Name: STIHL BGA 57 Blower
Brand: Stihl
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

July 5, 2022April 28, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stihl BGA 57 Blower: Features and benefits

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

What you might have expected from Stihl…

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

Power isn’t quite there

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

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

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

So where does the Stihl BGA 57 stack up?

365 CFMs and 123 MPH. Womp womp….

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

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

What are they thinking?

It is easy to use, however

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C’mon Stihl! Do better!

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

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

The Stihl BGA 57 blower is overpriced

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

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

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

The Overall Review: Stihl BGA 57 blower

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

Sorry, y’all.

Why we review lawn tools

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 a cordless blower

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

CFM – Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.
Usability – what is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.
Motor type – brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

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

July 4, 2022April 28, 2024

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

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

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

Let’s get started:

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

Stihl FSA 57 String Trimmer: Features and Benefits

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

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

Power output is not great

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

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

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

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

It is easy to use

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

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

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

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

The auto-feeding head on the Stihl FSA 57.

It is unclear how durable this weed eater is

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

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

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

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

Sad.

Cost

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

The official review: Stihl FSA 57 String Trimmer

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

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

Stihl’s reputation

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

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

Where you might recognize Stihl equipment.

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

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

June 25, 2022April 28, 2024

The WORX Hydroshot Is Great for Outdoor Enthusiasts

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

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

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

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

Features and benefits

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

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

The Hydroshot has low PSI

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Worx Hydroshot has a few different spray patterns

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

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

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

Using the Hydroshot is super easy and can be done anywhere

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wow.

Comfort and Feel: WORX Hydroshot sweet spot

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

Just kidding, of course. I bench 10 million.

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

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

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

Still better than gas!

The Hydroshot is inexpensive

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

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

Official Review

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

About WORX

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

They even made this cool wheelbarrow we reviewed.

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

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

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

June 20, 2022April 28, 2024

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

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

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

It wasn’t even close.

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

We have video proof.

Check it out.

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

My experience with this blower: Features and benefits

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

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

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

Versatility of EGO’s 765 CFM blower

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

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

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

Simple cruise control function on the EGO LB7654.

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

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

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

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

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

Battery life on EGO 765 CFM blower

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

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

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

Pretty impressive!

Ease of use of EGO LB7654 blower

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

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

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

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

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

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

EGO 765 CFM Power compared to Gas

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

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

I did look stupid, however I learned a lot.

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

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

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

Cost and value

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

EGO LB7654 Power+ blower: Final review

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

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

What to look for in an electric blower

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

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

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

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

June 16, 2022April 28, 2024

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

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

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

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

So let’s get started.

Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 oscillating sprinkler: Features and benefits

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

The Aqua Joe indestructible sprinkler has impressive coverage

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

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

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

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

This Aqua Joe sprinkler is easy to use

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

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

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

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

Durability is the strength of this sprinkler

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

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

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

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

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

The Sprinkler is incredibly inexpensive.

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

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

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

Overall review: Aqua Joe SJI-OMS20 Oscillating Sprinkler

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

Why you need a sprinkler in the summer

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

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

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

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

About Aqua Joe

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

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

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

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

June 15, 2022April 28, 2024

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

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

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

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

For real? They just made one mower?

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

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

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

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

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more powerful than my Honda mower

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

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

After a few cuts it got some nice grass clippings.

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

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

The Milwaukee M18 mows smoothly and efficiently

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

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

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

These knobs pull out and help you fold it down.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The mower has some nice bells and whistles

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

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

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

This mower is worth the hefty price tag

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

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

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

The official review: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21 inch mower

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

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

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

Why we started The Lawn Review

We also did a nice review of their weed eater.

What to look for in a battery powered lawn mower

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.
- Luckily – Milwaukee carries really good brand quality. They’re well known for making durable, powerful, trusted tools
Metal where it matters.
- Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
- Again, Milwaukee has you covered ehre.
Battery interoperability.
- A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
Self-propelled or not.
- Some people love it – I am indifferent. It’s a great feature for hills, uneven surfaces, or if you don’t like to push your push mower.

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

About Milwaukee tools

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

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

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

June 11, 2022April 28, 2024

Milwaukee’s M18 Hedge Trimmer is Raw Power

Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL 24 inch hedge trimmer is one of the best hedge trimmers on the market because it has a heavy duty, popular battery system, a long cutting length, and a highly durable motor.

Milwaukee is known for insanely powerful products that perform at high levels. Think about their power drills and other tools that are trusted by the pros. They take that same power and oftentimes the same battery, and pack it into some yard tools.

Bottom Line: The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 24 inch hedge trimmers are the perfect combination of power, durability, and usability. Milwaukee’s M18 line of tools is absolutely incredible. You can grab yours here from Home Depot.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 24 inch Hedge Trimmer

Okay enough blabbering, let’s get on with it. We had the distinct pleasure of getting our hands on the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 24 inch hedge trimmer when I borrowed it from my neighbor.

So, let’s check it out.

This trimmer feels solid and durable

Feel is the very first thing you experience when you pick up the Milwaukee M18 FUEL hedge trimmer. Ideally you want a hedge trimmer to feel lightweight but also solid. It is rare to get the two of those together.

The M18 FUEL hedge trimmer had a good combo of lightweight and also solid. It comes in at about 9lbs, which isn’t the lightest on the block, but still manageable. The thing felt as solid as a rock though, which is exactly what you want.

I’ve had a few Black and Decker hedge trimmers and while they are inexpensive, they feel plastic-y, uncomfortable, and overall low budget. The Milwaukee felt like the real deal.

Really easy to use and turn for harder-to-reach areas.

Once I started cutting, it felt like I could let gravity do the work with some minor guidance. While it was slightly heavier than I liked, it was easy to use. I’d give it about ⅘ stars in the “feel” category.

The Milwaukee 24 inch hedge trimmer has unmatched power

Any lack in the “feel” department was completely made up by power. This is what Milwaukee is famous for. Power drills with serious power. Well, it really held up against my expectations here.

The extra weight on this hedge trimmer is there for a reason: it is holding a powerhouse motor inside that can cut up to ¾” of branches. That is pretty crazy for a hedge trimmer. Most think hedge trimmers can just cut little leaves off of tiny bushes.

Nope.

Milwaukee incorporated saw-like technology on this bad boy and somehow it can cut up to three quarters of an inch-thick branch. That’s wild.

But also able to cut through really thick branches.

The saw functions move back and forth at 3,400 exchanges per minute. Not sure what that means, but you can tell this thing can cut. One part that was shocking to me was the lack of vibration when trying to cut.

For example, with some of my Black + Decker hedge trimmers, when it’s really trying to work its way through a thicker branch it will stall and vibrate until it gets through it. I didn’t really experience that with the Milwaukee M18 hedge trimmer as compared to the Black and Decker.

The last part I will say about the motor on this M18 Hedge Trimmer is that it has a brushless motor. Milwaukee calls it the POWERSTATE brushless motor, which allows for more torque, more run-time, and a longer life. This is true – brushless motors are absolutely amazing for any tool, but mostly so on lawn tools because they have a tendency to overheat due to their long run-time (unlike power drills which don’t run for very long).

The M18 battery provides consistent power despite being a smaller voltage

I didn’t run into an issue with battery life on the Milwaukee M18 battery, but I think there’s a lot more to it than that.

Pops right on the back to help balance out the tool.

On Milwaukee’s website, they go into pretty lengthy details about all the different trademarks and copyrights they have on the M18 battery. It almost makes it unreadable, but here is what I learned:

The M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC8.0 battery pack can put out 50% more power and can run significantly cooler than their old battery packs
There is something called REDLINK PLUS which is electronic intelligence (not sure what that means) that enables communication between tools and batteries.
- This sounds like they are plotting to take us over. Whatever.

I think M18 batteries in general can run for over 100 minutes without any pressure. I would expect quite a bit less when trimming hedges and thicker brush. That being said, the M18 24 inch hedge trimmer battery will likely last for any job you are doing around the yard.

If the battery dies, take some time to clean up the previous section of hedges and use that time to recharge the battery.

The M18 batteries can be used in a TON of other Milwaukee tools, so make sure to check out some of their other products to save money on batteries.

Cost and value of the Milwaukee M18 hedge trimmer

You can buy the M18 FUEL 24 in 18V cordless hedge trimmer for just under $200 on Home Depot’s website. It currently says that you can buy the tool-only version, which is considerably cheaper but comes without a battery.

It looks like Home Depot is running a special deal where if you buy the tool-only version, they throw in a free battery.

Confusing, but whatever. This is a great price when compared to similar-quality hedge trimmers like the ones from Makita, which are much more expensive.

Overall review: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 24 in 18V cordless hedge trimmer

The Milwaukee M18 24” hedge trimmer is a dang beast. This is going to be able to tackle any hedge trimming job with power and grace.

Would I buy this if I was a 75+ grandma? Probably not, I would probably go with a cheaper, lighter hedge trimmer. But most folks that can handle an 8-10lb hedge trimmer will find that this one is extremely powerful, easy to use, and long-lasting.

Why we review lawn tools

Why you need a cordless hedge trimmer

Hedge trimming keeps the yard looking manicured. But if you’ve ever tried to trim a hedge with a pair of shears, you know that it’s not an easy task. Hedge trimmers are specially designed to make trimming hedges quick and easy – which is why they were named hedge trimmers.

Here are three reasons why you need a cordless hedge trimmer:

Hedge trimming is a tough job, but Hedge Trimmers make it really fast. Hedge Trimmers have sharp blades that can quickly cut through even the thickest hedges. And because they’re so lightweight and easy to maneuver, Hedge Trimmers make it easy to get even the most difficult-to-reach areas. The beauty of cordless hedge trimmers is that they don’t ever cut the cord – unlike my mother-in-law.
Hedge Trimmers save you time. Hedge trimming can be a time-consuming task, but Hedge Trimmers can help you get the job done quickly. It is a hack compared to using traditional hedge clippers or shears. Sadly, cleaning up still takes the same amount of time!
Hedge Trimmers help you keep your yard looking its best. Well-trimmed hedges add structure and definition to your yard, and they can help your garden look neater and more. I am always going for the manicured look, and nothing gets rid of unruly overgrowth like a hedge trimmer.

About Milwaukee tools

Milwaukee makes a wide variety of tools, from hand tools to power tools, and they are used in a variety of industries, from construction to automotive. These tools are known for being very versatile, and they can be used for a variety of applications. Milwaukee is a brand that is trusted by professionals, and Milwaukee tools are built to last.

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

June 6, 2022April 27, 2024

I Tried It: Kobalt 40V Max String Trimmer

Kobalt’s 40V string trimmer is one of those cool blue lawn tools that can be found at Walmart, Lowe’s and Amazon. Their 40V MAX lineup of tools is pretty expansive and known for being powerful.

Kobalt has some nice lines of batteries. A 40V line, a 40V MAX line (yes, there’s a difference), and some 80V products as well.

Bottom Line: The Kobalt 40V Max String Trimmer is a great lawn tool because it has a brushless motor, a wide cutting swath, and a nice battery series. You can grab it on Amazon or at Lowes.

Let’s break it down:

Features review
Cons
A secret about Kobalt
Overall Kobalt 40V string trimmer review
What to look for in a string trimmer
About Kobalt

Kobalt 40V Max cordless string trimmer: Features and benefits

This weed eater is plastered all over Lowes, but you have a ton of others to choose from like EGO’s weed eaters and a bunch more. Here are some of the unique elements of the Kobalt 40V MAX string trimmer.

It is powerful

Kobalt’s string trimmers mostly come in a 40V battery package, meaning it is optimally designed for yards up to ½ acre. Some people think this sounds weak, but honestly most yards are under a ½ acre – so what does it matter?

Yes, if you are trailblazing in the woods then you may want to step it up to a gas-powered or commercially-focused string trimmer. But most of us aren’t.

When comparing sizes of Kobalt string trimmers, you want to think about the cutting swath, or width of the cutting path. This is where I like to go slightly bigger. A 15 or 16 inch cutting swath can handle thicker areas of grass and brush. Another benefit to larger cutting swath string trimmers is that they do a tremendous job replacing edgers.

If you are looking for power, most of us are going to be totally content with the 40V max battery offered by Kobalt. If you are wanting to really “max” out the power, go with the 15 or 16 inch model.

If you like this one, check out the The 24V Edition which is smaller and cheaper.

Kobalt’s string trimmer is very comfortable to use

Feel is everything.

If you’ve ever used a traditional gas-powered string trimmer, you know how heavy and unwieldy they can be. And if you’ve ever tried to use one for an extended period of time, you know how quickly they can start to hurt your back and shoulders. For me, I am very tall and get wonky shoulder pain pretty quickly.

I love these types of handles that have a “butterfly” trigger.

The Kobalt 40V string trimmer is a game changer in this regard. It’s incredibly lightweight and easy to use, and the battery is positioned perfectly to give it a nice balance. Plus, the adjustable handle means that you can customize it to fit your height and reach. In other words, it’s the perfect tool for anyone who wants to get their yard work done without having to deal with the pain and discomfort of a gas-powered trimmer.

I love having longer, straight string trimmers because they have a nice see-saw effect that, when balanced appropriately, make the job easy. Longer shafts also allow for surgical precision – like using a paintbrush.

You can use the Kobalt 40V Max battery with a ton of other tools

Battery life is everything and it is also nothing. The 40V line of string trimmers from Kobalt throws out “half an acre” of run-time. But what does that mean? Surely, you can’t trim your entire yard like a mower if it is half an acre?

It’s tough to say. Battery life is dependent on the work being done – is it some super thick brush you are cutting? Are you edging and digging into the ground? Are you starting and stopping a lot? Are you using it on a low-speed setting?

Nice looking battery! Has a good battery life indicator on it.

There are a ton of variables, but expect this to last for about 30-45 minutes with normal use. I have never run into a problem with battery power when I have been trimming, but if I tack on edging to that and then put the battery on the blower and do some blower work – then yeah, my battery starts to run lower.

Tough to say here, but I think the more important point is to make sure you have a fully charged battery, grab a battery that can be used in a bunch of different tools, and don’t expect to be able to go all day.

The cons

As much as it pains me to complain about the Kobalt 40V string trimmer, I have to bring to light a few things. I am not a fan of the motor on this. It is a brushed motor, not brushless. This means that it may not last as long as its brushless counterparts, will get hotter, and has slightly less torque.

I have also read that some online ordering can be sketchy. One reviewer at Amazon said that they bought the tool-only version and it looked like someone bought the full version, took out the battery, and then made someone pay for both separately.

Sounds weird.

One secret

The same company that makes motors for Greenworks makes them for Kobalt. Greenworks has a great reputation. While I’m surprised this isn’t brushless, this is probably going to be the best non-brushless electric trimmer series on the market.

Kobalt 40V MAX string trimmer: Review and recommendation

The jury is in: this is a good string trimmer. It is a GREAT string trimmer if you already have 40V MAX batteries, because you can get the tool only version for significantly cheaper.

It is a good string trimmer if you’re new to electric tools and are looking to start with the Kobalt series.

It is a bad string trimmer if you are working commercially or have over ½ an acre of land you’re trying to clean up.

You can grab it on Amazon here for a great price, or you can check out the selection at Lowe’s.

Why we review lawn tools

How to instantly improve your weed eater

What to look for in a cordless string trimmer

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

Feel – Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. Bad. You are going to be using this often and for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable.
Motor – Brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Brushless motors also produce more torque and less heat.
Batteries – If you want to save money, make sure to stick to one battery line from one brand. Batteries aren’t cheap!
Curved vs Straight shaft – I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing”, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.

About Kobalt lawn tools

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

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

May 9, 2022April 27, 2024

Can A Cordless Chainsaw Compete with Gas? Let’s find out

Greenworks 40V chainsaws are top tier chainsaws that are perfect for use around your home and neighborhood.

If you’ve read any of our stuff before, you know that we are kind of obsessed with Greenworks. They did not pay us for this post and haven’t paid us for anything – we are being honest.

They are probably our favorite all-around electric lawn tool provider.

As self-proclaimed chainsaw experts who have reviewed a handful of Stihl gas-powered chainsaws and a couple electric chainsaws as well, we decided to give the Greenworks 40V chainsaw a spin.

You can save the planet with a battery-powered chainsaw as you chop down trees!

Jump ahead:

What to look for in a chainsaw
Greenworks 40V chainsaw power
G-max series usability and feel
Maintenance and battery life
Greenworks 16 inch vs 12 inch

Greenworks G-MAX 40V 16 inch cordless chainsaw: Benefits and features

Let’s check out all of the features available in the Greenworks G-MAX 40V 16 inch mower. Many of these comparisons will be against a gas chainsaw, which are the most commonly used chainsaws. We also do some comparisons to other electric chainsaws.

Greenworks electric chainsaw Power

The first thing I will say that I love about the Greenworks cordless chainsaw is that it comes with a brushless motor.

For those of you who haven’t heard of brushless motors, they use magnets instead of friction to generate power. This comes with a few benefits:

Longer run-time
Significantly quieter and less “whiny”
More durable motor life
Double the torque

These things take a battery powered chainsaw from good to great. Oh, and the motor here is equivalent to a 35cc gas chainsaw. Woah.

Don’t believe us? Check this video out that we made comparing it to a Stihl.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8Zk4zotT3XQ

Speaking of torque and power, this chainsaw can cut through a 15 inch piece of lumber pretty reliably. This is perfect for any homeowner who is trying to cut up a fallen tree after a storm.

Usability and feel of the Greenworks battery chainsaw

Another great thing about cordless chainsaws is the decrease in noise. While this isn’t absolutely quiet, it is significantly more quiet than a gas chainsaw.

The lack of fumes is also pleasing, meaning I can stay focused on a single cut without choking through the fumes.

The Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw has some pretty slick anti-vibration technology. Compared to a gas chainsaw, and even some of the electric chainsaws out there, we loved the feel this one had. It was extremely “tight” feeling in that you knew it was delivering some serious linear power, but it didn’t make your hands go numb with vibration like some of the others.

Also, coming in at just over 10lbs makes it maneuverable and easy to use. The whole experience is pretty pleasant.

Maintenance, safety and battery life

Unlike most gas chainsaws, the Greenworks 16 inch 40V G-MAX chainsaw doesn’t require any gas or oil mixtures. The battery is a 40V 4 Ah lithium ion battery that can make it through about 140 cuts of smaller lumber – mostly the size of smaller branches (around 4 inches).

Still, this battery life puts it in the top tier of battery powered chainsaws.

The Greenworks cordless chainsaw has a chain brake and a low kickback chain that helps prevent accidental kickbacks.

The tool-less tension adjustment on the body of the chainsaw allow for quick adjustments to chain tension and easy loosening to maintain the chain.

The last-piece here which is important is the auto-oiling function. Candidly, a lot of chainsaws have this function, but it is always good to see it in the Greenworks one. Make sure to store this flat instead of hanging, otherwise the oil will drip down the blades and onto whatever surface is below.

Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw vs 12 inch chainsaw

The 16 inch chainsaw is super popular, but so is the 12 inch chainsaw.

A few key differences include the brushless motor on the 16 inch chainsaw vs the traditional brushed motor on the 12 inch. The 12 inch chainsaw is obviously shorter as well, not giving you the same cutting depth as is possible with the 16 inch chainsaw. Lastly, the 12 inch chainsaw comes with a 2 Ah battery instead of a 4 Ah battery, meaning it will not be able to make as many cuts.

All in all, the 12 inch is great for residential folks as well, but is going to limit you with larger trees and branches. Totally fine if that isn’t what you’re looking for.

The 12 inch can still do a lot of jobs, but falls short in power.

From a price perspective, the 16 inch chainsaw is only slightly more expensive. To me, it makes the most sense to go with the 16 inch to get a stronger battery, better tool, for only a little bit more money.

Final review: Greenworks GMAX 40V 16 inch cordless chainsaw

This is a top tier cordless chainsaw, on par with some of the gas chainsaws available on the market. In comparison to some of our other cordless chainsaws, this one is not only more powerful and longer lasting, but more durable as well.

You can grab it directly from the Greenworks website, or on Amazon for a big sale. For some reason, this one is much cheaper on Amazon than it is on the Greenworks website.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in a chainsaw

A solid chainsaw is one of the most important tools a homeowner can have. Buying the right one is absolutely essential to your kids thinking you’re a cool man or woman. Chainsaws come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, types and models. Most are either gas or electric powered. Depending on your application of course, most people can get away with a 14” bar and chain. Unless you’re cutting up massive trees you probably don’t need anything bigger than that.

In addition to that, most people nowadays can probably get away with an electric model vs a more powerful, smoother cutting gas powered model. But it’s all personal preference. However, honestly I tend to always go with the bigger more powerful engines because I think they’ll last longer. So far that’s proven to be true, but I could just be wasting money.

Must-have chainsaw features

Just make sure your chainsaw at least has a kickback reduction feature. This prevents you from losing one of your precious fingers! You only have 10 of them ya know! Kickback reductions can be in the form of the chain or bar itself. Basically these just prevent you from cutting too aggressively which prevents your saw from bouncing back on you. Or a chain brake which causes the chain to stop when it hits something hard or moves too abruptly

Other features that are nice to have are more comfort-centric. These include tool-less tensioners, mufflers, anti-vibration, automatic chain oilers, etc.

May 1, 2022April 27, 2024

Ryobi’s Classic 40V Mower is Low Priced and Looks Nice

The Ryobi 40V 20 inch brushless, cordless, self-propelled lawn mower is a great, inexpensive, lightweight option for the thrifty homeowner.

One of, if not THE most popular electric lawn mowers is back. And sleek. And sexy.

Electric lawn mower? Sexy? Yes – it’s the Tesla of mowers. And we have loved using it.

Despite what people say, these mowers actually have some decent power.

But I don’t want to spoil it yet.

Electric mowers 101
Benefit review: Ryobi 20 in 40V mower
The official review: Ryobi mower
Our list of top Ryobi mowers

Ryobi RY40190 cordless electric lawn mower: Benefits

Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s check out the things that make this Ryobi cordless mower special.

Brushless Ryobi Motor makes it super durable and efficient

The Brushless Ryobi Motor is going to allow for a few things. First, the brushless motor is going to cause less friction and heat inside of the engine. Instead of relying on friction to transfer electrons from the battery to the motor, brushless motors use magnets.

Less friction and less heat in this Ryobi 40V mower mean that the motor will last you much longer than other electric mowers. Brushless motors are also quieter – often included in Ryobi’s “Whisper” series.

Ryobi 40V battery fits a ton of other tools

The 40V Battery on the Ryobi RY40190 cordless 20 inch mower can be used with a TON of other Ryobi products.

I also own a Ryobi 40V blower as well as a their 3-in-1 trimmer and edger. I can pop the battery onto each of these tools. Heck yeah. This saves a ton of time and most importantly – precious wall outlet space in your garage.

The battery is great and can generally last for about 45 minutes or so – but may decrease when the self-propelled function is active. I have a smaller yard so can quickly mow, blow and trim in under 45 minutes. If I add on something like the occasional edging, then it usually requires a recharge.

Ryobi 20 in 40v Mower’s Self-propelled function

I know I have been on the record as a big critic of the self-propelled function. I don’t like it mainly because it can drain the battery more quickly than without and because I don’t mind pushing.

But not everyone shares this feeling. Definitely more elderly folks, people with larger yards, and smaller-framed people can benefit from a self-propelled function. It can tremendously offload a portion of the pushing.

Self-propelled mowers are also great for those of us with hills, a slanted yard, or lots of small holes or divots.

The self-propelled function on the Ryobi 20 inch 40 Volt brushless mower is front-wheel drive, pulling the mower over grass and uneven textures.

One complaint: The plastic deck

The only real complaint I have with this mower is that it has a plastic underbelly. Most heavy duty mowers have a metal deck that protects from extreme temperatures, rocks and sticks that could fly into the blades, and deterioration.

Didn’t even make the newer version metal.

I generally recommend looking for a mower that has a metal deck. These plastic decks are not going to snap in half or anything, I just always like knowing that the steel decks are more durable.

Ryobi 20 in. 40V mower cost and value

The price has a huge range from what I can tell on Amazon.

Anywhere from $450 to $600 seems like a decent deal – just verify that you are getting the tool only version if you already have the battery, and the battery + charger if you don’t.

This price range is about average. I do think the Ryobi series makes some good products and I doubt you will have any regrets – we didn’t!

We also reviewed another Ryobi mower that is slighty larger here.

The official review: Ryobi 40V 20 in. 6 Ah lithium-ion brushless cordless battery

Pretty good! Has just about everything you would want in an electric mower, other than a steel deck.

But this Ryobi mower has all the bells and whistles. Grab yours today for a great price at Home Depot where it is exclusively sold.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

Brand quality
- Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
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 as much as others.. It doesn’t help you that much and it can drain the battery some. Older people and those with hills seem to love them, though.

We do a thorough dive into each of these topics in our electric lawn mower buying guide.