With any electric powered device you use for short periods, the most important spec to look for has to do with power and not range. That might seem like a bold statement, but it’s true — especially when the weather turns foul, the snow drifts start rising, and the temperature drops below zero. I tested the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower recently and came to the realization that I care more about power delivery than how long it lasts.
Over the years, I’ve tested quite a few hand tools and even mowers that use 20V batteries, but the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower uses two 40V batteries and it shows. Over several snowy days, I put the blower to the test several times and came away impressed with how this model can replace a gas-engine snowblower — for me, the first time that has been true.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower specs
Let’s cover the specs first to get our bearings. This model can throw snow about 35-feet and is rated to clear about 25 parking spots on one charge (of both batteries). Other specs are mostly for comparison, including that Ryobi says this model can replace a 208cc gas snowblower. The whole unit weighs a bit less than 60 pounds.
A really smart innovation is that the chute rotates with a handle you pull forward and back. Units I’ve tested in the past or owned had a crank, so you’d sit there in freezing temps turning the crank each time you go up and down your driveway, This model allows you to fully rotate the chute in about one second.
Apart from the two batteries I mentioned, this model has a 21-inch deck for cutting a nice, wide path that is not at all a “sidewalk” machine that can’t really remove the snow on a typical driveaway. Of course, it’s not as wide as a few of the two-stage snowblowers I’ve owned over the years but even that’s a trade-off. The wider the clearing width, the more likely you might jam up the auger. Yes, snowblowing will go faster because you won’t have to take a trip down the driveway as many times. I preferred the 21-inch width because I wasn’t tempted to tackle too much snow.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower performance results
Actually, that was not an issue in my testing, which was a surprise. In all honesty, I expected to push the machine beyond its limits because that is what I normally do. I want the tool to exceed my expectations. After several snow days, I had no trouble snowblowing even with about 8-inches of snow on my driveway. (This model is rated for 11.5-inch clearing depth.) I decided to go to a friend’s house and snowblow a longer driveway with about as much snow and also had no trouble. Again, surprising because I zipped along and cleared a path with no jam-ups.
Fully charged, I easily snowblowed that driveaway and my own, plus one more time after a winter storm at my own house. The battery range depends a great deal on how much snow you are clearing, the length of your driveway, and even the snow mixture. During my testing so far, I have not had one of those days when the snow is thick and wet. It’s mostly been fluffy and light. If I test with the thicker stuff, I will update this review.
I liked that there’s a light on this unit, since the days are short in December. Starting the machine involves holding down one button and holding the power handle. Then, off you go. The auger helps propel the machine, and it’s just about the right weight to stay sure and stable in the snow while also not breaking your back when you need to move it. The whole unit folds up easily for transport using two knobs and a folding handle.
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower price and final results
The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower costs $799 with two batteries or $599 for the blower only (if you already own the 40V batteries — say, for a mower). That’s a fair and competitive price for what this is — a beast that does the job. The machine seems durable and never faltered, even clearing out the space in front of my mailbox. That means I can highly recommend it as a gas-engine blower replacement, which is not what I expected to say.
The final results were impressive enough that I’ve started to think that battery-powered equipment has finally arrived. I didn’t have to mess with gas or a pull-start, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Snowblower just worked every time.