Category: Lawn Tool Reviews

Reviews for lawn tools that we have actually used.

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EGO’s Multi-Head Attachment System Is A Lawn Life Saver

ego multi head review

The EGO 56V Power+ Multi-Head attachment system is an incredible tool for folks looking to save money and space on an entire suite of lawn tool products.

You may be asking yourself if all the different attachments still work as well as buying separate tools.

We asked the same thing. So we bought the multi-head tool. And have used every single attachment available.

Bottom line: this thing works. We loved most of the attachments and they will honestly replace many of our standalone tools. 

But if we only had the money to buy a couple of the attachments, we’d focus on two or three of our favorites.

We will let you know which EGO attachments we liked the most and give you an overview of each attachment.

Let’s get started:

EGO Power Head Multi-Tool Attachment System: Features and benefits

As we mentioned earlier, the EGO Power Head attachment system is definitely a beast. But we had some attachments that frankly were much easier to use than others. Let’s dive right into the unique features and benefits of this system.

EGO Power+ Power Head (PH1400)

While without any attachments this tool won’t do a gosh darn thing, it is the engine for a bunch of other tools – so it needs to be good. A few paragraphs above, I talked about the most important things when evaluating a multi-tool attachment system head. So how does the EGO Power+ Power Head stack up?

The head itself is really durable – you can see we have scratched it already.

For starters, this power head has a brushless motor. Again, this is important because we are making a significant investment in this tool. All-in, you can easily spend $700+ on the power head and a bunch of the attachments (we did). It is critically important that you get a return on this investment and keep it for as long as possible. 

The brushless motor on the power head will guarantee longevity as compared to brushed motor heads. You’ll notice a quieter, longer-lasting, cooler-running motor that has more torque. It is the most important thing in any battery lawn tool.

Next up is whether or not this has variable speed control. Yes and no. Yes, in that you can control the speed, but only between two settings – high and low. This is the only hesitation we had with this system when we bought it. Ideally, there would be ultimate flexibility in speed anywhere between the smallest amount to the maximum speed. Sadly, this one isn’t quite there.

These are the only two speed controls!

This is important because you lose a bit of control with the tool. If you want to go really slow with something, like starting a small little cut with your pole saw, then you are limited in how slow you can go. Same goes with the maximum speed. Sad!

The battery has an indicator light that tells you how much juice.

Lastly, we need to make sure the dang tool is durable. We have reviewed a few of the EGO products, like their super powerful high CFM blower and their 56V mower – what stuck out to us the most was how “solid” the tools felt. They are well constructed and built with durability in mind. The EGO Power+ power head is no exception – it is remarkably solid and we have no concerns with durability.

The Power+ Multi-Head itself is available on Amazon for a great price.

EGO Multi-Head 15” String Trimmer attachment (STA1500)

The absolute necessity of the multi-head series, the string trimmer attachment is also one of the best. What’s not to love? It fits perfectly into the multi-head and checks all the boxes. Here’s what we love about the EGO string trimmer attachment.

This is the trimmer head that can bump to unwind.
  • 15 inch cutting swath which allows for professional grade trimming jobs and the ability to tackle denser areas of brush
  • Rapid reload bump head lets you quickly let our more trimmer line so you can keep going without having to stop and pull or twist some line out
  • Straight shaft gives you more length and flexibility as compared to a curved-shaft trimmer
  • Comes with a really durable dual twist .095” trimmer line – basically top of the line trimmer line

Pairing this EGO weed eater attachment with the brushless motor of the EGO power head gives you an absolute beast of a battery-powered string trimmer. Functionally, this pairing is one of the most natural for a multi-tool and should be the first purchase you make after you have the power head. 

I love the smaller guard on this attachment.

You can get this string trimmer attachment from a number of places, including Lowe’s or Ace Hardware. We got ours on Amazon for a great price and it came to our house the next day.

EGO Multi-Head Power+ 8” Edger attachment (EA0800)

Next up on our favorite EGO Multi-head attachments is the 8” edger attachment. After you’ve used a string trimmer/weed eater on your lawn, one of the finishing touches that takes it from good to great is a nice edger. If you want those perfect borders around your yard or garden bed, an edger does a fantastic job of providing them in a way that distinguishes your lawn from your neighbors. 

Really strong and durable – wheel also adjusts.

Here’s what we loved about the edger attachment:

  • It has a 3” cutting depth. Many folks ask us if you can use a string trimmer to do some edging, and the answer is “sometimes”. But to truly get a resilient, deep border around your yard then an edger is an absolute must. String trimmers will not get you 3 inches deep into the dirt. 
  • It has a wide guide wheel that allows you to smoothly roll the trimmer forward across whatever surface you are edging. 
  • The guide wheel has a depth adjuster that changes how deep you can edge. Frankly, I had never seen this or bothered with it before, but if you need to go deeper or shallower, this is your way to do it.

Again, combining this edger with the PH1400 (Power Head) gives you a top-of-the-line edger. In my bare bones lawn care kit, I mow, trim, edge, and blow. The edger serves as the highest value-add tool that makes my neighbors stop and say “wow, you have some nice looking grass”. It’s the same as the person next door, just better groomed.

8 inch blade does NOT give up easily.

You can groom yours the same way if you grab it from Lowe’s or Amazon, where we got it for $10 cheaper than Lowe’s.

EGO Multi-Head Power+ 20” hedge trimmer attachment (HTA2000)

Now I know what you’re thinking – a hedge trimmer attachment? It sounds a little out there but in reality it is pretty dang slick. While most folks probably prefer hedge trimmers a little longer (think 21 – 24 inches), this one makes up for the lack of length by being attached to the EGO Multi-Head. 

This made it look longer than it is.

The big tradeoff with this hedge trimmer is that you exchange control for reach. When I’m trimming bushes, I like to be right up close and pay extreme attention to make sure I am rounding curves the right way and not making some odd looking shape.

What are these for anyways?

With the Power+ hedge trimmer attachment, you don’t get to be as close, but you DO get to hedge trim tall bushes. This is a major advantage as who knows who many emergency room trips have occurred from hedge trimmers standing on ladders or doing overhead work that makes a piece of bark fall in their eye (happened to my dad – had to wear a pirate patch).

The full hedge trimmer attachment.

I don’t think this attachment is your all-in-one replacement for a hedge trimmer, but it does complement your existing trimmer and comes in at a super cheap price.

So why not get it? We got ours on Amazon and it was chopping off a 9 foot bush the next day.

EGO Multi-Head Power+ 9.5” Cultivator / Tiller attachment

We love this attachment. Honestly, who wants to own a tiller or cultivator? You use it once in a blue moon, it takes up space, and it’s relatively difficult to operate.

When you start thinking through attachments that truly make a difference to replace existing lawn tools, this one is EXACTLY what we want to use instead of buying a separate, more expensive tool. 

Not huge but nice sturdy tines.

So we did. And it works really well! Again, I don’t cultivate or till very often so I can’t compare this to a ton of other cultivators, but it got the job done.

Sun Joe Garden Tillers are another option for the full tool, but again – the cost doesn’t quite justify buying a lone tool considering how infrequent you use it.

Nice side profile.

BUT if you know you are going to do some tilling in the future, you can save big money by grabbing this one. It was actually easier to use than a regular tiller because you have so much more length with the EGO multi-head. For me, this allowed me to easily apply more downward force than I could have with the shorter, lone tool.

At 9.5 inches, it’s a little smaller than large cultivators that typically run 12-14 inches, but it got the job done.

We got ours on Amazon (of course), because we went to Lowe’s and they didn’t have any!

EGO Multi-Head Power+ 10 inch Pole Saw Attachment (PSA1000)

If you haven’t used a pole saw, you haven’t lived. They are the second most satisfying lawn tool on the planet (after dethatchers of course). All those limbs that thought they escaped you just get absolutely rocked and there’s no better feeling.

Surprisingly powerful.

You get to use a little mini-saw on a stick to take down some branches. Sign me up. My neighbor was using one this morning and I walked over with my son and just watched. Amazing.

Anyways, the fact that you can smack one of these on the end of your EGO multi-tool power head is just downright unfair. Pole saws aren’t for everyone, which is why buying an attachment makes so much sense.

Honestly, most pole saws are pretty long and somewhat heavy and awkward, which makes storing them difficult. But having just the attachment allowed us to hang it on a hook in our garage at about ⅓ of the length of a normal pole saw. 

One other thing we like about this pole saw is that it has an auto-lubricating function. Just beware that the oil WILL drip if you have it hanging face-down, so beware of how you keep it in your garage or shed.

This one is a great add-on to your multi-head if you are looking to take down some limbs on the cheap.

It’s available at some Lowe’s (not ours), Ace, and on Amazon, where it is the cheapest.

EGO Power+ Multi-Head Snow Shovel Attachment (SSA1200)

By far one of the best values you can get from an attachment, the snow shovel is SO COOL. Not only does it launch snow 25 feet (!!), but it can clear up to six inches at a time.

Really underrated snow shovel.


In general, snow shovels are awesome tools and perfect for most people who don’t live WAY up North who get 10+ inches of snow at a time. But just about everyone gets a couple inches and wants to do some clearing. 

Launch the snow 25 feet in whichever direction you choose.

Snow shovels allow you to get rid of a decent amount of snow without having to drop $400 on a snow blower. The attachment piece again is such a killer way to go because you aren’t going to use this more than a few times per year and now you don’t have to go buy a full on tool for snow and take up even MORE garage space.

This attachment is really fun to use and gives you more control than other snow shovels. You can get it on Amazon or a bunch of other places.

EGO Multi-head Power+ Bristle Brush Attachment (BBA2100)

Ever seen a tool and thought, “why would I ever need that?”. My wife does it to me all the time. 

The bristle brush attachment is what I would consider “extra”. Being the skeptic that I am, I bought it and didn’t know what to do with it.

Then I took it out onto my paver patio and was blown away. All the little rocks and debris that had become just “part of” my paver patio because I couldn’t get them with the blower were GONE. It looked like I had a brand new patio. 

This is great for things like thick pollen, small rocks, or other stubborn stuff stuck on a hard surface. Another great application is for right after you’re done using the edger attachment (see #2 above) and have a bunch of dirt kicked up on your driveway or street. Simply run this sucker down there and get it swept up in no time. 

Sadly, I get the sense that they are discontinuing this attachment because it is out of stock at both Amazon and Lowe’s. You can click this link to see if it ever comes back into stock.

The last two: Rubber Broom and Extension attachment

These two attachments for the EGO multi-head were two that we didn’t feel we needed. Frankly at 6’7”, I just don’t really need the extension pole, even for the pole saw.

And the rubber broom MIGHT get used by me once per year, but I also saw that it was a whopping 14lbs and didn’t think it was worth it.

That’s just me!  Some people may really need the extension pole, especially if using the pole saw or hedge trimmer at great heights. The rubber broom I still have a tough time with, but if you work a job site or in a garage and want to clear some stuff out then I’m sure it is a great tool. 

What about the warranty?

If you are using anything from EGO’s residential line of products, the warranty is best-in-class. Honestly – the 5 year limited warranty for the tools and 3 years for the battery and charger are unreal. 

I’ve heard mixed things about people trying to get through to customer service. Some say they couldn’t ever exchange a faulty battery and others that had no problem at all. I imagine they will only get better at responding to the crazy demand they’ve had for their products. 

Are third-party attachments compatible with EGO?

Nope – I know Ryobi has had some people make third-party attachments that apparently work with their products, but EGO has a specifically designed attachment system that doesn’t allow for that. It would probably void the warranty as well. 

Won’t work with others!

Parting thoughts: EGO Multi-Tool Power Head Final Review

The power head itself is absolutely top of the line – better than any other we have personally used. The attachments are great if you treat them like a buffet and only get the ones you want. I think that’s why I love this tool so much – it’s as little or as much as you want it to be. As expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. And it can slowly take over your whole lawn tool collection.

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. 

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 attachment-capable multi-head system

EGO is not the only company that makes a multi-head attachment system. We have owned a few others, including the Ryobi multi-tool (which was a bust in our opinion). Whether or not you get this EGO Power+ Multi-Head attachment system, you need to be sure to consider a few things, like:

Motor type:

You definitely want to get one with a brushless motor. Brushless motors operate using magnets instead of friction to transfer electrons. Basically, these motors run much cooler, last longer, and provide more torque. Win, win, win. This is a non-negotiable for any battery-powered lawn tool we buy these days.

Speed variability:

Because these multi-tools operate a vast array of tools, you want to make sure you have flexibility in how much speed you are using. The snow blower attachment you may want at full blast, but the trimmer you may want to go at a lower speed to work around a delicate garden bed. 

Durability:

Look for a power head that has solid construction and as few plastic parts as possible. Particularly vulnerable spots include where the shaft connects to the attachments and also the grip. You have so many different grip positions with different tools, transitioning from overhead work to ground work, so these can take a beating.

These are the three main things I check out before even considering a purchase for a multi-tool. Keep them as your north star.

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Greenworks’ 80V Leaf Blower Packs Gas-like Power

The Greenworks 80V Leaf Blower is an absolute unit. A solid, extremely powerful battery-powered leaf blower that can easily rival gas-powered backpack blowers.

It is VERY nice.

We were lucky enough to get our hands on this blower and boy, were we impressed. 

Today we will break down the best parts about this blower, a few of the things we didn’t love, and give it an overall ranking.

But before we get started, make sure to check out our long-form video review of this blower where you can see and hear exactly what it’s like. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to enter into the free giveaway!

Let’s get started.

Greenworks 80V Blower: Features and benefits

Before we hop into the breakdown of this blower’s performance and feel, let’s give a quick overview of what’s included in the purchase.

In the box you will receive: three user manuals (blower, charging station, battery), a tapered nozzle tip, the funnel, the blower motor housing, the 80V charging station and the 80V battery itself.

Now we can get going!

Feel and usability

The first thing we noticed about this Greenworks 80V blower was how DENSE it felt. It feels super solid and like it just came in one piece, carved out of stone instead of a million little pieces assembled together.

Not sure how else to describe it besides dense and tight. I think once you pick it up for the first time you will understand. Their new 60V blower has an almost identical feel, but slightly less power and a different battery unit.

If you really want to try something fun and have the 80V battery already, check out their all-new electric backpack blower.

Versatility

A few features we loved about the versatility of this blower were:

  • Variable speed trigger
  • Cruise control setting for variable speeds
  • Turbo button

With these three features, which aren’t all that common among other, cheaper blowers, you can have total control over how hard you want the air to blow.

Cruise control below and Turbo button above.

Before owning some of these nicer Greenworks blowers, EGO blowers, and Ryobi blowers – I always just held the trigger down as hard as it would go. But with these mega powerful blowers, the air comes out so much faster that you actually need to calm it down some of the time.

Having control over the airflow really helps and having cruise control allows for you to relax your hand and prevent it from cramping (first world problems!).

Nozzle types

The tapered nozzle tip that comes with this blower will give you a little bit more power at the end.

This is the tapered nozzle and it can pop on or off.

If you remember our discussion of CFMs and MPHs earlier, a tapered nozzle tip vs. a regular nozzle tip at the exact same number of CFMs will produce a higher MPH.

That’s why you see some blowers out there with lower CFMs, but really high MPHs – they have very narrow nozzle tips. For me, I will probably keep the tapered nozzle tip on all the time so that I can destroy wet leaves and other things on my deck and driveway that drive me crazy.

Other bells and whistles

The Greenworks 80V blower has that sweet 80V battery that slides right into the back of the blower. This thing has a nice LED light indicator with three levels that can tell you when you need to head back inside – although I doubt you will get super low on battery any time soon (more to come on that).

Comfort and usability of a handheld Greenworks electric blower

Not all blowers are created equally. In fact, I used to own a Stihl BG 86 C gas-powered blower that was about as powerful as this one, maybe a little less, but was built in such a way that I had to crank my shoulder in a weird position to keep it down. Not this one! 

 At 8.9 lbs with the battery and tool combined, it isn’t tough to waltz around with – meaning you likely won’t need a strap unless you have back issues. 

But my favorite part about this blower is that the handle naturally forces the blower to point downward. This allows you to effortlessly hold onto the blower and have it at the optimal angle for blowing leaves. 

Well-balanced!

This is a huge wrist, shoulder, and back saver and something that only a true user of the tool would design. Major props to Greenworks for the design!

How loud is it?

Obviously one of the key things that’s important when using an electric tool is the sound. In fact, many commercial landscapers use electric blowers when they get close to buildings to make sure that they’re not too disruptive. Places like schools, nursing homes, hospitals, offices – all of them don’t want to hear the insane screech of a backpack blower.

We again invite you to watch our YouTube review of the blower so that you can hear it for yourself, but this is probably on the louder side for an electric blower. During normal operations, the blower is on par with other electric blowers, but when you hit the turbo button this bad boy has a little bit of a squeal.

Hard to hold this against the blower as it is one of the most powerful handheld battery-powered blowers on the face of the Earth. 

All about the Greenworks 80V Battery

As we always do, we put the manufacturer’s claims to the test when it comes to tool run-time and battery charge-time. This usually involves us zip-tying the trigger down with the turbo button on, without the turbo button and at full speed, and then at a low-speed setting.

Nice lil power indicator.

Here were our results:

  • Turbo button held down: 12 minutes of run-time
  • Full-speed, no turbo: 17 minutes of run-time
  • Lowest speed: 496 minutes

Whew! We stayed up late for that one, finishing at about 10:30pm waiting for the dang blower to die. 

Me to this blower at 10pm

The must-haves in any battery blower

If you read our introduction, you know that the most important thing to look for in a battery-powered blower is obviously the brushless motor.

Does the Greenworks 80V blower have a brushless motor? Yep.

Brushless motors just mean that it uses magnets to spin the motor instead of copper wiring. This results in less friction, less heat, a much longer-lasting motor, and even more torque. Wow.

Another must-have is battery interoperability. Does the Greenworks 80V battery work with other tools? You betcha. 

In fact, the Greenworks 80V battery works in probably our favorite battery-powered mower of all time as well. If you are in the market for a mower – this thing is what you’re looking for. 

Lastly, we talked about CFMs and MPH – this blower has both. Super high CFM at 730 and can blow up to 170 MPH. More than enough speed and power for any residential use.

Comparing the Greenworks blower to Ryobi and EGO blowers

We are working on a separate video and full write-up for this, but at a really high level here is our summary.

Ego, Greenworks, and Ryobi blowers.

Official Review: Greenworks 80V Battery-Powered Blower

The Greenworks 80V battery-powered blower is a thoughtfully-made, well-designed battery blower that stands out in how easy and comfortable it is to use.

Does it get our stamp of approval? Heck yes. It is much quieter than a gas blower and can go toe-to-toe on power without a doubt. 

You can grab this blower on Amazon for a great price and can get the tool-only version for significantly cheaper if you already own the battery. 

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. 

We take blower testing seriously.

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. 

Greenworks makes some other cool products we’ve reviewed, like their Cordless Shop Vac.

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. 

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This Cordless Shop Vac Made Cleaning My Car A Breeze

Greenworks 24V Cordless Shop Vac is something out of the Jetsons home. This shop vac can be carried anywhere without requiring an extension cord.

We loved it.

Let’s face it – shop vacs are one of the most necessary items you can have in your garage. From cleaning out your car to cleaning up spills, shop vacs are truly one of the most underrated tools on the planet.

Bottom line: Greenworks went wild and made a cordless shop vac. Yep. A cordless shop vac. This thing is powerful enough for most residential use and is extremely convenient. Grab it on Amazon for a great price.

Greenworks 24V Cordless Shop Vac: Features and benefits

We were lucky enough to get our hands on Greenworks 24V battery-powered shop vac. We made a nice video about it that you can check on YouTube, but also wrote out our experience here.

What’s included with the Greenworks Shop Vac

When we got the Greenworks cordless shop vac, we did a nice video unboxing. Here is  what came with the vacuum:

  • Hose
  • Two nozzles
  • Battery charger
  • Battery
  • Vacuum
  • Foam filter
  • Two manuals – one for battery/charger and one for the tool

Using the 24V Greenworks Shop Vac

The first thing we noticed about this cordless shop vac was how solid it felt. All the fittings felt rock solid and well put together. With some of the other vacuums we’ve tried, you could see how a hose could fall out and everything felt a little janky.

Really solid build.

Hose size

The hose at first looked a little bit small. When we got it connected, we noticed just how much give the hose has. This means that it can extend quite a bit, much more than the harder plastic hoses that come with some of the other brands. It feels like with some of the corded models that the harder plastic tubes always put you a few inches away from where you need to be using the vacuum, but not with this one.

Weight and length

The Greenworks cordless shop vac comes in at about 9.6 lbs and honestly felt even lighter. It does a great job with weight distribution as well, making it easy to tote around without swaying  side to side.

Greenworks said the hose could extend to about 5 feet. Without pulling it at all, it sits at just over two feet. We put its claim to the test and to our surprise, it came out at just over 5 feet (a hair longer).

Stretchy = good.

Length is less important for this one because you don’t have to worry about the limits of an extension cord.

Battery set-up with Greenworks 24V battery system

The Greenworks cordless shop vac has a little cabin for the 24V battery. You simply lift the top and pop the battery in. It does have a spot for two batteries, although it only requires one. The second one can be used here to add on some run time if needed.

Greenworks thought of everything.

One little bell/whistle type of thing I like on this is that the little door that houses the batteries has magnetic clips. This reduces any chance of rattle when in use and is something that speaks to the amount of thought that went into making this shop vac.

Nozzle tip attachments

While most of the time I use a shop vac without any nozzle tips, this one does come with both a fan nozzle tip as well as a narrow nozzle tip for hard to reach spaces. 

One other cool thing about this shop  vac is that you can easily take out the hose and put it in the air-outtake opening, making for a light-duty blower to help clean up any remaining particles you couldn’t get with the vacuum.

Nifty!

If you ever feel like you are losing suction, there is a nice filter that comes with it that can either be replaced, washed, or blown off. If it gets to be too much, then you can easily replace it for cheap. 

Storage

This cordless shop vac is a little smaller than some you may see in industrial settings – it has a 3-gallon storage area for all debris. This is still pretty tough to fill up!

Lastly, the two nozzles are super easy to lose, so I like that the tool has little clips that allow you to store them right on the vacuum.

Is the Greenworks Battery Shop Vac any good?

Greenworks makes a few claims about the run time and charge time for this shop vac. A cordless shop vac is an amazing tool to have until the battery dies. That’s the remaining advantage that corded electric shop vacs still have over cordless. 

With a fully charged 2A 24V battery, Greenworks claims that this shop vac can run for about 20 minutes. Well, we actually used it on some clean up until the battery died. 

It ran for exactly 20 minutes. Feels like a long time when you’re cleaning!

With a completely dead battery, we timed how long it takes to get to a full charge. It took about 75 minutes.

Not bad!

Price and Warranty

One thing we love about this shop vac and all of Greenworks tools, is the 3 year warranty on the tool AND battery. Most tools have a 2 year battery and tool warranty. 

This can be purchased right now on Greenworks website for just under $150.

Official Review: Greenworks 24V Cordless Shop Vac

We absolutely loved the versatility of the cordless Greenworks shop vac. But what set this shop vac apart from all others, both corded and cordless, was the thought that went into its creation. It was extremely well made with the end user in mind. 

We are going to buy this for just about everyone we know come Christmas time. You can grab yours on Amazon for a great price.

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. 

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

About Greenworks tools

Greenworks is one of the most innovative lawn tool brands. They create all-electric, predominantly battery-powered lawn tools that are of the highest quality.

We’ve owned and reviewed a TON of their products, including:

One consistent theme: they are all very well built.

Why Shop Vacs are the best tools

Shop vacs are the duct tape of the tool space. In fact, to not own one is a mortal sin. They have the ability to clean up dirt and fine dust from really tight spots and can be carried around outside. 

But the big differentiator from most vacuums is that the shop vac is able to suck up liquids without frying the electrical parts.

This means you can easily go from sucking up sawdust to cleaning up a spilled beer. 

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Stihl’s FSA 90 R Electric Trimmer Is Their Best One

Stihl’s FSA 90 R string trimmer is their new, professional-grade, battery powered string trimmer. I’ll cut to the chase – I was disappointed by this string trimmer.

Cool picture from Ace Hardware.

Stihl? Battery-powered? Yep, we are still (Stihl) getting used to the idea of it ourselves. But we checked out the Stihl FSA 45 and Stihl FSA 57 string trimmers as well, and weren’t all that impressed. I even tested out the new Stihl RMA 510 V mower (me with it pictured below).

But, we are ready to get hurt again! The FSA 90 brings the promise of professional landscaper-type quality and power to the table. So for now, we are listening.

Let’s put this Stihl string trimmer under the microscope:

Stihl FSA 90 R String Trimmer: Features and benefits

Now that we’ve given you a quick primer on Stihl, the world of battery powered lawn tools, and our motivation for writing these reviews, let’s get started actually checking out the Stihl FSA 90 R string trimmer.

Power: Finally a good one

Let’s cut right to the chase. When it comes to a string trimmer, power is of the utmost importance. The first positive piece of information I can give you about this string trimmer is that it has a nice 15” cutting swath. 

15 inches is consistent with the gas-powered professional lawn tools and is a non-negotiable for anyone who has a yard bigger than ¼ of an acre. Trimmers of this size allow you to cut through thicker brush with more consistency than smaller trimmers. It also allows you to tilt this thing sideways and do a pretty darn good job edging as well. 

They tried to create the battery version of their classic Stihl FS 56 RC.

If you need to go even further and do some brushcutting, Stihl has made a handy guide of add-ons that can be used with the FSA 90 R.

The power on this trimmer is definitely good for any homeowner and can even be used by the professional landscapers of the world. In areas that are noise-sensitive (schools, businesses, etc.), popping this trimmer off of the trailer and doing a bang-up job is super easy. While it wouldn’t be my main trimmer in my lawn tool arsenal if I were a pro, it can definitely be a good compliment and please your customers. 

Using this is easy

Where Stihl fell short with their other string trimmers, they made up for in usability. The Stihl FSA 90 R string trimmer has a nice long shaft (no jokes), which I prefer (please don’t joke) because of how much easier it is to use. It allows you to be much more precise in handling the trimmer, almost surgical. With this one, I didn’t feel like I had to crank my shoulder because it has a nice rubber loop handle and the battery is located in a well-balanced spot. 

One thing I liked about the battery’s location was that it didn’t hang underneath the handle or anywhere else. It compactly slides into the top of the trimmer, making the whole thing feel solid.

Battery slides into a little pocket.

At just under 10lbs with the battery on, it’s definitely one of the lighter weight pro-style string trimmers on the battery market. It also comes with this nice little built-in hook that allows you to hang it on a garage rack or even a nail. 

Hangs on the wall!

All-in-all, this thing was super easy to use and felt comfortable the whole time. 

The brushless motor makes it pretty durable

Durability is also one of the huge question marks on the FSA 90 R and all battery-powered string trimmers for that matter.

CORRECTION: I previously stated that this trimmer did NOT have a brushless motor. I was wrong! As one of our YouTube viewers pointed out (shoutout Milton), these do in fact have brushless motors that are electronically controlled.

Stihl highlights their brushless motor technology on this page, but not on the product main page or in the manual.

Brushless motors are great because they provide a more reliable, durable, cooler-running motor as compared to brushed motors.

Price and value

The Stihl FSA 90 R string trimmer is going to run you well over $400 for the tool, battery, and charger. If you are #blessed and already own a Stihl battery, you can get the tool-only version for just under $400 from Ace Hardware.

Unfortunately, I don’t think this is a great deal. If you are looking for a nice pro-grade string trimmer, I recommend checking out EGO string trimmers instead. 

String Trimmer Line for Stihl FSA 90 R

We developed an amazing string trimmer line that we tested against DOZENS of other lines. Check it out here.

The Final Verdict: Stihl FSA 90 R String Trimmer

Sad to say it, but this Stihl string trimmer falls into the same category as the other more residential offerings. It by far has the most power, but it comes at a steep price compared to some of its peers, like some of the more powerful string trimmers.

Why we review lawn tools

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

How we spend our time.

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

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

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

Gas vs Electric String Trimmer

When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2022 it’s important to understand your power source options. It basically boils down to gas or electric trimmers. 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.

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.

Easily recognizable.

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

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I Tested Out Powersmart’s Battery Powered Mower

PowerSmart’s battery powered lawn mowers are lesser known in the electric world, but have gas alternatives that are super popular. According to our lawn mower expert Tyler, this is a really good cheap option for small yards.

PowerSmart is known for having extremely well-built, quality products. We reviewed their gas-powered snow blower and were….blown away.

But they’ve recently stepped into the electric lawn mower space. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on one of their brand new mowers, the PowerSmart 40V electric mower.

Here’s our thoughts:

PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered Lawn Mower: Features and benefits

Let’s check out some of the great features and benefits from the PowerSmart 40V Battery-powered lawn mower. Interested in other PowerSmart mowers?

Using the mower

The most important thing about a lawn mower isn’t how well it cuts, it’s how the mower feels to use. If you are going to be walking a couple of miles in a straight line in your yard, then you want to make sure it is with an intuitive, easy to use mower. 

The PowerSmart battery powered mower has five different height settings for cutting the grass. This helps folks with grass like tall fescue, which requires a lifted cutting deck, but also someone with bermuda or zoysia, which requires a shorter cut.

This PowerSmart mower also comes with 3 discharge options: side discharge, mulching, and bagging. We always recommend mulching, which allows for the re-use of the grass clippings as a nice fertilizer for the soil.

Wheels with five height levels.

It easily breaks down and folds in half, which is nice for storage in your garage or shed.

This mower comes in at about 42 lbs, which I actually like in an electric mower. The metal deck on this mower means that it is going to be more durable and better downward force for stabilizing the mower. 

How to operate the PowerSmart 40V mower

The PowerSmart battery lawn mower comes with a safety key, which is actually really unusual for a lot of battery powered mowers. It only comes with one key, and without it you cannot operate the mower. 

Don’t lose that key!

After the key is in place, you simply press the start button, pull down the trigger, and engage the blades. 

One thing we also enjoyed about  this mower is that it has an indicator light for battery life and another for some sort of system fault (heaven forbid).

The handles are very sensitive.

The trigger is actually pretty sensitive and you’ll want to make sure that you have it pulled down all the way for the entirety of the mowing journey. Any let-up on the trigger at all will cut off the mower.

Bells and whistles on this electric mower

Overall, this mower is pretty basic. It doesn’t have many of the bells and whistles, isn’t self-propelled, and doesn’t have many parts that can break. We really like that it comes in a basic form because it allows the mower to come in at an extremely reasonable price.

Battery life and run-time

PowerSmart claims that this battery can run for 42 minutes, which is usually under optimal conditions. We put this to the test (as seen in our video) and got 56 minutes.

Where the battery goes!

Wow. We really liked this as some of the competitors have been WAY below their advertised time. We almost cut an entire 1/2 acre yard with a single charge. Oh yeah.

We also put the battery recharge time to the test as well. The base has three different light indicators. Blinking red means that it’s charging, alternating red and green if it’s overheated, and solid green when it’s done charging.

Battery charge indicator.

It took about 3 hours to fully charge from dead.

Price and Warranty

The PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered mower comes in at about $280, including the charger and battery. It also comes with a nice 3-year warranty – which is really good.

Official Review: PowerSmart Battery Powered Lawn Mower 40V

The mower has some things to love and a few things not to love. If you have a smaller yard and are looking to get the job done, this is a really good value. It comes in at a great price point and will be good for at least three years. 

We did find it a little bit “bumpy” and noisier than we would have liked. With a few small modifications, it could become a lot more comfortable. 

If you have a larger yard, I’d probably check out some other mowers, especially some self-propelled ones, that will help tackle the job for you.

All-in-all, the PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered mower is a great value mower. You can pick it up straight from PowerSmart.

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. 

We take testing seriously.

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 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.

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Stihl’s New FSA 45 String Trimmer is For Small Lawns

The Stihl FSA 45 string trimmer has a feature I’ve never seen on any string trimmer, and I’ve used and reviewed DOZENS of string trimmers.

Stihl string trimmers are some of the most widely used trimmers in the world by both landscapers and homeowners alike.

Stihl has a new line of battery string trimmers. We have already reviewed the Stihl FSA 57 string trimmer and next up on our list is the Stihl FSA 45 cordless trimmer.

Bottom Line: While you likely won’t find a landscaper using the STIHL FSA 45 string trimmer (unless he’s being punished), there are still plenty of folks who would love this string trimmer.

Today, we are going to break down some of the features that make it unique – the good, bad, and ugly. 

Let’s get started:

Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer: Features and benefits

The Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer is a unique cordless trimmer that has become super popular. Let’s break down some of the features of this new weed eater.

I can work with that.

The string trimmer lacks desirable power

The new battery line from Stihl is where you begin to see a deviation from Stihl’s rich history. Stihl has always been one of the toughest, most professionally-driven, powerful lawn tool manufacturers on the face of the Earth. 

Their new battery products are not really all that powerful, but if you’re a homeowner with a small yard and looking for reliable products, then it is hard to beat Stihl.

The FSA 45 is not the most powerful. In fact, it only has a 9 inch cutting swath, which is definitely one of the smallest I’ve reviewed. For reference, most commercial string trimmers have a 15 inch cutting width. 9 is really small and is only really good for little here-and-there trimming around the yard. This will not be a reliable trimmer for thicker brush, edging, or very tall grass. 

Sad!

Looks about right…

It claims that it can cut up to 3 football fields worth of length on a single battery, but the battery only runs for 12 minutes. Not sure you could cover all of that in 12 minutes, so who knows (should we put this to the test?!).

The battery system is confusing

The Stihl FSA 45 is a part of Stihl’s new AI series – not sure what AI stands for, but it means that the battery is integrated into the tool. Yep, most battery tools have one that pops off. This one is more like an electric car; you plug it in to the wall to keep it charged and then pop it off to get going. 

This has some benefits but also some major drawbacks. Firstly, it’s nice to have a sleeker product that is just one solid piece. No worrying about buying extra batteries or having  to keep a charger taking up plug space all the time.

A major drawback is that for each one of these integrated tools, it’s basically like having a separate battery system. There is no synergy, no ability to pop off a battery and put it on another tool to keep going, no incentive to buy more Stihl products to save money on batteries.

Good for the small stuff, not for the big stuff

It actually kind of sucks. But if you have a tiny yard and don’t need a bunch of fancy tools, then a small electric mower and this string trimmer are all you really need. 

Stihl’s FSA 45 is light and easy to use

The Stihl FSA 45 string trimmer absolutely shines in the usability department. It really is designed for the common homeowner who doesn’t spend a ton of time in their yard. It is extremely comfortable and easy to use. At just over 5 lbs, it is super lightweight.

Battery light indicator is cool.

A few features we really liked about this one:

  • It comes with a loop that allows you to hang it on the wall. Garage storage is always an issue with lawn tools, so this one tries to make it nice and easy.
  • You have built in battery life notifications right on the tool without the need to separate the battery
  • It’s got a nice, easy to use handle. Honestly it feels like using a Swiffer or some other easy to use house cleaning tool.
  • It has an activation key, which is good and bad because it would suck to lose it.

This thing is all about convenience and ease of use – so this is really the most well-developed part of the trimmer.

Can do some liiiiight edging.

The weed eater is affordable

The Stihl FSA 45 sells for about $140. This is a DECENT price for this tool. You can get some string trimmers for a much lower price. Since this doesn’t come with a separate battery, why not just grab a more cost effective tool?

Stihl FSA 45 Battery Powered Weed Eater String

We developed our own weed eater string that is built to make weed eaters like the Stihl FSA 45 more powerful. Check it out!

Overall Review: Stihl FSA 45 cordless trimmer

The Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer is a great, lightweight, easy to use string trimmer with a great brand name behind it. However, if you are looking for more power or something of equal caliber but at a lower price, then I recommend continuing to search elsewhere.

For a more powerful trimmer, I would check out some of EGO’s string trimmers.

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. 

Our jobs.

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

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

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

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 Stihl FS 56 RC Trimmer is a top notch trimmer that falls right in line with some of their other awesome products.

Comparing a Stihl gas blower to an EGO battery blower.

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.

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

Gas vs Electric String Trimmer

When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2022 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.

Posted on

Craftsman’s Electric Mower Surprised Me With Serious Power

The Craftsman V20 mower was surprisingly powerful and provided a solid cut, despite some weird nuances.

We break down the Craftsman V20 mower.

Craftsman is one of the most popular outdoor power brands in the game – with a presence in mowers, automotive tools, and even some household appliances. One of the GOATs in the power tool game just introduced a lawn mower from their new V20 series. 

Bottom Line: This is a great mower for the money – a brushless motor, sleek design, and really easy to use. You can grab it at Lowe’s!

Jump ahead to read more.

Craftsman V20 Brushless Electric Mower: Features and Benefits

As mentioned before, Craftsman is a big name in the tool space. They are bringing their immense knowledge and product lineup to the big stage with the arrival of their new V20 mower. We were lucky enough to get our hands on this mower for a pretty thorough inspection.

Using the Craftsman V20 Brushless Mower

Right off the bat, this mower doesn’t have the standard design you normally see from a gas mower. It has a slightly odd look where it appears flat and kind of goofy. It has smaller plastic wheels that feel cheap, but has five different settings for height adjustment of the cutting deck. It also has the ability to fold in half for easy storage. 

To start the mower, you simply place the safety key in the “ignition”, press the start button on the side, and hold down the bar to initiate the motor. Then simply keep the bar held together and begin walking – just like a normal gas push mower.

Safety key + ignition.

At first glance, the mower appears cheap and plastic-y. In fact, one thing I noticed that I didn’t love right away was that the batteries don’t have an available battery life indicator that you can see while you are mowing. If you take the batteries out, you can check the battery life, but not while you mow.

From a functional perspective, it does have a 3-in-1 cutting system. This is pretty standard for push mowers. The capabilities are mulching, side discharge, and bagging the grass clippings.

The Craftsman V20 mower does not have a self-propelled function, which is honestly fine by us. 

Craftsman V20 battery charge time and run times: tested

The Craftsman V20 brushless mower has an advertised run time of about 50 minutes. Well – we put that to the test in our backyard.

We got about 27 minutes into mowing our lawn before it died. Yikes! Granted, the lawn was a little wet but still – that’s barely half of the advertised time!

Separate charging stations (would rather have one).

When we took them in to charge, it took each battery well over 3 hours to charge. Not great! 

I honestly expected a bit more from the batteries on this, but with a 20V battery you won’t see the same run time you would from an EGO or Ryobi battery, with much higher voltages. 

You can see the batteries, just not how much juice there is.

Definitely a lot to be desired when it comes to batteries, but I can’t overstate how nice it is to have one battery system for several tools. Despite the underwhelming run time, I would still recommend the Craftsman V20 mower to anyone who already owns V20 tools.

Price and Warranty of the Craftsman V20

The Craftsman V20 battery powered mower is on sale for about $329 right now at Lowe’s. Not bad actually. You can also get the version without the batteries and chargers for a lower price – another benefit to owning the batteries already. 

Mower deck looks pretty good – a single blade that gets things done.

The Official Review: Craftsman V20 Brushless Electric Mower

We wanted to hate this mower. We really did. It looked like a toy and was mostly plastic. The battery run-time wasn’t what was advertised.

But boy is it hard to hate. Despite all of the quirky things about it, it cut my super long fescue lawn like my gas mower does. It got the job done without all the bells and whistles. 

you can see it on my face – impressed!

It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver, easy to store, and does what it is supposed to do.

You can grab it at a Lowe’s near you.

Why we review lawn tools

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

How we spend our days now.

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

Posted on

My Experiment with Toro’s New Battery Recycler Mower

The battery powered Toro Recycler SmartStow 60V mower was a bit of a let down. I expected this Toro mower to be perfect – and it was just okay.

I love it!

Toro mowers are one of the best selling gas mowers in the Milky Way galaxy (and beyond). Making the switch to battery is a huge task. Aren’t battery mowers weaker? And plastic? And can it break easily?

We did a full YouTube video review of this mower that you can check out here.

This Toro Recycler Battery mower is durable, solid as a rock, and has the foundations of a great mower. I do think it is a bit overpriced given some of the others on the market, but you can check if the price dropped at Home Depot here.

Read more by clicking the jump links below:

Toro’s Battery Mower: Features and Benefits

Let’s hop into what might become the household staple of the future. The red Toro Lawn Mower that is in just about every garage, except battery-powered. This one even made our list of mowers for bermudagrass.

#1!!

The Toro Recycler Battery Mower is as powerful as gas

Gauging power output on a battery-powered mower is always tough when compared to gas mowers. Gas mowers have cubic centimeter displacement, or ccs, that give you a good idea and are more widely recognized.

Battery mowers have voltage (V), which generally correlates to power. It also has Amp-hours (Ah) which correlates to run-time. The 60V Toro Recycler SmartStow battery mower is an above-average voltage for a walk-behind battery mower.

I would compare the Toro Recycler’s power output to somewhere around 175 cc on a gas mower.

In layman’s terms, this thing can keep up with and even exceed most gas walk-behind mowers. It will sound different, but the cutting power is really the same.

Same, same – but different.

One thing I will mention related to power is the motor type. This comes with a great Brushless motor, meaning more torque, a cooler running motor, and a durable long-lasting tool.

The 60V battery run time

Battery life may be the biggest concern if you are switching to a Toro SmartStow battery mower for the first time. Up above, I mentioned Amp-hours as the measurement of how long the battery will run. You can get the Toro Recycler SmartStow in either a 5 or 6 Ah battery package. I recommend going with the 6 Ah for more run time.

In a normal yard, you will be able to cut for about 45 minutes, which is really pretty great for a battery powered mower. In terms of size, you will be able to cut about ⅓ of an acre with this on a  single charge.

Can be used with a ton of other Toro 60V tools.

The beauty of the 60V battery on the Toro Recycler SmartStow battery mower is that it can be used with the trimmer, blower, and chainsaw. One battery can give you several different tools. That’s why if you go with the Toro 60V, you should make sure to check out other products in the Toro 60V line to save some serious money by purchasing the “tool-only” versions.

Just as a forewarning, running your mower with the self-propelled function on will noticeably burn the battery as compared to just pushing it the old fashioned way.

SmartStow battery mower has zero maintenance

My favorite part about battery mowers in general is that they require basically no maintenance. At all. And they start reliably every time without having to pull a cord a dozen times.

No spilling gas all over your garage, no oil changes or filter changes, and no smelling like gasoline (which I actually like). 

No pull-cord, just push to start.

You can simply press a button and get going. 

As you may have read at the beginning of this article, it’s also really important to have a mower with a metal decking. Thankfully, the Toro Recycler battery mower has a nice 21 inch or 22 inch steel deck, whichever size you buy.

The steel deck means that you get the reliability and durability you would expect from Toro. 

Bells and whistles on the Toro 60V mower

Some other features of the Toro Recycler Battery mower include the rear-drive self-propelled function. I’m a bit picky, but if I get a self-propelled mower, I actually prefer it to have front-wheel drive so that it can help pull the mower over certain spots. 

Oddly, the Toro Recycler has this top air-intake system that is supposed to pull air up through the bottom of the mower and make grass stand taller before it gets cut. This contraption is heavily marketed but doesn’t seem to work at all. In fact, it looks like the vent doesn’t actually connect to the bottom of the mower.

The Toro Recycler SmartStow has a 9-position cutting height range, which is almost excessive but nice that you have this many options. You’;’ll be able to cut all types of grass, from fescue to zoysia. 

The last part is the Recycler Cutting System, which is how this mower gets its name. One of my favorite things about Toro is that they patented the term LawnVitamins, or very finely trimmed grass clippings created from their Recycler series. 

Cost of the Toro mower

The Toro Recycler SmartStow comes in at about $500 depending on the size and the battery that you get. This is a pretty reasonable price considering that it is going to last you for quite some time. 

As is true with all brand-names, you are definitely paying a bit more for the “Toro” logo printed on the side.

Official Review: Toro Recycler SmartStow 60V Battery Mower

From Toro, this is exactly what I would expect. It is high-quality, well-made, durable, and reliable. I believe over the years we will see this mower become the dominant replacement for folks using gas mowers nowadays. 

You can grab yours at Home Depot for a great deal, but click here to see the ever-changing price.

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. 

This is how we spend our days

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 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.
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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. 

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.

Kinda looks like an XBOX controller.

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.

I mean it looks so nice….

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

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

How we spend our days.

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. 

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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.

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. 

Nothing like the gas counterpart.

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:

  1. Quiet
    • This thing is WAY quieter than a gas blower, albeit a different kind of noise.
  2. Emissions  free
    • No concerns about breathing in fumes and you can even use it indoors (basically a big hair dryer)
  3. 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?

Super easy to use the battery.

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

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

How we spend our time now.

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

What to look for in 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. 

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