The Snow Joe iON8SB is an ultra-lightweight cordless electric snowblower that runs silent and won’t break the bank.
The Snow Joe iON8SB is a unique breed among the cordless electric snowblowers in the market. This blower benefits from hybrid technology, which allows you to use it while connected to an electric power source or just with power storied in its battery.
Snow Joe iON18SB Overview
The Snow Joe iON8SB is an excellent alternative to the electric corded snowblowers or the massive, gas-powered models. Packed with a 40V battery, you can clear snow from your driveway for about 50 minutes. If you have a large area, you may need to get a second battery if you don’t want to stay connected with an extension cord.
Additionally, weighing just 32 pounds, this is a super lightweight blower than anybody can easily push around while clearing snow. If you occasionally receive a moderate amount of snow and densely packed snow, the snow Joe ion is right for you. However, if you periodically encounter extremely heavy and wet snow, a gas-powered blower is a better choice.
Pros
- Battery lasts up to 50 minutes
- Ease of assembly and lightweight
- Quiet
Cons
- Battery takes about three hours to charge fully
- Cannot handle wet/extremely heavy snow
- Deep snow can cause problems
Features and Benefits
The Snow Joe iON8SB is lightweight and easily manageable. Just like the case with snow shovels, you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to operate the machine because it’s so light. I really appreciate this lightweight design, because I don’t have to sorry about destroying my back every time it snows.
Maneuvering around with this machine is much more manageable than with a larger, gas-powered blower, and you don’t have to worry about being dragged in different directions – something us smaller folks appreciate.
The Snow Joe iON8SB being battery powered is another huge bonus. From experience, I know that using a battery-powered snowblower is much simpler than dealing with extension cords and will save you considerable time and aggravation.
When the battery is fully charged, it will last for about 50 minutes, which is more than enough if you are clearing paths around a moderate home. Charging up the battery takes about three hours.
You may also opt to charge it overnight so that you can use it in the morning. Another useful feature is that the machine can house a second battery, which is something to consider if you have a large driveway to clear.
Snow Joe boasts the iON18SB is capable of moving 495 lbs per minute. Additionally, compared to manual shoveling of the snow, the machine will not tire or slow down. It has two rubber blades which will can handle snow up to 8 inches deep and 18 inches wide.
I really appreciate the rubber blades as they will not cause any damage to decks or other more delicate surfaces.
Being fully electric, the Snow Joe iON8SB won’t put any harmful emissions into the air and you don’t have to worry about coming back in from clearing snow smelling like gas and oil.
Adding to that, I am more comfortable operating the blower because it is essentially silent. You don’t have to worry about bothering your neighbors, who may still be sleeping as you clear away the snow from your driveway before work.
For such a compact machine, the throw distance is impressive – up to 20 feet. This certainly falls short of big gas-powered blowers, but should be ideal for smaller spaces. The 180-degree auto-rotate chute allows you to choose the exact direction where you want the snow to land.
Another great feature on the Snow Joe iON8SB is the LED light, which allows you to work even before the sun comes up. It’s not a huge light, but provides enough illumination for you to get the job done.
Clearing snow even with a snowblower is a chore, but isn’t that why we have kids? Due to the light weight of the Snow Joe iON8SB, even younger teenagers can earn their allowance clearing the snow for you.
Though far from expensive, the Snow Joe iON8SB does cost slightly more than a corded electric snowblower does, but this is due to the cost of the battery. Nevertheless, the cost is worth the lack of aggrivation – at least in my opinion.
Another reason why I like the Snow Joe iON8SB is that it comes with a two-year warranty when used for residential purposes. Knowing that you won’t have to pay for any potentially costly repairs on your snowblower for two years is a great bit of peace of mind.
Customer Reviews
Looking at a variety of online customer reviews, Snow Joe iON8SB owners appreciate the robust battery, quiet operation, environmentally friendly electric motor, and 20-foot throwing distance. Besides that, the LED light and lightweight design are also things actual owners find especially useful.
However, some owners have complained that the Snow Joe iON8SB struggles with deep, very heavy or wet snow, but this is a common theme with electric blowers.
Conclusion
If you are searching for a user-friendly, lightweight and cordless snowblower to get the job done, the Snow Joe iON8SB is well worth checking out.
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