Tag: milwaukee

Posted on

Ranking the Best Electric Lawn Mower Brands of 2024

toro mowers

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.

Posted on

5 Battery Mowers with Durable Metal Cutting Decks

My favorite battery powered mower with a metal cutting deck is EGO’s new aluminum deck mower. I’ve used this battery powered mower extensively and it is easily the best value for the money. I also made a full YouTube review video highlighting the top battery mowers here.

Battery-powered mowers with metal cutting decks simply provide too many benefits and have the best comparison to their gas-powered counterparts. I love them for a lot of reasons, which I will get to – and have also used dozens of battery powered mowers. You can grab the number one choice, the Greenworks 80V mower here.

So here are my favorite battery mowers with metal decks:

  1. EGO 56V LM2200SP Walk-Behind Mower
  2. Greenworks Pro 80V Battery Powered Mower
  3. Milwaukee M18 18V Battery Powered Mower
  4. Dewalt 20V Max Self Propelled Mower
  5. Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower

Honorable mention, but a little expensive: Stihl RMA 510 V battery powered mower.

5 Sweet Electric Mowers with Metal Decks

Alright y’all – let me start with my very top choice. I’ve been reluctant to name this electric mower brand number one because I had an initially rocky experience, but after using dozens of others AFTER this one, it turned out to actually be the best for the price.

1.) EGO 56V LM2200SP 22-Inch Walk Behind Mower

Folks this new mower from EGO – the LM2200SP – is the best electric mower on planet Earth. It is the newest EGO mower and has a nice 22-inch aluminum cutting deck that makes it the most durable EGO mower. The LM2200SP also comes with Touch Drive technology and Select Cut (two blades). Touch Drive technology is simply an easy way to control the speed of the self-propelled mower.

Aluminum rules.

We don’t just sort mowers by the best seller and then regurgitate the specifications to you. We are actually going to break down exactly why this one is our absolute favorite. 

If I could draw up the perfect lawn mower in a lab, this one would be darn near close. It has all of my favorite things including:

The only EGO mower with a metal deck – which rockets it up the list in my opinion. Metal decks are way more durable, temperature resistant, and provide a little more weight to keep the mower balanced. 

  • Of course it has the brushless motor and 56V battery system with a massive 10 Ah battery
  • Easy push button start that gets you going
  • Folds in half for storing in the winter or tight spaces around the garage or shed
  • A top run time at over an hour! (70 minutes)
  • More powerful than the average gas push mower at 11.1 lbs of torque

This mower is incredible and easily gives any mower – gas or electric – a run for their money. You can check the price here on Amazon.

2.) Greenworks Pro 80V Brushless Electric Mower

I love the Greenworks Pro 80V electric mower, although I didn’t always. The first one I purchased had some sort of error that made it difficult to learn. But I swapped it out and had a great experience with the replacement. 

Greenworks makes this mower with a nice 21 inch steel cutting deck that looks and feels like a gas-powered push mower. A few other things I like about this mower:

  • A really nice dashboard that shows you battery life and allows you to toggle the speed of the self-propelled function
  • A brushless motor
  • It also has a turbo button that allows you to amp up the power (literally) to take on thicker grass
  • Great battery life
  • An 80V battery lineup that can also accommodate their 80V blower

This one has really grown one me, to the point of it being my go-to every weekend mower. Yeah, that’s right. I own 11 push mowers and this is the one I grab every time.

You can grab yours on Amazon for a great price or get it at your local Costco if you’re a member.

3) Milwaukee M18 Battery Powered Mower

Honestly, the Milwaukee M18 mower is the best battery powered lawn mower I’ve ever used. 

It has everything I look for in a mower: a steel deck, really great battery life, batteries that can be used across hundreds of tools, supreme power, and all the bells and whistles. I got to use it extensively when I did a full review of it on Youtube.

My favorite thing about this mower is that it is built solid as a rock. It is heavier than most electric mowers on the market, which I actually like. Some of the lighter electric mowers have a propensity to bounce around with every little divot in the grass. With the M18, you will have an experience extremely similar to a gas powered mower.

You’re probably wondering, “If he is so obsessed with this mower, then why is it not number one?”. And that would be a great question.

The only – and I mean ONLY – downside to the Milwaukee M18 mower is that it has a hefty price tag. If you don’t own the batteries already then you can expect to pay well over a grand for this bad boy. 

Don’t worry – it goes on sale from time to time at Home Depot if you want to check it out.

4.) Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch lawn mower

I gotta say, I love Dewalt. They make some great tools – from their sweet Dewalt weed eaters, their leaf blowers, and even their air compressors – all of which I’ve had the opportunity to review.

Their mower is really well built. They made it to mimic a gas-powered mower and it actually looks exactly like one. It has a lot to like, including:

  • A wide 21.5 inch steel deck which is right in the gas-powered range
  • Some nice functionality, like a self-propelled function and increased torque when you get to thicker patches of grass
  • Some cutting heights that give you a lot of range for short grass like Berumuda

But my favorite part is that it comes with two massive 12 Ah batteries. This gives you an absurd amount of run time. I’m talking well over an hour of run time.

Where most mowers fall short and die after about 30-45 mins, this one will lap them completely and get you on to your next task faster. The mower is dang sweet and comes in at a reasonable price point if you grab it at Home Depot online.

5.) Toro Recycler SmartStow Battery Mower

Toro’s 60V Recycler Mower has a lot of really great bells and whistles. Frankly, it has all the features I would want in a battery powered mower. It has:

  • A steel deck
  • A nice 6 Ah battery
  • This cool function that pulls air up so you can cut the grass better
  • Patented LawnVitamins mulching system
  • Personal Pace technology, which adjusts the speed of the mower on your ability to push the mower

But it also has a few downsides. For example, Toro doesn’t have a huge selection of battery tools. That means you don’t get the upside of buying a battery kit and using it across power tools and outdoor power equipment. 

I also felt like some of the features of this mower were a bit gimmicky. The “Vortex” air flow technology doesn’t really seem to do anything. The Personal Pace feature was kind of annoying and unsettling, and the batteries took FOREVER to charge.

This is a good option if you already own a Toro battery or are for some reason a Toro loyalist. Otherwise, there’s a reason it is number five on this list.

You can check the price at Home Depot here.

My experience with battery powered mowers with metal decks

When it comes to evaluating battery powered mowers, I’m VERY seasoned. For starters, I filmed a Youtube video of me testing out five of the most popular in a head-to-head matchup. On top of that, I’ve done countless other Youtube reviews of battery mowers. 

Given all this personal experience with electric mowers, I feel pretty confident that I can tell you exactly what you should be looking for in an electric mower. And most importantly – what to avoid. There is a lot of garbage and marketing gimmicks out there, so let me break down for you exactly what to look for.

What I look for in battery powered mowers

If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower (which you are), you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you. If you’re like me, you will tune them out.

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.

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 purchasing an 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.

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. 

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

Posted on

5 Lawn Mowers Designed for Bermudagrass: Ranked

The Toro Recycler SmartStow is the best lawn mower for Bermudagrass because it has super adjustable cutting heights that let you cut bermudagrass down to its appropriate low height plus a super wide deck.

Personally, I hate Bermuda grass. I have some nice tall fescue and live in a transitional zone.  My neighbor has Bermuda so that they can be “different”. Okay.

Anyways, I consider Bermuda grass a weed. But my friends just south of me and one of my The Lawn Review colleagues live in Texas – which is home to a lot of Bermuda. And he gave me his list of the best mowers for Bermuda grass.

So, let’s add some background on why this is important and get right to it.

Here are the best lawn mowers for Bermudagrass:

  1. Toro Recycler SmartStow Battery Mower
  2. Milwaukee M18 Fuel Mower
  3. Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch Battery Mower
  4. Toro TimeMaster 30 inch Mower
  5. EGO Power+ LM2021 Mower

Honorable mention but a tad pricy: Stihl’s new RMA 510 V electric mower.

5 Lawn Mowers for Bermudagrass

As you can see – with Bermuda grass, you have to be a little bit more selective about what you want in a mower. This is exactly why we spent dozens of hours researching and testing the mowers that are going to be super tailored to Bermuda lawns. Let’s check it out.

Toro Recycler SmartStow 22 inch Battery Powered Mower

We ranked the Toro Recycler SmartStow 22 inch battery powered mower as the best mower for Bermuda grass for a few reasons. First of all, Toro is a well-known name that makes some freakishly popular and powerful mowers. 

This one is flat out sweet – and a good price.

But there are many more reasons than just the fancy name. As we referenced earlier in this article, this one has everything you could want in a mower for bermudagrass. Like these key features:

  • A slightly wider deck at 22 inches (the standard is usually 18-21 for push mowers)
  • Bagging ability (most have this, though)
  • I like that it is battery powered because you won’t have to run to get gas if you are mowing more than once per week.
  • It can cut between 1 to 4 inches, getting you great results for your 1.5 inch bermuda grass
  • Toro created this airflow technology that pulls the air up on grass, allowing it to be more evenly cut – this mower has that.
  • It stores super easily, folding in half and being placed in a tight spot in the garage to get you through the dead season of bermudagrass, which seems to last forever

Toro nailed it with this mower. You know they had bermuda grass folks in mind when they created it – which makes sense given how popular these are in the South. 

You can grab this one from Home Depot for a great price – check the most recent price here.

Check out our top mowers at Home Depot.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Brushless Mower

What can we say? We are obsessed with this mower and have featured it on all of our favorite battery powered mower posts. 

The reason?

It’s a freak of nature. And we also love that it is the only mower that Milwaukee makes. We frequently joke that they just decided to put all their chips on this hand and walked away from the table a winner.

Just an absolute unit.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel mower is great for Bermuda grass and has a lot of the same features as the Toro one above, but also costs about twice as much. It has bagged discharge capabilities, 1 to 4 inch height adjustment (that is single point, by the way), a wonderful self-propelled function, an extremely efficient brushless motor that accelerates faster than any other mower, and more torque than most gas mowers.

Yes, it is the cream of the crop and the perfect mower for any of you that already own an M18 battery-powered tool. 

This one is quite expensive though. Milwaukee is definitely a premium brand and hands down has the best mower on this list – but the price is steep.

You can check the most recent price at Home Depot, where it is exclusively sold, right here.

Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch Battery Mower

The Dewalt 20V Max mower is one that definitely surprised me. I know Dewalt has been in the power tool business for a long, long time, but are relatively new to the lawn tool space. 

The reason this one isn’t higher up on the list is that Dewalt simply doesn’t have a massive line of lawn tools. They have this 20V brand but also have a 60V line. So you don’t get the same efficiency and battery savings that you do with other brands like Ryobi.

My son likes this one.

But there’s still a lot to like about the Dewalt battery-powered lawn mower, like:

  • 21.5 inch deck gives you a little more width for cutting Bermuda grass
  • 10 Ah batteries – which is INSANELY high
  • Self-propelled function
  • 1.5-4 inch cutting heights – so you’ll have to drop it way down for Bermuda
  • Sweet metal cutting deck
  • Reasonable price – even better if you already have a dewalt 20V Max battery

This really is a great mower, with one of the main downsides being that it’s really hard to find replacement blades because of the unique size. If they get dull, you can sharpen your mower blades instead of buying a new one.

This one is also available at Home Depot for a great price – even less if you get the tool-only version.

Toro TimeMaster 30 inch Mower

Some of you are getting super mad right now because I haven’t featured any gas-powered mowers….until now!

The Toro TimeMaster 30 is the Ray Lewis of mowers. It’s absolutely massive and packs a ridiculous punch. Yes – the 30 in TimeMaster 30 is how many inches wide it is. And if you’re thinking that the width is like a riding mower, then you’d be exactly right. It’s extremely wide.

The TimeMaster is a gas-powered masterpiece that’s amazing for Bermuda lawns. The cut height ranges from 1.25 to 4.25 inches and everything in between. This level of detail is unmatched. Here are some other bells and whistles on the TimeMaster that truly set it apart.

  • 223 CC Engine
  • Self-propel function with traction assist
  • Spin-Stop  function that means you can deactivate the blades but keep the engine running. Great if you have to move a rock out of the way without having to stop and restart the mower.
  • Two side-by-side cutting blades
  • A cool deck wash port that allows you to connect your hose to a tube and it will clean out the deck.
Yeah its massive.

The only downside to this mower is the price. It is the Cadillac of push mowers which means it carries a Cadillac price tag. It does occasionally go on sale so you can check the price here at Home Depot.

EGO Power+ LM2021 Mower

I had to put this EGO mower in here in the ranking of great mowers for Bermuda because we just love EGO products. And we recommend this mower the most because it has a steel cutting  deck whereas most other EGO mowers don’t.

We like this EGO mower for bermuda because it is a great battery-powered lawn system that can be used all across your bermuda lawn. From EGO’s weed eaters to their super powerful blowers, you’ll be covered once you get into this system.

EGO steel deck mower.

It’s also got a great run-time and charges quickly, so you can mow a larger area and do it more often without worrying about trips to the gas station. Great for bermuda grass. 

This one is available at Amazon for a super good price relative to most other EGO mowers.

Bottom line on mowers for Bermudagrass

It’s not hard to find a good mower for Bermudagrass – but since you are going to be mowing more often than most folks, want to collect grass clippings, and need a short cut, there are some mowers that are just flat out more suited for you.

Looking for a mower somewhere else? We were surprised to see some of these at Walmart.

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. 

Reviewing mowers is what we do.

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. 

Why is Bermuda grass different for mowing?

Truth is, you can roll any old mower out there and it will get the job done. But if you want not only good-looking green grass but HEALTHY green Bermuda grass, then you should be careful how you cut it. Here’s what to look for:

Flexibility with cutting heights

Bermuda needs to be cut at a height of 1 to 1.5 inches. That’s short. For example, I cut my fescue lawn at about 3 inches. You’ll want to grab a mower that can cut that low but also has more intervals between 0-2 inches that let you customize it based on your needs. Getting a mower that has wide intervals may not allow you to mow with any real sensitivity.

Bagging capabilities

Most of the time, I don’t recommend bagging your grass while mowing. I let the clippings fall into the yard and provide nutrients to the soil. Bermudagrass grows like a weed (and I consider it one), meaning it grows really quickly. If you aren’t bagging the clippings, you’ll find that fungus will begin to thrive in your lawn. 

A wider deck

Bermuda grass grows really quickly. My neighbor is out there about 1.5x a week mowing his lawn (conveniently when my daughter is trying to take a nap). If you have a small mower, say 16-18 inches, then you are going to be out there making a LOT of passes. Getting a mower with a slightly wider deck will help make you a lot more efficient while mowing.

Posted on

Ryobi 40V vs Milwaukee M18 Lawn Mower Comparison

Ryobi vs Milwaukee mowers are two premium electric mowers found side-by-side at Home Depot. Ryobi has a TON of mowers they sell and have been in the game for a long time. Milwaukee, well, they just have ONE mower. And it’s a beast.

Me with the Ryobi 40V brushless mower.

Bottom Line: Ryobi’s mower is cheaper, but the Milwaukee M18 is probably the best electric mower I have ever used. You can check the price of the Milwaukee online at Home Depot here.

We’ve been lucky enough to get our hands on both and have some opinions. So let’s walk through what we like (and dislike) about both.

Oh yeah, and BOTH the final listing of our favorite electric mowers.

I bought and tested the Ryobi 40V and Milwaukee M18 mowers

I saw these two side-by-side at Home Depot and they were both extremely expensive. Needless to say, my wife was not happy when I came home with two more lawn mowers and $2,000 spent.

But it had to be done. I put these through my normal gauntlet, which includes testing it on my tall fescue grass, checking out the self-propelled functions, evaluating the battery run time, and finally comparing it to my gas mower.

Things got interesting. And I’m still in the dog house.

Milwaukee M18 vs Ryobi 40V HP Mower: Features breakdown

When I’m looking at both the Milwaukee and Ryobi mowers, I’m asking myself – why the price difference? Before we get there, let’s do a deep dive into the power, ease of use, durability, and value of each of these mowers. If you want to go deeper, we’ve done a full review of the new Milwaukee M18 mower and ranked the some of our favorite Ryobi lawn mowers.

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more powerful than the Ryobi 40V mower

Comparing power on electric motors is difficult because they don’t have ccs or horsepower definitions that you find from the classic gas-powered mowers. Instead, metrics like torque are used to compare to traditional mowers. 

Up close on their battery enclosure.

Let’s break down the specifications on the Milwaukee mower first. It has a large 21 inch deck with a variable speed self-propelled function. 21 inch decks are standard cutting widths on push mowers, so we can check that box. One thing that Milwaukee boasts is their POWERSTATE brushless motor, which gives more torque than a 200c gas mower. 

That is really impressive. Honda makes some great mowers, but even their old classic and my personal favorite Honda GCV190 mower doesn’t have that kind of power. 

The Ryobi 40V HP mower also has a 21 inch deck with SMART TREK adaptive variable speed self-propelled functionality, just like the Milwaukee mower. One differentiator is that it has multiple blades that help cut faster and more evenly than single blade mowers. Their HP brushless motor and HP battery work together to deliver higher performance (HP) to the mower.

Easily the best looking Ryobi mowers.

It’s interesting assessing the power between these two just using the specifications, but the Milwaukee mower feels more powerful. Maybe it is the metal deck or maybe it is truly the motor design, but it feels just as powerful as my gas-powered mower. 

The winner of this power battle is the Milwaukee M18 Mower.

Both Milwaukee and Ryobi have super easy to use mowers

Evaluating how easy it is to use a lawn mower means checking out all the features that make it convenient, including bells and whistles. I’ll break out each element of both mowers in easy-to-understand ways that help you know what you’re buying. 

The M18 Milwaukee mower has some great features:

  • REDLINK PLUS – a battery and mower chip system that helps maximize the communication between the two to optimize performance (Ryobi has this, too)
  • High Lift Mode – pulls air through the bottom of the mower and lifts up the grass, making it easier to cut
  • Front and side LED lights (cool for at night use)
  • The M18 battery works with over 200 Milwaukee tools
  • Single point height adjuster means you don’t have to change the height settings on both wheels
  • 12 Amp-hour batteries for serious power and capacity (up to ¾ acre or 60 minutes)
  • Over 80 lbs

The last point is a contentious one but I actually like heavier push mowers. They hold a straight line much better and make mowing easier. 

This mower is an absolute unit.

Milwaukee nailed it with this one, but let’s check out some of the specs on the Ryobi 40V HP brushless mower:

  • LED headlights
  • Cross cut multi-blade system
  • 70 minutes of run-time (compared to Milwaukee’s 60)
  • HP battery system and chip that give you better performance (like Milwaukee’s REDLINK)
  • Ability to use with Ryobi’s 40V HP 50 other tools

These both have a ton of bells and whistles, but I actually like Milwaukee’s better. They have clearly put a lot of thought into making this a premium mower and don’t even sell another kind. It is designed to be near perfect, especially for someone who takes a lot of pride in their yard. Specifically, I like their high lift mode that pulls air up for easier cutting. Toro’s SmartStow mower (the new battery-powered version of the Recycler) has this one as well. 

I also appreciate that Milwaukee has the same M18 battery across all their tools. You can save some serious money on batteries by using this mower if you already own Milwaukee M18 tools. Ryobi is still building out their 40V HP series, so it isn’t quite as expansive. I also think Milwaukee overall is a more “premium” brand than Ryobi.

Winner: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Mower

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more durable than Ryobi 40V mower

If I’m going to drop darn near a grand on a battery-powered mower, the thing better last until I can pass it down to my unborn children. So durability matters big time. 

The most important thing in anticipating the longevity of a mower is the motor. Brushless motors (as mentioned at the beginning of this article) are the new wave in electric tools and should be mandatory. They provide more torque, a cooler running engine, and a longer life.

Fortunately, both the Ryobi 40V and Milwaukee M18 mower provide a brushless motor – a huge benefit when compared to brushed. Check that box.

The next thing I look for is the construction of the deck. Metal matters here – it is much more durable and provides additional weight that is extremely helpful in keeping the mower straight. The M18 mower is forged with a steel deck whereas the Ryobi 40V HP mower has a plastic deck. It is still made from tough material and comes with a lifetime warranty, but it isn’t as nice as metal.

Milwaukee has a great steel deck.

Using the Ryobi mower, it felt like the mower was almost too light. I blame the plastic deck for this, but it popped around when I hit tufts of grass and felt like it got out of control.

Winner: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Lawn Mower

Milwaukee’s mower is more expensive than Ryobi’s 40V mower

Okay it seems unfair that Milwaukee’s M18 mower has one every competition so far with Ryobi’s 40V HP mower, but it comes with a price. A big one.

Milwaukee’s M18 mower comes in at over $1,000. Is it worth it? It depends. If you have Milwaukee batteries already and/or want a PREMIUM walk-behind mower, then yes. You can grab it at Home Depot.

The Ryobi 40V HP mower costs about $750 from Home Depot (only place you can buy). So 75% cheaper than Milwaukee.

Plastic deck is NOT great.

Here’s my advice: the Ryobi 40V HP mower is still a premium mower that’s better than 75% of mowers on the market. But if I don’t already own Ryobi 40V HP batteries, I’m going to go with a cheaper mower of similar quality with a metal deck, like the Greenworks 80V Pro electric mower from Costco.

Final Review: Ryobi vs Milwaukee mower

Now that we’ve considered power, usability, durability, and cost we have a pretty good understanding of which mower is better. It’s clearly the Milwaukee M18 FUEL mower winning the competition against the Ryobi 40V HP mower.

Is the cost worth it? Maybe. But if you’re going with a premium mower, it is definitely the cream of the crop. 

Lastly, if you want to check out some other mowers out there for a fair comparison, check out how we rank these against EGO mowers.

Why you can trust 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 testing tools 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 I look for in a battery-powered lawn mower

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

Ryobi and Milwaukee 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.

Recognizable for quality.

Ryobi and Milwaukee both have TONS of different tools. Milwaukee puts a ton of thought and research into developing a new product and then BAM – it’s a hit.. Extremely well designed and durable, easy to use, and powerful. Ryobi also has a ton of products across several different industries and seems to be more focused on quantity than quality. 

But that doesn’t mean Ryobi doesn’t have some bangers. There are some great Ryobi weed eaters and Ryobi pressure washers that include gas and electric version, but there are also amazing Milwaukee string trimmers in that same 18V FUEL lineup.

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. Luckily with Ryobi and Milwaukee, they have batteries that can be used across a TON of their products – both indoor and outdoor.

Milwaukee has some great products like their hedge trimmer in the same FUEL lineup called M18 and even some great Milwaukee blowers from that same lineup.

If you have more questions, check out our list of exactly how we pick our favorite mowers.

Posted on

Milwaukee’s M18 Weed Eater Passed the TLR Test

Milwaukee’s M18 weed eater is a freak of nature. I like the Milwaukee string trimmer because it comes from a super deep bench of M18 batteries and has unbelievable torque and power despite low voltage.

But when they make a lawn tool, it does not miss. If you don’t believe me check out their lawn mower or their sweet cordless hedge trimmer.

Bottom Line: The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has an impressive cutting swath, great battery system, is comfortable and easy to use, and a highly durable motor. This weed eater is darn near perfect. You can grab it from your local Home Depot by using this link.

Jump ahead:

Milwaukee M18 Brushless String Trimmer: Features and benefits

We already know Milwaukee’s M18 series is built to provide serious power, so let’s break down exactly what makes this a great weed eater. I’m going to look specifically at power, comfort, durability, and price. All of these things together paint the picture of how much value this weed eater has.

This string trimmer provides serious power

Weed eater power is impacted by a few things. One of the most important is the battery voltage, but also the cutting swath and rotations per minute, or speed, of the string trimmer.

When I look at voltage, usually lower voltage means less power. Somehow, Milwaukee has managed to make their 18V battery provide more power than other 18V battery lines, like Ryobi. Interestingly, they have a High Output battery line that performs better in different temperatures and overall delivers power more efficiently. While you won’t get the same power as you would from an one of the EGO 56V weed eater, it is going to still be a noticeably powerful tool.

The next way to look at power is the cutting swath. The gold standard for a battery-powered weed eater is about 15 inches. Anything above a 15 inch cutting swath puts you in commercial territory. The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has up to a 16 inch cutting swath, putting it right at the top of the competition. 

Lastly, RPMs are also a good indicator of how much power is being delivered. At 6,200 RPMs, this is up there as one of the most efficient weed eaters, providing a ton of spinning force which will help rip through grass with ease. 

Comfort and usability

The next most important thing to assess after power is how comfortable the M18 weed eater is to use. Frankly, there is nothing particularly special about the Milwaukee M18’s design to imply that it is more or less comfortable than other weed eaters.

Here are some features that come with many other battery-powered weed eaters that are also on the Milwaukee M18 weed eater:

These are relatively common across the dozens of weed eaters we have used, so there isn’t really anything special here. One thing I do NOT love about this weed eater is the battery placement. The M18 battery is at the very, very tip of the weed eater instead of embedded lower in the handle, making the balance a little trickier. It requires a minor increase in downward force / torque of the shoulder that makes it uncomfortable after a few minutes of use. 

Hate to say it, but the Milwaukee 2828 M18 Weed eater is very “average” in the comfort and usability department. 

One last thing I want to point out with this weed eater that’s a huge advantage is the length. At almost 74 inches long, it is the ideal length for a straight shaft weed eater. Longer shafts allow  you to be more precise when cutting.

The weed eater has a durable brushless motor

If you’ve read any of our other reviews, you will know how much emphasis we place on brushless motors. They are EVERYTHING in battery-powered tools and of course super important for weed eaters. 

Brushless motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a more durable life than their brushed counterparts. When it comes to electric tools, they should really be required. I would never buy a brushed motor again. 

Luckily, the folks at Milwaukee included a brushless motor on the M18 string trimmer kit. This instantly puts it in the upper tier of weed eaters in the ranks of durability because it will outlast every single brushed motor out there. 

Another great thing about this one is that the M18 battery system is darn reliable. You can use it on so many of the other Milwaukee tools and because they have 200+ tools on this system, you are going to have no concerns about the durability of the battery. 

Again, Milwaukee backs up their tools AND batteries with a 3 year warranty. If you’re worried about durability – don’t be. 

It’s not all that expensive either

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater comes in at a STUNNING price of just under $200 – including the M18 battery. I was simply aghast when I saw the price. If you already have the M18 battery, you can buy the tool-only version for $180. 

Holy cow – this little piece of news changes the whole game. You can grab this at Home Depot for a great (ridiculous) price.

Best Weed Eater String for Milwaukee Weed Eaters

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater can take .080” or .095” weed eater string. We developed our own weed eater string after testing dozens of strings and combining the best elements of each into one .095” string. We think it absolutely rocks, but we are biased. It does fit in this weed eater and will definitely add more power. You can grab it below for a really low price.

Final Review: Milwaukee M18 Weed Eater

At first glance, I love the Milwaukee M18 weed eater. I thought: “Milwaukee makes freakishly powerful tools – so this one has to be great”. I saw it was brushless and had a big cutting swath, which confirmed my beliefs. But nothing about it really seemed special. It has totally stock features and doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

But then I saw the price and thought “Wow” this is a super valuable weed eater. It has amazing power, great durability, and an awesome warranty – all for under $200. 

If you’re in the market – and PARTICULARLY if you already own Milwaukee products – then you won’t regret buying this bad boy.

Why we review weed eaters

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

How we spend our time.

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

How to instantly improve your weed eater

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

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

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

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how we evaluate a weed eater at The Lawn Review.

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 a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

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 to create a straight line for edging. 

Posted on

3 Strong Milwaukee 18V Leaf Blowers

My favorite Milwaukee leaf blower is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL leaf blower because it is great for every day use including around the shop, backyard, and even for drying your car.

But they’ve got three real options here and you can’t really go wrong with either. And we were lucky enough to get our hands on them for a nice side-by-side trial.

We were blown away (ha,ha).

So let’s check them out together.

SPOILER: Our favorite was the M18 Milwaukee 2724-20 Leaf Blower

You can grab it online from Home Depot or on Amazon by following those links.

The 3 Strongest Milwaukee Leaf Blowers

Milwaukee is known for their amazing quality but they are also known for having a limited selection. One shot, one kill, right? A good example of this is their M18 lawn mower. It is the only lawn mower they make but it is super high quality. Same with their M18 hedge trimmer. That’s why I was surprised to see 3 whole leaf blowers by them.

So we investigated and ranked them.

3. Milwaukee M12 12V Compact Spot Blower

At first glance, this tool seems like a nice-to-have accessory. Lo-and-behold I was super surprised to feel how strong it could blow.

Extends well.

Normally, compact blowers are good to use without a nozzle to dry your car after a detailed wash. While this Milwaukee blower is good for that, it also comes with three nozzles. The wide sweeping nozzle is great for truck beds and job sites. But it also comes with a rubber nozzle and extension nozzle. These take it to the next level and can downright replace your leaf blower at home altogether.

Compact but also legit.

To put this into perspective, it measures at about 110 mph in a nice, direct stream. This is similar to most electric blowers on the market.  

You can see the trigger up close with the lock.

Lastly, this bad boy has a ton of settings near the handle that gave me complete control over the job. Speed settings, a speed lock, and even a variable speed trigger were things that stuck out to us as putting this over the “compact blower” category and potentially into full blown  “regular blower” territory.

This thing is dirt cheap, especially if you already own the M12 battery. It looks like Home Depot has it on sale for under $100 right now.

2. Milwaukee M18 Compact Multipurpose Utility Blower (0884-20)

You might need a concealed carry license for this Milwaukee blower. While it is pocket size, at just over two feet long, it actually is surprisingly powerful. I’d liken it to the Kimo handheld blower we reviewed, which we wrote about and did a nice lil’ video for.

In fact, they look like they’re made by the same parent company or something. 

Either way, we loved that blower and we loved this one, too. In fact, we keep it in our coat closet right by our front door and use it to clean out the front walkway and patio before guests come over. It moves air at 160 MPH in an absolute laser.

Not bad!

While it definitely isn’t the blower for your backyard leaf clearing jobs, it is great for wet leaves, sawdust, tight spaces, and other quick uses.

It also comes with a little extension nozzle that takes it a bit further. 

The Kimo has an uncanny similarity.

I ranked this number two because it doesn’t have a brushless motor and therefore won’t have quite the efficiency or durability when compared to brushless motors.

Either way, this thing is really slick and an awesome gift for dad. 

You can get it on Amazon for a great price, with the battery included or at Home Depot – you should price compare.

1. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 120 MPH (2724-20) Leaf Blower

There is a reason this leaf blower is number one. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL series is sweet and features the top-of-the-line Milwaukee products. 

Nice little trigger action on this bad boy.

Firstly, it has a nice brushless motor from their POWERSTATE brushless motor line. This gives this Milwaukee blower some extreme torque, allowing it to get to full blast in one second. Cool but doesn’t change that much. The real benefits to the brushless motor come in its long life and durability. Brushless motors provide a much cooler running motor than typical brushed motor. 

Speed control on the blower.

Another thing I love about this blower is the higher CFMs. Whereas the other two blowers are high speed, but narrow streams – this blower will have high speed AND a wide stream. This is the ideal portfolio of a blower you can use to move all the leaves off your driveway or backyard. 

This blower has all the bells and whistles as well – variable speed trigger, speed lock, and all comes in under 4 lbs. 

This is a top of the line blower and if you go reference my “what to look for in a blower” paragraph at the beginning – the M18 blower checks all the boxes.

You can get this one from trusty old Home Depot 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 do our testing.

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

About Milwaukee tools

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

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

We noticed that Milwaukee was starting to make a splash in the lawn tool industry, so we have been trying to get our hands on any Milwaukee products that we can, including Milwaukee’s M18 super powerful weed eater.

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. 

Posted on

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

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

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

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

For real? They just made one mower? 

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

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

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

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

Isn’t it a beauty?

The Milwaukee M18 mower is more powerful than my Honda mower

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

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

After a few cuts it got some nice grass clippings.

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

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

The Milwaukee M18 mows smoothly and efficiently

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

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

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

These knobs pull out and help you fold it down.

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

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

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

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

A nice big steel deck and large tires.

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

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

The mower has some nice bells and whistles

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

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

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

This mower is worth the hefty price tag

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

Nice battery indicator.

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

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

The official review: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21 inch mower

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

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

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

Why we started The Lawn Review

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 test a lot of tools

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

We also did a nice review of their weed eater.

What to look for in a battery powered lawn mower

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

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
    • Luckily – Milwaukee carries really good brand quality. They’re well known for making durable, powerful, trusted tools
  • Metal where it matters.
    • Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
    • Again, Milwaukee has you covered ehre.
  • Battery interoperability.
    •  A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
  • Self-propelled or not.
    • Some people love it – I am indifferent. It’s a great feature for hills, uneven surfaces, or if you don’t like to push your push mower.

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

About Milwaukee tools

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

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

Favorite logo.

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

Posted on

Milwaukee’s M18 Hedge Trimmer is Raw Power

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

Nice looking machine!

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

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

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 24 inch Hedge Trimmer

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

So, let’s check it out.

This trimmer feels solid and durable

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

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

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

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

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

The Milwaukee 24 inch hedge trimmer has unmatched power

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

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

Nope.

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

But also able to cut through really thick branches.

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

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

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

The M18 battery provides consistent power despite being a smaller voltage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s a lot of batteries!

Cost and value of the Milwaukee M18 hedge trimmer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why we review lawn tools

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 test our tools.

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

Why you need a cordless hedge trimmer

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

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

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

About Milwaukee tools

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

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

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

Exit mobile version