The Troy, Bolens, and Yardman are manufactured by MTD. The Ariens is a Husqvarna product. Of the brands named, my personal choice would be the Ariens. HOWEVER, the least expensive Ariens do NOT have gauge wheels on the mower deck, nor any way to attach them. The higher-priced model does have gauge wheels. I believe that gauge wheels are necessary, particularly unless your lawn is perfectly flat and smooth. It's likely that the cheapest MTD mowers do not come with gauge wheels, but I'm not certain. (Gauge wheels are the small wheels that are attached to the mower deck, and keep the mower deck from digging into the ground in sharp turns or unlevel ground.)