Troy-Bilt 31AS2S5GB66 179cc 4-Cycle Single Stage 21 in. Gas Snow Blower
Best for
Best budget
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Current price
$780.99
Updated May 16, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Troy-Bilt Squall 21" 179cc single-stage is the 'good enough for a normal suburban driveway' pick rather than a category leader. High-trust r/Snowblowers threads describe Troy-Bilt broadly as 'typical MTD-built' equipment that will reliably clear snow if you maintain it, with multiple owners reporting years of trouble-free starts. Retailer reviews on walmart.com and homedepot.com (medium-trust) echo that, with the electric start specifically called out as a plus for users with shoulder or neck issues.
What reviewers liked
- Lowest price among gas picks here; r/Snowblowers community broadly accepts Troy-Bilt as serviceable
- Electric start praised by retailer-verified buyers with mobility limitations
- 4-cycle engine — no oil/gas mixing required, called out in manufacturer and owner material
- Owner threads report multi-year reliability when maintained
Where it falls short
- Amazon rating is 3.0 across only 7 reviews — weak retailer-side signal
- r/Snowblowers and homedepot.com reviewers note it struggles with light snow and is unsuitable for gravel/frozen surfaces
- Community threads recommend an impeller mod to fix mediocre wet-snow throw
- 21-inch single-stage path means many more passes on larger driveways; not a substitute for a two-stage
Across the reviewers we read, the Troy-Bilt Squall 21" 179cc single-stage is the 'good enough for a normal suburban driveway' pick rather than a category leader. High-trust r/Snowblowers threads describe Troy-Bilt broadly as 'typical MTD-built' equipment that will reliably clear snow if you maintain it, with multiple owners reporting years of trouble-free starts. Retailer reviews on walmart.com and homedepot.com (medium-trust) echo that, with the electric start specifically called out as a plus for users with shoulder or neck issues.
The consensus limitations are also clear and worth naming. r/Snowblowers owners and a homedepot.com reviewer both flag that single-stage paddle-style machines are effectively useless on gravel or frozen ground — they need a hard, flat surface — and another r/Snowblowers thread specifically notes it 'does a really poor job with light snows' and needs to be pushed to clear. The community remedy that comes up repeatedly is an impeller mod to improve wet-snow throwing.
The Amazon 3.0/7 rating is too low-volume to weight heavily, but combined with mixed community sentiment it's a fair signal that this is a budget machine, not a no-compromise one. For a flat, paved driveway with under-6-inch snowfalls and a buyer who wants electric start and the lowest price on the list, the trust-weighted signal says it's a defensible choice.
Its been dependable, like the day I bought it. E start or pull start. Fires up right away. Did an impeller mod to toss the slush better and ...
Basically all I've ever used are Troy Bilt snowblowers - never had a problem. Nobody in my family who has them have had issues.
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“Troy-Bilt® - 21" Single” · Stage Snow Thrower
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