We've researched the latest snow blowers, asked the experts, and sifted through thousands of specs, features and user reviews to find the best snow blowers around. Here's everything you need to know about the Cub Cadet 2X-26” 243cc.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: What you need to know
If you’re looking to greet winter weather head on and clear snow from pretty much any surface with two-stage power, this is the machine for you. The 2X snow thrower is ideal for up to 12 inches of snow, and its huge motor and trigger-control power mean it handles pretty effortlessly. It’s made in the USA too, so there’s another reason to choose this model over many of the others.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: Price
This isn’t the most expensive snow blower we tested but it’s not the cheapest either. You can find it for $999.99 at Home Depot, $1,099 at Snow Blowers Direct, $999 at Farm and Fleet, $1099 at Power Equipment Direct.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: Features
Speed Functions: 6 Forward & 2 Reverse
Tire Size: 15 x 5-inches
Power: Gas
Clearing Width: 26-inches
Weight: 248lb
Engine Type: 243cc OHV 4-Cycle
Warranty: 3 years
This is a beast of a model, built to help you clear serious snowfall. The single-hand four-way chute control allows you to change the direction and pitch of the snow you throw quickly and easily with one hand, and it comes with that all-important trigger-control power steering so you can maneuver it pretty easily despite its size.
The Cub Cadet has a whopping six forward and two reverse speeds, so you can clear snow at your own pace. Its push-button electric start makes it reliable in extreme conditions, and its generous 26-inch clearing width and 21-inch intake height mean it shouldn’t take you long to get the job done.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: Design
The Cub Cadet’s super powerful LED dual headlights are a masterstroke – with these on your side, you can use the machine before daybreak and at dusk and still see where you’re going. More importantly, your neighbours can also see where you’re going, bringing an extra element of safety to proceedings.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: Performance
Its 12-inch serrated steel, heavy-duty augers and steel shave plate will cut through snow and ice like a knife through butter - a really big knife, through a mountain of butter. Its cool blue, no-rust, non-marking reversible skid shoes really make this machine glide, so it’s incredibly easy to maneuver.
16 x 4.80-inch X-Trac tires give you really solid traction in the worst conditions, and it’s capable of throwing snow up to 40 feet. The manufacturer recommends the Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc snow blower for dealing with snowfall of up to 12-inches. Coverage-wise, it’ll work well on large driveways (that can hold up to 15 cars) and performs equally well on gravelled or smooth surfaces.
Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc: User Reviews
Sixty-one Farm and Fleet users rate this snow blower an impressive 4.5 out of five, while over on Home Depot it scores an equally top-notch 4.5 out of 5 from 438 users. At Power Equipment Direct, users rated it 4.5 out of five. Users liked how easy the Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc is to move around, but some warn that really heavy, wet snow can ice up the chute sometimes.
It starts easily, according to user reviews, and despite its size it isn’t actually loud, so you can start your snow-clearing early in the morning or get out there late at night (with those powerful headlights) and get the job done without worrying about disturbing your neighbours.
It’s such a big machine that even with the power-steering it does ‘take some muscle’ to maneuver, but impresses with its ‘finger-tip turning’ ability. Users do recommend this model for large driveways, and due to its size and weight wouldn’t want to use it on a smaller driveway where you have to go back and forth more often.
One user says he’s not only used his Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc to clear his driveway, but also his neighbours’ driveways during big snow storms. Users love the fact that this model has tall tires and a really good tread, enabling it to clear wet, heavy snow ‘with ease’ (from a steep, long driveway – no mean feat!)
Our favourite user review says: ‘You'll want to clear the snow off of every driveway in your neighborhood. This thing is a BEAST.’ You can’t say fairer than that!
Should you buy the Cub Cadet 2X-26" 243cc?
If you’re looking for a seriously powerful snow blower that will get you through the worst winter weather, yes.
