Tag: Electric tools

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3 Power Dewalt Leaf Blowers That Wreck Leaves

Dewalt leaf blower

Dewalt leaf blowers are a household name. Not only do most people own a bunch of Dewalt products already, but they have really stepped up their game lately.

Dewalt has a pretty sweet string trimmer, lawn mower, and even a super powerful trimmer and blower kit that absolutely slaps. 

**SPOILER** Best Dewalt Leaf Blower: Dewalt 20V Max Leaf Blower because it has great strength for around the house, a super versatile battery system, and is extremely comfortable.

But they’ve started diversifying their product suite and have a ton of new blowers.

Fortunately, we had the pleasure of using some of these suckers (or blowers) and have put out our definitive ranking guide.

So, let’s get started.

The official Dewalt Leaf Blower ranking

Now that you’re up to speed on leaf blower terminology, let’s move forward with ranking the best Dewalt leaf Blowers on planet Earth.

3. DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX Blower, Brushless, Handheld, 3-Ah Battery (DCBL770X1)

The Dewalt Flexvolt 60V MAX handheld blower is pretty sweet. One of my favorite things about this blower is that it puts out a deceivingly-high 423 CFM of air with speeds up to 129 MPH. But wait, there’s more!

It also comes with a flat concentrator nozzle that can increase air speeds up to 175 MPH. That is freaking fast.

What is he blowing? Concrete?

This blower comes with a nice brushless motor as well, making it darn near perfect. My only complaint is that most folks looking for a blower are looking for one that is going to push leaves like a dang cannon. This one is more of a sniper, good for wet leaves and smaller areas. 

If you already own the 60V battery and have a similar tool like the Dewalt 60V chainsaw, then this one is a no brainer. It is on sale right now on Amazon and is also for sale at Home Depot, which includes the battery.

2. DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT Leaf Blower 125-MPH, 600-CFM

What the previous Dewalt blower lacks, this one totally makes up for. This 60V Max Flexvolt Dewalt blower has 600 CFM – which basically means it is a cannon of air. CFMs this high are pretty rare on electric leaf blowers.

Kinda cool looking.

This blower again has a nice brushless motor, a grip that resembles your electric power drill, a variable speed trigger, and a speed lock. I like the speed lock function here because sometimes I want to do mid-speed and my finger cramps holding it at the exact speed I want (first world problems).

Very nice – has a cool red spinny cone for extra effects.

All-in-all, this is a great blower from Dewalt and comes in at just over 9lbs. Comparing this one to the one before, they are both 60V blowers but have different purposes. This one is for pushing big piles of leaves and the other is for smaller spaces and wetter leaves. They are both great blowers, but really fit two different demographics.

Where you slide the battery in.

This Dewalt blower can be found on sale at Amazon for a decent price right now (especially if you get the tool-only version).

If you want to grab it from Home Depot, that’s where we got ours. You can check the price here.

1. DEWALT 20V MAX* XR Leaf Blower, 125-MPH, 450-CFM (DCBL722P1)

The Dewalt 20V Max leaf blower is really good and an amazing price. I wrote about this specific leaf blower once before, but they’ve made some major improvements. 

The first major improvement they’ve made is a nice removable concentrator tip. With this blower, you get the best of both worlds. You have the ability to snipe wet leaves or clean off your porch as needed, with the added ability to remove the concentrator and use the wider mouth for shoving big piles of leaves.

This one has all the great things – a brushless motor, a nice variable speed trigger with a lock, and it’s about half the weight of the blower above – just over 5 lbs. 

Yep, the one we own.

Holy cow. This one is also relatively quiet (about as much noise as a blender) and is the most affordable of the three. 

In my opinion, this is hands-down the best Dewalt blower on the market. The best part is that the 20V battery on this one is one of their most popular battery lines and is what the power drill uses (among hundreds of other tools).

Where you can grab the best Dewalt Leaf Blower

You can grab this one WITH a battery for an insane price on Amazon. If you want to grab it locally, grab it from Home Depot online and pick it up in store.

Why we review cordless leaf blowers

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

How we spend our time now.

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

If you like Dewalt, check out Dewalt’s line of air compressors. 

What to look for in a cordless blower

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

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

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

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I Tested Out Powersmart’s Battery Powered Mower

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

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

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

Here’s our thoughts:

PowerSmart 40V Battery Powered Lawn Mower: Features and benefits

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

Using the mower

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

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

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

Wheels with five height levels.

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

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

How to operate the PowerSmart 40V mower

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

Don’t lose that key!

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

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

The handles are very sensitive.

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

Bells and whistles on this electric mower

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

Battery life and run-time

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

Where the battery goes!

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

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

Battery charge indicator.

It took about 3 hours to fully charge from dead.

Price and Warranty

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

Official Review: PowerSmart Battery Powered Lawn Mower 40V

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

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

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

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

We take testing seriously.

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

What to look for in an electric lawn mower 

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
  • Metal where it matters. 
    • Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
  • Battery interoperability.
    •  A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s get started:

Stihl FSA 45 String Trimmer: Features and benefits

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

I can work with that.

The string trimmer lacks desirable power

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

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

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

Sad!

Looks about right…

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

The battery system is confusing

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

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

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

Good for the small stuff, not for the big stuff

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

Stihl’s FSA 45 is light and easy to use

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

Battery light indicator is cool.

A few features we really liked about this one:

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

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

Can do some liiiiight edging.

The weed eater is affordable

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

Stihl FSA 45 Battery Powered Weed Eater String

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

Overall Review: Stihl FSA 45 cordless trimmer

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

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

Our jobs.

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

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

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

Stihl’s reputation

Stihl is still at it! Pumping out high quality product after high quality product. They’re thought of as one of the GOATS of the yard product game. The boys in orange are known to have a superior product to their competitors. The Stihl FS 56 RC Trimmer is a top notch trimmer that falls right in line with some of their other awesome products.

Comparing a Stihl gas blower to an EGO battery blower.

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

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

Gas vs Electric String Trimmer

When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2022 it’s important to understand your power source options. It basically boils down to gas or electric. Electric trimmers are typically easier to start and usually maintenance is a breeze. They also have less of a noise and environmental impact. Electric trimmers are usually a good bet for small to medium-sized jobs.

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

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5 Inexpensive Black + Decker Weed Eaters

The Best Black and Decker string trimmer is the 20V Max 12-inch string trimmer that has a two-in-one functionality that allows it to also be a great edger. I like this Black and Decker weed eater because it is super lightweight, inexpensive, and great for beginners.

You can grab this 2-in-1 weed eater from Amazon for a really good price.

Here is the full ranking of the best Black & Decker weed eaters:

  1. Black & Decker 20V Max 12-inch 2-in-1 String Trimmer and Edger
  2. Black and Decker 40V MAX 13in. 2in1 cordless string trimmer
  3. Black+Decker String Trimmer, 6.5-Amp, 14-inch (GH900)
  4. Black + Decker 20V MAX PowerConnect 10 in string trimmer and sweeper
  5. Black + Decker 20V Max 10 inch string trimmer (LST201)

5 Best Black and Decker String Trimmers (RANKED)

The beautiful thing about the Black and Decker string trimmers is that one of them, if not all of them, are always on sale on Amazon. That’s where we recommend grabbing these, mostly because of their great return policy and quick shipping. You can also grab them at your local Home Depot.

5. Black + Decker 20V Max 10 inch string trimmer (LST201)

One of the most basic, simple, and least expensive string trimmers on the market, the 20V MAX 10 inch string trimmer from Black and Decker is a bargain.

Fewer parts to break!

Although I would never use this in a big yard, for small yards this trimmer is great. This is a very basic trimmer that is going to be just fine cleaning up small patches of grass that you missed mowing and giving a nice, clean line that you would expect from any other trimmer.

Definitely don’t get this if you have a yard with more than ¼ of an acre – you’ll need more power for sure.

All-in-all, this is a really good price for someone looking to make a quick, easy buy. You can get it on Amazon for well under $100.

4. Black + Decker 20V MAX PowerConnect 10 in string trimmer and sweeper combo

While this is likely actually the least powerful of the string trimmers on this list, Black + Decker made it an enticing combo by throwing in a sweeper. The combination here means that you get a nice lawn tool set-up without breaking the bank.

Two for one is always fun.

This 20V MAX string trimmer is about 10 inches, which has to be one of the smaller string trimmers in production. Fortunately, it can still flip to an edger and be used for both. This is the ideal string trimmer for someone with a tiny yard who wants to do it all with only a few tools.

To make it even better, they throw in a little mini-blower that can help clean up the grass clippings and do some light-duty leaf blowing. 

You can get both of them, with the battery, for a wonderful price on Amazon.

3. Black+Decker String Trimmer, 6.5-Amp, 14-inch (GH900)

This Black and Decker string trimmer isn’t battery-powered, but is a great corded electric string trimmer. While it isn’t going to provide you the same portability that a battery powered string trimmer provides, it gives you reliable power without being concerned about the battery charge.

This is a nice, big trimmer and won’t run out of battery.

Other than requiring an extension cord, this string trimmer is great. It has a perfect size at about 14 inches and has a lot of the same capabilities as the big dogs. One thing I love about it is the automatic feed spool feature, which will automatically send out more trimmer lines when you start to run low.

Super light.

The last thing I will say about this weed eater is that it is pretty short and lightweight, so it is super easy to store wherever you need to put it. At just under 6 lbs and about 3 feet long, it can practically go anywhere. We own this one and did a full review of the 14 inch 6.5 A version.

You can grab this one on Amazon for a really good price.

2. Black and Decker 40V MAX 13in. 2in1 cordless string trimmer/edger with POWERCOMMAND Kit

This one wins the award for longest name. Actually, of all the string trimmers on this list, this one is definitely the most heavy duty. It has the classic 13 inch string trimmer, which is great for medium yards, but also has the wheel conversion to an edger. At 13 inches, this will actually  produce a pretty sweet edger (for a string trimmer). 

I love that this one uses a 40V battery as well, a nice step up from the 20V series the other trimmers use. This one also comes with a dial that controls how much power you’d like to use, giving you control over the runtime. 

They have great hedge trimmers!

With the 40V battery, you can use things like the snow blower, chainsaw, hedge trimmers, or lawnmower. Step up your game with this trimmer and build your garage around the 40V series.

You can grab this one for a great price over on Amazon.

1. BLACK+DECKER 20V Max String Trimmer/Edger, 12-Inch (LSTE525)

Probably the best mix of versatility, power, and price – the 12-inch 20V Max string trimmer wins the number one spot. This trimmer comes with a decently-sized 12-inch cutting swath that’s big enough for medium yards and small enough for small yards. It also includes the wheel on the top that allows you to flip this tool to an edger-type of tool to clean up the lines around your driveway or sidewalk.

Reminds me of the GT Revolution from WORX.

The beauty of this product is that the 20V Max series is huge with BLACK+DECKER and can be  used with tons of other tools. From a usability perspective, it also has a nice easy-feed system to get the trimmer line out after it gets beaten up. 

Super easy to use!

All-in-all, this one packs the same punch as some of the bigger brands with the price of one  way smaller. 10,000 reviews on Amazon back me up on this one.

You can grab it on Amazon for a nice sale right now.

Why we review lawn tools

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

We take tool testing seriously.

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

What to look for in a string trimmer

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

  • Feel – Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. Bad. You are going to be using this often and for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable.
  • Motor – brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Brushless motors also produce more torque and less heat. With Black and Decker having a more “budget-friendly” line, you may not be able to find this without spending the big bucks.
  • Batteries – Try to get a battery that can be used with other tools. For example, I have Black and Decker’s 20V battery for my power drill – getting a trimmer that takes the same battery is great for saving money and wall space for charging.
  • Curved vs Straight shaft – I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing”, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.
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5 Battery Lawn Edgers That Perfectly Frame Your Lawn

The best battery powered lawn edger is the Greenworks Pro 80V lawn edger because it is super easy to use and comes with a great battery system from Greenworks.

We constantly get compliments about having the best grass in the neighborhood. But honestly, our grass itself looks just like each of our neighbors. So what’s the difference?

Clean, crisp borders around the yard separating the driveway and walkway from the grass. It is a small, subtle change but makes all the difference. Think about it like framing your yard. Imagine the Mona Lisa without a frame. It would look like something your kid would bring home to hang on the fridge (maybe a little better).

The new battery lawn edgers are awesome. So let’s check out which ones are the absolute best.

Bottom line – Here is our ranking of the best battery lawn edgers:

  1. Greenworks Pro 80V 8 inch Brushless Lawn Edger
  2. Greenworks 40V 8″ Brushless Lawn Edger
  3. EGO Power+ ME0800 8-Inch Edger Attachment & Power Head
  4. Kobalt 80-Volt Max 8-in Cordless Electric Lawn Edger
  5. Dewalt DCED472X1 Battery Lawn Edger

5 Greatest Battery Lawn Edgers: Ranked

Let’s get started! There are some great brands here, but a few that really stick out for their power, reliability, and price.

5. DEWALT DCED472X1 Edger

Dewalt is a household name, but not necessarily for lawn tools. Mostly known for their power drills, saws, and other contractor-grade equipment, Dewalt is a well-trusted and well-known brand. 

Recently, they’ve dug into lawn tools and have put out some surprisingly high-quality, competitive stuff. 

The gentle slope is a nice detail!

Their edger is actually pretty sweet. One of my favorite things about it is the squeeze trigger, which is way more comfortable on the hand and also provides a bit of a safety to prevent kids from using it. 

The edger is really an attachment on their multi-tool, which has a bunch of different heads that give you a full toolkit to craft your yard around.

This one was designed by pros, as it has a gentle slope going into the edger to ensure that it is flush with the surface and providing a deep, clean cut. 

The Dewalt battery lawn edger is on sale on Amazon right now and is normally a steep price, but also includes the head that can attach a ton of other tools. 

4. Kobalt 80-Volt Max 8-in Cordless Electric Lawn Edger

Kobalt is one of those brands that was exclusively sold in Lowe’s stores across the country, then randomly showed up online and did really well. Kobalt has some high quality products and are a personal favorite of ours in the aesthetics department. They have a nice navy blue and black combo that is sleek and not some fluorescent color.

Kobalt’s 80V Max series is a great series to build a battery powered tool set around. They have an awesome mower and a bunch of really good blowers.

Kobalt’s products look cool.

One of my favorite things about this edger is that it is LONG, which I like for surgical precision when edging. It also has a nice brushless motor, which means more torque, a cooler motor, and longer life. 

This one is for sale at Lowe’s – the perfect buy if you already own a Kobalt 80V Max battery.

3. EGO Power+ ME0800 8-Inch Edger Attachment & Power Head

EGO has great products, hands down. The power head is one of, if not the absolute best, top power heads on the market. Super versatile, reliable, and powerful. The EGO power head is a dang steal. 

I like EGO Power+  products because they all use the 56V battery, from the lawn mower to the blower to the edger. 

EGO products are built to last.

There isn’t anything particularly special or snazzy about this product, but it is one that I know and trust to do the job without fail. Driving around your neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon, I bet you’ll see one of these hanging in your neighbor’s garage. It will still be there in 5 years. Good stuff.

The EGO power head with the edger attachment can be bought together for a nice price, or the edger attachment can be purchased separately.

2. Greenworks 40V 8″ Brushless Battery Lawn Edger

Greenworks is one of our favorites brands – they have great products that are durable and reliable.

Their 40V series is awesome and can be used with over 60 tools. It is a great battery line to go with if you are looking to build out your lawn tool kit around a single battery. 

The 40V edger they have is great. It has all the necessary ingredients for a great edger and similar to the EGO, comes with the power head that can be used with a bunch of different attachments.

That brushless motor at the base is cool, but also dangerous.

I ranked this one number two because it has the brushless motor (which is great) down at the bottom of the tool, where it is vulnerable to hitting pavement and breaking. Otherwise, this battery lawn edger is great.

It comes with a ton of reviews and a great price on Amazon, where you can also get the multi tool power head.

1. Greenworks Pro 80V 8 inch Brushless Edger

Greenworks’ Pro 80V battery line is the supreme battery-powered lawn tool line. They have an amazing 80V mower, incredibly powerful blowers, and this awesome edger. 

This battery lawn edger is a dedicated edger – not part of a system of interchangeable parts. And it means business.

It has all the things you look for in an edger. Amazing battery system, easy to use handle, 4 year warranty, adjustable handle, brushless motor – the works.

The battery system here allows it to run for over 80 minutes, which is way more than you would ever need but speaks to the power of the 80V battery. 

Coming in at about 17lbs, it’s surprisingly light and usable considering how long it is and how much power it puts out.

This battery lawn edger is on sale right now on Amazon and is an EXTREMELY reasonable price.

Why we review lawn tools

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

How we spend our time.

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

What’s the difference between trimming and edging?

Let’s set the record straight here. Edging and trimming are two very different things that are often mixed up. 

Edging utilizes a motorized blade that digs into the dirt between a hard surface (street, driveway, sidewalk) and your yard. Edgers push up dirt and dig a small little trench that cleanly separates the yard and surface. Edgers can do a little bit of trimming if grass is growing over the surface, but are not designed for full-scale grass shredding.

Trimmers are used to cut stray grass not reached or not accessible by mowing. Trimmers can also be used to cut the grass between hard surfaces and the yard, but don’t quite have the capability to edge as well as an edger does.

Nicely edged lawn.

Is it worth buying a battery lawn edger?

In my opinion, absolutely. Most trimmers now come with detachable heads that allow for an edger to pop right on. Edgers are what take your yard from good to great. 

Can you edge with a trimmer? Can you trim with an edger?

If you are an absolute pro and have a high-powered trimmer, you can do some mild edging with a trimmer. If you use the GrassKicker weed eater string, you can get a really, really good edging job even with a weaker weed eater. Check it out below.

You still will not be able to dig way down deep to cause the best separation from surfaces, but it will give a similar appearance for a shorter amount of time.

You cannot trim with an edger unfortunately. The blade is just too big to finely cut small fragments of grass. 

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3 Mowers That Help You With Steep Banks and Hills

The best mower for hilly yards is the Greenworks Pro 80V Brushless Self-propelled mower because it has a strong self-propelled feature that does much of the heavy lifting. Lawn mowers and steep banks and hills don’t often get along. You end up hauling the dang mower straight up a hill, or try to do it sideways and end up missing a bunch of spots.

Today, I’ll break down my favorite mowers for mowing a hilly or sloped front yard:

  1. Greenworks Pro 80V Self-propelled mower
  2. Greenworks 40V 16” Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
  3. Makita XML03CM1 18” Brushless lawn mower

3 Lawn Mowers for Steep Lawns

It was hard to narrow down, but I was able to distill the list down to just three. I have to tell you, these three are titans in the electric lawn game. I am not bringing any bush league mowers to my recommendation list. These are not only top mowers for steep banks, but also top battery powered mowers in general. Let’s get started.

3. Makita XML03CM1 18” Brushless lawn mower

Makita mowers are pretty sweet. If you have owned any Makita products before, likely one of their power drills, you know that they have super high-quality products.

I put this mower at number three for a few reasons. For starters, it is heavier than the other two, coming in at over 80 lbs. It also does not have a self propelled function, meaning you are going to be pushing that 80 lbs, which is the average weight of a regular gas mower. 

Not bad!

I have this one at number three because it is a high quality mower that is extremely durable without being overkill on size. If you have a big property, this one is the type I would keep for steep banks and hills that my lawn tractor or zero turn couldn’t reach or were unsafe. It uses the same batteries that are found in the power drills, saving you a ton of money on a new set of batteries. 

This Makita mower is for sale on Amazon for a very reasonable price.

2. Greenworks 40V 16” Cordless Electric Lawn Mower

Greenworks is one of our favorite brands because they ONLY do battery powered lawn equipment. So they are the pros. 

Anyways, we love the 40V 16” cordless mower from Greenworks because it is small and light. This mower is perfect for effortlessly tackling the steep banks and hills. Many people are concerned about having to push a mower, when in reality the difficult part is holding onto the mower if you are fighting gravity downhill. This is true if you cut in a vertical pattern and are moving downwards with the mower. It is also tough when cutting horizontally and trying to keep the mower straight instead of toppling over.

Gets the job done and light as a feather.

Worry no more – this mower weighs less than 40 lbs, making it an extremely easy to use mower for steep banks and hills. At 16 inches, you don’t have to worry about it taking up a ton of space in your garage, either. 

In fact, this is one of the most popular mowers ever purchased on Amazon, with over 8,000 review comments left. You will probably see your neighbor with one.

Check it out on Amazon for a really great price.

1. Greenworks Pro 80V 21-inch Brushless Self-propelled Mower

Bring in the big dog. This mower is perfect in just about every way. 

Brushless motor. Self propelled. Steel cutting deck. Amazing brand. Battery line that works with all Greenworks 80V products.

It is really a dream mower. 

Thing of beauty!

I love it for hills because it can do a lot of the marching uphill for you. An underrated component of this mower is that it’s self-propelled function will help hold a steady and straight line when mowing horizontally on a hill. So basically you feel like you’re sideways, but the mower keeps marching forward.

This one is lighter than most gas mowers as well. You’ll be surprised at what it feels like to use on hills.

It is definitely worth the money and a great buy on Amazon.

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. 

Testing sometimes hurts.

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

What to look for in an electric lawn mower 

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
  • Metal where it matters. 
    • Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
  • Battery interoperability.
    •  A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers.

What you need to tackle hills with a lawn mower

Steep hills and embankments give every homeowner a fit. We all know the challenges they present, which is why we wrote this article.  Here’s what you need in a mower for steep hills:

  • Lightweight – it has to be able to be easily controlled and not topple over or get off track. 
  • Self-propelled – this not only helps push the mower for you, but will keep the wheels moving straight with its forward momentum
  • Battery-powered – if you have a really steep hill, you can definitely run into issues with gas not funneling into the engine. Battery powered mowers avoid that.
  • A walk-behind mower – even if you have a big property, I would separately purchase a walk-behind mower for the steepest part of the hills or steep banks. 

So here is what we recommend.

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7 Cordless Blowers for Any Budget

The best budget cordless blower is the Greenworks 40V leaf blower and vacuum combo because it has a reliable motor, is decently powerful, and allows for you to also suck up leaves or grass for easy clean-up.

You can grab our number one choice Greenworks 40V blower here on Amazon for a great price.

Listen, I used to hate working in the yard. You walk out there and try to ignore the leaves as much as possible.

Don’t overcomplicate this! You can get a budget blower and it still does a great job, takes up minimal space in your garage, and barely makes a dent in your bank account. 

Let’s get started.

Here are the great, cheap leaf blowers – ranked:

  1. Greenworks 40V Cordless Brushless Blower
  2. Greenworks 40V Cordless Blower
  3. Worx WG547 Turbine Blower
  4. Ryobi 40V Jet Fan Blower
  5. Kimo Cordless Blower
  6. Makita XBU05Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower
  7. Black and Decker 20V Max Sweeper

Budget Cordless Leaf Blowers: Ranked

Again, it can be done! You can find a great budget cordless leaf blower for a ridiculously low price and corded leaf blowers for an even lower one. We have found not only the most affordable blowers, but ranked them in terms of quality and power. A few of these we personally own and others we have tried and tested ourselves.

Let’s get this thing kicked off!

7. Black + Decker 20V MAX Cordless Sweeper with Power Boost

The Black and Decker 20V Max Cordless Sweeper with Power Boost is an affordable, trustworthy, budget cordless leaf blower that is a part of the 20V MAX battery series.

I’m going to stop here and tell you that if you own a Black and Decker 20V MAX series tool, buy  this blower. You can get the tool-only version for an insane price if you already own the battery. 

Photo cred: Amazon.

The Black + Decker 20V Max blower gets up to 130 MPH, is really quiet, and can run for 25 minutes straight. The best part – it weighs under 4 lbs. It is technically considered a sweeper instead of a blower, mostly because it has a flat tapered nozzle. This makes it perfect for driveways, garages, and porches. 

I would not get this blower if you’re trying to move massive piles of leaves. The tapered nozzle is powerful and great for a strong stream of air, but not going to cover a large area.

You can grab this one on Amazon for well under $100 when it goes on sale.

6. Makita XBU05Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Blower

Makita makes some dang high quality tools. If you’ve ever owned one of their power drills, you know exactly what I mean. They have recently jumped head-first into the lawn tool game as well. Makita leaf blowers are top notch and growing in popularity (you may have seen the TV commercials).

The Makita XBU05Z is a handheld, cordless, budget leaf blower that reaches speeds up to 220 MPH. Just like the other Makita tools you may already own, it just requires an 18V battery. 

While smaller than most other blowers, it can clear out a sidewalk, front porch, or garage with the best of them. It is extremely easy to use, has the same grip as a power drill, and can be stored in a very small area. 

Small and mighty!

At just a shade under $100, it is a great deal if you already own the battery with your other Makita tools. Grab it on Amazon today for about $95.

5. Kimo Cordless Blower and Vacuum

One of our personal favorites (because Mom bought it for us), we use this thing all the time. In fact, we did a full written review of the Kimo Cordless Blower and a full YouTube video. We love it.

While it is a lesser-known brand, it is the best option if you don’t own any yard tools. You can be battery-system agnostic and get a sweet blower/vacuum combo for a ridiculous price.

I use this one all the time to do a quick sweep of the porch, sidewalk, and driveway before we have people over. It can be stored in our coat closet and easily carried outside. It’s quiet, lightweight, and super cheap.

It also comes with a vacuum function, although I don’t use it that much. But the vacuum works well for sawdust or other things that you want to get rid of in a jiff. 

Surprisingly strong. Easy to store.

You can read our full review of the Kimo Cordless blower here.

This thing sells for an amazing price on Amazon – under 90 dollars..

4. Ryobi 155 mph 300 CFM 40-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Jet Fan Blower

So I bought the tool-only version of this cordless budget leaf blower because I already owned the multi-tool Ryobi 40V trimmer and edger. I got it for an awesome deal since I had the batteries already.

Ryobi 40V blower assembly. Easy as pie.

This Ryobi 40V blower works really well. It is easy to assemble right out of the box. One of my favorite things about it is that it has a variable speed trigger, meaning I can control how quickly the air flows. I use this blower every weekend after cutting the grass.

It comes in clutch when the maple tree in the backyard suddenly dumps thousands of leaves on our back deck. It gets rid of all of the leaves in super short order and doesn’t wake up the kids. Gotta love it. If you own Ryobi 40V products, this one is a no brainer. 

You can get it on Amazon like I did for a tad more than the others, but still a reasonable price.

3. WORX 20V Turbine Cordless Two-Speed Leaf Blower – WG547

The WORX WG547 cordless budget leaf blower is a pretty sweet looking blower. It has a jet-engine type of motor inside that can put out 75 mph of air, or 340 CFMs.

You may notice that the MPH here is not very high. The CFM, relatively, is pretty dang high. This means that the blower has a wider nozzle. I would NOT use this for wet grass or heavy debris. I would absolutely use this for a pile of leaves. 

Photo cred: Amazon. Thing is pretty sweet.

Listen, it isn’t going to absolutely destroy leaves like a backpack blower, but it also doesn’t cost $600. It will definitely be able to clear loose leaves from your patio or driveway with ease.

Worx is a great brand and is in almost every garage or shed around the country. 

At under $120, this thing is an absolute steal on Amazon.

2. Greenworks 40V (150 MPH / 135 CFM) Cordless Blower

Unlike the last blower, the Greenworks 40V 150 MPH / 135 CFM cordless blower is a high-speed, low air-volume blower. These are super interesting to use because they are basically beams of air that fly out of a narrow tip.

This one is awesome for cleaning off the driveway after a fresh mow. It can also lift off anything underneath a chair, on top of your outdoor tables, and between cracks that other blowers can’t reach. 

Flat tip = high speed.

Before you pull the trigger (pun intended), realize that this one isn’t great for clearing all the leaves from your lawn. You can do it, but you’ll be out there for a while. The Greenworks 150 MPH blower is about precision and power, not as much about pushing big loads of air.

It’s a great deal (actually a crazy deal on Amazon), has over 15k reviews, and comes in under $60. That’s a hot tamale.

1. Greenworks 40V (185 MPH/340CFM) Brushless Cordless Leaf Blower

The Greenworks 40V 185 MPH brushless cordless budget leaf blower and vacuum combination that makes cleaning up leaves extremely easy. A six speed-option dial allows for you to have complete control over what you are blowing away. Coming in at under 6lbs with a runtime of over 20 minutes on the highest setting, you will be able to quickly crush whatever job you’re trying to do.

What I love most about this blower is the brushless motor. Brushless motors last way longer, have more torque, and operate cooler than brushed motors. This one is going to last you a long time.

Somehow insanely priced AND comes with a vacuum.

With the additional vacuum add-on pieces, you can easily blow all the leaves into a pile and suck them into a big bag, making cleaning up a snap.

The craziest thing about this blower is that Amazon must be broken or something. It is listed for $70 right now if you get the tool-only version. It honestly seems like a glitch or something.

Oh well – feel free to take advantage of it as long as it lasts on Amazon.

Why we started The Lawn Review

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

We take blower testing seriously.

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

What to look for in an electric blower

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

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

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

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5 Battery Powered Lawn Combo Kits For All-in-One Shopping

The best lawn mower and trimmer combo kit is the Greenworks 40V 21 inch mower and trimmer kit. Not only do you get a sweet mower and trimmer, but you can save a bunch of money on lawn tools from Greenworks in the future by using the same 40V battery across dozens of tools.

Gotta love it! This photo came from one of our giveaway winners!

Best Mower Trimmer Combo (all-around): Greenworks 40V 21 inch mower and trimmer

5 Best Electric Lawn Mower and Trimmer combo kits

Alright y’all – let’s get to it. After about 19 hours of research and testing, we decided to bring you the best of the best.

We cut out combinations that could be purchased individually because that isn’t super helpful or convenient if you are trying to bundle these. We also disqualified combos that were insanely expensive. No thanks!

5. Toro Flex Force 60V Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit with mower and trimmer

The Toro Flex Force 60V Cordless 2-Tool Combo kit is the second most expensive set on this list. And there’s a reason why. It has a 22 inch walk-behind mower (meaning it is self-propelled) and a 16 inch trimmer. That’s pretty sweet. 16 inch trimmers are definitely in the commercial range and can be used by professional landscapers. The Toro Recycler mower has a brushless motor which means it is built to last and deliver more power than its brushed counterparts.

The mower can cut about ⅓ of an acre in 40 minutes. This is a little bit more than the average homeowner needs, but no complaints from me. 

Toro has high quality stuff, but doesn’t have quite the experience in the electric space yet. For commercial gas-powered equipment, I’ll take Toro all day. In the electric world, they are still newbies.

Toro’s mower that I used.

You can grab this kit from Home Depot for about $100 less than it was this time last year.

4. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 in Mower and String Trimmer Kit

I love Ryobi products. They *mostly* have pretty high quality stuff, including their 40V HP Brushless mower and string trimmer kit.

Ryobi’s 40V series is really strong, especially since the 40V batteries can be used with an absurd amount of Ryobi products. The mower here has a cross-cut functionality, proving superior and thorough cuts to any lawn. It also has a self-propelled function and comes with two 40V batteries. At 21 inches, it’s the perfect width for medium yards, but can also fit smaller yards with ease.

This thing can crush large yards.

The string trimmer here is nice as well. I have owned this Ryobi string trimmer for a long time and have had absolutely zero issues with it. It cuts 13-15 inches which is above average for residential weed eaters and will absolutely crush the borders of your lawn (which I love).

At a little over $800, this is the most expensive set I recommend. But it truly does serve as an investment in all of their lawn tools because you can buy the tool-only versions of any of their other 40V products, saving a boat load of money in the process.

You can grab this one from Home Depot as well.

3. LawnMaster 20VMWGT 24V Max 12-inch mower and Trimmer combo

LawnMaster is a no-name brand on Amazon but man, they have some DIRT CHEAP products. Now I can’t say that these will be found in droves, but geez, it is almost worth buying a new set each year because they are so dang cheap.

Whatever, it’s cheap. Photo Cred: Amazon.

Let me get started by saying that this mower is not very big. It is a foot wide. This is going to be able to take care of most people’s smaller lawns, but is actually great for tiny yards. Having a foot-long mower can navigate really tight corners and has more sensitivity to garden borders. 

Unfortunately, I would not recommend this to anyone with a large lawn unless it is serving as a punishment. Or you can make it a part of your Subway diet – a footlong sub and a footlong mower exercise. 

Anyways, you can grab this one on Amazon for a great price with a 10-inch trimmer. The trimmer looks very foreign-factory made. It will get the job done, but again is only good for smaller yards.

2. Worx 40V Lawn Mower & Trimmer Power Share Combo WG934

The Worx 40V lawn  mower & trimmer power share combo (WG934) has over 21 THOUSAND  reviews on Amazon, rated at 4.5 stars. 

So people think it’s dang good. For a reason.

The Worx 40V mower here is cordless and covers 14 inches. Definitely better suited for smaller yards, or if you like a workout – some medium yards as well. It has something called “intellicut” which basically adjusts the output of the torque with the difficulty of mowing. It is similar to driving with cruise control where it will push on the gas if you’re going up a hill to keep the same speed. Cool.

The mower AND the GT revolution trimmer. Photo cred: Amazon.

The trimmer and edger combo here is also really nice. I’ve reviewed a ton of Worx trimmers and have always found them extremely intuitive to use. The power is nice, but another benefit of the WG934 combo kit is the ability for the trimmer to double as an edger. The GT Revolution is the name of the trimmer when its sold separately, and I think its the most popular trimmer on Amazon. Is this…3 tools in one? Is that cheating? 

You can grab this one for a really, really good price on Amazon.

1. Greenworks 40V 21 inch Mower and String Trimmer Kit

The Greenworks 40V 21 inch Brushless and Cordless mower is an absolute beast. The fact that it comes with a full-body, grown-man string trimmer is a huge plus. And it is a great price.

Gotta love it! This photo came from one of our giveaway winners!

We love the 40V Mower, blower, and trimmer because you can build your entire garage around it. The 40V line from Greenworks covers over 60 products. Once you get this set, you’re set. Snow blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, pole saws – you name it, they’ve got it covered in this line. 

The mower has a steel deck, which makes it one of the most durable cordless mowers in the game. The brushless motor on this also gives it longevity and more torque. Between these two features, this mower is indestructible.

The TLR-favorite Greenworks has really great products. The 12 inch string trimmer that comes with this is perfect for small to medium yards and even includes a brush guard to keep it from tearing into garden beds.

I can’t say enough good things about this set. It is on sale for a great price on Amazon or you can grab it straight from Greenworks’ website.

Why we review lawn tools

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

We take tool testing seriously.

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

What to look for in an electric lawn mower 

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
  • Metal where it matters. 
    • Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
  • Battery interoperability.
    •  A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
  • Self-propelled or not. 
    • I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature. It doesn’t help you that much and it drains battery – I would pass here. This is a marketing gimmick in my opinion.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers.

What to look for in a cordless string trimmer

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

  • Feel – Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.
  • Motor – brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Regular brushed motors are fine, too. The key difference here is that brushless motors use magnets, instead of friction, to power the motor. This means less heat, more durability, and a longer life. Brushed motors will still do the job, however they tend to have a shorter life. Brushless motors are relatively new, so if you have had an electric tool back in the day, it was probably brushed.
  • Interchangeable batteries – Get a dang tool that has batteries that you can use with other batteries. C’mon people – save money by doing this! You don’t have to keep buying new battery sets. There are a lot of tool companies that have batteries that work with a ton of different tools. But some of these companies have a bunch of different battery types. Be careful!
  • Curved vs Straight shaft – I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and create a straight line for edging. 

You can also improve any weed eater to become a freaking beast with the right weed eater string. We developed our own after testing out dozens of strings and combining all the best elements.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

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

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I Tested Out EGO’s 650 CFM Blower and Loved It

The EGO Power+ LB6504 blower is popular. Like the hottest girl at school. But the EGO 650 CFM blower has amazing quality, durability, a nice battery system, and a reasonable price.

For a good reason. The thing not only looks cool, but performs at a super high level.

It is more powerful than probably 90% of handheld cordless blowers on the market. 

And it isn’t even the strongest EGO blower.  Yep, EGO is all about power. They have a corner on the cordless-blower-with-extreme-power market and have really mastered it.

But today, let’s check out WHY they have cornered the market. 

EGO Power+ LB6504 Blower: Features and benefits

This is the point where we get to really roll up our sleeves and pick apart the functions of this blower. Our goal is to take the technical specifications and put them into meaningful terms that you can understand. Let’s get started. We made a cool web story about the EGO blowers if you’re interested.

Check out how this compares to the EGO 765 CFM blower.

Power on the EGO 650 CFM Blower (CFM and MPH)

Well if it is any indication of the power of this blower, the dang thing is named EGO Power+. So I think it has some power.

Coming in at 500 CFMs in standard mode and 650 CFMs (hence LB6504) with the turbo button, power is not going to be something you’re worried about. CFMs are a measurement of the volume of air pushed out of the nozzle. Higher CFMs equal higher miles per hour (speed) generally, but can be majorly impacted by nozzle size. The same amount of air coming out of a tapered nozzle is going to be much faster than that of a wide-mouthed nozzle.

Turbo button featured above, cruise control below.

They serve two different purposes. One for speed and one for moving big piles of leaves. Both are good.

At its max speed (with Turbo Button engaged), this thing is going 180 MPH. That’s darn fast. It is going to be enough to get all of the wet leaves off of your driveway. With that type of speed, you’ll eviscerate big piles of leaves as well.

If you want even more power, check out the EGO LB7654, a bigger brother of this one that has 765 CFMs….

How the EGO 650 CFM blower feels to use

After power, feel is everything. You are the one lugging it around your yard, so it needs to feel comfortable in your hand and not straining your shoulder. It also needs to be easy to control and have some functions that save you time and energy.

The EGO Power+ LB6504 has some functions that make it a breeze to use. Some are relatively common, but most are only found on high end blowers:

  • Variable speed dial
    • Basically you just set which speed you want to rock with and pull the trigger to go. You can also control it with your thumb (if you’re right handed).
  • Turbo button
    • You probably don’t ALWAYS want 650 CFMs..but when you do, there’s a turbo button.
    • I smash it all the time.
  • It weighs 13 lbs
    • Not Super heavy but also not super light. One noticeable thing about it when you pick it up is that it’s solid as a rock. It’s a dang Ford F-150 in the blower world. 
  • Battery indicator has 5 lights
    • Most have four. Which gives you a pretty big range to guess how much life you have. Some have three. The EGO has five. This provides more accuracy for how much longer you have before a recharge.

These are some of my favorite things. All-in-all, it is a bit heavier than most other blowers but because it is so powerful, you don’t have to hold it as long. Kind of a silly way to think about it, but it’s true.

Kinda looks like an XBOX controller.

Durability of EGO Blowers

I kind of just hinted at it, but the EGO Power+ LB6504 blower feels dang sturdy. It’s mostly plastic, but doesn’t feel plastic-y, if that makes sense.

The real durability of this machine is underneath the hood, however. Like most, if not all EGO products, this bad boy has a brushless motor. Brushless motors are the best battery-powered motors for a few reasons:

  • They create less friction, meaning it won’t overheat
  • Less friction also means that the parts won’t wear down over time
  • They have more torque
  • They are quieter

Do I need to say more? As compared to some other trusted brands (like Stihl’s new battery-powered line), EGO products are way more durable and longer lasting.

That’s why one of my friends still has the early model of the 56V EGO mower. It just keeps going forever and ever. 

Cost and value of the EGO 650 CFM blower

So here’s the skinny – this is not the cheapest blower on the planet. But it is one of the highest value blowers on the planet. Here’s what I mean.

You get what you pay for with EGO. The price point here is a little under $300. Sounds like a lot. But it will last you twice as long as most other blowers. You can take that to the bank.

Would you rather burn through two $200 blowers that are less powerful, or buy one $300 blower that is powerful?

The choice is easy. This is a HIGH VALUE blower.

I mean it looks so nice….

The official review: EGO Power+ LB6504 Blower

Pound-for-pound, the EGO Power+ LB6504 is an absolute unit. It’s got great power at a great price. It is made with parts that are built to last – especially the brushless motor. It’s really easy to use and is a part of EGO’s 56V battery series, meaning you can use this same battery across all of EGOs tools.

If you want to grab it, it’s currently on sale on Amazon for a great price. 

Why we review lawn tools

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

How we spend our days.

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

What to look for in an electric blower

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stihl BGA 57 Blower: Features and benefits

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

What you might have expected from Stihl…

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

Power isn’t quite there

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


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

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

So where does the Stihl BGA 57 stack up?

365 CFMs and 123 MPH. Womp womp….

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

Nothing like the gas counterpart.

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

What are they thinking? 

It is easy to use, however

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Super easy to use the battery.

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

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

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

C’mon Stihl! Do better!

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

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

The Stihl BGA 57 blower is overpriced

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

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

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

The Overall Review: Stihl BGA 57 blower

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

Sorry, y’all. 

Why we review lawn tools

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

How we spend our time now.

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

What to look for in a cordless blower

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

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

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

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