Winter comes with its own set of snow-removal challenges. For property owners, contractors or equipment managers, choosing the right attachment or machine can make a large difference in efficiency, cost, labor and safety. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to decide when to use a snow pusher versus a snow blower, what factors to consider, and how to achieve the best results when working with these attachments.
Understanding the Attachments
What is a Snow Pusher?
A snow pusher (also known as a box plow, containment plow or box‐style plow) is an attachment designed to move snow by pushing it directly ahead, rather than lifting or throwing it.
Key features:
- A curved moldboard and sidewalls that keep snow contained as you push it.
- Mounts on loaders, skid-steers, tractors or front-end equipment.
- Ideal for moving large volumes of snow across a surface into a pile or an off-site location.
What is a Snow Blower?
A snow blower (or snow-thrower) uses an auger and/or impeller to lift and throw snow out of the way.
Key features:
- Engages the snow, picks it up, then discharges it (via chute) to a designated area.
- Can handle deeper snow-depths and heavier snow, depending on model.
- More complex mechanism than a simple pusher – more moving parts, often higher cost.
Factors That Determine Which to Use
When deciding between a pusher or a blower, consider the following dimensions:
1. Snow Depth & Frequency of Snowfall
- If snowfall is light and frequent (e.g., 4-5’ deep), pushing tends to be faster.
- If you get heavy snowfall (more than, say, 6″/150 mm) or deep drifts, a blower may be preferable.
- Also consider how often you need to clear: frequent light events favor pushers; infrequent but heavy events favor blowers.
2. Surface Type & Substrate
- Paved surfaces: A snow blower works well on paved driveways and surfaces where you can throw the snow cleanly.
- Gravel, uneven surface or grass: A pusher might be better because you avoid throwing rocks and you keep control of the mass.
- Terrain matters: slopes, obstacles, uneven pavement may affect efficiency.
3. Snow Storage Availability
- Plenty of open space? Go with a pusher to pile snow easily.
- Limited space? A blower lets you throw or load snow off-site, preventing buildup where space is tight.
4. Skid Steer Hydraulic Power
- Standard-flow machines: Compatible with most pushers and some blowers.
- High-flow systems: Ideal for blowers, which need more hydraulic power to operate efficiently.
5. Budget and Maintenance
- Pushers: Lower upfront cost, fewer moving parts, minimal maintenance.
- Blowers: Higher investment but superior performance on heavy-duty or precision jobs.
Guideline Scenarios: When to Use Which
Here are practical guidelines for the typical applications you might encounter on your site or for your clients.
| Scenario | Recommended Attachment | Why |
| Light snow (1–4″ / 2.5–10 cm), paved driveway, frequent events | Snow Pusher | Quick, low-cost, and ideal for simple, frequent clearing jobs. |
| Moderate snow (4–8″ / 10–20 cm), paved surface, want speed | Could go either – lean Blower if throwing distance or finish matters | Blower clears more effectively when precision or distance matters; pusher still viable for faster coverage. |
| Heavy snow (>8″ / >20 cm) or deep drifts, large area | Snow Blower | Handles deep accumulation with better throwing capacity and overall efficiency. |
| Gravel driveway or uneven surface, snow not too deep | Snow Pusher | Avoids throwing rocks and gives better ground control on uneven terrain. |
| Large parking lot, commercial setting, need mass removal | Snow Pusher or Combination | Professionals often pair large pushers with blowers for both high volume and precision clearing. |
How to Maximize Efficiency with Each Attachment
Tips for Snow Pushers
- Ensure pusher size is appropriate for the machine: width, height, mount stability.
- Keep cutting edge sharp/appropriate to surface (rubber edge on pavement, steel trip-edge where needed).
- Angle the moldboard (if possible) so snow moves effectively to one side and doesn’t build up in front of the machine.
- Be mindful of where the snow is being piled: avoid obstructing traffic/driveway egress.
- For “finish” clean-up, go slow and scrape close to surface to minimize leftover snow/ice.
Tips for Snow Blowers
- Choose the correct type: single-stage vs two-stage snow blower depending on snow depth & surface.
- Keep chute direction in mind: throwing snow into a safe area avoids blowing it back onto cleared surfaces or obstructing paths.
- On gravel, use blower models where auger doesn’t touch ground (to avoid picking up rocks).
- Maintain equipment (clear auger/impeller, check for debris) to keep efficiency high.
- When possible, coordinate blower use for heavy sets, then switch to pusher for lighter follow-up clearing.
Final Thoughts & Decision-Checklist
To summarize:
- If you’re consistently dealing with light to moderate snow, pushing is often faster and more cost-effective.
- If you get heavy snowfall, deep drifts, or need a cleaner finish on paved surfaces, blowing is the better tool.
- Always tailor your choice to site conditions, equipment, budget, and desired outcome.
- For many operations, having both options (or one flexible workflow that uses both) yields the best winter efficiency.
Quick Decision-Checklist
- How many inches of snow do you typically get?
- Is the surface paved or gravel/uneven?
- How wide is the area to clear? How many passes?
- What is your machine’s capacity for pushing vs blowing?
- What’s your budget, storage, maintenance capability?
- Do you need top-tier finish (no windrows, minimal follow-up)?
By running through these points, you’ll be better positioned to choose the right attachment and run your winter operations more efficiently which means less downtime, less labor cost, and a clear site ready for business.
Keep Your Jobs Moving with Skid Pro Snow Attachments
When winter hits hard, Skid Pro Attachments delivers the power and performance you need to stay productive. Our lineup of heavy-duty snow pushers, blowers, brooms and blades are engineered for maximum durability, easy hookup, and reliable operation even in the toughest conditions.
Explore our full range of snow removal attachments to find the perfect fit for your skid steer and keep every jobsite clear, safe, and profitable this season.