later. Anyone with health issues ot wants less messing issues get an electric start option. And finally I've personally owned and given away 6 units over my life in the NE areas. Out of all those units which are still being used total out of pocket maintenance cost is less than $100 for all 6 to date going back upwards of 25-30 yrs of use. Very little off year maintenance just some gas additive and a occasion start helps. Hope this helps anyone still up there. Luv Y'all
I've made mindful investments into both Ryobi and Ego, so I own all Ryobi hand tools and garden tools (trimmer, edger, hand tools). For Ego, I own a lawn mower, the Power+ Snow Blower (single stage), a 14" chainsaw, and a portable 3KW power block. The snow blower is more of a snow thrower as compared to your two stage, but I've been able to clear my 2 car wide, 3 car deep driveway and sidewalk on one charge. In no way have those snows been as big as the one in your video. The power block helped keep the kitchen fridge and sump going during a 10 hour outage last winter, and was invaluable when two of my friends were out several more days but required that I do evening runs to their houses to pickup, charge and return batteries. The chainsaw is fantastic, and only requires cleaning, adding chain oil and quick chain tension adjustment during use. And the lawnmower has been my favorite purchase for years now, typically able to mow a 1/4 acre on one 3Ah battery. My property has another 1/4 acre of wooded area with dead trees that needs to be reclaimed for lawn. When the lawn is ready, I'll be pricing out an Ego Zero Turn riding mower. Right now it's about $5k, which doesn't compared favorably to just replacing the my current mower with a self-propelled 21" dual port that comes with 2x5Ah batteries for ~$800. I can get a power wall instead! Thanks Matt!
I have ego snow blower from 3 years in NE PA. 18 inches of snow, is no problem
Hey boss, you're Tesla link takes you right back to this video.... might wanna fix.
I have a 20yo gas powered huge 2stage snowblower, over the years I've had to fix or replace almost everything on it; last winter I was again having carb problems but then the electric starter motor also died, and I needed something asap to get thru the rest of that snow season ....so over the years I'd gone battery or corded on all my other lawn tools(corded Sunjoe tiller, chainsaw, power washer, and detacher/verticutter; then just Greenworks 80v Pro battery mower, backpack leafblower, string trimmer/edger, hedge trimmer ...but obviously not the top-of-the-line best stuff you can get today) so thought I'd just grab Greenworks' lowest cost 80v battery snowblower - I figured it would be horrible on my very long 86 squares(most people only have like 12) sidewalk and double driveway - but surprisingly it did it! and now this winter I'm still using it instead of the gas/oil big one ...yes I do have to change batteries, yes the single stage chute does clog with slush, no it is not driven so I have to push it, yes it is very hard to get thru the snowplow pile at the end of the driveway - but heck, it still gets the job done; and much easier to use, no maintenance, simple to store and saves space, quicker to start and run with no guesswork on if it will, no sloppy refueling or running out and having to go buy more, and I can pick it up and carry it around(to do my big back deck for the dogs) where it took 3 guys to barely be able to load my old one into a truck to get it fixed
as much as the old gas one cuts thru everything with ease and power(including always having to help out the neighbors) it is a complete pain to use and a year round hassle; I don’t need to have my life centered around having the best snowblower when 90% of the time I only have to quickly do 2”~6” of snowfall occasionally 2 months out of the year... the rare times I suddenly get over a foot(which has happened this year) I’ll just run out there and give it a fast pass before it all comes down(that’s what the lights on it are for btw, so you can hit it at night) and then I have no problem giving that second run in the morning....plus for just the little battery one(which I already have the juice for with compatible packs) it cost 10X less than the huge old one: before all the maintenance, upkeep, fueling, and effort I used to have to do .... if I break one every 3 years, I will still be ahead
These types of high energy consumption devices should have a plug-in option too. Not saying I would want to use it plugged in all the time. But it gives you that ability in a pinch to finish that last 10-15 percent when the battery dies out.
I used to mow my neighbor's lawn for her using her plug-in lawn mower. The thing worked fine. And with proper technique, you didn't have to worry about running over the cord.
As someone from Wisconsin, hearing Ariens pronounced like that made my eye twitch.
@@mikeb1039 it's pronounced as you would say "Erins". The company has plenty of RUclips videos where they say the name.
Agreed, I'm from Appleton, WI.
I believe Ariens invented the snow blower and still makes one of the best you can buy.
Lol. I've only ever heard it pronounced the way I said it. D'oh!
@@UndecidedMF air-ens
After using a service for a couple of years I bought this snowblower I'm a 74 year old woman with a pacemaker I found the snowblower easy to use with no vibration I should also mention that I live in southern Ontario Canada So far this year it has been fantastic Easy to use and cuts like a hot knife through butter I was able to clear my driveway an two others using half of the battery life we had about 6 inches of snow Fantastic I would recommend it even though it cost $2000 Canadian
Southern Ontario. So you don't actually get winter.
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies 😂
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies but they have good pears & peachs
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies A lot of Southern Ontario is in the snow belt. I am. Environment Canada says my average yearly snowfall is just over 4m. Well over 13'. Now what?
@@Friend_of_the_One-Eyed_Ladies This year has been a strange one. Even us in the Okanagan Valley in BC has gotten a ton of snow and minus 26 weather for days on end. Has warmed up considerably but much of the snow and ice is lingering
I live I Wisconsin and my Ariens snow thrower is 25 years old and has never needed any major work done and blows snow like a boss
I agree...I inherited my dad's Ariens
824 that he bought in 2003. I get it tuned up every other winter and it runs like a champ...also live in Wisconsin so it has been put to the test many of times 👌
I was thinking the same thing.
Yes sir!!
How much a year would u estimate u spend on maintenance?
I bought a snowblower for 100$ a few years back and it has been pretty easy to keep going... if I wanted to speed 1000s I would just get an ATV and plow
I had no intentions to learn about snowblowers today. But here we are, and I’m enjoying it!
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
$800.00 for batteries? That is INSANE!
The cells inside a pack cost maybe $125, total manufacturing cost for one should be around $150. I don't know how much stuff this company sells, but they could probably lower the markup on replacement batteries if they'd sell in higher volumes.
@@w0ttheh3ll Cells inside for two 56V 7,5Ah batteries(that is only 0,84 kWh) cost only 100 $, manufacturing maybe MAX 40 $, so 140 $ all together for two batteris. The rest is their profit (660$ of profit).
@@rokrokavecki9381 The $150 figure was meant to be an estimate for total cost, I have edited my comment to clarify.
Can they not make changes and use electricity from home through wires instead of Batteries or both. Eg. Hair dryer.
@@kaiwalyaghotkar832 For those that don't have to go far with the Snow Blower, that would certainly be a great option. Far cheaper and more powerful.
Wishlist Updated: Ego snowblower + a house with a driveway
If you dont have a driveway, you dont need a snowblower
@@adamt195 he means that he wants the machine so much that he'll get a driveway just to use it
+ enough snow to use the blower ;)
LOL
Getting up at 5 am to clear two feet of wet snow so you can simply leave the house in two hours isn't as "romantic" as it sounds. 40 years of doing it winter after winter, tells me that. It's all relative, I suppose. That being said, go after your goals.
After delayed snow clearance by a contracted service I decided to purchase a snowblower for the first time. I used other reviews and chose the Ego 2 stage. Found a refurbished unit for about $1100 with full warranty. I have found your reviews to be reliable and hoped you were not going to find too many downsides. I feel even better about my choice now for South Dakota winters and the deep piles left by plows. The extra cost is worth it to me to not have gasoline and oil stored in the garage. I also own other Ego equipment.
Plus you don’t have to worry about it not starting or having to fill it up every time. I love my ego products. They’re so handy and easy to use.
Batteries have their place imo. My 25 year old MTD 8/26 with an 8hp tecumseh still fires up and runs great. If you can get 25 years out of those batteries than that’s impressive lol.
I have a 1991 MTD 5/24 that I just repowered this year with a used Tecumseh 8hp. Good machine and I love the trak drive system. That's why I still have it.
@justin. I'm guessing you do maintenance on your snowblower. I know my dad takes his in for maintenance so even though I know my batteries won't last 25 years I will spend less than my dad does on maintenance for his gas powered Ariens than buying another set of batteries.
@@jeffreyjohnson3225 yes I do my own maintainence.
@@jeffreyjohnson3225 Eh, hard to say. Over the course of 25 years, considering its 400 a battery how many will you go through in 25 years? Also the batteries may simply stop being produced as things change. Then what? You have obsolete batteries you can't replace. The very power source.
A gas blower? well, aside from the typical maintenance any blower goes through (blades, bearings, corrosion, broken plastic) it would only suffer maintenance on the engine, oil changes, filter changes, spark plug. Not all that much considering these costs are small as opposed to a big 400 dollar bill when you batt dies.
Then theres the question about the motor itself, how long do the diodes and windings last on that? The electrical, will the solder vibrate and separate causing electrical issues down the road?
A typical gas snowblower is a known design, its simple and thats an engineers dream, working efficiently with the most simple design. These new battery operated Snowblowers are relatively new and we haven't the long term research yet to see how reliable they really are.
When batteries become more dense in energy storage maybe it'll become a better option
@@sacr3 that makes perfect sense. I know I have had my other ego stuff for 5 years which they have not changed the battery design so far and they are still working strong. I agree with everything you say and I know you have an extra benefit than myself since I don't do maintenance on my own and don't really want too and I know my dad Spends about 100 every year to 2 years on his blower.
With that being said here is hoping I don't run into any of the stuff that could possibly happen with electric but as of right now if it doesn't than i am happy I went with it.
Snojoe on the other hand has changed the designs of there battery and that would suck.
Ego has the same design. I hope they stay with the same design but technology changes all the time. Even if things break or I can't get replacements in 10 years and I have to replace it. I'm fine with that. 2 electric in 20 years.... Still less than my dad pays. Lol
Like you said. "Only time will tell"
Matt - one thing you can tell your viewers that will help them maintain and get the most out of their batteries is to keep them inside (or in a heated garage). I had a brain fart and had my 40V Ryobi snowblower batteries in my unheated garage last year and power/range was significantly reduced. After I came inside and thawed out and realized what I had done. Now that they are stored/charged in my basement all is well. Appreciated the review! EGO seems to have great products. I was buying Ryobi stuff before they are out so I have some brand stickiness with them but always considering moving to EGO.
Bought the Ego 21" Self Propelled lawn mower 2 years ago. Loved it. Bought the Ego leaf blower and the Ego string trimmer last summer. Love them. This winter I am seriously considering switching to an Ego snowblower. To be honest, the price of any Ego product in Canada is pretty steep, but as I age I put more and more value on "ease of use" and "ease of maintenance".
Thanks for your candid review 👍
Reviews I've read for cold weather are not great
@@richardjurgens4511 you're good as long as you keep the batteries from getting cold. Keep them indoors until you use them and you'll be fine.
Here's a tip: Keep your batteries indoors (house). Extreme temps shorten their life...
Not if you keep it plugged in
@@WANDERER0070 That also shortens their life. The internal BMS reduces SOC to 30% after 30 days of inactivity to reduce degradation.
What about a battery tender that can maintain battery life without over charging and and set for storage?
@@thecannabiskidfortier6219 that is why the BMS discharges the pack voltage down when not in use.
out here trying to get work done but end up watching electric snow blower reviews. undecided vids are just that enjoyable!
Totally agree. I'm from MN, so I know snow. A few years ago I started switching over to Ego stuff, and got my hands on a used Ego snowblower. I was surprised how good of a job it did. Other thing is that it's relatively light weight compared to all the other snowblowers I've used all my life. No oil changes, no spark plug changes, no non-starts when it's -20, no need to get it tuned up, etc. I thought the torque would be bad, but it's just not, the thing throws. However, as the batteries wear down it doesn't throw as far so I simply did the areas first that I need to throw the snow the furthest and work my way toward the outsides of the driveway, etc. It all depends how heavy the snow is and the amount as to how long the batteries will last before needing a recharge. Another benefit is how quiet it is. This is my first year away from MN in the winter, so my sister is using it this year, and while she hasn't gotten a lot of snow this year she has had to use it and has commented on how easy it is to use and how well of a job it does.
Strange. I don't experience any power loss as the batteries run lower on charge.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I lived in Maine for twenty years, so even though I now live in Florida I can appreciate your comments. The battery life may not be as big as issue as some think, I couldn't do all of the snow clearing when I lived in Maine using the snow blower, there was still substantial shovel work. Porches, steps, and decks still need to be cleared. The battery recharge can be done while doing other tasks.
There is one other factor that starts to be more important as one gets older. I have an 80v kobalt chain saw and a 40 volt leaf blower. I find their battery life is just about as long as mine. I need breaks to recharge my reserves now that I've gotten older and I don't mind sitting down for a bit with a beverage while waiting. It's a good excuse to watch a little golf while waiting 😏
I laughed at your comment about breaks. In my late 20s, I hand shoveled our driveway and walkways. No problem at all. Now in my 60s with a riding, a self propelled, and a small electric snow blower, I take breaks. Plus, there is recovery time at the end.
@@markvalery8632 It's a fact. When you get older, especially after 60 earth's gravity increases. It's NOT me.. it's gravity OKAY!!
@@CraftsmanontheLake Unfortunately, I agree. Plus, gravity always wins in the end.
This is my first winter in Maine after 25 years in the desert southwest. I bought the EGO 2-stage. I'm 70 years old. We just had our 5th snowstorm, this last one was 8" of heavy wet snow. This EGO did great, no oil, no gasoline, no noise. When the batteries are done, so am I. They take 2 hours to recharge, I take 2 days! Bottom line so far, I love this machine.
I totally relate. But snow is a different animal. I get anxious leaving it there overnight and if the storm is late in the day that becomes an issue for me. Will it rain a little? Will it freeze? Will the wind create more drifts? IMHO, they need to come up with a battery that can be recharged in an hour without affecting battery longevity which I've read is an issue with fast charging. Or sell me new batteries for $100 so I can afford enough backups.
I have several Ego products, they all work great!
👍
Does Ego work with Greenworks pro batteries? I’ve enjoyed every greenworks pro item except the snowblower. It’s kinda shitty construction. Nothing to do w the battery.
I’m not sure about the Pro batteries. I have from 2.5. - 7.5 and they all work in the same tools.
Except for the chainsaw. It works ok...fine for a suburbanite, but it's nothing compared to a stihl or husky..gas or electric. It is however, cheaper than both though.
Our Ego lawn mover died in year two. Garbage.
I bought my stage 1 EGO snowblower about 2 years ago and I love it. I am a little lady having a 3 doors garage and do the snow all by myself. It’s been a lifesaver for me.
Lubricate the snowblower chute and blades with vegetable oil prior to using. That helps, especially with wet snow which tends to clump and clog the chute. For big snowstorms, greater than 16", it's best to clear the driveway twice, once mid-storm, but even the single-stage snowblower can get through deep snow too! Two of my 3 properties have driveways longer than 100 feet. I have multiple batteries and swap them out of the charger as needed. I can shovel as fast as the blower but, with so much to do, it's a relief having the blower too. Love my Ego tools: old single-stage snowblower, lawnmower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, and lawn edger. Being from Buffalo, I too know snow!
vegetable oil? Just buy some silicone spray. Works better and way less mess.
@@funiwant I keep a bottle of vegetable oil in my shed expressly for oiling tools, so I don’t have to run out and buy an additional product, it’s readily available and very inexpensive. I also avoid using toxic materials, and products which generate unnecessary amounts of waste, whenever possible.
You’re absolutely correct that spraying silicone is less messy, but I also avoid exposing myself, and others and the environment, to toxic material in the air, which I will breathe while applying, and on my fingers, which could end up in my food or my children’s food. These are minor exposures but accumulate over a lifetime and should be avoided. Just to share the logic of my madness :-).
I just bought a battery-powered single-stage snowblower. It takes 80V batteries and I tried it with our first light snow. So far I'm pretty impressed!
As battery tech improves, more and more people are finding out how capable they are over gas. Minus all the maintenance
"light snow" - so what. Do a real test, on city snowplow dump of wet snow at the end of the driveway - after you've driven over it with a medium sized car at least once and after the slush and snow have been sitting there for at least 8hrs.
@@01mustang05 Even my 4-cycle gas-powered snow blower struggles with that. How about asking a fair-minded question, like can it handle 6 inches of wet snow?
@@moonrich3492 Really? My nearly disabled neighbor and his 4-stroke 2-stage with power steering doesn't struggle with that. I've used it for an entire season a couple years ago and it did all the work while I mainly just steered the thing.
You admit that such conditions as I've stated exist ("Even my 4-cycle gas-powered snow blower struggles with that."), yet you imply criticism by stating "How about asking a fair-minded question"; you lack good judgement and your said snowblower must not be good enough, just like the electric snow blower in question.
@@moonrich3492 Yes just eats the battery a little harder!
I've had a Toro gas powered snow blower for about 25 years, still going strong with no issues. The batteries are a big part of the cost of an electric model and I doubt they will last anywhere near that long. The EGO battery has a 3 year limited warranty
There are A LOT of these battery snow blowers being sold on the secondary market because many people find it takes 2-3 charges to completely clear their drive ways after a heavy snow fall. Then the batteries are almost completely worn out after 2-3 years of use and have to be replaced for nearly the price of a brand new blower.
It's a similar situation when it comes to lawn mowers. It takes at least two batteries to mow an avg. sized lawn, and the batteries may have to be replaced after ~3 years if you mow frequently because they degrade quickly.
Why am I watching this? I have only seen snow once (on vacation) in my life.
Ha!
I live in Texas. No one owns a snowblower. Never seen one run in real life. But I’ve always been curious.
Same here but I have the EGO mower, blower and trimmer and they are freaking awesome so I had to watch.
@@Hotsparks66 I could have used one 7 or 8 years ago when I lived over in Garland (DFW Metroplex) as we got over a foot of snow. But on the other hand by the next morning it was all gone anyway. So $1300 to save waiting 24 hours once is a decade is a bit steep. :)
Good question. I snow blow a lot so for me its seriously interesting.
Never seen snow in my life.
RUclips : how about a snowblower review.
I’ve lived in Canada for a period,
...but I’m a Brazilian
Living in Brazil hahaha
Thing is - I picked this video because I found it curious lol
🤷♂️
Maybe it’s because I had to shovel snow and I know how awful it is 😆
I'm using a 1977 Ariens 8 horsepower 2 stage snow blower.
All I put in gasoline, frequently change the engine oil and grease the auger. The machine is a beast and is in exceptional shape.
The machine was my father's,bought new, now its mine.
It's 45 years old and still running great.
Do you really think a battery snow blower will last 45+ years?? Not to mention two batteries plus two spare batteries at 400 dollars every 5 years make buying a 1400 dollar electric snow blower absolutely foolish.
I love my Ariens snowblower it worked perfectly in the 3ft of snow we got a while ago. I don’t think I’ll ever go electric in snowblowers
I have two Ariens as well, a 24 and a 30 and I really like them both. But I don't love the oil changes and the carb cleaning and I am hopeful that the next gen of battery snowblowers will be better.
Thanks for the informative review of the two-stage model E-Go blower, which is a tempting step up from the single-stage E-Go snowblower that I've had for three years now. Living in Maine, we certainly get our share of snow. I usually have to use a shovel to break up the hard-packed snow left by the snowplow, but then I can clear it and anything else with the E-Go. Most jobs I can do on a single charge, though I can overheat the batteries at times after a half hour or so and then have to wait for them to cool down. There's certainly some sacrifice in terms of power compared to my neighbors' gas-powered machines, but not polluting or smelling of gas, not having to refuel the thing, nor do any maintenance whatsoever, is a fair trade-off in my mind. And since I charge the E-Go batteries using solar electricity, it's nice to know that I'm using the sun to clear snow off my driveway.
Not polluting? Maybe not at YOUR snowblower, but ask the battery manufacturer use to MAKE those "pollution-free" batteries...
I've just switched my equipment for work to Ego and I love the blower, yes you do need batteries it's cheaper to just buy the equipment I think then the battery but the mower what I like is the fact that you can slow down your forward speed which means that you get more cuts per inch snow throwing in your case I can't wait to try out the lawn mower next year. There is a pro battery pack which will last 8 hours. You have so much more control, while blowing a customer's driveway it's not a problem just walk into that garage which you can do with a gas blower but you have to be quick because I have set off the fire alarm. What I found is that when you are using them all day less noise and gas fumes just makes your day so much better
The cost of this product with such short battery life is outrageous.
the price is typical of battery powered lawn and property care . My son in law let me use his Stihl string trimmer . i threw it on the ground after about five minutes of it NOT being able to get through tall grass and the battery going dead within minutes . This was a new machine with fully charged batteries and considered the premier machine in its class . battery powered lawn care machines are worthless.
@@siriosstar4789 battery equipment is ridiculously overpriced. The battery bubble will pop at some point. This blower does not justify is price tag.
@@siriosstar4789 Battery may not be appropriate for a pro, but it is FANTASTIC for a homeowner, I have a chain saw, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, and blowers. No worry at all about some godforsaken small gas engine being a bitch. The only gas tools I have are a lawn tractor and big Stihl BR600 blower for spring and fall cleanup.
@@siriosstar4789 battery powered lawn care items are better suited for suburban home owners. I have an electric craftsman trimmer that has a 5.6 Amp Hour battery that gets me through the lawn in 1 charge. I do not think electric will work with commercial property and larger property.
@@grilledcheese2419 yes , for light work they are great but for all day work in thick grass/ weeds , it's not practical ,,,yet . Maybe the power will get better in the future .
I spent $120 for my used 1985 Snapper snowblower and love this thing. It's super easy to maneuver and maintenance is also super simple. I bet mine outlast yours and it's already almost 40 years old. But hey to each their own.
Yep. An hour of maintenance after each season and they will run a very long time!
@Jay Browne congrats but I never started how old I am. I bought my snowblower used. So your math says I'm over 80? Your math certainly doesn't add up! Oh I have several snow shovels to, so now how old am I?
@@t3chninja_official Jay didn't say anything about how old your are. He said he was under 80. That's all. Where you see math in that answer is a complete mystery; but why you have several mystery shovels since you can only use one at a time, perhaps it's your math that's suspect! Stick to the what was said not what you think was said and life will be a whole lot smoother.
@@crinolynneendymion8755 Well the reply was to to me an I took it as being made fun of by reading between the lines. If that's not their intentions, my bad. My response was a smart-ass one but you failed to read between the lines. So try to keep up! Anyway back to the subject in the video....
Nicely done and thorough video. I believe I will stick with my Troy-Built I got last year here in NE Ohio. $750 and no cost for extra batteries. It is a beast that goes through whatever the plow can push into the end of my driveway with no problem. I do mine and my neighbor's sidewalks, and one neighbor's driveway in addition to my own (she had surgery and shouldn't be out there shoveling). I have nothing against electric devices if the move is parallel or an improvement. The double cost of the blower, plus additional cost for spare batteries is a deal breaker.
I use a used Ariens like yours Put a impeller kit on it. Tears thru snow. I love the sound of a gas engine. I can tune it up for next to nothing. $400 battery? woah
You could custom build your own battery for 100$ and it would do the job for sure. Then you could show off your custom build.
Still running my 30 year old Ariens ST824. Replaced the carb and fuel lines. Works like a horse.
yup. mines 47 years old. I could do this tiny driveway in around 15minutes. It wouldnt even care about the end of the driveway...
my st824 is 1982 model
The Ariens I own has served me well for the past 12 years here in Boston area until this season when it started to act up. Many online reviews for electric blowers are a mixed bag. While I am still on the fence, your review is definitely the most informative one for me and answered many of my questions. Given how fast technology evolves nowadays, I think I will wait till the fall before making the final decision. Thanks so much for the review!
So if the gas snow blower cost 1,000 dollars and lasted 12 years so far than your cost per year is less than $100.00. I have never used even close to 5 gallons of gas in a year clearing so, so the cost of gas is almost nothing.
Last winter, I upgraded from a shovel to a small plug-in SnowJoe blower. It is limited mostly by the length of my extension cord, so that will be my big purchase this year. Plug in is way cheaper than battery operated, but you do have to manage the cord. All in all, it was a great bang for my buck.
I have a 100' driveway with a good width in parts. I tried the Sno Joe but in the end I think it took me longer. You always have to reposition it to throw the snow and manage the cord. It's not that helpful for below 3" a push shovel is better and above 6" it's tough going. Also hard to work in windy conditions where the snow can only be blown in one direction - and I could only blow one way, because the other way went directly into my neighbors driveway. Generally couldn't blow that far in the wide sections. About the only thing I can say about it, is that it was better for my back, but still there was some heavy pushing. Fortunately my back is better now and I'm just sticking with the shovel. I do a lot of hand plowing and not lifting.
Now if we could think of a way to plug in the corded to a portable Jackery or another brand generator? And wear the generator in a backpack.
That would give us a multiple use generator and a much cheaper tool?
If you own a small driveway, this is a good option. Otherwise, needs much more capacity or cheaper spares.
If this is your only battery operated yard tool, then it's a potential downside. But it can cover a surprising amount of space before needing to charge.
@@UndecidedMF if I were to invest in their batteries, and run a host of tools, what's the likely hood they switch to an all new system when I'm all in. I've been burned before on hand tools, 9.6v, 12v,14.4v,20v... that's my worry with evolving tech.
@@treborheminway3814 We may never know until it happens but if you are not familiar with Ego one of their biggest claims is that every Ego battery can be used in every Ego tool. They currently all have the same physical design and are all 56 volt batteries. Even their newest 1O Ah battery which is larger than all previous version will fit in all their tools. You could even take the battery out of the Ego string trimmer and and put it into the new Ego zero turn mower. Many other brands have batteries that are specific to a certain tool. If you do switch and that is your concern I would say that Ego may be your best best. I made the switch and so far couldn't be happier but time will tell.
@@jamie8917 Thanks Jamie. Good to know before spending money on the system.
@@UndecidedMF I've purchased nearly all the milwaukee outdoor products vs ego except for the 7.5 amp ego lawn mower. I went back and forth between the ego 18 inch vs the milwaukee 16 inch chainsaw. I am glad I purchased the milwaukee as I have 4 12 amp batteries and 4 9 amp batteries. I only had one 7.5 ego battery. I found out how quick the chainsaw likes to drain or thermally overheat the batteries so I am switching every 10-15 minutes. I feel like the ego may have been better but the singular battery and waiting to charge is the biggest factor if you already are on a system to stay in that system.
I bought the EGO 2 stage snow blower to replace a gasoline one. Got to use it today, and it out-performs my old one, besides being lighter and easier to handle. Best purchase I have made in a long time. I also have the EGO self propelled lawn mower, and love it too. EGO is the way to go :)
Until the batteries fail in a few years. They get less efficient every time they are used.
The best thing about this technology is not smelling like gasoline exhaust after using the snowblower.
And gas snowblowers are seriously heavy. Using one is a workout, even though it's self propelled. If this is a lot lighter, that alone is worth it.
You like, a soyboi or something? dude could not finish the driveway on 2 batteries and... calling that a driveway is being generous... that's NOTHING rofl... half the driveway was cars...
You guys ever heard of a snow shovel!? Workouts are good for you
Fun opinion: a light two stage snowblower would absolutely be a nightmare to use. Weight = traction, traction=less effort from your back.
I’ve got the smaller single stage and I love it. I, like you, have multiple tools so I have multiple batteries to use. I live in Pennsylvania, and we get multiple snow storms a year. The 2 stage would be better and I think not having to worry about storing, buying and using gas and oil and the other maintenance ever again is great. My batteries have lasted for years in my mower mowing a large yard. I like to fiddle with small engines and don’t mind doing maintenance and small repairs to carberators, etc, but I’m never going to do it again. This is too easy, clean, and efficient to ever deal with the gasoline engines again.
I have the Ego backpack blower that I use on light snowfalls in colder weather as it is not great with wet snow. It works well while it is running, but I usually only get 15 minutes before the battery dies which is often not enough.
I’ve been waiting for a quality video on this new 2-stage Ego. I’m very interested in it and you answered the exact questions I had. Thanks as always for a great video and objective review!
Anyone using batteries is guaranteed to spend lots on batteries, time on charging, and never have enough energy to complete a job. Dumb concept.
I live in Minnesota, and have a pretty big driveway. I run the auger at the lower speed and it still throws the snow farther than my 2 stage gas one ever did. I have never ran the batteries dead, in fact there are usually two bars left lit on the battery when done.
that's good it means battery degradation has two bars to use up before you will care then of replacing the batteries for new ones🤣
@@raven4k998 Did u try it or the Toro version?
This was an honest review. I like it.
I’ve owned several gas two stage blowers and currently own the EGO single stage blower for the past 5 years. What a difference! No fumes, no maintenance, hardly any noise. My seasonal storage routines exist of carrying it to the basement and back to the garage. Power is incredible. I have plenty of other EGO equipment too, so that does help. I’m capable and have for years done all my maintenance on all my past gas machinery/vehicles. It’s just I have more of my life now to do the things that matter rather than maintaining everything. Electric power equipment has improved my lifestyle immensely.
How is it for a blizzard with ice wet snow 15inch plus ?
And how long does a charge last when it's 20 below and you have 1/4 mile long driveway, which I have?
Rochester HYPE!!!! Tho we have hardly had any snow this year.
I would be a bit worried about not having enough batteries for a blackout.
I would think in a blackout you wouldn't be able to get gasoline either, so revert to a shovel.
If blackouts are a serious concern for you, you may want to look into some battery backup (with or without solar) before electrifying the toys.
Interesting point.
I live in MN, so winters are not battery friendly, so I keep my batteries indoors. When I need to use the snowblower, I walk out with warm batteries and the batteries don’t really get hold before I am done. Granted I have a driveway I can clear in 30-60 minutes. I have had batteries die when stored in my garage in the winter, so that is another reason not to store them in the cold.
Bespoke battery prices can be obscene. I purchased my mother a very lightweight O2 concentrator from Inogen for $2,500 because the company that was supposed to supply her one through Medicare had it back ordered for over 9 months. I thought it was worth it to allow her more mobility. But the cost of extra batteries was obscene. They sold regular batteries for $300 and double batteries for $500. I bought a single extra battery and then bought a 20,000 mah battery bank that I could plug the AC adapter into. But it would only run the machine for maybe 90 minutes. We got stuck in an access a ride cab when NYC got paralyzed by a surprise 3" of snow. It took us 8 hours to get home. All the batteries had been charged when we left, but she ran out of power on all of them. She bought 2 double batteries the next day. Fortunately they were on sale and only cost her $700. She was doing rehab at a nursing home and needed to use her O2 concentrator and had a hard time charging all her batteries in the machine. So I bought her a $250 external battery charger. She passed a way less than 2 weeks later. So today, in my hall closet is $4,000 worth of an O2 concentrator and extra batteries with an external charge. But because it is medical equipment I am not allowed to sell it or donate it. It will come on handy when I am older. I'll be 55 in a couple of weeks and never smoked. So they are liable to be in my closet a long time.
The Ariens will still be running good after 20 years, the ego will be long gone.
How''s that? The only real wear item - the battery - is easily replaced. Storing gasoline engines reliably for half the year is a PITA. I'd take the ego over a gasser if I needed one. Thank goodness where I'm at in the mid-atlantic big snow are pretty rare.
@@DocNo27 batteries
@@02hreblue30 What about them? Replacing one is still cheaper than taking a gasoline fouled engine in for service. Never mind not having to deal with gasoline or oil in your garage or storage shed.
I admit I was VERY skeptical, but after showing several RUclips videos like this to a friend who lives in PA he picked up an Ego blower and is over the moon happy with it. I have a little electric Snow Joe - if I was going to replace it I'd replace it with one of these in a heartbeat. I may be replacing my gas mower this year with an Ego. I'm tired of messing with gas and the Ego folds up and stores a lot more compactly.
@@DocNo27 I have had TWO Toros for 15 years each and done nothing but put fuel stabilizer in them and start them routinely. I have electric starts and rarely use it. Still maintenance on electrics with belts etc. I have NEVER spent 400 on any service ever. Only service ever was for a front gasket on the transaxle
I live in the south, so a snow blower has never been needed here.
I own the EGO Mower, Leaf Blower, and String Trimmer. I LOVE them all.
The Mower came with the larger battery, and will mow my front and side yards (I don't have grass in my back yard). My lot is .75 acre with about half of it covered in grass.
The Blower was able to clear leaves from my grassed areas on a single charge of the large battery that came with my Mower.
The String Trimmer works great, and I tend to use it with the smaller batteries that came with the Blower and the Trimmer. No problems with it. I have the Carbon Shaft version.
I have it. I absolutely love it. It's perfect for New Jersey weather. Nearly all of my lawn care products are Ego so I have plenty of batteries. It is pricey but I think it's worth it. I think it's great if you commit to Ego and have more than one set of batteries on hand.
The biggest problem with snow removal is operator error. Whether it be a snow blower, shovel, broom or plow there is a little common sense needed. I watch a neighbour struggle with a single stage blower which I recovered from the trash the next day. The next storm I brought it back over and did a demonstration and he was amazed. He hadn't unboxed his new one yet and returned it.
I have a 30+ year old Sears gas snowblower. When I got it Sears offered a five year service contract ($300'ish) which included an on site tune up each year. After the five years were up Sears offered to renew that service contract for about $350'ish, and I jumped to re-sign. After 10 years they had dropped that service so every year I get it serviced - oil change, belts tightened and so forth - privately. About three years ago I asked the service guy, who is probably older than I am, if my machine was on it's last legs. He told me that he doubted that I could get the quality and size of mine for less than $2000.
I figure with the annual service fee and gas for the winter season it costs me about $100 a year to keep the old thing running. At the price of that electric one and the stupidly high price for batteries I think that I'll keep the gas snow blower for as long as I can.
I live in Canada and already own 2 other EGO products(the LM2135SP mower and the ST1623T Trimmer). I just loooooove their products and, like you mentioned briefly, the torque is quite impressive on those electric tools.
I stumbled onto your video as I'm looking to change my gas snow blower and was looking for a 2 stage electric one. Hold and behold, EGO makes one too and your "review" helped me decide into getting one, regardless of the steeper higher price.
That being said, one point I'd like to comment on .. and you made it sound like a "negative" aspect of the snow blower. You stated that your driveway is 16'x42' and that when you tested the blower you had received 15" inches of snow with 24" inches at the entry point. In my book and if you ran out of power 5 minutes before completing the task, the blower performed ADMIRABLY in those conditions.
Personally, I'm used to getting out more than once during a major snowfall and this to remove some of the accumulated snow just so that even with my gas powered blower, I don't have too much snow to deal with in one single time. If i were to get and use the EGO blower and keeping that philosophy in mind, I could recharge the batteries during that "intermission". Just a thought.
Thanks for a great review though.
Talked sister to get one for brother in law birthday , he loves it. Easy to start and quiet , loves the lower noise
I really appreciate this video. In my view, it's as good as it gets. I have the same Ego products that you have and I'm very happy with them. If I had any reservations about getting this snow blower, you took care of them nicely. Thanks again!
That's a good review. I was looking at cordless electric snow blowers as a quieter alternative to our 20 year old Craftsman gas blower. It is not as big a deal now that I am retired, but it was disappointing when I would have to clear the driveway (and the berm!) by hand when I had a snow blower.
The snow depth review was great as well. Most of our snow is like your range, but we occasionally get more than two feet. A storm 2 years ago dumped 40 and a fraction inches in just over a day, shutting down Flagstaff altogether as the plows worked on clearing enough to provide emergency services. Similarly, we get our share of wet snow; it sounds like the Ego handles it as well as my current firebreather does. I wax the chute regularly, which helps.
Battery life is not a top concern. I now look for excuses to take a break in about the time frame I would expect the batteries to last. While I was working (and subject to 24/7/365 callout, which was common in winter) it could have been a deal-breaker.
I bought the Ego SNT2405 2-Stage snow blower Thursday. I never had a snow blower before and I live in NJ. We just got walloped with Snow Blizzard Keenan. I have a driveway that’s about 6 cars long and 3 cars wide.
Holy hell this blower was a beast. In 25 minutes time I cleared most of the driveway and a 60 ft walkway and still had green light. I only stopped because I needed coffee.
Forget gas this blower is a beast.
I'm very happy with my EGO 2 stage snowblower. It easily does my driveway, nearly 200 feet of sidewalk, and my nearly 500 Sq ft patio with battery charge to spare. Based on my experience, the reviewer should have easily been able to do 14" of snow on his driveway on one set of batteries. The key is to leave the auger on the eco setting. That setting easily handles everything except the plowed-in end of the driveway - you kick it up to turbo just for that. Doing things this way should net you 45-60 minutes of runtime on two 7.5 mAh batteries, depending on how much snow you're moving. More than enough for most residential properties.
Same experience in Wisconsin, I picked up the ego 2 stager last year. I can clear our driveway, back patio, and sidewalk in 45 min on a single charge.
Hey Matt, I know this is an old video but wanted to say thanks for it, Being up here in Rochester we generally get pretty decent snow. I just replaced MY last piece of gas equipment with a Ryobi 2 Stage. Its massive and so sweet. Benefit is, now that I bought it I am guarenteed that we will not have any real snowfall for at least 3-4 years. Its a known thing. Anyway, just got my new snowblower and came across this video.
Nah my 300cc gas 27" can go through 4 ft snow and laugh as it throws it 2 driveways over.
I have a 1976 Montgomery ward/ Gilson snowblower and it throws snow like 30 to 40 feet its a power house
Yah , I'm in maine. No way I'd use an electronic machine
Here in Canada I doubt the ego would last a year here while my 10hp craftsman over here go strong for around 20 years
Got a 1985 toro 824 and that sucker blows.....snow that is lol....it to my nabours front yard thats over 60 feet away xD
Gas ftw nothing beats a 10+hp gas thrower. No electric ever for me.
Used this Ego for first time today. It is literally insane how nice this thing is. Lighter, faster, more powerful, quieter. I mean wow. So each to kick up the speed of the ejector or walk speed. So easy to change directions and angle on the thrower. Much more so than anything I have used. Almost a joy to use.
I have a. Gas one that I have had for over 10 years it is a 10 1/2 simplicity snowblower. This thing is a A real beast
How does it handle the slush snow layer? The stuff you were moving looked pretty light and powdery.
Compacted snow as well
He has no comment.
Bro, what about electricity failure for a few days ?
His entire roof is covered with solar panels.
Generator and recharge it that way
I'm looking into buying my first snowblower as I'm 53 now with a total of 7 surgeries on both legs, and a weaker by the year lower back. I was looking at the same snowblower here in Nova Scotia, Canada. I, like you live right in a bend so I get stupid amounts of snow from plows, it's not unusual to get snow banks between 2 and 4 feet high. I don't mind paying a steep price for the right equipment, as long as it works well and can last a few years. The same snowblower here is $2200 + taxes (CAD of course), but after watching your video, I'm convinced that even though it pretty steep, that this will be the snowblower for me. Thank you for your video, you've help me tremendously, I had no idea which snowblower to get before your video. I can't say I'm looking forward to the next snowfall because I hate winter with a passion, but at least it will make it tolerable now. Cheers!
I haven't used the snow blower in a few years but I have used I'll walk behind from 14 in all the way up to a tractor mounted one at 16 ft. I honestly have never had an issue really handling them and they've always done extremely well in a Canadian winter. I can't say I've used electric at this point other than my e-bike and that does terrible battery wise
Two of my neighbors have these. I had to do their driveways for them with my 20 year old Ariens. These are extremely underpowered.
There are 3 different version of them so your comment is fairly meaningless to just say "these".
@@xex2kok we all know what he means, it's battery powered
My Ariens is 4 years old and has been used twice. It never starts when I need it (like today). I am taking it to my local dealer to sell it tomorrow. My neighbors Briggs & Stratton starts every time.
@@xex2kok Sure, and all 3 versions suck. Hence the OP's all-inclusive statement of "these".
@@nodak81 I have the single stage EGO and I've NEVER had to quit snow removal because its "underpowered". MY neighbor had a small, electric powered, snow blower and YES it was just too underpowered to remove anything but 1 or 2 inches of snow. Don't know the brand name. SO...some electric powered snow blowers ARE underpowered but the EGO's, both the single stage and the 2 stage, are DEFINITELY NOT!
I bought one last year. Got rid of my beast of a gas snowblower. This thing is fantastic, so easy to move around. I’ve had their mower for over five years with no problems. All my other equipment is ego too. Recently had five inches and this thing cleared my double driveway in half the time.
Ah I'd love to have on for Canada! But the batt life and need for additional ones make it very cost prohibitive
well the ultimate test for a snowblower is wet snow ... it's easy to blow light fluffy snow . when it comes to heavier snow there is only one that will do the job and it's a Honda ! that's why they cost double
My snowblower worked well all last winter. Kept the batteries inside to keep them from freezing and never had an issue with throwing the snow.
I purchased the two stage EGO as well, and had a similar experience with battery life. Thankfully, I tackled the plow berm first - so the hardest work was done before my 7.5 amp/hour batteries ran out. I plan to buy more EGO equipment, so a swap of charged batteries should solve the issue for me as well. One important (feature?) to remember if you buy one of these, that is not explicitly stated in the manual, is to push the power/safety button EACH TIME before you engage the auger switch. Otherwise, the auger won't work. I was quite confused until I figured that one out. Overall, I'm impressed with the two stage. I purchased mine still in the box, and assembly is minimal. Mine was exceedingly hard to come by, though. Shipments this season have been sporadic. I had success calling ACE Hardware's corporate offices and checking when they expected the next shipment into the closest warehouse near me from the manufacturer. I followed up with a local store to make sure they were getting some of that lot, and let the manager know I wanted one. Then, I got there early on the arrival day to make sure I didn't miss out on one of the three on the sales floor. No one, not even EGO, could tell me a way to put one on backorder. I was willing to pay ahead of time, but no one would except payment without stock in house. Lowe's even took an online order, then called me 20 minutes later to cancel me in favor of an in-store customer. Still, it was worth the effort. I bought the kit version which is the blower, charger, and two 7.5 a/h batteries.
Thank you for this review! It's so hard finding a fair assessment of this machine. Most people don't compare it to their previous gas snow blower or didn't have an equivalent gas-powered machine to compare it to. The price has always thrown me off b/c size-wise it looks like a $500 blower, but to know you feel like it compares to your $1,000 Ariens puts this on my consideration list (as someone who also has other EGO batteries).
Glad you found it helpful. My Ariens felt like was built like a tank, so some of the plastic elements on this may give it a "cheap" look. But it feels solid too and it's much easier to handle. Since this video I've used it several more times on even heavier snow. It's continuing to impress ... but with the heavier snow it did drain the batteries faster. Overall, still give it the big recommended thumbs up.
The torque of electricity is incredible so the throwing power is an advantage. The disadvantage of these machines is their light weight. Yes I say that's a disadvantage. I've watched a lot of videos and these machines act more like a good single stage at EOD. They get the job done but it's more work than a solid well built 2 stage gas blower with some heft. Traction is your friend for EOD.
@@UndecidedMF So with the heavier snow recently, were you able to finish the job on a single charge? I am in Boston area shopping for the next snow blower to replace my 12 year old Ariens.
I'm a big Ego fan too... mower, blower, trimmer. I live near Rochester, NY, so yeah, I know we can get hammered. My driveway is about 50% bigger than yours, but I literally gave away my gas snow blower because of the maintenance. I will definitely get the Ego snow blower in the future, but for now I'm sticking with my $10 shovel. I'm retired so who cares how long it takes, and I'm in good shape so I'm not going to drop dead.
I have an old single stage Toro 2450 with a two stroke Suzuki engine from the year 2000. I just went through it last year and put on new scrapers and a carburetor etc. It is very powerful and light weight and I just run 32:1 on the gas/oil ratio. I have never had any trouble even in deep snow. There is no way I would trade it in for an electric model. What happens when the power fails in winter and solar panels are covered with snow??? An electric snow blower is an expensive high tech solution to a low tech problem. I save $1300 and don't have the headaches of charging batteries and worrying about running out of power.
What's the "low tech" problem? The weather? The 2 stroke engine? Lol
@@drobichaud1000 - it's low tech but it's powerful and throws snow like new. All that matters right?👍
Holy crap. Was thinking of one for my mother but after hearing the prices for things.... yikes
I bought this thing right before the winter this year. What an amazing snowblower
I have/had the Ego 21" self propelled mower, backpack leaf blower, and weekwacker for 6 years in total. Excellent quality products but the batteries ultimately come up short. After 4 years the 7.5 was shot and I rebuilt it myself using a battery style welder and a bunch of new 18650 cells. Significantly cheaper than buying a new battery but the welder itself was expensive. It technically paid for itself on rebuilding the 7.5 battery and I have two 2.5 batteries I need to rebuild next.
Yeah, I'm glad I dont have too big a front and back yard, that way, i use plug in electric snow blowers and lawn mowers etc with a extension cord. I dont trust batteries lasting 5 or 10 years down the line, and going the battery route is more expensive. But I see why folks choose it over gas versions.
I've had the lawnmower for 6 years or so. The plastic is faded, and I thought it finally broke down a couple of years ago, but it just turned out that the handle was a little crooked. Once I figured out the possible problem, the fix took 5 seconds, and it's still working today. I now have the leaf blower, the hedge trimmer, the weed eater, and the Nexus battery bank. I'm thinking about the snow blower now... I've bought several batteries also for my Nexus in case of a power outage, and the only one that has pretty much conked out is the one that came with the lawn mower 6 or so years ago. It still sort of works if you use it immediately after charging it, but if you leave it a few days, the charge doesn't hold anymore. All the other batteries (even the little ones that come with most of the Ego) still hold a charge.
I was interested till i heard the price. I'll stick with gas
I bought a small rechargeable snow thrower last winter from sams. I live on a regular city lot, three car garage, meaning the driveway is three car width and 28 feet long. I bought it to handle smaller snow amounts.
Pros - it threw the snow nicely. It was light weight.
Cons - it was narrow, 9-10 inches wide, battery didn’t handle the side walk and driveway without dying . Motor burned out after 3 uses.
Great review, I recently purchased my (hopefully) last gas-powered snowblower. Battery powered ones are dang close but the cost/performance compared to the gas mowers just wasn't there for me right now. As mentioned in the video spare batteries are basically a requirement especially as the bundled batteries age and lose capacity/performance. And spare batteries are just so expensive even when compared to fuel costs.
Me too. Just purchased my last and only gas powered tool.
well, I switch from Stihl gas powered lawn equipment to Ego and I’m so glad I did. We have a lot of wet snow in Indiana. Ego just released a new model and if it wasn’t for me buying the Toro for wet, heavy snow, which absolutely works great. and like you I have about five battery sitting around. ego came out with a new model this year, which nobody has tried. I might wait till next winter to buy it.. It’s a single stage with auger driven paddles to pull you through the snow.
Welcome to the comment section we have blankets, warm milk, and cookies!
I'll take some, how much?
@@ethanmarch4269 I think it's free, but come to New York😂
@@20_percent 🏃 on my way
No thanks - love the battery convenience but I’m sticking with gas for my mower and snow blower!
@K lake well how big is your yard?
@K lake yeah I can see an electric mower ROI Probabbly coming in at maybe .5acre or less. MAX
I can mow my 1.25acres with my 52” zero turn in 40-45min
Found this video interesting because I have a mid-level Ego mower. I do like it a lot, and the cross-compatibility with their other products is a big win in my books.
I wound keep the Ariens. Believe me! You will thank me later.
Yup!
How many months or years before the batteries won't recharge? A gas engine can be maintained for 10 - 20 years. I had a battery powered lawnmower that the batteries died after a couple of years and then the company didn't make them anymore. I tried to rebuild them with 12 volt batteries but that only lasted a couple of months before they died. I found a cheap used gas mower.
just keep the gas engine and replace the carb every 10 yaers for 18$
I have a Swedish Stiga 8hk gaspowered snowblower ...the same snowblower sense 1985 and it runs like clockwork so why go battery ??
My second winter with it and I LOVE it!! Need one for my father, now. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and we get a lot of snow. I'm 110 pounds and have no problem zipping this thing around.
I like the idea of being able to snow blow at early hours in the morning without disturbing my neighbors. I have worked as early as 3am and had to dig out.
I wouldn't worry about it. Windows are without a doubt going to be closed. Snow absorbs a ton of sounds. At the most it will be light hum of the engine that they hear. After all it's the sound of home ownership. Can't walk on egg shells around your neighbors when you have to dig yourself out.
@@jakeh3144 very true
The one thing I would add to the section about the multiple batteries is if you choose to not pair the batteries with the snow blower you are also choosing a reduced life for them. The reason for this is that you are going to be stressing the batteries differently over their life if you use them with the blower as a dual, then singly with a weed eater or a mower. The batteries will wear differently and then when you go to pair them you may not get the expected performance as one battery will need to pick up the slack of the other one. Something to keep in mind.
Also for the same reasons when you do finally need to replace the batteries for the blower you should buy them in pairs. It would be completely acceptable to use the batteries in other devices that need dual batteries too, I did not add that above. Just keep them paired at all times together.
$400 battery meanwhile a replacement gas engine is $125 and is attached to the blower with 4 bolts
$125 for an engine? Not in this universe. A snow blower engine is $300 to $400.
@@ohger1 Harbor Freight sells Honda clones for $125 on sale like ever other week. And yes they are surprisingly reliable
@@samin90 I just checked. A 6.5HP engine is about $125, but the E-blower in this test is equiv to 11-13 HP, which is about $400 for an engine.
@Nomen Clature This electric blower is easily 11HP plus equiv, which costs about $400 from HF.
I guess if all you have to do is a small driveway and have deep pockets it might be worth it. For me, useless.
Mom got a new lawn/garden tractor about 4 yrs ago with a blower that she can clear her entire driveway but only does half as she doesnt really need it all. Over 350 yds that she clears. Till i get my own place my tractor lives at home still so i put my blade on and wipe it all out and i widen it up some. If i struggle i just raise the blade and take the top half and make more passes but the ol 2 cylinder JD is always up for a workout
Perhaps the matter of arm strength and ability to control man sized adult equipment may also
come into play here. But hey, the plastic controls don't rust - what more could you want.
I have an EGO 16" chainsaw and that thing is MONEY!!!!! My local rep who sells them ordered their riding lawnmower, you heard me....riding. I'm still not ready to give up my Sprinter 170 4X4 because I like glamping, but I'm sold on the household products. Thanks Matt
I just moved into a rural home in Illinois with a reasonably large and long gravel drive/parking area. First time I’ve had to worry about my own snow since my mother sent us out to shovel the drive when I was a kid. I really didn’t want a gasoline model but was a bit worried about negative reviews on electric models. I shouldn’t have been. The single-stage Masterforce model I picked up lets me do pretty much my entire drive on a single battery charge! I kind of expected the thing to last 15 minutes, but I get at least 45 minutes to an hour out of it. And it only takes a single (fairly inexpensive) battery pack, so I could have a second charging and waiting if I wanted. I LOVE my electric snowblower and can’t imagine ever using a gasoline model now.
Glad that I watched this, glad that I got a Toro gas snow blower.
I use a corded Greenworks snowblower. It s about 10 years old. It only cost about $120 which is super inexpensive. It is a very simple one stage blower and it is also maintenance free. Being electric it creates no smelly and harmful fumes. It is very quiet, smooth and powerful. I highly recommend corded blowers to anyone with average driveway size and usual snow heigh up to about 8 inches.
I purchased the ego, weed eater. The battery went bad and while I was waiting for the battery ( They warrantied the battery) I purchased the leaf blower as I needed a battery and was happy with the power ego had in the weed eater. The leaf blower works well for small jobs and It's quick and easy. My wife was always trimming the bushes by hand as she did not want to spend the time to get extension cord for electric trimmer for small jobs. So I purchaced the ego battery hedge trimmer. Was great purchased for her. However that battery went bad ( they warrantied that battery also). I do not know how long batteries will keep their power level and they are expensive. Right now I have enough batteries to not have to worry about it. I am retired and now with my six kids out of the house I have a little money. In the past I would have went with plug in devices as the price is very high for ego products. So if you have the money and want the quickest and simplest then battery is the way to go. If you don't like spending money like me 10 years ago they are not worth it. I'm saying this as some one who owns the product. Of course I do not know what the battery life is, so that is a big question mark.
and when you’re finished blowing the snow you don’t smell like gas and oil.
I have a new Ego blower. 2 storms it was great, but for one storm TRACTION was the issue. My Ego was worthless with a heavy wet snow. I dug out the Toro/Lawnbow which I planned to give away. I'm glad I still had it. I have since purchased chains for my Ego but have not tried them yet.