7 Cordless Blowers for Any Budget

The best budget cordless blower is the Greenworks 40V leaf blower and vacuum combo because it has a reliable motor, is decently powerful, and allows for you to also suck up leaves or grass for easy clean-up.

You can grab our number one choice Greenworks 40V blower here on Amazon for a great price.

Listen, I used to hate working in the yard. You walk out there and try to ignore the leaves as much as possible.

Don’t overcomplicate this! You can get a budget blower and it still does a great job, takes up minimal space in your garage, and barely makes a dent in your bank account.

Let’s get started.

Here are the great, cheap leaf blowers – ranked:

Budget Cordless Leaf Blowers: Ranked

Again, it can be done! You can find a great budget cordless leaf blower for a ridiculously low price and corded leaf blowers for an even lower one. We have found not only the most affordable blowers, but ranked them in terms of quality and power. A few of these we personally own and others we have tried and tested ourselves.

Let’s get this thing kicked off!

7. Black + Decker 20V MAX Cordless Sweeper with Power Boost

The Black and Decker 20V Max Cordless Sweeper with Power Boost is an affordable, trustworthy, budget cordless leaf blower that is a part of the 20V MAX battery series.

I’m going to stop here and tell you that if you own a Black and Decker 20V MAX series tool, buy this blower. You can get the tool-only version for an insane price if you already own the battery.

The Black + Decker 20V Max blower gets up to 130 MPH, is really quiet, and can run for 25 minutes straight. The best part – it weighs under 4 lbs. It is technically considered a sweeper instead of a blower, mostly because it has a flat tapered nozzle. This makes it perfect for driveways, garages, and porches.

I would not get this blower if you’re trying to move massive piles of leaves. The tapered nozzle is powerful and great for a strong stream of air, but not going to cover a large area.

You can grab this one on Amazon for well under $100 when it goes on sale.

6. Makita XBU05Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower

Makita makes some dang high quality tools. If you’ve ever owned one of their power drills, you know exactly what I mean. They have recently jumped head-first into the lawn tool game as well. Makita leaf blowers are top notch and growing in popularity (you may have seen the TV commercials).

The Makita XBU05Z is a handheld, cordless, budget leaf blower that reaches speeds up to 220 MPH. Just like the other Makita tools you may already own, it just requires an 18V battery.

While smaller than most other blowers, it can clear out a sidewalk, front porch, or garage with the best of them. It is extremely easy to use, has the same grip as a power drill, and can be stored in a very small area.

At just a shade under $100, it is a great deal if you already own the battery with your other Makita tools. Grab it on Amazon today for about $95.

5. Kimo Cordless Blower and Vacuum

One of our personal favorites (because Mom bought it for us), we use this thing all the time. In fact, we did a full written review of the Kimo Cordless Blower and a full YouTube video. We love it.

While it is a lesser-known brand, it is the best option if you don’t own any yard tools. You can be battery-system agnostic and get a sweet blower/vacuum combo for a ridiculous price.

I use this one all the time to do a quick sweep of the porch, sidewalk, and driveway before we have people over. It can be stored in our coat closet and easily carried outside. It’s quiet, lightweight, and super cheap.

It also comes with a vacuum function, although I don’t use it that much. But the vacuum works well for sawdust or other things that you want to get rid of in a jiff.

You can read our full review of the Kimo Cordless blower here.

This thing sells for an amazing price on Amazon – under 90 dollars..

4. Ryobi 155 mph 300 CFM 40-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Jet Fan Blower

So I bought the tool-only version of this cordless budget leaf blower because I already owned the multi-tool Ryobi 40V trimmer and edger. I got it for an awesome deal since I had the batteries already.

This Ryobi 40V blower works really well. It is easy to assemble right out of the box. One of my favorite things about it is that it has a variable speed trigger, meaning I can control how quickly the air flows. I use this blower every weekend after cutting the grass.

It comes in clutch when the maple tree in the backyard suddenly dumps thousands of leaves on our back deck. It gets rid of all of the leaves in super short order and doesn’t wake up the kids. Gotta love it. If you own Ryobi 40V products, this one is a no brainer.

You can get it on Amazon like I did for a tad more than the others, but still a reasonable price.

3. WORX 20V Turbine Cordless Two-Speed Leaf Blower – WG547

The WORX WG547 cordless budget leaf blower is a pretty sweet looking blower. It has a jet-engine type of motor inside that can put out 75 mph of air, or 340 CFMs.

You may notice that the MPH here is not very high. The CFM, relatively, is pretty dang high. This means that the blower has a wider nozzle. I would NOT use this for wet grass or heavy debris. I would absolutely use this for a pile of leaves.

Photo cred: Amazon. Thing is pretty sweet.

Listen, it isn’t going to absolutely destroy leaves like a backpack blower, but it also doesn’t cost $600. It will definitely be able to clear loose leaves from your patio or driveway with ease.

Worx is a great brand and is in almost every garage or shed around the country.

At under $120, this thing is an absolute steal on Amazon.

2. Greenworks 40V (150 MPH / 135 CFM) Cordless Blower

Unlike the last blower, the Greenworks 40V 150 MPH / 135 CFM cordless blower is a high-speed, low air-volume blower. These are super interesting to use because they are basically beams of air that fly out of a narrow tip.

This one is awesome for cleaning off the driveway after a fresh mow. It can also lift off anything underneath a chair, on top of your outdoor tables, and between cracks that other blowers can’t reach.

Before you pull the trigger (pun intended), realize that this one isn’t great for clearing all the leaves from your lawn. You can do it, but you’ll be out there for a while. The Greenworks 150 MPH blower is about precision and power, not as much about pushing big loads of air.

It’s a great deal (actually a crazy deal on Amazon), has over 15k reviews, and comes in under $60. That’s a hot tamale.

1. Greenworks 40V (185 MPH/340CFM) Brushless Cordless Leaf Blower

The Greenworks 40V 185 MPH brushless cordless budget leaf blower and vacuum combination that makes cleaning up leaves extremely easy. A six speed-option dial allows for you to have complete control over what you are blowing away. Coming in at under 6lbs with a runtime of over 20 minutes on the highest setting, you will be able to quickly crush whatever job you’re trying to do.

What I love most about this blower is the brushless motor. Brushless motors last way longer, have more torque, and operate cooler than brushed motors. This one is going to last you a long time.

Somehow insanely priced AND comes with a vacuum.

With the additional vacuum add-on pieces, you can easily blow all the leaves into a pile and suck them into a big bag, making cleaning up a snap.

The craziest thing about this blower is that Amazon must be broken or something. It is listed for $70 right now if you get the tool-only version. It honestly seems like a glitch or something.

Oh well – feel free to take advantage of it as long as it lasts on Amazon.

Why we started The Lawn Review

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.

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:

CFM – 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.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

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

July 12, 2022April 2, 2024

5 Battery Powered Lawn Combo Kits For All-in-One Shopping

The best lawn mower and trimmer combo kit is the Greenworks 40V 21 inch mower and trimmer kit. Not only do you get a sweet mower and trimmer, but you can save a bunch of money on lawn tools from Greenworks in the future by using the same 40V battery across dozens of tools.

Gotta love it! This photo came from one of our giveaway winners!

Best Mower Trimmer Combo (all-around): Greenworks 40V 21 inch mower and trimmer

5 Best Electric Lawn Mower and Trimmer combo kits

Alright y’all – let’s get to it. After about 19 hours of research and testing, we decided to bring you the best of the best.

We cut out combinations that could be purchased individually because that isn’t super helpful or convenient if you are trying to bundle these. We also disqualified combos that were insanely expensive. No thanks!

5. Toro Flex Force 60V Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit with mower and trimmer

The Toro Flex Force 60V Cordless 2-Tool Combo kit is the second most expensive set on this list. And there’s a reason why. It has a 22 inch walk-behind mower (meaning it is self-propelled) and a 16 inch trimmer. That’s pretty sweet. 16 inch trimmers are definitely in the commercial range and can be used by professional landscapers. The Toro Recycler mower has a brushless motor which means it is built to last and deliver more power than its brushed counterparts.

The mower can cut about ⅓ of an acre in 40 minutes. This is a little bit more than the average homeowner needs, but no complaints from me.

Toro has high quality stuff, but doesn’t have quite the experience in the electric space yet. For commercial gas-powered equipment, I’ll take Toro all day. In the electric world, they are still newbies.

You can grab this kit from Home Depot for about $100 less than it was this time last year.

4. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 in Mower and String Trimmer Kit

I love Ryobi products. They *mostly* have pretty high quality stuff, including their 40V HP Brushless mower and string trimmer kit.

Ryobi’s 40V series is really strong, especially since the 40V batteries can be used with an absurd amount of Ryobi products. The mower here has a cross-cut functionality, proving superior and thorough cuts to any lawn. It also has a self-propelled function and comes with two 40V batteries. At 21 inches, it’s the perfect width for medium yards, but can also fit smaller yards with ease.

The string trimmer here is nice as well. I have owned this Ryobi string trimmer for a long time and have had absolutely zero issues with it. It cuts 13-15 inches which is above average for residential weed eaters and will absolutely crush the borders of your lawn (which I love).

At a little over $800, this is the most expensive set I recommend. But it truly does serve as an investment in all of their lawn tools because you can buy the tool-only versions of any of their other 40V products, saving a boat load of money in the process.

You can grab this one from Home Depot as well.

3. LawnMaster 20VMWGT 24V Max 12-inch mower and Trimmer combo

LawnMaster is a no-name brand on Amazon but man, they have some DIRT CHEAP products. Now I can’t say that these will be found in droves, but geez, it is almost worth buying a new set each year because they are so dang cheap.

Whatever, it’s cheap. Photo Cred: Amazon.

Let me get started by saying that this mower is not very big. It is a foot wide. This is going to be able to take care of most people’s smaller lawns, but is actually great for tiny yards. Having a foot-long mower can navigate really tight corners and has more sensitivity to garden borders.

Unfortunately, I would not recommend this to anyone with a large lawn unless it is serving as a punishment. Or you can make it a part of your Subway diet – a footlong sub and a footlong mower exercise.

Anyways, you can grab this one on Amazon for a great price with a 10-inch trimmer. The trimmer looks very foreign-factory made. It will get the job done, but again is only good for smaller yards.

2. Worx 40V Lawn Mower & Trimmer Power Share Combo WG934

The Worx 40V lawn mower & trimmer power share combo (WG934) has over 21 THOUSAND reviews on Amazon, rated at 4.5 stars.

So people think it’s dang good. For a reason.

The Worx 40V mower here is cordless and covers 14 inches. Definitely better suited for smaller yards, or if you like a workout – some medium yards as well. It has something called “intellicut” which basically adjusts the output of the torque with the difficulty of mowing. It is similar to driving with cruise control where it will push on the gas if you’re going up a hill to keep the same speed. Cool.

The mower AND the GT revolution trimmer. Photo cred: Amazon.

The trimmer and edger combo here is also really nice. I’ve reviewed a ton of Worx trimmers and have always found them extremely intuitive to use. The power is nice, but another benefit of the WG934 combo kit is the ability for the trimmer to double as an edger. The GT Revolution is the name of the trimmer when its sold separately, and I think its the most popular trimmer on Amazon. Is this…3 tools in one? Is that cheating?

You can grab this one for a really, really good price on Amazon.

1. Greenworks 40V 21 inch Mower and String Trimmer Kit

The Greenworks 40V 21 inch Brushless and Cordless mower is an absolute beast. The fact that it comes with a full-body, grown-man string trimmer is a huge plus. And it is a great price.

We love the 40V Mower, blower, and trimmer because you can build your entire garage around it. The 40V line from Greenworks covers over 60 products. Once you get this set, you’re set. Snow blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, pole saws – you name it, they’ve got it covered in this line.

The mower has a steel deck, which makes it one of the most durable cordless mowers in the game. The brushless motor on this also gives it longevity and more torque. Between these two features, this mower is indestructible.

The TLR-favorite Greenworks has really great products. The 12 inch string trimmer that comes with this is perfect for small to medium yards and even includes a brush guard to keep it from tearing into garden beds.

I can’t say enough good things about this set. It is on sale for a great price on Amazon or you can grab it straight from Greenworks’ website.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

Brand quality
- Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
- Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
- A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
Self-propelled or not.
- I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature. It doesn’t help you that much and it drains battery – I would pass here. This is a marketing gimmick in my opinion.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers.

What to look for in a cordless string trimmer

Cordless 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.
Motor – brushless motors are king here. 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. Brushed motors will still do the job, however they tend to have a shorter life. Brushless motors are relatively new, so if you have had an electric tool back in the day, it was probably brushed.
Interchangeable batteries – Get a dang tool that has batteries that you can use with other batteries. C’mon people – save money by doing this! You don’t have to keep buying new battery sets. There are a lot of tool companies that have batteries that work with a ton of different tools. But some of these companies have a bunch of different battery types. Be careful!
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 create a straight line for edging.

You can also improve any weed eater to become a freaking beast with the right weed eater string. We developed our own after testing out dozens of strings and combining all the best elements.

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.

July 6, 2022April 28, 2024

I Tested Out EGO’s 650 CFM Blower and Loved It

The EGO Power+ LB6504 blower is popular. Like the hottest girl at school. But the EGO 650 CFM blower has amazing quality, durability, a nice battery system, and a reasonable price.

For a good reason. The thing not only looks cool, but performs at a super high level.

It is more powerful than probably 90% of handheld cordless blowers on the market.

And it isn’t even the strongest EGO blower. Yep, EGO is all about power. They have a corner on the cordless-blower-with-extreme-power market and have really mastered it.

But today, let’s check out WHY they have cornered the market.

Electric blowers 101
EGO LB6504 power
Ease of use
Durability
Cost
Official EGO Power+ LB6504 review

EGO Power+ LB6504 Blower: Features and benefits

This is the point where we get to really roll up our sleeves and pick apart the functions of this blower. Our goal is to take the technical specifications and put them into meaningful terms that you can understand. Let’s get started. We made a cool web story about the EGO blowers if you’re interested.

Check out how this compares to the EGO 765 CFM blower.

Power on the EGO 650 CFM Blower (CFM and MPH)

Well if it is any indication of the power of this blower, the dang thing is named EGO Power+. So I think it has some power.

Coming in at 500 CFMs in standard mode and 650 CFMs (hence LB6504) with the turbo button, power is not going to be something you’re worried about. CFMs are a measurement of the volume of air pushed out of the nozzle. Higher CFMs equal higher miles per hour (speed) generally, but can be majorly impacted by nozzle size. The same amount of air coming out of a tapered nozzle is going to be much faster than that of a wide-mouthed nozzle.

Turbo button featured above, cruise control below.

They serve two different purposes. One for speed and one for moving big piles of leaves. Both are good.

At its max speed (with Turbo Button engaged), this thing is going 180 MPH. That’s darn fast. It is going to be enough to get all of the wet leaves off of your driveway. With that type of speed, you’ll eviscerate big piles of leaves as well.

If you want even more power, check out the EGO LB7654, a bigger brother of this one that has 765 CFMs….

How the EGO 650 CFM blower feels to use

After power, feel is everything. You are the one lugging it around your yard, so it needs to feel comfortable in your hand and not straining your shoulder. It also needs to be easy to control and have some functions that save you time and energy.

The EGO Power+ LB6504 has some functions that make it a breeze to use. Some are relatively common, but most are only found on high end blowers:

Variable speed dial
- Basically you just set which speed you want to rock with and pull the trigger to go. You can also control it with your thumb (if you’re right handed).
Turbo button
- You probably don’t ALWAYS want 650 CFMs..but when you do, there’s a turbo button.
- I smash it all the time.
It weighs 13 lbs
- Not Super heavy but also not super light. One noticeable thing about it when you pick it up is that it’s solid as a rock. It’s a dang Ford F-150 in the blower world.
Battery indicator has 5 lights
- Most have four. Which gives you a pretty big range to guess how much life you have. Some have three. The EGO has five. This provides more accuracy for how much longer you have before a recharge.

These are some of my favorite things. All-in-all, it is a bit heavier than most other blowers but because it is so powerful, you don’t have to hold it as long. Kind of a silly way to think about it, but it’s true.

Durability of EGO Blowers

I kind of just hinted at it, but the EGO Power+ LB6504 blower feels dang sturdy. It’s mostly plastic, but doesn’t feel plastic-y, if that makes sense.

The real durability of this machine is underneath the hood, however. Like most, if not all EGO products, this bad boy has a brushless motor. Brushless motors are the best battery-powered motors for a few reasons:

They create less friction, meaning it won’t overheat
Less friction also means that the parts won’t wear down over time
They have more torque
They are quieter

Do I need to say more? As compared to some other trusted brands (like Stihl’s new battery-powered line), EGO products are way more durable and longer lasting.

That’s why one of my friends still has the early model of the 56V EGO mower. It just keeps going forever and ever.

Cost and value of the EGO 650 CFM blower

So here’s the skinny – this is not the cheapest blower on the planet. But it is one of the highest value blowers on the planet. Here’s what I mean.

You get what you pay for with EGO. The price point here is a little under $300. Sounds like a lot. But it will last you twice as long as most other blowers. You can take that to the bank.

Would you rather burn through two $200 blowers that are less powerful, or buy one $300 blower that is powerful?

The choice is easy. This is a HIGH VALUE blower.

The official review: EGO Power+ LB6504 Blower

Pound-for-pound, the EGO Power+ LB6504 is an absolute unit. It’s got great power at a great price. It is made with parts that are built to last – especially the brushless motor. It’s really easy to use and is a part of EGO’s 56V battery series, meaning you can use this same battery across all of EGOs tools.

If you want to grab it, it’s currently on sale on Amazon for a great price.

Why we review lawn tools

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:

CFM – 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.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

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

July 5, 2022April 28, 2024

I Didn’t Like Stihl’s New Battery Powered Blower

Stihl’s BGA 57 leaf blower is a new, slick-looking handheld blower that carries a brand with a big reputation. I expected a lot of power with this because Stihl has never made “weak” leaf blowers.

I challenge you to check out each landscaping crew that you pass in the car this week and see if they have anything that is orange and white (Go Vols!). I guarantee they will either have a Stihl trimmer or backpack blower.

Bottom line review of the Stihl BGA 57 Blower: The Stihl BGA 57 blower is uncharacteristically weak and made for an audience that doesn’t resonate with Stihl.

Here is my breakdown for the Stihl BGA 57 – jump ahead by clicking the below links.

Power
Ease of use
Durability and run time
Cost and value
Official Stihl BGA 57 Blower Review
Electric blowers 101

Stihl BGA 57 Blower: Features and benefits

Alright, if you’re anything like me then you may have had a natural repulsion to battery-powered tools. I am fully on board now, but it can take some convincing for those of us that have always used gas power.

What you might have expected from Stihl…

Let’s take a deep dive into the Stihl BGA 57 to see if we can make sense of its specifications and features.

Power isn’t quite there

First and foremost, we have to talk about power. When I am examining a blower, I want to make sure I understand a few things.

The first of which is MPH. I generally want this in the 120+ range. Once you get to the 120+ range, you know that your blower is going to be able to get rid of that one wet leaf that is stuck to your driveway and won’t budge.

Less important is the CFMs, which is a measurement of air output. Higher CFMs usually correlate to higher MPHs given the nozzle size is the same. Often, however, you will see that high CFM blowers can have low MPHs; this is due to a wide nozzle. Wide nozzles are great for blowers that are used on large areas. They simply move massive piles of leaves. Smaller nozzles are great for targeted jobs, like grass clean up and smaller yard leaf removal.

So where does the Stihl BGA 57 stack up?

365 CFMs and 123 MPH. Womp womp….

These aren’t great numbers. This thing has a tapered nozzle and still has low air output and speed.

I’ve gotta say, I am disappointed here. I really expected this to have more power – mostly because their gas leaf blowers like the Stihl BG 86 C can really knock your socks off.

What are they thinking?

It is easy to use, however

What the Stihl BGA 57 lacks in power, it makes up for in ease of handling. It has a nice rubberized grip that makes holding it a breeze. And speaking of holding it, the thing only weighs like 6 lbs. It’s super lightweight.

This is definitely a shorter, bite-sized person using this.

It comes with three different tube lengths, which can help if you are on the shorter side. The longest length helps tall people like me still make good contact with the rubbish I am blowing without breaking my lower back.

A downside here is that the blower only has one speed. The trigger is not variable-speed, meaning that it only goes full blast.

Compared to a gas blower, there are a lot of things to like. It is:

Quiet
- This thing is WAY quieter than a gas blower, albeit a different kind of noise.
Emissions free
- No concerns about breathing in fumes and you can even use it indoors (basically a big hair dryer)
No maintenance
- No oil changes, spark plugs, filters, oil and gas mixtures. Just plug in the battery and rock.

One other unnecessary feature on the Stihl BGA 57 is the safety locking button. It has more of a safety than most handguns. Blowers are probably the least dangerous lawn tool in existence – why do you lock it down like Air Force One?

The Stihl BGA 57 has a questionable motor that is probably brushless

Another disappointing feature of the Stihl BGA 57 is the lack of a brushless motor. Now I haven’t cracked this one open yet to actually check the motor, but it doesn’t say ANYTHING about having a brushless motor on their website, the manual, or any promotional materials.

Brushless motors are the standard now for high-end electric blowers. They are more durable, longer-lasting, have more torque, and are quieter. Typical brushed motors can get really hot, causing a ton of problems, chief of which is the breakdown of the motor over time.

C’mon Stihl! Do better!

The motor is still going to last you a few years, but I really would have liked to see and expected to see brushless. Otherwise, this is a well-constructed and solid piece of equipment. It doesn’t feel too cheap and plasticky. It has a slick design and the tubes are quality.

Speaking of long-lasting, the run time on this thing is 18 minutes. This is great for a small yard, but if you have a medium-sized yard or bigger, then you better pray you get the wind working at your back. This thing does NOT last very long.

The Stihl BGA 57 blower is overpriced

The Stihl BGA 57 blower can be bought at your local Ace Hardware. They may be running a deal, but my local Ace had it for just under $200. I’ll be returning it.

For $200, you can do way better in a blower. I would actually spend a bit more and get the EGO blower OR spend less and get one of the cheaper Ryobi 40V blowers.

Get what you pay for either way – which isn’t happening with this Stihl blower.

The Overall Review: Stihl BGA 57 blower

I think y’all know where I stand. Not only is this blower on the weaker end, but it has only one speed but it is also overpriced. I would not recommend this to anyone unless they are obsessed with Stihl or obsessed with being sad.

Sorry, y’all.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in a cordless blower

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

CFM – 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.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

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

July 4, 2022April 28, 2024

Testing Out Stihl’s New Electric String Trimmer: The FSA 57

Stihl’s FSA 57 String Trimmer is one of their most popular battery-powered string trimmers, but is still a deviation from their well known, powerful gas powered weed eaters.

Bottom Line: The Stihl FSA 57 provides more power than other Stihl battery weed eaters but doesn’t have a great battery support system and isn’t worth the money (in my opinion).

Let’s get started:

Stihl FSA 57 Power
Ease of Use
Durability
Cost
The official Stihl FSA 57 review
Gas vs Electric String Trimmers

Stihl FSA 57 String Trimmer: Features and Benefits

Alright folks, let’s get into it. Today we are going to check out the power, ease of use, durability, and cost of this string trimmer. Throughout the post I’ll do quick comparisons to the gas counterpart, the classic FS 56 RC gas trimmer. If you’re interested, we’ve compiled a huge list of Stihl string trimmers here.

Stihl does have a new one of the FSA 45 String trimmer, which is kind of like this one’s little brother.

Power output is not great

The Stihl FSA 57 trimmer can have its power measured in a few ways. The first of which is rotations per minute. Honestly, this is a really tough one to relate to as it takes a huge difference in the number of rotations per minute to notice a difference when trimming.

The power signal I am looking for is cutting swath, or width of the cutting path. This helps you understand just how powerful your electric Stihl weed eater is going to cut.

The Stihl FSA 57 weed eater comes in at an 11 inch cutting swath. Honestly, a little disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, 11 inches is definitely enough for the average homeowner, but from Stihl I expected a bit more. For other electric comparisons, some of the Makita trimmers and EGO string trimmers run 13 to 15 inches.

If you have a small to medium-sized yard, 11 inches is going to be perfect. But if you are the type of guy that likes to have more power accessible, then you may want to keep looking.

It is easy to use

What the Stihl FSA 57 weed eater lacks in power, it makes up for in ease of use. I mean the whole dang trimmer weighs 7.5 lbs – with a battery! Not only is this thing super lightweight, but it has a ton of features that make it very simple to use.

Some of the features on the Stihl FSA string trimmer are inherent to all battery powered trimmers. Namely – the battery power. Think about it, no more oil and gas mixtures or difficult cold starts with this. You just pop the battery, squeeze the trigger, and go.

Another cool feature that makes this easy to use is the adjustable shaft. It can change in length with a pretty easy telescoping function. I’ve always found it easy to make trimmers as long as possible to extend your reach, especially if you’re tall like me.

It also comes with an auto-feeding head, which is pretty standard on most new trimmers these days. The last cool piece is the brush guard on the head, which comes standard on some of the Greenworks trimmers, Worx weed eaters, and Kobalt trimmers as well.

The auto-feeding head on the Stihl FSA 57.

It is unclear how durable this weed eater is

Durability is a common question I get with battery powered trimmers. Mainly because gas powered trimmers are just built differently. The commercial string trimmers in particular are made to toss into the back of a trailer and speed from one lawn to the next.

Residential battery-powered trimmers just aren’t. They have way more plastic components and can’t handle the same brush as most gas powered trimmers. Not true of all of them, but definitely true of the Stihl FSA 57 string trimmer.

One thing that really upsets me about the Stihl FSA 57 is that it doesn’t say anything about having a brushless motor. I’m absolutely shocked and frankly expected more from Stihl.

Brushed motors are still fine, but the standard in high-end string trimmers is a brushless motor these days. I think that tells you about all you need to know about this trimmer – Stihl clearly does not think it is a high-end trimmer.

Sad.

Cost

Hate to say sad again so quickly, but sadly you have to contact your local Ace Hardware to get the price for this bad boy. Mine had it for $199, but I actually returned it :(.

The official review: Stihl FSA 57 String Trimmer

Well folks, I don’t do this often but I have to officially say that I am not a fan of this string trimmer. While it is super convenient, easy to use, and perfect for those with a small yard, it is definitely an apple that falls far from the tree.

This product is simply not very durable and not up to the standards I would expect from Stihl. If you’re going to grab some battery-powered products, I’d find another brand like Ryobi or Greenworks that can give you more products along a single battery line.

If you’re going to go with Stihl, I’d get gas for now.

Why we review lawn tools

Stihl’s reputation

Stihl is still at it! Pumping out high quality product after high quality product. They’re thought of as one of the GOATS of the yard product game. The boys in orange are known to have a superior product to their competitors.

The world’s largest chainsaw manufacturer, the company moved some operations to Virginia in the 1970s and opened up their first factory dedicated to a single chainsaw. They have continued to master their craft and expand their product offers in the lawn care space.

Where you might recognize Stihl equipment.

Stihl has a great reputation that many commercial landscapers rely on each day. Many residential owners will be more than pleased with their products.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Gas vs Electric String Trimmer

When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2023 it’s important to understand your power source options. It basically boils down to gas or electric. Electric trimmers are typically easier to start and usually maintenance is a breeze. They also have less of a noise and environmental impact. Electric trimmers are usually a good bet for small to medium-sized jobs.

Trimmers powered by gas usually end up having more power and are more suitable for larger, more commercial type applications. This is mainly due to the issues the professionals have with keeping them charged. But not all of us are professionals, we just want a badass string trimmer from Stihl.

June 30, 2022April 2, 2024

5 Kobalt Blowers Great for Fall Leaf Clean-up

Kobalt leaf blowers are popular electric handheld blowers that can be purchased at Lowe’s and a few other places. The best Kobalt blower is their 80V Max handheld brushless leaf blower (that I am holding below).

Why do I like them?

They’re one of the better looking electric lawn tool brands on the market.

They also are very well built and high quality machines. For real. They are manufactured by our friends over at Greenworks, but wrapped in Kobalt colors and sold at Lowe’s. Greenworks is legit and this is a really nice way to get a quality product in your garage or shed.

Anyways – let’s check out some of their best electric handheld cordless blowers.

5 Best Kobalt Blowers: 2024

Okay before I jump into the Kobalt leaf blowers, I just want to say that some of this comes down to personal preference. Some if doesn’t. I’ll make sure to give you a heads up when something is just personal preference and when some things are better for certain people. It will make more sense as we move along.

5. Kobalt 40-Volt Max 480 CFM 110 MPH Handheld Cordless Electric Blower

The Koablt 40V Max 480 CFM 110 MPH blower is one of the most popular, but also the weakest of the blowers. Not only does it have the lowest CFM output, but also the slowest speeds on this list.

I’d recommend this blower for anyone who is doing light work around the house. Great activities for this blower include doing a quick blow of the sidewalk, driveway, or garage. If you are a woodworker not looking to create a storm with saw dust, this is an awesome tool to help crush saw dust without it blowing back into your mouth.

One downside to this blower is that it doesn’t have a brushless motor. This means it won’t quite have the torque or long-life that its brushless counterparts have.

A positive to this blower is that the 40-Volt Max line of batteries from Kobalt are very popular, meaning you can save big money by purchasing the “tool only” version of this blower if you have the battery already. This puts the blower at just under $100 which is actually an amazing deal.

You can get the tool only version here on Amazon for a great price.

4. Kobalt 80-volt Max 580-CFM 145-MPH Brushless Backpack Cordless Electric Leaf Blower

The Kobalt 80-Volt Max 580 CFM backpack blower is something out of a sci-fi movie. When you think of backpack blowers, you think of ultimate power. The pinnacle of power in the landscaping game – and almost all of them are gas-powered.

It is really cool that Kobalt offers this product, but it may be a tad unnecessary. It is actually less powerful than our number one recommended Kobalt blower, but actually does put out the highest speeds.

While it won’t be quite as powerful as its gas-powered counterparts, it can still be a really slick tool. For starters, it is way more comfortable to carry around than a handheld blower if you have a big yard. You get to bear a lot of the weight on your back, instead of your shoulders and wrists.

It’s also significantly lighter than gas backpack blowers because it doesn’t have all the dang fuel sloshing around in the back.

This one is definitely up there for those that are looking for a powerful backpack blower that is light and requires ZERO maintenance. And oh yeah, it is an insanely, insanely low price.

3. Kobalt 24-Volt MAX 500 CFM 120 MPH Brushless Handheld Cordless Blower

A couple of things I really love about the Kobalt 24V Max 500 CFM 120 MPH brushless blower.

Yeah, you should probably connect these two pieces.

In the name, you get to see a couple of my favorite things: 24 Volts and the fact that it’s brushless. Please don’t be fooled by the lower MPH output here. The fact that this Kobalt blower has 500 CFMs means that it powerfully moves air, but has a wider nozzle that lowers the speed. This is great for larger yards with big piles of leaves.

The Kobalt 24V max blower essentially sends a wide path of air out at a lower speed, exchanging speed for width. Perfect for landscapers or places with heavy leaves. One downside is that wet leaves and wet grass will be more difficult to remove than a higher MPH blower.

I also love that this has a brushless motor and is a part of the 24V series. The 24V series is one of the most popular lines for Kobalt, so you can save big on batteries if you already own some Kobalt 24V stuff or plan to in the future.

This one can be purchased for a great price on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

2. Kobalt 80-Volt MAX 500 CFM 125 MPH Brushless Handheld Cordless Blower

This thing just straight up looks cool. Sleek. Black. Means business.

The Kobalt 80V MAX 500 CFM blower is very nice looking.

It also has a brushless blower and is super similar to the 24V blower above, except it has a slightly more tapered nozzle that adds 5 more MPH to the blower. It also runs on 80V batteries, which makes it compatible with some of the higher powered tools offered by Kobalt.

If you’re looking for a cool looking blower that will last you a long time, look no further. This one has the best aesthetics, is second best in handheld power, and allows for you to build a great line of 80V products around it from Kobalt.

It’s surprisingly under $200 and can be found on Amazon for a nice discount.

1. Kobalt 80-Volt MAX 630 CFM 140 MPH Brushless Handheld Cordless Blower

Number one. Wow. Well we are a little biased here at The Lawn Review because we did a full YouTube breakdown of this one and fell in love.

If you want to know why it’s #1, check out our video here.

It has so many great features including:

Thumb-controlled cruise control

An excellent 80V battery

A male model

A brushless motor

It is also available on Amazon for a little steal or you can pick it up at Lowe’s.

Why we review lawn tools

About Kobalt

Kobalt power tools have been a trusted name in lawn care for generations. Kobalt’s lineup of cordless and corded tools is designed to help normal folks like us get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Today, Kobalt is known for its innovation and quality, with its products being used in most of the world’s garages. Kobalt’s products are designed to stand up to the toughest lawn conditions, and the company has a darn good reputation. When it comes to power tools, Kobalt is a name that you can trust.

We’ve reviewed some Kobalt lawn mowers and one of their awesome Kobalt string trimmers here.

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:

CFM – 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.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

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

A Warning

WARNING: If you have a MAX version battery, make sure to get a compatible blower. If you don’t have the MAX version, make sure you get a blower that doesn’t take MAX batteries. This confuses a lot of people because it isn’t super clear online. MAX batteries don’t work with non-MAX tools. Don’t shoot the messenger!

June 25, 2022April 28, 2024

The WORX Hydroshot Is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts

WORX Hydroshot is a portable power washer that can provide instant power using any water source. The Hydroshot is not your run of the mill power washer in any way. But the WORX hydroshot is a tool that once you use, you cannot imagine not using.

Bottom Line: The first time I used it, I was skeptical. Now, I will be in the most random locations and suddenly think “Wow, the hydroshot would be really helpful here”. You can grab yours from Worx or on Amazon.

But anyways, let’s check out what makes this product so dang cool. Jump ahead using below links:

Power
Nozzles
Usability
Comfort and Feel
Cost and Value
Official Hydroshot review

Features and benefits

Have you ever siphoned gas? If you haven’t, you likely will here soon with the insane gas prices (this was written in June of 2022 when I paid over $50 to fill up my wife’s Camry). The Hydroshot has a similar capability, except it can propel the liquid pretty dang fast. Let me explain.

If you’re looking for another option, check out our review of the Kobalt’s version of the power washer.

The Hydroshot has low PSI

Before you get your hopes up, this is not a pocket pressure washer from the year 2343 that will allow you to blast away the space debris from your rocket ship.

It is a portable power washer that allows for you to do light-duty stuff from basically wherever. It sits at about 450 PSI, which is well below the range of a conventional pressure washer. Most electric pressure washers that you can use on driveways and graffiti run somewhere around 2000-2500 PSI.

So, what do we make of the 450 PSI on the Worx Hydroshot 40V WG644?

450 can still be a heck of a lot when used the right way. I would NOT recommend this for pressure washing your driveway. I would recommend it for a ton of other things around the house, boat, car, or outdoor activity.

450 PSI is still going to be enough to thoroughly clean off an off-road bike with caked on mud. It is the perfect thing to blast off sand–covered kayaks and paddleboards. And those are all things where a normal pressure washer just wouldn’t have the portability.

The hose that it comes with has a floating ball that allows you to use this at the lake!

The Worx Hydroshot has a few different spray patterns

It would be a crime if I talked about the 450 PSI power on the Worx WG644 and didn’t talk about the nozzles that it comes with. It has a rotating head with four nozzles that range from 0 degrees to 40 degrees.

These nozzles have different spray patterns that cover different sized areas. The zero degree nozzle on the Worx Hydroshot is going to be pretty dang strong. Like it would hurt if you had it sprayed on your skin.

The 40 degree nozzle is going to be most like a “mist” with its wider spray pattern, but will still be able to deliver some power when used up close and personal.

Using the Hydroshot is super easy and can be done anywhere

Well this is where basically no other pressure washer on the planet can compare with the Worx Hydroshot pressure washer. It simply isn’t fair. This thing is meant to be taken anywhere and can frankly be used wherever there is a water source.

Water source doesn’t mean hose! You can also hook up a soda-bottle looking attachment that’s filled with water for ultimate portability – making it look almost like a water gun.

There is also a cool attachment that allows for you to draw water from any body of water – like a lake, pond, or swimming pool. You simply toss in the hose with the filter into the body of water, connect it to the HydroShot, and do your thing.

It has a nice little bobber like any old fishing line that allows it to float when you toss it in so that you’re not sucking up a bunch of sediment.

I got this image off of Amazon but it looks like she has it connected to a bucket of water…wow.

This is perfect for the paddleboard and kayak folks that are wanting to clean their equipment off without having to worry about getting the car dirty before heading home.

Wow.

Comfort and Feel: WORX Hydroshot sweet spot

The Worx Hydroshot has a huge benefit of weighing 7 lbs. Now for someone like me who bench presses 9 million pounds, I don’t even know I am holding it.

Just kidding, of course. I bench 10 million.

But for real, this thing is so lightweight and compact that it feels like a super soaker on steroids. It has a nice long lance as well that allows you to extend your reach pretty significantly if you have a larger item you’re trying to clean – no desperate reaching.

I love this personally for my car tires. I am taller than most and whenever I wash my car, I always have to get way down to scrub the detailed parts by hand. This wand allows me to stand there and knock it all out without worrying about missing any spots or doing any damage to parts of the wheel. Pretty sweet stuff.

My only complaint on this one is that it requires two 20V batteries, making it slightly heavier and bulkier once it is completely fitted out. It is also a bit of a hassle having to make sure both batteries are charged, but it does come with a dual port charger that lets you do them at the same time.

Still better than gas!

The Hydroshot is inexpensive

This thing comes in at about $200 last time I checked. Anything less than that is a steal. While I mentioned the downside of having two batteries, the full kit comes with both and a charger. Having the WORX 20V batteries on hand is fantastic if you own any other Worx products or are considering adding more tools to your garage or shed.

The benefit of getting two batteries as a part of this purchase.

Official Review

If you’re in the market for a do-it-all pressure washer – keep looking. But if you’re an outdoor or backyard enthusiast who can also think of a million uses for this product like I can, then you’re going to have this as a permanent fixture at your side.

It has decent power, amazing portability, and is super convenient for anyone who gets things dirty. You can grab it with batteries and a charger on Amazon for a great price right now. That’s a steal.

Why we review lawn tools

About WORX

Something that many of you may be scratching your head around is….what is Worx? It isn’t quite the household name that Dewalt, John Deere, or some of the other big name brands. Worx has quietly been creeping into the marketplace and has found a niche in electric lawn tools.

They even made this cool wheelbarrow we reviewed.

They offer low price, medium-to-high quality products that….work. Worx is super popular on places like Amazon, but also have a presence in some of the big box stores. Worx started off in lawn equipment and took off like a rocket, but are now transitioning into new products. One hallmark of Worx’ brand is that of innovation. And let me tell you – the Hydroshot is definitely an innovation.

We’ve reviewed a ton of WORX products, from their leaf mulcher to their popular string trimmer.

But if you’re looking at power cleaners – check out the Greenworks version for comparison sake.

June 20, 2022April 28, 2024

My Favorite Blower Ever: EGO’s 765 CFM Leaf Blower

EGO’s 765 CFM leaf blower is almost too good to be true. The EGO LB765 bower is extremely powerful, durable and easy to use.

We got our hands on it and compared it to a trusty Stihl gas blower and a competitor Ryobi blower.

It wasn’t even close.

You’ve got to check out our experience because it was truly mind blowing for us. We’ve reviewed a TON of electric blowers, but never a handheld tornado.

We have video proof.

Check it out.

What to look for in an electric blower
EGO LB7654 Versatility
Ease of use
Battery Life
Power
Cost and value
Official review and how to buy the EGO blower

My experience with this blower: Features and benefits

If you’ve ever used an EGO product before, you know that it is simply powerful. They don’t miss when it comes to making products that can go toe-to-toe with their gas counterparts. The future is definitely battery powered and EGO has positioned themselves to be a leader in the space as they slowly replace gas-powered tools. In fact, EGO even has a battery-powered multi-tool with a ton of attachments that rocks.

This blower is no exception. Let’s get right to it.

Check out how this compares to the 650 CFM blower or the new Enhulk 930 CFM leaf blower.

Versatility of EGO’s 765 CFM blower

The EGO LB7654 blower has a ton of different ways it can be used. Yes, it can blow off your neighbors toupee but it can also be used more gently.

Pulling the trigger changes the amount of air coming out of the blower.

You see, the EGO blower has a variable speed trigger (pictured above) that allows you to go from 280 CFMs to 580 CFMs with a gentle pull of the trigger. This has solved the problem of my angry wife yelling at me for blowing too much mulch out of the garden bed. A literal life saver.

Simple cruise control function on the EGO LB7654.

The EGO LB7654 also has a cruise control function that can serve as a separate trigger that holds itself in place, allowing you to relax your hand and not have to squeeze the trigger to an exact speed. Wow! Looks like EGO heard the feedback from the hand cramp crowd.

Lastly, the EGO 765 CFM blower has a turbo button. Yes, a turbo button.

This button is what takes you from the trigger-maximum of 580 CFMs to 765 CFMs. Truly, like NOS in Ja Rule’s car in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Now that we’ve covered the motor and controls, let’s talk about the nozzle versatility as well.

This blower comes with a tapered nozzle, a flared nozzle, and the standard nozzle. You can even remove them and go nozzle-less. This is usually done by car fanatics that like to hand-dry their car like a hair dryer.

Battery life on EGO 765 CFM blower

The EGO 765 CFM blower has a 5.0Ah battery that comes standard with this blower (if you don’t get the tool-only version). This battery touts a 90 minute run time with the EGO LB7654 blower. So we put it to the test.

While my normal blower job (stop laughing) lasts about 25-30 minutes, we actually zip-tied the turbo button down to see how long it would run. Here were our results:

Full-turbo: 17 minutes
High-speed non-turbo: 25 minutes
Lowest setting: 140 minutes

Pretty impressive!

Ease of use of EGO LB7654 blower

The EGO LB7654 blower definitely has some of the typical features we love about battery-powered products. Specifically, you just pop in the battery, pick it up, and get going. No cranking a cord or changing oil or whatever.

Coming in at 12.2 lbs, or less than my 3 month old baby girl, this thing is relatively lightweight.

We’ve talked a bit about the cruise control function, but just wanted to reiterate how great this is for making it an easy to use and easy to control tool. It felt great to just walk around and be able to quickly adjust the speed without having to hold my finger in the exact position and hope it doesn’t move.

One thing that is noticeably different about this EGO blower (and EGO products in general) is that it feels genuinely sturdy. It doesn’t feel like it is a bunch of cheap plastic that has superb power. The EGO LB7654 feels well-constructed and sturdy, which is a differentiator in the battery powered lawn tool space.

There’s also a nice rubber molded handle that makes lugging this thing around easy on your hands, forearms, and ultimately your shoulders.

One other cool thing about this blower is the battery power indicator level. Most batteries, like Ryobi, only have four indicator lights that tell you where you are. EGO has 5 indicator lights, giving you a slightly better range to work off of when estimating how much time you have left until recharge.

EGO 765 CFM Power compared to Gas

Saved this one for last because it is the most tantalizing but also the most obvious. First things first, this sucker has a brushless motor. Automatic huge checkmarks in the power department and basically everywhere else.

But to really compare it to some of the legends out there, we compared it to my trusty Stihl blower. The Stihl blower is one of the most dependable, popular gas blower on the market.

I did look stupid, however I learned a lot.

We first compared the two blowers using a wiffle ball around the backyard. Not super indicative of which one is more powerful, although the EGO seemed to have more of a direct line of power.

The next test we did was side-by-side comparison with two piles of damp grass. This one was extremely easy to declare a winner. The EGO absolutely demolished the pile of grass, sending it into a million smithereens, whereas the Stihl moved the grass, but more so tumbled it over.

Wasn’t even close – the EGO blower crushed the gas blower.

Cost and value

This blower and battery come in at just over $300 – and while that seems like a steep price, let me remind you that this thing is going to last you a while. The brushless motor and simple, but solid, construction means this thing can hang in your garage for quite a few years.

EGO LB7654 Power+ blower: Final review

The EGO 765 CFM blower crushed every test we put it through. Not only is it extremely versatile and easy to use, but the battery life lasts way longer than advertised and has a ridiculous turbo button that blasts away gas competitors.

You can grab this one on Amazon with the battery, or get the tool only version for significantly cheaper on Amazon as well. You can also grab this blower at Lowe’s.

What to look for in an electric blower

Blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are two basic things you need to understand:

Brushless – a type of motor that does not rely on friction for generating power. This engine type uses magnets for a longer lasting, more efficient power generation. Brushless motors also have more torque and are more durable.

CFM – 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.

MPH – miles per hour. The speed at which the air travels.

June 16, 2022April 28, 2024

My Indestructible Aqua Joe Sprinkler Is In Great Shape 5 Years Later

The Aqua Joe Oscillating Sprinkler touts itself as indestructible – and after owning it for a few years, I think it lives up to its name.

The Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 oscillating sprinkler is as indestructible as they come. I have dragged this sprinkler all over my yard, driveway, and sidewalk to the point of it being completely scraped up. But it always works.

Bottom Line: For the money, this Aqua Joe sprinkler is the best and most durable sprinkler in the game. You can grab it for cheap on Amazon here.

So let’s get started.

Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 oscillating sprinkler: Features and benefits

The beauty of a sprinkler is that it doesn’t need a ton of bells and whistles for it to be the best. Let’s check out why I’ve kept this sprinkler for the past two years without even considering a replacement.

The Aqua Joe indestructible sprinkler has impressive coverage

The Aqua Joe SJI OMS20 covers about 4,400 square feet of yard. I know it’s hard to tell what that means, but basically this would cover the average front yard. For those of us with bigger yards, you may have to move the sprinkler around a couple of times to get full coverage.

If this is too much, the Aqua Joe SJI OMS16 covers about 3,400 square feet.

Frankly, with a single sprinkler, this is definitely on the higher range of sprinklers. I have relatively weak water pressure outdoors to where it seems like water just trickles out of my hose compared to other places I’ve lived.

You can’t tell when we use our sprinkler. Somehow, it goes through the sprinkler and gets way more power than I would have thought. Impressive!

This Aqua Joe sprinkler is easy to use

The SJI-OMS20 oscillating sprinkler from Aqua Joe is surprisingly easy to use. Honestly, for the first year or so that we owned this sprinkler, my wife was the one who would get it all set up and ready to go while I was at work.

After COVID hit, I began working at home and taking an interest in the yard watering process. I went out and figured out how to use this sprinkler in two seconds.

The Aqua Joe SJI-OSM20 has these little adjustable nozzles on the side that are super intuitive. Basically point each one where you want the limits of the sprinkler to spray. It doesn’t require any maintenance or adjustment after that. Extremely straightforward.

Another thing I love is how easy it was to attach to my hose reel. For some reason, I get a ton of spray and leakage whenever I try to put anything on my hose. The Aqua Joe sprinkler spun right on and has not leaked a single drip in the three years I’ve owned it.

Durability is the strength of this sprinkler

I know this is what you have all been waiting for. Yes, the Aqua Joe sprinkler touts itself as the indestructible sprinkler.

I’m here to tell you that’s true. Just look at mine! Three years in and I reel it in each morning and let it drag across the concrete sidewalk and driveway. It has definitely been scraped up but it’s performance has not waned at all.

Durable and still kicking despite being dragged across those bricks daily.

You see, it has a metal base that is pretty heavy. I like this feature a lot because it won’t flop around like a plastic sprinkler and actually stays put when you turn the water on. Also, you can lazily reel it in and let it get scraped up and stuck on things without worrying about it cracking.

The inner parts of the sprinkler are still plastic, which is a little sad, but it has lasted for quite a while now without any concerns.

The Sprinkler is incredibly inexpensive.

The Aqua Joe oscillating sprinkler comes in at about $30 and the smaller one comes in at $20. Holy cow.

This is a great deal that can be found on Amazon and is included in prime.

Considering this thing is going to last you for a long time, this is an amazing deal.

Overall review: Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 Oscillating Sprinkler

The Aqua Joe Sprinkler, which claims to be indestructible, has been indestructible, reliable, consistent, and powerful for the three years I have owned it. I would say I will buy it again, but I legitimately don’t think I will ever need another sprinkler.

Grab it on Amazon and join the club of #foreversprinklers.

Why we review lawn tools

Why you need a sprinkler in the summer

Rain doesn’t grow on trees, you know? But seriously, if you live in the South during the summer, you know just how dang hot it can get. The sun can be brutal on our grass.

For us, we have fescue grass that loves the Spring and Fall but gets absolutely decimated come July and August. These are also essential when you dethatch and aerate or for the summer heat.

Fortunately, we have a sprinkler that can help get each part of our front yard some much needed rain between Summer storms. And fortunately once more, we don’t live in an area that has limitations around how much water you can use for your yard or garden.

If you’re wondering about how long to water your lawn, we have the perfect article for you.

About Aqua Joe

Aqua Joe is the sprinkler arm of the larger Snow Joe brand that includes Sun Joe.

Sun Joe is a US-based company that specializes in outdoor/garden tools. They sell an array of products, including electric lawn mowers, snow blowers, and air compressors.

Sun Joe originally started as Snow Joe, a team of products focused on snow removal technology, mostly battery-powered. They have since seen the light (lmao), and offer full on outdoor summer and spring products as well.

We have reviewed a ton of their products like their Sun Joe Dethatcher, Sun Joe pressure washers, and even some Sun Joe Pole Saws. They recently announced a collaboration with Martha Stewart and have outdoor furniture and fireplaces as well.

June 15, 2022April 28, 2024

The Milwaukee M18 Mower Is Expensive. Is it worth it?!

The best (and currently only) Milwaukee lawn mower is their BEASTLY M18 series self-propelled mower. We bought it for over $1,000 and don’t regret it.

What was the result? Well, we went to Home Depot and bought this bad boy – straight up. Then we used it in our yard, my mother-in-laws yard, and my neighbors yard all in one day.

Well, unlike their peers who made 100 different battery-powered mowers, Milwaukee just made one.

For real? They just made one mower?

Bottom line review of the Milwaukee M18 Mower: The Milwaukee M18 mower is absolutely worth the price. Because when you put in as much thought and focus into a single item, you get amazing results. You can watch our video review of this mower on our YouTube channel here.

So let’s check out the best (and only) Milwaukee lawn mower: the M18 FUEL Brushless Cordless 21 inch walk behind dual battery self-propelled mower.

Best Milwaukee lawn mower: Milwaukee M18 FUEL self-propelled mower

It’s honestly hilarious because it is the only Milwaukee Lawn Mower. Therefore the best AND the worst. But who wants to read about the worst Milwaukee lawn mower? Not me. Anyways, let’s get started.

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more powerful than my Honda mower

If there’s anything you can be confident about when buying a Milwaukee lawn mower, it is going to be the power. Milwaukee is notorious for making powerful products that deliver without fail.

So when it comes to lawn mowers, you have to know that the power is there. And it is. It’s always hard to evaluate power without measuring horsepower or cc displacement or whatever can be compared with gas mowers, so let’s get a little more qualitative.

After a few cuts it got some nice grass clippings.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel mower is going to at least be as powerful as a 200cc lawn mower. For comparison sake, one of the most popular gas mowers, the GCV170 from Honda has 170ccs. So even more powerful.

At the end of the day, you just want to make sure it cuts every blade of grass without being weak. I’m here to tell you that it does.

The Milwaukee M18 mows smoothly and efficiently

Second most important thing in a Milwaukee lawn mower is the feel. If you’re going to be making a bunch of laps in your yard, you don’t want it to be too heavy to the point of becoming super difficult to push. You also don’t want it to be plastic-y and lightweight, unable to keep a straight line.

The M18 Fuel mower has a metal deck, which makes it a little heavier than most electric mowers. Bad thing, right?

Well, it makes up for it by coming with a nice self-propelled function that helps push it along (if you need it).

These knobs pull out and help you fold it down.

Whenever I use an electric mower, it still feels weird to me that it isn’t loud. The noise is always a little weird to me – like a blender at a smoothie shop. I’m still getting used to the noise, but am growing to like it because I can listen to music or a podcast while I mow.

This Milwaukee mower is also extremely easy to maneuver and feels exactly like my first mower did when I made turns.

Milwaukee built a rugged steel deck and brushless motor that makes the M18 mower super durable

When I consider durability in lawn tools, there are a few things I keep in mind. One of the top considerations is the brand’s quality and reputation. Milwaukee is one of the few brands that does not put out any suspect tools.

A lot of the other brands have lower-power tools that are relatively inexpensive to market to a different segment of customers. Milwaukee doesn’t have time for that. They only put out bangers.

Oneother thing I love about this mower is the steel deck. Steel cutting decks are way more durable than their plastic counterparts, with the ability to keep it together even under potentially harmful scenarios. This means no cracking, no chips, no breaking. The steel deck here is going to last you for a long time (forever).

The mower has some nice bells and whistles

The Milwaukee M18 mower does not try to have all the bells and whistles – it’s just a rock-solid, heavy-duty push mower.

But it does have some features that have serious utility. The first of which is three cut styles: mulch, bag, and side discharge. Go with what suits you, but I generally mulch my grass and leave it in the yard. This is controversial. Deal with it.

Another cool thing about this mower is that it goes to full throttle in less than one second. Which means you can just crank it and roll. A nice little touch.

This mower is worth the hefty price tag

The Milwaukee M18 mower comes in at just over $1,000 for the mower with batteries and a charger. You can get it for a bit less if you get it without batteries in case you already have some.

The M18 battery series serves over 200 tools and is an extremely reliable and intelligent battery.

I know what you’re thinking – a whole rack for a mower? Yeah, it is a little steep. But like I said, Milwaukee just has one mower and it is pretty dang good.

The official review: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21 inch mower

This Milwaukee mower not only comes with the power that you trust from all Milwaukee tools, but is also extremely dependable.

The price is a little steep, but this mower is exactly what you would expect from a Milwaukee product. Durable, consistent, and relentless about getting the job done.

You can grab it from Home Depot – check the price here – and a variety of other places.

Why we started The Lawn Review

We also did a nice review of their weed eater.

What to look for in a battery powered lawn mower

Brand quality
- Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
- Luckily – Milwaukee carries really good brand quality. They’re well known for making durable, powerful, trusted tools
Metal where it matters.
- Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
- Again, Milwaukee has you covered ehre.
Battery interoperability.
- A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
Self-propelled or not.
- Some people love it – I am indifferent. It’s a great feature for hills, uneven surfaces, or if you don’t like to push your push mower.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our electric lawn mower buying guide.

About Milwaukee tools

Milwaukee tools have a long history of being tough and durable. Milwaukee is a brand that has been around for over 100 years, and it has a well-deserved reputation for making high-quality tools. Milwaukee tools are used by professionals all over the world, and they are known for being able to withstand heavy use.

Milwaukee makes a wide variety of tools, from hand tools to power tools, and they are used in a variety of industries, from construction to automotive. Milwaukee is a brand that is trusted by professionals, and Milwaukee tools are built to last.

We noticed that Milwaukee was starting to make a splash in the lawn tool industry, so we have been trying to get our hands on any Milwaukee products that we can.