Tag: Electric tools

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I Tested EGO’s new Aluminum Deck Mower (LM2200 SP)

the all new ego LM2200SP aluminum deck mower

EGO’s new aluminum deck mower might be my new favorite mower of all time. One of my major hesitations with EGO in the past has been that they almost always use plastic cutting decks on their mowers. Well – this year they decided to make a big change.

Bottom Line: The new aluminum deck mower from EGO is one of the best electric mowers on the market and has all the bells and whistles you could possibly want. You can check out the price here on Amazon.

Let’s jump right into my experience with this new EGO LM2200SP mower. 

The new aluminum metal deck on the EGO mower

Obviously the most striking part of the new EGO mower is the aluminum cutting deck. If you’ve read any of my old posts about EGO mowers, you’ll know my main criticism of EGO was their plastic cutting decks. 

Well they shut me up. Not only did EGO make a solid metal cutting deck for their new mower, but they made it an inch wider than their other mowers. Metal cutting decks are superior to plastic cutting decks for two reasons:

  • Metal cutting decks provide more weight which help stabilize the electric mower and help it mow in a straight line.
  • Metal cutting decks are more durable and resistant to cracks and scratches. 

EGO’s Touch Drive and Select Cut function

Not only does the new EGO LM2200SP have the sweet metal cutting deck, but it also has all the bells and whistles that you would expect from a high-end EGO mower. I wrote a post where I helped break down all the unique language that EGO uses to describe their mowers, but I’ll distill down the two main terms that apply here.

  • EGO Touch Drive explained – Touch drive is the slick roller feature on the handle of the mower that allows you to control the speed of the self-propelled function of the mower.
  • EGO Select Cut – Select Cut means that the EGO mower has two blades at the bottom that allow for a super clean cut. 

The new LMS2200SP comes with both Touch Drive and Select Cut. These two features combined allow for a super easy-to-use experience with an extremely clean cut. I’m not sure why this mower wasn’t considered a Select Cut XP – which is just the higher torque version of the Select Cut – since the torque on this mower is so high at 11.1 lbs. 

Other nice features on the EGO aluminum deck mower

Some small features on the EGO mower that make it have a “premium” feel are the blade speed adjustment and the nice little headlights. The blade speed adjustment allows for an Eco mode that can help extend the battery run-time, but also a turbo mode for thicker brush. 

The LM2200SP also features dual height adjustment on the front and back wheels so you can completely control the height of the cutting deck. It also comes with a brushless motor, just like all other EGO mowers, which makes it highly durable and able to last for well over a decade. 

Lastly – this mower comes with a massive 10 Ah battery which allows for a ridiculous 70-minute run-time. This is enough power to do any normal job you would do with a push mower. 

The look and feel of the EGO aluminum deck mower

Using this new mower is striking. Firing it up and starting to push it felt instantly like one of the most high quality mowers I’ve ever used. I’ve historically thought of the Milwaukee M18 as one of the most solid and powerful electric mowers on the market, but my mind has been changed. 

From the solid weight to the nice self-propelled function – this mower is very premium and great to use. 

I know it sounds like I am sponsored by EGO – but I’m not. I’m just glad to see them change their ways from their classic plastic deck mowers.

EGO LM2200SP vs EGO LM2156SP  mower

I own both the EGO LM2200SP (the aluminum deck mower) and the LM2156SP (the EGO Select Cut XP I’ve reviewed here). Side-by-side, the new aluminum deck mower is noticeably better looking than the boxier, older looking EGO Select Cut XP.

Both have two blades at the bottom, touch-drive functionality, and take the classic EGO 56V battery – but the 10 Ah battery that comes with the new EGO LM2200SP takes the cake here.

I obviously like the aluminum deck mower a bit more than the Select Cut XP because it has just as much torque (if not more), a better cutting deck, a bigger battery, and all the same functionality. 

My final review: EGO Aluminum Deck Mower

The EGO aluminum deck mower may just be the best electric mower on the market (which means I need to re-do my ranking list of best electric mowers). The new, wider 22-inch aluminum deck, the Touch Drive function, dual cutting blades, and bells and whistles make the EGO LM2200SP an absolute dream.

You can check the ever-changing price on this new mower over on Amazon.

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Gas vs. Electric Toro TimeCutter: Which is Better?

If you haven’t heard, Toro released a new 60V electric TimeCutter – a modern twist on their classic gas-powered Toro TimeCutter SS4225. 

Bottom Line: While the gas-powered Toro TimeCutter is better for commercial use or very large yards, the new 60V electric TimeCutter is better overall – providing a quieter, easier ride and even moving a bit faster.

Luckily, I got my hands on both mowers for a nice side-by-side comparison of both gas and electric Toro TimeCutters. While they look nearly identical, they have some stark differences that you should be aware of before you pull the trigger. Let’s dive in:

If you want to read more about my favorite Toro mowers – read this.

Which TimeCutter is more powerful – gas or electric?

While you might expect the gas version of the Toro TimeCutter, the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 (our full review here), to be more powerful – I think you’d be surprised. I’ve tested the TimeCutter against other zero-turns like the Cub Cadet ZT1 and it’s proven to be one of the most powerful mowers each time. 

But the electric TimeCutter, the 60V eTimeCutter, felt just as strong. I tested both of these in my backyard and my neighbors backyard and cut grass, wet grass, went over sticks, and even mulched leaves. The eTimeCutter did a bang up job. 

While I think that on the upper end of power the gas version is probably more powerful, you wouldn’t notice a difference in power between the two mowers on a day-to-day basis. Basically, if you’re a normal homeowner and use the electric version of the TimeCutter, you’ll be fine. 

One important note – my friend and I did a drag race comparison of the two mowers and the electric one is faster by about 1.5 MPH. It has some serious zip and acceleration that blew my hat off my head (not kidding). 

The gas Toro TimeCutter is more comfortable

As much as I wanted the electric TimeCutter to be more comfortable – it just wasn’t. The gas TimeCutter SS4225 comes with armrests and a crazy suspension system called MyRIDE. The MyRIDE suspension system connects the footplate and the chair in one unit. The unit is connected to a core suspension spring that is pretty bouncy – but in a good way. Basically it has the seated component of the mower separated from the rest of the mower in a way that I’ve never seen before. 

It only makes sense when you’ve stepped onto the mower. Once you’re on it, you can really appreciate the MyRIDE suspension system’s ability to make the bumps and turbulence basically nothing. If you’ve ever been in a car with a great suspension system, like a Ford Raptor or similar, you will get the same feeling. 

What about the eTimeCutter?

The eTimeCutter surprisingly doesn’t have much of a suspension system at all and doesn’t have arm rests. Boo! It looks like the eTimeCutter was built on the body of last year’s gas-powered TimeCutter – the same frame and suspension system they’ve used for the past few years. Not bad, but not the upgrade that the gas version got. 

The battery system on the new eTimeCutter is great

The eTimeCutter comes with 4 60V 10 Ah batteries, which is a ton. These are huge and come with cool handles that allow you to pull it out of the back of the mower with ease. It takes a lot of battery to run a zero-turn, so I’m not surprised to see the massive batteries on this one. 

You can get around two acres of cut time with the batteries fully charged. Obviously if you compare this to gas, the gas mower reigns supreme as you can just quickly fill it up with more gas. 

But when it comes to run-time, it doesn’t matter as much as you would think. If you have a 42 inch zero turn mower, then you probably aren’t mowing more than two acres at a time. For example, if you have a three acre property, I wouldn’t use anything less than a 52 inch zero turn like the Ariens IKON XD 52.

So – if you have between 1-2 acres, I recommend the electric version just because it is easier to maintain. 

My overall recommendation: Gas or electric TimeCutter zero-turn? 

The recommendation is dynamic: if you are a normal homeowner, the eTimeCutter is supreme because it requires no maintenance and is just as good for under two acres. If you have more than two acres or are a professional landscaper, then the gas version is better.

But if you are meeting the requirements to get a gas mower, why wouldn’t you go with a bigger one from someone like John Deere or Husqvarna?

What we look for in zero-turn mowers

A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost. 

Cutting width

Blade size and cutting width are 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 type

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 and value

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.

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Stihl RMA 510 V vs EGO Select Cut Electric Mower: My Comparison

Stihl and EGO both make great battery powered mowers. I own both the Stihl RMA 510 V and the EGO Select Cut mower with Touch Drive – two of the most popular electric mowers in the game right now. 

After using both mowers extensively, I like the EGO Select Cut mower better because it provided a better cut and has a more extensive battery series.

Read my experience using and abusing the EGO Select Cut XP mower here and my full review of the Stihl’s foray into electric push mowers here.

Comparing EGO Select Cut to the Stihl RMA 510 V electric mower

I took both of these mowers into my backyard for a little side-by-side comparison. Here’s what I found. 

The EGO Select Cut mower is more powerful than the Stihl battery mower

It is always difficult to quantify the power output of an electric mower. Gas mowers are easy to compare because they have horsepower or ccs or other metrics. One metric that EGO advertises is torque.

EGO claims that their Select Cut mower puts out about 8.9 ft. lbs of torque. I am not quite sure that that means but it is a claim EGO uses to show that this mower is more powerful than gas mowers. After using the EGO Select Cut I can tell you that it feels more powerful than gas.

The Stihl RMA 510 V mower doesn’t have an advertised torque amount, but it felt like a pretty standard mower on par with gas.

Side-by-side the EGO mower is definitely the more powerful mower of the two. It’s hard to describe the feeling but it really feels solid, doesn’t miss a cut, and pulls you forward when you use it. 

The winner: EGO Select Cut Battery Powered Mower

EGO Select Cut is cheaper than the Stihl RMA 510 V mower

Let’s get straight to the point – which one is a better price, the EGO Select Cut or the Stihl RMA 10 V? 

The EGO Select Cut with one battery comes in at around just over $750. You can find it on Amazon for a really good price here.

The Stihl RMA 510 V is about $800 and can be found on Acme Tools website (no affiliation).

It is clear that the EGO Select Cut is the less expensive option here.

The winner: EGO Select Cut Battery Powered Mower with Touch Drive

The Stihl RMA 510 V has a more durable build than EGO

Stihl’s RMA 510 V mower comes with a great metal cutting deck that is 21 inches wide. Metal cutting decks are great for a few reasons. For starters, metal cutting decks are more durable than plastic cutting decks (regardless of how thick they are).

Metal cutting decks also provide more weight to the mower. Weight on a walk-behind mower like the Stihl RMA 510 V is not always a bad thing. The additional weight helps keep electric mowers grounded and stabilized. 

The EGO Select Cut has a thick, plastic cutting deck. While this is still pretty durable, I prefer the classic metal decks for appearance, durability, and added stability. 

If you’re looking for a more durable EGO mower, check out their new (about time) aluminum deck mower.

The winner: Stihl RMA 510 V Battery Powered Mower

EGO’s battery system is superior to Stihl’s

With EGO’s 56V battery lineup, you can use the same battery to power the Select Cut mower that you would to power your blower, edger, and dozens of other tools. If you grab a something like their attachment system that can swap out a ton of different tools, you can literally use the one battery and power head for like 8 different tools. 

Stihls AP 300 battery system is still relatively new – just like Stihl’s presence in the electric and battery powered lawn tool game. You don’t quite get the breadth and variety of tools with Stihl that you would with EGO. 

The winner: EGO Select Cut battery powered mower

The EGO feels easier to use than the Stihl mower

While the Stihl mower is a perfectly fine mower, I noticed a huge difference when I switched back and forth between the two. The EGO feels much more powerful, likely from its construction feeling really “solid”. It is a hard thing to put into words, but the EGO feels like it is just really well built.

One other noticeable difference is the self-propelled function on the EGO Select Cut. The self-propelled function is so hardcore that it literally pulled me forward when I started it. This allows you to mow your lawn really quickly and reliably compared to the slower, weaker feeling Stihl RMA 510 V. 

Overall Review: EGO Select Cut vs Stihl RMA 510 V mower

The EGO Select Cut battery mower is better than the Stihl RMA 510 V battery mower because it is less expensive, more powerful, and has a bigger battery system. The Stihl has a more durable metal cutting deck and is a fine mower – but still isn’t quite up to par with EGO. 

You can grab the EGO Select Cut mower on Amazon here.

How I tested out these mowers

I tested out the EGO Select Cut mower and the Stihl RMA 510 V in my backyard. I put both through thick grass while lowering the cutting deck, ran them until they died, took them over sticks and rocks, and cranked the self-propelled function all the way up. 

If you want to watch more about how I’ve tested some of these, check me out on YouTube!

Why we compare electric lawn mowers

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

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

What to look for in an electric mower

If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter on the mower. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you.

Below are my main criteria when buying a mower.

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about 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.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each.

Luckily, Greenworks is on this list so we are in good shape!

Metal where it matters: the deck 

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. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we discuss what you should know before buying an electric mower.

The Greenworks 80V series is a good one – including their awesome and sleek leaf blower.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it

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Kobalt’s 600 PSI Power Cleaner Review: Is It Worth It?

We tested out the new Kobalt 600 PSI power cleaner. This power cleaner is designed to wash away dirt and grime from surfaces from just about anywhere. The Kobalt 600 PSI power cleaner is battery-powered with Kobalt’s 40V Max battery series.

Bottom Line: The Kobalt 600 PSI Power Cleaner has all the right components and was well-built. I don’t really have a use for it but I have found a ton of people that do. You can grab it on Amazon or Lowe’s for a great price.

Kobalt 600 PSI Power Cleaner Review

The Kobalt 600 PSI power cleaner was fun to use. While I have tested many, many electric pressure washers in the past, I’ve only used a handful of power cleaners. I have also tested the Greenworks power cleaner and the Worx power cleaner which operate nearly the same as this Kobalt power cleaner.

The Kobalt 600 PSI Power Cleaner isn’t very powerful

At 600 PSI, the Kobalt Power Cleaner is not made to be a normal pressure washer. For regular electric pressure washers, anywhere between 2000 and 3000 PSI is a great range. 600 isn’t very much – but it is much stronger than a normal garden hose.

If you are the type of person to use a power cleaner then you will have appreciation for the amount of power. In previous reviews of power cleaners, I use a power cleaner to wash off pollen from patio chairs, clean off a bike, and do a quick car wash. 

I’ve checked out what others use power cleaners for and it is more of the same: cleaning out animal cages, washing paddle boards and kayaks, and on-the go washing. 

Kobalt’s 40V Power Cleaner is easy to use

The 600 PSI power cleaner is super easy to use although it is a bit heavy. You can connect a hose to the bottom of the power cleaner directly, which is what I did to wash off patio furniture. If you don’t have a hose you can use the tube it comes with to draw water from any area. 

If indoors, it is easy to fill a bucket up with water and draw from that to clean things like bathtubs or showers. If you are outdoors, you can draw water safely from any fresh water source like a lake or pond. These are great use cases to take your power cleaner with you when you go paddle boarding or mountain biking. 

The 5-in-1 nozzle tip is also a really nice feature on the Kobalt Power Cleaner. Simply twist the nozzle to change between five different spray patterns. This nozzle tip makes the Kobalt power cleaner even more portable because you don’t have to keep track of different nozzles. 

Is the Kobalt 40V 600 PSI Power Cleaner worth it?

The Kobalt Power Cleaner comes in at under $200 over at Lowe’s. If you already own a 40V battery from Kobalt, then I would definitely give this one a chance. If you are looking for a nice alternative, the Greenworks 24V Power Cleaner is pretty dang good as well.

If you are looking for other Kobalt 40V products, check out some of the reviews we did:

Does Kobalt make a pressure washer?

No, Kobalt has not made a pressure washer. The Kobalt 40V 600 PSI is the closest Kobalt has come to making a pressure washer.

Why we review electric lawn tools

We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. We couldn’t find clarity around what type of products were actually good and reliable. All the fertilizers we tried didn’t work. We ended up with a dying lawn, wasted time, and wasted money.

We take this stuff seriously!

So we started buying and reviewing lawn tools and figuring out which ones were the best. And now we’ve moved onto actually keeping that grass nice and healthy all year around. 

We’ve spent thousands of hours building this content for people just like you and me – normal people.

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Kobalt 24V Cordless Blower Reviews: I Tested It (2024)

Kobalt’s 24V cordless blower is a really nice blower for the average homeowner. I got my hands on this Kobalt blower for some serious testing and have to say – it is super lightweight.

I’ve tested a few Kobalt products in my day and also own the Kobalt 80V blower. I am always impressed by the build quality of Kobalt products, but they are a company that truly flies under the radar.

Bottom Line: The Kobalt 24V blower isn’t super powerful but it is powerful enough for most homeowners to clean off their porch or driveway without a problem. You can grab it for a really nice price over on Amazon.

Pros of the Kobalt 24V Blower

  • Turbo button for additional power
  • Really lightweight at just over 5 lbs
  • Part of a great battery series
  • Brushless motor
  • Sleek design and not-too-flashy blue color

Cons of the Kobalt 24V Blower

  • Relatively low CFMs and MPH
  • Not great for large yards

Looking for more power? Check out our video review of the Kobalt 80V Blower here.

My review of the Kobalt 24V Blower

Right after I picked up my Kobalt 24V blower I took it home and put it through the ringer. Here are some of my observations.

The Kobalt 24V blower isn’t that powerful

Don’t get me wrong, the Kobalt 24V is fine from a power perspective, but compared to some others out there it isn’t very powerful. If you don’t know what CFMs and MPH are, read here. 

If you do, the Kobalt 24V blower has up to 500 CFMs and 120 MPH. Mind you, these two specifications are fully maxed out using the Turbo button. Without the turbo button, you’re likely in the 375-400 CFM range and around 100 MPH. This is much more than a light breeze but if you check out some of the more powerful battery powered leaf blowers, you’ll see that there are better options.

The Kobalt 24V blower is perfect for around-the-house activities: blowing off the driveway, back porch, and even moving some smaller piles of leaves. It is not a substitute for a larger backpack blower, however.

Kobalt’s 24V Max Blower is super easy to use

What the Kobalt 24V Max blower lacks in extreme power it makes up for in extreme ease of use. I think this is why Kobalt’s blower is so darn popular – it is super intuitive and can be used by literally anyone with thumbs. 

Once you pop on the 24V Max battery, you simply pull the trigger and you’re ready to blow. No maintenance or prep work is required to use this blower. It also has a nice variable speed trigger so you can have complete control over the speed.

What is not missing from the Kobalt 24V Max blower is the cruise control function. Since I didn’t use this for long and probably wouldn’t use it for a long, intense leaf cleaning – it really doesn’t matter. It is there if you want it.

Lastly, this blower comes in at just over 5 lbs. This makes using the Kobalt 24V blower super easy, from directing it wherever you want with ease, to making your shoulder feel normal again.

The Kobalt 24V Max Blower has a durable brushless motor

One thing I love about Kobalt is that they tend to make a bunch of quality products and hardly skimp on the necessities. The brushless motor on the Kobalt 24V Max blower means that the motor has a longer run-time, a cooler running motor, and will last for years longer than a traditional brushed motor. 

The Kobalt 24V Max battery line

Kobalt’s 24V Max battery line is extensive. In addition to this blower, I’ve also used the Kobalt 24V string trimmer which was super powerful and an amazing tool in my arsenal.

And if you haven’t watched my video test of the Kobalt 80V blower yet – you’ll find out that Kobalt has crazy run-times on their products. Like truly absurdly long run times. 

My review: Kobalt 24V Max Blower

While I can’t say the Kobalt 24V leaf blower is right for everyone, it is right for most homeowners. This cordless blower is easy to use, lightweight, and affordable. If you need more power or have a larger yard, I would look elsewhere.

If this sounds like you, check out this blower over on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

How I tested the Kobalt 24V Blower

I tested this Kobalt blower by taking it home, putting it together (took two seconds), and then walking around my yard with the blower on full speed + turbo. I used the Kobalt 24V blower on mulch, grass clippings, leaves, small sticks, and small rocks.

Why we review leaf blowers

Sounds weird, right? But we got burned dozens of times buying crappy lawn tools with impressive sounding specifications. After that happened enough times, I got serious and started to really study electric and battery powered lawn tools. Once I got wise, I started The Lawn Review to help others find lawn tools that are actually good (or bad) and give my honest, unbiased opinion of any tool I come across.

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Ranking the Best Electric Lawn Mower Brands of 2024

The best electric mower brands in 2024 are EGO, Greenworks, and Milwaukee – in that order. I have spent the last three years testing out battery powered and electric mowers, including walking each mower on the street until the battery died (this took hours). 

If you are looking for a new electric mower – make sure you include brand quality in your search. It is so easy to buy a cheap electric mower and think you got a deal, until approximately 3 months later when it just stops working.

But this is why we created The Lawn Review in the first place – to put lawn tools to the test. 

Best Electric Lawn Mower Brands in 2024

If you want to see why I’ve chosen these brands and the testing I have personally put into dozens of electric lawn mowers, check out my YouTube channel. 

EGO is the best electric lawn mower brand

EGO’s electric mowers are the best on the market. I say this as someone who has done extensive testing comparing EGO to every other major lawn tool brand. When I first made a Ryobi vs EGO electric mower video back in 2022, I thought the comparison would be dead even. 

After the first time I turned on the self-propelled function of the EGO electric mower, I knew the battle was over. The noticeable difference in weight, sturdiness, and raw power puts the EGO in a class of its own. We have also heard some major rumblings that EGO is releasing an electric mower with a metal cutting deck.

EGO has many electric mowers that you can use that all have different features. Check out some of the posts below that highlight various comparisons or breakdowns of EGO mowers:

Overall, I love the simplicity that EGO provides by having one battery voltage lineup. It means that you can use your EGO battery with any EGO product without fail, which allows you to buy the tool-only version of lawn tools.

Greenworks is an almost equally amazing electric mower brand

Greenworks is a lesser known but nearly equally great electric mower brand. I’ve had the opportunity to use a TON of different Greenworks tools and really liked their 80V electric mower. When it comes to electric mowers, the Greenworks 80V mower checks all the boxes: a brushless motor, a wide metal cutting deck, a nice battery system, self-propelled functions, and a long run-time. 

I really can’t complain. I put Greenworks as the second best electric mower brand because they sell TOO MANY mowers. For example, right now when I go to their website and search for push lawn mowers I get 56 products. As a consumer, these many choices are overwhelming and it’s part of the reason we created the Lawn Review in the first place.

While most of these mowers are amazing, they range so broadly in application type, voltage, corded and cordless, that it is almost impossible to sort through the noise. I love the simplicity of EGO and Milwaukee keeping a consistent battery line.

Either way, Greenworks is an amazing electric mower brand. Here are a few of my posts related to Greenworks electric mowers:

Milwaukee has the best electric mower but not enough options

Milwaukee made the best electric mower on the market when they made their M18 mower. But then they stopped – exhausting all resources to make this pristine and beautiful beast of an electric mower.

For some reason, Milwaukee just has ONE electric mower across their entire brand. Don’t get me wrong, it is the greatest mower ever, but I’m scratching my head as to why they wouldn’t make one at a lower price point. The Milwaukee M18 is an expensive battery powered mower. 

Something tells me Milwaukee will change this up, although it is unlikely that anything bigger and badder from them is going to be any cheaper. For now, it is tough to call them the best electric mower brand when they really only have one mower – but boy is the Milwaukee M18 a great mower. 

Here are some posts where I talk about my experience with the Milwaukee M18 mower:

What to look for in an electric mower brand

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:

Battery powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about 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.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each. For example, Greenworks sells like 60 mowers, only a handful of them would I ever consider for this list. EGO also sells a bunch of mowers, and only a few are within an acceptable price range to be on this list.

Metal where it matters: the deck 

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. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it

Have bermuda? Check out our best mower ranking for bermudagrass.

Frequently Asked Questions about electric mower brands

Here are some of the common questions we get about electric mower brands.

Where are EGO electric lawn mowers made?

EGO electric lawn mowers are manufactured in China. EGO is owned by Chervon, which also owns SKIL and FLEX.

Where are Greenworks electric lawn mowers made?

Most Greenworks electric mowers are made in China but recently they opened a manufacturing facility for heavy equipment in Morristown, TN.

Where are Milwaukee electric lawn mowers made?

Most of Milwaukee’s products are made in China, however they do have some operations in Mississippi and other places across the US.

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What Does Tool Only Mean on a Lawn Tool? (2024 Guide)

Tool-only lawn tools are purchased without a battery and charger. While tool-only lawn tools seem like a rip-off they are actually great deals if purchased correctly.

You can get tool-only versions of just about every major battery-powered lawn tool if you know where to look. The cost of additional batteries for lawn tools like lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or string trimmers can add hundreds of dollars to your overall lawn tools.

The benefits of tool-only lawn tools

I like to buy tool-only lawn tools whenever I add a new lawn tool to my arsenal. I buy tool-only when I already own the battery for the tool AND the battery life can last for two tools.

For example, I would buy a tool-only Greenworks 60V hedge trimmer after I already owned their Greenworks 60V string trimmer. Because I already purchased the battery and charger with the string trimmer AND because the string trimmer will have battery power left over after using it,  I am able to maximize the value.

The tool-only Greenworks 60V hedge trimmer.

The conversation becomes more complex if you buy a lawn mower and string trimmer combo kit. These types of combo kits can be amazing for thrifty folks looking to save money on a battery and charger, but you need to purchase carefully.

If you have a big yard and want to use the battery mower and string trimmer in the same afternoon, you may want to go ahead and purchase a separate battery. Most batteries take well over an hour or two to fully charge, so a backup will be super helpful in keeping the job moving.

Where to find tool-only lawn tool deals

Home Depot is known for having a ton of tool-only options (which you can check out here). On many of these lawn tools, you can save up to $60-$75 by getting the tool-only version.

Look for this!

If you are someone that owns a bunch of hand tools from a brand like Makita or Milwaukee, its possible to save hundreds of dollars on a Milwaukee M18 mower or Makita LXT mower that comes with four batteries.

My recommendation for buying lawn tools

One of my top recommendations for folks looking to transition from gas to battery-powered lawn tools is to spend the most time picking the first tool. Once you have a core battery line, then it makes it easier to purchase additional tools in the lineup. You can save money on the next tool and then if you need to buy extra batteries down the road, you have a ton of tools you can use them with.

My favorite lawn tool battery lines

Some of these lawn tool manufacturers have a bunch of different battery lines. I have used probably 20 different lawn tools battery lines and have a few recommendations.

The EGO 56V battery line of lawn tools

EGO’s 56V battery lineup is their ONLY line of battery. EGO is hands down my favorite battery brand because of the simplicity of the singular battery voltage. All batteries work with all tools. Seems simple, right? 

So many other brands focus on getting batteries from 18V, 20V, 40V, 36V, 80V – it seems to never end. EGO stuck with 56V (for some reason) and has continued to pump out powerful product after powerful product.

Here are some of my favorite EGO products that I’ve tested:

Greenworks 80V battery line of lawn tools

Greenworks is lesser known but puts out some absolute banger lawn tools. I’ve had the chance to review a ton of these tools over on my YouTube channel. The 80V lineup from Greenworks has some really slick and powerful tools that can all be supported by different Ah batteries.

While Greenworks has several other battery voltage options, I’ve stuck mostly with their 80V tools because the battery puts out quite a bit of power and you can grab their tools on Amazon or even Costco.

Here are some of my favorite Greenworks 80V tools that I’ve tested:

Why you can trust The Lawn Review

We have tested hundreds of battery powered and electric lawn tools. Our goal is for our readers to understand what it is REALLY like to use each tool that we test. Plain English, no technical jargon – just a couple of folks talking lawn tools. You can find more about us by checking us out on YouTube or on Instagram where we have videos of us using just about every tool on this website + DIY guides.

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Dewalt 60V MAX String Trimmer Review: (Tested in 2024)

The Dewalt 60V MAX string trimmer was delivered to my house a few weeks ago. I tested out this weed eater, putting it through the gauntlet, to see if it was truly worth the hype. 

This Dewalt string trimmer review is really part of a broader set of string trimmers that I put to the test to find the best string trimmer on the planet. You can follow along on our YouTube channel, The Lawn Review.

Bottom Line: The Dewalt 60V Max string trimmer was shockingly powerful and felt very “solid”. This one has all the features I recommend in a weed eater. Grab it from Home Depot for a great price.

Dewalt 60V MAX String Trimmer: Testing each feature

I have a process when it comes to reviewing a string trimmer. I always check for power, durability, usability, and battery performance. My methods can be unusual, but I think they give you a good look into what it’s like to use this string trimmer before you buy it.

The Dewalt 60V Max String Trimmer has a powerful cutting swath

Dewalt’s 60V MAX string trimmer has the ability to level up to a 17 inch cutting swath. Folks, the larger the cutting swath, the more powerful a string trimmer is. The normal range for a battery powered weed eater is somewhere around 12-15 inches.

At 17 inches, the Dewalt 60V Max string trimmer is nearly unrivaled. I believe EGO has a string trimmer that can cut this wide but to find that width anywhere else, you would need to check out a gas-powered string trimmer.

One recommendation I have for this Dewalt String Trimmer: replace the string trimmer line right away. I don’t like the rounded, twisty kind that comes with it – I recommend using the GrassKicker weed eater string that we created specifically to replace the stock kind.

Dewalt’s 60V Max string trimmer has a durable brushless motor

One thing I love about the Dewalt products I have reviewed, like the Dewalt 60V blower and Dewalt self-propelled mower, are the fact that they come with brushless motors. Brushless motors are basically newer, higher quality electric motors that use less friction to generate power from the battery.

The Dewalt 60V MAX string trimmer has a brushless motor – meaning it has a longer run time, cooler running motor, and longer life. Dewalt backs this up with a 3 year limited warranty and 90 day money back guarantee. Pretty sweet deal!

The Dewalt 60V trimmer has a ton of convenient features

One of my favorite features of the Dewalt 60V Max string trimmer is that it has universal attachment capabilities. In fact, it is one of the best string trimmers with attachments on the market. Universal attachment capabilities mean that you can use any universal attachment from other brands and probably that random one you have sitting in your garage.

Not only does it have attachment capabilities, but this Dewalt 60V string trimmer has a variable speed trigger with two speed settings and a molded rubber grip and D-loop handle. These features make the string trimmer easy to hold for long periods of time. The two different high and low speed setting adjustments can be used to amp up the RPMs on this trimmer, though I would probably never take it off high.

The battery performance is as expected

The 3 Ah battery on this Dewalt 60V Max String Trimmer is pretty good. For a battery-powered tool, you get decent run time – definitely enough to trim a yard that is about a ½ acre on a single charge. 

Battery performance on a string trimmer varies wildly because of  different thicknesses of grass, starting and stopping, and whether or not you use the trimmer to edge. Under normal circumstances, I think you could use this string trimmer for about 40-45 minutes before the battery dies.

Lastly, this 60v Max battery series from Dewalt has a bunch of other tools you can use with it, including their blowers, chainsaws, and lawn mowers. You can save a ton of money buying the tool-only version of their tools and using one battery.

Final review after personal testing: Dewalt 60V String Trimmer

The Dewalt 60V Max string trimmer is a solid, powerful tool that will absolutely crush grass in your yard. Don’t overlook this string trimmer just because Dewalt is mostly known for their hand tools. I have tested dozens of battery powered string trimmers and this one is up at the top of the list.

You can grab it from Home Depot for a great price.

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I Tested A Battery Powered Snow Blower in a TON of Snow

The Wild Badger 40V snow blower is a slick battery powered snow blower that has been collecting dust in my garage for months. I didn’t get that much snow in Nashville – until last week.

The Snowmageddon that has hit Nashville has got the entire city avoiding the outdoors, except for me. I grabbed this Wild Badger snow blower, went outside, and gave it a try.

Bottom line: The Wild Badger 40V snow blower is a lightweight, super easy to use, and surprisingly effective way to clear out snow. You can grab it from Amazon for a great price.

My Wild Badger 40V Battery Snow Blower review

Wild Badger’s 40V snow blower was sent to me a while back when I did a review of the Wild Badger Battery Chainsaw and the Wild Badger mower, which was also pretty sweet. I didn’t have much use for a battery snow blower back in the late Summer but got a surprisingly large amount of snow this winter in Nashville.

The Wild Badger snow blower has some serious power

When I think about an electric snow blower, the first thing that comes to mind is that this snow blower probably isn’t cranking out a ton of power. I was surprised with Wild Badger’s snow blower because it put out some serious clearing power. 

The official specifications say that this snow blower can handle snow up to 10 inches deep and 20 inches wide, which I believe given that it made light work of my 5-6 inches on my driveway. Not only did I have some deep snow, but I took it out in the freezing rain that made the snow even more wet and heavy.

From a power perspective, the Wild Badger had a great deal of force that made clearing my long driveway super easy.

Wild Badger’s battery snow blower is convenient

The 40V Wild Badger snow blower is incredible for those of us that hate the cold. Compared to a gas powered snow blower, battery powered snow blowers are way more convenient. You can walk into your garage, pop in the battery, and simply press a button to get this started. With gas  snow blowers, you have to sit out in the cold and hope that it fires up after you crank the cord. 

I also liked how easy this battery snow blower was for me to toggle the direction of the chute. I could easily change the angle and direction that the snow was being blown by re-directing the chute to my neighbors yard (they have annoying dogs). 

Lastly, pushing this snow blower around was lightweight and easy. The handles are comfortable and intuitive to use and made the process actually kind of fun. 

This battery snow blower is surprisingly durable

The Wild Badger 40V snow blower has a durable brushless motor that makes it run cooler, provide more torque, and last longer. Brushless motors are absolute must-haves when it comes to lawn tools and snow blowers are no exception.

Additionally, this snow blower has some nice, wide rubber augers on the front that won’t crack or get easily jammed up by sticks or other debris. I was surprised how well this snow blower’s augers handled the bigger bumps and clumps in my driveway.

Pros of the Wild Badger snow blower

  • Light
  • Surprisingly powerful
  • Really easy to control and move around
  • Started up with the press of a button

Cons of the Wild Badger battery snow blower

  • The battery life didn’t last as long as it normally might because I used it in quite a bit of snow and I have a really long driveway. It lasted for probably 25 minutes with one battery and could likely go up to 50 with both batteries.
  • Wild Badger isn’t a well known brand and doesn’t have an extensive suite of tools, but has been around a surprisingly long time and is about to release a bunch of other 40 and 60V tools.

Final Review: Wild Badger 40V Battery Snow Blower

All things considered, the Wild Badger snow blower was a clutch tool to have sitting in my garage. I was pleasantly surprised with this snow blower’s ability to clear a wide path, start up easily and reliably, and launch snow pretty dang far. 

I would recommend this Wild Badger snow blower to just about anyone with a smaller yard or driveway as a great, low-cost battery snow blower. You can grab it for a great price over on Amazon.

If you want to learn more about Wild Badger, check out some of their info below.

Wild Badger: Feel the Wild, Harness the Power.

WILD BADGER POWER crafts premium Lawn Care tools, empowers outdoor enthusiasts with innovative, eco-friendly solutions. Our vision is to lead the industry, harmonizing nature, amplifying efficiency, and enriching lives.

What considerations should homeowners make before choosing a gas- or battery-powered snow blower?

According to Jay Thaker, Marketing Manager at Toro, when choosing a snow blower, there are three big questions we advise people to answer to determine if gas or battery would best suit your needs. Current technology has evolved so that many battery-powered units can handle the same workload as their gas counterparts, but there’s still a time and place for gas machines.

So before looking at power options answer the following:

  1. How large is the area you need to clear?
  2. What type of surface do you need to clear?
  3. What kind of slope does your driveway have?

Answering these questions will help homeowners choose between single stage, two stage or a crossover model.

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Kobalt 24V Max String Trimmer Review: 2024

The Kobalt 24V String Trimmer attachment system is not only a super powerful weed eater, but capable of carrying some great attachments like a dethatcher, edger, and tons more. 

Kobalt power head handle looking nice!

I got my hands on this Kobalt 24V string trimmer system and put it to work, testing it around my yard and cranking all the different attachments. 

I’ve tested a bunch of attachment capable string trimmer systems like this Kobalt 24V model and my favorite has been the EGO multi-head. These two both sell at Lowe’s and will be side-by-side if you are making a decision.

Bottom Line: The Kobalt 24V string trimmer attachment system is a surprisingly solid, versatile system that comes in at an unbelievably low price point. If you are looking for a great alternative to some pricier systems, this is the perfect option. You can grab it at Lowe’s for a great price.

Testing the Kobalt 24V Max String Trimmer system

Once I got the Kobalt 24V Max String Trimmer out of the box, assembling it was a breeze. This comes as a split shaft, meaning it is already assembled and folded in the box. You simply snap it into place and put on the debris guard (if you want) and you’re ready to go. Here was my experience using this trimmer.

The Kobalt 24V Max string trimmer has nice cutting power

The 14 inch cutting swath on the Kobalt 24V Max string trimmer system is what I call the “Goldilocks” zone. This cutting swath isn’t so large that it reaches commercial landscaping territory, demanding a ton of juice from the battery and motor. 

Replace that string!

But at 15 inches, the Kobalt 24V Max trimmer is extremely powerful for any residential job. One thing I always do when I get a new string trimmer is to change out the weed eater string from its stock version to the kind I personally made, called GrassKicker. We designed this to be durable, sharp, and highly visible. 

When it comes to weed eaters, cutting swath is synonymous with power. Once I had the new string on here, the full 15 inch length was an absolute monster and a huge upgrade. The Kobalt 24V string trimmer has enough power for just about any homeowner (unless you live in a dense forest or have > 2 acres of land). 

Kobalt’s 24V trimmer is super durable

One thing I love about Kobalt’s 24V Max series string trimmer system is that it comes with a brushless motor. I’ve written extensively about brushless motors on lawn tools and am a strong proponent of making sure you have a brushless motor.

Luckily, the Kobalt 24V Max string trimmer has one of these motors, making it highly durable, giving it more torque, and a long life. And with all battery powered weed eaters, the Kobalt trimmer has no maintenance at all on the motor and will fire right up whenever you simply press the button.

The rest of this string trimmer has a super solid build – something that shocked me given the relatively low price. But the construction on this, especially around where the triggers are, felt solid and reliable and like it could last me for several years. 

The Kobalt string trimmer attachment system is universal

My Kobalt 24V Max string trimmer just came with the multi-head and string trimmer head. Since this string trimmer system is universal, I had a ton of other attachments I could pop on easily from my experience with other attachment capable systems. 

I loved that I could easily pop on an edger attachment and have a beastly battery lawn edger. Then I could grab a hedge trimmer attachment and have an extended hedge trimmer. Attachment capabilities on this trimmer make it a Swiss Army knife tool that not only saves a ton of money, but makes storage way easier. 

One attachment that I got separately because I had never seen it before is the Kobalt Dethatcher attachment. And I got this attachment only because it seemed strange. Usually lawn dethatchers are oriented like push mowers, so imagining using this with one hand across my whole yard just felt…awkward.

Well my imagination was correct. This Kobalt dethatching attachment was definitely awkward haha. I could see this attachment being awesome for small areas but would go crazy if I did this all across my lawn.

The Kobalt 24V MAX battery system has tons of tools

One thing you need to be careful about before buying this kobalt string trimmer is the difference between 24V and 24V MAX. In many battery lines, these two are surprisingly and unfortunately INCOMPATIBLE. 

On the bright side, Kobalt’s 24V Max system is huge – spanning dozens of lawn tools and even more hand power tools. From an investment perspective – I love only having to buy one or two batteries and one charger. This declutters my garage and keeps costs down when I buy the tool-only version of other tools. 

The Kobalt 24V Max leaf blower is a great addition to their lineup.

Kobalt 24V Max string trimmer system is inexpensive compared to others

This string trimmer sells exclusively at Lowe’s (just like all Kobalt stuff). At under $200 for the system and weed eater attachment plus batteries and charger – you’re getting a steal. If you already have a 24V Max battery, the price drops to well below $150. Holy guacamole. 

Final review: Kobalt 24V MAX string trimmer

I was pleasantly surprised by the Kobalt 24V Max attachment capable string trimmer. Sadly, I judged this string trimmer by its low price. But when I fired the string trimmer up and got to work, I ate my words. 

This string trimmer gets the stamp of approval from TLR.

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