I have been testing the new Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless snow blower (3036) – here’s an early review that discusses my experiences thus far.
Overall, Milwaukee’s first-ever cordless snow blower was better than I had expected, and definitely better than a competing product I tested 2 seasons ago.
However, it might not be a good fit for everyone’s needs or uses, and that will be the focus of this discussion. A word of caution – this is a somewhat long and wordy discussion. To sum things up, I think it’s an excellent high-performance cordless snow blower, but for my needs I’d prefer a 2-stage snow blower for around the same price.
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Milwaukee provided me with the full kit (3036-22HD), with no guidance or conditions.
For the first test, I used the snow blower on ~6 inches of snow with just one set of (2) batteries (M18 FORGE 12Ah) while a second set were on a charger.
For the second test, I used the snow blower on ~2 inches of heavy snow with two sets of batteries (4 total).
Subsequent tests, as we’re expecting more snow to come, will be done with (2) or (4) batteries so that I can try to get a sense for any differences in performance. Thus far it hasn’t stalled, even when it was powered by (2) batteries and pushed into deeper snow.
The snow blower did a good job clearing the 6-inch deep snow.
It didn’t scrape the driveway as cleanly as other machines I’ve tested in the past, and there was a lot of airborne spray despite no obvious wind. No matter which direction I turned, the spray kept coming right back at me, unless I adjusted the blower chute more downwards.
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I guessed it was just the nature of the machine, the type of snow, or maybe there was a gentle wind that I couldn’t feel as I had little skin exposed due to the cold.
The wheels were fine in motion, but don’t think you’re going to easily move the snow blower over even shallow snow.
This is where my experiences with larger two-stage machines have colored my expectations a bit.
It did better with the shallower snow, as I had a better understanding of how to handle the ejection chute.
At the end of the second session I found a little moisture within the battery compartment. I’m not very concerned about this, but will keep an eye out for it in the future, in case it wasn’t a fluke occurence.
The user controls are simple and the blower is easy to control. There’s a power button, a safety bar you need to press to the handle, a toggle for the lights, and power gauge for both sets of batteries.
The chute direction can be adjusted with a sturdy lever, and the throw height is adjusted by easily moving the chute deflector up or down.
I found the adjustments to be very good (snow throw direction), and passable (snow throw height).
There were no clogs, even when I pushed it into wetter and compacted snow.
It takes up a bit of space. Storing it vertically, as shown in Milwaukee’s product images, saves just a little floor space. I’d be a lot happier if the handle folded.
More Thoughts and Observations
A reader asked about assembly. I found the assembly straightforward. It could have been quicker and easier, but frankly I don’t see how given the way it was constructed. Was it a hassle? Maybe a little bit, but not so much that I bothered to document it with a photo. It went well, I have no notable complaints.
I keep reminding myself that this is a single stage snow blower, and as such there are compromises. Basically, it will not perform as well as larger dual stage battery-powered snow blowers. But also, I don’t know of any 2-stage cordless snow blowers that are powered by batteries of this size – all the ones I have seen are powered by much larger batteries with greater energy storage capacity.
“Auger propelled” didn’t do much to help me. In theory I think it could, but in reality I didn’t notice any propulsion assistance when walking up and down or across the driveway.
The chute never clogged, even when I pushed the machine into piled-up snow. I am sure it could or will at some point, but it hasn’t yet.
I was worried about the paddle – the last snow blowers I tested had steel augers – but it handled itself well. I did need to shove the machine into deeper snow and then take smaller passes.
When buying, using, or testing a single stage cordless snow blower, the challenge is in knowing what to expect.
So, who is this for?
Let’s say you’re a landscaper or contractor that clears parking lots and also needs to clear sidewalks in front of homes or businesses. This would be great for that.
Clearing a driveway? It did the job, and with less cursing and complaining than with other brands’ battery-powered single stage snow blowers.
Compared to the last 2-stage cordless snow blower I tested, the Milwaukee was more compact and more maneuverable. It performed well, but not without obvious shortcomings.
I was spoiled by the last 2-stage snow blower, and not just because it required less effort to use.
There’s a ~5 ft slightly elevated grass partition between my driveway and the neighbor’s, with a single brick border. The dual stage snow blower had adjustable chute direction, height, and power. The Milwaukee doesn’t have adjustable power.
With the dual stage snow blower, I could clear my driveway without worrying about throwing snow onto the neighbor’s already-cleared driveway. I could set it to lower power and low angle, clear close to the partition, and then quickly tidy things up with a shovel.
With the Milwaukee, I couldn’t get close enough. When I ejected the snow ahead of me instead of to the side, it compacted the snow ahead, making it more difficult to clear. When I ejected snow to the side towards my front yard, it couldn’t make the full distance and compacted the snow in the driveway, making it more difficult to clear.
I really missed having adjustable throwing distance, which allowed for more controllable snow ejection.
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless snow blower is so far one of the best cordless single stage snow blowers I have ever tested. I think the machine did a great job, and I also think it’s at the limit of what a single stage battery-powered snow blower can do.
I wish its handle folded down for more compact storage. I like that it is light enough to lift and place on a shelf – or truck bed – but its handle will still take up space. It takes up less space than a 2-stage snow blower, but premium 2-stage models might do a better job of collapsing for storage, such as with quick-remove handles.
I’m used to having to remove chutes and handles for compact storage. Installing or collapsing the handle requires a wrench (a combination tool is included). If one has to do this once a year, just keep a baggie for the hardware, it’s not a big deal.
Milwaukee says it’s “10 decibels quieter” and “delivers lower noise” than gas. In my opinion you absolutely still need hearing protection.
It has a 21″ clearing width and handled 6″ of fresh and compacted snow easily.
We’re getting deeper snow in a few days – I’ll provide an update if I learn anything new.
One thing I noticed is that it drew power from all 4 batteries simultaneously. If you don’t have 4 identical batteries, it might be better to run the snow blower with just 2 batteries at a time.
Even with 4 batteries, I might run them sequentially (2 at a time). That way I can charge them 2 at a time rather than 4, unless there’s a difference in power or endurance – which I have not yet observed with the kitted FORGE 12Ah batteries or others I had available.
We have a paver walkway to the front door, and it’s in need of replacement. The stones are small and uneven in a couple of places. Other snow blowers would snag, Milwaukee’s did not. It did a much better job here than I expected.
Runtime was excellent. For the first test, I used mostly-charged batteries to start while other batteries were on the Milwaukee M18 dual port Super Charger. When I swapped batteries, I placed the depleted batteries right back on the Super Charger and the Cool Cycle tech did its thing to ensure quicker turnaround.
Milwaukee M18 FORGE batteries are supposed to have high endurance, and I have yet to find any application that contradicts this. I was sure that the snow blower would push them to the limit, but I guess I was wrong.
I pushed the snow blower hard at times and not once did it complain, and neither the tool nor its batteries showed any signs of overheating.
Recommendations?
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless snow blower proved to be a very good machine – for what it is.
I feel that I can positively recommend it, in the context of cordless single stage snow blowers.
For professionals that might need to clear a client’s sidewalk, or maybe a short residential driveway so as to make a materials delivery, there’s benefit in being able to load and unload a snow blower of this size from a truck bed.
It would be nice to be able to lower the power level so as to adjust the snow throw distance, and also potentially extend the runtime in light or shallow snow.
The kit is priced at $1499 and comes with (2) FORGE 12Ah batteries and a Rapid Charger (not the Super Charger I used). There’s an option where you can get it with (4) FORGE 12Ah batteries for $1778 at Home Depot.
In no uncertain terms, it is not as effortless to use as a 2-stage machine.
For the 2 inches of compacted icy snow, the M18 snow blower did a better job than if I only used a shovel. I might not have busted out a dual stage machine for that.
There were several snowfalls since then – 2 inches of light snow, 3 inches of heavy snow, and 2 inches of powdery and icy snow. I did NOT use the Milwaukee snow blower and opted to use a shovel instead. In my mind, the Milwaukee snow blower would not have saved me much time compared to just using a manual shovel. That allowed me to push some of the snow to the partition, which the Milwaukee cannot do without high risk of throwing snow onto the neighbor’s driveway.
I prefer to push some of the driveaway snow to the partition because it’s a much shorter distance than the end of the driveway or to my yard border, and because it gets a lot more sun that helps it melt quicker.
This is a fantastic machine for what it is. I add qualifiers, such as “for what it is,” to help set expectations.
At this price level, and with respect to battery-powered snow blowers, you have the choice between an extremely well-built single stage machine that is powered by Milwaukee M18 batteries, or consumer-grade 2-stage machines. Some 2-stage cordless snow blowers cost more, and others less.
The Milwaukee is smaller, which is why I was excited to test it. But, its footprint isn’t as compact as I’d prefer for home use.
If your top priority is clearing a driveway with less effort and greater control, there’s no single stage snow blower that can compare to 2-stage machines, not even this one.
This is the first cordless single stage snow blower that I could use to clear snow going uphill from the bottom of my driveway. With others, I’ve had to drag them back up the driveway for every pass because they weren’t very effective. This one is.
It even had the power to clear compacted snow and ice that the town’s plows left at the end of the driveway. I found this impressive, as other battery-powered single stage snow blower could never do this for me before.
That all said, I was quickly reminded about the limitations compared to what a two-stage self-propelled variable speed cordless snow blower could do. This is something every potential buyer needs to understand.
It’s clear that Milwaukee designed this for professional users and typical applications. I was very impressed with what it could do. But also, this would not be my first choice for home use.
Some years my snow blower sees one or two uses all winter. Last year I never bothered with a snow blower and used a shovel for several very light snowfalls. This year I needed the snow blower twice in December, and we’ve had 3 snowfalls in January so far and much more coming soon.
I miss the dual stage snow blower I gave away when this one arrived. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel is the best single stage machine I have ever tested, but there are inherent limitations.
If my driveway were smaller, this could be perfect. If I could aim it in any direction without snow potentially covering my neighbor’s driveway, I’d be happier with the level of control it gives you.
I really don’t like single stage snow blowers – this really cemented that idea in my head. It’s the best single stage cordless battery-powered snow blower I have ever tested. But for my needs, it’s also much more of a chore to use.
I feel that Milwaukee did everything right. The machine has plenty of power. The batteries can keep up. It’s simple to use.
But I really wish it had a self-propelled drive and adjustable power so that it’s not always throwing snow at max distance.
The Bottom Line
For pro users that might need to clear smaller areas for clients maybe this could do the job while also working with your existing supply of Milwaukee M18 FORGE 12Ah batteries (I wouldn’t use anything less).
For home users, even for pros who use M18 batteries on the job and want a compatible machine at home, this is indeed a high-performing single stage snow blower that is simple to use.
But, $1499 is right in the ballpark of various battery-powered 2-stage models. For home use, there are several different 2-stage battery-powered cordless snow blowers that I would buy instead.
Working with M18 batteries and being smaller and lighter and the only reasons I could possibly recommend this snow blower over 2-stage snow blowers in the same price range.
I can’t think of anything Milwaukee could have done differently with the design and engineering. This is the best single stage snow blower I have ever tested. It’s better than I expected, but falls short of my needs. Like I said, I’ve been spoiled by 2-stage snow blowers.
I’ll be testing it further. Please let me know if you have any questions, and if you need help determining if this snow blower could be suitable for your needs.
Thank you to Milwaukee for providing the review sample.
See Also: Milwaukee Cordless Snow Blower Review – Deeper Snow Update
Frank D
The key to using small corded and cordless single stage snow blowers is to blow often. I know the price on traditional engined snowblowers has gone way up ( same as with riding mowers etc ) … and that this comes with two hefty batteries. Prosumer here, who has 5 months of snow, driveways, walkways, decks and a flat roof.
$1500 … single stage … yeah no. That’s more than my three stage gas powered unit. And, I will happily deal with a cord for my two small single stage ones.
Kilroy
Exactly this.
I picked up a corded single stage snowblower on end of season sale for ~$100 2 years ago, less than I paid for my man plow. Under 2-3″, I just use my man plow to clear the driveway. 3-5″, I use that corded snowblower and know that I’ll likely have to move some snow multiple times because (especially in wetter snow) it will only move the snow 5 or 6 feet. Much over 5″ or 6″, I’m going to have to do either SUPER narrow passes (1/3-1/4 the width of the snowblower) or just clear a few inches down at a time. With thicker layers of snow I’ll often get most of it with the corded snowblower and then use the man plow quickly to get most of the rest, trusting my unshaded south facing driveway to catch enough sun the next days to melt any remaining fraction of of an inch.
That said, I don’t mind moving snow that much, so long as I can avoid actually shoveling it, and lower cost and lower garage footprint were far more important to me than performance or time efficiency (I don’t have the space for a big 2 stage snowblower even if I wanted to spend the money on it), so the man plow and dirt-cheap corded snowblower suit my needs well.
Jason
The user controls are simple and the *mower* is easy to control.
I played with this display a little in Home Depot and the frame was very sturdy, which was my first impression of the mower as well just has that very solid feel.
That being said, I’d find that price very VERY hard to overcome when compared to Ego, Ryobi, or Greenworks even if you’re in the battery platform.
Stuart
Thanks, fixed it!
It’s definitely built very well, and more solidly than others I’ve seen and tested in the past.
jake
Thank you Stuart. Your clarity and emphasis on understanding and setting expectations for single-stage vs two-stage machines has been very helpful for me. I appreciate it!
Stuart
Glad to help!
I found it very challenging to be concise. Milwaukee delivers great build quality and high performance, but I can’t just say that.
I really liked the idea of it, because I hate storing a 2-stage snow blower (it was a test unit) that couldn’t be moved to the basement or shelf in the garage, all for 1 use over the past 2 years. The batteries were starting to wear, and would be more than half the price of a new snow blower to replace.
But now, I was very quickly reminded of what the Milwaukee is missing in exchange for its smaller size, lighter weight, and M18 battery compatibility.
I’ve been dragging my feet on getting a shed, so that I don’t have a giant snow blower (and other stuff) in a corner of my garage workshop most of the year.
It was too much of a hassle to pull out the 2-stage snow blower for light snow. The Milwaukee is a lesser hassle, but for all snow there’s a certain level of exertion.
We’re due to get 9-12 inches and then 3-5 overnight. I’m not looking forward to it, but it should provide great test conditions.
Beanhole
I bought this in October to be prepared for the season. It’s almost February, and not even a skiff of snow. Well worth the $1500 to not have to mess with snow at all.
Doresoom
That’s how it always works! The first year I bought my EGO single stage we didn’t get more than an inch or two of snow all winter.
Alexk
I hope you can do a write up of the two stage you had. Having a torn rotator cuff makes me wish for a self propelled one.
I have had the EGO single stage for four winters. It works fine and cost around $800 with two batteries. It doesn’t feel solid enough for pro use, but it has held up. The Milwaukee seems solid, but that price range gives options. For my needs, a two stage would have been the better choice, but I couldn’t afford it.
Stuart
It was the older EGO 24″.
An industry friend recently recommended TORO to me.
With respect to single stage cordless snow blowers, this Milwaukee M18 is so much better than the last EGO I tested.
For pros driving to clients with a pickup truck, this is a suitable option. If they have a trailer or ramp, gas engine or consumer 2-stage is the better choice.
For home use, there are user needs and environments where the Milwaukee and other single stage snow blowers make sense.
I recommended EGO to my brother in law, and he bought one of the newer models. He likes the performance but complained about the battery life. The cost for an additional set of batteries is a bit outrageous, and so he’s looking at off-brand batteries.
That’s a benefit of the M18 – it uses batteries a lot of users already have (FORGE 8Ah and 12Ah batteries are recommended).
I have an achilles injury and have been really regretting donating my older 2-stage sample.
If I were out of town and we got 8″ of snow, I think my wife – who is very capable – would probably have a very challenging time clearing my driveway with this or any other single stage snow blower. She’d be able to handle a 2-stage with far less physical exertion. The same for my older neighbor who can handle a gas engine snow blower with ease – I think this would be too exerting.
Rob
In 1976 at 16 I had a snow blower route in SW Michigan, right on the lake. Used a Toro single stage. I will reinforce the early and often suggestion. Expecting 12 inches? Go out and clear the driveway every 4 inches or so. Waiting until the snow is done is not a good strategy.
A 2 stage was not an option, too heavy and bulky. Couldn’t strap one of those to the rear bumper of a Super Beatle.
Alexk
I had bought the EGO thinking that my girlfriend could use it if I wasn’t around. She’s older than my 64, and it really is too much for her to do more than a small area, without it being self propelled. The Milwaukee sounds great for the uses you write about. For me, a $1,200 two stage, self propelled battery blower would be the sweet spot.
We are getting the same approx 12” of snow and decided to pay a neighbor to plow. Maybe that is the best compromise.
S
I was really looking forward to Milwaukee’s entry into the snow blower market.
Especially considering that DeWalt had a multi year head start.
But once they announced it would be a single stage blower, I had to back away.
Single stage works great for small snow levels. But at those levels, I’m grabbing a shovel.
The price also has a lot to do with it. A big part of the 2stage gas market is at or under in price, and far more capable for the big nasty snow I can’t use a shovel on.
PM
This would be great for areas that get a lot of snow. And I would definitely consider this. Thank you for your review.
Scott K
I appreciate the detail in this post. I’ve been trying to stay up to date on improvements in OPE because some of my equipment is starting to age. I have a 12 yo Craftsman 2 stage gas powered blower and it is amazing. It doesn’t do great throwing heavy wet snow, but it works well for everything else, it starts up immediately, and it has great self-propelled traction which is essential to me since we have a long steep driveway. The cost of extra batteries is a concern for me when looking into cordless options.
Stuart
The cost of batteries is definitely a major concern.
As mentioned in an earlier comment, I recommended EGO to my brother in law, and while he seems happy with the performance the cost of additional batteries is prohibitively high.
Batteries have a lifetime beyond which replacements are necessary. Li-ion tech is better and longer-lasting, but battery packs will need to be replaced. For cordless OPE, it’s good to stick with a system. Milwaukee’s is very good – I really like it and have seen many big and small improvements over the years.
This is the first Milwaukee M18 OPE tool where “is this right for me” is a very loaded question that requires close examination of the user needs and usage environment. For other OPE categories, you get more power and pro build quality without compromises.
Every cordless single stage snow blower is going to inherently have the same or similar limitations. This is the best one I’ve tested, but I had to ensure first-time snow blower buyers didn’t misinterpret that conclusion and automatically believe this to be the best way to spend the same money.
I think that a 2-stage would require the output of 4x M18 batteries at the same time, which would be messy to juggle. An MX FUEL battery-powered model would be fantastic, but would it be marketable?
Scott K
This is the tricky trade off- I’d love to move to all cordless OPE (which I’m sure will happen at some point) but the current cost of higher performance and higher AH batteries can be prohibitive especially because they have a lifespan. For larger areas you also need backups to avoid downtime during charging. I needed to replace my backpack blower at the start of last season and the math just didn’t work for cordless for me – went with a Stihl that I’m really happy with. It also works well for lighter snowfalls.
KMR
IMHO, if you live an area that can get sizable snow, you should size your snow blower not for normal nuisance snow, but make sure it is also up to the task of the occasional 12-16″ snow drops.
As a resident in Lake Effect Snow country there hierarchy of snow blower manufacturers is as follows:
1) Honda
2) Ariens
3) Toro
Everytime I see a Honda snow blower, is is clear why they’re 2x the cost of an Ariens or Toro. They’re built like tanks. I was up in the French Alps this past May, at 12,000+ feet, and the place I was at had two snow blowers. A Honda HSS1380A and what I believe was a custom electric Zaugg Bulldogg snowblower with that was tethered to a monstrous electric cable reel. Zaugg is a Swiss manufacturer of mostly municipal grade snow removal equipment.
I used to consider Ariens and Toro to be fairly equivalent, but Toro’s quality has suffered over the years. I bought a Toro 1232 that was a Home Depot floor model, the Home Depot inventory sticker is holding up better than the paint and it is less than 3 years old and stored indoors. The Toro joystick chute control has it’s pros and cons, it is difficult to use with the snowblower in motion. That said, the Toro 1232’s double deflector chute is awesome. Ariens build quality is better than Toros, the controls are more conventional, and they stick larger engines on their units than Toro does for a given clearing width .
We’re at just shy of 8 feet of snow so far this winter. My normal routine is:
Upto 4-5″, I just use the wide push shovel to do our paved 8 car driveway and ignore the separate gravel drive to the barn.
4/5-12″, I use the Toro 1232 to do both driveways.
12″+, I’ll use the Toro and my Kioti tractor with a 60″ front loader bucket. With big storms, I often end up with a 3 foot plow mound from the town plow at the gravel drive entrance because it is intersects the road near an outside bend in the road. It’s just a whole lot easier to use a front loader bucket to deal with that.
Stuart
I really don’t like the idea of gas and would prefer battery-powered.
I’m starting to look at 2-stage options, even if for next year. Brands don’t make it easy, with vague differentiation between models and different battery sizes clouding the value proposition.
But you’re right – it’s a good idea to plan for the snow one could get. Last year I never needed a snow blower and only used my shovel, and 2 years ago I might have used it only once. I don’t recall the last time we got more than 8″ or so in a single storm, it’s been years.
KMR
Oh, I too prefer battery powered OPE. I went with 80V options for my trimmer and blower a decade ago.
But winter storms come with a higher probability for power outages. A gas snow blower is going to get you through that eventuality, even if you’re without power for 2-3 days. Maybe you get one use out your battery powered snow blower, then what?
I’m fully onboard that most residential OPE under 4-5HP should be battery powered. But if I can’t cut my lawn or blow my leaves, it doesn’t leave me house bound OR make it difficult for emergency services to get to my front door should the need arise.
Those are clearly small probability scenarios, but having lived in the Mid-Atlantic during the ’96 Blizzard, I know that an entire region becomes paralyzed for days due to both the inability to deal with the snow and the power outages that come with those severe storms… so the potential exists for those events.
fred
It almost always comes down to a “horses for courses” sort of decision-making to decide what sort of tool is best for your needs.
When I had 3 domiciles and was on Sanibel (prior to Hurricane Ian) for the winter months – I have a family member take a look at my home in the northeast – but hardly plowed it out. My mid-Atlantic property is a summer place – so it’s mostly closed up during snow season. And — if we got snow in Sanibel that would have been akin to an apocalyptic event. Now that I’m mostly hovering in the northeast during the winter – snowblower choices seem more relevant – but my age suggests that others (rather than I) should be using them. Nonetheless – it would be nice to have a reliable battery-operated machine to do some of my garden paths, decks, patios, pond access etc. – that are left undone after the landscapers have done the heavy lifting.
fred
If Makita is listening, I’d love to see one that works at 40V or 80V and could use the same 8Ah XGT batteries that I use in their lawnmower.
Meanwhile – if we get a heavy snow this weekend – my landscapers will plow my driveway, clear my front walkways and drain my wallet of cash. For a dusting I think a $1499 is overkill and for mid-level to heavy snowfalls – my driveway is much too long for battery power – but one of my progenies will likely show up and do the cleanup with my 13year-old Ariens (assuming it starts) – once the drive has been plowed.
Aragorn
Our Makita rep brought one of their new XGT single-stage 40V snowblowers (SN001G) to our store for a short demo. It has been launched in Switzerland, but we’ll have to wait for next winter in North America. Our impression is that it will be priced well for what it is. It’s super light, and portable and does decently well.
Jared
It sounds like the only major downside is the price point. I realize it may be unavoidable given how much those top-tier batteries cost.
I’m not suggesting it’s bad, merely that in my mind, the price makes it a niche tool. I.e. I would not spend that much for single stage performance. It may be the best single stage snowblower ever invented, but the price makes it a weird choice unless you need that specific size and style of machine.
I’m comfortable with the cordless premium for lots of other OPE (blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, etc.) but this is pretty extreme.
ElectroAtletico
$1500 for mediocrity. PASS!!
I’ll stick with my proven and efficent Greenworks 20in CORDED blower that has NEVER failed me in 8 years. Plus it cost me a whoopin’ $130 back then. No need to reinvent the wheel and if you have power this is a better option than Milwaukee.
But if you don’t have power….if you don’t have power you have other issues more important than getting the sidewalk clear.
ElectroAtletico
The key to snow clearing is to (1) do it often, and (2) use the right tool
This Milwaukee blower…..totally outclassed by the RYOBI 40V units for 1/2 the price.