Cub Cadet Vs Ariens – Who Makes The Better Snow Blowers?
Cub Cadet and Ariens go tit-for-tat when it comes to the equipment that they produce.
Both companies have long histories of manufacturing outdoor machinery and equipment.
Go onto any farm, orchard, ranch, vineyard or even any large property and you are likely to come across a piece of Cub Cadet or Ariens machinery – maybe even both. As you can imagine, both companies make a variety of snow blowers.
And if you are in the market for a snow blower, you have probably come across both Ariens and Cub Cadet models. But which company makes the best snow blowers? The answer to that question is not so cut and dry.
After all, you have to consider what type of snow blower you need: single stage? 2-stage? 3-stage? But to help you sort through your options we have put together the following brand comparison article.
Cub Cadet Vs Ariens Overview
Of the two companies, Ariens is the oldest.
It was founded in 1933 whereas Cub Cadet was established in 1960. Ariens makes a wide variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers and tractors.
They also make commercial-grade equipment under the Gravely brand name.
Cub Cadet makes a slightly wider range of products that also includes front loaders, utility vehicles and handheld equipment. Today, Cub Cadet is entirely owned by Black & Decker.
What is Each Company Known for?
Ariens is known as a company that makes rugged, durable and heavy-duty outdoor equipment.
They are also known for producing equipment with quality parts that stand the test of time. Their products are looked to more for commercial applications as well.
Cub Cadet is great at making outdoor equipment for private, residential use. By and large, their equipment is also less expensive than Ariens.
However, both companies are known for making reliable snow blowers and lawn mowers.
Best Single-Stage Snow Blower
Cub Cadet 1X 21″ LHP Snow Blower
Quick Facts:
- 208cc engine
- Electric start
- Gas-powered
- Auger-assisted drive
The Cub Cadet 1X 21″ LHP Snow Blower didn’t seem very capable at first – we are usually skeptical of all single-stage blowers.
But we were very impressed with its power and ease of use.
First of all this is a semi self-propelled blower which is something you don’t see often at the single-stage level. It has a 21” clearing width and can handle about 13 inches of snow.
That all being said, the Cub Cadet 1X 21″ LHP Snow Blower does struggle a bit with hard-packed or wet snow.
The Cub Cadet 1X 21″ LHP Snow Blower would be a good choice for anyone that normally doesn’t have to deal with hard snow.
Pros
- Easy to push
- The tires have good tread
- 190-degree adjustable chute
Cons
- Struggles with wet snow
Overall Score: 96/100
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Ariens S18 MANUAL CHUTE
Quick Facts:
- Gas-powered
- Auger-assisted drive
- 25’ max throwing distance
- 210-degree adjustable chute
At first, we liked that the Ariens S18 MANUAL CHUTE was compact and that the handlebars collapsed for easy storage.
However, we did find it to be a bit underpowered. It only has an 18” clearing width and can only handle about a foot of soft snow per pass.
The snow chute was a bit difficult to adjust as well. However, the Ariens S18 MANUAL CHUTE features a reinforced rubber auger.
We thought the rubber design was going to be a detriment to the performance of this blower but it was actually a bonus.
You can use the Ariens S18 MANUAL CHUTE safely on your wooden deck. The rubber auger is actually tougher than you would expect as well and chews through thick snowfall very well.
Overall though, the Cub Cadet single-stage blower was more capable.
Pros
- Compact design
- Easy to store
- Safe on wooden decks
Cons
- A bit underpowered
Overall Score: 94/100
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Best 2-Stage Blower
Cub Cadet 2X 28” Intellipower Snow Blower
Quick Facts:
- 272cc engine
- Electric start
- Gas-powered
- All-wheel drive
The Cub Cadet 2X 28” Intellipower Snow Blower was impressive right from the jump. We liked that it had serrated steel augers and expected it to chew up hard snow very well – and it did.
The Cub Cadet 2X 28” Intellipower Snow Blower also features a 12” impeller which made for very smooth operation.
The impeller did a great job of propelling snow through the chute very smoothly. We also experienced minimal clogging between the impeller and the auger.
The Cub Cadet 2X 28” Intellipower Snow Blower has 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds.
The electric start is very reliable too. We really like this blower for anyone who regularly has to deal with hard-packed snow and very cold temperatures because this blower will start up with minimal effort even in the cold.
The Cub Cadet 2X 28” Intellipower Snow Blower also features a 28” clearing width and can handle about 20 inches of snow.
The chute is adjustable within 200 degrees and the all-wheel drive makes it very easy to push. Our only real gripe about this blower is that it isn’t very fuel-efficient.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Easy to operate
- Starts up easily
Cons
- Burns up a lot of gas
Overall Score: 96/100
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Ariens DELUXE 30
Quick Facts:
- 306cc engine
- Electric start
- Gas-powered
- Disc-O-Matic drive
Our first impression of the Ariens DELUXE 30 was that it felt like it was very well-built.
Most of this snow blower is made from either steel or aluminum which is a good sign in terms of durability and longevity.
The Ariens DELUXE 30 features an LED headlight, Auto-turn steering, a serrated steel auger and a steel, 3-blade impeller.
The Ariens DELUXE 30 also has 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds.
This thing has more power than you are likely to need. We would recommend it to anyone with a large 3-car garage driveway.
Pros
- Built to last
- Mostly steel parts
- Great for hard snow
Cons
- A bit heavy
Overall Score: 97/100
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Best for Large Driveways
Cub Cadet 3X 30″ MAX Snow Blower
Quick Facts:
- 420cc engine
- Electric start
- Gas-powered
- All-wheel drive
To be quite honest, the Cub Cadet 3X 30″ MAX Snow Blower is probably too powerful for 5-car garage driveways.
We were impressed with the premium features like heated handles and power steering which not only made this a comfortable blower to operate; but an easy one too.
Contributing to the ease of use is the all-wheel drive and the electric start. The impeller and the accelerator are both 14” and move snow like a dream.
The Cub Cadet 3X 30″ MAX Snow Blower has a 30” clearing width and can clear about 2 feet of snow.
Pros
- Extremely powerful
- Heated handles
- Aluminum auger gear box
Cons
- Flimsy skid shoes
Overall Score: 95/100
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Ariens Professional Kraken 32 Hydro EFI Rapidtrak
Quick Facts:
- Electric start
- Hydrostatic drive
- Gas-powered
- 60’max throwing distance
Not only would the Ariens Professional Kraken 32 Hydro EFI Rapidtrak be good for large driveways; it would be good for commercial use as well.
The Ariens Professional Kraken 32 Hydro EFI Rapidtrak features multiple LED lights that can illuminate in 360 degrees around the blower.
It also features heated handles and can blast snow up to 60 feet! It has a 32” clearing width and serrated steel auger. The chute can be operated with your finger thanks to joystick controls.
The auto-turn technology is also present in this blower.
Pros
- Smooth operation
- Extremely powerful
- Comfortable to operate for hours
Cons
- Very expensive
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Best Commercial Blower
Cub Cadet 3X 34″ MAX H Snow Blower
Quick Facts:
- 420cc engine
- Electric start
- All-wheel drive
- Gas-powered
The Cub Cadet 3X 34″ MAX H Snow Blower features hydrostatic drive so you can choose virtually any reverse and forward speeds.
It has a 34” clearing depth and can clear about 2 feet of snow with a single pass.
This is a 3-stage blower which means you get an impeller and accelerator which are both 14” in diameter.
Pros
- Easy to push
- Smooth operation
- Comprehensive warranty
Cons
- Chute clogs easily
Overall Score: 93/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI
Quick Facts:
- Gas-powered
- 60’ max throwing distance
- Electric start
- Hydrostatic drive
The Ariens Professional 36 Hydro EFI was built for commercial use. It features a 36” clearing width and hydrostatic drive which means virtually endless reverse and forward speeds.
This thing is also rated to move 101 tons of snow per hour.
This blower is definitely powerful enough for commercial projects like parking lots and sports facilities. It also has handle warmers and LED lighting.
Pros
- Very durable
- 5-year commercial use warranty
- 16” diameter auger
Cons
- A bit difficult to get the hang of
Overall Score: 95/100
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What Does Ariens Do Better?
Ariens builds blowers more durable than Cub Cadet. Most of their blowers are made almost entirely of steel and aluminum while Cub Cadet blowers often feature polyurethane components.
From our testing, we would also say that Ariens builds better commercial-grade snow blowers. Their machines are built for long-term use and long hours of operation.
What Does Cub Cadet Do Better?
Cub Cadet makes pretty outstanding blowers for home use. For whatever reason, Ariens seems to phone it in when it comes to smaller blowers. But Cub Cadet makes reliable and affordable blowers for home use.
Which Brand is Better Priced?
In general, you will find that Cub Cadet blowers are more affordable. But keep in mind that this is usually because they utilize cheaper parts that may not stand the test of time.
Which Brand Performs Better?
For home use, we really liked the Cub Cadet blowers we tested. They were more than powerful enough for home use and they were easy to use – meaning the controls weren’t complicated. For commercial use, we would definitely recommend Ariens blowers.
Which Brand Controls & Handles Better?
As you get into the larger blowers, both brands offer hydrostatic drive which allows for near-limitless speed adjustment so we would say this one is more or less a tie. However, Cub Cadet does usually make lighter blowers that may be easier on the body.
Which Brand is More Reliable?
We have to give this one to Ariens. Their blowers are built to last season after season and they start up just as well as Cub Cadet blowers.
Which Brand Lasts Longer?
Ariens snow blowers are typically built with more durable parts that will stand up to high altitudes and low temperatures better than Cub Cadet blowers. So we have to imagine that Ariens snow blowers tend to last longer – as long as they are maintained properly.
Who Should Buy Ariens Snow Blowers?
Ariens snow blowers are certainly more advantageous for people who need them for commercial use. Their larger blowers are more comfortable to operate for an hour or more at a time. Ariens blowers would also be suitable for very large properties.
Who Should Buy Cub Cadet Snow Blowers?
Cub Cadet snow blowers will be more than adequate for anyone who needs them to clear their driveway every once in a while. If you don’t want or need to spend thousands of dollars on an overpowered snow blower, you would do well to start your shopping with Cub Cadet.
Final Verdict
So who makes the best snow blowers?
If push came to shove and we had to choose one brand regardless of what we needed a snow blower for, we would go with Ariens.
Apart from their rugged build and the fact that they are more suitable for larger clearing jobs, they offer better customer support on their products.
From a purely consumer-oriented perspective, Ariens offers good warranties on their machines which typically includes 5-year warranties even on machines that are put to commercial use.
Cub Cadet certainly has its place for people who don’t need commercial-strength blowers; but we have to wonder about the longevity of their blowers. So in the end, we have to go with Ariens.
Again though, you have to consider what you need a blower for – that will be the best rubric to help you decide which brand is best for you.
