Best Snow Removal Attachments to Rent this Winter

Snow can pile up fast. To keep roads, lots, and paths open, you need the right snow removal attachment on a machine you already own. Renting is often the most cost‑effective choice for seasonal work, and many earthmoving models also excel at winter tasks. If you are new to snow removal, use this guide to compare the top attachments and pick what fits your site, crew, and budget.

Start With a Compatible Machine

Most fleets already have equipment that can push, carry, or throw snow. Common ones include skid steers, backhoes, and wheel loaders. For low ground pressure or icy grades, a compact track loader gives extra traction and stability.

The Six Best Winter Attachments

1. Brooms

• Best for: Light accumulations up to about two inches on smooth surfaces where slip risk is high and speed matters
• How it works: Hydraulic brooms sweep snow off the surface quickly so traffic can resume.
• Keep in mind: Brooms move snow aside rather than place it. They are less efficient in heavy or wet snow and offer limited control over where snow ends up.

2. Buckets

• Best for: Small to medium piles when you can load into trucks or stockpile in a designated area

• How it works: A bucket attachment scoops and carries material for placement or loading.

• Keep in mind: Buckets add precision but move less snow per pass than wide pushing tools.

3. Blades

• Best for: Driveways, sidewalks, and general lot clearing where windrowing helps keep lanes open

• How it works: Angle blades follow surface contours and roll snow to one side to clear a path.

• Keep in mind: Smaller blades fit tight areas. Larger models cover roads and open lots faster.

4. Pushes

• Best for: Big, open paved areas such as parking lots, runways, and long straight drives

• How it works: Snow pushes use box sides to capture and contain large volumes in a single pass.

• Keep in mind: Straight‑ahead motion moves snow efficiently, then you have to stack or load at the dump point.

5. Plows

• Best for: Roadways and travel lanes that need a clean, passable track fast

• How it works: A snow plow attachment uses cutting edges to penetrate snow and cast it aside while the blade rides the surface.

• Keep in mind: Plows excel at continuous clearing where snow keeps falling.

6. Blowers

• Best for: Areas where you must throw snow away from sidewalks, cars, or buildings or where space for stacking is limited

• How it works: Snowblowers gather and discharge snow straight ahead or to one side to place it where you want.

• Keep in mind: Blowers manage deep windrows and packed drifts but move slower than pushes on wide lots.

How to Choose the Right Attachment

Use these checks to match tool to task without overspending.

• Project type: Decide if you are clearing high‑traffic entries, long lanes, or wide lots. For example, a broom can keep hospital walks safe between passes while a push clears big parking areas fast.
• Snow handling plan: Clarify whether you will push snow off a lane, stack it on site, or load it into trucks to haul away. Buckets enable loading. Pushes and plows move volume. Blowers place snow precisely.
• Site characteristics: Measure widths, obstacles, and turning space. Blades and pushes suit larger, open sites. Buckets help on tight properties where placement matters.
• Surface type: Match the tool to paved surfaces such as driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks. Plows are built for roadways where windrowing helps keep lanes clear.
• Machine fit: Confirm the base machine’s size, horsepower, weight capacity, and configuration. Make sure hydraulics, couplers, and visibility support the attachment you pick.
• Snow conditions: Choose buckets or brooms for smaller accumulations. Pick pushes and blades for heavy coverage. Use blowers when you need to relocate snow cleanly.
• Budget: Compare rental rates and pick the tool that meets your goals without excess cost. Renting avoids storage and maintenance for seasonal gear.

Rent Your Snow Attachments from The Cat^® Rental Store

You can rent the attachment you need for a week, a month, or a season and return it when the forecast changes. Browse the complete online inventory, request a quick quote, or find The Cat® Rental Store near you to talk with your local team.