A Telescoping Handle on the Snow Blower is desperately needed!
Went to the store fully intending to buy an ego snow blower today. But the handle was too low! I'm only 6'2" but the height/angle of the handle would hurt my back which defeats the whole purpose of buying a blower! I was expecting there to be a telescoping handle for adjustable height like on my ego lawn mower. The mower is bar none the best piece of outdoor power equipment I've ever used. Part of the reason is the telescoping handle. It is the ONLY lawn mower I've ever used that doesn't hurt my back because I can adjust it properly. It's nice attention to detail on top of great build quality. So I was fully expecting to find the same kind of handle on the snow blower. But no luck!
Very disappointed! I'm all in on ego but this seems like a huge oversight! I'm not that tall at 6'2" and seems impossible that you'd choose to exclude anyone this tall.
Is there some way to adjust the height that I'm missing?
Went to the store fully intending to buy an ego snow blower today. But the handle was too low! I'm only 6'2" but the height/angle of the handle would hurt my back which defeats the whole purpose of buying a blower! I was expecting there to be a telescoping handle for adjustable height like on my ego lawn mower. The mower is bar none the best piece of outdoor power equipment I've ever used. Part of the reason is the telescoping handle. It is the ONLY lawn mower I've ever used that doesn't hurt my back because I can adjust it properly. It's nice attention to detail on top of great build quality. So I was fully expecting to find the same kind of handle on the snow blower. But no luck!
Very disappointed! I'm all in on ego but this seems like a huge oversight! I'm not that tall at 6'2" and seems impossible that you'd choose to exclude anyone this tall.
Is there some way to adjust the height that I'm missing?
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210 Points
- frustrated and disappointed
Posted 10 months ago
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,988 Points
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19,416 Points
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1,372 Points
Ken, Champion
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73,580 Points
The telescoping handles on the lawn mowers don't really offer any adjustment since they have to be extended fully for the mowers to run. They're really there to make the mower more compact for storage.
That said, the mowers do offer a couple of different angles to set the handle as a height adjustment. It probably would be a good idea on future models to offer that design on the snow blowers.
That said, the mowers do offer a couple of different angles to set the handle as a height adjustment. It probably would be a good idea on future models to offer that design on the snow blowers.
(Edited)
Blue Angel, Champion
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179,968 Points
An adjustable handle certainly would be a nice feature, but it would need to be a very robust design. A push snowblower sees much higher handle forces than a mower does. They made a deliberate effort to lock the snowblower handle directly to and in-line with the metal frame.
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210 Points
Good point about the mower handle versus the snow blower. But having the ability to change the angle is the difference between me buying it and not
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19,416 Points
Good point; engineering and well thought out.
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210 Points
Thanks all. I even went back to the store again today and tried tipping it back like I would when I was using it and hunching over - still too low. No matter what I do, I still need to hunch to use it which just hurts my back. Based on comments, I guess those two extra inches over 6' that I am, makes all the difference. I know I'm taller than average but it still seems like this would exclude a large part of the market.
For me sadly, I won't be buying the ego snow blower until the handle is either telescoping or the angle can be adjusted :(
For me sadly, I won't be buying the ego snow blower until the handle is either telescoping or the angle can be adjusted :(
szwoopp, Champion
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105,650 Points
Kind of silly when HD has a 90 return policy. Buy it and try it actually clearing snow rather than imagining how it will not work for you and a telescoping handle is a must.
Then after you use it you will actually know if the handle is an issue or not. If it bothers you - return it and get your money back. easy peasy - you do not have to rebox it - just return it.
Then after you use it you will actually know if the handle is an issue or not. If it bothers you - return it and get your money back. easy peasy - you do not have to rebox it - just return it.
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5,592 Points
I am just curious, is there any snow blower out there that has a telescopic handle?
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19,416 Points
Agree; of all the different thiings we had bought, no one will be 100% satisfied with 100% of their purchases and HD's excellent policy on returns is like a free trial with no personal risk. Not every merchant offers this.
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210 Points
fair enough about the excellent return policy. But suggesting to buy it and try it when you know it won't fit is like saying buy some shoes that are three sizes too small and see how that goes. Sure your feet will fit and the shoes will work as shoes, but you know from the get go it'll hurt.
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5,592 Points
cassels.ben,
I was thinking that if you have a bad back, maybe you should buy a two stage self-propelled snow blower (probably gas). If the handle was higher, it is still going to hurt your back by pushing the snow blower through the snow. I think the bigger problem is your back, not the snow blower. I had two back surgeries and I know that pushing a snow blower through heavy snow would not be ideal. From what you been saying, I concluded that your back hurts just by bending over. Hopefully, you'll find a snow blower that works for you.
I was thinking that if you have a bad back, maybe you should buy a two stage self-propelled snow blower (probably gas). If the handle was higher, it is still going to hurt your back by pushing the snow blower through the snow. I think the bigger problem is your back, not the snow blower. I had two back surgeries and I know that pushing a snow blower through heavy snow would not be ideal. From what you been saying, I concluded that your back hurts just by bending over. Hopefully, you'll find a snow blower that works for you.
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210 Points
Indeed. The back is the main problem - which is part of why I was disappointed not to find as high/adjustable a handle on the snow blower as on the lawnmower, which doesn't bother my bad back at all. The two stages often do have higher handles, although in the store there are quite a few single stage that have higher handles (although to be fair, I only found one that has an adjustable handle so the comment about stresses on the handle being greater and engineering needs is probably spot on). Just disappointed. Wanted to buy another ego tool but now I can't. oh well.
And glad to know from all your comments that I wasn't missing some way to actually adjust the handle!
And glad to know from all your comments that I wasn't missing some way to actually adjust the handle!
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210 Points
And szwoopp , sorry. My reply to you about giving it a go and then returning it if no good, came off more aggressive than I meant it too!
szwoopp, Champion
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105,650 Points
no worries - just lends to the seriousness of your back issues.
Good luck finding a machine that will work for you.
Good luck finding a machine that will work for you.
(Edited)
