Battery powered lawn mower

[manwithtools]

I have the Milwaukee and it works just fine for the area inside our fenced back yard. It's made sturdy and I look forward to many years of use. No offence to Steve_P, but I would not put any stake in anything Consumer Reports has to say about anything. Many years ago I sold retail appliances and most of the time the ones CR rated best were the ones we had the most failures and repairs on.

 

[Super38ACP]

I personally think if you own a bunch of Milwaukee batteries thats the right choice.

The thing about the Honda (if you can wait) is that at least from preliminary information it's based on a gas mower deck. Their gas mowers are great.

 

[Metallitubby]

The thing about the Honda (if you can wait) is that at least from preliminary information it's based on a gas mower deck.

It's 90% the same mower decks as the ICE mowers. We did this on purpose.

 

[Steve_P]

i have been eyeballing the Ego, another battery type won’t hurt, at least I would know my Milwaukee batteries would be charged, wife has a tendency to kill the batteries and not put them on charge after she’s done

$800 for the Milwaukee mower is awfully steep, IMO. I don't have a cordless mower, but I have an Ego blower and string trimmer; I've been very impressed with both of them. As small as your yard is, I'd also look at the Kobalt stuff as they may have a very light mower model.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the Milwaukee and it works just fine for the area inside our fenced back yard. It's made sturdy and I look forward to many years of use. No offence to Steve_P, but I would not put any stake in anything Consumer Reports has to say about anything. Many years ago I sold retail appliances and most of the time the ones CR rated best were the ones we had the most failures and repairs on.

Ok then, feel free to ignore my info from CR and listen to anecdotal forum posts.

 

[RalphInCA]

Ok then, feel free to ignore my info from CR and listen to anecdotal forum posts.

Right.

Consumer Reports is, and has always been, good information.

Anecdotal information about their usefulness aside.

 

[manwithtools]

Ok then, feel free to ignore my info from CR and listen to anecdotal forum posts.

Steve, as I said, no offence to you. The fact is we live in a day where there is more relative information available from reviews on the internet (from forums like this and many other sources) than any subscription based service could ever hope to provide. One does have to dive deep sometimes to remove the chaff from the wheat so to speak from general internet info.

I'm curious though, why would you think GJ info is less pertinent than CR?

I would certainly place a higher weight on ratings that come from this forum and it's trusted members than CR. The folks here are many times experts on the product they are giving feedback on, while CR has a engineer or other with little relative experience on the product at hand doing a review. A very flawed model in my opinion. Why people pay for their drivel escapes me.

It's like them reviewing a tree trimming chainsaw. Who knows better, the CR engineer or the full time arborist who uses those saws everyday? I know who I will listen to.

Consumer Reports has been known to use methods of evaluation that really don't reflect the products suitability to use. They may place heavy weight on a long warranty for instance, only to find out the long warranty is due to a lawsuit settlement on the product.

I also understand these days they flood their subscribers inboxes with requests for subscription $ and suggestions to lobby their representatives on issues their foundation considers important. I have no proof, just what I've read and been told.

 

[RalphInCA]

I also understand these days they flood their subscribers inboxes with requests for subscription $ and suggestions to lobby their representatives on issues their foundation considers important.

What’s wrong with that?

 

[Metallitubby]

The fact is we live in a day where there is more relative information available from reviews on the internet (from forums like this and many other sources) than any subscription based service could ever hope to provide. One does have to dive deep sometimes to remove the chaff from the wheat so to speak from general internet info.

This forum needs someone from a lawn mower manufacturer to join and give real feedback. Maybe one day.

 

[manwithtools]

This forum needs someone from a lawn mower manufacturer to join and give real feedback.

There is always hope!

 

[pembol]

Steve, as I said, no offence to you. The fact is we live in a day where there is more relative information available from reviews on the internet (from forums like this and many other sources) than any subscription based service could ever hope to provide. One does have to dive deep sometimes to remove the chaff from the wheat so to speak from general internet info.

I'm curious though, why would you think GJ info is less pertinent than CR?

I would certainly place a higher weight on ratings that come from this forum and it's trusted members than CR. The folks here are many times experts on the product they are giving feedback on, while CR has a engineer or other with little relative experience on the product at hand doing a review. A very flawed model in my opinion. Why people pay for their drivel escapes me.

It's like them reviewing a tree trimming chainsaw. Who knows better, the CR engineer or the full time arborist who uses those saws everyday? I know who I will listen to.

Consumer Reports has been known to use methods of evaluation that really don't reflect the products suitability to use. They may place heavy weight on a long warranty for instance, only to find out the long warranty is due to a lawsuit settlement on the product.

I also understand these days they flood their subscribers inboxes with requests for subscription $ and suggestions to lobby their representatives on issues their foundation considers important. I have no proof, just what I've read and been told.

I appreciate CR or Wirecuter reviews for things I am not an enthusiast on. One difference between these and the recommendations here, is that most people recommend (or sometimes don't recommend) what they have, because that is what they have experience with. Whereas with a professional review like CR, they go buy 10 of what ever it is and directly compare them.

Recommendations from a professional arborist are great, if you are a professional arborist, but for the guy with a 1/8 acre lot, the Stihl MSA 300 maybe a bit of overkill - albeit about half the folks on GJ would buy it anyway because it is the best saw.

 

[manwithtools]

Whereas with a professional review like CR, they go buy 10 of what ever it is and directly compare them.

This is the exact point, they are not professional reviewers at CR... and their comparisons sometimes (almost always) totally misses the mark. I'm out.

 

[RalphInCA]

they are not professional reviewers at CR

Wrong

 

[thool]

I'm in the market for a small push (not self propelled) lightweight battery mower, for a lot that is maybe 1/10 acre. I'm looking for something in the $300 range that will last at least 10 years. No bagger needed, but mulching is a big plus. Lightweight is nice for DW getting it in and out of the shed.

I assume they drop in price as we approach fall. Any leads on a decent brand are appreciated. I don't need the Best unit possible like they do on Project Farm, just something that gets the job done without breaking.

 

[carlaisle]

I have used a Kobalt 80v (rebadged Greenworks) for several years with zero complaints. Menards 80v line is rebadged Greenworks, too. The 40v line can meet your price point, but not the 80v. I have no experience with the 40v line. On the 80v line, mowing and mulching performance are excellent. Won't be able to speak to your requested longevity for 6-7 more years.

 

[gmcgeo]

Ego all the way

 

[Metallitubby]

I'm in the market for a small push (not self propelled) lightweight battery mower, for a lot that is maybe 1/10 acre. I'm looking for something in the $300 range that will last at least 10 years. No bagger needed, but mulching is a big plus. Lightweight is nice for DW getting it in and out of the shed.

Our HRN-BV meets your quality and weight requirements, but not even remotely close in price.

Any leads on a decent brand are appreciated.

"Decent" brands are going to cost more money like Honda, Stihl, etc...

 

[16again]

Our HRN-BV meets your quality and weight requirements, but not even remotely close in price.



"Decent" brands are going to cost more money like Honda, Stihl, etc...

Stop posting. Go finish the Quality inspections and send me my machine.

 

[pbon]

I'm in the market for a small push (not self propelled) lightweight battery mower, for a lot that is maybe 1/10 acre. I'm looking for something in the $300 range that will last at least 10 years. No bagger needed, but mulching is a big plus. Lightweight is nice for DW getting it in and out of the shed.

I assume they drop in price as we approach fall. Any leads on a decent brand are appreciated. I don't need the Best unit possible like they do on Project Farm, just something that gets the job done without breaking.

I have a Milwaukee that I bought on sale pretty cheap and it is about as good as a quality gas mower other than run time, but it has expensive and heavy. I also have a Ryobi 40V that does great with my small yard at the beach, but it is self propelled. I did have to buy a new battery this year — my 5th year with it. Much lighter and cheaper than the Milwaukee. I use it more.

 

[thool]

I have a Milwaukee that I bought on sale pretty cheap and it is about as good as a quality gas mower other than run time, but it has expensive and heavy. I also have a Ryobi 40V that does great with my small yard at the beach, but it is self propelled. I did have to buy a new battery this year — my 5th year with it. Much lighter and cheaper than the Milwaukee. I use it more.

Thanks. Part of the need for a lightweight mower is because I have to carry it across a small creek to mow the other side. I think 40V will be enough for my needs. The simpler the better.