Author: Alex @ TLR

Alex is not a lawn care natural. He had to learn things the hard way. But after stumbling through his first few seasons of lawn care, he learned a lot. Mostly - what not to do. Alex has become one of the country's advocates of battery-powered lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other highly visible publications. Alex started The Lawn Review with his friend Tyler - who you may see in some of the videos on this website - to help normal people like you understand how to take care of their lawn themselves with the best tools possible. Alex has thousands of hours of experience using hundreds of different lawn tools and has found exactly what to look for in each type of tool. He speaks with deep experience not only about the boring technical specifications, but what the tool actually feels like when you are using it, what to look for before you make a purchase, and how the lawn tool measures up when you factor in price.
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4 John Deere Zero Turn Mowers That Last Forever (Almost)

gas vs battery riding mower

The best John Deere Zero turn mower is the John Deere Z330R zero-turn mower – which is great for residential use for those of us with bigger lawns. John Deere isn’t as big in the commercial space, so this one is the perfect size and price for homeowners.

The kids love them!

They’ve been dominant in the lawn care and agricultural spaces for as long as I can remember. The true patriarchs of modern lawn care. John Deere’s zero turn mowers however, have become less popular over the years. I am seeing them appear on landscaping trailers less and less these days. 

Today, we are going to break down the best John Deere Zero Turn mowers and who they appeal to the best. Let’s get started!

Our favorite John Deere Zero-Turns, ranked:

John Deere Zero Turn Mowers: Our Ranking

Let’s dive right in. John Deere has three series of zero turn mowers with varying sizes and configurations within each one. I’ll do my best to touch on the differences of each different zero-turn mower.

Looking for something smaller? Check out some John Deere lawn tractors. Electric? Consider our list of great and surprising electric riding mowers.

John Deere Z330R ZTrak Zero Turn Mower

I checked out all of the John Deere Z300 series zero turn mowers and landed on this one as the best. Frankly, it wasn’t even close. 

The Z300 series is the smaller of the three series that John Deere zero turn mowers offer. They’re all basically for residential use and start at relatively low power output and work their way up. At the highest end of the Z300 series, which is the Z330R, you can expect to reasonably cut around 4 acres before you need to step up to the Z500 series.

The Z330R from John Deere is by far the best. I know it sounds petty and I’ve referenced it in other articles, but a surprisingly large portion of my decision making comes down to the arm rests. It’s a huge differentiator if you’re out there for more than 20 minutes and makes the experience way, way better. 

Very good for residential use.

But here are a few other, probably more important things that we liked about this zero turn:

  • 23 HP engine, putting it above most other residential zero turns like the Toro TimeCutter
  • 48 and 54 inch deck options (we would do 48 for residential)
  • Accel Deep mower deck made with 10-gauge steel
  • Hydrostatic transmission
  • Fast forward speed at up to 7 MPH

One thing I don’t love about this zero-turn is the manual operation of the blade height adjustment. A few of the newer competitor zero-turns have a nice little onboard dashboard with electronics that allow you to quickly make adjustments to blade height, with gas level indicators and other bells and whistles. You won’t get any of that on the Z330R or any of the Z300 John Deere zero turn mowers. 

The control panel on this one.

Coming in at just around $4,000, these zero-turn mowers aren’t cheap. One thing I love is that these are made locally in Tennessee and come with a 3 year or 200 hour warranty, so you can rest assured that this one will last you for quite a while.

You can build your own zero-turn from John Deere’s website and at Home Depot (for a great price).

If you’re interested in learning more, we compared this one’s little brother to a Toro zero turn.

John Deere Z515E Zero Turn Mower

The Z500 series of zero-turns steps up the power and is designed for commercial use. The easiest way to spot the difference in a residential and commercial zero turn mower is the rollover bar. 

The  Z515E is the base model for the Z500 series and is the entry point into the commercial Z500 series by John Deere. While it has many features of the Z300 series, it has slightly more power and was designed with the landscaper in mind.

A few things I like about the Z515E:

  • 24 HP V-twin engine
  • 4 year warranty (instead of 3)
  • An operator station that gives you a full dashboard with controls right by your side including a fuel gauge and hour meter 
  • Total height adjustment on the steering control levers
  • Dual cup holders and a storage compartment
  • Ability to connect to the MowerPlus app for maintenance schedules

This zero-turn has a bunch of features I’ve never seen on other mowers. It’s pretty sweet. The first thing that caught my eye was how advanced the control panel was. It seems like everything on this mower was designed to create a comfortable mowing experience, including the adjustable height levers on the steering control. Most other mower brands don’t have that as an option and if they do, definitely don’t advertise it well. I’ve always just stuck with the initial setting and dealt with it.

This is a huge advancement.

A few other things that stick out to me are the accommodations made for comfort. Dual cup holders and a storage compartment can really help you feel like you can make it through the day as a landscaper. These are the small things that have helped landscaping teams feel like you’re investing in their well-being and giving them the equipment to thrive. 

Electronic fuel gauge and hour meter.

At just under $5,000, this one is definitely an investment you’ll have to make in a really nice residential landscaping mower. It can be bought and customized on John Deere’s website.

John Deere Z530R Zero Turn Mower

The Z530R comes with a few more bells and whistles than the Z515E. One of the key differences between the two is the ComfortGlide system available on the Z530 that isn’t on the Z515.

The ComfortGlide system allows for forward and backward seat movement when going over major bumps. It basically lets you feel like you are floating. ComfortGlide absorbs way more shock than the standard steel seat springs and drastically improves the mowing experience.

The Z530R series also comes with a foot lift and foot pegs, mats on the floor of the mower, and premium control levers that make the entire experience more enjoyable.

Just a few bells and whistles separate this one.

Otherwise, it is very similar to the Z515E from a power point of view.

At around $5,600 for the 48 inch mowing deck – you are paying a 10% premium for some cool features related to comfort that the 515E does not have. If you are reading this and going to be the one doing all the mowing, then this might be a worthwhile investment to get a more comfortable ride.

You can grab it right on John Deere’s website.

John Deere Z735M Zero Turn Mower

The Z735M is a huge step up from the Z300 and Z500 series John Deere zero turn mowers and is a true commercial landscaper’s dream. Let’s walk through a few of the features that make this one stand out dramatically when compared to the other two:

  • 25 HP V-twin engine that has ridiculous torque and cast iron cylinders that last forever
  • A ton of mower deck updates including a PRO mower deck that:
    • Is extremely deep which allows for air induction (pulling up the grass before cutting it)
    • Super wide discharge area so you can take on a ton of volume even when it is wet
    • Raised and reinforced front deck edge that lets you evenly pull in grass
    • A welded step for you to use when getting on board that sits on top of the deck
    • An optional mulching attachment which lets you pick where you want to put the clippings
  • Adjustable seating and storage which rivals most minivans
  • ComfortGlide suspension
  • Adjustable foot platform so tall freaks like me can fit just fine alongside short kings
They make their own engines, which is unique.
This is the mac daddy.

When you’re going big like the Z700 series, you might as well get a 54 or 60 inch cutting deck that can cut down on your mowing time.

I’m not the only one is who raving about this mower – a ton of other folks who bought it online have left extremely positive reviews despite it being a nearly $10,000 mower. 

Most are saying it’s comfortable and smooth (thanks to ComfortGlide) and note how much time it has taken off of their mow, like cutting it in half.

John Deere Zero-Turn Mowers: Bottom Line

John Deere’s zero turn mowers are a bit on the pricier side but all have two things in common: they’re extremely well made and are attentive to the details. The small things in these machines add up to really put them in a league of their own when compared to competition. 

Of course we all want power, speed, even cuts, and reliability. But the thought John Deere puts into things like cup holders, arm rests, ComfortGlide seating, steering handle adjustments, and more make you feel like they’ve mowed a lawn or two in their day. 

Why we review zero-turn mowers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. Always feel free to leave a comment or request a review using the form you see at the top of this page.

What we look for in zero-turn mowers

A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost. Blade size is important to keep consistent with the size of your lawn. Obviously longer blades are best for larger lawns, but begin to sacrifice a little bit of the agility afforded by a smaller blade. 

Transmission is also an important consideration for a zero-turn mower. Most zero turn mowers do not have manual transmissions, but have either automatic or hydrostatic transmissions. Automatic works just like an automatic car does with a gas pedal and belts. Hydrostatic transmissions use fluid to transfer their power to the blades and the rest of the engine. I prefer and recommend hydrostatic transmissions because they typically require less maintenance and have a longer life (plus it feels a lot smoother).

Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time when compared to a riding tractor or push mower. Zero turn mowers are an upfront investment, but reap a huge return over time. If you own a landscaping company, you can depreciate these bad boys over time (ask your accountant).

John Deere and Gravely make great American-made mowers.

John Deere’s Accel Deep Mower Decks

The Accel Deep mower deck is found on John Deere’s zero turn mowers and is a really cool differentiator that helps you perfect your mow. Here’s how it works.

It basically is a single block of well-constructed metal that helps maintain the structural integrity of the deck. This deck also has a steel reinforced bar that keeps it together even more. 

Accel deep decks are SWEET.

The deck also comes with super easy to adjust anti-scalp wheels which help you move between different types of terrain. 

But my favorite part is the depth of the deck, which allows increased airflow that stands the grass up like it’s being pulled by a comb. A few Toro mowers also have this feature and it allows for a super even cut without missing any spots. 

You can read more about it from Hutson, Inc who wrote a long form post just on this topic.

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5 Powerful Dewalt String Trimmers: Tested & Ranked

The best Dewalt String Trimmer is the Dewalt 20V Max brushless weed eater because it is a part of a large battery 20V battery system, has a brushless motor, and is relatively inexpensive.

String Trimmers are a new world for Dewalt. They have a pretty dominant Dewalt blower collection, they’ve got a nice battery powered Dewalt mower that we reviewed, and they even have some pressure washers.

But before you make a decision to pull the trigger on a Dewalt String Trimmer, make sure you understand exactly what you’re looking for and which Dewalt string trimmer is right for you and your job. 

Jump ahead to the best Dewalt String Trimmers Ranking:

  1. Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Weed Eater
  2. Dewalt 60V Max Attachment Capable Brushless Weed Eater
  3. Dewalt 60V Max Weed Eater
  4. Dewalt 27cc Gas String Trimmer
  5. Dewalt Trimmer Blower Combo Kit

Dewalt Weed Eaters: Ranked

When looking at the Dewalt weed eaters, I’m taking a few things into consideration. The true balance to finding the right string trimmer is assessing the price vs the usability and power. Of course you want the one that feels the easiest to use, has all the bells and whistles, and has extreme power. But not everyone can afford that. So here is how we approach it through the lens of value.

1.) Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Cordless String Trimmer Kit

We put this one at number one because it has all the bells and whistles and is extremely price competitive. It isn’t perfect. I wish it was a tad longer and had a little bit bigger cutting swath, but otherwise it’s darn near perfect. As part of Dewalt’s 20V Max series of tools, you can use the same battery you use for your power drill on this weed eater. Which means you can buy this version tool-only. Tool-only means that it doesn’t come with a battery, which saves you about $60 on the purchase price. Cha-ching.

Here’s what we love about this Dewalt weed eater:

  • A brushless motor that is going to last a LONG time
  • It weighs less than 9lbs, making it easy to use when walking around your yard or garden bed. 
  • Straight shaft that can split for easy storage.
  • Easy to load spool to add more weed eater string whenever you need it.
  • Ability to use 20V Max battery system from other tools you may already own.
  • Variable speed trigger so that you have total control over how much speed you want.
Has all the great pieces at a great price. Best Value.

Basically, this is as close to the whole package as possible without going over $250. These are for sale at Home Depot but can also be found on Amazon for an even lower price.

To us, this one is the most valuable Dewalt string trimmer money can buy. 

2.) Dewalt 60V Max Brushless Attachment Capable String Trimmer Kit

If the number one result is the most valuable Dewalt weed eater, then this one is the most versatile. We’ve reviewed quite a few attachment capable string trimmer kits and really loved the EGO Multi-Head, but this one is giving it a run for the money. It even made our list of the weed eaters with attachments.

The 60V Max Brushless attachment capable weed eater from Dewalt brought out ALL the bells and whistles when they made this one. When you buy this, you also have the ability to buy attachments like: a blower, pole saw, hedge trimmer, edger, and a brush cutter. So basically this has swiss army knife potential. That’s what I’m talking about.

Can save you a ton of money.

But don’t let the cool attachments overshadow just how sweet the weed eater is.  The weed eater alone is an absolute unit and even touts itself as being better than some of the popular EGO weed eaters. 

Here’s their evidence for making such a bold claim:

  • Brushless motor (EGO has this, too)
  • Up to 17 inch cutting swath (EGO’s is 15)
  • 12.8 lbs with the battery (EGO’s is 14.1)
  • Ability to add universal attachments, which allow you to use attachments from several other brands (EGO’s are custom fit to their tools)

The Dewalt 60V Max attachment capable weed eater is a dream. If you are a Dewalt loyalist, this tool is peak perfection – especially if you already own the battery.

This one can be grabbed from Home Depot for about $350 or from Amazon for about $320.

3.) Dewalt 60V Max Brushless Cordless String Trimmer

This 60V Max weed eater from Dewalt is really similar to the one above, but doesn’t come with the attachment capabilities. If you’re looking for JUST a baller weed eater, then this one is a great option. 

This Dewalt weed eater is an amped up version of our number one choice. But here’s the crazy thing: it can be backwards-compatible with the 20V Max series of batteries. This is a crazy tech capability because the 20V Max series of batteries are much more popular. 

Raw power

Think about it: if you have 60V Max batteries already or are building out your lawn tool collection around the 60V Max series, then this is a great investment because you can use the same batteries across all the tools. But what if you already own a Dewalt power drill with a 20V Max battery? Well….you’re still in luck because this weed eater can take those batteries as well.

Dewalt really thought through their customer base and how they can best provide solutions that meet their needs. The reverse compatibility is a huge advancement for saving them money and basically making it universally compatible with Dewalt’s entire line of products.

This one also has all the must-haves: variable speed trigger, brushless motor, straight shaft, decent length, and a 15 inch cutting swath. This Dewalt weed eater is SWEET.

You can grab it at Home Depot for about $300 but I’ve seen it for less on Amazon.

4.) Dewalt 27 cc 2-Stroke Straight Gas String Trimmer

Dewalt is not known for their gas-powered tools and definitely lesser  known in the lawn space. So this one seems risky. But the specifications on it are all extremely positive.

At first glance, this one reminds me of the ECHO SRM 225 or the Stihl FS 56 RC. Let me explain more:

  • 27 cc 2-cycle engine is more than ECHO’s and right in line with Stihl’s
  • A massive 17 inch cutting swath is best-in-class for gas weed eaters
  • It is attachment-capable, which is a huge money saver
  • It comes with a shoulder strap for saving your back

Dewalt really did a great job thinking through this product and designing it for homeowners with big yards and even for commercial use. It’s a dang beast.

Not bad!

One complaint I have is that the shaft length is a little on the shorter side for me. Otherwise this thing is sweet.

What really sells this one for me is that it has a 3 year limited warranty. A lot of these weed eaters have different warranties for commercial or residential use. Dewalt went all out with the 3 year warranty, which I appreciate since they aren’t well known in this space.

This one is available at Home Depot for a REALLY good price. Like a shockingly good price. We don’t get any benefit when you buy from them, but I think this is the place to get it.

5.) Dewalt 20V Max Trimmer Blower Combo Kit

We’ve written extensively about some of the trimmer blower combo kits that can save you a ton of money. Dewalt made the list. Now I know this is kind of cheating to have a combo kit on here, but it should be a part of the consideration process if you are in the market for a new battery-powered line of tools.

That’s what I love about battery powered lawn tools – you buy a kit like this one and you only have to buy one battery. That saves generally about $50-100 depending on the brand. That’s the way to go.

BOTH!

This features a 20V string trimmer similar to our number one option and a really great 20V Dewalt leaf blower that has made our top Dewalt blower list. 

The package together doesn’t fall squarely in this article, but I want to make sure you all understand how great of a deal it is if you’re considering joining the Dewalt family.

This one can be found on Amazon together for a ridiculous price but is also available online at Home Depot.

Best Weed Eater String / String Trimmer Line for Dewalt

Most of these Dewalt weed eaters come standard with a 0.80” weed eater string. It’s fine and all, but I totally leveled up my weed eater when I moved to the GrassKicker weed eater string. 

Yes, we developed it because we got tired of buying weed eater string that broke or didn’t give our yard the look we wanted. And we were shocked at the difference it made.

Our GrassKicker weed eater string fits into every Dewalt weed eater and will make a noticeable difference in the cut. It basically replaced my edger altogether and lasts WAY longer than the stock weed eater string.

Final thoughts: Dewalt’s weed eater collection

While they aren’t a household name (yet), Dewalt is moving into the game with some great products. You can’t go wrong with any of these, it really comes down to how big of a job you have in front of you.

All of these have a great warranty and most of the battery-powered tools will work – as long as you stay in the MAX series of batteries.

Why we review string trimmers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

This is how we spend our time.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Motor

Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

Curved vs Straight shaft

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 

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How to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades: 2024 Guide

Sharpening your lawn mower blade is one of those underrated tasks that you do every few years to revive your yard. I noticed pretty recently that my lawn had some split ends. If you know what I’m talking about, then it makes a lot of sense. 

Sharpening your lawn mower blade is the ultimate “tinkering in the garage” activity. The kind of thing you do when there are no sports on TV and you’ve really got nothing better to do. But for those of us that are perfectionists with our lawns, sharpening your mower blades is a huge necessity.

Let’s get started! Here are the basic steps to sharpening your mower blade:

How to sharpen your lawn mower blade

We actually made this blog post originally as a Youtube short – a less than one minute video that covers all the high points. Here is what we recommend:

Step 1: Prepare the materials

You’re going to need a few tools to get this done the right way. The most important tool in this is the angle grinder. We use (and recommend) the Ryobi angle grinder, which we grabbed off of Amazon for a great price. With the angle grinder, you will want to be sure to have eye protection – so grab some safety glasses and gloves as well. 

Next up you’ll want some way of holding the blade in place. We used a bench clamp to really tighten the  blade in place, but you can also keep it on the ground with weights if you’re really looking to MacGyver it. 

You may also need a socket wrench (we did) to remove the bolt that is holding the mower blade to the mower. 

Because stuff is going to be flying everywhere, make sure you have some rags handy for a clean up and quick blade polish. You may also want a face mask to keep out any fragments from getting in your mouth or lungs. 

Bench clamps rock.

Step 2: Remove the mower blade

The next step in this process is to remove the blade(s) from the mower. If you have a gas-powered lawn mower, start by removing the spark plug. This is a safety measure to avoid  the blades somehow getting activated while you’re down there taking them off. I liken this safety measure to turning your car off when you get gas. (This is a Honda HRN mower).

Next, lay the mower on its side. 

Lay it down gently.

Then use a socket wrench to remove the bolts holding the blades to the mower.

Pop those bolts off to remove.

While you’re down there, give your decking a nice power wash to get off all the old grass and prevent rusting. 

Step 3: Use the angle grinder to sharpen the blade

Once you’ve removed the blades from the mower, it’s time to sharpen these puppies. First, make sure to really clamp the blades down so they don’t move during the angle grinding process. We used a bench clamp to keep it held in place. If you don’t have one, try to find some way to keep it extremely secured down during the grinding process.

Next up, grab your angle grinder. We used the Ryobi angle grinder mentioned earlier with a 60 grit sandpaper disk. 

Grab the angle grinder and get to work.

Once you’ve got the grinder set up, get it spinning and follow along the natural edge of the mower blade. You can move back and forth to get it completely polished and sharpened along the edge. There isn’t a super exact science to doing this other than closely following the edge, making sure to sharpen the entirety of the blade from the tip all the way to the center. 

Step 4: Balance and reattach the sharpened mower blade

One last step that is often overlooked is making sure the blades are balanced. It’s as easy as setting it on a hanging nail to make sure you don’t have a lopsided blade. Balanced blades are important for keeping an even cut. 

If they aren’t balanced, then you can likely shave down the side that’s heavier with the grinder until you find it becoming more even. If that doesn’t work – it may be time for a new blade.

Perfectly balanced. As all things should be.

Overview of steps to sharpen lawn mower blades

  1. Get your tools together:
    • Eye protection
    • A few rags
    • An angle grinder 
    • Safety gloves
    • Bench clamps
    • KN95 face masks to protect yourself from dust
  2. Lay your lawn mower on its side 
  3. Remove the spark plug and mower blades
  4. Use an angle grinder with a sandpaper wheel to sharpen the slanted side of the blade
    • Make sure to grind at a natural angle to avoid damaging the metal
  5. Balance the blades
  6. Put the blades back on the lawn mower the same way you took them off
Reattach that sucker.

Once you finish sharpening the blades, you’ll notice that your grass looks much cleaner after mowing. Nevertheless, one of the most important parts of sharpening a blade is the grinder you use (and how you use it). A subpar grinder can leave you with a lawn that looks even worse than before. Therefore, I recommend choosing a high-quality angle grinder to sharpen your lawn mower blades and achieve the best result. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to learn more about what it takes to sharpen lawn mower blades? Here are my answers to the most frequently asked questions. 

How often should you sharpen lawn mower blades?

As a general rule of thumb, you should sharpen a mower blade after 25 hours of use. If it takes an hour to mow your lawn and you mow it once per week, you need to sharpen the blades after 25 weeks.

How do I know when to replace my lawn mower blades?

Telltale signs that you need to replace your lawn mower blades include patchy spots in the grass or visible damage to the blade (dents, chips, etc.).

Can you sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them?

Yes, you can technically sharpen mower blades without removing them from the mower. However, keeping them on the mower while you sharpen them isn’t the best approach. Using an electric grinder, you could easily sharpen the blade at the wrong angle and ruin it OR the blades could start spinning and cut your hands off. However, using a tool to file the blades manually isn’t as risky.

How do you sharpen a lawn mower blade by hand?

You can sharpen a lawn mower blade by hand with a file. I personally like the Kapoua Needle File Set with six metal pieces. Alternatively, you could get an electric grinder and finish sharpening the blade in a fraction of the time. 

The Bottom Line: Sharpening mower blades

Sharpening lawn mower blades is fairly simple. To recap, you’ll want to remove the spark plug before getting to work. After removing the spark plug, put the lawn mower on its side and remove the blade (either one or two blades, depending on the mower). Place the blades on nails to keep them balanced and sharpen them using an angle grinder or file. Once you’re finished sharpening the blades, put them back on the lawn mower the same way you removed them.

You should sharpen the blades after 25 hours of use or when you notice patchy grass after mowing. 

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

Why you should sharpen your mower blade

You start to see brown tips on your grass where the blade just doesn’t perform like it used to. After mowing you look through your yard and it doesn’t look crisp. You miss some spots. Mowing your lawn took longer than it used to.

Lawn is looking like Guy Fieri with the frosted tips!

These are the signs of a dull blade.

A dull lawn mower blade gives your yard a ragged appearance. If you don’t sharpen your lawn mower blade, you’ll end up with shredded or clumpy grass that looks unkempt. 

Thankfully, sharpening a lawn mower blade only takes a few minutes and doesn’t require a professional. The best time to sharpen the blade is at the beginning of mowing season, around early March. This preps it for the new season without it sitting through the winter season and getting dull. However, you can also sharpen the blades throughout summer and spring if you notice them becoming dull and have the time.

The best time to sharpen your mower blades is right before the cutting season – sometime in early spring as part of your preparation schedule.

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ECHO vs Stihl String Trimmers: Comparison Guide

I like the Stihl FS 56 RC compared to the ECHO SRM 225 because it provides a more powerful cut. ECHO and Stihl weed eaters are the gas-powered string trimmers of choice for both commercial and residential use. Both have a reputation for raw power, insane durability, and great performance.

We have extensively reviewed ECHO weed eaters AND Stihl weed eaters and found the two that are most comparable from each brand in the residential space. 

The ECHO SRM225 weed eater and the Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater are not only the two most popular, but also extremely similar in just about every way. If you’re looking to pull the trigger (pun intended) on buying one of these, then you need to make sure you read the below deep dive.

Jump ahead:

ECHO SRM 225 vs Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater: Head-to-head comparison

Alright, y’all – let’s get to comparing these two string trimmers. We should walk through a power comparison, how these both feel to operate, maintenance, and price/value. Here we go!

Power comparison between ECHO and Stihl weed eaters

Let me start by saying in a blinded test between the two, the power output feels almost identical. I’ve used my trusty Stihl for a long time, but every time I walk by my neighbor’s lawn he has some seriously nice edges around his yard that he did with his ECHO SRM225. 

But if we want to get all technical, the Stihl FS 56 RC has about 25% more cc’s of power output. This is more than enough for the average homeowner and will really help you take it from an around-the-house weed eater to a dense brush-cutting beast. 

The powerful head of the ECHO SRM 225.

Both the ECHO and Stihl weed eaters are good for anything residential and had similar cutting power for just about everything we did in our driveway and around our back deck. The only real difference was that the Stihl felt like it accelerated more quickly than the ECHO. At top speeds, however, it was harder to tell. ECHO’s SRM 225 reaches an RPM (rotations per minute) of nearly 9,000 whereas the Stihl string trimmer reaches closer to 10,000 RPM. 

It’s clear that the Stihl is the more powerful string trimmer when compared to the ECHO. At the end of the day, both are more than enough power for residential use. But if you have any brush in your backyard that you want to slice down, the Stihl FS 56 RC is going to get it done faster.

Comparing usability between ECHO and Stihl

When I’m evaluating user experience I always use my shoulder as the gauge for how easy a weed eater is to use. What I’ve found that impacts the way my shoulder feels are two things:

  • The weight of the string trimmer
  • How long the shaft is

These two things have more impact than a harness or balance or anything else. For me, longer shafts provide more control, which may seem counterintuitive. But I liken it to a surgeon using a scalpel. I have much more nuance when controlling the weed eater when the shaft is longer. Small movements make delicate cuts and shapes in whatever I’m working on.

Me using the FS 56 RC weed eater from Stihl.

The Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater comes in at 10.5 lbs whereas the ECHO SRM 225 weighs just over 11.5 lbs. That extra pound makes a difference when you’re bent over walking around your yard for 25 minutes.

The ECHO SRM 225 has about 5 inches of length on the Stihl FS 56 RC, however. At 71 inches, ECHO trumps the Stihl’s 66 inches in length. 

This is a tough one, but I would honestly trade in the extra 5 inches for the extra pound of weight.

The ECHO SRM 225 wins the user experience comparison.

Which is easier to maintain, Stihl or ECHO?

When it comes to maintenance of weed eaters, there are only a few things to keep in mind. About once per quarter, you’ll want to replace the air filter on both the ECHO and Stihl weed eaters. With heavier use, you may have to replace the spark plug as well, but realistically that may be an every year or even every other year replacement. 

The SRM 225 is a beaut.

Otherwise, both ECHO and Stihl recommend making sure that the drive shaft is greased and the fuel filters are inspected and cleaned. Neither of these string trimmers require much maintenance, but they do have some small things to watch out for. 

Using the right weed eater string for both is important to preserve performance. Both come with a stock string trimmer line, but we recommend using our .095” green weed eater string that is triangle-shaped. 

We tested this string against a TON of other weed eater strings and it was far and above the absolute best. 

Price and value: ECHO vs Stihl

The ECHO SRM 225 comes in at about $230 depending on where you buy it, which I recommend checking the price here at Home Depot. The price on the Stihl fluctuates wildly but the Stihl FS 56 RC is about $220-250 and can be purchased at Ace Hardware.

Y’all – this is relatively straight forward. The Stihl is the better option between the two. It not only provides a more powerful cut but often comes in at a lower price. This thing is going to last you for a long time and is definitely the better value.

The Best Weed Eater String for Stihl and ECHO string trimmers

Y’all – we developed our own weed eater string that is designed to be the most powerful, durable, and visible on the planet. It is INSANELY good. Check it out below – we tested it against DOZENS of other string trimmer lines.

Final words: Stihl string trimmer vs ECHO

While I was doing the testing for this article, I really didn’t know which would be better. I loved my Stihl but thought my neighbor’s ECHO was just the same, if not better. After using both and doing some deep research on the technical specifications, the Stihl was the clear winner.

The ECHO weed eater is a bit easier to use but is more expensive than the Stihl. The Stihl is more powerful, requires about the same amount of maintenance, is lighter, and comes in at about 15% cheaper than the ECHO.

The winner? Stihl FS 56 RC. 

Why we review string trimmers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel and Ease of Use

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Engine Type and maintenance

For residential use, you don’t need a whole lot of power, but if you’re picking between two, you might as well make a point to compare the two. More cc displacement means more power, but how efficiently is it being delivered? How easy is it to replace the air filter or spark plug?

Curved vs Straight shaft 

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. Both of these weed eaters have straight shafts, so you’re in good hands.

Not a fan!

Price and value

Of course price is important – but more important than price is how much value it provides.

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Ryobi Brushless vs. Brushed Motors: Difference Explained (2024)

Ryobi brushless and brushed tools are big names in the lawn tool space. Brushless motors are superior technology that allows for cooler running motors, better durability, and more efficient torque.

Although it may be hard to figure out from the box or product description, there’s actually a huge difference. Today, I’ll walk through what the difference is and make some product recommendations from Ryobi for their brushless motor line of tools. 

My goal is to make this not overly technical, but just give you the quick and dirty explanation that can help you decide whether or not to spend more money.

In short, YES – it is worth it to spend the extra money for brushless lawn tools. If you want to know why, keep reading or skip ahead using the below links:

Brushless vs brushed Ryobi tools

I’m trying to avoid getting too technical here, so let me break down what brushed vs brushless motors do and how this impacts Ryobi tools.

Brushed motors (Regular) from Ryobi

Brushed Ryobi motors have an internal, stationary magnet surrounded by a mobile rotor. The brushes make physical contact with the rotor to transfer the electricity from the battery to the rotor. It essentially causes the rotor to move by changing which side of the motor is magnetic.

It sounds complicated, but here’s what you need to know:

  • The brushes making physical contact with the rotor means that there is increased friction
  • With increased friction, you get heat
  • Heat is going to generally wear down things like plastic and other parts inside of lawn tools
  • This leads to a reduction in lifespan and durability of the product
  • It’s also less efficient than brushless because you are losing energy to heat instead of to power

On a positive note, up until a few years ago (and still to this day), most products are brushed. It’s been the standard for a long time. I have a hedge trimmer from the 90s that’s brushed and still works fine because I barely use it.

But in general, these aren’t as reliable and will get bent out of shape over time and ultimately stop working. 

Ryobi’s Brushless motors

Brushless motors flip the engineering of brushed motors on their head. Basically instead of having the mechanical action of the brushes, a different type of current is used to cause a magnetic field that rotates and moves the magnet. 

It’s almost like an invisible motor, totally driven by an electric current and magnets instead of manual transferral of voltage. 

For those that aren’t nerds, here are some of the impacts:

  • More torque due to no heat loss 
  • Cooler running motor
  • Longer life

Which is better – brushed or brushless Ryobi tools?

It’s pretty clear that Ryobi’s brushless tools are better than their old brushed motors. If you aren’t convinced by the increased power of their new brushless lineup, you should be convinced by the durability. 

Brushless motors are akin to the lithium-ion battery instead of the old nickel hydride batteries. They last a lot longer and perform way better. 

Our favorite Ryobi Brushless Lawn Tools

We’ve written a ton of reviews about some of Ryobi’s best brushless tools. Let me save you some time and give you the best from each category.

Best Ryobi Brushless Blower

Ryobi came out with a new 40V Brushless Whisper series blower and it is sweet. We put it in a head-to-head challenge we called the Ryobi vs EGO blower battle. 

Ain’t it a beaut?

Here’s what we love about the Ryobi 730 CFM 40V Brushless Whisper blower:

  • It’s quiet – well, kind of. It makes a different noise which definitely isn’t loud but also isn’t the best sound in the world.
  • This Ryobi brushless blower has a really cool handle that allows you to control the speed and set a cruise control with your thumb
  • It also has a turbo button that takes it all the way up to 730 CFMs or 190 MPH. That’s pretty dang fast.
  • The Ryobi 40V comes with two 4.5 Ah batteries and a charger.
  • Total time to charge the leaf blower from completely dead to fully charged was 53 minutes. Not bad!

It’s easily the most powerful handheld cordless blower that Ryobi offers. You can grab it from your local Home Depot or grab it on Amazon for a great price.

Best Ryobi Brushless Mower

We did a full ranking of the best Ryobi lawn mowers and found the Ryobi 20 inch 40V Brushless Smart Trek Self-Propelled mower was the best. They have a few mowers that look just like this one and even have a newer model, but I really like this one from 2022 because of its simplicity and price.

Coolest looking one.

Here are a few things I liked about this one:

  • Brushless motor (duh)
  • I like that it is black and not neon yellow
  • The self propelled function works really well
  • It is extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver
  • This Ryobi mower has some really easy-to-use tools
  • You can use the 40V battery with everything

This one is also available on Amazon for a really good price, but can also be bought at Home Depot if you want the newer model.

You can also see how this Ryobi 40V mower compares to the Greenworks 48V mower.

Best Ryobi Brushless Weed Eater

When it comes to Ryobi Weed Eaters, we loved the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V brushless 13 inch weed eater. This brushless weed eater from Ryobi comes as a part of their 18V ONE+ series of tools, which is a great collection for the homeowner with a small to medium sized yard. 

This is the one.

Here’s why we picked it over a bunch of Ryobi weed eaters:

  • It has a decent sized cutting width at 13 inches. Many of the smaller ones are at 10-11 inches  which is frankly too small to do any kind of edging work. 
  • It’s one of the only Ryobi weed eaters with a brushless motor
  • It’s super easy to handle with it’s large D-shaped handle
  • This one is well-balanced which means you won’t torque your shoulder when carrying it around

This one is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a brushless Ryobi weed eater. I got mine at Home Depot when I first moved into my house, but you can also get it on Amazon for a great price.

Best Ryobi Brushless Pressure Washer

I probably go a little over the top with my recommendation here, but I am blown away by this Brushless Ryobi Pressure Washer. 

Pure power.

The Ryobi 3000 PSI 1.1 GPM electric pressure washer won both our best Ryobi pressure washer AND best electric pressure washer rankings. It’s a beast. Here’s why I am obsessed with it:

  • Best-in-class pressure for an electric pressure washer at 3000 PSI
  • Large soap tank
  • Nozzles built into the tip that allows you to just rotate the tip to change the angle
  • Big never flat wheels

It’s truly top-of-the-line when it comes to electric pressure washers. The fact that it has a brushless motor and will last longer than the others is a huge bonus.

This one is a legend and can be bought online at any local Home Depot for a great price. 

Final words: Ryobi’s brushless vs brushed motors

Like I said at the beginning, brushless motors make a difference and I highly recommend going with them if you are a DIYer. 

If this is your first time buying a lawn tool and know you won’t use it often, you can get away with it being brushed and probably be fine. I would buy cheap and have low expectations, however.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

This is our job.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

About Ryobi

I’m sure you already know a ton about Ryobi or at least own a few of their tools. They are HUGE in Home Depot. We love Ryobi products and have written extensively about dozens of their tools. Here are a few of our favorite Ryobi products:

Ryobi tools are fan favorites mostly because they are good-enough quality, are relatively low cost, and make just about every tool under the sun, which allows you to reuse their batteries and save a ton of money. 

Some of their awesome tools – the backpack sprayer.
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Drop Spreaders vs. Broadcast Spreaders: 2024 Comparison

Drop spreaders and broadcast spreaders are the two most popular ways to get fertilizer or other soil amendments across your lawn. Most folks go straight to broadcast spreaders, but drop spreaders are the dark horse in this battle.

They’re both great solutions, but I would consider one to be for “Type A”  people and the other more for “Type B”. Let’s figure out which one you are.

Drop Spreaders

Drop spreaders, also known as granular spreaders or fertilizer spreaders, are used to evenly distribute granular materials like fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides to your lawn.. They do this by releasing the material through holes or slots in the bottom of the spreader as it’s pushed forward. 

It looks almost like a paper shredder except with seeds sliding down and dropping out in a neat little fashion.

Drop spreaders have a small opening where fertilizer drops out.

These are less common than broadcast spreaders and often used for things like golf courses or other commercial projects. They make some of these for homeowners and residential use and they’re great for those of us that are “Type A”. For example, my wife would absolutely love one of these.

Know which grass types you have.

Benefits of drop spreaders

One of the main perks of using a drop spreader is the precise and even application it gives. The substance goes straight to the ground and isn’t as affected by wind or other factors. This makes drop spreaders especially useful for applying materials that need a specific application rate, like fertilizers and pesticides.

Additionally, drop spreaders typically waste less fertilizer and/or seed than broadcast spreaders. Broadcast spreaders use a spinning mechanism to throw the material out in a wide arc, which can lead to lots of waste if the spreader isn’t calibrated properly. With drop spreaders, there is less chance of waste because the material is only released when the spreader is moving.

Downsides to drop spreaders

Although drop spreaders have a lot of benefits, they do have some downsides compared to broadcast spreaders. One major limitation is their coverage area. Because the material is released through holes or slots, it can only cover a small area at a time. This means it might take longer to treat a larger area with a drop spreader than a broadcast spreader. 

Drop spreaders may also not work well with all types of materials, like large seeds or pelletized fertilizers that may not fit through the holes or slots.

Pros and cons of drop spreaders summarized

When you’re going for a drop spreader, it’s important to understand that you’ll be more accurate, but spend more time outside (not a bad thing!).

Pros of drop spreaders:

  • Precise application
  • Less waste
  • Easier to understand settings

Cons of drop spreaders:

  • Smaller coverage area
  • Not compatible with all fertilizer types

Overall, drop spreaders are great for getting a precise and even application of granular materials. They offer more even distribution and less risk of waste than broadcast spreaders. 

Best Drop Spreaders For Lawns

Below are our two favorite drop spreaders. We picked them because of their price and ease of use. They are two of the only residential drop spreaders I’ve seen available online. I’d go into a deep explanation of both, but honestly they’re very similar and have pretty basic functionality.

  1. Scotts 76565 Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader (cheaper)
  2. Yardworks 75lb Drop Spreader (more expensive but a bit nicer)

Broadcast Spreaders: An Overview

Broadcast spreaders, also known as rotary spreaders, are used to distribute granular materials such as fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides over your lawn or garden. These spreaders work by using a spinning mechanism to fling the material out in a wide arc, covering your large lawn more quickly.

The bottom of a classic broadcast spreader.

Benefits of broadcast spreaders

One of the main benefits of using a broadcast spreader is the ability to cover a large area in a short amount of time. Because the material is flung out in a wide arc, a single pass with a broadcast spreader can cover a significant amount of ground. This makes broadcast spreaders a convenient choice for treating large lawns or gardens.

My spread pattern.

Another advantage of broadcast spreaders is their versatility. Many models are capable of handling a wide range of materials, including large seeds and pelletized fertilizers, which may not be suitable for drop spreaders. This makes broadcast spreaders a good choice for those who need to apply a variety of substances to their lawn or garden.

Drawbacks of broadcast spreaders

Despite their many benefits, broadcast spreaders do have some drawbacks compared to drop spreaders. One of the main limitations of broadcast spreaders is the risk of waste. Because the material is flung out in a wide arc, it is more susceptible to being affected by wind and other external factors, which can result in an uneven application and a significant amount of waste.

Another potential drawback of broadcast spreaders is their lack of precision. Because the material is released in a wide arc, it is more difficult to achieve a precise and even application compared to a drop spreader. This can be a problem for those who need to apply materials at a specific rate, such as fertilizers and pesticides.

Pros and cons of broadcast spreaders

Broadcast spreaders can help get the job done quickly, but you may miss a spot.

Pros of broadcast spreaders:

  • Cover a large area
  • Very customizable
  • Can take just about any pellet size

Cons of broadcast spreaders:

  • Hard to tell exactly where you’ve sprayed
  • May cause you to put too much down or waste fertilizer

Overall, broadcast spreaders are a useful tool for quickly covering a large area with granular materials. They offer many benefits over drop spreaders, including a larger coverage area and versatility with different types of materials.

Best Broadcast spreaders

Scotts definitely owns the market when it comes to broadcast spreaders. They had one that was popular for a long time, but got feedback (we experienced it first hand) that the design was forcing a lot of the granules to go right into the wheels of the spreader. So they re-designed the spreader and got the new Elite spreader.

They re-engineered the seed distributor to be above the wheels.

You can grab the Scott’s Elite Spreader right on Amazon for the best price.

Another slightly more expensive option is The Andersons Yard Star – which is a bigger, badder version of the Scotts Broadcast Spreader.

Choosing The Right Spreader: Broadcast vs Drop 

Choosing the best spreader for your lawn can be confusing, but luckily the stakes aren’t very high. To make the right choice, it is important to consider the size and shape of your lawn, the type of material you will be spreading, and your budget and frequency of use.

Yard Size and shape

One of the first things to consider when choosing a spreader is the size and shape of your lawn. If you have a large, flat lawn, a broadcast spreader may be the choice that allows you to move the fastest. Because they operate with such imprecision, they ensure that you at least get some fertilizer or seed over most of your yard

On the other hand, if you have a small or irregularly shaped lawn, a drop spreader may be a better choice. This is great for “Type A” people who want to make sure everything is Even Steven when covering their yard in an expensive fertilizer.

These are great for the overseeding time of year.

Material size

Another important factor to consider is the type of material you will be spreading. If you plan to spread large seeds or pelletized fertilizers, you will need to choose a spreader that is capable of handling these types of materials. Some broadcast spreaders are equipped with a larger hopper and more powerful motors, making them suitable for handling these types of materials. Drop spreaders, on the other hand, may not be able to handle large seeds or pelletized fertilizers, as they may not fit through the holes or slots in the bottom of the spreader.

Cost implications

In addition to the size and shape of your lawn and the type of material you will be spreading, you should also consider your budget and frequency of use when choosing a spreader. If you only plan to use the spreader a few times a year, a lower-priced model may be fine. However, if you plan to use the spreader more frequently or if you have a large lawn, it may be worth investing in a higher-quality spreader that is built to last, like the Andersons Yard Star.

Final wrap up: Drop vs Broadcast Spreaders

In summary, drop spreaders and broadcast spreaders are both distribute your fertilizer or seed across your lawn. Drop spreaders are more precise, but have a limited coverage area and may not be suitable for all types of materials. Broadcast spreaders are able to cover a large area quickly and are versatile enough to handle a wide range of materials, but have a higher risk of waste,

Why we started this site

We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. We couldn’t find clarity around what type of products were actually good and reliable. All the fertilizers we tried didn’t work. We ended up with a dying lawn, wasted time, and wasted money.

How we spend our time doing scientific tests.

So we started buying and reviewing lawn tools and figuring out which ones were the best. And now we’ve moved onto actually keeping that lawn looking nice all year around. 

We’ve spent thousands of hours building this content for people just like you and me – normal people.

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EGO 56V Blower vs Ryobi 40V Blower: Comparison Guide

EGO vs Ryobi leaf blowers is a new beef. These are the two top battery-powered leaf blower brands on the market and they’re facing off. I like the EGO blower better because it feels sturdier and is more powerful.

Rocky vs. Ivan Drago. They’re both beasts. They’ve both been working their whole life for this. 

And we are officiating. It got messy and involved an unmanned office chair spinning out of control.

Luckily, we got our hands on the EGO 765 CFM leaf blower and the Ryobi 40V 730 CFM Brushless Whisper Series blower. Here is what we tested on both:

And there was only one winner. Let’s dive right in. 

***SPOILER***: We give the advantage to the EGO 765 CFM blower because it’s more powerful with a longer run-time. You can grab it on Amazon for a great price.

EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V Whisper Blower: A Breakdown

Let me tell you – this wasn’t an easy comparison. These are the two premier battery powered leaf blowers on the market and you honestly can’t go wrong with either.

But c’mon – one of them has to be better, right? 

Let’s find out.

User Experience: EGO compared to Ryobi blowers

Using both the EGO and Ryobi blowers, the first question we got was about sound. One of the main benefits of using battery powered blowers is that they don’t have nearly the same noise levels as gas powered blowers.

Sound and noise from EGO and Ryobi blowers

EGO had a lower-pitched whirring sound whereas Ryobi had a much higher frequency screaming noise. The Ryobi 40V blower is a part of the Whisper series of equipment from Ryobi. While it was definitely a lower decibel level than the EGO, it had an unpleasant high-pitched noise that wasn’t much better honestly.

Weight

From a weight perspective, the EGO comes in at 9.4lbs whereas the Ryobi is a little lighter right at 9lbs. Weight is important when using a blower because without a strap, you’re on the hook for holding these during the entire duration of your blowing experience. If you’re going to be out there for a decent amount of time, then you need to make sure you have a lightweight blower to get the job done. Fortunately, these are both relatively lightweight when compared to a gas blower but slightly heavier than many other electric blowers.

Exactly 9.4 lbs.

Controlling these two blowers is easy

From a control perspective, I’m looking for something that gives me total control over the speed of the blower that is easy to adjust and access on the fly.

Both the EGO and Ryobi blowers have a variable speed control trigger, meaning you can control how much power you’ve got at any moment in time. 

Cruise control thumb adjustment and turbo button.

Both have a cruise control function that can be adjusted with the thumb with the same hand that controls the variable speed trigger (for right-handers only).

Both the Ryobi and EGO blowers have a turbo button, which takes it from their base level of CFMs up to their maximum (more on that later).

Overall, both offer similar controls and come in at almost the exact same weight. If you’re looking to pick one based on user experience, the differentiating factor between the EGO and Ryobi blowers is the sound. One is louder, one has a funnier noise – it comes down to preference. Listen to both on our video to see which one you prefer.

Battery Life – EGO vs Ryobi blowers

Both the EGO and Ryobi both have lithium ion batteries, meaning they put out the same amount of power regardless of whether they have 5% battery life or 95%. 

Ryobi’s 40V battery that comes on the whisper series brushless blower is a 4 Ah 40V battery. You can use other 40V batteries from them with higher or lower Ah, but the 4.0 comes standard. The higher the Ah, the longer the battery will run. 

The EGO 765 CFM blower comes with a 5 Ah battery but can handle more as well. 

Run time comparison of EGO and Ryobi batteries

Here at The Lawn Review we like to get a little wild. So our first run-time test is going to compare the two blowers with their triggers and turbo buttons zip-tied down. 

This part took a while.

The results looked like this: 

  • EGO turbo button run time: 15 minutes
  • Ryobi turbo button run time: 12 minutes

Pretty close but 3 minutes matter when you’re standing out in the sun!

Next was the highest speed without the turbo button. Again, we used zip ties and got these results:

  • EGO full speed blower run time: 25 minutes
  • Ryobi full speed blower run time: 16 minutes

The last speed test for us was the low speed test. We zip tied these ones on the lowest setting and well….it took a while.  Here were the results:

  • EGO low speed blower run time: 157 minutes
  • Ryobi low speed blower run time: 90 minutes 

While the majority of the run time differences come down to the difference in Ah between the  two, I didn’t expect them to be that stark. The EGO definitely wins this category.

The last battery test was how long it takes to get to a full recharge using the EGO and Ryobi battery chargers. 

Here’s how long it took:

  • Ryobi 40V battery charge time: 70 minutes
  • EGO 56V battery charge time: 53 minutes

Ryobi pulls this one out with a faster battery run time at under an hour. 

The EGO blower is more powerful than Ryobi

What may be the most important category yet, things start to get really wild when we compare power. I’m talking out-of-control-spinning-office-chair-wild. 

But first, a quick intro into how power is measured in blowers. Both the EGO and Ryobi blower use brushless motors, which means they use magnets to help transfer electrons instead of brushes. Brushes were prone to become fried due to the constant friction inside of the motor, leading to early deaths and overheating.

CFM vs MPH explained

CFM and MPH are the two most important things in assessing power for the blower. CFMs dictate the amount of volume that comes out of the blower whereas MPH refers to the speed at which the air leaves. If you recall from the beginning of this post, high CFMs typically mean a big burst of air. High MPH means the air is moving really quickly. They often have an inverse relationship where one is high and the other is low. 

In both of these blowers, the CFMs and MPH are super high. The EGO has 765 CFMs when on full turbo at 200 MPH. That’s crazy. The Ryobi has 730 CFMs at 190 MPH. These are both insane when on turbo mode. 

To test this, we blew a pile of dirt off of a plywood to compare their relative power.

Scientific? No. Visually appealing? Yes.

The EGO blew away (pun intended) the Ryobi in this test. 

To take it up a notch, we decided to use the scientific and professional face test. Yes, we put Tyler’s face in front of the blowers and had him tell us which was the most powerful. The results were clear:

Okay definitely NOT scientific but fun.

The EGO was more powerful – much like sticking your head out of a plane, whereas the Ryobi was like sticking it out of a fast moving car. Neither felt good. 

Next up was the spinning chair fiasco. Nobody sustained serious injuries during this test. But we attached both blowers to the arms of a spinning office chair and turned them on to see which one would win with both blowing at the same time. 

Things got out of hand.

It was a hard cycle to stop. But the EGO won.

The EGO is definitely the more powerful of the two.

Price and Warranty: EGO vs Ryobi blower

The warranties on both the EGO and Ryobi are identical – a 5 year tool warranty and a 3 year battery warranty. They are great and this gives me a lot of comfort as an owner of both. 

The Ryobi comes in at around $300 including the blower and two 4 Ah batteries. You can grab it from your local Home Depot, where I’ve seen it for the best price.

The EGO 56V blower will cost about $320 and come with the single 5 Ah battery. It can be purchased at Lowe’s or on Amazon with the battery for a great price. 

So which is better, EGO or Ryobi blower?

Let me start by saying that I own both of these so I am trying to be as unbiased as humanly possible. The Ryobi is probably the better deal, but  the performance of the EGO is worth $20 to me. 

The EGO is slightly heavier but much more powerful and has longer lasting batteries. With the turbo button engaged, it is unrivaled in the handheld electric blower space. 

Both are great – but if you’d like to check out the EGO 765 blower, check it out on Amazon. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, we wrote a great post comparing the 765 CFM blower to the 650 blower.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

What to look for in an electric blower

 Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:

CFMs on blowers

Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.

Usability

What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier. One thing I look for here is how the weight is distributed. I also look for things like variable speed control, sound, and how easy it is to reach or change controls like cruise control.

Motor type

Brushless motors reign supreme. Brushless motors are cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. These are a no brainer when picking a blower.

These are three technical things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications. 

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What Is A Lawn Edger? (+ Best Edgers in 2024)

Lawn edgers are some of the most satisfying tools on the planet because they create a perfect, crisp border around your lawn. You can mow your lawn and remove leaves, but the job isn’t complete without an edger. 

Using a lawn edger is what caused my neighbor to go from “you have really nice grass” to “you have the best lawn in the neighborhood” (true story). Many people try to use weed eaters as lawn edgers, but honestly they can’t quite make the yard look as nice.

Today I’ll walk through exactly what an edger is, how it compares with trimming, then some of the best lawn edgers we’ve used.

Let’s do it.

So…what exactly is a lawn edger?

As the name suggests, a lawn edger is a tool that trims the edges of your lawn’s boundaries. For example, you can use an edger to trim the grass that borders your driveway or mailbox. A freshly-edged yard leaves your property uniform and square. 

Edgers can also be used around garden beds, separating mulch from the grass and creating a distinct garden bed that “pops”.

You wouldn’t go to the barber and only cut the hair on the top of your head without trimming the sides. The same applies to your yard – an edger finishes the job while boosting your home’s curb appeal.

Edging doesn’t take a professional; anyone who can operate a mower can also master the art of edging. If you already use a landscaping company to service your lawn, they should use an edger after mowing. But if you mow your property yourself and don’t have an edger yet, you’re in luck. A quality edger will only set you back a couple of hundred dollars (and trust me, they’re worth the investment).

If you’re looking for an extra crispy lawn, make sure to read our guide on how to sharpen mower blades.

What’s the difference between trimming and edging?

Let’s set the record straight here. Edging and trimming are two very different things that are often mixed up. 

Edging utilizes a motorized blade that digs into the dirt between a hard surface (street, driveway, sidewalk) and your yard. Edgers push up dirt and dig a small little trench that cleanly separates the yard and surface. Edgers can do a little bit of trimming if grass is growing over the surface, but are not designed for full-scale grass shredding.

What it looks like to edge with a trimmer.

Trimmers are used to cut stray grass not reached or not accessible by mowing. Trimmers can also be used to cut the grass between hard surfaces and the yard, but don’t quite have the capability to edge as well as an edger does.

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While a lawn edger is a great tool, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

My favorite edgers

What better way to start 2024 than with a new lawn edger? If you’re looking for a new edger, you have a lot to choose from – how do you weed out the duds? You’re in luck – we did the hard work for you already. Check out our article on the top battery lawn edgers. 

After comparing dozens of lawn edgers, the below options made the top of our list:

  1. Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Edger
  2. Greenworks 40V 8-Inch Brushless Edger
  3. EGO Power+ ME0800 8-Inch Edger Attachment and Power Head

These battery-powered lawn edgers are affordable and offer long-lasting quality and durability (the best of both worlds). 

We used this EGO edger attachment and loved it.

You can also purchase a trimmer and an edger combo to get the most out of your money. While a trimmer does most of the heavy lifting, an edger will make your neighbors stop and stare. 

Another angle of what these bad boys look like.

If you’re a new homeowner or want to spruce up your lawn, a trimmer and edger combo is a great thing to have in your arsenal. 

How to use a weed eater to edge your lawn

You can do some moderate edging of your lawn with a weed eater. The trick is to have the right weed eater string.

When I was using the stock weed eater string that came with my Ryobi weed eater, I thought it was doing a good job. Then after doing a ton of research and developing the 

Manual vs. Motorized Edgers: What’s the Difference?

Lawn edgers come in all shapes and sizes. They also come as manual or motorized. Manual edgers are handheld tools not powered by an engine or battery. Many of these edgers resemble shovels with an inverted cutting tip that penetrates the soil and shapes the grass. It looks like a shovel without any type of curvature. Manual edgers are much cheaper to purchase (and operate) compared to motorized edgers.

In fact, we reviewed the cost of manual edgers on Amazon and home improvement stores and found that the average prices range from $30 to $60. 

Although the price of a manual edger might seem tempting, remember that they require a lot more work. Not only that, but customer reviews are mixed. Many reviewers say the blades break or bend easily. Therefore, you may have better luck with a motorized edger if you don’t mind spending the extra money.

A battery or engine powers a motorized edger. Using a motorized edger is much less labor-intensive compared to a manual edger. However, a motorized edger will set you back at least $100 for a high-quality product. A motorized edger is usually the best route unless you have a very small yard.

The Two Types of Electric Lawn Edgers

Out of all the lawn edgers available on the market, electric edgers are becoming the most prevalent. Consumers have two options when purchasing an electric edger: Corded or cordless.

If you buy a corded lawn edger, you’ll have to keep it plugged in as you use it which can restrict the distance you travel. On a positive note, you won’t have to worry about losing battery life.

A corded Worx edger.

On the other hand, a cordless lawn edger can be operated without plugging it into a power outlet. But despite the cordless option, you’ll still need to charge the battery from time to time using a cord provided with the edger.

The price difference between cordless and corded isn’t significant. As a result, many homeowners prefer a cordless edger because they don’t want to worry about tripping over a cord (can you blame them?). They also don’t need to purchase an extension cord to reach all corners of their lawn.

Edgers often come as attachments for attachment-capable multi-tools. These can easily be swapped out to save money on tools and batteries (not to mention storage space).

Frequently Asked Questions

If my guide on lawn edgers has sparked your curiosity, you’re in for a treat. I put together a list of the most common questions we get from our community on Youtube.

What is the difference between a lawn trimmer and an edger?

The main difference between trimmers and edgers is the depth at which they cut. Trimmers are used for all purpose lawn trimming and have a more shallow cut. Edgers go deeper to form a border around your lawn or garden bed.

What is an edger used for?

You don’t necessarily need a lawn edger, but they’re definitely a must-have if you want a clean and squared lawn. Not to mention, you can get one for around one hundred dollars or less.

How much does professional edging cost?

Most lawn care companies offer to edge as part of their services. That is, they’ll mow your lawn first and edge it after. If you just want a company to edge your yard (and not mow it), you can expect to pay less than two hundred dollars.

Lawn Edgers at a glance

A well-manicured law requires an edger – a tool that trims the areas of the lawn that the standard lawnmower can’t reach. Professional lawn care companies will edge your lawn after cutting it, but you can also do it yourself. Lawn edgers are cheap, easy to operate, and boast advanced features like depth and speed control.

You should also consider a trimmer and an edger combo if you want to pamper your lawn and save your hard-earned money. I’m certain that no matter which edger or edger and trimmer combo you use, the results will leave you more than satisfied. 

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time these days reviewing lawn tools.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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5 Classic Honda Pressure Washers For Home Use

Honda pressure washers are extremely popular. My favorite pressure washer with a reliable Honda engine is the Simpson Megashot 2800 PSI pressure washer.

My Dewalt Pressure Washer with a Honda Engine.

There are a few reasons why Honda is the small engine provider of choice for a lot of these brands: they’re extremely reliable (just like their cars), everyone recognizes them, and they are flat out powerful.

Today, I’m going to walk you through an overview of Honda pressure washer engines then highlight which Honda pressure washers are our favorites. 

Let’s get started!

Best Honda Pressure Washers, Ranked:

  1. Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM
  2. Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM Gas Pressure Washer
  3. Simpson PowerShot 3300 PSI 2.5 GPM
  4. Simpson MSH3125 MegaShot 3200 PSI
  5. Ryobi 3100 PSI 2.3 GPM Pressure  Washer

How I tested these Honda pressure washers

I have been using pressure washers for decades. Basically, my “friend” would always get me to come help him with pressure washer and paint jobs – he owned his own business. That’s when I really started to pick up on the power differences in pressure washers and did some early stage testing.

Now I own and have tested over a dozen pressure washers and love my job. When I’m testing these pressure washers, I am always looking to evaluate the actual PSI that comes out, portability, convenience, and of course what type of job I am doing.

Best Honda Pressure Washers: Ranked

I’m going to rank the Honda pressure washer engine primarily from the lens of a normal homeowner looking for a powerful, reliable pressure washer that is likely available at their local home improvement store. I’ll also throw in a bonus ranking for the best Honda commercial pressure washer. Let’s get after it.

1. Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM pressure washer

The Simpson MegaShot 2800 PSI 2.3 GPM (MS60773) pressure washer made the top of our list for a few reasons. For starters, it is in the sweet spot for power for the average homeowner. 2800 PSI isn’t going to blast away the most insane paint stains, but it will definitely be enough to get your driveway clean. 

What I really appreciate after reviewing a bunch of electric pressure washers with similar PSIs is just how much more efficient gas pressure washers are when it comes to gallons per minute. While this Simpson MegaShot pressure washer is in the same power ballpark as many electric pressure washers, it does so much more efficiently with more volume to help tackle jobs more quickly. 

Here are some more features we love about this Honda pressure washer:

  • Never Flat tires which means you won’t have to worry about keeping the air pumped up, or heaven forbid, replacing the tires
  • A 25 foot hose that’s very durable
  • The lovely Honda GCV170 engine
  • 4 quick connect nozzles that make changing out tips extremely easy (just don’t lose them)
  • A steel frame that keeps it upright and is crazy durable

Oh – and the best part is that it comes in at just over $350 and can be bought at Home Depot online.

Classic Honda Pressure Washer.

There’s a reason this one is so popular. It has everything the average homeowner could want in a pressure washer that’s built to last. 

2. Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM Gas Pressure Washer

If you’re looking for a power upgrade from the Simpson pressure washer above, you may be looking for the Craftsman 3300 PSI 2.4 GPM pressure washer. Craftsman is a dominant brand in the lawn tool space because they make everything. Mowers, blowers, chainsaws and way, way more. 

But they also make some sweet pressure washers. This one is very similar to the Simpson that we ranked number one but has 20% more PSI and 0.1 more GPM. It isn’t going to be a crazy noticeable difference when you use it, but you’ll be able to feel the power when you start applying it to the pavement. This one can definitely be used for some paint stripping, so be careful if that’s not what you’re going for. I’ve used a pressure washer similar to this to get some old paint off of my front porch and it worked like a charm. 

Photo cred: Lowe’s – where you can grab this.

Here are a few other features that stand out with this Honda pressure washer:

  • The powerful Honda GCV200 engine
  • 1 foot tall never-flat wheels – super easy to move around and won’t get popped.
  • 5 quick connect nozzles, including a “second story nozzle” that shoots the water high up for window cleaning
  • A large soap tank on board
  • Easy storage
  • A 30 foot hose for 5 feet of extra reach above the Simpson

It was honestly tempting to get this bad boy as number one on our list, but at just under $500 I thought it might be out of most folks’ budgets (including mine). 

All-in-all, if you can make the leap to this one it is going to be just a s reliable and comes with even more power. It’s also available at Lowe’s or online at several places.

3. Simpson PowerShot 3300 PSI 2.5 GPM pressure washer

This one is a big leap from the other two because it can truly serve in both a commercial and residential setting. It’s a great mixture of power, beauty, and versatility.

Let’s start with looks – the dang thing just looks cool. It comes with big, thick, rubber tires that allow you to take it over gravel or other rough terrain. Never Flat tires are amazing for around the house, but get you into trouble for uneven surfaces.

Classic foldable design.

But what you can’t see is the work Simpson took to make the plunger pump deliver even higher pressure at the tip of the nozzle. The hose itself is 1/16th of an inch bigger, allowing for maximum water delivery to help demolish whatever is in its path. 

Here’s what stood out to us about the Simpson PowerShot:

  • It has a Honda GX200 engine
  • Has PowerBoost technology (the  improved plunger pump)
  • A thicker hose
  • The all-terrain tires

One major drawback to this one is that it doesn’t come with a soap tank and doesn’t have a variable speed design. So basically it can only be used for pure power delivery. It’s like Shaquille O’Neal – only has one speed and that is pure power.

This thing can be picked up from Home Depot online or in-store for a really good price.

4. Simpson MSH3125 MegaShot 3200 PSI Gas Pressure Washer

Have to love what Simpson has here and I’m honestly surprised to see this one at such a good deal.

Earlier in this ranking I spoke about how the Honda GCV200 series is a step up from the GCV190. But the GCV190 motor was still a beast and was a part of some of the most popular pressure washers and lawn mowers of all time. 

Steal on wheel(s).

The MegaShot 3200 PSI pressure washer has a GCV190, and while it isn’t the newest, shiniest thing on the block, it still has insane performance. Here’s what I love about the Simpson MegaShot:

  • Same thick tires as the one above
  • Great PSI at 3200 and equally great GPM at 2.5
  • 5 Quick connect heads
  • A great warranty
  • A 25 foot hose

But the best part – this thing is currently on sale at Amazon for about $320.

It’s also for sale at Home Depot – make sure to price compare!

5. Ryobi 3100 PSI 2.3 GPM Pressure  Washer

While this one barely missed our list of our favorite Ryobi pressure washers, it is still a solid choice. Ryobi makes some great products and while they aren’t as commercially focused or experienced as Simpson or Craftsman, they make some great budget friendly pressure washers.

Not bad! Photo cred: Home Depot – where you can grab it.

But there’s still a lot to like about this one. Here are some of our favorites:

  • Honda GCV170 engine
  • 5 nozzles just like the others
  • Onboard soap tank
  • A 35 foot hose, which is significantly longer than the others
  • 12 inch Never Flat tires

On paper, this thing is sweet. While I would rather take the Simpson home with me and introduce it to my parents, this one is a great alternative if you are a Ryobi loyalist.

My neighbor owns this one and sadly one of the O-Rings broke on the hose intake connection point. While this is anecdotal and a one-time occurrence, I can’t help but question the long-term durability of this Ryobi pressure washer.

Either way, this pressure washer comes in at just around $450 and is available at Home Depot. 

Why we review pressure washers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time – reviewing and comparing lawn tools.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

What features to look for in a Honda pressure washer

Honda pressure washers make it relatively easy to knock off one of the biggest must-haves on your list: a reliable and powerful engine. But there are a few other things we recommend truly making sure are available when searching for a new pressure washer.

Nozzles Matter

  • When choosing a pressure washer, you should pay attention to the nozzles included in the package. Two types of spray nozzles are available, adjustable spray nozzles that can be controlled and quick-connect nozzles with predefined spray patterns.  
  • The predefined spray patterns typically come in different angles, allowing for you to quickly switch between a broad, lower pressure spray or a narrow, higher pressure stream.
  • Quick connect nozzles are super convenient, but they’re almost like airpods – you can lose them!

Soap tank availability

  • Additionally, you may want to consider a soap tank-equipped pressure washer. Some of these pressure washers have “foam cannons” where you can simply add some soap and it will mix it in with the water. Pretty cool.
  • I recommend a soap tank for cars and windows.

Wheels on pressure washers

  • Despite these seemingly minor features, they can have a big impact, especially with larger units. No sense in lugging around one of these in your yard and tripping all over the place.
  • Some pressure washers have a tendency to flip over and be top heavy, so make sure the base is sturdy.
  • If you’re on the job site, keep an eye out for never-flat tires that will protect the wheels in case there are spare nails laying around.

Hose types

  • There’s a big difference between how easy or difficult it is to use a pressure washer based on the kind of hose that comes with it. Stiff, rigid hoses make it extremely difficult to have any maneuverability without messing up the job or knocking over the base.
  • Length is also important for pressure washer hoses as you can end up in a tight spot, literally, if you don’t have enough reach.
  • Check out the two great pressure washer hoses that we compared for an upgrade

Don’t want to buy? Check out your options for renting a pressure washer.

Honda GCV170 vs GCV200 Pressure Washer Engines

You may remember the old GCV160 and GCV190 from Honda, particularly in a lot of their older lawn mowers, like the Honda HRN mower.

With the new Honda GCV170 and GCV200 pressure washers, they’ve simplified the design of their engines and added a few upgrades to help distinguish them even further from the competition. 

Let’s check out the upgrades:

GCV170 and GCV200 Pressure Washer Engine Upgrades

I’m going to try to keep it not too technical here, but the GCV170 and GCV200 have some very fuel efficient upgrades in addition to making them more compact, lightweight, and easy to start and maintain, including:

  • Overhead valve configuration allowing for increased power output
  • More torque across the entire spectrum of RPMs
  • An Auto Choke System
  • Bigger fuel opening to reduce spills
  • Easy access maintenance points
  • Cycloflow technology which makes the engine easier to start
  • It’s lighter

GCV170 vs GCV200 engine comparison

The major difference between the GCV170 and the GCV200 Honda pressure washer engines is in how much power they can put out across the range of RPMs. 


At 2500 RPMs, the GCV170 puts out about 4 HP whereas the GCV200 puts out 4.5. At the top of the range, the 170 puts out nearly 5 HP whereas the GCV200 is going to be above 5.5.

Both are marked improvements above the GCV160 and GCV190, respectively. 

Here’s a cool chart that Honda put out to highlight the differences:

This is a great explainer.

GPM and PSI on electric pressure washers

GPM stands for gallons per minute. This measures how quickly water is leaving the end of the electric pressure washer. PSI stands for pounds per square inch and is a measure of pressure that is being applied out of the electric pressure washer.

If this is confusing to you, you’re not alone. In reality, if you are looking for power, you want both. They work hand-in-hand to deliver water from the machine at a high rate and effective and efficient volume.

For reference, a pressure washer can have a high PSI but a low GPM, meaning it is able to have a high pressure but generally not over a large area. Having both a high PSI and high GPM means that it’s coming out fast and it’s producing a more effective stream.

Likewise, you can also have a low PSI and higher GPM. This is a good ratio for cleaning cars because you get a lot of water at a safer pressure.

Final words about Honda pressure washers

What is there to say? You still drive by 1984 Honda Civics every day. Honda builds stuff that is meant to last. But their small engines are set apart because they aren’t only super reliable – but freakishly powerful as well. 

You’re in good hands with Honda pressure washers – especially if you are checking out the new GCV200 or GCV170 series from them. 

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5 Durable Huqsvarna String Trimmers for Any Yard

The Husqvarna 128LD is the best Husqvarna string trimmer because it is affordable, easy to use, and can work for both residential and commercial landscaping.

The classic.

Husqvarna string trimmers are some of the baddest on the market. Bad in a good way, of course. They are extremely powerful, reliable, and trusted by folks all across the industry. But there’s a ton of them. I’m talking about over 20 different string trimmers made by Husqvarna.

So, let’s get started.

Jump ahead:

Only the best Husqvarna String Trimmers

Husqvarna weed eaters will be evaluated by the above criteria, but also with price in mind. Husqvarna products aren’t sold everywhere and can often be found at Lowe’s or some specialty heavier equipment stores. Let’s jump right in!

Best Husqvarna String Trimmer for Residential Use: 128LD

When it comes to residential use, I have way more options and am going to really care about the experience. I want something easy to use, affordable, and can get my yard looking pristine on the first pass.

We love the Husqvarna 128LD string trimmer. It has a ton of power, comes at a decent price point, has the reliability of gas power, and is a beast. Here’s what we love about the 128LD for homeowners:

  • 17 inch cutting swath – which is professional grade and more than you’ll get from any battery operated weed eater.
  • Lightweight at around 12lbs, which means you won’t destroy your shoulder lugging this around your yard.
  • Straight shaft – which is always preferred for residential string trimmers.
  • Easy to start thanks to the Smart Start recoil system that Husqvarna has put in their fuel pump.
  • A detachable shaft which makes transporting or storage easier in your garage.
Photo cred: Husqvarna.

The 128LD was designed for homeowners to bring the power of commercial use to the budget and comfort level of the normal person. It’s also decently affordable at just under $250 and can be found at Lowe’s. 

I also like the loop handle on this which lets me crank it on its side to use for edging our yard as well. 

Best Husqvarna String Trimmer for Commercial Use: 525L

When it comes to commercial use, you want something that is comfortable and reliable. Easy to start and isn’t going to give you a ton of problems. The name of the game is speed.

The Husqvarna 525L commercial string trimmer is my favorite because it has a huge cutting swath, is light as a feather, and doesn’t go overboard with features – which makes it an incredible price.

In particular, I like that the 525L has:

  • A straight shaft that is just about 6 feet long, giving you serious precision. It’s almost a foot and a half longer than the weed eater above.
  • An 18 inch cutting swath for serious power and easy edging in addition to trimming
  • Super lightweight at under 10 lbs, easy to carry around and toss in the back of the truck
  • One of the lowest priced commercial string trimmers by Husqvarna at just around $350

One thing not on the list of things I like is that the 525L doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles. In my experience, the more new parts and computer controlled pieces on board, the likelier it is to break or be more expensive to service.

They all look the same honestly.

With this one, it’s always been an air filter, spark plugs, new weed eater string and that’s about it. You can also buy brush cutting blades or a harness later, but those are nice-to-haves.

Best Battery Operated Husqvarna String Trimmer: 325iLK

When it comes to battery-powered and electric weed eaters, I’m known to have a lot of opinions. In particular, we’ve spent extensive time reviewing one of the market leaders for a multi-head attachment system, the EGO Power+ Multi-Head Combo Kit. We loved it and EGO is super popular because they have a great battery system that works with tons and tons of tools. 

The EGO Multi-Head System.

Husqvarna has their own. The Husqvarna 325iLK string trimmer attachment system is pretty sweet as well. Knowing that Husqvarna is best-in-class with quality is what makes me feel like this system is going to be perfect for Husqvarna loyalists. But not for everybody. 

Here’s what I like:

  • Quick click operating system that allows you to easily detach and attach the attachments
  • An adjustable handle that is helpful when you move from things like a hedge trimmer attachment to a string trimmer attachment
  • A brushless motor – an absolute must-have that means it’s going to be more durable
  • It’s 70 inches long which gives you serious room for things like trimming hedges
  • A massive 16.5 inch cutting swath, which puts in the highest class for battery powered weed eaters

Here’s what I don’t like:

  • 40V 4Ah battery means that you aren’t going to get a long run-time with this.
  • Husqvarna is relatively new to the battery game – if you have another battery powered tool, I’d stick with that line and save big money on batteries.
Photo cred: Husqvarna.

It has pros and cons for sure, but I would definitely stick with gas if I am doing anything more than a small to mid sized yard. Husqvarna has a ways to go when it comes to maturing and refining their battery line-up, but this is a great start for anyone looking to dive in.

Best Curved Shaft Husqvarna String Trimmer: 122C

I am notoriously not a fan of curved shaft string trimmers but some people are and they have good use cases. Curved shaft is great if you hold the string trimmer face down instead of sideways. It’s helpful for cutting long grass where most areas can’t mow. 

The Husqvarna 122C string trimmer is a great curved shaft string trimmer for exactly that kind of use. Another great application for this is for really small yards or side yards that are narrow between houses. Basically, any type of domestic use is great but these are not often used in commercial settings. 

Not my cup of tea.

Here’s why we picked the 122C out of all of Husqvarna’s curved shaft weed eaters:

  • It’s dirt cheap without sacrificing quality
  • It’s got a 17 inch cutting swath, which is huge for a trimmer of this size
  • Extremely light

Guys, I’m admittedly not a huge fan of these and think they’re way too short to be practically used. If you’re going to grab one, I’d grab this one since it’s under $175. 

Best String Trimmer Line for Husqvarna String Trimmer

The best Husqvarna weed eater string is our .095” green, triangle-shaped weed eater string.

We tested dozens of weed eater strings in a bunch of different Youtube videos. Through this process, we discovered this was the perfect combination of attributes to make an indestructible, powerful, and highly visible string trimmer line. 

Final thoughts on Husqvarna and their weed eaters

Husqvarna weed eaters, like all of their other tools, are freaks of nature. Super well built, durable, and powerful lawn tools that will outlast  most, if not all, of your other tools.

You can grab some of these at Lowe’s or go straight to their website and get them shipped to your house. 

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

About Husqvarna

Husqvarna is one of the most respected names in lawn care. Not only are they producers of great, high quality lawn care tools for residential property owners, but they also create really great machinery for commercial use in parks, golf courses, and all over construction sites.

These bad boys are serious.

Husqvarna’s bread and butter is the heavier, commercial machinery for sure. For example, they don’t have a huge presence in the push mower space, but have some absolute units in the zero-turn mower space. Likewise, they produce big boy commercial lawn mowers and chainsaws that you will see clearing forests. 

That being said, you can see how all of Husqvarna’s industry experience could lead to them making the best weed eaters known to man.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

  • Feel – Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.
  • Gas vs Battery Powered Motors – brushless motors are king if you are looking for a battery powered string trimmer.. They are longer lasting and more durable. Regular brushed motors are fine, too. The key difference here is that brushless motors use magnets, instead of friction, to power the motor. This means less heat, more durability, and a longer life. Gas engines are what they are – will last you your whole life but require quite a bit of maintenance, fuel, and are way noisier. But they are generally much more powerful.
  • Curved vs Straight shaft – I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 
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