Corded electric lawn mowers are excellent choices for small yards. And they cost less if you buy them without a battery. But were impressed enough with it to say that, although smaller than a full-size option, its nicely designed and equipped with features you hardly ever see in this class and price. We were pleased with this two-function machines performance. Features like a battery power meter helps let you know when it's time to swap, and a full-bag indicator lets you know when it's time to empty trimmings. As we marched the Worx through tall spring grass, we found a good cut quality, and when we bagged with it, we found acceptable performance. Second, although the mower can move at a brisk pace if you want it to, the slowest speed setting available is unusually slow. Go with a battery mower if your cut surface area falls somewhere in the 2,000 to 8,000 square-foot range with cutting conditions that are not particularly taxing. The deck also has a lifetime warranty, and if youre not convinced that its a durable item, Honda has a video of it being run over by a car. The quality of the mower's materials, as well as the mower's batteries, were a top priority for consideration. The control system isnt as fine-tuned as on the LM2135SP, either. The loan was set up and approved on May 19, 2022. This means that the Personal Pace drive system works for backing the mower up as well as for moving it forward. Its also an excellent bagger, gathering pounds more grass per square foot of cut area than many mowers. If you simply want a solid gas mower at a great price, we recommend the Toro SmartStow Recycler 20340. Go with a gas-engine mower if mowing speed and power are essential to you, if you have a tendency to let your grass get tall, if you occasionally or even weekly walk your mower into tall, non-turf grasses to keep border areas from overtaking your yard, or if you do regular shifts of volunteer work (its your turn to mow the playing field or to cut an elderly neighbors yard). The HLPM021s cut quality is good, and its hill climbing and sidehill cutting are fair. Weve also added some long term test notes for our top pick. Many mowers have one or two of those features, but none have all of them. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. Most comments praise the tool for its reliable start (normally on the first pull). Anything larger than a half-acre gets into riding-mower territory, but a self-propelled push mower is perfect for a half-acre or less. One surprising design attribute that weve never seen in any other mower is that you can lift the entire battery pack off the mower as a single module and plug it in for recharging wherever you like. Most gas mowers have steel or aluminum decks that dent on impact, but in the same situation, the Honda will only flex. They all fit, and with a second one on the charger while one is on the mower, you can really minimize or eliminate downtime. For super-convenient storing and cleaning, For superior performance, whether you're mulching, bagging or using the side-discharge chute, Rugged construction keeps your tool safe under more conditions. The mower also has a three-year guarantee to start that states if it doesnt start in two pulls, well fix it for free.. On the handle is a quiet-mode button that lowers the RPM's to a constant 2500 that emits a low noise. So in that respect, this is a nice little mower. Their best model is the 40V battery, 20" wide mowing deck. Hondas have a reputation for longevity, but if there are any issues, the company offers a five-year warranty (PDF) for this mower (and the others in this models family, the HRX line). Very impressive to have all of your purchases get approved in one day! Plus, lever-operated drive increases your control in all cutting situations, but especially in push-pull mowing and when driving the mower with one hand, as sometimes occurs moving laterally along a hill. The composite deck is a nice detail that helps ensure a long-lasting mower. Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. And when we say smooth, we mean theyre as easy to shift as any weve seen in decades of testing, with hundreds of mowers behind us. Compared with a gas mower, its quieter, doesnt create exhaust, and requires almost no maintenance. Because there is no gas or oil to leak out, this process is much easier than with a gas mower. We confirmed the run-time figures in tests of this pick and our runner-up in March 2019 and in 2020. Instead, the mower needs to be put on its side and the dome wiped off or scraped clean, using a plastic scraper. The loan for Jennifer was set up on May 25, 2022 and approved today. Weve called people at lawn mower retail/service outlets, like Nick Ortiz at Kellam Lawn Mower in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and Boston Lawnmower Companys David (who asked that his last name be withheld). The Toro comes with a two-year warranty that fully covers everything under normal use and maintenance. Closely follow the service instructions in the manual to ensure this isnt voided. Among other cordless models, the Ego LM2135SP has among the longest run time and shortest charge time. Wow, that was quick. Honda also has the new HRN line (which replaces its HRR line). At both Lowe's and MowersDirect, the Honda HRX line, specifically the HRX217VKA, has received excellent feedback. Popular Mechanics participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The same system works well on the Toro SnowMaster (our current snow blower pick). It does, however, weed out the most bare-bones machines. It makes cleanup much easier, and you can avoid having to tip the mower back to hose off the blade area. Do not spray the underside of your EGO Power+ mower with water. All that said, there are many capableand several excellentgas mowers available. You get 10-inch rear tires to help it better roll over washboard surfaces, dual batteries, and three-function capability: mulch, side discharge, and bag. Use this low-power setting at the height of summer when the grass is dry and brittle; it may need only a light trim. A cordless mower that's wonderfully lightweight (38 lbs) this Black+Decker model is ideal for those who have to deal with tight spaces and uneven terrain. Manage your cookies here This is quite handy if youre backing in and out under a tree or in another tricky area, if youre mowing across a hill and taking care not to let the mower slide or roll away, or if you just need to take it slow to make sure youre not about to mow over an obstruction. The EGO POWER+ 56-Volt 4.0Ah battery uses industry-leading Arc-Lithium technology to deliver Power Beyond Belief and is compatible with all EGO outdoor power equipment. That is, you have a nice neat yard. We think the Honda HRX217VKA gives you the best features Honda has to offer, but at this level you do not get a blade stop system (which stops the blade without stopping the engine), an electric start, or a washout port to attach a hose directly to the mowing dome for a cleaning. Whatever type of mower you need, here are the criteria we feel matter most in making a selection: Rear-Wheel Self-propulsion: Self-propelled mowers make life easier. But look for new, gamechanging EGO innovations coming soon. The Hondas roughly $700 price tag puts it clearly in the upper echelon of gas mowers, but all indications show that it is worth the cost, both in performance and long-term durability. We mow tall grass and weeds. And with corded you don't have to worry about a battery loosing its juice mid-mow, so you get a constant clean cut the entire time. That led us to closely consider the differences among a smaller group of about 50 established, well-regarded models from major brands, often covered by comparable warranties of about three to five years. Others express that such a great machine is worth the cost. But aside from our current pick, the LM2102SP is still better than any other cordless mower. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, We Tried A Nolah Organic Mattress for 120 Nights, Score This Wireless Meat Thermometer for Under $50, Connect AirPods to Airplane TVs With This Gadget, We Found a Secret Sale On Top-rated Delsey Luggage, Here's Where to Buy the Viral $30 Shower Shelf, The 32 Best Tech Gifts a Guy Could Ask For, The 17 Best Boxer Briefs for All Types of Wear, Beat the Heat With This Smart Portable Neck Fan, The Best Electric Lawn Mowers for All Types of Use. User interface and features: In years of tests, weve found most midrange mowers perform at a comparable level; most can cut the grass just fine. Mowing around trees, hedges, or any other obstruction is an exercise in extension-cord management. Corded electric mowers have so many limitations that most people would find them frustrating. The EGO POWER+ Mower makes 30% less noise than a gas powered mower and the compact, foldable design makes storing and cleaning the mower more convenient than any other. The HRN mower most comparable to our pick is the HRN216VKA, which costs around $150 less than the Ego LM2135SP. Do not use a wire brush. A final benefit is its conveniently located single lever (on the left) to raise and lower the mower deck. Depending on the Ah, they currently range in price from about $140 (2.5 Ah) to about $250 (5.0 Ah), and up to about $450 for a 7.5 Ah battery. It feels light and easy to maneuver, especially for anyone accustomed to a gas mowers bulk. Mow more often to keep grass height within a range that the mower can comfortably handle. On other mulching mowers, the dome is either completely open or completely closed off, so 100 percent of the grass gets bagged or mulched. The handle adjustability, combined, with knob-controlled ground speed, make the mower very adaptable. Its a simple process: You fold the handle over the body of the mower and lock it in place. Sun Joe carries some of the most wallet friendly electric mowers out there. Icing on the cake includes its steel deck with seven positions from 1 18 to 3 inches, all controlled by a single spring-loaded lift mechanism. This is because you don't have to go to great lengths to run an extension cord. The features of the EGO POWER+ Mower include: Weather resistant construction (ipx4), a 20" Deck that reduces the number of passes required to mow your lawn; true 3-in-1 function for superior performance, whether you are mulching, bagging or using the side-discharge chute; and LED headlights for mowing anytimemorning or evening. We're talking gas-like power, solid battery range, bright LED lights for 24-hour use, and a sharp blade capable of slicing wet grass when needed. Several features have enabled the improved capability of battery mowers. Choose from the latest mobile phones on AO.com. We also liked several other features on the DeWalt. Marvel Boss Teases Return of Harry Styles, Zachary Levi Says Therapy Was 'Life-Saving', The Rock Shared a Look at How He Builds His Biceps, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. An invaluable source has been Roy Berendsohn, a Popular Mechanics lawn mower guru who has more than 20 years of experience testing and writing about mowers. The brand recommends a battery with a minimum of 7.5 Ah of capacity, and thats what we used to arrive at the cut area you see above. Next, the companys redesigned Atomic blade configuration appears to assist the air flow and clipping movement. Add in all the avoided long-term costs of gas and maintenance and the Egos two-blade system, and the value proposition starts to look a lot more even. The battery regularly recharges in 60 minutes or less. Weve been testing string trimmers for years, and the Ego ST1511T Power+ String Trimmer with Powerload is the best weve found. Owner reviews and reputation: The best mowers out there have proved satisfying for the most number of people for the longest amount of time. Backups help see you through the wide variety of cutting conditions that occur in a growing season, and they also help spread out the wear and tear on the batteries, instead of quickly working them to death. The EGO POWER+ Mower makes 30% less noise than a gas powered mower and the compact, foldable design makes storing and cleaning the mower more convenient than any other. If our main pick is out of stock or simply not in the budget, we also like the Ego Power+ Self-Propelled Mower LM2102SP. Squeeze its blue handles to make it move forward; release them to stop. Its a decent little machine for average-height grass under non-strenuous conditions. Greenworks has several quality electric lawn mowers to choose from. Thats a one-day approval! However, the LM2102SP lacks our main picks more-polished speed control. Yes, the blade is fully serviceable. The Ryobi RY48140 Zero Turn Electric Riding Mower has a single internal battery, which can power the mower to cut up to 3-acres. Toros 20366 60-Volt Recycler has the companys innovative and successful Personal Pace drive system, but it also has a long, three-hour charge time and a 50-minute run time, neither of which matches the performance of the Ego mowers. Raise the mower deck to reduce the amount of grass you remove with each cut, and strive to remove no more than one third of the grass leaf with each mow. *At the time of publishing, the price was $449. This is a no frills option with two batteries, a dual charger, and grass collector. HRNs also have a less powerful engine (167 cc). This is a sizable difference in cost, but we think the combined benefits of the HRX features warrant the upgrade, especially considering that a mower should last a decade or more. Across the board, RYOBI electric lawn care products carry some of the best battery life you can find. Through our extensive research of available cordless mowers, we have yet to find any models that match or exceed the unique set of attributes that define the Ego: long run time, short charge time, two blades, and an excellent interface. Greenworks is in a similar boat. It's also got a cool manual lever to adjust to six different cutting lengths. This is a new category of mower and were watching to see how it progresses. These 50 useful things are our most-purchased gardening picks. Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. Ryobi estimates the design should provide 70 minutes of run time; we didnt time our cut, but it strikes as plausible. Cordless mowers start with the push of a button, are easier to maneuver, and dont need oil changes, gas, spark plugs, or air filters. There is a 3-year limited warranty on EGO Power+ System battery packs and chargers purchased from authorized EGO retailers. Typically costing about $700, the Ego is expensive up-front, but it actually includes many features that come as premium options on gas mowerselectric start, the ability to stop the blades but not the engine, and self-propulsionwhich can normally add on $100 apiece. The EGO POWER+ Mower is the most advanced rechargeable mower on the market today. Hours 8AM 6PM Mon FriLicensed in FL, GA, AL, TX, SC, NC. And though this models single blade can easily handle overgrown grass, it leaves a more-ragged cut edge than a dual-blade mower. The warranty period for any EGO product, battery pack and charger used for industrial, professional or commercial purpose is one year. The annoying thing is the wire is so thin it will sometimes break inside the sheath, which makes it difficult to diagnose or even find what section to repair. Because of the large number of youtube videos devoted to the problem, its clear that this isnt an isolated incident. The rapid charger will charge any EGO battery faster than the standard charger but all chargers work interchangeably. The Makitas drive motor-gear assembly at the rear axle is considerably larger than that in most mowers, reflecting Makitas experience as a power tool company and motor builder. In the fall, the Honda is able to shred leaves, thanks to its Versamow System. What really launches the Honda into new territory is a unique system that allows you to control the size of the opening between the mowing dome and the bag, and this dictates how much grass goes in the bag and how much gets mulched. Every feature and accessory on every machine gets a thorough workout. Save up to 25% on select tools when you buy online! The Power+ from EGO is loaded with a strong 56-volt battery that holds 60 minutes of runtime per charge. The headlight, something not found on gas mowers, gives some illumination as the day starts to end. And compared with gas mowers, the LM2135SP feels hassle-free: no trips to the gas station, no checking the oil levels, no spilled fuel, and no emissions. For example, if you are mowing across a hill, theres a brief moment during a turnaround when the mower is pointing up or down the hill. Of course, this makes the mower heavier and more expensive, too. When the mower encounters tall grass, the motor speed increases automatically, also ramping up the blade speed. The 20340 comes with Toros unique control system, Personal Pace. Pairing a 40V battery with a 16-inch mowing deck and a 9.5 gallon bag means you'll chomp through rounds of grass with ease. Nowadays, the best electric lawnmowers have as much power as old-school gas models, and you won't have to pay these sky-high gas prices to juice it up. It makes storage easy, not to mention cleaning the underside of the mowing deck or inspecting the blade. Please contact EGO Customer Service Toll-Free at 1-855-EGO-5656 any time you have questions or warranty claims. Similar things can be said about models from Worx, Kobalt. The 40V walk behind is our top pick because of what you get for the price. Be the first to know about new products and innovations. The Ego has seven cutting heights, between 1 to 4 inchesa wider range than on most cordless mowers, which top out at around 3 to 3 inches. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. Are there other design details that make startup smoother, reduce engine maintenance, or make storage easier? If you strongly feel that gas is the way to go, we recommend the Honda HRX217VKA Lawn Mower. Oh, and you get four batteries! This DeWalt is a great fit for anybody who mows, but particularly for somebody crossing over from a front-drive gas-engine mower to one thats battery powered. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Corded mowers require a power source close by to use, but the plus side on using a corded electric lawn mower as opposed to cordless ones is the price. Ego equipped it with an all-plastic deck that will never rust out, and a tilt-forward handle that also easily adjusts to suit the users height. We believe for most people the regular version of the mower is just fine. Like the larger Ego, it has a 54-inch cut and amenities like the USB port and cup holders. Youve got it all with Egos mower. Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. It is also difficult to figure out exactly what models Greenworks is selling. Mowing the lawn is a chore, but its one you might actually look forward to with the Ego Power+ Select Cut Mower LM2135SP. The handle folds forward for storage, telescopes in length and easily adjusts through three angles; the bag does not lift up easily through the handle, however. Egos other self-propelled model, the LM2142SP, has a longer run time than our pick (on a light load, the two-battery LM2142SP can run for up to 80 minutes). Theyre much quieter, they dont smell, they dont produce emissions, and theyre easier to store in the off-season. Then (with the bag removed), you set the mower upright or wheel it around like a piece of luggage, much like you would a cordless model. You control its ground speed with a simple pivoting lever on the operators left. If anyone from Egos reading this, theyll probably say were mowing on too steep a hill, but hey, sometimes life throws a steep hill at you. Honestly, it all comes down to convenience. The obvious counterpoint to an electric mower is battery life. Cost: We looked at cost in terms of long-term value. But if you have a very flat lawn and dont mind a little more of a workout, this mower provides all of the other upsides of our pick. Sign up and be the first to know. If you want to pay the lowest price possible and still get a quality self-propelled mower, we recommend the Toro SmartStow Recycler 20340. That led us to place an emphasis on user interface featureshow difficult is it to adjust the push-bar height, or to raise and lower the mowing deck? Just using the four included batteries, the Ego can cut about 2 acres. Choose from the latest mobile phones on ao.com, ao.com is operated by AO Retail Limited, registered in England with company number 03914998 whose registered office is at 5a, The Parklands, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4SD, The goods you buy from this site will be purchased from AO Retail Limited. Credit is provided by NewDay Ltd, 7 Handyside Street, London, N1C 4DA. We liked its mulch-bag door lever. We think that the hour or so of run time is going to be enough for anyone keeping to about a half-acre, but if thats not enough, additional batteries are available to extend run time infinitely. The Ego outshines most gas mowers on storage, since it can be folded up and propped up on an end and rolled like a dolly. Other like-able attributes: It has a good quality bag (and frame) that lifts straight up through the handle, and the mower switches automatically between its two batteries. At around $450, the Toro costs less than the Egos and the Honda, and, like other good options at this price level, it offers intuitive self-propulsion and excellent mulching performance. Were confident our research will lead you to the right mower, regardless whether your lawn is like a putting green or more like our retention basin. Ego also offers the LM2133, which is the same as our pick, but without the self-propelled feature. When adjusting your grip to make those turns, you may inadvertently tap the throttle, destabilizing your stance or your grip on the mower. These cordless cutters are powerful, convenient, and (relatively) quiet. This allows you to connect a garden hose to the mower that sprays water on the underside of the mowing dome. Given that we cut with it in the lushest of the lush spring conditions, we strongly suspect it will mow far more grass under more normal cutting conditions than what our cut area per charge test indicates above. So expect batteries to get better over time. Most mowers have a single blade, but the Honda, like our Ego pick, has two. Those include supplies (like gas, oil, stabilizers, air filters, and spark plugs) and the time and labor of caring for one: getting gas, changing the oil, and emptying the tank at the end of the season. After 30 hours researching and testing reel mowers, we think theScotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower is the best pick for manual lawncare. According to Honda (and this is something we confirmed in our tests), if you set the mower at a certain level between bag and full-mulch, it forces the leaves to stay longer in the mowing dome, which completely shreds them and sends them back onto the lawn or disposes of them in the bag. Thats a small complaint, though, for a fine mid-size battery mower. Battery mowers are also quieter than their gas-engine counterparts, and since they dont burn fuel, they dont have hot surfaces like an engine or muffler that can burn you. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The 9 Best Wood Splitters for Any Size Wood Pile, 9 Best Paint Rollers for a Perfect Paint Job, The Best Safety Glasses to Protect Your Peepers, How to Accurately Cut With a Circular Saw, The Best Paint Sprayers for Projects of Any Size, Repair Stripped Threads with Professional Results, The Best Lawn Mower Blades for Residential Mowers. If you need to cut several thousand square feet of grass and can do it in the range of 40 minutes to an hour, a battery mower will work for you. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. And that equals better durability and run time. This is a top dog right here. Unless your mowed area is very small, say 1,000 square feet or less, you almost always need a second battery or pair (for dual-battery mowers). The Toros unusual featureand the reason we recommend it over a lot of similar machinesis its space-saving ability to be stowed upright in a crowded garage or shed (the Egos can be stored this way as well). This is typical in gas mowers, but its not an issue on the Ego. This reliable Honda gas mowers dual blades manicure a lawn with precision, and its unique system can dial in the ratio of grass youre bagging and mulching. Hondas self-propulsion control, Select Drive, allows you to set a speed that matches your stride and then use an adjustable handle to slow the mower when needed, like when youre approaching a tree. Anyone looking to avoid a gas engine would be much happier with the Ego. In just 30 minutes, a depleted 2.5 Ah battery can be fully recharged with the Rapid Charger. For example, its deck height adjustment is via two smoothly operating levers. Plus it has solid range, owing to the efficiency of its brushless motor and adaptive motor speed control to suit grass density (motor rpm ramps up when you push it into tall, thick grass). Its cut quality is quite good and, overall, the mower is extremely easy to use. All you have to do is charge their battery after each mow and replace a spark plug every now and then. A light on the back of the motor housing alerts you to battery charge level.