With the Snow Joe iON+ Cordless snow blower, you might actually look forward to clearing the driveway.
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We Tested the Snow Joe Cordless Snow Blower: An Honest Review
Updated on Nov. 08, 2024
If you’ve never heard of Snow Joe or never used a battery-operated snow blower, let us introduce you to the long-lasting, easy-to-handle, whisper quiet and environmentally safe Snow Joe iON+ cordless snow blower. In this Snow Joe review, I go over everything you need to know about investing in this gas-free machine.
The biggest benefit of electric snow blowers? No more priming balls or pull cords. Just plug in the charged battery, and removing snow from the driveway on your own is as easy as pushing a button.
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What is the Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower?
Basically, it’s a snow blower that runs on batteries instead of gasoline. The package includes the machine, two beefy 24-volt batteries, a charger, a chute clean-out tool and a cover. (Other versions are available, from the basic tool itself to packages with two 4.0 Ah batteries or 5.0 amp-hour (Ah) batteries.) Some assembly is required, and Snow Joe offers terrific walk-through videos on YouTube that make putting it together a snap.
Once assembled, the machine is surprisingly compact and lightweight. According to the website, it can clear a path 18 inches wide by 10 inches deep. The on/off lever seems a little frail, but the rest of the machine appears sturdy and well-built. The heavy-duty rubber-tipped steel auger and the LED headlight are welcome components, and the batteries plug in and charge rapidly.
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower
Pros:
- All-in-one kit is a great value
- Includes several accessories
- High-power performance
- Long-lasting durability
- Easy to use
- Only weighs 12 pounds
- Compact
Cons:
- May not be suited for clearing large areas with continual, deep snowfall
Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower Product Features
With its powerful 1,200-watt brushless motor, the Snow Joe Cordless snowblower easily plunges through fresh snow up to 10 inches deep! The two long-lasting 24-volt batteries allowed me to clear my 20-foot driveway and a couple hundred feet of sidewalk with battery power to spare.
Because of its lightweight design (just 12 pounds), the unit wants to ride an inch or so off the concrete while in use. I had to apply a fair amount of pressure to ensure the snowblower cleared the snow down to the pavement. That said, the Snow Joe’s small, lightweight design makes it ideal for older people to handle. It’s easily transportable upstairs to clear your deck or in the back of a car to help dig out a friend or family member.
Another wonderful feature of the Snow Joe: It’s really, really quiet. As an early riser, I loved clearing my entire driveway and sidewalk without waking a neighbor!
How We Tested the Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower
We tested the Snow Joe in three mid-winter Upper Midwest after preparing for a winter storm, ranging in depth from three to 10 inches. We cleared hundreds of square feet of sidewalks, driveways, patios and even elevated wood decks.
While testing, we also played with feed rate as we pushed the snowblower through the snow. We noticed if pushed too quickly, especially in heavier, wetter snow, the Snow Joe would cut off power. It took a lot to make it do that, and it didn’t happen often. To restart, we pulled the machine back, pushed the power button and went right back to work.
We tested this snowblower over many weeks and in all types of snow. As long as we monitored the feed rate, we never experienced a hiccup or problem. The burly batteries charge quickly and give continuous power, while its heavy-duty steel auger and stout brushless motor suggest long-lasting durability.
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for something easy to use, mobile, quiet and maintenance-free, the Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snowblower is a terrific addition to your winter tool collection. Granted, if you live where you regularly get snowfalls of a foot or more, I don’t know if the Snow Joe can handle ALL your snow-clearing needs. But it definitely can handle most of them.
The ease of operation and the lack of maintenance (the best electric snow blowers have no fluids to be changed or small parts to be cleaned) make the Snow Joe Cordless snow blower a truly user-friendly machine. Just cover it when not in use and store it in a dry place.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a senior editor at Family Handyman, I’m an expert when it comes to power tools. I’m a certified machine operator. I tested the Snow Joe iON+ cordless snow blower with our team of product testers in order to deliver a rigorous and honest review. We used the snow blower in three mid-winter snowstorms, ranging in snow depths from 3 to 10 inches. Together, our team cleared hundreds of square feet of outdoor space while testing the snow blower at different speeds and in different snow types. As long as we monitored the feed rate, there was never a hiccup.
Where to Buy the Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
Snow Joe iON+ Cordless Snow Blower
Snow Joe’s line of winter products is available from many retailers, including Lowe’s, Walmart and Amazon.
FAQ
How long do Snow Joe snow blowers last?
The battery life of a Snow Joe snow blower depends on usage. Heavy, deep snow makes the machine work harder, wearing out the battery quickly. On average, Snow Joe snow blower batteries last anywhere from 30-45 minutes while clearing light, fluffy snow and a little less for heavy, wet snow.
Snow Joe snow blowers with a 40-volt, 5.0 Ah lithium-ion battery typically last about an hour when fully charged.
Can Snow Joe handle heavy snow?
The Snow Joe iON+ cordless snow blower can easily handle up to 10 tons of snow on a single charge. Because the 1200-watt brushless motor clears an 18-inch wide by 10-inch deep path in a single pass, it’s perfectly suited for deep snowfall. A scraper bar at the base rips packed snow away from the sidewalk, so moving heavy snow is easier than most electric models.
What is the life expectancy of a snowblower?
Electric snow blowers like those from Snow Joe last anywhere from 5 to 15 years with proper maintenance. Luckily, investing in an electric snow blower (like the one featured in this Snow Joe review) means never having to worry about servicing small parts or changing oil.
Is a cordless snow blower worth it?
Yes, battery-powered snow blowers are typically powerful enough to clear snow from large areas without any issues, which is what our product testing team found to be the case with the Snow Joe iON+ cordless snow blower. Plus, with an electric snow blower, you don’t have to deal with the hassle of a cord or finding a plug-in for electricity.
Originally Published in The Family Handyman
