Tag: Ryobi

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Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Backpack Sprayer Review: 2024

Ryobi 18V Chemical Sprayer

The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Backpack Chemical Sprayer is a great tool for making weed spraying significantly faster and easier. Weeds are the Achilles heel in every man’s lawn. It doesn’t matter how much you dethatch, aerate or seed, you’re still getting that pesky crabgrass or dandelions showing up like a rock in your shoe. 

Backpack, jetpack, whatever. This thing rocks.

The best way to put an end to the weed madness (we’re talking plants here, guys) is to regularly treat your lawn with an herbicide. To do this, you’re going to need a reliable sprayer so that you’re not coming into direct contact with the chemicals. Better yet – a pumpless, cordless, battery-powered backpack sprayer by one of our favorite manufacturers in the market – Ryobi.

Bottom line: I love this Ryobi backpack sprayer. The battery sprayer is comfortable, way better than a pump sprayer, and super easy to flip the battery to one of my other tools afterwards. Oh yeah – and it is a great price over at Home Depot.

Want to skip ahead? Click any of the links below to see for yourself.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Battery Backpack Sprayer: Features and benefits

Alright, enough of the boring stuff. On to the benefits of the Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer. Sprayer? I just met her.

Ryobi’s backpack sprayer is not manual and requires no pumping

1980 called, they want their manual, boring backpacker sprayer back. But seriously, why in this day in age are we settling for a hand-operated power system for our lawn equipment when electricity was invented by George Washington over 1000 years ago? 

Legitimately pretty comfortable.

My absolute favorite feature of the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Backpack Sprayer is the fact that you don’t have to pump every couple sprays. Look, I consider myself to be relatively in-shape, but my right shoulder always ends up sore after a day of spraying weeds with a manual sprayer. Finally, technology has once again come to save the day.  Ryobi – my weakling shoulder thanks you.

RYOBI 18V lithium ONE+ battery AND Charger that come with your sprayer

One of the best features of the Ryobi Backpack Sprayer is the versatility of the battery — it works with all Ryobi ONE+ products. Whether its your Ryobi brushless mower, hedge trimmer, drill, or auger, you can switch out batteries between all of them – as long as it’s an 18V wattage. 

18V battery can be used in a ton of Ryobi ONE+ products.

No more waiting until the battery has recharged to start back up again, just pop that fully charged battery in from your drill and you’re good as gold. This has been the biggest pain point for me and my tools – the fact that each electric tool has a different battery with a different charger. Ryobi has created an ecosystem of tools through their ONE+ batteries that removes this problem. You can literally have one battery for over 200 different Ryobi tools. I’m nerding out here, but this is a long time coming. 

Check out our FAQ guide about electric tool batteries and comment on our Facebook page if you want to add to the list!

Oh, also, the 18V ONE+ battery lasts for ELEVEN tank fill-ups. Unless you have a square mile of crabgrass to kill, this should be plenty of battery life to cover the average size lawn, and then some. 

Ryobi Cordless 4 Gallon Sprayer Tank is huge for the backpack sprayer

The Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer comes with a 4 gallon, translucent tank that allows you to easily check how much product you have left in the tank, rather than taking it off your back and opening up the top and checking yourself. Might seem trivial, but you’re adding stress to your back each time you have you to take it off and put it back on. Ease-of-use is the name of the game here, folks.

4. Gallons. More than enough.

Inside the tank, you’ll find a filter assembly that, when pouring in your additional product, removes all debris. One of the biggest pain-points I’ve had in the past with pressurized sprayers is debris entering the tank and clogging up the hose. With the intuitive filter addition, the interior of the tank and hose assembly is quarantined from debris that can cause headache down the line. 

Variable Pressure dial on the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Chemical backpack sprayer

Once pressurized, depressing the spray button activates the pump. Release it, and the pump stops. The activation button can be locked “on” to give your thumb a rest. I’ve won many thumb wars in my day, but after spraying for a couple hours with my old sprayer, my thumb would be cramping. This feature allows my thumb to take a rest, prop its feet up, and let the battery do the work.

Twist and shout.

Also, no more pumping and dealing with various amounts of pressure. The pressure control knob is easily adjustable to allow spray to easily reach areas 10 ft. away or more if needed for cleaning solutions on house siding or reduced to low pressure for plants at your feet if using a liquid fertilizer. The versatility of the control knob opens up the door to all sorts of uses, allowing it to be customizable to fit your needs. 

Nozzle use is a breeze on the Ryobi backpack sprayer

The sprayer comes with two tips; one that has a cone pattern and the other with a fan pattern. The latter, when the power was on full, spayed an area 10 feet away. 

For me, the adjustable cone nozzle was best for use in the yard. When spraying bushes with insecticide or herbicide, I twist that nozzle to maximum open setting and spray away. When treating smaller areas like cracks in pavement or standalone weeds in my beds, and to conserve my chemicals, I would tighten up the nozzle for maximum accuracy. 

Super easy to use and has multiple spray patterns.

The fan nozzle is great for use when you’re looking for a uniform spread across a surface. This nozzle was perfect for killing the grass for my entire front yard last fall, or the ancillary applications I touched on earlier, like mildew treatment on your outdoor siding or deck. 

Honestly, I think you could get away with about every possible application with just the adjustable nozzle, but the fan nozzle has its benefits. 

Value and where to buy the Ryobi backpack sprayer

In the pressure sprayer game, you get what you pay for. Because of the added benefits of battery-powered and automatic pump assembly, you’re going to be paying a premium of $160 to $180 depending on the retailer. Guys, it’s worth it. Your shoulder will thank you.

Official review: Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Backpack Chemical Sprayer

The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Backpack Chemical Sprayer is one of our favorites on the market for pressurized sprayers. Ryobi has elevated the level of technology in this space and left other manufacturers in the dust. If you’re looking to for a versatile, electric, backpack sprayer to make your outdoor tasks simpler, the Ryobi ONE+ 18V is the chemical sprayer for you. 

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 have unusual testing methods.

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 to use a backpack sprayer

Pressure sprayers are perfect tools for applying chemicals to your lawn and garden. From fertilizer, to herbicides & fungicides, to insecticides, a pressure sprayer is the piece of equipment you need for year-round landscaping needs. 

BUT WAIT… there’s more. Putting aside all the uses that the Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Backpack Sprayer has in your lawn and garden; it also has several other uses that will save you time and money. Stepping off the lawn for a minute, below are some ancillary uses for this sprayer that you might not have considered:

  • Sanitizing and Cleaning: In this day in age, health is at the utmost concern for lots of homebuyers. If you’re applying a large amount of disinfectant for any application, try using a pressurized backpack sprayer to save yourself some time and money.
  • Mildew Removal: Every 3 years like clockwork, I start to see mildew and algae creeping in on my deck and house siding. Instead of hiring a company to come and take care of it for me, I use my Ryobi Cordless Backpack Sprayer to apply outdoor cleaner to hard-to-reach places, and ensure I’ve covered the entire surface area to get my surfaces looking like new again. You do NOT want to let mildew build up. The longer it builds up, the harder it is to get rid of.
  • Deicing: Skip the rock salt this year and apply a deicing liquid to your driveway and front steps. The experts say that liquid deicer tends to stick to hard surfaces better than salt. With a pressurized sprayer, you can quickly ensure that you are creating the safest conditions possible when that winter storm warning hits. 

Always remember to thoroughly clean out the jug after using it for the various purposes listed above. The LAST thing you want is to accidentally kill patches of your yard because you didn’t clean out a prior product from the jug properly. These chemicals are potent, and just a small amount could do damage if used improperly

Check out some of our favorite Ryobi products, including Ryobi’s 40V blower series. We also review their 40V weed eater, 3000 PSI pressure washer, and of course the best Ryobi mowers – ranked!

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7 Best Cordless Trimmer and Blower Combo Kits

The best cordless trimmer and blower combinations are the ones that work together like MJ and Pippen. My favorite is the Greenworks 40V string trimmer and blower combo because it has a great battery system, brushless motor, and is very inexpensive.

Here’s a scenario. You just mow your lawn with one of our top-ranked electric mowers. You pop the battery off, and get to trimming around your driveway and garden beds with the trimmer, then quickly pop the battery onto your blower and finish the job.

You can grab the best string trimmer and blower combo on Amazon for a great price.

This is the dream scenario – efficient, seamless, emission free, and easy. While many of these tools can be bought directly from the manufacturer, Home Depot, or Lowes – we have found Amazon has them bundled into easy to assemble and low-cost kits. The trimmer and blower combinations listed below are going to get you there. 

The top 7 trimmer and blower combinations

7. Craftsman V20 String Trimmer and Blower Combo Kit, Cordless (CMCK297M1)

Craftsman provides some great household tools, from air pressurizers to vacuums. Craftsman does a great job in their V20 series by providing a pair of tools that help roll-up your garage into a convenient and easy-to-use kit.

Let’s start with the Craftsman V20 string trimmer. The string trimmer has an automatic line advancement, meaning you won’t have to constantly stop to lengthen the string in the trimmer when it runs low. The trimmer can also function as an edging tool, providing even more versatility to the overall combo kit.

The blower is also perfect for homeowners doing smaller jobs. A 350 CFM, 100 MPH blower has variable speed controlled by a trigger to match the size of the job. While this isn’t the most powerful blower on the market, it is definitely enough power to clear out your garage, patio, deck, or driveway. 

This product comes in at a great price and is actually listed as “Amazon’s Choice” for string trimmer and blower combo kits. You can find it on Amazon for a DEAL. Grab it today to take on any job around your home.

Sleek Craftsman design looks great in the garage.

6. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT 10 in. 2in1 Cordless String Trimmer/Edger + Sweeper Combo Kit (LCC222)

This one is super popular – and for good reason. The price on this blower combo kit is nearly impossible to beat.

One thing I love about both of these tools is that it takes Black and Decker’s super popular 20V max battery. For example, I have this battery and use it on my power drill. I could easily take it off of that and pop it onto the blower or trimmer.

While the trimmer here is pretty basic, it is going to be just fine for small yards. If you live in a townhome or otherwise have a tiny yard, this is all you will need.

The blower will leave a lot to be desired from a power perspective. It is super small and has an even smaller opening. BUT – this  may be all you need if you have a small yard. And as a positive, it is super quiet. Like eerily quiet.

You can buy this for right a super low price on Amazon, where it has almost 7,500 reviews (averaging 4.5 stars).

The low power, high value trimmer and blower kit.

5. Dewalt String Trimmer, DCST925 and DCBL720 Combo Kit (DCKO975M1)

While Dewalt isn’t recognized as much as some of the others for breadth of lawn equipment, they definitely have a solid core product line. We have reviewed their battery-powered mower in addition to the blower featured in this combo kit.

To summarize, the blower is pretty good but not great. It has a wide opening, which allows for a large jet stream of air, but the speed of the air isn’t as high as I would like. We review the whole thing in this blower review.

The string trimmer looks really sweet. In particular, we really like the squeeze handles at the top. Many manufacturers have normal triggers, but the squeeze triggers are so much easier to use and don’t cramp up your hands. 

This kit is great, but is a little on the pricier side. You can grab this kit on Amazon for cheap or so, depending on where you grab it. Check it out on Amazon to see where the best deal is today.

Dewalt has the great handle on the trimmer.

4. WORX WG928 GT 3.0 Grass Turbine 2 20V Batt/Charger Included String Trimmer Blower Combo Kit, Black and Orange

Well, that’s a mouthful but I wanted to make sure you knew which one I was talking about if you are perusing the online stores.

Here’s the thing I love about WORX. They have some great trimmers that double as edgers (see our GT Revolution review here). The trimmer listed here looks like it could double as an edger as well, has an intuitive, adjustable handle, and (my favorite) a battery that goes underneath the handle. The GT 3.0 trimmer is great trimmer aside from this combination kit.

The blower is okay. Probably on the lower end as far as speed goes. But that’s alright – you don’t need a ton of power unless you have a large yard or are working with wet leaves/grass. Remember to mow while it is dry and you will be fine.

Buy this trimmer and blower combination set on Amazon (currently on sale). This is a good deal – and people love this combo set. It has almost 17,000 reviews – by far the most of any of the combo kits out there.

The awesome trimmer and blower in the Worx combo kit.

3. EGO Power+ ST1502LB 15-Inch String Trimmer & 530CFM Blower Combo Kit with 2.5Ah Battery and Charger Included, Blower & Trimmer, Black

Why can’t they just name these products something simple? Like “EGO Combo kit” or something?

Anyways, this is one of the more impressive combo kits on the market. EGO has great stuff, but they tend to be pretty expensive. This combo kit is no exception. 

The blower is a beast at 530 CFMs, which means it is probably blowing air well north of 100mph (not listed in the specs). It also has a brushless motor, which means it is built to last. You can’t get much higher quality than this EGO blower. 

The trimmer looks pretty standard – it is definitely bigger than most of the other trimmers on this list at 15 inches. Both of these products take a 56V battery – which can be used with a bunch of their other products.

As far as combos go, this one can handle much more than small yards. I think this would work for medium to large yards as well (if  that suits you).

You can find it on Amazon for a good price today. I definitely recommend for larger yards.

EGO has the coolest looking lawn tools.

2. Ryobi One ONE+ 18-Volt Lithium-Ion String Trimmer/Edger and Blower Combo Kit 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger Included

While I am not a huge fan of Ryobi’s ONE+ series, I have to give it to them – this battery can do just about anything. I generally prefer the tools in their 40V battery line because they are heavier duty than the 18V battery in the ONE+ series. 

The main thing you are getting with this purchase is convenience. This is a relatively small Ryobi trimmer that can double as an edger (sorta). It is 10 inches, making it one of the smaller trimmers on here.

The blower will be great for things like a garage or patio, but honestly won’t get you very far in a bigger yard. The reason I ranked this set so highly is because Ryobi’s 18V battery in the ONE+ series can be used in a ton of other tools. That takes this product from a 2-tool kit, to about a 100-tool kit if you have the battery. 

The price is pretty dang good as well, selling for a good deal on Amazon right now, including the battery. Go grab it on Amazon and start building out your tool collection today.

Ryobi ONE+ blower and trimmer are super convenient.

1. Greenworks 40V Cordless String Trimmer and Leaf Blower Combo Kit, 2.0Ah Battery and Charger Included

Greenworks is hands down one of my favorite lawn tool brands on the market – especially in the battery-powered world. They differentiate themselves on one thing: quality. The 40V combo kit here is no exception.

The trimmer is relatively basic, but also comes with a nice edging guard that helps you edge the yard as well. It is 12 inches, putting it right in the sweet spot for edgers here. It also has the automatic line advancement, meaning you won’t have to take any breaks to readjust the trimming  line.

The  blower is great as well. It has over 390 CFM of power at 110 mph speeds. This is perfect for small jobs around the yard as well as patio, deck, garage, or any other hard surface. 

You will get 45 minutes of run time with these, which is more than enough for even medium sized yards. The 40V battery also works with 60+ other lawn tools from Greenworks including mowers, chainsaws, and anything else you could ever need if you move to a larger yard.

You can grab this bad boy on Amazon today for a ridiculously low price. There is a reason over 7,000 people have rated this combo kit 4.5 stars.

My favorite – Greenworks high quality blower and trimmer kit – for cheap.

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 our tests 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.

The benefits of a battery-powered trimmer

There are a few reasons to check out an electric weed eater when picking out your next lawn and garden tool kit. As compared to gas-powered weed eaters, electric weed eaters tend to be easier to use and maintain. At the end of a long winter season, you may have to refuel your gas powered weed eater and crank it a few times before you can get it to start. With electric weed eaters, you simply place the battery and you are ready to go. 

Another benefit to electric trimmers is maintenance. You will not have to do anything to maintain an electric trimmer other than change out the line. No oil change, no filter change, and no messy gasoline spills. Just the normal string change and you are good to go.

Benefits of battery-powered blowers

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

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

Gas blowers are superior from a power and durability standpoint. They are super strong, last many seasons, and quickly get the job done. They do require maintenance, gas, and crank-starts, which are a little more difficult for most people. I always recommend an electric blower for smaller yards, whereas larger yards are better served with gas blowers.

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3 Best Ryobi Leaf Blowers: Side-by-Side Comparison

The best Ryobi 40V blower is the Brushless Whisper series blower that is ultra powerful, quiet, and comes with a huge battery.

Ryobi 40V blowers come in many shapes, sizes, and strengths. Today, we are going to check out the Brushless Whisper series, the 110 MPH 525 CFM Jet-fan blower, and the RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan.

To be frank, I have not been a huge fan of Ryobi’s battery powered line. I have their 3-in-1 ExpandIt Ryobi 40V weed eater. This has a blower attachment and it has broken twice. Yep, twice. I have attached it, turned it on, and it has made a high pitched screaming noise and then lost about half of its power. That’s a 40V blower, these are 40V blowers – needless to say it is going to take a lot to impress me. 

Let’s check out what we will review today:

The Ryobi 40V blowers: Feature reviews

Let’s check out some of the features and break down what they really mean for us at home…staring at a wet leaf stuck to our driveway….and eventually walking up and scraping it off with the tip of the blower (not that this has ever happened to me). 

Power

Power surprisingly varies quite a bit between these: let’s investigate.

Brushless Whisper Series

The Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper blower is the industry’s most powerful cordless (electric) handheld (not backpack) blower. It comes with a “Speed Tip” that allows it to reach up to 190 MPH. Most handheld electric blowers come in at around 90 to 125 miles per hour, so this is actually a pretty significant boost. 

The brushless motor has a big part of how this blower is so powerful. The ability to not crush itself with heat and friction allows it to retain energy for actually doing its job instead of just getting hot for no reason. 

The Ryobi 40V blower from the “Brushless Whisper Series” is a powerful cordless blower. Despite the name sounding like a candle from the Bath and Bodyworks, this blower means business. 

Ryobi Brushless motors on leaf blowers

Although this sounds like an ASMR experience, it’s actually a powerful facet of a motor. A brushed motor means that there are blocks of carbon connected to a spring. These spin and change the magnetic polarity inside of a motor. Sadly, these can wear out overtime and otherwise cause significant heat while operating.

The Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper blower in all its glory.

Brushless motors include a computer chip that charges magnets and does not have any of this friction happening. The runtime is increased by about 50% when compared to brush motors. This also allows the motor to be much quieter, which is where the “Whisper” portion of the name comes in. 

110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan

This blower is more recognizable because it is one of the more affordable battery powered blowers offered by Ryobi. It looks similar to the Brushless Whisper blower above, except has a wider opening.

To be honest, not a huge fan of the power of this blower. While the CFM is high, indicating a higher power output, the nozzle of this blower is really wide. So it is not a focused stream, but more of a wall of air that doesn’t do all that much good. This is good for very light work such as dry leaves or saw dust, but not for bigger jobs that require a faster air stream.

See how it has a really wide opening – almost a straight tube?

I would compare the power of this to the Dewalt blower we reviewed.

RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan

The 155 MPH 300 CFM Jet Fan is a mouthful, but also one of the lighter, easy to use blowers offered by Ryobi. I recently purchased this item and when it came, I had my doubts.

Now, I didn’t expect for it to be as strong as a backpack blower, but I was shocked at how good of a job it did, especially compared to my old 40V attachment. This thing did a pretty good job, especially compared to the one above. I took it out to my back deck and was able to blow most leaves off, with the exception of some that were stuck between boards or wedged up against the side of the railing. Not bad!

Ryobi 40V blowers: Durability

If you read the opening paragraphs of this review, you would know that I have gone through two Ryobi 40V blowers in the past few years. They keep breaking and grinding and squealing. One difference between the one that I own and this one is that this is a dedicated blower. My Ryobi 40V blower is an attachment and a total joke.

Brushless Whisper Series

The key differentiator is again the brushless motor. Without all of the friction inside of the motor, the brushless motors last way longer. Ryobi knows that and has backed it with a five year warranty. 

Frankly, the five year warranty is the longest I have seen on the market. That’s exceptional, especially for a battery-powered product. To top things off, the battery has a three year warranty. 

110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan

I can’t knock this blower too much because it really is a standard electric blower. It does not have a brushless motor meaning that at some point, it is going to burn out. Whether or not that happens after 2 years or 3 years, it won’t last as long as the Brushless Whisper.

RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan

The 155 MPH 300 CFM blower is similar to the above. Probably a similar piece of equipment, but has less CFMs, meaning the engine isn’t moving as fast. This might make it last a tad longer. It still will not stack up to the Brushless Whisper series blower.

Battery Life on Ryobi 40V blowers

Let’s talk more about the battery on these blowers. The Ryobi 40V Brushless Whisper blower has two 4.0 Ah batteries with a 40V rapid charger. This charger will juice the batteries up four times faster than a standard charger. Basically it can charge a battery from empty to full within about 40 minutes. 

While this does require the two batteries, it really can last for quite a while. I would say blowing leaves across a few acres would be easily doable with this battery life. These are the same batteries that power their mower, if that tells you anything. It mentions a 2 hour runtime, which is quite impressive. I have not used it for that long.

The other ones just require one 40V battery, which is great for charging purposes, but is going to run for about half as long. I imagine again that you will never fully run through the battery just blowing leaves.

Something great about these batteries is that they can be used with over 50 other Ryobi products. This really helps if you do have the mower or trimmer or any of their other products. Basically it can save you some money by purchasing the tool-only option that comes without the battery. 

Experience

It is all about the experience. What it sounds like and feels like. Let’s jump in.

Brushless Whisper Series

The whisper series name cracked me up, but after doing some more research on decibel levels I am shocked. This blower comes in at about 57 dB. That means absolutely nothing to me, so let me compare it to something else you may know. An electric toothbrush weighs in at about 55 dB of noise. The Ryobi 40V blower is stunningly quiet. 

One thing I cannot stand about my neighbors is the lawn care company they hire. They come in with these massive backpack blowers that are insanely loud. For some reason, they blow the entire street with absolutely no regard for human life. Truly, I cannot understand for the life of me why someone would want to use one of those blowers when you have one of these available and have a smaller job.

An older model of the 40V Ryobi Blower that is frankly pretty weak.

110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan

Nothing sexy about this one. As I mentioned before, this is a very “stock” battery powered lawn mower. I don’t give this one a great experience score because it is going to be louder than the Brushless Whisper series AND the one below, with actually doing a worse job of blowing. You hate to see it!

RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan

This blower was slightly louder than I would have liked considering the lower CFM. But overall, this is a really light blower. Super easy to use and hangs down low to the ground, which is great for a tall freak like me. This was fun to use and I recommend it for lighter jobs, like your deck, garage, or patio. I got mine off of Amazon for a great price.

Usability

Usability is one of THE most important elements of a blower. It has to be comfortable and easy to use.

Brushless Whisper Series

Another great feature on the Ryobi 40V blower is the speed controller trigger and cruise control. This allows you to not have to squeeze and pass, but to simply adjust the cruise control and let your hands relax a little bit. 

Up close view of the trigger and cruise control of the Ryobi 40V blower.

This also includes a “turbo” button as though it is straight out of Fast N’ Furious, which increases the power. A potential situation here is that you are blowing dry leaves at a medium speed and realize that a wet leaf is stuck to the pavement at the bottom. You can press the turbo button and it will maximize the output of the blower for as long as its pressed, then will return back to the speed you had set previously.

110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan

As mentioned in the name of the blower, this one has a nice variable speed trigger. This lets you pull the trigger up from a slight blow to all the way maxed out.

Scratching my head at who would want a blower to do a “soft blow”, but it is there if you want it. Another cool part about this one is that it can lock a speed in place. Not my cup of tea because I always max out, but some people might like it.

RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan

This one had the simplest functionality. Just a squeeze trigger and that’s about it. For me, I hold the trigger down the whole time on full blast, so it didn’t make that much of a difference.

As I mentioned earlier, it is super light and easy to use. Even with it hanging down lower, I did not feel much of a shoulder strain after about 20 minutes.

Assembly of the Ryobi 40V blower series

Okay – making some assumptions here, but I recently unpacked the 155 MPH 300 CFM blower and set it up. The others look to be even easier to assemble, but this one required about 20 seconds of assembly.

I bought the tool-only version because I have a 40V battery ready. This saved me about $40-50 which was huge!

I’ll frame out the step by step below:

It came shipped in this box! Not even a normal cardboard box could contain it!
When I unboxed it, it came like this. Just the long end of the blower and the main piece of equipment.
I immediately tossed out the instructions because I am a man suffering from toxic masculinity.
I simply snapped in the longer end of the blower to the main blower piece.
This shows how to assemble the whole thing – not sped up at all.

Ryobi 40V Blower prices

Let’s dig into the prices!

Brushless Whisper Series

Okay – I have spoken pretty glowingly about this blower so far, but one setback is the price. You can get some Ryobi blowers for less than $100 and this one will cost you over $300 for the tool + batteries. It is a great deal in that it reduces your time out in the yard. You can check the most recent price on Home Depot’s website.

Here is why I think it is worth it:

  • Five year tool warranty and three year battery warranty
  • Interchangeable battery with other Ryobi products
  • Strongest electric blower on the market
  • Easy to use and quiet

Folks, I have seen enough. I am officially recommending this blower. 

Curious at how the price of this one stacks up? Check out our lawn equipment cost guide.

110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan

This one has been given an official “meh”. It comes in around $130 for the tool-only version. It is fine, but won’t last you very long and will keep you out in the yard for a while.

Don’t just take my word for it – check out the reviews and price on Home Depot – a lot of people love it (including me).

RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan

This one is better! Not as nice as the Brushless Whisper blower, but definitely gets the job done efficiently. I bought the tool only version at Home Depot and have loved it so far.

The official review: Ryobi 40V blowers breakdown

FeatureBrushless Whisper110 MPH 525 CFM Variable-Speed Jet Fan RYOBI 40V 155 MPH 300 CFM Cordless Battery Jet Fan
Difficulty to useEasier to use cruise control functionAverage usabilityAverage usability
DurabilityVery durable and backed by warrantyNot that durableAverage durability
MaintenanceEasiest to maintain Easiest to maintain Easiest to maintain
ValueHighest valueLowest valueMedium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommendedRecommendedHighly recommended
For lots <1 acreHighly recommendedNot recommendedRecommended
For lots >1 acreHighly recommendedNot recommendedNot recommended

Why we review lawn tools

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

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.

Ryobi 40V products

The Ryobi 40V series of products is supposed to be the convenient, all-in-one way to use one battery for hundreds of pieces of equipment. It is kind of weird how this builds brand loyalty and works to an extent. 

Step back and think about it – a battery takes up 8 inches of space in the garage, but having hundreds of big, interchangeable electric tools is supposed to be convenient? Isn’t that backwards? Shouldn’t they be making more compact tools or innovating in some other way? 

Enough of my soapbox. I’ve reviewed a few of their other products like the infamous Ryobi brushless lawn mower that I secretly love and similar products like Dewalt’s self-propelled lawn mower and 20V hedge trimmer that I did a full YouTube review about in my early days (and even a nice 60V chainsaw). Ryobi is about the same, but if you like neon green then go for it. 

If you want to see the Ryobi 40V vs the super powerful EGO 56V blower, check this out!

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7 Ryobi Lawn Mowers We Absolutely Love

Ryobi battery-powered lawn mowers have burst onto the scene and are now one of the leaders in the electric mower world. The best Ryobi battery-powered mower is the Ryobi 40V Brushless SmartTrek mower because it is the most affordable while still maintaining really high quality.

I first got my hands on my Ryobi mower back in 2022 when my friend let me borrow his for one of my YouTube video reviews. I loved that I could quickly pop off the 40V battery and put it in my Whisper series blower.

Here are my choices for best Ryobi lawn mowers in 2024 after testing:

How I tested these Ryobi mowers

As I mentioned earlier, I got the Ryobi 40V mower from a friend last year and fell in love – so started trying out a bunch of different ones that I could grab from my local Home Depot. I’ve spent a lot of money buying lawn mowers and testing them, documenting it all on Youtube.

When I am testing these mowers, I am looking for a few things: power, ease of use, battery-run time, and the right technical specifications, which I try to break down in plain English.

7. Ryobi 38 inch 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Lawn Mower (RY48111)

The Ryobi 38 inch riding mower is extremely unique. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed before I did all of this research. This is not your typical riding lawn mower. The unique design on the 48V Brushless 38 in riding mower allows for a nice clean cut for much larger lawns. 

I know what you’re thinking – how does this thing run on batteries? Well, it is much different than other battery-powered mowers in that it plugs in like a dang Tesla. And it can run for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge. 

The more I read up on it, the more I love it. When I first sat on this one outside of Home Depot (they let me ride it around), I was shocked at how comfortable it was and how intuitive it was to use – just like my truck. I actually think this is one of the better (if not best) electric riding mowers I’ve seen. Good job Ryobi!

The absolute beast of an electric riding mower – the Ryobi Ry48110.

This one is available at Home Depot for a surprisingly good price. 

6. Ryobi 13 in ONE+ 18V Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower

Sorry y’all – I am a little biased here. I am not the biggest fan of the 18V ONE+ series and am a much bigger fan of the Ryobi 40V series. 

The 13in mowing deck on this mower is simply tiny. When thinking about mowing your lawn, think about how wide of a path you need and the number of those paths to complete your yard. At just over a foot wide, this will leave you outside in the sun for longer than you may like. 

My neighbor let me borrow this one for testing since he has Ryobi’s super lightweight weed eater – the 18V ONE+. This uses the same battery and was equally lightweight for a mower.

A little too small! (Photo Cred: Home Depot)

If you have a small yard however, this may fit you really well – just like it did for my neighbor. But for the price, I think you can do better. Check out our guide to mowers for small lawns – you may find a better one over there.

This one is for sale from Home Depot.

5. Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless 16in. Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower

This one is similar to the one above, but a few inches wider. If you have a <10,000 sq.ft plot of land, then this is actually a great mower. It is small enough to navigate nooks and crannies, but wide enough to knock out a few more passes in the yard. 

The one positive I will say about the 18V ONE+ series is that the battery can easily be popped back into the other indoor tools you may already own. While I like the longer battery life of the 40V, I can see the appeal of the 18V series for folks with smaller yards/projects. 

Okay! I can work with this.

If I’m picking a mower in the ONE+ HP 18V series, I’m going with this one. Go buy it online and pick it up at Home Depot.

4. Ryobi RY40180 40V Brushless Lithium-Ion Cordless mower kit

Okay, now we are talking! My Ryobi 40V Brushless Lithium-Ion mower (why are the names so dang long?) is a great mower. The cutting deck is a nice 20 inches, meaning you can cover much more ground than the mowers in the ONE+ series. 

This mower is really light, and folds in-half for a super compact storage design. This would fit underneath some stairs in your garage, or in a shed or even a closet. It also comes with a nice bag for collecting grass clippings.

And the best part – you can pop off the 40V battery and stick it right onto your Ryobi trimmer or blower.

Watch out! It’s got headlights!

3. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 in. Mower

Another mouthful of a mower, but it is pretty sweet. This is far and away the heaviest duty push mower that Ryobi offers. It has dual blade technology, similar to the rival EGO 56V mower. It is actually probably a direct response to the competition from EGO, since it has almost all of the same exact features, including the higher price.

Me with this mower

The beautiful things about this mower:

  • 21 inch cutting deck
  • 40 V battery that can be used with a ton of other Ryobi tools
  • Incredibly quiet
  • Self-propelled
  • Comes with two batteries
  • Dual blade technology adds some more power.

You can’t go wrong with this one if you are looking for a high end mower and are a Ryobi loyalist. It isn’t available on Amazon from what I can tell, but I have seen it at Home Depot for a reasonable price.

2. Ryobi Lawn Mower 20in 40V Lithium-Ion Brushless mower

This is similar in voltage and size to the mower above, but comes in at a way lower price point. It is essentially a barebones Ryobi mower, with still some of the features we love. It doesn’t have a self-propelled function, but it does have a brushless motor.

It doesn’t sacrifice quality for price, but it does sacrifice bells and whistles. It’s a great, quality mower that is on the lower end of the price range.

Brushless engines on Ryobi’s lawn mowers are manufactured to be quieter, use less energy, and last longer than standard electric motors. When it comes to electric mowers, you want something that will last you for a long time – just like gas mowers do. 

So quiet it just snuck up on you.

With the Ryobi 20in 40V brushless mower, you get a battery-powered mower that is an absolute unit. We recommend grabbing it from Amazon for a great price (compared to >$500 for other brands) or buy it online from Home Depot.

They’ve recently updated this one for 2024 and made it look a little bit cooler, with a darker tint over the battery and a boxier look. It is honestly the same exact thing but costs $100 more! Don’t fall for it. See how this one stacks up against the Greenworks 48V mower.

1. Ryobi 20in 40-Volt Brushless Smart Trek Self-Propelled Walk Behind Mower

Yep – it is official. Love at first sight is real. This Ryobi 40V mower which I wrote extensively about here is very similar to the mower above (both have brushless engines, 20 inch cutting decks, and 40V batteries), but has a few key differences.

The first difference – it is black! And looks way cooler than the other ones (in my opinion). 

Yup, we own it ourselves.


The second difference – the Smart Trek self-propelled feature. For those that have never used a self-propelled mower, they are awesome. Basically, they move for you – only light pushing and steering required. I ranked this number one because it has the most luxurious experience, best motor, and great interchangeable battery. When I was testing it, I loved how light it felt and how surprisingly well it did with my tall fescue.

As compared to other mowers like the EGO 56V mower, this one is lighter and easier to control. We did a full YouTube video review of this one if you want to check it out.

The Ryobi 20in 40V Self-propelled Mower from Home Depot, where it is almost exclusively sold!

Why I 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 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.

Ryobi tool batteries used for mowers

You may have found this page because you already have a bunch of Ryobi tools and have the batteries. If you didn’t know, you can buy the tool-only version of Ryobi mowers and save a ton of money. 

The 40V battery with my string trimmer.

Tool-only versions come without any batteries and can accept ones you have from other tools. They are way less expensive and allow you to pop your battery off another tool right into your mower (and vice versa).

Another benefit of tool-only products is that you won’t take up another plug on the wall in your garage. Avoid the mess!

Make sure you know exactly what to look for in an electric lawn mower by checking out our guide.

Are Ryobi Lawn Mowers any good?

In short, yes they are great lawn mowers but differ widely in their style and application. You also get what you pay for with Ryobi lawn mowers – if you are expecting to spend under $300 – you will get a budget mower (albeit a good one).

Ryobi makes great products in general and if you go with the 40V battery line, you can build out your entire shed with the a single battery, saving you tons of money.

Conclusion: My Experience with Ryobi Mowers

My Ryobi mowers actually rock! They are quiet, hold their charge, and tend to last longer (if you get Brushless). We highly recommend getting one of these mowers if you are looking for a nice mower to complement your Ryobi collection.

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Lawn Equipment Costs and Statistics: 2022 updates

Many people seeking to understand various lawn tools need a frame of reference for cost and power comparisons across types of lawn equipment. In this post, we will reference all types of residential lawn equipment to gather a reference resource for all savvy shoppers. Let’s get started!

Looking to update these numbers for 2023 lawn care costs? Click here!

Jump ahead:

Statistics about push mowers

When it comes to push mowers, there are really three main types of power sources:

  1. Battery-powered push mowers: These mowers are powered by a battery and can be easily re-charged and stored. Battery-powered mowers are typically less expensive, easier to store and maintain, and better suited for small yards.
  2. Gas-powered push mowers: These mowers are gasoline-powered and rely on refills, just like a car. Gas-powered push mowers tend to last much longer than electric mowers, but require yearly maintenance.
  3. Corded electric push mowers: Corded push mowers tend to be very similar to battery-powered mowers, except require a long extension cord for power. Be careful not to run it over with the blade!

The average cost of push mowers in 2022

Push mowers range in cost depending on how they are powered, the size of their engine, and the width of their cutting deck. Push mowers are one of the most popular types of mowers because most folks have relatively small yards.

As the rise of townhomes have grown, the small little yards associated with them can be easily taken care of with a small electric mower. Sun Joe offers a ton of these, but also has competition with Greenworks, Ryobi, and a handful of others.

Battery powered mower cost 2022

The average cost of a battery-powered push mower in 2022 is about $300, but can range from $75 – $550 depending on size and features.  

Some of the battery powered push mowers we have reviewed are:

The Greenworks cordless mower is very popular.

Interested in other electric mowers? Check out our list of Top 13 Best Electric Mowers for Small Yards in 2022.

Average cost of a gas push mower in 2022

The average cost of a gas-powered push mower in 2022 is about $250, but can range from $170 – $400.

Some of the gas-powered push mowers we have reviewed are:

The Troy Bilt TB160 was my first mower and still runs like new.

Average cost of an electric mower in 2022

The average cost of a corded electric push mower in 2022 is about $150, but can range from $70 to $200.

The average cost of a riding mower in 2022 (Lawn Tractor + Zero-Turn)

Riding mowers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The two you will recognize the most are lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers. 

Lawn tractors vs. zero-turn mowers

Lawn tractors tend to have a steering wheel where the engine sits between your legs. Zero-turn mowers have levers that help steer the mower. 

Lawn tractors are best for yards that are between ½ of an acre and 1.5 acres. Zero-turn mowers are great for those with 1.5 acres and above. 

Lawn tractor costs in 2022

The average cost of a lawn tractor in 2022 is about $2,300, but can range between $2,000 and $4,200.

Most lawn tractors sit right around the $2,000 to $3,000 range, but some newer electric lawn tractors can cost over $4,000.

Lawn tractors vary in price depending on their engine horsepower and their cutting width. As you would expect, larger engines and larger cutting decks increase the price of the lawn tractor.

Some of the lawn tractors that we have reviewed are:

The Cub Cadet XT2 is so hot right now.

Zero-turn mower costs in 2022

The average cost of a zero-turn mower in 2022 is about $4,500, but can range from $2,900 to $5,300. Zero-turn mowers range in price depending on the features and the size of the mower. 

Commercial zero-turn mowers can run as high as $10,000 in 2022. 

Some popular zero-turn mowers that we have reviewed include

The Ariens IKON XD52 is an absolute unit.

The average cost of a lawn service in 2022

The average cost of a lawn mowing service in 2022 is about $60 for lots < 10,000 sq. ft.

The average cost of a lawn mowing service for yards between 10,000 sq. ft and ½ acre is about $100 in 2022. 

The average cost of a lawn mowing service for an acre is $150-200 in 2022. 

As a reminder, lawn service usually comes every week or every other week during peak season. These costs can add up extremely quickly, making do-it-yourself lawn mowing easily the most affordable option.

Leaf blowers: A 2022 guide to cost and choice

Leaf blowers come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from some that seem to have the power of a hair blower to others that can send a sailboat across the Atlantic. When it comes to leaf blowers, there are three main types: handheld electric, handheld gasoline, and backpack blowers. 

Handheld electric blowers are slightly more expensive than gas blowers and are often the least powerful. There are a few exceptions, but these hold true. 

Who should buy an electric blower?

Electric blowers are great for those looking for quick, small jobs around the yard. This would include blowing out the garage, blowing off the driveway or back deck, or collecting leaves for a smaller yard. 

Electric blowers have a huge upside in that they are very easy to start and maintain, only requiring a charged battery to begin the work

Average cost of an electric leaf blower in 2022

The average cost of an electric leaf blower in 2022 is $175, but can range from $70 to $350 depending on the quality. 

Some of our favorite electric leaf blowers include:

The Ryobi Brushless Whisper blower is a beast.

Who should buy a gas leaf blower?

Handheld gasoline blowers provide a step up in power, but often require air filter changes and other minorly inconvenient maintenance. Gas blowers are great for people who have up to an acre or so of land and feel comfortable walking around and using the blower. 

Likewise, gas blowers are great for folks who receive a significant amount of leaves, regardless of lawn size. Gas blowers can help move leaves off of your yard much more quickly and will leave less wet leaves stuck behind.

Average cost of a gas leaf blower in 2022

Gas blowers cost about $150, but range from $100 – $250 depending on size and power. 

One of our favorite handheld gas blowers that we have reviewed is the Husqvarna 125B. This blower has an attachment on the end that can provide a super concentrated stream of air, with the ability to blow anything away.

We also love the Stihl BG 86 C – check out our video review on YouTube!

The cool flat tip on the Husqvarna 125B.

Who should buy a backpack blower?

Backpack blowers are the most powerful, expensive, and loudest blowers on the market. These are made popular by commercial landscapers, but anyone with an acre or above could majorly benefit from these.

Backpack blowers provide very high amounts of power and come with the added comfort of straps, advanced features, and an easy to use handle. 

Average cost of a backpack blower in 2022

Backpack blowers will run you about $350 in 2022, but can range from $250 to $750 depending on the size and power.

Some of our favorite backpack blower reviews include:

The Stihl BR600 is a beast and you look like a teenage mutant ninja turtle when you wear it.

Trimmers or Weed Eaters costs in 2022

Trimmers, lovingly known as weed eaters, are tools used to cut grass precisely. These are often used in harder to reach areas, to clear brush, or to fine tune the edges of a property.

Trimmers come in both gas and electric powered forms, with electric becoming more popular. Electric trimmers are very easy to use, but can be less powerful. A plus side to electric trimmers is that they often come with multiple interchangeable heads, allowing for edger, blower, and hedge trimmer attachments to all fit the same body.

Gas trimmers provide relentless, reliable power and are often used by those with bigger yards and of course, commercial landscapers. 

Average cost of an electric trimmer in 2022

Some of our electric trimmer reviews can be found here:

I have the Ryobi 40V trimmer….and I do not like it.

Average cost of a gas trimmer in 2022

The average cost of a gas trimmer in 2022 is about $180, but ranges from $150 to $430 depending on power and included attachments.

Some of our favorite gas trimmer reviews are below:

The ECHO SRM 225 has a powerful trimmer head.

Pressure washer costs in 2022

Pressure washers come in two major forms: gas and electric. Electric pressure washers tend to have less power and lower reliability. Gas pressure washers are more powerful and can get extremely pricey.

Who should buy an electric pressure washer?

Electric pressure washers are great for people who are doing lighter jobs. The perfect person to buy an electric pressure washer is someone looking to clean their windows, their car or boat, or garage door. 

Electric pressure washers are less expensive and relatively easy to use. If you are looking to blast away all of the grime from your long driveway, electric pressure washers will not be the best choice for you.

Average cost of an electric pressure washer in 2022

The average cost of an electric pressure washer is about $190, but ranges from $60 to $300 depending on power and size.

Some of our favorite electric pressure washers include:

The Sun Joe SPX3000 is one of the hottest pressure washers on Amazon.

Who should buy a gas pressure washer?

Gas pressure washers are great for all of the same reasons as an electric pressure washer, but can also remove paint, blast dirt and grime off of old surfaces, and more. 

Gas pressure washers have serious power, but are also pretty loud. They will be more reliable, but also require a little bit of maintenance.

Average cost of a gas pressure washer in 2022

The average cost of a gas pressure washer in 2022 is about $400, but can range from $250 to $1,000 depending on power.

Some of our favorite gas pressure washers include:

The Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer provides intense power.

Dethatcher costs in 2022

Dethatchers are lawn tools that pull up thatch, or dead grass, from the bottom of your yard. Thatch forms over time and can suffocate your soil, leaving poor conditions for your healthy grass to grow.

Many people dethatch their lawns before they aerate and seed in the fall. Dethatchers have grown in popularity. They are often electric, corded devices that replace the traditional dethatching rakes. 

Dethatchers typically come corded, meaning you need a long extension cord to operate them in your yard. They are not a danger to your cord like a normal mower, but actually have small metal tines. The tines stick out (kind of like the metal springs in a chip bag clip), and kick up the thatch from the soil.

Average cost of a dethatcher in 2022

The average dethatcher will cost about $150, but ranges from $130 to $200 depending on the width of the machine.

Two of our favorite dethatcher reviews are below:

The Sun Joe Dethatcher is one of the hottest lawn care items in 2022.
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I Tested The New Ryobi 40V Brushless Mower: It Is a BEAST

The Ryobi 40V lawn mower is an electric mower that is one of the most popular on the market. I’ll be the first to admit, I have ALWAYS been a gas person. That being said, I am open to changes and trying new things out.

I personally have owned and enjoyed their 3-in-1 yard tool that includes a trimmer, edger, and blower. You can tell it’s battery powered and feels slightly weaker than each of those tools individually, but it gets the job done. 

Here are my final thoughts on this Ryobi 40V mower if you want to stop reading here:

  • It is a fine mower, although I wish it had a metal deck
  • The Ryobi 40V series is great for a ton of tools
  • I find this Ryobi mower to be a bit overpriced compared to others
  • I test out the most recent version of this mower in a big video comparison on my Youtube channel

Today, we are going to review the following:

Let’s get started!

Why would I get an electric lawn mower?

There are a few benefits to getting an electric lawn mower. For starters, I am an early riser and have often angered my neighbors with mowing the lawn and doing other yard work before 9am. The Ryobi 40V lawn mower is quiet. Surprisingly quiet.

Ryobi perfected the quiet tool space when they created their ultra-quiet and surprisingly powerful Whisper Series leaf blower. They have quickly adapted most of their tools to be quiet.

This has allowed my children to once again trick-or-treat in the neighborhood and minimized the dog poop left in my yard. 

Electric lawn mowers also have another obvious benefit – they don’t require gasoline. Not only does this free up some space in the garage, but makes the pain of spilling gas everywhere go away. The other benefit to being electric is the minimal maintenance required. While it can be annoying to sit and wait for your lawn mower to charge, you don’t have to worry about oil changes or other messes. 

The cool (to some people) Ryobi 40V lawn mower.

Another benefit to having an electric lawn mower is the lack of air pollution. While lawn mowers aren’t blowing black smoke like your diesel truck, they still put out fumes. My wife will sometimes relieve stress by mowing the lawn, but had to stop while pregnant due to the fumes. A minor benefit, but still noteworthy.

Does the Ryobi 40V mower require a replacement battery?

The Ryobi 40V mower comes with a 40V lithium ion battery that will definitely last for small to medium jobs. At the end of the day, this is battery powered and requires charging just like any other tool in our garage. 

Battery works with other tools as well!

Something that is useful to recognize is that Ryobi has built some compatibility with some of their products and this mower. If you have another Ryobi tool with a 40V battery, you can swap them out when your main battery runs dry. 

What you should think about the battery system

With the normal Ryobi 40V battery and the backup battery, you can successfully complete any job. Some considerations for battery life include the following:

Yard size for an electric mower

This is an obvious one. If you have a huge yard, you will likely run out of battery because of the sheer volume of grass that needs to be cut. 

If you have a smaller yard, you will find that you can likely complete more than one mowing session on a single charge. My neighbor has this exact lawnmower and only charges it about once every three weeks during peak season. 

Grass length

Thicker, longer, or wet grass will all deplete your Ryobi 40V battery faster. It takes a lot of energy to push the blade across thick or wet grass. For those of us that like a golf course style trim, you can run through the battery quickly when cutting grass down to that level from a taller level. 

Self-propeller function on a Ryobi 40V mower

The Ryobi 40V lawn mower has a self-propelled option, which will creep the lawn mower forward and assist in pushing it across your yard. Naturally, using this option will cut down on battery life and require you to charge more frequently. If you have a large yard, you may want to consider turning this off to conserve battery. Otherwise, purchasing a second battery will help get the job done in one trip.

Breaking down the features of this mower

When looking for a Ryobi electric mower, you have two main options. The Ryobi 40V 21 inch or the 20 inch. Let’s check out the main differences between the two electric lawn mowers:

Design

The design of the 21 inch model looks slightly cooler to me. The deck is steel, similar to a traditional gas push mower, instead of plastic. Both have a neon green and black design which fits the normal Ryobi profile. The 21 inch model has a slightly more prominent light for those who mow at dusk. 

The 21 inch model can fit a separate striping kit.

Overall, the design screams “I’m using an electric mower, look at me!”. However, the silence of the mower makes up for it. While I am a traditionalist when it comes to design, others might like the futuristic appearance of both of these mowers.

Functionality

Obviously, the 21 inch Ryobi 40V is slightly larger. Both the 21 and the 20 inch mowers have push-start capability and the same battery. The battery life lasts a little longer (5 minutes longer) on the 20 inch model than it does on the 21 inch model. The battery longevity likely relies on the weight of the mower and the slightly longer blade. 

The 20inch is a bit smaller.

Storage

While both of these mowers easily fold over in the garage, the 20 inch mower takes the cake on storage capability. As the lighter and slimmer model, the 20 inch mower can easily be folded and even hung on the wall. The 21 inch model has the heavier steel deck and larger body, making it difficult for storage. Consider that both will be easier to store than a traditional gas push mower – and won’t leak any gas or fluid either!

A lot of mowers fold in half like this Dewalt one!

Value

Considering both the 21 inch and the 20 inch Ryobi 40V use the same battery, similar blades, and are almost identical – the 20 inch mower is the best value. As I look through a few online shopping venues, the 21 inch mower is consistently over $100 more than the 20 inch mower. 

If it were me (and I am cheap), I would go with the 20 inch mower and be okay with getting made fun of by my guy friends.

What I didn’t like about this mower

Electric lawn mowers are new entrants into a long standing, traditionalist marketplace of incumbents. Therefore, they will receive their fair share of criticism. What I see most out of those that have a problem with these mowers is the run time.

Ryobi 40V lawn mower run time

The 20 inch Ryobi mower boasts a 40 minute run time while the 21 inch mower has a 35 minute run time. 

Again, there are several factors that will impact run time. Grass length and density will eat through the battery as well as the self-propelled function. If you have two batteries, you should not have a problem getting the job done.

That being said, the battery charge time is about four hours for each of those 35-40 minute uses. If you have a very large yard, it may take a long time to get cut. 

Getting a replacement battery

You can order individual batteries to replace the battery on your Ryobi 40V. I have never had a problem with my Ryobi 40V battery for any other of my appliances, but I generally don’t run them as long as I do my mower. 

For those with other Ryobi 40V products that have a compatible battery, you can use those in both tools. This is how Ryobi gets you to become loyal to their products!

Where to buy the Ryobi lawn mower

You can grab this one and bunch of other Ryobi mowers from Home Depot, where Ryobi is almost exclusively sold.

The Official Review of the Ryobi 40V 21 inch Lawn Mower

FeatureRyobi 40V lawn mowerComparable gas push mower
Difficulty to useLess difficult than gasMore difficult due to weight
DurabilityLess durable plastic deckMore durable than electric
MaintenanceEasiest to maintainRequires yearly oil changes
ValueMedium valueMedium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommendedHighly recommended
For lots <1 acreRecommended if willing to use a push mowerRecommended if willing to use a push mower
For lots >1 acreNot recommendedNot recommended

To summarize our review, the Ryobi 40V 21 inch lawn mower is a great mower for small yards. The ideal electric mower owner will be someone with limited storage space for a larger mower, a smaller yard, does not like to push and strain too hard when mowing, is eco-conscious, and enjoys a quiet mow.

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 out 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.

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I’ve Used The Ryobi 40V Expand-It Weed Eater For 7 Years

The Ryobi 40V weed eater was the first weed eater I ever owned, so it makes this product super easy to review.

In fact, I bought the Expand-It version with the blower and edger attachments. Ryobi has a series of 40V lawn equipment, most notably the tools I just mentioned here. Recently, Ryobi has gotten into the lawn mower game as well. 

The Ryobi 40V weed eater is a great trimmer but there are a few things you should know before buying. For starters, don’t get the blower attachment. Secondly, buy a different weed eater string (like this one). Otherwise – the edger attachment is great and the whole tool has lasted me well over 5 years.

You can grab it with the battery on Amazon for a great price or at Home Depot (where it may actually be cheaper).

Today we are going to review:

Why would I buy a Ryobi electric weed eater?

There are a few reasons to check out an electric weed eater when picking out your next lawn and garden tool kit. As compared to gas-powered weed eaters, electric weed eaters tend to be easier to use and maintain. At the end of a long winter season, you may have to refuel your gas powered weed eater and crank it a few times before you can get it to start. With the Ryobi 40V weed eater and other electric weed eaters, you simply place the battery and you are ready to go. 

Another benefit to electric trimmers and attachment capable systems is the lack of maintenance. You will not have to do anything to maintain an electric trimmer other than change out the line. No oil change, no filter change, and no messy gasoline spills. 

If you are a Ryobi loyalist and have one of their mowers, then you can actually use this same 40 volt battery in both the mower and the trimmer. More on that later. 

Ryobi 40V weed eater parts

The diagram below shows all of the parts involved in the Ryobi 40V weed eater. As you can see, this product detaches just below the handle to allow for other attachments. 

To detach the attachments, simply untwist the knob and press the silver button to pull out the attachment. Likewise, to reattach another attachment, simply align the silver button with the hole and slide in. Twist the knob to tighten in place and you are ready to go.

As you can see, the bottom has a “Reel Easy” (ha) bump feed string head with a “speed” winder. When you get low on string, the head has a button that will push out a little bit more if tapped.

The “Reel Easy” head of the Ryobi 40V trimmer.

Ryobi 40V weed eater tool only

If you already have a Ryobi 40V battery, you can purchase this product “tool-only”. A tool only product comes without the battery and is generally a lower price. This is great for those that have multiple Ryobi products, like the Ryobi mower.

Ryobi 40V weed eater diagram from Ryobi’s website.

Reviewing the Ryobi battery-powered weed eater

Let’s take a look at all of the things you should consider before buying a new weed eater.

Power output on the Ryobi 40V weed eater

The Ryobi 40V Expand It system has a modest amount of power. Honestly, I did not feel like the weed eater packed nearly the punch that its gas powered counterparts do.

Further, the electric weed eaters have to really “wind up” and get momentum before they reach their full speed. Because this tool isn’t specifically designed for weed eaters, it has to be very adaptable in how it produces power.

There is a little rod that twists around inside the attachment which drives the speed of the head. Torque is applied all the way down the rod and you can tell a lot of energy gets lost in the process. 

If you are looking for a weed eater that can take on a big job, the Ryobi 40V weed eater simply is not your tool. For small yards and some light brushwork, this weed eater will do just fine. 

A step up in power from this weed eater is the slightly more expensive EGO Power+ Multi-head tool with the string trimmer attachment is amazing.

Durability and usability

The Ryobi weed eater is one that has lasted surprisingly long. I have had mine for over three years and only replaced the line one time. It has consistently operated at full capacity and I have never had issues with breaking, slowing down, or otherwise. One thing I don’t like about the handle of this particular weed eater is that it always feels like it is in the wrong spot. 

With the Ryobi 40V weed whacker having multiple attachment heads, it means you can really slide the attachment into the tool facing any direction. While this might seem convenient, it’s really hard to tell which angle you should keep it at for the best trim job. When I use the weed eater, I feel like I am holding the trimmer at a weird angle and twisting my wrists or arms to make it go where I want it to go – not very comfortable.

Make sure not to get this one.

UPDATE: I took the guard off of this weed eater and it performs way better and is so much easier to use. Take it off and throw it out!

Comfort and feel

Another downside of this weed eater is the balance. Consider that this battery is also used on their lawn mower and a ton of other products in their 40V lineup of tools, meaning it is quite heavy. The tool feels great, light, and balanced before I add the battery. Once the battery is added, you have to exert a lot of upward pressure on the back of the weed eater, making straight lines and other maneuvering very difficult. 

I know it sounds silly, but when you start to feel that burn in your shoulder and neck area from holding a weird position, you will regret not buying a better balanced product. I have not seen an available shoulder sling or other device that can help keep it aligned, either. 

The heavy battery that accompanies the Ryobi 40V weed eater.

Maintenance and string replacement of the Ryobi electric weed eater

As mentioned previously, maintenance is not required at all on this product. You will have to replace the strings, however. Replacing the strings on this weed eater was one of the more infuriating moments of my life. I really struggled to figure it out on my own and had to make the below video on YouTube to get it right. 

Finally got it!

Replacing strings on these is super frustrating because you have to very delicately weave it through while trying to maintain the bundled line from falling out and making a big slinky.

Battery life

The Ryobi 40V battery is also used for the mower, so you better hope that it lasts for a long time if you only use the weed eater. It does. The weed eater lasts a really long time in my experience.

When I have used this attachment, I usually start with the trimmer attachment, then switch to the edging attachment, then finish off with the blower. To my knowledge, I have only gone through the battery fully one time. The first day of the spring season, I edged my lawn for the first time of the year and dug up a lot of dirt. When finishing off with the mower, the battery died. 

For most small jobs and especially for the weed eater, you will not have any issues with getting your job completed.

The official review of the Expand-It system

FeatureRyobi 40V weed eaterGas powered weed eater
Difficulty to useLess easy to maneuverEasier to maneuver
DurabilityVery durableVery durable
MaintenanceEasiest to maintainLess easy to maintain
ValueMedium valueHigh value
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommendedLess recommended
For lots <1 acreRecommendedHighly recommended
For lots >1 acreNot recommendedHighly recommended

To summarize our review, the Ryobi 40V weed eater is a good weed eater if you have a relatively small yard and/or small job. This weed eater is simply not very comfortable to use, but makes up for the lack of comfort with sheer convenience. The ability to just attach the battery and start on the job makes this super easy for those with not much land to cover.

The fully assembled Ryobi 40V weed eater.

I recommend this weed eater due to the ability to leverage this battery with other Ryobi tools, its convenience and simplicity, and using the various attachments to have an all-in-one approach to taking care of your yard.

If you have a big yard or typically spend a lot of time trimming, I would check out one of the gas powered weed eaters like the ECHO SRM-225, a staple in the lawn community. 

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 have great ways of 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.

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Ryobi Has a Nice Gas-Powered 3000 PSI Pressure Washer

The Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer with a HONDA engine is a rare bird. Most Ryobi products (lawn mowers, weed eaters) are battery powered and mostly work for smaller yards or lots. They have their own lawn mowers and weed eaters that use the same battery to provide some compatibility between products.

This pressure washer however, is completely different. This bad boy slaps a Honda GCV160 engine on the cute neon green Ryobi design and makes the battery lovers jealous. 

Real quick, here are my honest highlights about this pressure washer:

  1. If you want a gas pressure washer, I’d probably go with Simpson Pressure Washers
  2. Ryobi has some great electric tools, so this isn’t really in their sweet spot.
  3. While this isn’t bad, it just is off-brand. I can’t NOT recommend this Ryobi pressure washer, but I think you can do better.

Let’s get started with our review. Click a link below to jump ahead and read more.

An overview of the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer

Let’s take a look at the features of this pressure washer and how it stacks up to its competitors. If you’re looking for an electric alternative, we have a full list of Ryobi pressure washers you can check out.

Power on the 3000 PSI pressure washer

The Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer has a PSI or pounds-per-square-inch of 3000 (duh). This means that it packs a significant punch compared to its other residential peers. You will see some of the dinkier electric pressure washers pack PSIs of around 1600-2500. That is great, but it might take more time and effort on your Sunday afternoon to get the job done.

The electric version.

A high-powered pressure washer is what I recommend, even for the lighter jobs. It is always nice to have more than you need when it comes to pressure washers. Consider a situation in which you buy your pressure washer just to clean off your boat or car and some of your exterior windows. 

With the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer, the Honda GCV160 gas powered engine will enable you to clean things like brick, concrete, and other masonry structures. This machine boasts 2.3 gallons per minute of water forcing all the old dirt and grime off of whatever structure you are wanting to clean. 

Nozzle changing

One thing I love about the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer is that it comes with a 5-in-1 pressure washer nozzle. This nozzle has a zero degree, 25 degree, 40 degree, long-range soap, and short-range soap setting. Each of these is accessible by a twist of the same nozzle head.

Some Ryobi pressure washers have this nozzle holder built in.

The graphic below from Ryobi shows all of the different uses for the various nozzles. Do not get stuck with a weak pressure washer that takes up your whole day – go with power.

Helpful guide from Ryobi on their pressure washer nozzle uses.

Detergent tank

Speaking of different nozzle heads on the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer, two of them include soap. There is a long-range soap option as well as a short-range soap option. Both of these are activated by the detergent tank on the pressure washer. Simply add soap to the chamber and switch the nozzle to either soap option and you are ready to go. These are great options for cleaning automobiles, boats, hard to reach windows, and more. 

Soap tank allows you to step your game up!

Using this pressure washer

Other than the wide range of applicable uses that the five in one nozzle provides, a few other features make this machine very easy to use.

The Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer also boasts a 35 foot high pressure hose that allows for 40% longer reach than many of its peers. It also has a hand-truck design that allows you to move it around easily, supported by the 12 inch wheels on the back.

This handle also attaches to the side of the machine, allowing for easy storage without worrying about the handle getting run over in the garage. 

Ryobi 3000 PSI Pressure washer comparisons

Depending on where you are buying, you may not have the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer available. There may only be the 2900 (like at my local home depot) or the 3300 (also available at my local home depot), but not the 3000. 

The differences between the three are subtle but important.

Another beast Ryobi pressure washer.

The 2900 does not have a Honda engine as the main workhorse. I love the dependability of the Honda motors, as they work well in every industry that uses them. One other difference in the 2900 vs the 3000 is the detergent tank. If you want to use soap with your pressure washer, make sure to scrub down the surface by hand first. To me, the two soap nozzles on this one do not really make sense without actually being able to disperse soap. 

The 3300 has slightly more power than the 3000 and includes the detergent tank and the honda engine. This honda engine is slightly bigger (GCV190) and includes “Idle Down Technology”, which basically means it is quieter and gets better fuel consumption. The 3300 also includes a 50ft hose that allows double the reach of other pressure washers in the market.

All of them are backed by a three year limited warranty, which helps me rest assured as a buyer. 

Either way, this has way more power than Sun Joe’s pressure washers.

Cost comparison Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer vs. other top-rated pressure washers

Most residential pressure washers sell anywhere from $250 to $500. If you are looking for a super powerful commercial grade pressure washer, be prepared to spend $650 to $1,000 on a machine.

The Ryobi pressure washers reviewed here range from low $300s for the 2900, mid to high $300s for the 3000, and up to the mid $400s for the 3300.

You can check out all the Ryobi pressure washers at Home Depot here.

I recommend the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer with the Honda engine because it is the most bang for the buck. It has the detergent tank, the power of the Honda engine, and the reach that you will need to get the job done. The five in one nozzle head is icing on the cake and really puts this over the edge as compared to other gas powered pressure washers. 

FeatureRyobi 3000 PSI pressure washerGas powered pressure washer
Difficulty to useLess difficult to useMore difficult to start 
DurabilitySomewhat durableVery durable
MaintenanceEasiest to maintainLess easy to maintain
ValueMedium valueMedium value
Small jobsHighly recommendedHighly recommended
Medium jobsRecommendedHighly recommended
Heavy jobsNot recommendedHighly recommended

Why we review lawn tools

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

We have unusual methods.

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 pressure washer

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

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

Luckily for you, the Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer can handle both.

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer 

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

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