Ariens Kraken Review: Is This Winter-Devouring Monster Worth the Price?
The familiar dread of waking up to a mountain of snow is a reality for millions. The silence of a post-storm morning is broken only by the groan of a struggling snow blower that can’t handle the heavy, wet accumulation.
This common problem leaves you trapped, exhausted, and battling a machine that wasn’t built for a true winter assault. You need more than a simple tool; you need a solution that reclaims your time and guarantees your freedom, no matter what the forecast says.
Enter the Ariens Kraken, a machine with a legendary name that promises to devour snow with unmatched ferocity. But with its professional-grade features comes a significant price tag. This leaves many homeowners asking the critical question: is this beast of a machine a necessary investment for winter survival, or is it simply overkill?
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Unleashing the Beast: What is the Ariens Kraken?
The Ariens Kraken is not just another snow blower; it is engineered as a professional-grade, rapid-clearing snow removal system. It is designed from the ground up to tackle the most severe winter conditions without hesitation. Its purpose is to offer unparalleled power, traction, and efficiency, setting a new standard for what a snow blower can achieve.
At its core, this machine is about obliterating the barriers that heavy snowfall creates. It moves beyond the capabilities of typical residential units, offering commercial-level performance to those who demand absolute reliability.
Core Features and Engineering Dominance
The Kraken’s power begins with its robust engine, often a high-torque model with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI). EFI technology ensures reliable starting in frigid temperatures and optimizes fuel consumption for peak performance. This powerhouse drives a massive, all-steel serrated auger and a high-speed impeller designed to chew through compacted snow and ice with relentless force.
Its formidable clearing width, often exceeding 28 inches, combined with a deep intake height, allows it to process huge volumes of snow in a single pass. This dramatically reduces the time spent clearing large areas like long driveways or parking lots.
The Unstoppable Track Drive System
Perhaps the most defining feature of the Kraken is its aggressive track drive system. Unlike wheeled models that can slip and lose traction, these tracks provide a massive contact patch with the ground. This results in superior grip on icy surfaces, steep inclines, and uneven terrain.
The track system allows the machine to dig in and maintain forward momentum, even when pushing into the dense, heavy snow piles left by city plows at the end of a driveway. This unwavering traction is a game-changer for properties with challenging layouts, ensuring safety and control where wheels would fail.
Real-World Performance: Conquering Every Type of Snow
Theoretical specifications only tell part of the story. The true measure of the Ariens Kraken is its performance in the chaos of a winter storm. It is engineered to excel where lesser machines choke and fail, handling diverse snow conditions with ease.
From light powder to heavy, wet slush, its performance remains consistently dominant. This versatility is what separates it from the competition.
From Fluffy Powder to Heavy Slush
In light, powdery snow, the Kraken is almost laughably efficient. The powerful engine and high-speed impeller can throw snow over 50 feet, allowing you to clear vast areas at a rapid pace. The hydrostatic transmission allows you to walk at a brisk pace, turning a multi-hour job into a short task.
The real test, however, is heavy, wet “heart attack” snow. This is where most snow blowers clog and struggle. The Kraken’s immense torque and aggressive auger design work in concert to relentlessly pull in and discharge the slush without bogging down. The machine’s sheer power prevents the chute from clogging, which is a major frustration with underpowered units.
The EOD Test: Demolishing the Plow Pile
Every homeowner knows the dreaded end-of-driveway (EOD) pile. This is a compacted wall of snow, ice, and road salt left by municipal plows. The Kraken treats this obstacle not as a barrier, but as just another patch of snow.
Its serrated steel augers bite into the icy chunks, breaking them down into manageable pieces that the impeller can then launch away. The track drive provides the necessary grip to push the machine’s full weight into the pile without spinning out, ensuring a clean and complete removal every time.
The Hydrostatic Advantage: A New Level of Control
One of the Kraken’s most sophisticated and impactful features is its hydrostatic transmission. This is a significant upgrade from the friction-disc systems found on most snow blowers. Think of it like the automatic transmission in a car; it provides infinitely variable speed control, both forward and reverse, with a simple lever.
This allows the operator to perfectly match the machine’s speed to the snow conditions on the fly. You can slow to a crawl to grind through a deep drift, then instantly accelerate across a cleared patch. This level of precise control is a game-changer for both efficiency and operator comfort, eliminating the jerky, pre-set speeds of lesser models and reducing fatigue during long clearing sessions.
The Operator Experience: Taming the Power
A machine this powerful could be intimidating, but Ariens has integrated key features to ensure the Kraken is surprisingly manageable. The design focuses on ergonomics and intuitive controls, allowing the user to command its immense power with confidence and relative ease.
The goal is to minimize operator fatigue and maximize control, making the daunting task of snow removal a more pleasant experience. Features that seem like small luxuries become essential during a long, cold job.
Effortless Maneuverability with Auto-Turn
Wrestling a heavy, tracked snow blower can be physically demanding. The Kraken incorporates Ariens’ Auto-Turn steering technology to mitigate this. This system automatically senses when you want to turn and adjusts the power to the individual tracks, allowing the machine to pivot with minimal effort from the operator.
This makes navigating tight corners, turning around at the end of a pass, or maneuvering in a packed garage remarkably simple. Auto-Turn transforms a potential wrestling match into a fluid and controlled operation.
Creature Comforts for Harsh Conditions
Working in freezing temperatures is challenging, and Ariens has included features to make it more bearable. Powerful dual LED headlights illuminate your path for safe pre-dawn or nighttime clearing. A single, intuitive joystick allows for quick and easy adjustment of the chute direction and pitch.
Perhaps most appreciated are the standard heated handgrips. These keep your hands warm and comfortable, allowing you to work longer without the painful distraction of frozen fingers. These thoughtful additions demonstrate a deep understanding of the user’s needs in harsh winter environments.
Long-Term Ownership: The True Cost and Value
Purchasing an Ariens Kraken is a significant financial investment, and understanding its long-term ownership implications is crucial. The initial cost is only one part of the equation. The machine’s durability, maintenance requirements, and overall build quality determine its true value over years of service.
This is where the professional-grade construction of the Kraken truly shines, promising a lower total cost of ownership compared to replacing cheaper machines every few years. Investing in durable equipment is as important as maintaining the structure of your home; you wouldn’t want to see a vertical crack in crown molding and ignore it, and the same principle applies to your essential tools.
Maintenance and Durability Insights
The Kraken is built with heavy-duty, all-steel components, including a cast-iron gear case. This is the heart of the auger drive system, and using such a robust material ensures it can withstand the immense stress of churning through ice and compacted snow for years without failing.
The hydrostatic transmission is also a major advantage in terms of longevity. Unlike friction-disc systems that rely on a rubber wheel that wears down and needs regular replacement, a hydrostatic system is sealed and requires minimal maintenance. This reliability is a core part of its long-term value proposition.
| Feature | Ariens Kraken (Track Drive) | Standard Two-Stage (Wheeled) |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | Hydrostatic (Sealed Unit) | Friction-Disc (Wear Part) |
| Typical Lifespan | 15-25+ Years | 7-12 Years |
| Key Maintenance Item | Fluid Checks/Changes (Infrequent) | Friction Disc Replacement (Every 3-5 Years) |
| Traction System | Durable Rubber Tracks | Rubber Tires |
| Frame Construction | Fully Welded, Heavy-Gauge Steel | Often Bolted, Lighter Steel |
| Long-Term Value | High: Built for longevity and lower parts replacement costs. | Moderate: Higher likelihood of needing major part replacements over time. |
Is the Ariens Kraken the Right Machine For You?
The Ariens Kraken is an uncompromising machine, but it is not the right choice for everyone. Its capabilities are tailored to specific needs and environments. Making the right decision means honestly assessing your property, the type of snowfall you typically receive, and your budget.
Understanding who benefits most from this level of power—and who would be better served by a different model—is key to a satisfactory purchase. This is about matching the tool to the job.
The Ideal Kraken Owner
This machine is built for those who face the worst of winter. You are the ideal candidate if you have a long, multi-car driveway, especially one that is steep or has a gravel surface where the tracks can provide superior traction without picking up stones. If you live in a region known for lake-effect snow or frequent, heavy storms, the Kraken is a worthy ally.
It is also perfectly suited for commercial users, such as property managers or landscaping companies who need to clear walkways and small lots reliably and quickly. Anyone who values their time and cannot afford to be snowed in will see the Kraken as a sound investment in winter-time freedom and peace of mind. During a blizzard, you need all your household systems running perfectly; you don’t want to be troubleshooting why there is a high pitched noise in house every 10 minutes when you should be clearing snow.
Who Should Consider Other Options?
If you have a short, flat, single-car driveway in an area that only receives a few light snowfalls per year, the Kraken is definitively overkill. The cost and size would be impractical for your needs. A smaller, high-quality wheeled model from Ariens or another reputable brand would serve you much better and at a fraction of the cost.
Similarly, if you have limited storage space, the large footprint of this tracked machine could be a significant issue. It’s essential to ensure you have a suitable place in your garage or shed to store it during the off-season. Being prepared for any home emergency is smart, whether it’s understanding why your appliance is flashing an error like what does 14 e mean on samsung refrigerator or having the right tool for a snowstorm.
The Final Verdict: An Investment in Winter Dominance
After a thorough review, the conclusion is clear. The Ariens Kraken is far more than a snow blower; it is a specialized piece of winter-conquering equipment. It directly solves the critical problem of being physically overwhelmed and trapped by severe weather. Its immense power, unwavering traction, and professional-grade construction are designed for one purpose: to ensure that snow is never an obstacle.
The cost is significant, but it must be viewed as an investment. It is an investment in reliability, in safety on icy slopes, and in the time you save after every storm. For those who face brutal winters, the Kraken provides a level of performance and peace of mind that standard machines simply cannot match.
If your situation demands the ultimate in snow-clearing capability, the Ariens Kraken is not just worth the price—it is the definitive answer to winter’s fury. It is a tool that empowers you to face any storm not with dread, but with confidence.
