I'm on my third year using a tracked snowblower, and this is my first 2 stage snowblower as well. I went for the biggest HS1132 machine without any experience operating a 2 stage snowblower. It does require coordinated effort to turning versus wheeled snowblower with differentials, especially on high friction surfaces. Tracked snowblower and hydrostatic transmission snowblower does not roll down the hill on its own. I have a steep driveway and ice makes going up and down
without tracks a nightmare. It has pulled me up the driveway a couple of times when I just dont have enough traction on my feet to walk up.
I'm so used to tracks now that it doesn't feel heavier or awkward. If you have bad back or hips, tracks are not for you. You will be more active operating and staying warm, so there's no need for handwarmers. Snowblower cabs are more useful when it's really windy and cold outside, I use thinner gloves when behind a cab. I never had any need for handwarmers. Lights comes in useful occasionally, but they're more for keeping me visible to cars.
Another point of track snowblower is that it can climb stairs. This should be approached with caution though. It can also climb up on snow mound so you can cut down tall mountains by layers.
I have two single stage snowblower for finish work and in close quarters near the house, when it's too tight for the track snowblower to move in.
This message was modified Oct 20, 2011 by aa335
