Best Accessories & Maintenance

Pros

• +12 stainless-steel spikes per foot outgrip coil-style traction devices on hard ice
• +TPE harness stays flexible in deep cold; welded-chain construction holds up
• +Reinforced eyelets and a heel tab make them fast to put on and pull off

Cons

• −Roughly 4x the price of Yaktrax Walk cleats
• −Spikes are unnecessary — and uncomfortable — on bare pavement or indoors

Pros

• +Steel coils grip packed snow and ice in every direction
• +Stretch rubber frame fits over boots and shoes in seconds
• +Light enough to forget you're wearing them

Cons

• −Not for steep, glazed ice or hiking — that needs spikes
• −Coils wear on bare pavement; take them off indoors and on dry concrete

Pros

• +Genuine Ariens OEM — correct shear strength, not a guess
• +Six bolts and nuts: enough for two seasons of bad luck
• +Cheap insurance against a gearbox rebuild

Cons

• −Ariens-specific — Toro, Husqvarna, MTD brands use different pins
• −Verify your model's part number before ordering

Pros

• +Prevents gum and varnish in carburetors for up to 24 months (mfr)
• +1 oz treats 2.5 gal — a 32 oz bottle covers ~80 gallons
• +Works with ethanol (E10) gasoline

Cons

• −Doesn't fix fuel that's already gone bad — it's prevention
• −You still need to dose every can, every time

Pros

• +Dry Teflon film — wet snow slides instead of packing
• +Dramatically reduces chute clogs in slushy snow
• +Works on shovels, pushers, roof rakes, and plow blades too

Cons

• −Needs reapplying every few storms
• −Apply to a clean, dry surface — not after the first pass

Pros

• +48 in tall — stays visible above deep snow
• +Fiberglass flexes when a plow or blower hits it instead of snapping
• +Reflective bands show in headlights

Cons

• −Install before the ground freezes — afterward it's hard work
• −Fiberglass splinters if you grab a broken one bare-handed

Pros

• +Fitted shape for two-stage machines; elastic hem holds it on
• +Water-resistant fabric with protected seams
• +Keeps dust, rodents, and UV off the machine in the off-season

Cons

• −Check dimensions against your machine — very tall chutes may need the tall-chute version
• −Not for a running or hot engine; let it cool first