Name: Greenworks vs Sun Joe Dethatcher
Brand: Greenworks
Rating: 8 (2 reviews)

January 17, 2022March 15, 2024

4 Best Lawn Mowers for Under $200: 2024 Update

Cheap lawn mowers are the staple for every new homeowner that doesn’t really care about their lawn, but needs to keep it short. Luckily, you don’t have to drop $600 for a crazy nice mower.

Mowers are relatively simple machines – they require blades that can spin and cut the grass. Heck – they don’t even need gas or batteries, some of them can just be powered by elbow grease. Before you break the bank trying to keep up with your neighbors (their grass is always greener), check out our list of mowers for under $200.

**Spoiler: we recommend the Sun Joe MJ401RE corded electric mower that can be found for mega sale here.**

Best lawn mowers for under $200

Remember those old push mowers with the spinning blades? Can you imagine using those? If you can’t, then you should try harder because this is your price range. You may spend a tad more and get one that plugs in.

American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14

If you ever got bored at your grandparents’ house and went surfing through their shed, you may have dusted off a manual reel mower. Yes, these used to be the dominant residential mowers back in the 40s and 50s, but times have changed – for some people.

The American Lawn Mower Company makes the classic reel mower still – and it is actually pretty popular. It has over 9k reviews on Amazon and comes in well below our $100 price point.

When you think of inexpensive lawn mowers, you are thinking of a reel mower, of which we will review a few of today.

Check out the positives and negative of the American Lawn Mower Company 1204:

Positives:

Quiet
Inexpensive
Adjustable height
Foam handles

Negatives:

Slightly smaller frame
Things can get stuck in the reel (true of any reel mower)

It is super popular on Amazon for a reason (I suspect nostalgia) and on sale for those interested.

Sun Joe MJ500M

One of my personal favorites in this space is the Sun Joe MJ500M 16-inch manual reel mower.

Here are a few positives and negatives of the Sun Joe MJ500M

Positives:

Reputable brand
Removable grass catching bag
Adjustable cutting height
Price (can find super cheap used ones)
Decent width
Environmentally friendly

Negatives:

Plastic wheels
Wobbly handles

The good thing is that this is 100% emissions free :). And it has no battery or anything that can clutter up your garage.

If you’re looking to save a quick buck and aren’t afraid to use a little bit of muscle, check it out for a super low price on Amazon – Sun Joe MJ500M.

Greenworks RM1400 Reel Lawn Mower

The next best (in my opinion) manual mower is the Greenworks 14-inch Reel Lawn Mower RM1400. This is almost identical to the Sun Joe MJ500M listed above, but is slightly more narrow. A more narrow blade width simply means you will have to do more passes in your yard.

Some things I like about the Greenworks RM1400:

Positives:

Great company
Removable grass catching bag
Adjustable cutting height
Environmentally friendly

Negatives:

Plastic wheels
Not super sturdy handles
Narrower
Slightly more expensive than Sun Joe

Greenworks is a great brand and very well-trusted in this space. If you want to boogie outdoors and use this mower, you can find it on Amazon for a great price.

Give your child the gift of upgraded nostalgia.

Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

One thing I love about Amazon is that it has a renewed/refurbished store. If you are one of those who returns about 50% of your purchases to Amazon and wonder, “what happens to it?”, then here is your answer. It gets cleaned up and sold for a discount.

That’s what is happening here with the MJ401E-RM. It is usually a little over our price point of $100, but can be purchased on the cheap if it is refurbished.

Although it has the appearance of a large tortoise, this is a nice electric mower that will be able to tackle a decent-sized job. Sun Joe is a great brand and this is a wonderful all-around mower.

Things to love about the Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

Positives:

Easier to push than a manual mower
Comes with a nice little bag
Lightweight, easy storage
No gas fumes
Easy to start

Negatives:

Corded, so requires an extension cord
Plastic decking which is less durable

This is honestly a great, great deal and can be found on Amazon for super cheap right now.

Summary: Super cheap lawn mowers are still around

Well, there you have it folks. These are going to be the best bang for your buck and some of your only options if you are looking to save a buck. You can do a great job with any of these mowers, but if I had to pick one – I would probably go with the Sun Joe electric mower. The price point is just too good considering it isn’t a manual reel mower.

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.

Expectation setting

Before we start envisioning a crisp, cool afternoon while crafting a beautiful lawn, let’s check in with reality. When you buy an inexpensive mower, you are paying for the pieces, not the power. You are the power! So cross off self-propelled, riding mowers, or zero-turn mowers from your list. These mowers are going to be the dial-up of the lawn care world.

You are going to get a cheap piece of lawn equipment – and that is fine! You aren’t paying for a lot! But before you open up the wallet for just anyone, let’s find the one that is right for your needs.

Interested in what other tools cost? Check out our cost guide.

December 31, 2021April 1, 2024

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V Mower Comparison Guide

If you are in the market for a new battery-powered mower, you are probably choosing between the Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mowers. These are two of the most popular battery powered mowers on the market. I like the Greenworks 80V mower because it has a strong metal cutting deck that EGO’s mower does not have.

Before you make your decision, make sure to read my word of caution on both of these and understand what you are buying. Lawn mowers are investments, so be sure to understand where your money is going.

Jump ahead:

Pros and cons of battery-powered mowers
Greenworks vs EGO brands
Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V
Price comparison
The winner

SPOILER***: We went with the Greenworks 80V mower because of the steel deck and cheaper price point.

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mower: Breakdown

Okay – enough about the brand, let’s figure out the fundamental pieces of knowledge we need to make an informed decision about these two mowers. We need to understand power, battery-life, durability, and the bells and whistles. Let’s get started.

Power of Greenworks mower compared to EGO mowers

Greenworks has a handful of 80V mowers, so I am going to pick one of the most popular (and our #1 ranked), the 21” brushless self-propelled mower with two batteries. Each battery has about 4 Ah of power coming out, giving this a total of 8 Ah. This is about all the power you will need for small-to-medium sized jobs around the yard.

The EGO 56V 21-in self-propelled mower is their best selling mower on Lowes website. The EGO 56V 21-in mower has about 7.5 Ah of power in its battery, just slightly below the Greenworks mower. While these are comparable, the Greenworks has a bit of an edge.

To be fair, it is hard to call a winner in this battle because both have almost identical power output. At the same time, they are both on the upper end of power when it comes to self-propelled battery-powered mowers. I can tell you from using the EGO, it feels powerful. It is relatively heavy and when you engage the self-propelled function, it really jerks you forward.

Both have a brushless motor, which means their motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a longer life than their brushed counterparts (shoutout Dennis for the correction!).

I think we have a tie on our hands, with EGO perhaps having a slight edge in the “feel” of power, especially if you get the Select Cut XP version – which just means it has extra torque.

Battery life: EGO 56V vs Greenworks 80V mowers

The Greenworks 80V mower has a battery life of up to 60 minutes, as does the EGO 56V mower. One thing that gives the EGO a slight edge here is that its power system is just a single battery. The Greenworks requires two separate batteries and two separate chargers (which means two separate wall plugs).

Their batteries last a long time and fit many tools.

One thing that I would recommend for both of these is to not use the self-propelled function if you have a big job on your hands. While it can be kind of nice, the self-propelled function will massively drain the battery.

Nice side by sides on the Greenworks 80V mower.

If you want to finish the job, turn the dang self-propelled function off. If you have spare batteries, then make sure you’ve got a stack of them fully charged before activating self-propelled functions.

Because of the single battery, I am going to give the EGO 56V 21-in mower the edge here.

Durability: EGO’s plastic deck vs Greenworks’ metal deck

When I am evaluating durability on a mower, I am looking at spots where the mower can easily break. The most frequent spot here is going to be the deck. The deck is the area of the mower that covers the blades as they spin. Traditional gas mowers have a metal decking to help prevent rocks or roots from ripping through the engine.

The Greenworks 80V 21” mower has a nice steel deck, making it highly durable and long-lasting. Unfortunately, the EGO+ 56V 21-in mower has a plastic deck. This leaves it vulnerable to stress and breakage.

I am also a huge fan of simplicity. If you put the Greenworks and the EGO 56V right next to each other, the Greenworks mower would look much simpler. The EGO 56V has a ton of extra parts that make it look cool and robotic, but ultimately add weight, more things that can break, and probably extra cost.

The Greenworks mower has a 4 year warranty whereas the EGO mower has a 5 year limited warranty.

I am going to give Greenworks the medal because of the metal. Gotta go with Greenworks steel deck.

Bells and whistles

It is definitely important to have bells and whistles – but they have to matter. This means they need to add value to the mower and to the task at hand.

Some of the bells and whistles on the Greenworks 80V 21-in mower (that we tested extensively here) are the EZ fold handles that allow for easy storage, a turbo button that sets the mower at full speed, 7-position height adjustment, an on-board battery indicator, and some nice LED headlights.

The EGO 56V mower has headlights, foldability for storage, 6-position cutting height adjustments, and push-button start.

While Greenworks might just have better marketing, they seem to have more bells and whistles that actually help. I can’t see much on the EGO 56V besides it looking like it might have more functions because of how bulky it is.

The advantage here is going to Greenworks once again.

Price comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The Greenworks 80V 21in with two batteries is currently on sale for about $530 (now $499). The EGO 56V 21” is for sale for almost a slight bit more than the Greenworks over on Amazon.

The advantage here is obvious: Greenworks is less expensive and can be found for a great deal on Amazon.

The final comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The winner is clear: Greenworks 80V 21-in is the superior mower to the EGO 56V 21″. It isn’t a huge margin of victory, but due to the steel deck and price, I have to hand this one over to Greenworks.

Why we review lawn tools

We also compared the EGO and Kobalt lawn mowers that are found at Lowes and the Greenworks mower from this post to a comparable Ryobi mower.

About battery-powered mowers

Before buying a battery-powered mower, make sure you understand the pros and cons. They are hot tamales right now and a bunch of folks are buying them. Below, I list out the pros and cons of battery-powered mowers:

We wrote an extensive buying guide for people interested in electric mowers.

Pros of battery powered mowers

Easier to store and start:
- After a long winter, starting up a traditional gas mower requires the pull cord to be pulled no less than 1.4 million times. It usually has some stale gas and blows out a cloud of thick black smoke. Electric mowers, however, you simply attach the battery, press the button, and continue on with your day.
No emissions:
- Tired of breathing in fumes? Are you the type of person that throws blood on people wearing furs? Well, battery-powered mowers might just be for you.
Less noise
- Most folks wear ear protection when mowing the lawn because it is pretty dang loud. Electric mowers make way less noise, to the point where you can’t really hear them going around. I’m about to buy one for my neighbor who mows his lawn every Monday morning when I’m on work calls.

Cons of battery powered mowers

Less durable
- Many of the battery powered mowers have plastic decking, or the piece that covers the blades. This leaves them vulnerable to rocks ripping through them or other accidents that can crack the deck, leaving the whole mower useless
Batteries
- Batteries drain. You won’t always be able to cover the whole yard (depending on the size) in one trip AND use the batteries for anything else after. Charging takes a while as well.
Expensive
- Compared to simple gas mowers, electric mowers are generally more expensive. You can save a bit of money if you already have the batteries for another tool and buy the tool-only version.

Greenworks vs EGO brand review

Personally, I am more familiar with Greenworks’ line of products. They have some of the top selling battery-powered equipment, and advertise a ton over there as well. EGO is pretty big with Lowes and with a handful of online retailers

EGO has a distinctive brand look – very transformerish.

Greenworks is what I would consider a higher-end product line. They have some pieces of equipment, like one of their blowers, that has tremendous power and quality. EGO is less established and has a little bit of a plastic-y toy feel to it. Both are great, however.

December 29, 2021April 1, 2024

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower Comparison

The Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225 mower is a true battle of the giants. Think Godzilla vs. King Kong – except much more is at stake. These mowers are two of the hottest zero-turn mowers on the market for homeowners. Today, we are going ringside to battle it out.

Bottom line: Both the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1 are great mowers, but I really like the bells and whistles provided by the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Everyone when they see the ZT1 and the TimeCutter.

Check out our review of the new electric 60V Toro TimeCutter zero-turn mower here.

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter: A breakdown

Okay – now that we have done some background information, let’s hop on to brass tacks. These are two beasts that are super popular. Make sure you understand their power, comfort and ridability, and cutting experience before making a purchase.

Power comparison: Cub Cadet vs Toro TimeCutter

One of the most important components of a zero-turn mower is power (duh). The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has a 22HP Kohler Engine (if you get the 42 inch version, Kawasaki if you get the 50). Kohler and Kawasaki make great small engines. This one can get your mower up to 8 mph in forward motion, and 4 in reverse, making it a pretty speedy lawn mower.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 has a 22.5 HP V-twin engine, manufactured by Toro. In most cases, I like when companies outsource their engines to folks like Kohler, Kawasaki, or Briggs & Stratton.

Feature	Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1	Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Horsepower	22 HP	22.5 HP V-twin
Engine type	Kohler, Kawasaki	Toro
Speed	8 FWD, 4 REV	7 FWD, 4 REV
Transmission Type	Hydrostatic	Hydrostatic

While the TimeCutter has slightly more power output, the ZT1 has a little bit more speed. For this round, I’ve gotta give it to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1.

Comfort and Rideability comparison: Toro vs Cub Cadet

Comfort isn’t everything, but it is incredibly important. You can have all the power in the world, but want to get back inside in five minutes because you are insanely uncomfortable. When picking a zero-turn, I look for things like a high seat back, arm rests, and a cup holder. It sounds bougie, but it makes a difference if you can have a nicer ride.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has details like an anti-vibration floor mat that helps provide a smooth ride. This zero turn mower also has a fully adjustable 18 inch seat back, adjustable arm rests, and ergonomic hand groups that allow for more comfort.

The nice suspension system on the Toro TimeCutter.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 also has an 18 inch seat back with arm rests. The TimeCutter (one of my favorite from Toro) also comes with a beer holder and a little storage cubby under the seat for storing other things (like your tired arms).

This is a super tough call, but I think I’m going to have to call it a tie between the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Cutting experience on Cub Cadet ZT1 compared to Toro TimeCutter

Both of these mowers are fantastic cuts. When taking these for a spin, the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 feels slightly cheaper or “stock” compared to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, but overall the cut seems exactly the same.

One thing I dislike about both of these machines is that they lack an hour meter. Hour meters are used to measure how long you’ve been riding and help you figure out when you need an oil change.

I also dislike that the Cub Cadet lacks a fuel meter – you are kind of flying blind. Another thing that bothers me about the TimeCutter SS4225 is that it has a “hand crank” deck height lever. Most of the more advanced zero-turns have a knob or something more sophisticated.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is like Honey Bee from Transformers.

All-in-all, I can’t complain too much about either of these machines. They are both very reliable, have great warranties, and come from higher-end, trusted brands.

Price comparison: Toro TimeCutter vs Cub Cadet ZT1

Now that we know these machines are both quality and comfort, let’s see how they stack up on price.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 is for sale from some retailers for around $3,000 – about $3,200 at Home Depot right now.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is for sale for about $3,500 as well, and it sells almost exclusively at Home Depot.

The final ruling: Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225

Feature	Cub Cadet ZT1	Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Power	++++	+++
Comfort	++++	+++
Cutting Experience	++++	++++
Price	++	++

This is super, super close. Basically these are identical lawn mowers. To me, it comes down to reliability over the long term and I’m going to have to go with the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1. The engine being from Kohler/Kawasaki just makes me feel more secure going with them.

To see our full review of the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, click here.

To see our full review of the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 featured in this post, click here.

We also compared the Toro to a classic John Deere Zero turn mower here.

Why we review lawn tools

Zero-turn mowers 101

People love zero turn mowers because they are generally faster than your traditional lawn tractor and provide much more agility. Zero turn mowers are especially popular for commercial lawn mowing companies as they provide much more speed and power, have larger gas capacity, and are more nimble than the traditional lawn tractor.

Zero turn mowers have continued to grow in popularity but are still intimidating to others. While lawn tractors have a steering wheel similar to any other automobile, zero-turn mowers have large handles that stick up and meet in the middle of the mower. To operate the mower, you push forward and use the individual horizontal handles to either push the mower to the right or to the left.

What to look for in a zero-turn mower

Zero-turn mowers are all about comfort and size. If you are a commercial landscaper, you will likely want a mower with a large deck. The deck houses the blades and the wider the deck, the wider the blade.

For us residential mowers, we will want to take into account yard-size into our selection process. For those with less than one acre of land, I don’t often recommend zero-turn mowers. They take up too much space for smaller lots and are difficult to store. For those with more than one acre, zero-turn mowers are great. The larger the acreage, the wider the deck you will want.

December 28, 2021April 1, 2024

13 Best Electric Lawn Mowers for Small Yards

The best all-around electric mower for small yards is the EGO 56V 21 inch mower. It is a great size, very powerful, and can cut a small lawn for months on a single charge.

Electric mowers are one of the hottest items to buy because they tend to be cheaper, easier to store, and quieter than gas mowers. First time home buyer? Recently downsized? Live in California? Sick of gas prices? Me too.

While there are a TON of electric mowers out there, some of them are crap and some of them are rip-offs. So, let’s cut through the noise as usual.

We’ve summed up our findings here:

Corded Electric Mower: Greenworks 10A 16 inch Corded Mower (also an insane price)
Battery-powered mower: EGO 56V 21-inch mower
Value: Greenworks 40V 20 inch mower

Best electric mower for small yards: Ranked

There are so many options of electric mowers out there that it was tough to narrow it down. Luckily, I am a huge nerd about this stuff.

1. EGO Power+ LM2101 21 inch 56 V electric mower

Number one! The Ego Power+21 inch 56V mower is the one of the best electric mowers on the market. EGO makes a ton of different lawn tools and the mower is top of the line. EGO basically only makes electric lawn tools, so you know they have mastered the mower.

One of the main benefits of this mower is the wide deck, meaning it has a decent cutting area with each pass you make. The larger the yard, the larger the cutting area.

21 inches is a perfect happy medium for small yards because it allows you to cover a good amount of ground while still being nimble.

This has all of the features you look for in an electric mower: a nice interoperable battery, easy to fold and store, durable, and powerful. Give it a look on Amazon (it is still kind of a secret).

2. Greenworks 80V 21 inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower

I like Greenworks’ mowers because they tend to be pretty thoughtfully made. Their Greenworks 21-inch mower with an 80v battery is definitely up there for me. As one of the more popular electric mowers on the market (almost 6,000 reviews).

This mower has dual blades, allowing for a better cut and for finer mulching. This is pretty equivalent to a gas mower, except the electric version where you can’t really tell a difference. Greenworks also has some super powerful tools like their blowers where this battery can be super helpful. The Greenworks 80V 21 inch mower has a great quality cut and is super quiet.

Highly recommended and a nice kick-off to our top three.

This is one of the most popular ones sold on Amazon (with almost 6k reviews). Don’t believe us? Go check out the other reviews at Amazon.

We like Greenworks because of their distinguished high-quality products.

3. Makita XML03CM1 Brushless 18” lawn mower

Makita makes really high quality power tools and so when they release an under-the-radar electric Makita mower with surprising power , you know it is going to be good. This sucker comes with 4 batteries, a metal deck, and a brushless motor. Basically everything you could like about an electric mower, the Makita has. Compared to most other mowers, this has a significantly longer run time.

For those with smaller yards, the 18 inch metal deck is just about ideal.

The fact that you won’t burn all your batteries means that you will have plenty of juice left for your other Makita tools.

The Makita XML03CM1 is just about perfect. If you get it without all the batteries, its actually pretty dang affordable on Amazon.

4. Ryobi 40V Brushless 20 inch electric lawn mower

The Ryobi 40V series lawn mower is part of a 40V battery series that makes a ton of good tools that you can use, including blowers and weed eaters. You can also use the battery in this mower for those. That is the type of interoperability I’m talking about!

This also has a brushless motor, is super simple to use, but sadly has a plastic deck – which is keeping out of the top 3. This is one of the most popular electric mowers in the world, so if you do go ahead with this purchase: you are in good company.

It is another medium sized mower that will get just about any small to mid sized yard done easily. Great purchase here, IMO if you can get it from an online retailer and ship it.

5. Black and Decker 40V Max Cordless Lawn mower

While I’m not a huge fan of black and decker, this is basically a mirror of the Ryobi mower. They are virtually identical in every aspect. Black and Decker also has a yuuuuuuuge collection of tools that take a 40v battery.

This mower is slightly more versatile in that it has a thing called EDGEMAX that allows you to mow super close to other surfaces, which is nice. Otherwise, this one is orange and black colored, which I tend to favor more than the neon green of Ryobi.

This one is also for sale on Amazon, but the price is hidden, so go check it out for yourself.

I recommend this one to anybody with Black and Decker tools already.

Can’t go wrong with this one.

6. Toro Recycler 22in SmartStow 60V max mower

There are a lot of things to like about this mower. First of all, I love Toro and have reviewed a ton of their mowers. They are always dependable and do an incredible job. This isn’t number one on this list for a couple of reasons.

It’s pretty big – maybe bigger than you need for a teeny tiny yard, but good for a small-medium yard. Another thing that is working against the battery version of the Toro recycler is the lack of battery interoperability. There just aren’t enough popular tools that the Toro battery works with. As a standalone, this is still a great option, however.

7. Dewalt 21.5 in 20V Max push mower

I like the Dewalt 21.5 in 20V mower because it is so simple. Dewalt has a jillion tools that you can use the battery with. If you look at this product, it is the most standard looking lawn mower in the world, other than the fact that it is bright yellow.

The Dewalt 21.5 in 20V mower has a brushless motor as well, making it longer lasting and quieter. It has a big metal deck as well, which means you won’t have rocks cutting through the deck and breaking it completely. It is a pricier electric mower (around $550), but I think you get what you pay for here.

For our full review, check out this post on our experience with the all-new Dewalt 20V mower review.

8. Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V 16in cordless mower

This one has so much potential! It has all the bells and whistles that you would want in an electric mower, but has a plastic deck still. The Ryobi ONE series is pretty popular and has a good amount of tools in it, but not as many as the 40V series from Ryobi.

This is one of the nicer looking, mid-sized electric mowers on the market. It comes with two batteries that can be used in a bevy of other tools. It overall is a great mower, but gets dinged by me for not being a part of the 40V series and having a plastic deck. Still a good purchase if you are someone that has existing Ryobi ONE+ 18V batteries. You can find it for a decent price on Amazon if you get the tool-only version (meaning you use your same battery).

9. Greenworks PRO 17 inch 48V battery mower

Now that we are in the top 10, our game has stepped up quite a bit. This is another great Greenworks mower with a 17 inch deck (slightly larger than the previous Greenworks corded mower). It comes with two 24v batteries which appear to work with a couple of other Greenworks products, but not all of them.

This one will last you significantly longer than the other mowers and be able to take on much more work. The Greenworks PRO 17 inch 48V battery mower also offers a brushless motor, which makes it last much longer and is overall much quieter. It does still have a plastic deck, which I absolutely despise – so it is staying in the back half of this list.

Right now, Greenworks is selling mowers for a great price on Amazon, giving you a really good deal heading into the mowing season.

10. Greenworks 10A 16-inch corded electric mower

Alright, if you are looking for a slight step up from the Sun Joe MJ401E (reviewed above), this is it. It is still powered by an extension cord but is a couple of inches bigger and has a few more customizable features. This one could definitely get you much further than the Sun Joe and actually has a mulching feature as well.

Greenworks is a little better than Sun Joe as a brand in my opinion. They make heavier-duty mowers and blowers and focus just on yard tools. Sun Joe is an outgrowth of Snow Joe, which was the original brand that made things like snow shovels.

This one is slightly more expensive than the Sun Joe, but still a steal (lol). Right now, it’s on sale at Amazon for a really good price.

11. Sun Joe MJ401E Mow Joe 14 inch electric mower

While this mower does get a couple dings from me, its price makes up for it. The first ding is that its plastic and looks like a turtle. Everything is plastic and likely won’t last a super long time. It is also tiny and requires an extension cord. 14 inches is not a big mower.

But here are a few things I do like. This is perfect from people who live in a townhome or condo and have a little bit of grass. It’s going to cut the grass fine, but it’s not going to handle tough terrain or tall weeds. If you’re looking for something super cheap and easy to use, this is basically a little yard vacuum.

This one is EXTREMELY affordable and can be shipped straight to your house from Amazon.

I’ve actually grown to love WORX products, including their mulcher and electric edger

One benefit to this mower is that the two 20V batteries can be used on most of their other products.

It’s plastic all over and only cuts ⅛ acre per charge. If you do like the Worx series however, you can use these batteries with any of their tools – which can save you a lot of money. The price tag is also around $300, making it a decent deal.

As one of the more affordable options, grab this one today on Amazon.

13. Green Machine 62V Cordless electric mower

Using our ranking criteria, this one would actually rank decently. It is missing in a couple big areas, however. The Green Machine 62V Cordless Mower is a no-name brand (sorry), and has a 62V battery that is not usable with probably any equipment you own today.

A few positives: it has a metal deck and looks pretty nice. It has a decently large cutting deck as well, at 22 inches. This puts it in the higher end of our list if you have a small-to-medium sized yard. This mower seems to sell exclusively at Home Depot and exclusively online – and you can grab it here.

Why we review electric lawn mowers

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 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.

Here is our full guide to buying an electric lawn mower – including some of the most common questions.

December 28, 2021April 1, 2024

Sun Joe SPX3000 vs SPX3001 Pressure Washer: Buying Guide

Sun Joe’s SPX3000 and SPX3001 are two pressure washers that have absolutely blown up in sales. I recommend the SPX3000 over the SPX3001 because it won’t topple over as easily.

And you are in the market for a new pressure washer. The Sun Joe SPX3000 seems to be the most popular pressure washer of all time, but right before you check out…..what’s this?

The SPX3001? Is it better? Do I need it? Let’s settle this once and for all.

Jump ahead:

Before buying a pressure washer
SPX3000 and SPX3001 feature breakdown
The winner (in our opinion)

The Sun Joe SPX3000 vs 3001: Breakdown

I am going to repost a bit from our full review of the Sun Joe SPX3000, because, well, all of the specifications are the same on the SPX3000 as they are on the SPX3001. Meaning they will be an absolute TIE in every category (except for one major difference, and not just the additional “1” in the name).

Usability and attachments

The Sun Joe SPX3000 comes with five different attachment tips. A zero degree, fifteen degree, twenty five degree, forty degree and soap tip. The larger the degree of tip you have on the front of this pressure washer, the weaker the spray and the larger the area of coverage.

If you are pressure washing an outdoor metal fence, you can use the zero degree tip to blast away anything that is not metal. If you want to clean off your car, try the forty degree or soap tip as to not hurt the paint or any of the trim features.

This Sun Joe SPX3000 and SPX3001 also have a twenty foot hose, allowing you to extend your work over a modest sized difference.

The SPX3000 and SPX3001 + soap

This pressure washer has two different detergent tanks that you can use to infuse the water in the pressure washer with soap. This means you can easily switch from your car (normal soap) to your deck (a bleach mixture).

Noise and the auto-stop feature

If your neighbor has ever used a pressure washer, well you would know because it is overly loud and obnoxious. I was walking with my wife in our neighborhood and could hear a neighbor about seven houses down using his pressure washer. As we approached his house, he stopped using the pressure washer and tried talking to us.

Let go of the trigger and the whole thing stops.

We were basically screaming at each other in the middle of the street until my wife faked a massive diarrhea attack and we took off to avoid the conversation (this is a lie).

The beauty of the Sun Joe is that it is a relatively quiet piece of equipment. For whatever reason, gas pressure washers are loud when they are in use and somehow loud when not in use.

The SPX3000 and SPX3001 have a feature that turns off the whole machine, then turns it back on when you squeeze the trigger. This feature is super similar to a car that turns off at red lights and kicks back on when you press the gas. While not a huge selling point, it makes a difference with your ears and with your neighbors.

Storage and maintenance

This product only weighs about 28 lbs, meaning it will fit into just about any portion of your garage, shed, or even inside your house. Being an electric device means that very little maintenance is required. You simply plug it in and it will do its thing, unlike gas powered pressure washers that rely on…gas.

The Sun Joe SPX3000 and SPX3001 are both super light, making them easy to store and maintain.

These pressure washers also come with a full two year warranty. While this is great, keep in mind that folks usually only use their pressure washer a couple of times per year. Make sure to get as much use out of it as possible for the two years are up in case anything is going to go wrong.

Sun Joe SPX3000 vs SPX3001: Final ruling

So…what is up with the 1? Should I make the upgrade?

It depends. The real difference between the SPX3000 and the SPX3001 is the hose reel attachment that comes with the SPX3001. Basically, the 3001 has this little hose reel attachment at the top that allows you to reel in the hose and pull it from that spot.

Hose reel attachments are great…..if they work. Sadly, the 3001 has the hose reel at the top of the piece of light equipment, so most pulls on it are going to topple it over. Frankly, this is pretty useless when pressure washing, but is nice for storage.

My final verdict: save a few bucks and go with the SPX3000 unless storage is a really big deal to you.

Knock it off your weekend checklist and grab it on Amazon. I’ve included the blue one below (which is just over $100).

Check out the best deal we found on Amazon.

Honestly though, there’s one that’s even better – the Sun Joe SPX3500 is by far the best version of their electric pressure washers.

Why we review electric pressure washer

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer

Some common considerations for those looking for a pressure washer include the following:

Ability to add soap to the hose instead of schlepping around a bucket with soap
Multiple nozzle types for whichever job you need
Length of pole (if cleaning exterior of house, not having one of these could limit how high you can reach)
Storage capability and maintenance requirements
PSI level for either commercial or residential use

What to look for in a pressure washer

When looking for a pressure washer, you want to have a good understanding of the jobs you want to get done. Most people use pressure washers to deep clean their patio, porch, driveways, windows, or other external surfaces around the house. Most pressure washers are good for these jobs as they are relatively light work and do not require excessive force.

For those of us cleaning the spray paint off of our cars from our crazy ex-girlfriends, you might want one that has a little more “umph” behind it. Something with 3000 PSI with a wide nozzle that is gas powered like this Dewalt one.

About Mr. Joe and his sun equipment

Sun Joe produces electric lawn and home care equipment. They are popular for their super convenient and inexpensive dethatcher (you wouldn’t believe how satisfying it is), and of course their pressure washer. You likely found out about the pressure washer because it has more reviews than I thought humanly possible on Amazon. As of today, it has almost 45,000 reviews and 73% of them are five stars.

People love the SPX3000 but I can tell you right now, it is not for everyone. While one of the least expensive items on the pressure washer market, it certainly has a target demographic. I’ll break down who the target audience is and why this is so popular.

We did a video review of the SPX3000 – check it out!

December 27, 2021April 1, 2024

Greenworks vs Sun Joe Dethatcher: Comparison Guide

The Greenworks dethatcher vs Sun Joe dethatcher is exactly like Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning. Both absolute greats, but Peyton clearly being the best. I like the Greenworks dethatcher better because it comes in at a lower price point.

My Greenworks dethatcher that I used when comparing against the Sun Joe dethatcher.

Just kidding – kind of. When looking for a lawn dethatcher, there are a few really important things to keep an eye on, and we will look at all of those here today.

Jump ahead:

Why you need a dethatcher
Electric dethatchers
Greenworks vs Sun Joe
Price comparison
Final ruling: Greenworks vs Sun Joe

***Spoiler: Both are great, but we recommended the Greenworks dethatcher because of the price point. If you want a nicer version, check out the new cordless Greenworks dethatcher that I tested out here.

Greenworks dethatcher vs. Sun Joe dethatcher

Now that we know the how and why of dethatching, let’s roll up our sleeves and compare the top two choices. We will do a head-to-head comparison of the Sun Joe dethatcher vs the Greenworks dethatcher to make sure YOU make the best choice for YOU.

To read our full product reviews, click here for the Sun Joe dethatcher and here for the Greenworks dethatcher.

The Sun Joe is slightly more powerful

Let’s start here with expectation setting. These tools are not yard beasts. They require an extension cord (remember those?) and a bit of time and patience. When looking at power, the difference is really marginal.

The Greenworks dethatcher comes in at about 10A of power, whereas the Sun Joe offers 12A. A here stands for Amperes, or units of electrical power output. In reality, this difference will not be very noticeable or even necessary. Power is not the name of the game, but being methodical and patient are.

When it comes to this head to head, I’d love to make it a tie but the numbers just don’t work.

Sun Joe takes this round.

Usability comparison for these dethatchers

Alright, both of these operate basically the same. You plug them both in, press a button, then start slowly walking. When it comes to using a dethatcher, the most important aspect of the usability is really how much time you are going to be out there.

The amount of time you are out there is dependent on how wide the dethatcher is. Just like with mowers, the larger the blade size is, the larger the cutting path. The same is true with dethatchers. While they are notoriously small, every inch matters.

The width of the Greenworks dethatcher is 14 inches, whereas the Sun Joe is only 12.6 inches. For usability, I am going to go with Greenworks dethatcher.

Add-ons to both Sun Joe and Greenworks dethatchers

The Sun Joe comes with a couple of add-ons that the Greenworks Dethatcher does not. Sun Joe offers a scarifier attachment and a bag for the thatch.

I don’t really think you need either. Definitely not the bag – the bag is useless because it is so small it gets full after about five feet of pushing. This will end up getting tossed.

The scarifier is an attachment that you can put on the dethatcher that has a few blades on it that can cut up the thatch before using the dethatcher. I’m iffy on this one as well and don’t ever use it. Others seem to like it, but I never have time for it.

The Greenworks is a bit cheaper

The Greenworks dethatcher comes in at a slightly lower price than and the Sun Joe dethatcher will cost you a slight bit more last time I checked.

As a reminder, the Greenworks does not have the attachments that the Sun Joe dethatcher has, but is wider.

Our ranking table comparison

Hands down – the Greenworks dethatcher is the way to go here, folks.

Category	Greenworks dethatcher	Sun Joe dethatcher
Power	+	+
Usability	+++	+++
Price	++++	++
Appearance	++++	+
Overall	++++	++

The Value of My Dethatcher

Dethatchers are a lesser-known lawn tool but that’s because most folks don’t care enough about their yard to use one. If you are reading this post, you are in the elite subgroup of yard enthusiasts who give a darn and are about to be the envy of all of your neighbors.

Dethatchers work by pulling up dead grass that is stuck to your lawn’s soil.

“Wait a second, that stuff is bad?”

Well, maybe not BAD, but it limits the amount of nutrients your soil can take in. We go out and pull weeds in the garden bed because they can overtake our flowers and bushes. The same goes for our grass. The thatch is not going to take over your yard and is dead, but it is still taking up valuable real estate that could help grow more grass.

Thatch when it sees any open space in the soil.

When to dethatch your lawn

Dethatching your lawn should take place just prior to aerating and overseeding – so generally in the fall. For those of us that live in the South, this is sometime around mid to early October. If it’s too hot, the seed will dry up and not thrive. If it’s too cold, well, it is too late.

You can also dethatch at the end of a brutal winter to allow your soil to open up and breathe again before it warms up. So many lawns continue to limp into the spring because they are mushy and have a ton of moist thatch just clogging up the yard. Get rid of that.

Electric Dethatchers 101

Okay, let us make our way into the meat of this post. Old-school dethatchers are fine-toothed rakes that require you to physically make your way across the yard and pull up all the dead grass like a cave man. I do not recommend this to anybody that enjoys having a back.

On the flip side, there is a reason that motorized dethatchers are not gas-powered. Dethatchers, even motorized ones, require a slower movement across the yard. And honestly, that is a good thing. There’s no way to go through the process quickly. If you had a gas-powered dethatcher, you would basically till your entire yard and you might as well plant something else if you do that.

Check out our web story about electric dethatchers and how satisfying they are.

Electric dethatchers are perfect because they are super light, easy to use, and simply hover across your yard, pulling up all the dead thatch. The two most popular electric dethatchers are the Greenworks dethatcher and the Sun Joe dethatcher.

December 23, 2021April 21, 2024

Stihl BR200 Backpack Blower Is A Starter Backpack Blower

The Stihl BR200 backpack blower is a smaller backpack blower that can get your residential job done. As the little brother of the BR350 blower and the BR600 from Stihl, the BR200 has all the same features but slightly more manageable power. In fact, most of the commercial landscapers you see will have one of these Stihl backpack blowers on the job.

Backpack blowers are an absolute necessity in the landscaping game. If you don’t have one, you might as well rely on the wind to get your job done. Before you go buy any old backpack blower on Amazon, make sure to know what you are getting yourself into.

If you live in California, sorry – this blower will not be available to you starting in 2024.

Bottom Line: The Stihl BR 200 blower is the lightest duty of the Stihl backpack blowers, which makes it great for residential use.

Jump ahead:

Electric vs gas blowers
Stihl BR200 features
The BR200 price and value
Official review: Stihl BR200

The Stihl BR200 backpack blower: Feature review

When it comes to backpack blowers, there are only a few things you need to take into consideration. The first is power, then comfort and usability, durability and maintenance, then of course price and value. Let’s get started below.

Power

If you are checking out a backpack blower, then you probably need something pretty powerful. The Stihl BR200 backpack blower puts out air at around 150 mph. This is comparable to a lot of other blowers, and definitely on the lower side of backpack blowers. You can find some electric blowers that go this high, but most hover around 100-120 mph.

The air volume at the nozzle is 400 CFM (cubic feet per minute). What this means is that the blower has a slightly more narrow nozzle, making for a targeted, high speed air stream. For example, there are other blowers that have a higher CFM, but a lower air speed. These are ones with big, wide blower nozzles that send a broader air path, but not as quickly.

For comparison’s sake, the BR600 boasts almost 700 CFM, but only blows air slightly faster than the BR350. This is due to the wider nozzle on the BR600.

My preference is always having a slightly narrow opening to be able to have focused power. Broad openings are great for folks who are pushing a bunch of air across their backyard indiscriminately.

This engine also boasts 1.1 bhp of power output, which is pretty good for a blower, but on the lower end of backpack blowers.

Usability

Usability is probably the most important feature of any lawn tool. Sure, the blower can have a ton of power, but if it is difficult to use, how on earth are you supposed to get your job done?

I like things that make life easier. The BR200 makes blowing pretty easy. For starters, it only weighs 12 lbs, which is about the weight of a half of a watermelon or a large newborn. Not bad!

To compare it to the 350, it is about 10 lbs lighter. That makes a serious difference if you are carting it around for a longer period of time.

Another thing I love about the Stihl BR200 backpack blower is the backpack feel. Some other backpack blowers like the Husqvarna series have something that looks like a switchboard on the back with each component nailed in. The Stihl BR series has a super intuitive casing that makes the entire device more compact and easier to wear and store.

Another thing I love about this blower is the slightly offset handle. If you look closely, you can see this right-handed handle is slightly tilted outwards. This helps offset the kick from the blower, making it easy to walk around and get the job done without having to “fight” against it like a firehose or shotgun.

The offset handle allows for easier maneuverability.

Of course, the Stihl BR200 backpack blower has an anti-vibration system and a multi-function control handle, which is relatively commonplace for backpack blowers.

Maintenance and durability

Not much maintenance is required on these bad boys! You will want to make sure to use a 50:1 oil to gas mixture but otherwise will only have to do the occasional filter and spark plug change.

Stihl BR200 blower – nice and compact (and lightweight).

With proper maintenance, the BR200 should last you a few years or further.

Stihl BR200 price

The Stihl BR200 backpack blower comes in at anywhere between $300. It sounds like a lot, but the money you will keep in your pocket after a couple years makes all the difference. Compared to the BR350 and BR600, this is significantly cheaper (at least $100 cheaper than the 350).

Not to mention, this blower will make you feel like a total badass. It’s truly what is used most often by the pros for a reason. I’d say it’s the F150 of the blower world, but also not too powerful to where your neighbors will cut your head off.

If you’re interested, one of the only online places you can buy it is Ace Hardware. You can click this link to go straight to their online store page, buy it online, then go pick it up curbside.

The official review: Stihl BR200 backpack blower

Check out the below summary table to see our review of the Stihl BR200 blower.

Feature	Stihl BR200	Comparable blowers
Difficulty to use	Easier to use due to offset handle	Average usability
Durability	Avg. durability	Avg. durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Moderate value	Moderate value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Highly recommended	Less recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots >1 acre	Less recommended	Highly recommended

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas

Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas.They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, weaker, and only last a few seasons. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have a Ryobi leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.

There are exceptions in the electric leaf blower world. One of those is the Ryobi 40V Brushless whisper series blower. It is quiet, extremely powerful, and built to last. It is, however, one of the most expensive electric blowers you can buy.

Gas blowers are superior in almost every way. They are super strong, last many seasons, and quickly get the job done. The reason you see every professional lawn care person using a backpack blower is because they work extremely well. Let’s dig into that more below.

Stihl’s reputation

Stihl is an industry leader when it comes to yard products, but is probably most known for chainsaws and backpack blowers. The BR200 backpack blower is one of their best selling products because it is something they have completely mastered.

The Stihl family moved to Virginia in the 1970s and opened up their first factory dedicated to a single chainsaw. They have continued to grow and pioneer the lawn care space, most notably with backpack blowers.

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

December 23, 2021April 21, 2024

Cub Cadet CC800: Wide walk-behind beast

The Cub Cadet CC800 is a wide area walk-behind mower from Cub Cadet. If you think this is your ordinary push mower, you better chill.

This thing is pretty dang big but super easy to use. You might not be familiar with walk-behind mowers, but they are another term for self-propelled push mowers. That means you just grip it and rip it – through your yard.

Let’s get started with the review below:

Is a walk-behind right for me?
Cub Cadet CC800 features
Price of a CC800 walk behind
Cub Cadet CC800 final grade

Why we review lawn tools

Cub Cadet’s history

Their first lawn tractor was designed and engineered in the early 1960s here in America. They did not develop another type of equipment until the early 90’s, when they developed a snow blower. Their first 30 years were dedicated solely to lawn tractors.

While they do not have the same reputation as some of the older brands like Husqvarna, they absolutely are known for their innovation. In fact, they work on some pretty neat pieces of equipment. They develop consumer-centric upgrades like electronic power steering, robotic golf course mowers, and the first mobile app for maintenance.

When to buy a large walk-behind mower

Okay – I’ve been through this a few times, but never with walk-behind mowers this large. With most push mowers, the deck size is about 21 inches. If you think about this in terms of yard passes, a push mower will have the highest number of passes you have to make in your yard to cut the whole thing.

Riding mowers, or lawn tractors, are around 36-42 inches and zero-turn mowers are anything above that. Basically, if you have a big yard, you will want a riding mower or zero-turn mower.

There is this weird in between world where large deck walk-behind mowers like the Cub Cadet CC800 live. They are perfect for people who have between 10,000 sq. ft and ½ acre. Basically it can still be covered with a push mower, and is too small for a riding mower, but you still want to get it done more quickly. Kind of niche, but actually a ton of American households fall into this group.

The second group is someone who mows a lot of small yards as a business. My co-founder, Tyler, used to own a landscaping company and had a walk-behind mower just like this one. They help you do smaller yards at a much faster rate.

The Cub Cadet CC800: Feature review

The Cub Cadet CC800 is a high end walk-behind mower. Basically the nicest one available. There are some others that have a pretty big deck, like the Toro recycler, but not many others come close. Let’s check out some of its features.

Power

No shortage here. The Cub Cadet CC800 has 11.5 horses in the back. One thing to love about this mower is that it outsourced its engine. Yeah, sounds like a weird thing to like, but Briggs & Stratton is the best in the game when it comes to small engines. All the top brands have Briggs and Stratton own the manufacturing over their mowers. There simply isn’t a better option on the planet.

The Cub Cadet CC800 also has a 33 inch cutting deck. This is almost on par with most lawn tractors and riding mowers. This is huge! In combination with the 11.5hp engine, you have a walk behind mower on absolute steroids. The CC800 is the Mike Tyson of mowers.

The CycloCut (where the CC in CC800 comes from) mowing system ensures an even discharge of grass from the deck, meaning that it won’t get clogged up and force you to stick your last good arm inside.

Usability

Alright, walk-behind mowers to me have always been girly. Just push the dang thing like a man! I have been given a new lease on life with the CC800 and am finally confident in my masculinity. I have no shame walking behind this mower because it is a beast. A few things I love right off the bat:

The ability to go into reverse. While this is not all that common while actually mowing, it is great for storing. Being able to reverse into the garage or shed, or even into the back of the trailer makes this a super easy to use mower.
Electric start. No more cranking the pull string every 10 minutes. This thing has a push button start that allows you to get going right away. The push button start is also reliable and can save you a ton of time.
A single point for having to change the height of the mower. With most push mowers, each wheel has its own adjustment on the front of the mower. The Cub Cadet CC800 has a single lever that will adjust the height of the big ole deck.

One complaint I have seen from others is that the drive controls use a single lever, meaning there is no variable speed control. You are either going full speed or you are sitting still. Fine for most people, but you have to be really nimble when navigating around tight corners or garden beds.

Durability

Again, off the bat I can tell you that Cub Cadet has a great reputation in reliability. The other thing you need to know is that Briggs and Stratton is super trustworthy. They totally dominate this space because they simply provide the best engines for mowers.

Small things matter when it comes to durability. One of those is the hour meter that comes on board the CC800. The hour meter keeps track of how long you are going between oil changes, letting you know exactly when to change the oil.

The front wheels on this resemble a zero turn mower and allow for super easy steering.

The CycloCut system will also help the engine from stopping up or from allowing one side of the mower to cake up with grass. The deck wash also allows for a quick and comprehensive clean that will keep this puppy moving all day.

It does come with a three year limited warranty for residential owners, but nothing for commercial owners.

Cost and value

The Cub Cadet CC800 costs around $2,000 at Home Depot, but the price changes a lot so you can check it here. This is a pretty good deal for what you are getting and about half the price of a zero-turn mower.

The product is great for folks with a bigger yard who don’t want to fork over three grand for a zero turn. It is also perfect for those of us with smaller yards that don’t have time to waste.

The official review: Cub Cadet CC800

Feature	Cub Cadet CC800	Comparable walk behinds
Difficulty to use	Slightly more difficult due to no variable speed control	Average difficulty
Durability	Average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Relatively easy to maintain	Relatively easy to maintain
Value	Medium value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Not recommended	Not recommended
For lots <1 acre	Recommended	Recommended
For lots >1 acre	Not recommended	Not recommended

December 22, 2021April 21, 2024

The Husqvarna Z246 Is A Perfect Residential Zero-Turn

The Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower is an absolute beast. If you are looking for a zero-turn mower that is somewhere between a residential and commercial mower, this one can do both!

I like the reinforced cutting deck on the Z246.

Bottom Line: The Husqvarna Z246’s combination of an absolute beast of an engine, larger deck, and Husqvarna quality make for one of the best zero-turn mowers on the market. The Z246 is great for residential lawns that are large or smaller commercial projects.

Let’s take a look at the outline for this Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower review:

Feature review
Husqvarna Z246 price
The official Review: Z246
Husqvarna and Zero-turn mowers

The Husqvarna Z246 review: Features

The Husqvarna Z246 is a high-end residential zero-turn mower. This mower has a great combination of a super powerful, reliable engine, a wide cutting deck, and some nice bells and whistles.

Power breakdown

The Husqvarna Z246 has a 20-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. Although the Z254 has a bit more horsepower and width, this bad boy has a little bit smaller of a deck. Don’t be concerned, the 20 horsepower engine is plenty and will not have a much more noticeable difference than the 24hp Z254 mower.

All that being said, the Husqvarna Z246 has some power under the hood. The one thing I love about all Husqvarna products is that they are flat out powerful. The oversized cooling fan, premium air filtration, chrome plated valves and smooth bearings all give this engine a high-end performance that you won’t find from some of the big box retailers.

Another thing I love about Husqvarna is that they know what to outsource. Many of these companies try to vertically integrate and make sure that they own every single part of the mower. Husqvarna has the humility to ensure that their owners are getting a super refined product. Many mowers rely on Briggs and Stratton for their engines because they simply dominate the engineering of that space. When you get into the high horsepower range, you will be glad they decided to loop in Briggs and Stratton.

Using the Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower

One element I love about the Husqvarna Z246 is that the folks over at Husqvarna have mowed lawns before. When putting together machines, they always consider the mowers’ experiences. This one uniquely feels like it was designed for commercial property landscaping, but also able to be used in your backyard.

For starters, the Z246 comes with an automatic park brake system. When the steering levers are deactivated (resting in a separated form), the parking brake is automatically activated. For context, most zero turn mowers have a separate brake that you have to engage. This is a part of all of their Z200 series mowers and something that is so intuitive, you couldn’t imagine buying a mower without it.

The Husqvarna Z246 also has an ergonomic control panel. Ergonomic is a label placed on anything, so I rolled my eyes when I first saw this. But it is nice having a panel that includes the ignition, hour meter, and speed control all together in one spot. On the other side of the control panel, there is the deck lift system, which is extremely standard on really any riding mower. Nothing special here.

This mower does come with the ability for some attachments. One attachment I absolutely love is the striping kit. Just makes your yard pop. The 46 inch mower deck on this is over double the size of your average push mower, so you can save time and money by upgrading to one of these puppies. Compare this to the 42 inch deck on the Z242f, which is slightly smaller.

Drivability

Earlier, when I mentioned that this was designed for commercial folks, I meant it. An example of this is the rubber bellows (little rubber part at the bottom of gear shifters in manual cars), that are at the bottom of the handles.

You see, these rubber bellows are actually very important and you will see them on industrial equipment for a reason. When moving joints on any metal tool get a lot of use (especially outdoors), they get exposed to grass, twigs, debris, rain, wind, extreme temperature fluctuations, etc.. As we all know, water is the biggest destroyer on the planet. The rubber bellows protect the moving joints on the steering levers and maintain the integrity of the steering components for much longer than its peers.

Lastly, the anti-slip foot area is just another common sense detail found on this mower that actually is missing from a lot. Others will have the smooth, finished steel with holes in it. That is great and all for when you want to hose down the mower, but when you actually need to make an awkward step in or out, you will wish you had an anti-slip surface available.

The mowing deck has something called “air induction technology” that actually sucks the grass up so the blades can get the most complete cut. For an analogy of this, imagine your hairdresser pulling your hair out with a comb to cut it evenly. The design of this deck does the same thing with air.

Maintaining zero-turns is a lot of work

The hydrostatic transmission means that this zero-turn mower is going to be relatively maintenance free. The 3-year bumper to bumper warranty is a good faith pledge from the people at Husqvarna that they stand behind their equipment. My suggestion is always to ride the wheels off of this for the first few years while you are still under warranty.

The durability of this thing is high quality as well. Once you step on and feel the “thud” of your boots on the footplate, you will know that this was constructed with thick steel. The frame and casters as well are pretty dang thick. In some of the other mowers I have tried and reviewed, I read about folks actually cracking the chassis of their mower going over a weird hill or bump. I mean my word people, just put some reinforced steel and wheels on there and avoid losing $3,000+ on a mower.

Cost and value

The Husqvarna Z246 costs about $3,000. All things considered, this is a tremendous value. In fact for the quality, power, and durability, this is probably the best value of any zero-turn mower I reviewed. I absolutely recommend this product.

The official review: The Husqvarna Z246

Feature	Husqvarna Z246	Comparable residential ZT mower
Difficulty to use	Below average difficulty	Average
Durability	Above average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Super high value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Would not fit	Would not fit
For lots <1 acre	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended

Looking for something bigger? Gravely makes some zero turn mowers adored by landscapers.

Why we review lawn tools

About Husqvarna

Husqvarna makes chainsaws, lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, pressure washers, edgers, – basically every tool under the sun. Their color scheme of grey and bright orange sticks out like a sore thumb. When you pass by the big commercial mowers, you can almost always spot a Husqvarna product.

Husqvarna is one of the leading product suppliers for commercial lawn care companies including government and public agencies. Ever wonder how a vast open area at a park gets trimmed? Golf courses, national parks, etc.? It is likely a Husqvarna product.

If you are wondering how to pronounce Husqvarna, you have come to the wrong place. But this company’s 330 year history started in Sweden by manufacturing muskets. In 1919, they began engineering their first lawnmower engines. Since then, they have become a dominant force in all outdoor equipment.

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 sounds cooler).

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 good zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time.

December 14, 2021March 15, 2024

7 Best Blowers for California’s Zero Emission Policy

If you have not heard the news, California is banning all gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers starting in 2024.

Whether or not you agree with this ban is not important, but making sure you have the “approved” tools is.

These will be phased out slowly over time, but our inclination is that this will never get overturned for as long as California votes blue.

About the Gas-powered blower ban in California

Now that Governor Newson has solved global warming, you are going to have to retire or sell your gas-powered blower. Sadly, gas powered blowers are generally the most powerful and efficient tools for blowing leaves, grass clippings, and more.

Let’s start with a reality check: gas blowers can simply not be replaced. From a power perspective, many electric blowers can come close. Unfortunately, they will not have nearly the durability or run-time that is afforded by gas powered blowers.

With gas-powered blowers, anyone can simply refuel the gasoline and continue on with their job for hours. Battery replacements are going to continually slow down people with larger yards. The hardest hit will be commercial landscapers who are going to have to protect their equipment and set up some sort of mass-battery charging station. They will likely burn through batteries pretty quickly, especially when managing places like golf courses.

Electric and battery powered alternatives

For many residential homeowners, the gas ban will likely not be of impact. For neighborhoods with small lots, it may actually be quite the benefit. Gas blowers are loud and do emit some level of air pollution.

Most residential homeowners in California today have smaller leaf blowers that are either corded or cordless (with a battery). These are great for small jobs around the house, but for realllllly moving leaves and grass clippings over larger areas, you are going to need the power afforded by a gas powered blower.

Have hope – there are some electric and battery powered blowers that can give you hope. And to be frank – they are going to continue to improve and innovate in this space to hopefully replace the gas powered blowers we have come to know and love.

Let’s review some of the best blowers for Californians!

The 7 best blowers for Californians

Before we dive into the definitive list of the 7 best blowers for Californians, let’s review some quick definitions:

Brushless – a type of engine that does not rely on friction for generating power. This engine type uses magnets for a longer lasting, more efficient power generation.
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.

Okay – I think we can get started now.

7. Toro 120MPH 605CFM 60V max brushless blower

The Toro 120MPH 605CFM 60V Max brushless blower is a great blower for most residential properties. As I mentioned earlier, this blower has a high CFM but relatively low MPH. So let’s dissect why this is happening.

The Toro 120MPH 605CFM blower has high air output, but lower MPH. This is due to a wide nozzle that pushes a wide area of air at a lower speed. These types of blowers are great for people moving lighter objects (dry leaves, dry grass clippings) across a large area. For those with large backyards, this is a great tool for getting all of the leaves from one side of the yard to another without too much difficulty.

While I can’t find this specific blower in stores in California, you can check out a super similar one on Amazon.

6. Dewalt 125 mph 600CFM Flexvolt blower

The Dewalt 125 MPH 600 CFM Flexvolt blower is very similar to the Toro 120MPH 605CFM blower. While they are almost identical in power and function, we chose the Dewalt product over the Toro product because the Flexvolt battery pack is more versatile.

Dewalt’s Flexvolt battery system can fit a number of other battery-powered lawn tools to help declutter your garage and consolidate batteries. Similar in function to the Toro blower, this one has a wide nozzle that will blow large streams of air at a moderate-to-low speed, best suited for larger yards.

The FlexVolt blower is for sale on Amazon and while pricy, is pretty slick. You can check out our favorite Dewalt blowers here.

To read more about our review of this blower, check out our full review of Dewalt Blowers.

5. Dewalt 125MPH 450 CFM 20V MAX brushless blower

Okay – getting a little repetitive here, but the 125mph 450CFM blower is sort of like the other Dewalt and Toro blowers, this one has the same air speed, but lower air power output.

I like the Dewalt 125mph CFM 20V MAX brushless blower for a few reasons. The first reason is that this engine is brushless. This means that it will have a longer life, won’t get super hot, and will hold a better battery life.

The next reason I love this blower is that it has a 20V battery. Similar to the Flexvolt battery that has cross-functionality with several different tools, the 20V battery is almost ubiquitous among Dewalt products. They have over 200 products that you can use with this battery, making it a clear winner for saving time and money.

The last reason I like this blower is that it has a more narrow nozzle. For me, I prefer more narrow nozzles because they provide a focused stream of air. This takes care of wet grass, wet leaves, and all the other things that are super annoying and stick to your deck or driveway.

You can get this bad boy for a steal on Amazon (it actually just had a price drop).

4. Ryobi 40V 155MPH 300CFM Jet fan blower

Love this blower! I bought it recently and have absolutely loved it. It is super light, super duper easy to assemble, and relatively inexpensive. Because I have other Ryobi 40V tools, it is simple for me to just swap out the battery and keep going from tool to tool.

This blower has pretty high speeds despite a lower CFM, meaning it has a nice, more narrow nozzle that can get all of the wet pine needles and leaves stuck to my deck.

Me assembling the 155mph Ryobi 40V blower.

I have used a few other Ryobi blowers before and frankly, they kind of sucked. Ryobi has really stepped up their game with these new 40V blowers and dominated this space.

I got this one off of Amazon because the price was insane for the amount of power and I already had the battery.

To read our full review of this blower, check out our Ryobi 40V blower comparison post.

3. Greenworks PRO 170mph 700CFM 80V handheld leaf blower

The Greenworks PRO 170mph 700CFM 80V blower is a beast. I mean look at those numbers. If you wanted to replace the power of a gas blower, heck even a BACKPACK blower, this thing can do it. And the most impressive part is that its handheld.

I picture using this blower like a child using a firehose. I will turn it on and it will launch me to Pluto. Greenworks has a great reputation and this is honestly one of the most powerful handheld blowers in the universe.

One DOWNSIDE to this bad boy is that Greenworks is simply not established enough to make the battery-change worth it. Unless you are a Greenworks loyalist, you will have to create an additional space in your garage for this plug and charger.

Kind of a trippy picture, but this blower is slick!

Its pretty expensive, but you can get the tool-only version below on Amazon if you already have a Greenworks battery.

2. Ryobi 40V brushless 190mph 730CFM Whisper series

Okay, I am going to just put my cards on the table. I love this blower. Nay, I am obsessed with it. And I will tell you why.

Close your eyes and what do you hear? Maybe a humming of your computer or some children playing outside. Maybe you are in the car and there is a slight vibration.

All of those noises are about as loud as this blower. It is so quiet, so powerful, and an incredible innovation. On top of all of this, it has a Ryobi 40V battery which is highly interoperable with other Ryobi tools AND….is brushless. This thing is the greatest GOAT of all time.

To read more, check out our full review of the Ryobi 40V blower series and comparison post.

1. Ryobi 40V Whisper Series Cordless Backpack blower

I couldn’t not make this the number one battery-powered blower for Californians. This is a battery-powered backpack blower. Basically a jet-pack.

From a specs perspective, this only packs 145MPH 625CFM, but has all of the functionality you will remember from your backpack blower.

Basically this will make your backpack blower jealous. This thing also runs off of a Ryobi 40V battery, and is very inexpensive relative to other backpack blowers.

You will recognize the offset handle, trigger, and cruise control that comes with most other backpack blowers like Husqvarna and Stihl. While it won’t deliver the same power, it will be the most familiar.

This one (tool-only) is on Amazon for a pretty low price (most backpack blowers are $500 – $600).

Why we review lawn tools

What the future holds for lawn equipment in California

I don’t know. But what I do know is that battery powered lawn equipment has grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years. Now that the government has given a strict deadline for the retirement of these gas powered tools, innovation will yet again arise.

Don’t see a blower on this list? Feel free to recommend one for us to review.

Best lawn mowers for under $200

American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14

Check out the positives and negative of the American Lawn Mower Company 1204:

Sun Joe MJ500M

Here are a few positives and negatives of the Sun Joe MJ500M

Greenworks RM1400 Reel Lawn Mower

Some things I like about the Greenworks RM1400:

Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

Things to love about the Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

Summary: Super cheap lawn mowers are still around

Why we review lawn tools

Expectation setting

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mower: Breakdown

Power of Greenworks mower compared to EGO mowers

Battery life: EGO 56V vs Greenworks 80V mowers

Durability: EGO’s plastic deck vs Greenworks’ metal deck

Bells and whistles

Price comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The final comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

About battery-powered mowers

Pros of battery powered mowers

Cons of battery powered mowers

Greenworks vs EGO brand review

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter: A breakdown

Power comparison: Cub Cadet vs Toro TimeCutter

Comfort and Rideability comparison: Toro vs Cub Cadet

Cutting experience on Cub Cadet ZT1 compared to Toro TimeCutter

Price comparison: Toro TimeCutter vs Cub Cadet ZT1

The final ruling: Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225

Why we review lawn tools

Zero-turn mowers 101

What to look for in a zero-turn mower

Best electric mower for small yards: Ranked

1. EGO Power+ LM2101 21 inch 56 V electric mower

2. Greenworks 80V 21 inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower

3. Makita XML03CM1 Brushless 18” lawn mower

4. Ryobi 40V Brushless 20 inch electric lawn mower

5. Black and Decker 40V Max Cordless Lawn mower

6. Toro Recycler 22in SmartStow 60V max mower

7. Dewalt 21.5 in 20V Max push mower

8. Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V 16in cordless mower

9. Greenworks PRO 17 inch 48V battery mower

10. Greenworks 10A 16-inch corded electric mower

11. Sun Joe MJ401E Mow Joe 14 inch electric mower

12. Worx Power Share 14 in 40V cordless mower

13. Green Machine 62V Cordless electric mower

Why we review electric lawn mowers

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

The Sun Joe SPX3000 vs 3001: Breakdown

Usability and attachments

The SPX3000 and SPX3001 + soap

Noise and the auto-stop feature

Storage and maintenance

Sun Joe SPX3000 vs SPX3001: Final ruling

My final verdict: save a few bucks and go with the SPX3000 unless storage is a really big deal to you.

Why we review electric pressure washer

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer

What to look for in a pressure washer

About Mr. Joe and his sun equipment

Greenworks dethatcher vs. Sun Joe dethatcher

The Sun Joe is slightly more powerful

Usability comparison for these dethatchers

Add-ons to both Sun Joe and Greenworks dethatchers

The Greenworks is a bit cheaper

Our ranking table comparison

The Value of My Dethatcher

When to dethatch your lawn

Electric Dethatchers 101

The Stihl BR200 backpack blower: Feature review

Power

Usability

Maintenance and durability

Stihl BR200 price

The official review: Stihl BR200 backpack blower

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas

Stihl’s reputation

Why we review lawn tools

Cub Cadet’s history

When to buy a large walk-behind mower