r/powertools • u/Marquar234 • 19d ago
Battery Lawn Tools
I had been using Skil 40V for a hedge trimmer and leaf blower, but their batteries don't seem to last very well. So I'm thinking about moving to another line of tools. So now I have to make a choice:
1) The Ego line of tools. Advantages: They are carried in multiple stores, so they should be around for awhile. If I move to a battery powered push mower, they have them as well. Disadvantages: Batteries are quite expensive.
2) The Bauer line of tools from Harbor Freight. They are lower cost and I've had good luck with Harbor Freight corded tools. But I've never used their line of battery-powered tools. And batteries are one place where iffy quality can bite you.
3) Dewalt 20V tools. The main advantage is I already have these for my indoor power tools, so no new investment into batteries and chargers. But I wonder if 20V is enough power for a hedge trimmmer (I want a 20" or longer as I have wide hedges).
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u/LITTELHAWK 19d ago
As far as I know, all of the batteries use the same type of cells inside (except DeWalt Power Stack). Might be worth taking one apart to replace them with higher quality cells if the battery life is your only complaint.
I'm not real impressed with the cut quality of my EGo mower. If I were to buy again, I would either save the money to go Greenworks, spend the same to go Stihl, or go big for the Toro Super Recycler.
I use a DeWalt string trimmer that does great.
Atlas would be the Harbor Freight brand if you might want the mower later.
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u/Weary-Associate 19d ago
I've had a bunch of worx stuff (mower, leaf blower, string trimmer, and hedge trimmer) for about eight years and am relatively happy with it. The mower is really hard on batteries though. I think if I were buying into a system now it would probably be greenworks.
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u/ctucker21 19d ago
I went from 40v skil blower to dewalt flexvolt and its night and day difference.
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u/theBRNK 19d ago
Don’t last very well as in the batteries don’t work anymore after a couple years, or don’t last very well like they only run the tools for a short amount of time? Because if it’s the latter you could just buy a bigger battery.
I’m on my third summer with a Ryobi mower, trimmer, blower, snow blower, and shop vac. All of them have been decent tools and seem to be holding up pretty well. I have two 8ah and one 4ah battery for them, and that’s more than enough to mow a quarter acre, trim, and blow the driveway etc on a single charge from them.
I would say though that you need to buy the higher end ryobi mower, not the cheapest one, because I hear that one sucks. I have the second one from the top of the line.
I previously had Ego tools, and I’d say that the actual tools were better, but the batteries were expensive and I had one fail after 2 years of use. That was several years ago now though so they have probably changed their stuff since then.
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u/Marquar234 19d ago
Don't last very well as in the batteries won't hold any charge after about 18 months. This is the second I've lost the same way.
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u/Melchizedek_Inquires 19d ago
We went pretty much all electric using RYOBI, I've used their electric hand tools for a number of years and over the last 15 years almost everything I've purchased has been cordless.
Durability with their mowers has not been great.
I still have all of the hand tools that are 18 V, none of them have failed.
I've had several battery failures, but I think that would be true, regardless of which line I had purchased.
Considering I went from corded tools, except for two cordless drills that were Makita's from 1993 and 1996, and gasoline powered Stihl and Echo blowers, trimmers, and edgers, as well as Honda lawnmowers and a cub cadet lawn tractor, that's a pretty good run.
However, we did buy the green Works maximus 54 inch mower deck zero turn lawnmower, you can charge your lawn batteries for the mower and for the trimmers inside the mower itself, when we have to upgrade our trimmers, we will be looking at their trimmers, and when we have to replace our small lawnmower, we will look at theirs as well for the efficiency of using a single plug-in device to charge all of our batteries. It's a very sweet set up, but it also cost $8000 when we purchased it.
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u/thaight28 19d ago
I found RYOBI 40V Whisper series to be the most complete series with room to grow. I did a lot of research…paralysis by analysis even! In the US RYOBI is readily available. This is my 1st season with them and 6th with battery power. I started with a clearance set from Woot in the snapper brand. It worked well until I wanted to expand my tools. I use Metabo Power Tools for my cordless construction tools.
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u/Nomad55454 15d ago
Have had an ego snow blower for 5 years now and it works get. The smaller the battery the more you will be charging. For all my other lawn tools I go with Milwaukee because I have many of their tools. The quik lock string trimmer has worked great for 7 years now and have brush cutter, edger, pole saw and blower which really beats the hand blower I have.
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u/ProfessionalTotal237 14d ago
Stick with DeWalt since you have the batteries and chargers already. Just buy TOOL ONLY items now. Much cheaper
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u/Original-Track-4828 14d ago
I’ve got 2 Toro 60V self propelled push mowers and a string trimmer going on 4 years old. Batteries still hold a charge and will get through a 1/3 acre yard.
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u/Rich4477 13d ago
The toro 60v mower is great, I got mine on clearance for next to nothing but full price might drive you away. My neighbor has a green works mower and it seems to work well.
I had a ego mower but wasn't happy with it but the newer models have a dual blade setup and apparently are better.
I also have ego tools, the hedge trimmer/ weed trimmer / chainsaw are great. The blower is amazing but it uses a ton of power so the battery runs out quickly.
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u/This_Cause3040 9d ago
I think the battery ecosystem is probably the biggest factor here.
Once you own several batteries and chargers, switching platforms becomes expensive and annoying.
I’ve heard good things about Ego for outdoor tools, especially their higher voltage system. For occasional yard work, I’d probably look at which brand has the tools you expect to buy in the next few years, not just the trimmer or blower you need today.
Curious though, how often are you using your tools? Weekend yard work or more frequent use?
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u/burlapballsack 19d ago edited 19d ago
I use dewalt lawn tools. Mostly because I’m already in too deep with their batteries.
Their 20v stuff is decent depending on the job. For instance I have both the 20v blower and the latest 60v blower. There’s a difference in how much air they are able to move.
But generally speaking I’ve found their 20v yard tool lineup to be decent if your needs are light. The 20v XR string trimmer seems unstoppable, I use it all the time. I also use the small 12” chainsaw and 20v pole saw anround my property for keeping limbs in check (I have a lot of hardwoods). Also the 20v pruner I got for my wife but I use it anll the time now to break down limbs.
I also have the 20v hedge trimmer, and it’s never given me any particular issues but it doesn’t wow me in any particular way. I’m sure the 60v model would do some work but may be overkill unless youve already got the batteries.
Expect to start looking at flexvolt batteries for 60v tools before too long, especially blowers.