Ariens ST24DLE Review

(Rated: 4.2 / 5) Review by Frank Lowery
Noise
Ease of Assembly
Maneuverability
Balance And Handling
Result Quality
Check Price
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A two stage snow blower like the Ariens ST24DLE is the type of heavy duty machine that you want to have in your garage when a serious winter storm starts heading your way. When the weatherman is predicting more than a foot of snow fall, you don’t want to be caught with a snow blower that is not going to be able to handle that kind of accumulation. You want to have a serious, two stage snow blower with one of the best engines in the world, an extra wide clearance capacity and a high snow cut depth. You want to have the Ariens ST24DLE. This is a snow blower that is ready for anything Old Man Winter can bring your way. It will have your driveway completely clear much more quickly than other snow blowers, and it will be very easy to use as well. Let’s find out why it’s so outstanding.

Review Summary

The Ariens ST24DLE is a snow blower that means business. It has an engine that is made by one of the top manufacturing companies in the world – and that means you are going to be able to rely on it for many years and under a lot of really tough conditions. The engine is not only a high performance design, it’s also extremely powerful. With a high displacement, it is able to provide more torque and horsepower to the rear wheel drive and auger than other snow blowers can offer.

That is part of the reason the Ariens ST24DLE is able to support six forward speeds – two more than most two stage snow blowers can offer – and boast one of the highest clearance capacities on any snow blower out there. The clearance capacity is high enough that you can throw heavy snow up to twice as far as most snow blowers. And because it has a high volume impeller fan, it isn’t going to get bogged down, even if you are dealing with wet, slushy snow. The Ariens ST24DLE is a durable, high performance snow blower that is going to help you keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of whatever Mother Nature can bring your way all winter long.

Specifications

The Ariens ST24DLE is a two stage snow blower with a 206 cubic centimeter Briggs & Stratton engine that has an electric start with a recoil backup. It weighs 276 pounds and has dimensions of 38 x 26 x 30 inches. The engine supports both the powerful auger and the eight speed rear wheel drive.

The Ariens ST24DLE has a clearance width of 24 inches and a snow cut depth of 21 inches. It can throw snow an impressive fifty feet through its snow chute, which rotates manually 180 degrees. It has big, high traction wheels and an ergonomic handle. It comes with a 2 year warranty.

Description

The Ariens ST24DLE is one big snow blower – that much is obvious as soon as you get it out of its box. Before you even get the snow chute and handle attached – a process that takes just minutes using regular household tools – you can tell that this is a snow blower designed to handle serious snow fall. That is because it has one of the biggest, widest augers you can find on a snow blower today. At a full two feet wide, the auger can cut a swath through deep snow that is wide enough to clear a sidewalk in just one pass. And that means you will be able to clear your entire driveway in about a half dozen passes.

The auger on the Ariens ST24DLE is made of durable welded steel, which means it is going to have no trouble grinding right through even densely packed, icy snow. And the rest of the snow blower is similarly made of heavy duty materials that will last over the long term. The frame and body of the snow blower are made of tough stamped steel that will be resistant to damage. And the high quality Briggs & Stratton engine is guaranteed to provide reliable performance for many years.

The control panel on the Ariens ST24DLE is designed with comfort and convenience in mind. The handles on the Ariens ST24DLE are ergonomic, so you won’t wind up with a sore back or shoulders after you finish clearing your driveway. And the controls are easy for anyone to use. You can start the Ariens ST24DLE up at just the touch of a button, and control speed with a single lever. The Ariens ST24DLE even has hand warmers built into the handles, so you won’t risk frostbite, no matter how big of an area you have to clear or what the temperature is. This is a solidly built, well designed snow blower that is ready for anything – and it has a great price.

Pros

There are a lot of outstanding features on the Ariens ST24DLE that combine to make the experience of operating it one of the best you can find on a snow blower in its class. From its huge clearance and snow cut depth, to its high performance engine and ability to throw snow up to fifty feet away, this is a machine that is made to take care of large volumes of snow quickly. Let’s take a look at some of its best features.

1. Outstanding width and height : The clearance width and snow cut depth are the two features that are going to have the biggest effect on how much snow you can clear with it. You want to have a snow blower with a sufficiently wide clearance that you can finish your driveway in as few passes as possible. And a higher snow cut depth will have you prepared for heavier accumulations of snow. The Ariens ST24DLE has a clearance width of two feet and a snow cut depth that is 21 inches high.
2. Powerful Briggs & Stratton engine : On a two stage snow blower, you need an engine that is going to have the kind of power that can support serious snow clearing ability. And on the Ariens ST24DLE, that is exactly what you’re going to get. The Ariens ST24DLE has a Briggs & Stratton engine, which means you can count on it to run well under the toughest conditions. And with a displacement of 249 cubic centimeters, it packs serious snow clearing power.
3. Clears more snow than other machines : The Ariens ST24DLE can clear a high volume of snow quickly, thanks to its extra large intake and powerful engine. And because it has a bigger impeller fan than most two stage snow blowers, it can throw that snow much farther – up to fifty feet away, more than twice the industry average. That means you should be able to get a big area clear of heavy snow fall in much less time with this snow blower than other models.
4. Big, high traction wheels : When you are dealing with slippery, icy conditions on the ground, you want to have a pair of wheels on your snow blower that can deal with them and not lose traction. Otherwise, you could have a hard time controlling the snow blower and getting it to keep moving through the snow. The Ariens ST24DLE has big wheels with deep treads that give it a lot more traction than is found on other models.
5. Great controls : The controls on the Ariens ST24DLE are designed ergonomically, so you will have a much easier time using them. And just about everything on the Ariens ST24DLE is easier to use, from the electric start to the quick turn chute control. You can control the snow blower’s speed with just one hand, leaving the other free to handle other controls. That provides you with a more seamless operator experience, and helps you get the job done faster and more easily.

I think you will agree that this is a snow blower that is designed to tackle big jobs fast. With the Ariens ST24DLE in your garage, you will be well prepared for just about anything that winter can throw your way. It doesn’t matter whether you are dealing with blizzard –like conditions or clearing light snow, the Ariens ST24DLE is going to be able to handle all of it with no problems. This is one outstanding snow blower.

Cons

You might be surprised to find out, then, that there are a few areas in which the Ariens ST24DLE is not entirely perfect. While there is room for improvement on some things, though, overall it is a very well designed snow blower that has all of the power you need to take care of serious snow fast. Still, it’s good to get a complete picture before you decide to buy, so let’s take a look at some of its Cons.

1. Large, heavy design : The Ariens ST24DLE is a big machine. While it isn’t unwieldy or so bulky that you will have problems maneuvering it around your driveway – like some snow blowers – it isn’t petite, either. This is part of the deal when you are getting a snow blower with a wide clearance and high snow cut depth, so it isn’t really a true Con. But it does mean you are going to have to clear some extra space for it in your garage or tool shed.
2. Not CARB compliant : This is another common issue with these big, powerful two stage snow blowers. They have engines that are designed to power them through dens, deeply packed snow – and as a result those engines produce a lot of exhaust. But because of that, the Ariens ST24DLE – along with most other two stage snow blowers – is not CARB compliant, which means there is a handful of States where it isn’t available for purchase. This is a real shame, because it’s such a great snow blower.
3. Needs a bit of light maintenance : When you are dealing with a machine that has a four-cycle, OHV engine, it’s going to need a bit of light maintenance to keep it running smoothly. This does not involve a lot of work, though. You will have to occasionally change the oil, and every once in a great while an air filter or spark plug may need to be changed out. But none of this is hard to do or takes a lot of specialized expertise.
4. Rather noisy : The Ariens ST24DLE is not a quiet machine. On the contrary – the engine really roars when you start it up, and it produces more noise than your average snow blower or lawn mower. While this is not a problem per se, it does mean that you run the risk of waking up your neighbors if you are clearing your driveway early in the morning. Of course, once they see your clear drive and sidewalks, they’re sure to understand.
5. Not inexpensive : When you are dealing with a snow blower of this caliber, you are going to naturally have to shell out a bit of money to get it. But that is not necessarily a bad thing – quality costs, so this is a good indication of the kind of high performance machine that you will be getting with the Ariens ST24DLE. And it is not like the price is unreasonable, considering what it is capable of and how long it should last.

Of course, the only way to really know whether a particular snow blower is truly the best one for you is by doing some comparison shopping. This way, you can tell how it stacks up to similar models made by the competition. And you also get a better sense of what is standard for a given class of snow blowers. The following table compares important product specs in the Ariens ST24DLE with two similar models.

Product Comparison

As you can see, while the Ariens ST24DLE has a slightly smaller overall intake than the other two snow blowers, as well as a more compact engine, it remains the only one of the three that can throw snow up to fifty feet away. That says a lot about the design and efficiency of its engine, auger, and impeller fan. In most other areas, the Ariens ST24DLE is fairly comparable to the other snow blowers, all of which are above average for their class. Best of all, the Ariens ST24DLE is less expensive.

	Ariens ST24DLE	Poulan Pro PR291E30	Snapper 1696001
Type	Two-Stage	Two-Stage	Two-Stage
Dimensions	38 x 26 x 30 inches	37 x 50.9 x 32 inches	35.8 x 48.5 x 48.5 inches
Start	Button push	Button push	Button push
Engine Manufacturer	Briggs & Stratton	Poulan Pro	Briggs & Stratton
Engine	249 cc – OHV	291cc – OHV LCT	250 cc – OHV
2-cycle / 4-cycle	4-cycle	4-cycle	4-cycle
Drive	Self-propelled	Self-propelled	Self-propelled
Speed Control	6 forward / 2 reverse	4 forward / 2 reverse	6 forward / 2 reverse
Clearing Width	24 inches	30 inches	27 inches
Snow Cut Depth	21 inches	23 inches	21 inches
Throw Distance	Up to 50 feet	Up to 35 feet	Up to 40 feet
Handle	Ergonomic	Ergonomic	Ergonomic
Light	n/a	Floodlight	Halogen Headlight
Chute Control	Manual 180°	Manual 180°	Manual 200°
Wheels	15-Inch x 5-inch	16-Inch x 5-inch	16-Inch x 5-inch
Weight	276 pounds	268 pounds	265 pounds
Warranty	2 years	2 years	2 years

So what the Pros and Cons lists and Product Comparison tell us is that if you are looking for a snow blower that has a big powerful engine, high clearance capacity and intake, but also is not the most expensive model on the market, the Ariens ST24DLE is a good bet. But to be sure, let’s take one more look at those Pros and Cons before you decide to buy it.

Conclusion

Conclusion Pros

1. Outstanding width and height.
2. Powerful Briggs & Stratton engine.
3. Clears more snow than other machines.
4. Big, high traction wheels.
5. Great controls.

With a very large intake width and height backed up by one of the best engines you can find on a snow blower today, the Ariens ST24DLE is easily able to clear a lot more snow than other machines can. And it’s packed with outstanding features like big wheels, great controls and other accessories. This is a great snow blower.

Conclusion Cons

1. Large, heavy design.
2. Not CARB compliant.
3. Needs a bit of light maintenance.
4. Rather noisy.
5. Not inexpensive.

Those areas in which the Ariens ST24DLE does fall just short of perfect are for the most part fairly common issues on two stage snow blowers. And none of these Cons is going to present any issues where the performance or capability of the Ariens ST24DLE is concerned, so they aren’t anything to be worried about.

Final Word

A snow blower like the Ariens ST24DLE does not come along often, and it’s important you make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to buy one when it does. This is a snow blower that has everything you need to tackle serious snow fall quickly and efficiently. With one of the best engines you can find in a snow blower today, it’s well equipped to deal with serious winter storms as easily as it can clear light accumulations of snow.

The Ariens ST24DLE is a well-built and solidly designed snow blower. It’s got a heavy duty welded steel auger that can cut right through icy, densely packed snow without getting slowed down. It has six forward speeds to choose from so you can always be working at whatever pace is best for conditions on the ground. And its engine will continue to provide reliable power for many years to come. This is a snow blower that is truly head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

Best Price

One of the best things about the Ariens ST24DLE is that it isn’t unreasonably priced, considering how much it has to offer. It is not unusual to see snow blowers in its size class with prices that are as much as twice as expensive as the Ariens ST24DLE. That means you will be able to get all of this power and quality without having to spend a fortune on it. When you look at the outstanding product specs the Ariens ST24DLE has to offer, and compare them to other snow blowers, you might expect to find that the Ariens ST24DLE is a very expensive machine. But all things considered, it has a surprisingly reasonable price.