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TLDR Review: RYOBI 21" 40V Snow Blower

Item: RYOBI 21" 40V Snow Blower
Author: ShopSavvy

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

Pros

•Effectively moves dry, light snow up to about 6 inches, making it suitable for typical winter maintenance.
•Surprisingly powerful for a cordless electric unit, with more punch than many expected.
•Can handle wet snow up to inches and even heavier snow when using the bundled 5.0 Ah and 3.0 Ah batteries together.
•Battery life is solid, capable of clearing a 20 x 4oot driveway and walkway on a single charge.
•Quiet operation compared to noisy gaowered snow blowers, making neighborhood use more pleasant.
•Compact design works well in narrow spaces where larger blowers struggle.
•Comes with two 5.0 Ah batteries and a charger, adding strong value out of the box.
•No pull cord required, which is a convenient step up from gas models.

Cons

•The handle locking mechanism is poorly designed, often failing to lock properly and collapsing during use, especially when wet.
•Plastic snow scoop bar is fragile and prone to breakage if it hits ice or rocks.
•Reliability issues are a significant concern: some users have experienced random shutdowns, unexpected starts, throttle sticking, and eventual permanent failure after one winter.
•Repairs can be slow and frustrating due to difficulty obtaining parts.
•Performance drops noticeably in snow deeper than 6 inches or heavy, wet snow over inches, requiring slow operation to avoid rotor jams.
•Design flaws make the product essentially unusable for some users, with safety concerns due to erratic behavior.
•Inconsistent experience—some say it’s well built while others find it unsafe or unreliable after limited use.

Bottom Line

The RYOBI 21 in. 40-Volt Brushless Snow Blower is a solid choice if your snowfall is generally light to moderate (up to about 6 inches) and you appreciate cordless convenience with decent battery life and quieter operation. However, if you often face deeper, wet snow or demand rugged durability, the handle design and reliability concerns might frustrate you. If you’re looking for more heavy-duty, dependable performance, especially in tougher snow conditions, you might consider a gas blower or wait for updated cordless models with improved ergonomics and reliability. For a cordless blower that gets rave marks on power and battery life without complaints about the handle, you might keep an eye out for newer RYOBI models as they refine these issues.