The biggest thing to question is whether you need a single stage gas snow blower, or a two stage snow blower. Our snow blower buying guide should help if you need more in-depth research. A good snow blower has a smooth, single-lever chute control that delivers snow in whichever direction you want it to go. You may usually check out floor samples at retailers. Make sure you’re comfortable with the handle height and chute adjustment settings, as you’ll be using them a lot. On most multistage snow blowers, the drive wheels feature four to six forward speeds, plus one or two reverse speeds, compared to only one on single-stage machines. While slogging through heavy snow, having a variety of speeds can help prevent jams. On multistage models, a handlebar-mounted trigger release reduces steering effort by disengaging power from one or both drive wheels. Related Blog Post: What Is A Single Stage Snow Blower Related Blog Post: What Is A Two Stage Snow Blower