Outdoor Power Equipment Reviews

Our outdoor power equipment reviews include best battery powered lawnmowers, best riding mowers, best zero turn mowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, edgers, blowers, and chainsaws. More than that, our OPE reviews hit on both gas and cordless battery powered tools. If you’re a landscaping Pro, you want to make sure your crew is doing their work quickly and efficiently. Zero turns, for example, are not all designed the same. Some cut more quickly than others, while others have the build quality to last. For string trimmers, we look for max line size, speed, and ergonomics. You want power, but you also want to be able to operate a tool all day long with ease. Ergonomics and vibration consistently get more attention from organizations like OSHA and NIOSH.

Craftsman Long Handle & D-Handle Digging Shovels Review

Craftsman Long Handle Digging Shovels

Craftsman’s new Long Handle and the matching D-Handle Digging Shovels are made in the USA. The new shovels, branded by Craftsman (and available at Sears and Kmart), feature Powerstep plates which give you tons of room and lots of leverage for using your boots to really dig in deep, even in compacted soil. The round point blade also feature a nice serrated edge for when you want to rock it back and forth to really saw through tough material.

ECHO PE-280 Edger Review

ECHO PE-280 Edger Review

Lawn care is of utmost importance in my neighborhood – at least it is if you want to avoid the nasty stares and angry looks of neighbors tired of wild grass and haphazard edging. Professionals know this – and so do consumers. Echo’s PE-280 Perfect Edge Edger seems to go mostly after the former group, with its 28.1cc engine and pro features that take edging a step beyond the products designed solely for the casual homeowner. What the PE-280 does is provide plenty of power in a lightweight package – and then gives you the features you need, and nothing you don’t. It’s a pro-level product for sure, but with a 5-year consumer warranty, serious lawn-nazi’s are going to have a hard time passing it up.

ECHO HC-165 24" Hedge Trimmer Review

ECHO HC-165 24″ Hedge Trimmer Review

ECHO is known for its excellent outdoor equipment that caters to both professionals and consumers. Now, the new HC-165 gas-powered Hedge Trimmer proves itself to be a pro-quality product with features that are the perfect blend of convenient and unobtrusive. With a 5-position rotating handle, the HC-165 Hedge Trimmer is one of the most ergonomic trimmers we’ve used. That translates into more cutting, with less time adjusting your position to angle the blade. Want to make a left-handed vertical cut? No problem. We also found that the blades were quite sharp – and stayed that way. And the i-30 starter cranked the trimmer up after just a few pulls. The HC-165 is also quite portable and easy to carry – plus, it stores over 16 oz of fuel so you spend more time cutting and less re-filling the tank.

Recharge 36V Cordless Riding Mower Preview

Recharge 36V Cordless Riding Lawnmower Preview

The G1-RM10 Recharge Mower has been under development for over 3 years. The 36V battery-powered riding lawn mower delivers up to three hours of continuous cutting and driving – and all this without gas, oil, or emissions. What’s really impressive is that the mower sports a fairly compact size, easy maneuverability, adjustable cutting height, and a large (3 bushel) grass catcher. The Recharge Mower seems perfectly suited for just about every lawn. On top of that, it’s actually pretty ergonomic, so it’s also great for those who may have physical disabilities (it has an easy-access seat). Now the people behind the Recharge Mower wee going for the “truly” green mower. The Recharge uses three eco-friendly electric motors and, of course, it emits absolutely no carbon emissions.