No job is too small or too big for a snow blower. From the humblest light powdering to the heaviest blizzards, there's a machine designed to clear the way. Here is a look at several brands of snow blowers and what you should know before making that first purchase.

Toro Snow Blowers
Toro's 12 single-stage, dual-stage, and electric snow blowers offer a 5-year warranty on their exclusive 2-cycle R*Tech Engine. Most warranties only last 2 years. Other goodies Toro offers: A special trigger for releasing power to the wheels for tight turning action; an omni-directional joystick for mechanically aiming the discharge chute; and a heavy-duty gear case, eliminating the need for shear pins.

Honda Snow Blowers
Honda's line of ten snow blowers feature logical control layouts and "infinitely variable" drive speeds, allowing you to choose your exact speed in forward and reverse without stopping. Most other snow blowers have 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. Honda snow blowers all use Honda engines, which focus on fuel economy.

Ariens Snow Blowers
Ariens offers 14 high-quality single- and dual-stage gas snow blowers, plus the unique Power Brush, which is perfect for clearing away light snow and leaves. All Ariens snow blowers have tires that don't require chains, preventing wear and tear on your driveway. Ariens warranties last 3 years.

MTD Snow Blowers
MTD is a family of outdoor equipment brands, including Troy-Bilt, White Outdoor, Yard Machines, and Yard Man. Yard Machines boasts 14 different gas and electric snow blowers to fit your needs. Troy-Bilt and Yard Man sport the biggest, most powerful machines for the heaviest jobs. White Outdoor offers the most affordable models, ranging from $400 for their single-stage unit to $1,100 for their largest dual-stage thrower.

John Deere Snow Blowers
John Deere contracts Frontier Equipment for their snow blowers. All Frontier Equipment single-stage snow blowers, as well as their smallest dual-stage units, use standard Tecumseh Snow King engines. Their 9 to 13 horsepower units use Briggs and Stratton Intek Snow engines, which are designed for performance in sub-zero temperatures, quick starts, and quiet running. All Frontier Equipment dual-stage snow blowers are optimized for constant carburetor and engine temperatures, with an optional engine block heater.

Murray Snow Blowers
Snapper makes Murray's snow blowers. They come in all sizes and stages. They only offer 5 forward speeds rather than the standard 6, but their exclusive "Creeper Speed" makes up for it by getting you steadily through some of the tougher portions of the job.

Craftsman Snow Blowers
Craftsman has an exclusive agreement with Sears whereby Sears both sells and services Craftsman snow blowers. This is desirable because Sears's technicians where you bought your machine know the machine inside and out. Craftsman snow blowers use Briggs & Stratton for their smaller engines and Tecumseh for their larger engines. Newer Craftsman snow blowers are made by AYP or Murray.

Simplicity Snow Blowers
By design, Simplicity snow blowers are anything but. Their 11 models boast such extras as a special handle for releasing power to the right wheel, allowing for turning on a dime; a snow depth and density sensor that automatically adjusts power to the auger and impeller; and a Briggs & Stratton Intek Snow engine, which is built for subzero temperatures, quick starts, and quiet running.