Name: Stihl BR200 Backpack Blower
Brand: Stihl
Rating: 9 (1 reviews)

December 23, 2021April 21, 2024

Stihl BR200 Backpack Blower Is A Starter Backpack Blower

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

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

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

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

Jump ahead:

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

The Stihl BR200 backpack blower: Feature review

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

Power

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

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

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

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

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

Usability

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

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

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

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

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

The offset handle allows for easier maneuverability.

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

Maintenance and durability

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

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

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

Stihl BR200 price

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

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

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

The official review: Stihl BR200 backpack blower

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

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.

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas

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

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

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

Stihl’s reputation

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

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

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

December 23, 2021April 21, 2024

Cub Cadet CC800: Wide walk-behind beast

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

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

Let’s get started with the review below:

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

Why we review lawn tools

Cub Cadet’s history

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

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

When to buy a large walk-behind mower

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

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

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

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

The Cub Cadet CC800: Feature review

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

Power

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

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

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

Usability

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

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

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

Durability

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

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

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

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

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

Cost and value

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

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

The official review: Cub Cadet CC800

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

December 22, 2021April 21, 2024

The Husqvarna Z246 Is A Perfect Residential Zero-Turn

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

I like the reinforced cutting deck on the Z246.

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

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

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

The Husqvarna Z246 review: Features

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

Power breakdown

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

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

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

Using the Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower

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

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

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

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

Drivability

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

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

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

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

Maintaining zero-turns is a lot of work

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

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

Cost and value

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

The official review: The Husqvarna Z246

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

About Husqvarna

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

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

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

Zero-turn mowers

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

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

Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a good zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time.

December 11, 2021April 30, 2024

The Husqvarna 395XP is a Beast Chainsaw

The Husqvarna 395 XP is an absolute beast of a chainsaw. As one of the more powerful gas chainsaws on the market, you will see both commercial and residential people using this hoss. This animal will chew up and spit out just about anything you throw it’s way.

Brought to you by some of the best to ever do it, this Husqvarna lives up to the brand hype. Specifically designed for heavy duty jobs, this machine might be a little more than most people need but heck, if you can afford it, why not?

Why we review lawn tools

About Husqvarna

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

Husqvarna’s bread and butter is the heavier, commercial machinery for sure. For example, they don’t have a huge presence in the push mower space, but have some absolute units in the zero-turn mower space. Likewise, they produce big boy commercial lawn mowers and chainsaws that you will see clearing forests – which falls more in line with what we’ll be reviewing today, The Husqvarna 395 XP.

Let’s dive in….

Chainsaws vs Axe vs Handsaws

When purchasing a chainsaw, it’s important to understand if you actually NEED a chainsaw. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a lil vroom vroom but when it hurts my cha ching cha ching, it makes me wonder… Is this the right tool?

All three virtually do the same thing, which is make big pieces of wood smaller. However, each one is targeted for different tasks and frequencies. If you’re cutting down a small tree, clearing some brush or splitting some logs an ax is probably all you’ll ever need.

If, however, you’ve got A LOT of small trees to take down, or some big branches to remove then a chainsaw is probably better for you. A handsaw is somewhere between, usually like a branch that is 2 to 3” in diameter that you want a clean cut for, like removing a branch close to the trunk of a tree.

There are also battery powered chainsaws and even plug-in electric chainsaws, but neither of those are in the same atmosphere as this one.

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, type 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.

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.

Husqvarna 395 XP Chainsaw Functionality

For most homeowners, this Husqvarna is the absolute definition of bringing a gun to a knife-fight. This is honestly probably more than 95% of users need in a chainsaw. But for those of you who would rather be overloaded than under loaded, this saw has more than a few bells and whistles that make it topnotch.

Usability of the Husqvarna 395 XP

When you’re powering through tons of logs and time is of the essence, a low vibration level and comfortable ergonomics is key. The Husqvarna 395 XP uses the patented LowVib® technology, basically reducing vibration, which SUCKS when you’re using a piece of machinery for a long time. Also, it comes with a 7 degree offset on the handle, further reducing fatigue.

The magnesium crankcase in the Husqvarna 395xp makes it super easy to use and start.

Another couple other features I like about this saw is the air injection and quick release air filter. The air injection prevents large particulates and other crap from even entering the air filter. And the quick release air filter makes it super fast to change when time is of the essence.

This saw also comes in 20in, 24in, 28in, 32in and 36in varieties depending on your need.

Dependability

The Husqvarna 395 XP also comes with a magnesium crankcase and a three-piece crankshaft. The magnesium holds up super well with those higher RPMs and high temperatures. The three-piece crankshaft provides serious durability for the commercial or heavy residential usage. Basically this thing won’t quit before you do. And in the off chance it does, Husqvarna offers a 5 year extended warranty on this guy. All you have to do to get the extended warranty is to buy the Husqvarna oil and register it online. Easy enough.

From a maintenance perspective, the great thing about this chainsaw is that it has easily accessible filters.

The quick release air filters on the 395 XP.

Power

If you’ve made it this far you’ve heard me say this before but let me reiterate my point, THIS BAD BOY IS AN ABSOLUTE UNIT. Legend says one of these Husqvarna 395 XP chainsaws could clear half the Amazon. 94 cc’s on a chainsaw. If you changed the saw to helicopter blades this could easily take you to the moon. The power output is 6.6 hp (4900 W). That’s a lot. Compared, to the 4 HP offered on the electric Dewalt 60V Chainsaw this will be a massive uptick in power. Understandably so, as this is targeted to professional loggers not your everyday homeowner.

The Official Review of the Husqvarna 395 XP Chainsaw

Do you need this? Almost certainly, no. Do you want this? Almost certainly, yes. As mentioned several times in this review, the intended use of this chainsaw is commercial tree servicing companies and professional loggers. 99% of homeowners do not need this. BUT if you find yourself in one of the aforementioned categories then you will absolutely not be disappointed in this.

This thing will cut a small forest down like butter. At an average cost of $1,319.99 this is a very expensive model. But you’re buying a Cadillac, not a Kia. Sorry Kia.

December 2, 2021April 21, 2024

Testing Out My Brother’s Husqvarna Z242F Zero-Turn

The Husqvarna Z242f is one of the more affordable residential zero-turn mowers on the market. One thing we know about Husqvarna is their consistent power output and reliability. Let’s review the critical components of what you need to know before considering the Husqvarna Z242f for a purchase.

Jump ahead:

Husqvarna and Zero-turn mowers
Husqvarna Z242f: Features
Price and value
The official review: Husqvarna Z242f

Why we review lawn tools

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

About Husqvarna

That being said, you can see how all of Husqvarna’s industry experience could lead to them making the best zero-turn mowers for homeowners.

Zero-turn mowers

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

Husqvarna Z242f: Feature review

Alright, now that we have wrapped our heads around ZT mowers and Husqvarna, let’s check out this specific mower from the Z200 series of Husqvarna.

Power

The Husqvarna Z242f packs a punch, no doubt. This mower has an 18hp Kawasaki engine from their FR series (which is where I think the “f” in Z242f) comes from. The Kawaski engine runs up to almost 7 miles per hour and can cover 2.2 acres in an hour. I don’t know about you, but that acre/hour statistic is pretty compelling, especially if you are looking to save time on the weekends (who isn’t?).

Just about everything you would need for a residential property is covered by this engine. No complaints from a power perspective – this is going to be more than enough to cover a multi-acre parcel of land.

One consideration for this mower, and for the Z200 series as a whole, is what size cutting deck do you need? The Z242f has a 42 inch cutting deck (the 42 in Z242f) that will leave three and a half feet of cut grass behind you. As you think through your land, consider a few things:

How many obstacles do I have to navigate?

The more obstacles you have, the more nimble you will want to be. If you have a ton of trees, flower beds, or other structures, going any higher than a 42 inch deck will require some serious agility.

How much open land do I have?

If you have acres of open land and are making straight pass over straight pass, consider a larger deck than a 42 inch deck. If you go up to a 60 inch deck, you will cut an additional foot and a half with each pass. This foot and a half will add up tremendously after a handful of passes, saving you time. And time is money.

You can see the 42 inch cutting deck clearly labeled on this mower.

Usability

Okay, all the power in the world is totally worthless if it is difficult to use. We have reviewed quite a few Husqvarna zero-turn mowers here at The Lawn Review, but absolutely love the features that come with the Husqvarna Z242f.

First of all, Husqvarna has a sick automatic park brake system. After you find out what it is, you will wonder why all zero-turn mowers do not have this feature. The park brake system is activated when the steering levers fall to the side (as they naturally do when you let go of them). Yep – it is that simple. No crank you have to crank or anything else that you could forget, and then end up chasing your several thousand dollar mower down the street.

Another great feature of the Husqvarna Z242f is the nice little ergonomic control panel. This has things like an hour meter, choke, speed control, and ignition all in one spot. You would not believe how many manufacturers leave out something simple like an hour meter!

Husqvarna has also addressed a few of the finer things in life, like a comfortable seat. Yes, a comfortable seat. This does have a downside of no arm rests BUT comes with a cup holder – a total game changer. Armrests are optional and are best suited for those of us with arms.

Maintenance and durability

The Z242f comes with a hydrostatic transmission, which is an absolute must-have if you own a zero-turn mower. These will help keep your tranny (…) in good shape and tend to last longer than other transmission styles.

From a maintenance perspective, you will have to do your regular oil changes and air filter changes, both of which are pretty standard and straight forward. Again, this is when the hour meter comes in handy so that you can freaking track when this needs to get done. Even better, it already has programmed service intervals that will remind you when this stuff needs to get done.

To top it off, as with most of their products Husqvarna offers a three year warranty for residential users. See below for reviews from their website:

Price and value

Almost spit out my coffee when I checked the price on this bad boy. The Husqvarna Z242f comes in right at $3,000, otherwise known as three racks.

This is a great price for a residential zero-turn mower. Shoot, there are some lawn tractors we have reviewed that cost this much and those things are not nearly as powerful.

The official review: Husqvarna Z242f zero turn mower

Feature	Husqvarna Z242	Comparable residential ZT mower
Difficulty to use	Slightly above average	Average
Durability	Average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Avg. maintenance	Avg. maintenance
Value	Very high value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Would not fit	Would not fit
For lots <1 acre	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended

November 30, 2021April 21, 2024

The STIHL BR350 Is A Great Backpack Blower For Large Yards

The Stihl BR350 backpack blower is a mid-sized backpack blower that pumps out some serious air. While probably not the most practical tool for a homeowner in a close neighborhood, the Stihl BR350 can get the job done at farms, ranches, and large properties. In fact, most of the commercial landscapers you see will have one of these Stihl backpack blowers on the job.

Jump ahead:

Leaf blower overview
Stihl 101
BR350 backpack blower features
The price and value
Official BR350 review

The BR350 backpack blower: Feature review

Stihl BR350 backpack blower looking NICE.

Power

If you are checking out a backpack blower, then you probably need something pretty powerful. The Stihl BR350 backpack blower puts out air at over 200 mph. Holy cow.

The air volume at the nozzle is 436 CFM (cubic feet per minute). What this means is that the blower has a slightly more narrow nozzle, making for a targeted, high speed air stream. For example, there are other blowers that have a higher CFM, but a lower air speed. These are ones with big, wide blower nozzles that send a broader air path, but not as quickly.

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

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

You can see the relatively narrow tip on the BR350.

This engine also boasts 2.8 bhp of power output, which is pretty impressive.

Usability of the Stihl BR350 backpack blower

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

I like things that make life easier. The BR350 makes blowing pretty easy. For starters, it only weighs 22 lbs, which is about the weight of a watermelon. Not bad!

Another thing I love about the Stihl BR350 backpack blower is the backpack feel. Some other backpack blowers like the Husqvarna series have something that looks like a switchboard on the back with each component nailed in. The Stihl BR350 has a super intuitive casing that makes the entire device more compact and easier to wear and store.

You can see the offset handle in this picture, making it more natural to hold.

Of course, the Stihl BR350 backpack blower has an anti-vibration system and a multi-function control handle, which is relatively commonplace for backpack blowers.

Maintenance and durability

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

With proper maintenance, the BR350 should last you a few years.

Stihl BR350 price

The Stihl BR350 backpack blower comes in at anywhere between $350 and $400. It sounds like a lot, but the money you will keep in your pocket after a couple years makes all the difference.

Not to mention, this blower will make you feel like a total badass. It’s truly what is used most often by the pros for a reason. I’d say it’s the F150 of the blower world.

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

We also did a nice comparison post highlighting Stihl and ECHO blowers.

The official review: Stihl BR350 backpack blower

Check out the summary table below for our review of the Stihl BR 350.

Feature	Stihl BR350	Comparable blowers
Difficulty to use	Easier to use due to offset handle	Average usability
Durability	Avg. durability	Avg. durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Moderate value	Moderate value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Less recommended	Less recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas

Stihl’s reputation

Stihl is an industry leader when it comes to yard products, but is probably most known for chainsaws and backpack blowers. The BR350 backpack blower is one of their best selling products because it is something they have completely mastered.

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

November 24, 2021April 21, 2024

This Dewalt 3400 PSI Pressure Washer Packs Serious Power

The Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer packs quite the punch. For those of us completing residential jobs (driveways, windows, cars, etc.), the Dewalt 3400 PSI packs just the right amount of power.

Let’s check out all of the features of the pressure washer, then see if there are any negatives to watch out for.

Bottom line: The Dewalt 3400 PSI is a super strong pressure washer that can be used at home or for commercial applications. It goes on sale occasionally at Home Depot.

Jump ahead:

Pressure washer considerations
What to look for in a pressure washer
Dewalt 101
Feature review: Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer
The official review

The Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer: Features

Before you blow a fat stack on a pressure washer, you want to make sure that it can stand up to the job. There are a few things that need to undergo intense scrutiny, and I will review them below.

3400 PSI is a lot of power for a pressure washer

When it comes to buying a pressure washer, you need power. That’s where the term “pressure” comes from in “pressure washer” (did I just blow your mind?). You see pressure comes from the latin “presto”, which translates roughly to “Pretzel”. I sounded smart for a second there.

There’s a reason you aren’t buying a garden hose and sticking your thumb on it. You need power. And if you want to do anything above washing the tires on your car and the windows on your house, you need 3000 PSI or above. The Dewalt 3400 PSI obviously comes in above the 3000 mark, so you should be good for most jobs here.

Compare the 3400 PSI to 3000 on this electric one.

Now, if you are really wanting to remove some graffiti of vulgar things about your mom on the side of the arcade, you will probably want to get a pressure washer, put it in a box, put it in a truck, and move out of town because you have bigger problems.

But if you want to stick around, make sure to get a heavy duty pressure washer with at least 4000 PSI, or a really tight nozzle plus some free time with the Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer.

Compare this power to some of the electric pressure washers, like the Sun Joe SPX3000 or the Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer.

Using this pressure washer is easy

Dewalt must have gotten some bad feedback at some point because they pulled out all the stops with this pressure washer. For starters (ha), the starter on this machine is electric. It does have a battery that needs to be charged, but can save you some back pain as a deviation from the old pull-string.

Another cool feature here is that they made this idiot proof. For those of us that are inclined to ignore routine maintenance, Dewalt made our lives a whole lot easier. The first feature they created is a low oil shutdown feature. If the engine oil gets low, then it will shut down until you replace or put in more. No more burning the engine.

Another measure put into place is the water sensing device. This machine will not burn the motor up if water is not actively flowing into it. In fact, it will turn off if water is not detected inside the pump.

A downside here is that the hose that comes with this machine is only 25 feet long. This is simply not long enough for jobs that require more than 30 minutes of work or cover a larger area.

The little cousin – my Dewalt 3300 PSI pressure washer.

As a positive (and maybe negative, but we will get to that later), this machine comes with QuickConnect nozzles that allow for easy changing of the five different nozzles and even the sprayer arm. This makes it pretty easy to switch between certain nozzle heads and can save you time on the job.

Maintaining a gas powered pressure washer like the Dewalt 3400

As mentioned before, this will require new oil every now and then. The pressure washer comes with a big bag (no idea why it is in a bag) of oil for you to get started with, then the rest is on you. You will know when to change the oil because it will simply stop working (as mentioned previously).

Now let’s get down to durability. For most folks, this item seems to be totally fine. There are, however, a ton of negative reviews about the QuickConnect nozzles. It seems like there is a plastic connector from the metal nozzle to the spraying wand, which busts frequently. I have not personally experienced this, but a ton of other people have. Needless to say, this might not be the most durable item out there.

An aside: it really is hilarious the adjectives used to describe some of these products. Looking at the product guide now, there is a nice little call-out for the tires on this. The tires are pneumatic (!!!!) – which basically means they have air in them. And they are ten inches and allow for easy maneuverability across various terrain. Yep, you can take these to go mudding and then climb the side of a mountain with them and then even take them to Antarctica. I think they have a dartboard of adjectives they use and this one landed on the “just describe it like a Jeep” portion.

Price and value: Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer

The Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer will cost you about $500-550, otherwise known as a half a G – but I’ve seen it cheaper at Home Depot (check price here).

This thing is on the expensive side, but with great power comes great cost. In all reality, I would give this pressure washer a C. For CSatisfactory. It is a good pressure washer and does have a lot of power, but it seems 50/50 on whether or not it will break down on you.

The official review: Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer

Feature	Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer	Comparable gas powered pressure washer
Difficulty to use	Less difficult to use (electric start)	More difficult to start
Durability	Not very durable	Very durable
Maintenance	Slightly easier to maintain	Less easy to maintain
Value	Medium to low value	Medium value
Small jobs	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
Medium jobs	Recommended	Highly recommended
Heavy jobs	Not recommended	Less recommended (need more PSI)

Why we review pressure washers

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer

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

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

What to look for in a pressure washer

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

For those of us cleaning the spray paint off of our cars from our crazy ex-girlfriends, you might want one that has a little more “umph” behind it.

Luckily for you, the Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer can handle both.

About Dewalt

Dewalt is absolutely a household name in basically anything tool-related. Best known for their drills, they also have blowers, electric lawn mowers, chainsaws, and more. They are really trying to bring universal battery coverage to many of their tools. That’s why they have a huge line of 20V products.

Dewalt is known for a ton of different tools.

While known for their diversity of products, they aren’t necessarily known for being power or durability driven. That’s why you see commercial HVAC folks and contractors using Makita and Milwaukee tools mostly.

November 24, 2021April 21, 2024

Why The Greenworks 2000 PSI Pressure Washer is Great For Windows

The Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer is a super popular pressure washer made by the folks over at Greenworks.

The unmistakable color scheme on the Greenworks pressure washer.

Bottom line: The 2000 PSI pressure washer from Greenworks is great for light duty jobs like siding on your house, windows, or cars. You can grab it here on Amazon.

Many folks have asked us to review this product because they have a huge presence on Amazon with a ton of reviews. Let’s roll up our sleeves and figure out whether or not this pressure washer is right for you.

Jump ahead:

Greenworks
Pressure washers 101
Greenworks 2000PSI pressure washer: Features
Price and value
The official review and purchasing information

Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer: Feature review

The Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer has a lot to like, but also has some quirks and nuances that make it different from its competitors. Let’s get started.

Power expectations at 2000 PSI

Okay – as I mentioned earlier, power is something that is as important as you need it to be. For those of us just washing windows, cars, garage doors, siding or other lighter-duty jobs, you frankly do not need much power.

The Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer has…..2000 PSI. To put this in perspective, this is on the lower end of the spectrum when evaluating pressure washers AKA not that much power.

If you are looking to blast away all the dirt and grime from your driveway or sidewalk, the Greenworks pressure washer will simply not be sufficient (unless you want to take 40 hours to do this). You see, pressure can be modified by the size of the nozzle head. Smaller nozzles = higher amounts of power.

Putting the nozzles on is a snap, literally!

By simple math (or something), smaller nozzles deliver higher power with the tradeoff that you can cover less area. The purpose of this demonstration was to highlight that nozzle modification will only get you so far. If you don’t have the power of a higher PSI engine, typically delivered by a gas-powered engine, you won’t ever be able to get to a high power level.

You will see a similar phenomenon from Greenworks biggest rival, Sun Joe. They have a similar wildly popular pressure washer called the SPX3000, which we review here.

If you want more power, check out the Greenworks or Ryobi pressure washers at 3000 PSI.

Usability of electric pressure washers

Alright, now that we understand the power limitations (which is not necessarily a bad thing), let’s talk about the usability of this machine. When I say usability, I mean operator experience. What is it like to actually use this product? What should the ideal product feel like?

Well, this product is easy to use. Frankly, any electric pressure washer is going to be easy to use because it has fewer moving parts and requires less tinkering to get started.

The Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer comes with a soap dispensing kit as well as a soap nozzle. These are ideal for providing a soapy base before washing off all of the dirt and grime for whatever is on the other end of the pressure washer. Most pressure washers have some sort of functionality like this that makes the job super easy.

You can see the electric cord and the blue 25 foot hose.

Now here comes the downside. The Greenworks pressure washer only has a 25 foot hose. While this is fine, many of its competitors have longer hoses – closer to 35 or 40 feet. This means you have to stop what you are doing and move the base. Not the worst thing in the world, but I guarantee there will be times you will have to stop and move the base around, left wishing that your hose was a few feet longer.

Durability of the Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer

Now that we have a good understanding of what kind of power and usability quirks the Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer has, let’s review the durability. It is difficult to define what good durability is for a pressure washer. Most folks do not use their pressure washer more than a few times per year.

If I am being totally honest, I’ve read a ton of other user reviews and there are a lot of good ones, but also a lot of bad ones. Most of the bad ones talk about some sort of leak in the pressure box. That being said, the whole dang machine is made of plastic – there are going to be some that get manufactured and break.

I also don’t think this has a brushless motor which is super surprising for a Greenworks pressure washer.

Its so durable that you can use it on top of rocks!

Price and value: Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer

I have left you on pins and needles for the past few seconds. Is this a good value?

The Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer is a great value. The price is constantly changing, but you can check it here on Amazon. You get about what you pay for. This is a good deal on ANY pressure washer, but if you can get it on sale, this becomes a good value.

The official review: Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer

Feature	Greenworks 2000 PSI pressure washer	Gas powered pressure washer
Difficulty to use	Less difficult to use	More difficult to start
Durability	Somewhat durable	Very durable
Maintenance	Easiest to maintain	Less easy to maintain
Value	Medium value	Medium value
Small jobs	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
Medium jobs	Recommended	Highly recommended
Heavy jobs	Not recommended	Highly recommended

Why we review lawn tools

About Greenworks

Greenworks is not necessarily a household name…..yet. They make battery powered yard tools such as robotic lawn mowers, power tools, snow blowers, leaf blowers, and lawn mowers.

Click here to check out our review of their dethatcher and their cordless lawn mower.

Greenworks is known for having a green and black color scheme on all of their products – not to be confused with the NEON green and black of Ryobi. Let me clarify one thing – nobody in the commercial lawn care or tool world is using Greenworks. Their products are specifically tailored for lighter use situations that can thrive off of a battery.

Frankly, most BIG jobs require more reliable power sources that can pack more power. That is not to say that Greenworks products do not have any power, but they simply will not be able to handle the same body of work that gas powered devices can when you get to really big jobs.

What to look for in a pressure washer

For those of us cleaning the spray paint off of our cars from our crazy ex-girlfriends, you might want one that has a little more “umph” behind it.

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer

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

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

November 22, 2021April 21, 2024

The Husqvarna 125B is The Classic Handheld Leaf Blower

The Husqvarna 125B is a light, easy-to-use leaf blower offered by the folks at Husqvarna and I highly recommend it. In fact, my nextdoor neighbor owns this blower and absolutely crushes his front yard with it.

While Husqvarna is known for their mega-powerful backpack blowers, zero-turn mowers, and trimmers – the 125B is showing off their softer side.

The sleek in-line design of the Husqvarna 125B

Handheld blowers are not for plots of land with a ton of acres. They are for normal residential folks like you and me who want to clean off their back porch or driveway. While seemingly unassuming, the 125B still packs a punch and comes with all of the great features you would expect in a Husqvarna blower.

Let’s check it out:

Husqvarna 125B feature review
Price and value
The official review
Husqvarna 101
Electric vs. gas leaf blowers

Husqvarna 125B Gas Powered Blower: Features

There are a lot of things to like about the Husqvarna 125B – let’s get started by reviewing the most important things to keep an eye out for when picking a blower that is right for you.

Power output on the Husqvarna 125B Blower

Alright, I know I started this review by knocking handheld blowers a little bit and letting you know that they did not have a ton of power. This lack of power is only in comparison to the big backpack blowers.

The Husqvarna 125B still packs a punch. This blower moves air at about 425 cubic feet per minute, or 170 mph with a flat nozzle. Nozzle shape totally impacts the speed at which air leaves the nozzle. For higher-powered, focused streams, you will want to use something like a flat nozzle attachment. If you are wanting to push a bigger pile and are not as focused, using a round, open nozzle will be better for you.

For comparison sake, most electric blowers put out around 125 mph of air, so the 125B will still provide more “umph” than you would get otherwise. The narrow nozzle for this blower will be super helpful for knocking away wet leaves and even clearing snow off of your car.

The flat-tip nozzle attachment for the 125B

How many cc is a Husqvarna 125B?

The Husqvarna 125B has 28 cubic centimeters of cylinder displacement, or 1.1 horsepower.

Using the blower

Obviously there are a lot of things to like about the Husqvarna 125B, but let’s break each of those down. For starters, the thing weighs 9.4 lbs – which is extremely light for a blower. You don’t have to add on a huge 4 lb battery either, which is a plus.

Next, the handle has a few key components that make operating this blower easy. The auto return stop switch makes re-starting the blower super easy after you cut it off. There are countless times when I am blowing that I have to cut power and move something out of the way. What traditionally would have re-started the multiple pull-string attempts has been squashed by the auto return stop switch, allowing for a quick pull and being ready to get back to work.

This blower also features a trigger handle with air speed cruise control. Simply dial the lever to lock in a speed, saving you some finger ache. The tube also has an adjustable length to help get underneath tables and decks, or to back up and cover a wider area.

The trigger handle with cruise control on the 125B.

One often overlooked component in a blower is which direction the airflow comes from. Many blowers have an offset airflow, meaning the direction of the air flow is not in line with where the handle is. This makes for an uncomfortable holding position that has the operator using unnecessary force to keep the blower straight. The inline design on the 125B prevents that from happening.

Durability and maintaining a gas blower

The one thing I love and hate about gas blowers as opposed to electric blowers is the durability and maintenance. They go together – less maintenance, less durability – more maintenance, more durability.

The 125B does not require an oil change, but does take a mixture of fuel. Otherwise, this blower requires the occasional filter change and that’s about it.

Husqvarna 125B blower fuel mixture

The fuel mixture required on a Husqvarna 125B is 1 gallon of gasoline to 2.5 ounce of two-stroke oil, or 2% (1:50).

Husqvarna 125B price and value

The Husqvarna 125B leaf blower costs about $170 on Amazon. I think this is a very high value. In fact, this is less expensive than most electric blowers but provides more power, will last longer, and has the trusted guarantee of a Husqvarna product.

The official review: Husqvarna 125B

Feature	Husqvarna 125B	Electric blower
Difficulty to use	More difficult to start and store	Easier to start
Durability	Much more durable	Avg. durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	No maintenance
Value	High value	Low to medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Less recommended
For lots >1 acre	Not recommended	Less recommended

Why we review leaf blowers

About Husqvarna products

Husqvarna manufactures chainsaws, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, trimmers, snow blowers, edgers, pressure washers – basically any outdoor tool you could imagine. They stand out with their bright-orange color scheme. The chances that you have seen a ton of their products when you are out for a drive are extremely high.

Handheld leaf blowers: electric vs. gas

The Husqvarna 125B is a handheld blower powered by gas. Most handheld blowers have electric power sources, whether they are corded or battery-powered. There are a few main pros and cons when looking at a gas handheld blower:

Pros and cons of handheld gas blower:

PRO: They tend to be more powerful (170 mph)
PRO: They tend to have a longer run-time
PRO: Handheld gas blowers will last many years
PRO: You don’t have to worry about charging it
CON: Maintenance and blending oil/gas
CON: Noise levels are higher
CON: Starting takes longer

Pros and cons of electric blowers:

PRO: Super easy to operate, no maintenance
PRO: Generally lighter
PRO: Battery can often be used in other tools
CON: Battery life can run short
CON: Less powerful on average
CON: Corded blowers require long extension cords

As you can see, there is not really a “better” option, simply whatever you prefer and what your jobs require.

November 21, 2021April 20, 2024

Snow Shovels Are Insane Inventions: Check out Snow Joe’s

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel is a 24-volt 10-inch product that makes shoveling snow a walk in the park. We all know when that first snow of the year comes, we dread the idea of getting bundled up first thing in the morning and shoveling snow.

The cordless snow shovel takes that task and speeds it up by about 10x. Let’s figure out what the heck this thing does:

Cordless snow shovels: What?
Thrower vs. blower
Feature review
The official grade

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel: Features

When evaluating the snow joe cordless snow shovel, you have to think through which aspects are important to you. Things to consider when picking ANY outdoor tool are power, usability, and price. Let’s get started below.

Surprising power on the Snow Joe Snow Shovel

If you are wondering what the heck this thing does, imagine a vacuum. Now, picture it doing the opposite of what a vacuum does. Got something in mind? This is what you should be picturing: a vacuum looking instrument that pushes whatever is front of it into the air.

Yep, it is kind of a weird image, but you get the idea. The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel is not the most powerful snow tool on the planet, but it can get most minor-to-moderate jobs done. The 24V battery will allow for over 1,600 lbs of snow to be moved during a single charge.

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel can handle up to six inches deep of snow with a clearing path of about 10 inches wide. This is ideal for sidewalks, decks, and patios. For larger things like your entire driveway, this is going to take a while. If you have a long driveway, then I would probably suggest a snow blower like the PowerSmart Snow Blower (click here to check out our review).

Needless to say, for most small jobs you will be fine. If you are expecting more than six inches of snow, you may have to get out there and start working while it is still snowing to allow for several passes. The snow launches about 15-20 feet in front of you and is enough to get it off of a decent sized back porch.

Using a snow shovel comparted to a snow blower

What the Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel lacks in raw power, it makes up in usability. The heavy duty 2-blade paddle auger is relentless as it digs through the powder and launches it into the air in a single motion (snow thrower).

I love that this is a battery-powered item as well. In the winter, the last thing you want to be doing is tinkering in the garage trying to get a gas powered engine started while wearing a huge jacket and thick gloves. The string-pull system can be pretty painful on the hands when it is cold outside. Walking into the garage and pulling this sucker off the wall is going to be way better than going out to the shed and lugging around some 100+ lb snow blower.

I also love how easy this thing is to push around. It comes with a handle in the front that usually accompanies things like weed eaters. This limits the need to bend over like a normal shovel and allows for good traction to the surface and easier retraction to make more passes. This also has a scraper on the bottom to make sure you are not just skimming snow off of the top of the sidewalk, but truly scraping it down to the surface.

The battery takes almost two hours to charge for a decent turnaround time if you have to make multiple passes. One of the most important things to note is that this machine weighs less than 10 lbs. Yep, that’s comparable to a lot of metal snow shovels, except it is machine powered and works for you.

Price and value of the Snow Joe Snow Shovel

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel comes in at around $150-$175 (depending on which battery size you get). You can also get the tool-only version for $100 if you have a compatible Snow or Sun Joe battery already.

Let’s be very clear. This is a machine built for convenience and for quick jobs. This is not a mega-powerful two-stage snow blower. With that in mind, I think this is a great price. When it comes to clearing off snow in the winter, time is of the absolute essence. From soup to nuts, this machine is going to save you the most time.

Looks like it is on sale right now on Amazon – check out the options for batteries or tool-only by clicking below. I recommend this if you want something quick before the snow starts coming in.

A deeper dive on the Snow Joe Snow Shovel

Think about it – when going to clear snow you want to spend the least amount of time out in the cold as possible. This saves you time in so many ways – from the start up and storage to the quick push job enabled by the speedy blades and light weight, to the charging and putting back up.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, check out this corded electric option I found on Amazon.

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel is a great value and you will be so glad you have it when that first (or fifth) snow hits.

The official review: Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel

The Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel is an absolute bomb. Powerful, light, easy to use, and inexpensive. I recommend it for places that receive up to six inches of snow at a time and for smaller areas. To check out the Snow Joe Cordless Snow Shovel on Amazon, check out this link.

Why we review lawn tools

About Cordless Snow Shovels

Alright, I will be the first to admit that when I first saw this thing I had no friggin idea what it did. It looks like something you would use to pick up dog poop or something. But after doing some more digging (ha), this thing is actually pretty cool.

It is a battery powered, handheld device that will help propel the snow way out in front of you, requiring you to never schlep a big pile of snow in the air and throw out your back. It is a snow thrower, not a snow blower and below is the difference.

Snow thrower vs. snow blower

Many people ask what the difference is between a snow blower and a snow thrower. Let me tell you right now, both are far superior to a standard manual snow shovel. While snow blowers and snow throwers build significantly less character for young men, they are much easier to use and more effective for clearing out large amounts of snow.

In short, snow throwers launch snow 10-15 feet away and are generally more narrow. Snow blowers launch snow 25-30 feet away and are wider. Snow blowers are heavier duty and can also handle many, many inches of snow. At the end of the day, it will be much more fun to launch the snow into the neighbor’s yard instead of just the edge of your own yard.