New Year; new ideas. That’s the motto here. With that in mind, it got us thinking about new ways to remove snow this winter with the least hassle, like using the Echo DPB-2500 to remove snow from your car instead of the typical hand brush.
While we were considering typical summer and fall yard tools in this new light, we decided to abandon the snow shovel this winter and turn to another unconventional match for tackling snowy walkways and patios: the Echo Pro Paddle Attachment powered by the Echo eForce DPAS-2100. Though primarily used and marketed for summer yard projects, like edging your yard (the trimmer) and removing debris like rocks and pine needles from grass (the Pro Paddle), we tested this combination as a winter tool instead.
Now, we get it; the idea of using a pro paddle for snow removal might seem… odd, but it makes total sense functionally. The Pro Paddle Attachment is designed to sweep heavy debris like rocks from your yard without damaging grass. From that premise alone, we knew it wouldn’t damage a walkway, deck, or patio and, theoretically, should be powerful enough to toss snow.
We couldn’t help ourselves – we were too curious to see how this summertime combo would stack up against more typical snow removal tools. Could this combo provide the portability and versatility of a cordless system while offering enough power to deal with snow-covered patios and walkways? Could this eliminate the need to mess with gas or yank cords to start the blower? Or stain your back as you lift and toss heavy snow with a shovel? Read on to find out how Echo Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100 did in our winter tool testing.
Jonathan Knoder, is a versatile freelance writer and contributing editor for Top Ten Reviews. His work, featured in various publications, covers smart locks, security cameras, and more. Beyond work, he enjoys music, playing with his dog, and golf. Recently, he has tested a series of snow blowers in snowy Utah.
Pro Paddle Attachment: Key specs
| Length | 36.5 inches |
| Width | 22 inches |
| Clearing Width | 22.5 inches |
| Throw Distance | About 1 Foot |
| Weight | 11.2 lbs |
Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Key specs
| Power Source: | 2.5Ah Battery |
| Runtime: | Up to 28 minutes (varies by attachment and use) |
| Attachments Supported: | 16 options, including Pro Paddle, string trimmer, and hedge trimmer |
| Warranty | 5 years (consumer), 2 years (commercial) |
Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Setup
The setup was straightforward. All you need to do for the motor is attach the additional handle grip to a comfortable position. The installation's critical part is ensuring you correctly put the drive shaft into the Paddle and motor. If not, the device will toss debris towards the user, which is dangerous. By following the instructions carefully, it was simple to ensure the drive shaft was correctly installed and turned clockwise (which seems counterintuitive because it's spinning towards you but scoops and throws snow away from you).
Once the Pro Paddle was installed, the battery needed to be charged and inserted into the back of the motor.
- Score: 8/10
Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Design & Features
The Pro Paddle and DPAS-2100 combination weighs over 20 pounds when fully assembled, with most of the weight concentrated at the paddle’s front. That was the first thing I noticed - this device felt heavy. The typical allure of battery-powered yard devices is that they are lightweight. This was anything but.
Additionally, if you think of all other traditional snow blowers and throwers, the throwing mechanism – the spinning part of the design that lifts the snow, and in this case, the Paddle – is typically covered by a housing. This paddle is exposed. This warrants extra caution, as the spinning mechanism is powerful, and nothing can protect your hands or feet.
Thankfully, the motor does have a trigger safety mechanism that prevents accidental starts. You have to kick the stand forward with one finger and then pull down on the trigger to start the Paddle.
- Score: 5/10
Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Performance
With roughly five inches of snow accumulation on my back patio and walkways, the Pro Paddle Attachment had plenty of snow to remove. While it technically worked to clear snow, there is a significant caveat. Unlike a snow blower, which can throw snow from side to side, the paddle lacks directional tossing capability. The Pro Paddle would scoop up the snow but continue tossing it about a foot forward – in the path you’re trying to clear. If your path had a perpendicular end, let's say a patio that meets grass, then you’re golden. The Pro Paddle can push it forward to the end. But if you’re on a walkway or sidewalk, just keep pilling snow. Without directional throwing capabilities, the device's ease of use as a snow removal tool was limited.
The machine’s weight and rotational resistance made matters a bit more challenging. The clockwise rotation, designed to scoop and toss debris, pushes back against your forward motion. Think of it as trying to walk up an escalator moving downwards (a bit extreme, but you get the idea). You can feel the resistance. That, combined with the heavy 20-pound weight, made clearing snow difficult after about 10 minutes, unlike shoveling snow, but not as easy as standing behind a snow blower.
Another worthy note is the skidding sound it makes as you work it across the ground to lift snow. It kind of sounds like skidding tires. It doesn’t sound like a conventional snow removal tool. So much so that my neighbor came out of his house to see what I was doing; it’s not any louder than a typical snow blower, but it does sound different when used.
As for run time, the battery life averaged 27 minutes under continuous operation in our testing. We could charge the battery on both the standard charger and the rapid charger. The fast charger does cut the charging time down significantly, only taking a little over a half hour to charge. You can expect to wait closer to 75 minutes for it to charge without it.
- Score: 4/10
Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Care & Maintenance
The Pro Paddle Attachment feels sturdy. Although the paddle is made of soft rubber, the gear casing and pole are metal and feel solid.
After you've cleared the snow, it is always a bright idea to completely dry the machine before it is stored. The Pro Paddle has a metal gear housing. Moisture leads to rust, which eventually ruins your machine.
Finally, the drive shaft requires lubrication with gear oil (Lithium Base Grease, Mobil SCH634 Synthetic Gear Oil, to be super specific) every 25 hours of operation. But if you only use the device to clear off decks or small services, theoretically, it could be a couple of years before that is required. Of course, that depends on use.
- Score: 8/10
Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100: Price & Value
The DPAS-2100 is available through Echo’s website and Home Depot. The Pro Paddle Attachment is available through Echo’s website, Home Depot, and Amazon. The motor typically retails for $249.99, while the Pro Paddle Attachment adds $349.99 if ordered through the Echo Website. You can find it on Amazon for a small discount of $329.00.
- Score: 3/10
Would I buy the Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100?
I see the intrigue here. It is a one-size-fits-all yard tool with several attachments. While it may be a king of summer, it didn’t quite work as well as I'd hoped for snow removal. That and the combined price make it close to $600, where you can find a more than capable battery-powered snow blower in that price range.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Easy setup, but you need to be cautious about drive shaft | 8/10 |
| Design | Dangerous that paddle doesn't have housing | 5/10 |
| Performance | No directional snow throwing ability. | 4/10 |
| Maintenance | Important to keep things dry | 8/10 |
| Value | You can get a better snow removal options for cheaper | 3/10 |
How does the Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100 compare?
Compared to the Snow Joe 24V-X2-SB22, the Pro Paddle combo has difficulty matching up. Neither has self-propulsion, but the Snow Joe is much easier to push around. It also has directional throwing capabilities, which the Pro Paddle lacks.
A more apples-to-apples comparison is the Enhulk 20V Snow Shovel. The Pro Paddle has a wider clearing path and can handle deeper snow, but the Enhulk can toss snow directionally. It just can’t handle more than a few inches. But the Enhulk is also lighter, easier to maneuver, and significantly cheaper.
How I tested the Pro Paddle Attachment and Echo eForce DPAS-2100
I used the device to clear about five inches of snow after an overnight winter storm. We evaluated its ability to clear patios and walkways, noting its effectiveness, ergonomics, and battery performance. Runtime tests included pinning the trigger to run the machine nonstop until the battery died and timing how long it took to recharge.
