My EGO SNT2134 review verdict: buy this cordless 21-inch snow blower for a paved drive and walk with light to moderate snow, and skip it for gravel, deep drifts and plow ridges. I judge snow tools on the wet-snow day, because the snow around my orchard in northern Serbia is occasional and often arrives near freezing. The SNT2134 is EGO’s kit with two 56V batteries and a charger, and its manual lists limits that the sales copy does not mention. Below are the specs, the two-pack rule, wet snow, surfaces, safety and upkeep.
EGO SNT2134 Review and Quick Verdict for Paved Drives
I recommend the SNT2134 for a paved drive of a few car lengths and the walk to the door, in snow up to roughly 6 to 9 inches, which is the range for cordless single-stage machines. Run it on both packs every time, because the manual limits a single pack to snow of 3 inches or less that is not very wet or icy. Skip it for gravel, for any grade steeper than 10 percent and for the hard ridge a plow leaves at the end of a drive.
- Who it is for: owners of a paved drive and walk, especially with EGO 56V packs already on the shelf.
- What it does best: it starts instantly, throws up to 45 feet according to EGO and weighs 66 lb bare.
- The main trade-off: it is push-only, it needs both packs for real work and it stays off gravel.
What Comes in the Box and the Specs
The SNT2134 is a kit: the machine, two 56V 6.0 Ah batteries and a dual port charger. The tool-only version is the EGO SNT2130, which makes sense only if you already own the packs and a charger.
It is an EGO 21 inch single-stage snow blower, so one steel auger with rubber paddles gathers the snow and throws it, and it cleans pavement down to the surface. The 13 inch intake is the height of the opening, and it is not a promise that the machine clears a 13 inch snowfall well.
| Spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Clearing width | 21 in |
| Intake height, maker’s figure | 13 in |
| Throw distance, maker’s figure | Up to 45 ft |
| Chute rotation | 100 degrees left and right from handle levers |
| Weight | 66 lb without batteries |
| Batteries in the kit | Two 56V 6.0 Ah packs and a dual port charger |
| Weather rating | IPX4 splash, battery cover closed |
| Warranty | 5 years on the tool, 3 years on the batteries |
How EGO Peak Power and the Two Battery Packs Work
Peak Power is EGO’s name for drawing on two 56V packs at once. According to EGO, it combines the power of up to two batteries for a longer run time, and the machine will start on one pack or on two.
On this EGO Peak Power snow blower the second pack is the working setup. The manual says not to run on a single pack when the snow is deeper than 3 inches or is very wet or icy, and EGO recommends two packs of 5.0 Ah or more. I treat the kit as a two-pack tool and never plan a job on one pack.
The machine also protects itself. When the auger bogs down, the motor slows it and you hear the motor volume drop, and if that does not clear it the motor cuts out and the handle indicator flashes orange. On wet snow I learned to slow down when the motor note dropped, before the orange light came on.
What the Label Promises and What the Manual Allows
The kit’s sales copy promises that it will clear the heaviest, wettest snow, and EGO’s page says two 6.0 Ah packs cover up to a 14-car driveway with 8 inches of snow on a single charge. I read a rating as a best case for one set of conditions, so I set it next to the manual.
| What is claimed | What the manual and EGO’s own figures say |
|---|---|
| Clears the heaviest, wettest snow | One pack is limited to snow of 3 inches or less that is not very wet or icy. The manual sets no depth figure for two packs. |
| 14 cars with 8 inches on one charge | No run time in minutes, no snow type and no car length is published. |
| Adjustable skid shoes for gravel and irregular surfaces | The safety list in the manual says do not use on a graveled surface. |
Read fairly, both claims are best cases. The manual gives no depth limit for two packs, so the 8 inches does not contradict it, but 8 inches of which snow, cleared in how many minutes, stays open. Cordless single-stage machines are usually rated for about 6 to 9 inches, which is the figure I plan around.
“Heaviest, wettest” runs into the physics. In a forecasting study, the fluffiest snow, more than 25 inches of snow per inch of water, turned up less than 5 percent of the time when the low-level air averaged above about 27 F, while dense snow, under 10 inches of snow per inch of water, was rare in air colder than about 14 F (1). Near freezing, the same depth therefore tends to weigh more than in a hard frost. That is the snow my farm often gets, and it tests this machine hardest. My reading of the label is that the SNT2134 suits light to moderate snow on pavement, and I treat the 14-car line as a best case.
Performance in Dry, Wet and Packed Snow
A single-stage machine has one moving part for the whole job. The auger gathers the snow and throws it up the chute, so how fast you walk decides how much snow it must lift each second.
Dry Powder
In cold powder the SNT2134 threw a clean arc once I turned the auger speed dial up. The manual names three causes of a short throw: low auger speed, worn rubber paddles and a deflector set too low.
Wet Snow Near Freezing
Snow near freezing made the same machine behave like another tool. It packed against the chute walls when I kept my dry-snow pace, and it kept moving when I slowed down and cut a narrower swath. Dense snow is also what clogs machines: in one record snowfall in Massachusetts, with the air at about 33 F, 37 people were treated for hand injuries from clogged blowers (2). I compare five snow blowers suited to heavy slush in my picks for wet snow.
Pace and Effort Compared With a Shovel
Against my old shovel, the SNT2134 spared my shoulders and lower back, and the 4 foot path to the house door opened sooner, even though a 21 inch swath means a few passes there. In a small test, ten healthy men clearing heavy wet snow had lower heart rates and blood pressure with an electric snow thrower than with a shovel (3). If you have a heart condition, ask your doctor first.
Surfaces and Why Gravel Is Off the Table
The SNT2134 belongs on hard, flat ground. The manual’s safety list says not to use it on a graveled surface, because the auger rides close to the ground and stones are thrown. EGO’s adjustable skid shoes help the machine ride over cracks and bumps on pavement.
On my crushed-stone yard the machine picked up stones, so I stopped, moved to the concrete work pad in front of the machinery shed and shoveled the gravel part. The scraper bar caught on the raised edge of that pad, and the manual lists the bar as a wear part you can replace. I throw the snow onto the gravel edge or the open grass strip and never against the trunk of a young tree.
Controls, Heated Grips, Lights and the Cold
Starting takes two actions in order: press the safety button, then pull the bail switch. The auger speed dial sets the throw distance, handle levers turn the chute 100 degrees each way, and the deflector handle has detents. Do not let the deflector handle snap back, because the manual warns it can pinch your hand.
According to EGO, the heated grips run between 95 and 131 F and switch off after 10 minutes idle. The deck and handle LED headlights come on with one button, which makes an early start practical on a dark morning.
Cold is a battery problem. EGO’s recommended operating range is -4 F to 50 F, and a pack colder than -4 F may not start the machine, so the manual says to take it indoors for 10 minutes or more. Charge only between 41 F and 104 F. Lithium-ion cells lose available energy in the cold and their internal impedance rises (4), and lab work at -20 C, which is -4 F, found that delivery depends on how hard a cell is worked and how much it warms itself (5). I keep both packs in the house until I walk out to start. To see how other packs handle the cold, read my battery snow blower guide on pack size and runtime.
Safety and Clearing a Clog Without Your Hand
Clearing a clog is where people get hurt, and the manual gives one order for it.
- Release the bail switch to stop the auger.
- Take both battery packs out of the machine.
- Wait 10 seconds, even though the electric brake stops the auger within 3 seconds.
- Clear the chute with a clean-out tool such as a wooden rod, never a hand.
In US emergency department data from 2009 to 2017, 22 percent of hand injuries from clearing a clogged snow blower were amputations (6), and across 2003 to 2018 a hand in the chute was 44.5 percent of the injury mechanisms (7). In the Massachusetts storm, 95 percent of the injured had reached into a running machine and 30 percent believed it was disengaged (2). When wet snow clogged my chute, I released the bail switch, took out both packs, waited the 10 seconds and cleared it with a stick.
Wear eye protection with side shields marked ANSI Z87.1 and rubber boots, and leave scarves at home. Keep people and pets at least 100 feet away, and never aim the chute at windows or people.
Upkeep and Storage
Run the machine for a few minutes after the last pass and swing the chute handle back and forth, so ice cannot lock the auger and chute. The manual lets you replace the rubber paddles, scraper bar, skid shoes and drive belt yourself.
To store it, take the packs out first, then turn the chute fully left, set the deflector to its lowest detent and fold the side rails. EGO’s manual gives no charge level for storage, so I do not leave packs sitting full for months, and in lab storage tests cells held at a high charge lost capacity faster (8). My notes on winter battery storage cover the general habit, and for this machine the manual comes first.
Who It Suits and Who Should Skip It
The SNT2134 fits a narrow job, so the useful question is which buyer gets the most from the kit. I compare the SNT2134 with the STX2-M1 in my EGO against SENIX snow blower article.
- A buyer starting an EGO battery shelf: the kit includes two 6.0 Ah packs and a charger, and the packs fit other EGO 56V tools, which lowers the real cost.
- Someone who clears often and early: there is no fuel to mix, and the built-in headlights and heated grips suit a dark, cold morning.
- A buyer who has to lift and store it: at 66 lb bare it is far lighter than EGO’s two-stage machines, which run from roughly 143 to 181 lb, and the side rails fold for storage.
Look at a different machine in these cases.
- A gravel or crushed-stone drive: the manual rules this machine out, so shop for a two-stage model whose skid shoes can be lowered until the scraper rides above the stones. My gravel driveway picks name two-stage models built for stone drives.
- A long drive, deep snow or a plow ridge: these call for a self-propelled two-stage machine.
- A grade steeper than 10 percent: the manual sets that limit, and a push-only machine leaves you all the forward work. For slopes, my steep driveway snow blower picks include tracked and wheeled models.
Drawbacks and Common Problems
At 66 lb bare, a push-only machine tires you on a long drive or a slope. The kit is a premium purchase, and a second set of packs adds to it. In wet snow, expect the throw to fall short of the 45 ft best case. EGO publishes no run time in minutes, so watch the handle indicator, which flashes red when a pack is nearly depleted.
How the SNT2134 Compares With Other EGO Snow Blowers
Among EGO’s 21 inch machines, the choice comes down to drive, weight and packs. The SNT2125AP adds auger-propelled drive, where lifting the handle makes the paddles pull the machine forward, and its kit has larger 7.5 Ah packs, so it suits a long drive that tires you. The SNT2112 is the lightest, with smaller 5.0 Ah packs and a 40 ft throw rating, so it suits a short drive and a buyer who lifts and stores the machine often. The SNT2134 is the pick when 6.0 Ah packs, heated grips and handle levers for the chute matter more than weight, and at 66 lb bare it is the heaviest of the three. My SNT2134 against SNT2125AP comparison takes that choice step by step.
For deep snow, gravel or a plow ridge, an EGO single stage snow blower is the wrong class, so look at EGO’s two-stage models among snow removal equipment.
My Recommendation for Paved Drives and Light Snow
Buy the kit if your drive is paved, the walk to the door is short and your snow mostly stays under 6 to 9 inches. Charge both packs the night before a forecast storm and keep them indoors until you need them. Use both packs on every job: the manual bars a single pack only for snow deeper than 3 inches or very wet or icy snow, but two packs give the longer run time EGO describes, and that is my rule for this machine. My EGO SNT2134 review verdict stands on those terms, and for gravel, deep drifts or a plow ridge a two-stage snow blower is the better purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are EGO snowblowers worth it?
EGO snow blowers are worth it when the class fits the job: single-stage models like the SNT2134 for light to moderate snow on paved drives, two-stage models for deep snow and long drives. A single-stage EGO is a poor buy for wet snow and gravel, and a second set of packs adds to the cost.
Is a single stage snow blower good?
A single stage snow blower is good on paved surfaces and in snow up to about 6 to 9 inches, because one auger scrapes the surface clean. It is a poor choice for gravel, deep snow and the hard ridge a plow leaves, which call for a heavier two-stage machine.
Which EGO snow blower is the best value for my driveway?
The best value EGO snow blower for a paved driveway of a few car lengths is the SNT2134, because the kit includes two 6.0 Ah packs, a charger and heated grips. A longer drive or a gravel surface changes the answer, since that job needs a stronger two-stage machine from EGO’s range.
Does an EGO snow blower need two batteries?
The EGO SNT2134 needs two batteries for real work, because the manual limits a single pack to snow of 3 inches or less that is not very wet or icy. The machine will start on one pack, and EGO recommends two packs of 5.0 Ah or more for best results.
Does EGO make a 2 stage snow blower?
EGO makes two-stage snow blowers in 24 and 28 inch widths, and they are the class for deep snow, plow ridges and, with the skid shoes lowered so the scraper rises above the stones, gravel drives. The SNT2134 is not one of them, since it is a 21 inch single-stage machine with a 13 inch intake.
References
- Ware EC, Schultz DM, Brooks HE, Roebber PJ, Bruening SL. Improving Snowfall Forecasting by Accounting for the Climatological Variability of Snow Density. Weather Forecast. 2006;21(1):94-103.
- Tetz DJ, Aghababian R. Hand Injuries From Snow Blowers: A Report of an Epidemic. Prehosp Disaster Med. 1995;10(4):265-267.
- Franklin BA, Hogan P, Bonzheim K, et al. Cardiac Demands of Heavy Snow Shoveling. JAMA. 1995;273(11):880-882.
- Jaguemont J, Boulon L, Dubé Y. A comprehensive review of lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles at cold temperatures. Appl Energy. 2016;164:99-114.
- Ji Y, Zhang Y, Wang C-Y. Li-Ion Cell Operation at Low Temperatures. J Electrochem Soc. 2013;160(4):A636-A649.
- Hammig B, Jones C. Hand injuries associated with reaching into a snow blower to clear clogged snow. Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38(4):785-788.
- Loder RT, Solanki D. Events Due to Snowblower Use Seen in US Emergency Departments From 2003 Through 2018. Cureus. 2020;12(12):e11836.
- Keil P, Schuster SF, Wilhelm J, et al. Calendar Aging of Lithium-Ion Batteries. J Electrochem Soc. 2016;163(9):A1872-A1880.
Safety Note: Snow blowers throw snow, ice and hidden objects with force. Never reach into a clogged chute or auger. Shut the machine off first: stop the engine on a gas model, unplug a corded model, or remove the safety key and every battery pack from a battery model. Wait at least as long as your manual says, often 10 seconds, and until every moving part has stopped, then remove the key and disconnect the spark plug wire where your manual says so, and clear the clog with the clearing tool. Keep people and pets out of the discharge path, run gas models outdoors only, and read the manufacturer’s manual.