Best Commercial Battery Backpack Blower

The Tool Box Buzz Crew seeks to crown the best commercial-grade battery backpack blower in this most recent Head-to-Head comparison test. In 2023 our crew tested and chose the best Handheld Cordless Blower. Building on that success, we are now examining battery backpack blowers. However, this Head-to-Head will primarily be geared towards commercial users. Backpack blowers are synonymous with the landscaping and property maintenance trades. We aim to determine which blowers are ready to keep up with demanding commercial use and provide the best options for pros looking to purchase a battery-powered model.

Are Battery Blowers Ready for Prime-time?

The demand for rugged, commercial-grade, battery-powered OPE is constantly growing. This demand is being fueled by technological improvements as well as legislative requirements. As of June 2024, more than one hundred cities in the United States, and the entire state of California, have banned or restricted the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. Contractors are now forced to look for battery-powered options to stay in business. These restrictions have forced OPE companies to step up their game.

Direct Comparison to Gas Powered

One common question with all battery OPE is how the tools perform compared to traditional gas-powered models. While gas vs. battery is not a true even comparison, we elected to include a gas-powered model in some of our testing to provide an additional data point. The gas-powered model will not be included in any of our rankings, but we felt the information collected is of interest.

Echo provided a sample of their model PB-770T X Series backpack blower. This blower features a 63.3 CC professional-grade two-stroke engine. This is Echo’s smallest commercial-grade backpack blower and is a close comparison to our battery-powered options in terms of power and output. Its technical specifications are as follows:

• Max Air Volume: 756 CFM
• Max Air Speed: 234 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 33
• Fuel Capacity: 68.3 Fl./Ozs.
• Warranty: 2 Year Commercial

Best Commercial Battery Backpack Blower  | Test Criteria

We selected eight categories to determine our best commercial battery backpack blower of 2024. The tools were ranked in each category and an overall score was later used to determine our winner. The evaluation categories are:

• Measured Maximum Air Speed (MPH)
• Calculated Maximum Air Volume (CFM)
• Total Run-time on a Battery Charge (Minutes)
• Power Sled Performance Test
• Measured Noise Output (Decibels)
• Assembled Weight
• Features and Ergonomics
• Price

In addition to our overall winner, we selected a tool as our Best Value. This category highlights a single backpack blower that may not be our top-performing tool but offers an excellent overall value based on its features and performance compared to its price.

Battery Backpack Blower Lineup

Once our testing criteria were finalized, we identified the current available pro-grade models. Invitations were sent to the manufacturers to participate in our Head-To-Head. A total of six companies agreed to participate and provided us with samples of their products. Not every company that was invited chose to participate however our sample size is an excellent representation of the pro-user market.

Our participating companies provided us with the backpack blower unit, a battery, and a charger. Additionally, manufacturers were invited to include any accessories or optional parts that improve the overall user experience. Only one company elected to do this. Stihl provided us with an upgraded waist belt to enhance user comfort.

Echo eFORCE

• Model: DPB-5800T
• Battery Platform: eFORCE 56V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Batteries Tested: (3x) 8.0 Ah
• Max Air Volume: 795 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 195 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 25 Newtons
• Warranty: 2 Years Commercial

Greenworks Commercial Optimus

• Model: BB361
• Battery Platform: 82V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Batteries Tested: (2x) 8.0 Ah
• Max Air Volume: 755 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 225 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 36 Newtons
• Warranty: 2 Years Commercial

Husqvarna

• Model: 550iBTX
• Battery Platform: 36V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery Tested: BLi950X
• Max Air Volume: 551 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 148 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 21 Newtons
• Warranty: 2 Years Commercial

Kress Commercial

• Model: KC500.9
• Battery Platform: 60V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery Tested: KAC810 CyberPack 11 Ah
• Max Air Volume: 900 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 190 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 35 Newtons
• Warranty: 3 Years or 750 Hours of Use Commercial

Milwaukee M18 FUEL

• Model: 3009-24HD
• Battery Platform: 18V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery Tested: (4x) M18 FUEL 12.0 Ah
• Max Air Volume: 650 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 155 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 20.5 Newtons
• Warranty: 3 Years Commercial

Stihl

• Model: BGA300
• Battery Platform: 36V
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery Tested: AR3000L
• Max Air Volume: 571 CFM
• Max Airspeed: 192 MPH
• Max Blowing Force: 26 Newtons
• Warranty: 2 Years Commercial

Backpack Blower Battery Systems

Determining the best battery backpack blower requires testing tools with the largest battery packs available. We requested each manufacturer provide us with the largest battery pack(s) currently available for their platform and the corresponding charger system. As a result, our charging stations look much different than in previous H2H tests! To provide performance and run-time comparable to gas-powered blowers, the battery models we tested rely upon either a large suitcase-style battery or a combination of smaller packs. Here is a breakdown of the batteries and chargers we used.

Echo

The Echo DPB-5800T is powered by any combination of up to three 56V batteries. While the kit version of this tool features two 5.0 Ah eFORCE batteries, we tested the tool with three 8.0 Ah batteries. We have a full review article of the Echo backpack blower available here. Additionally, Echo provided us with an eFORCE Rapid Charger to use during testing. The rapid charger will completely charge an 8.0 Ah battery in about 60 minutes.

Greenworks Commercial

The Greenworks Commercial model accepts two 82V batteries. The tool is capable of operating on a single battery. The tool will draw from both batteries simultaneously when two are inserted. We used two 8.0 Ah batteries, the standard offering in the kit configuration for this tool. The GWC batteries feature Bluetooth connectivity and digital display screens indicating charge levels. The charger tested is the dual port rapid charger. It is capable of charging two 8.0 Ah batteries in about one hour.

Husqvarna

The Husqvarna BLi950X battery is a large suitcase-style battery, as previously mentioned. It is a 36V, 31.1 Ah, behemoth! The 550iBTX backpack blower is only compatible with this style of battery pack. However, the battery is cross-compatible with all Husqvarna handheld 36V tools. The battery includes a standalone backpack frame for carrying when in use with handheld equipment. It also includes an adapter plug which is compatible with all Husqvarna chargers. We used a QC500 charger during testing. A full recharge of the BLi950X is approximately three hours.

Kress

The Kress Commercial Cyber System of batteries offers a variety of solutions. We tested the blower with the larger 60V CyberPack battery which is 11.0 Ahs. However, the Kress blower is also compatible with any 60V CyberPack battery, such as the smaller 4.0 Ah battery pictured above, borrowed from a Kress 16″ chainsaw. The graphene cores of the Kress batteries and the high-output Kress chargers allow a full recharge of the large suitcase-style battery in approximately ten minutes. This is an astoundingly short time compared to the other tools tested.

Milwaukee

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL battery platform is a staple of the tool industry. The kit option of their backpack blower includes a total of four 12.0 Ah M18 FUEL batteries. There are four battery ports on the blower and a minimum of two batteries must be inserted to run the tool. Each pair of batteries is drained simultaneously. It will then automatically switch to the second pair of batteries if all four batteries are inserted. We used the Milwaukee backpack blower with all four batteries inserted during testing. The kit option includes two dual-port Milwaukee Rapid Chargers. These chargers will charge two 12.0 Ah packs in about two hours.

Stihl

The Stihl AR3000L battery is the largest battery we tested. It features 41.20 Ahs on Stihl’s 36V battery platform. This large suitcase-style battery is also compatible with all Stihl handheld equipment with an adapter cable. A backpack-style platform is also available for the battery. We used a Stihl AP Adapter to connect the battery to an AL 500 high-speed battery charger during testing. The total recharge time is about three and a half hours using this combination.  Stihl recently announced their new ADA 1000 battery adapter. It allows two smaller AP series battery packs to power a large output tool like the BGA300 backpack blower—an outstanding accessory for any pro user currently on the Stihl AP battery platform.

Pitot Tube Performance Testing

To flush out generous marketing specifications from true performance for each of our tools, we employed a pitot tube test rig. This test is a specialty of Tool Box Buzz Crew member Jeff Deitz. Jeff, also a helicopter pilot, explained that a pitot tube probe measures the pressure difference of an air stream and can calculate fluid flow velocity. The Pitot Tube was invented by a French engineer, Henri Pitot, in the early 18th century.

Pitot tubes are widely used to determine the airspeed of aircraft, the water speed of boats, and the flow velocity of liquids, air, and gasses in various industries.

When manufacturers test their blowers to come up with the MPH and CFM values they follow an American National Standard (ANSI) procedure to measure the force or thrust. This is effectively an electronic scale that measures the force in Newton’s 5 inches from the blower nozzle. You can read more about the theory behind our pitot tube test rig in our Best Cordless Blower 2023 H2H article.

The Pitot Tube was set up 5 inches from each blower in the center of the air stream. Batteries were fully charged and measurements were taken at max speed setting. The data was collected at a 1 Hz sample rate or once per second for five minutes for the first test. Our second test is another five-minute recording, with the battery depleted to 25% charge.

An ExTech HD350 Pitot Tube Anemometer was used to perform this test.

Max Air Speed Winner – Greenworks Commercial

The Greenworks blower produces airspeeds over 176 MPH. We are unable to determine the exact speed because our testing monitor maxes out at 176 MPH! This is another remarkable performance for the big green machine. In second place is Stihl at 160.7 MPH. An interesting data point is that the Stihl produced slightly higher numbers on the second test run with the battery depleted down to 25%  charge. The BGA300 automatically downshifts its battery system to normalize output and performance regardless of charge charge level.

Measured MPH Results

Third place went to Echo at 150 MPH, fourth place Husqvarna at 137.5 MPH and fifth place went to Kress at 137.3 MPH. Milwaukee was our bottom finisher at 117 MPH.

Max Air Volume Winner – Kress

Using the data collected from our ExTech HD350 meter we were able to calculate the max airflow for each tool in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The Greenworks Commercial blower is the only tool that maxed out our anemometer. Therefore we added a value for Greenworks in our calculations of 200 MPH. This is a close representation of the actual value based on the tool’s performance in all of our testing. Greenworks claims that the max CFM on the tool is 225 MPH.

Calculated CFM Results

Kress is our first-place winner for air volume with a max calculated CFM of 808.44. The Kress has the largest nozzle diameter of all of the tools tested at 3.5″. This allows the Kress to move a massive volume of air. In second place we have Greenworks at 779.70 CFM. Greenworks utilizes a smaller diameter nozzle than Kress but has faster airspeed. This combination of factors still results in an impressive amount of air moved.

In third place is Milwaukee at 548.39 CFM, fourth place is Husqvarna at 545.09 CFM, and fifth place is Stihl at 531.47. Our sixth-place finisher is Echo at 220.48 CFM. This surprised our crew given that Echo performed so well in the airspeed (MPH) test. However, the Echo nozzle chokes down to 1.75″ diameter which is half the size of the Kress. Echo favors speed, but a wider nozzle would likely improve CFM output.

Max Run-time Winner-Stihl

Run-time is one of the most discussed and important categories we evaluated with our backpack blowers. Commercial users require a tool that will accomplish most tasks without constantly switching or recharging batteries. We tracked the total run-time on our blowers by combining our five-minute intervals with the pitot tube along with the time spent depleting the batteries completely. All of this was done at the highest power output setting of each tool. Fall cleanup season is quickly approaching and our entire test crew agreed that we all default to the highest setting on our blowers for tasks like this.

Measured Runtime Results

Our winner here is Stihl with a total run-time of 45:23. The crew expected nothing less from the Stihl, considering the monster 41.20 Ah battery pack that was included with the BGA300. Second place went to Echo with a total run-time of 41:15. The three large 8.0 Ah batteries used with the Echo made this a close race with Stihl.

Third place went to Husqvarna at 39:41, fourth place to Greenworks at 38:36, and fifth place to Milwaukee at 25:45. Kress came in sixth place at 19:51, which is less than half of our top two finishers. However, Kress’ lightning-fast recharge times are somewhat of a redeeming quality compared to the short run-time.

Power Sled Test | Winner-Greenworks Commercial

When life gives you backpack blowers, you build a rocket ship! In our previous handheld blower H2H, the crew used a weighted sled to test the total blowing force of the tools. This time we stepped up the test rig to accommodate our larger and more powerful commercial backpack blowers.

The testing site we used for the day provided us with access to some heavy equipment. A twenty-foot-long Hud-Son firewood conveyor was used as a ramp. We set the conveyor at a seven-degree angle with the help of a PTO hitch on a tractor. Then a classic Radio Flyer wagon was used as our test vehicle. We added a large galvanized washtub to the wagon to act as an air collector. This is a textbook example of Swamp Yankee engineering.

With the test rig in position at the bottom of the ramp, our operator held the end of the blower nozzle in line with the edge of the test rig. The operator then activated the tool on the highest output setting and held it for ten seconds. If the sled moved, we recorded the distance traveled using a tape measure on the conveyor belt. Our unloaded sled weighed in at 34.76 pounds.

All of our tools were able to move the unloaded sled. We then added five pounds to the sled (39.76 Pounds) and continued testing. Two of our blowers were completely unphased by the five-pound increase, while the others showed significant struggle. We then worked up to a fifteen-pound weight (49.76 Pounds) with the two strongest performers and repeated the test.

Power Sled Results

Greenworks is our strongest performing tool, driving the fifteen-pound loaded sled to a distance of 13.25 feet and holding steadily. Kress is our second-place finisher driving the same fifteen-pound loaded sled a total distance of 12.17 feet. Both of these blowers greatly impressed our crew during this test. Both had near-instant spooling-up to power and moving the sled. It felt as though the sled began moving as soon as the control was engaged, regardless of the weight.

Power Sled Results

Milwaukee finished in third place driving the five-pound loaded sled a total of 13 feet. Echo and Stihl were also able to drive the five-pound loaded sled. However, Husqvarna was unable to move this sled and maxed out during the unloaded test.

The overall power of a back blower is dependent upon a combination of features like nozzle diameter, maximum airspeed, and the volume of force the tool puts out. Each of our blowers has its own secret sauce approach to creating power. The Power Sled rig is an excellent visual representation of these different approaches. The stats we listed above, such as MPH and CFM, are shown in actual use with the sled. Overall, the tools with larger nozzle diameters and faster airspeeds performed best, such as our top two tools Greenworks and Kress. Conversely, blowers with fast airspeeds and narrow nozzles, such as Echo, struggled to perform well in this test.

Noise Output Winner-Husqvarna

Reduced noise pollution is often cited as one of the primary benefits of battery-powered OPE. Commercial users of backpack blowers also benefit from reduced engine noise while maintaining occupied residences or office buildings, and noise pollution-restricted areas. However, are commercial battery-powered options quiet enough?

We measured the decibel output of each battery-powered blower and our gas-powered sample. Measurements were taken at the ear of the operator and a 15′ offset. The two measurements show what the noise impact would be for both the operator and a possible pedestrian walking by. Readings were recorded at the highest captured decibel level according to our meter while the blowers were set for maximum output. We ranked the tools based on the at-ear decibel level due to the long-term potential impact on the operator.

Measured Decibel Output Results

Husqvarna is the quietest tool tested at 74.7 decibels. This is well below the OSHA threshold for required hearing protection. Furthermore, the Husqvarna has an impressive tone that is almost pleasant to the ear compared to a traditional backpack blower. In addition, Husqvarna is the quietest tool at our 15-foot offset distance.

Our top five finishers are under the OSHA 85-decibel threshold for hearing protection requirements. In contrast, the Greenworks Commercial blower was the only backpack blower over this 85-decibel threshold at the operator’s ear.

Weight Winner-Milwaukee

Weight is a big consideration for commercial users, who will likely be using the tool for eight hours or more daily. Battery-powered backpack blowers are faced with a tough compromise between a large enough battery for commercial use, while not weighing as much as a Volkswagen. We weighed all of our tool samples as a bare tool only and fully assembled with batteries inserted, however we ranked them by the assembled weight.

Our first-place finisher is Milwaukee with the lightest assembled weight of 32.08 pounds. This impressed the entire crew, especially considering that Milwaukee uses four large 12.0 Ah batteries.  A close second-place finish is Kress at 32.12 pounds. This is also impressive given the large suitcase-style CyberPack battery. Third place is Greenworks and Echo in Fourth. Husqvarna finishes in our fifth-place slot at 34.52 pounds and Stihl finishes the category in sixth-place at a hefty 36.16 pounds.

Measured Weight Results

Each of our tools increased by at least fifteen pounds when adding the weight of the necessary batteries. However, our bottom two finishers, Husqvarna and Stihl, saw weight increases of over twenty pounds after inserting batteries.  An interesting comparison to this is our gas-powered model. The gas-powered tool was the heaviest bare (empty fuel tank) tool tested but gained about two pounds when fully fueled. It is still almost six pounds lighter than our lightest battery-powered unit.

Features and Ergonomics Winner-Greenworks Commercial and Stihl

For this category, we focused on six major areas with our tools:

• Controls
• Grip Ergonomics
• Harness Comfort
• Ease of Battery Change
• Tube Adjustment and Storage
• Fit and Finish

Each tool was assigned a point value from 1 to 3 for each category, with 1 point being the most desired. The total score for all six categories was then calculated and the tools ranked based on the lowest total points to the highest.

Features and Ergonomics Results

In this category, Greenworks Commercial and Stihl tied for first place. Echo claimed our second-place slot, Kress in third, Milwaukee fourth, and Husqvarna in fifth.

Controls

Grip Ergonomics

Harness Comfort

Ease of Battery Change

Kress features the easiest battery change system of all of our tools. The large suitcase-style pack slides out easily with an easy-to-reach release button. Echo, Greenworks, and Milwaukee are all very comparable in terms of battery change. The individual packs are slid out or inserted in order to power the tools. Echo has a slight advantage over the other two, due to all the packs being vertically oriented and easy to access. Greenworks has a spring-loaded cover obstructing the batteries, while Milwaukee positions the batteries in different positions on the external frame.

Stihl and Husqvarna utilize more complicated battery change systems due to the size of the battery packs. Stihl features a rotating cam-lock to secure the battery pack once lined up. It is a little tricky to line everything up at first, but it secures the battery completely with no movement once engaged. Husqvarna requires two sliding plastic tabs to secure the battery from the side, which are difficult to align properly. A power cable must then be run from the battery to an adapter plug on the side of the tool housing. Additionally, the battery must be manually turned on before the tool can be turned on. Our entire crew agreed that this is annoying, especially when considering that it is impossible to reach this switch with the backpack on.

Tube Adjustment and Storage

Milwaukee and Stihl both utilize a telescoping tube design that collapses for storage. In addition, the control stick position is easy to adjust using a cam-pock system. This collapsing feature is ideal for shrinking the overall profile of the tool for storage.

All of our tools, except for the Echo, feature a clip or strap system to secure the tube to the tool body for storage. Milwaukee and Stihl feature heavy-duty metal hooks to secure the tube in a proper upright position.  Kress and Husqvarna both secure the tubes across the harness which causes the tube to hang off to the side and is awkward. The Kress hook also does not stay attached and comes off easily, which was frustrating for our crew. Greenworks secures the tube pointing upwards but uses a thin plastic molded clip that pops off easily and likely won’t hold up to long-term commercial use. Echo needs to include some form of attachment to secure the blower tube.

Fit and Finish

All of our tools tested are designed with commercial users in mind. Therefore we expected excellent fit and finish on all of the models that are still rugged enough to survive getting beat up on a job site or in a tool trailer. Overall we were impressed with the majority of the tools.

Echo, Greenworks, and Husqvarna all used heavy-duty fasteners and steel hose clamps in the construction of their tube designs. Milwaukee and Stihl utilized plastic connectors and clamps, however, they are thick and strong enough that they held up well during our testing without issue.

Kress uses a thinner grade of plastic on their tube and connectors than all of the tools we tested. This results in a lighter felt tube in the hand, but our crew expressed concern over this holding up over long-term, commercial use. During testing the plastic connecter that held the control stick in place repeatedly became loose and would not lock in place. We had to repeatedly tighten it with tools during testing to secure it.

Price Winner-Echo/GreenWorks Commercial/Milwaukee

In this category, we ranked all of our blowers based on the total kit price. Kit prices are most applicable as many professional users will be investing in a battery product for the first time. Due to the substitutions in battery packs used for testing, we built our kit pricing to mirror the setups listed above. We used the ACME Tools website to price as many of the tools as possible.

Price Data Results

We ranked our tools based on price and included this category in the overall rankings. Unlike other H2H tests, our entire test sample is made up of commercial-grade tools designed for demanding pro use. This levels the playing field.

First place in this category is a three-way tie between Echo, Greenworks, and Milwaukee. All three options are available as a kit for $1,500.00. However, Greenworks and Milwaukee both include dual port chargers in their kitted options while we priced the Echo out with a single rapid charger, as tested. The Echo is available as a kit with a dual port charger and two smaller battery packs currently. The price point of all three of these blowers is very reasonable when considering the power and performance of each as well as the additional tools available on the battery platform.

Second place goes to Husqvarna at $1,830.00. Stihl is in third at $2,410.00 and finally we have Kress in fourth at $2,680.00. Kress’ innovative battery and charger system comes with a hefty price tag. The Kress charger is almost $800.00 on its own. Husqvarna and Stihl are two of the most well-known brands in the OPE industry. While they represent a high cost of initial investment, they are both of extremely high quality with huge dealer support and other available tools and equipment.

Our pricing breakdown may come as a shock to some of you. Battery-powered options represent a significant price increase compared to traditional gas-powered options. For example, our pro-grade Echo PB-770T bower that was used as a comparison in some of our testing has an MSRP of $550.00. That’s roughly a third of the cost of our cheapest commercial battery-powered option. The initial investment of the Greenworks Commercial model ($1,500.00) would roughly cover the cost of two Echo PB-9010 gas-powered backpack blowers, the current world’s strongest backpack blower.

Best Commercial Battery Backpack Blower Winner-Greenworks Commercial

Greenworks Commercial emerged as the top performer in several key categories, including max airspeed and power output, making it a powerful choice for high-demand tasks. Stihl impressed with exceptional run-time, ideal for prolonged use, while Kress delivered outstanding air volume performance and record-setting recharge times, perfect for those prioritizing quick battery turnaround.

Milwaukee stood out for its lightweight design, striking a balance between portability and performance. Echo and Husqvarna also had strong showings, though they each faced challenges in categories like weight, ease of battery change, as well as some other comfort and ergonomic-related issues.

Overall Rankings Results

Best Value Winner-Greenworks Commercial

Ordinarily, our best value winner is a tool that offers outstanding performance compared to price. However, in this Head-to-Head our overall winner is also one of our most affordable tools! Greenworks tied for first place in our price category. When comparing the amount of performance the Greenworks is capable of, in addition to its features, our entire crew agreed that the Greenworks is the best all-around value of all of our tools tested.

Final Thoughts

Our comprehensive testing of battery-powered backpack blowers serves as a valuable buyer’s guide for professionals in search of the best tools for their needs.

As professionals evaluate their options, it’s essential to consider not just performance metrics but also the availability of local dealer support. Companies such as Echo, Husqvarna, and Stihl excel in this area thanks to well-established dealer networks and support services as well as box store options.

Choosing a brand with strong local representation can significantly enhance the ownership experience, providing easier access to service and replacement parts. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on specific needs—whether that’s raw power, battery life, or ergonomics.

Speaking of service! Follow the Buy Now links below to purchase some of the blowers featured in this article from our friends at ACME Tools.

Best Battery Backpack Blower | Video Review

Best Commercial Battery Backpack Blower Head-To-Head 2024 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress 60V Line Trimmer Model KC100.9

Kress has launched an impressive list of commercial outdoor power equipment here in the US. The new KG100 Commercial 60V Cordless Line Trimmer nicely compliments the Kress 60V 21″ Self-Propelled Mower and Kress 60V Backpack Blower that we’ve recently reviewed. Like the other equipment from Kress that we’ve used this cordless string trimmer is built with the commercial landscaper in mind.

Features and Specifications

• Battery: 60V
• Brushless Motor
• Cutting Speed: 4200/5100/5900 rpm
• Cutting Diameter: 16.5″
• Line Diameter: 0.095″/0.105″ (2.4 / 2.7 mm) nylon line
• Water Protection: IPX4
• Tool Weight (Bare Tool): 9.9 lbs
• Available Batteries: KAC802 60V CyberPack 2Ah or KAC804 4Ah

The Kress line trimmer has been designed with professional landscapers and maintenance crews in mind. The commercial brushless motor delivers 1.2kW of power which is equivalent to a 30cc 2-stroke gas powered trimmer. The trimmer motor can be adjusted with 3 speed settings to maximize power and run-time depending on the application.

It includes a heavy-duty non-flexible steel driveshaft for long term durability. It also includes an aluminum gearhead. The Kress line trimmer has an IPX4 waterproof rating allowing users the ability to work in wet conditions such a rain. In addition, the Quick-load trimmer head includes a 30 foot spool capacity reducing the need to re-string it as often.

The controls are large and easy to use. There is a simple on/off button along with two buttons to increase/decrease the head speed. A large easy to grasp trigger makes for a comfortable operation.

Available Options

We reviewed the basic setup with none of the available options. However, you can purchase separately a harness to help support the weight of the tool (which I honestly think should come standard as this is a pretty heavy trimmer), and you can get battery backpack harness, which can allow you to use an 11 Ah battery for heavy duty use and longer run-time.

You can also purchase a 4″ cutter head and also a knife blade attachment, both sold separately.

Battery Options and Charging

The 60V Kress line trimmer can operate on both of their battery configurations of 4 Ah and 11 Ah. We tested the trimmer using the 4 Ah battery attached to the unit. In order to use an 11 Ah pack you’ll need to buy the battery backpack harness.

The heart of these new Kress Commercial OPE are their 8-Minute CybeSystem batteries. For the serious commercial landscaper they can purchase the CyberTank DC-DC charger. The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day. The DC-DC charging is extrememly efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transfered from one battery to another quickly. The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours. This can easily be mounted on a trailer allowing the batteries to be quickly charged in the time it takes to drive to the next jobsite.

These batteries come with a 6 year (commercial use) warranty or 3,000 cycles warranty which is really quite impressive. 3,000 cycles. If you charge that battery once a day, 5 days a week, that’s nearly 23 years!! Obviously they are very sure of this battery platform and stand by it!

Performance

The Kress Commercial 60V Line Trimmer is a beast! It’s a commercial grade tool from top to bottom. Packed with power, great ergonomics and simple controls. It’s well built and comparable to any other professional trimmer I’ve used. I trimmed a very large yard multiple times on the same battery charge. When you consider that 8 minute full charge with this system it’s hard to even worry about run-time, managing a large group of batteries, or the other challenges previous cordless solutions presented.

Cost

Obviously commercial outdoor power equipment is typically expensive and an investment. This new line of Kress equipment is certainly an investment but the long term savings in fuel and maintenance can’t be overlooked. If you’re a professional landscaper there will be some overlap with chargers and batteries. I’m not including the CyberTank Portable Power Station as we’ll have another article focusing on that. Here are the listed prices on what we tested for this stand alone mower.

• Line Trimmer – KC100.9 – $349.99
• KAC840 Dual Port Charger – $779.99
• KAC804 4 Ah CyberPack Battery – $549.99

As a stand alone setup you’d be looking at roughly a $1,700 investment. With the current pricing of fuel this certainly isn’t a terrible proposition along with the warranty that comes with the trimmer and battery.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been reviewing power tools long enough to remember a few huge transitions in our industry. Kress has unlocked a major transition in OPE with this 60V lineup that is sure to revolutionize this industry. This is the real deal and something that will certainly disrupt this sector. Landscapers and professional lawn-care companies, especially ones working in areas that cannot use gasoline powered engines should take this new product seriously. When you combine really good quality with superior engineering you’ve got a winner. Kress has hit a home-run!

Kress Commercial 60V Line Trimmer Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Commercial 60V 21 Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower KC710.9

Kress 60V 21" Self Propelled Mower

5/5

Manufacturer: Kress
Model number: KC710.9
Price: $799.00
Power source: 60V Li-Ion
Weight: 77 lbs

At the 2022 International Equip Exposition in Louisville KY Kress revealed a robust line-up of commercial outdoor power equipment that promised to change the professional landscaper approach to lawn care. Kress, a long established and well respected tool brand from Germany has now released these new products in the US and we’ve been using them the last several months to get a feel for their offering and more importantly their performance. In this review we are taking a look at their 21″ Self-Propelled 60V Mower.

Features / Specifications

• Brushless Motor
• Voltage: 60 Volts
• Cutting Deck: Reinforced Steel
• Cutting Speed: 2800/3300 rpm
• Cutting Width: 20-5/64 in
• Grass Bag Volume: 2.5 bushels
• Water Protection: IPX4
• Weight: 77 lbs
• Built-in LED Control Panel
• 2-point Height Adjustment
• Deck wear plate & front bumper guard
• Improved air flow deck design & Versatile cutting blades
• Powerful 7 lb-ft of torque provides the force needed for professional cut quality under severe working conditions.
• Variable self-propelled speed, up to 4mph, allows professional landscapers to match cutting speed to cutting conditions for optimal efficiency.
• The heavy-duty differential drive transmission provides exceptional durability while the auto-clutch allows for easy transition from self-propelled operation to push operation.

Build Quality

The very first thing that was noticeable about the Kress mower was it’s weight and sturdy build. The deck on this mower reminds me of old school push mowers that were built to last forever. It has a reinforced steel deck that’s thicker and more robust than many riding mowers have.

The wheels are robust and also heavy duty and provide easy maneuverability. The mower’s 2-point height adjustment is very easy to use and intuitive.

The steel handlebars are also robust and offer several adjustments to provide the most comfort for different user heights and mowing styles. It’s clear from the moment this mower was assembled that it’s been designed for serious commercial use and longevity. I’ve personally reviewed dozens of cordless mowers over the years and not a single mower has been built like this, not even close! For some the 77 lb weight might seem excessive but this machine is built to work.

This mower is also rated with IPX4 waterproofing so the mower can be washed and used in wet weather conditions.

Controls

The controls on the Kress 60V 21″ self-propelled mower are simple and straight forward. The LED control panel provides users with information on the battery levels and blade speed. To use the mower you first push the on/off red button on the lower right, the larger red start button on the lower left starts the blades. The lower black grab bar must be engaged for the mower blades to engage. The upper red grab bar engages the self-propelled wheels. The speed of the wheels is controlled with a lever to the right of the run/walk graphic on the control panel. I found the controls easy to use and well placed.

Battery Options and Charging

The 60V Kress mower can operate on both of their battery configurations of 4 Ah and 11 Ah. I tested this mower with both batteries and found no difference in performance other than run-time and weight. For me the weight doesn’t really matter because of the powerful self-propelled design this mower offers. The top of the mower lifts up allowing a single battery to be installed (either 4 or 11 Ah packs).

The heart of these new Kress Commercial OPE are their 8-Minute CybeSystem batteries. For the serious commercial landscaper they can purchase the CyberTank DC-DC charger. The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day. The DC-DC charging is extrememly efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transfered from one battery to another quickly. The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours. This can easily be mounted on a trailer allowing the batteries to be quickly charged in the time it takes to drive to the next jobsite.

Kress also has an AC-DC charging solution with their KAC840 Kress Commercial 30A AC Charger. We tested this unit along with our battery and blower. While the AC charger is not as fast as the 8-minute DC-DC charge, the KAC840 is still able to charge the 11Ah CyberPack battery in under 25 minutes and the 4.0Ah battery in 12.0 Minutes. This is still unbelievably fast compared to other industry leaders.

Performance -Not A Homeowner Cordless Mower!

The million dollar question for these mowers is are they really a commercial grade mower that can replace a gas mower on a landscaping crew? The answer is absolutely! While these mowers are certainly a much larger upfront investment the savings in fuel, maintenance and the added benefits of no fuel storage, no fumes, and less noise make this a very attractive platform to invest in.

I tested this mower in both the mulching mode and bagging mode and it provided the same or better performance that I expect from quality gas mowers. This is a result of DC motors powering the cutting blade which we’ve come to appreciate with the larger cordless mowers. Tall wet grass is no problem for this mower and it churns through it like a walk in the park!

The self-propelled wheels on this mower will literally tow you around the yard and likely pull a small car uphill. It’s hard to quantify the power of this mower in an effective way, but I’d put it up against any gas powered mower under any testing situation.

The steel deck has been specifically designed to increase suction for the bagging option. With 4 different blade options and an optimized deck geometry Kress has created a mower with exceptional grass collection. Combined with a 2.5 bushel bag users can run longer without emptying the bag.

Run-Time

I didn’t do any run-time testing on this beast. The reality is I did a TON of mowing with the 4 Ah pack and never killed it. I did even more with the 11 Ah pack and it didn’t even move off the fully charged icon. Kress is using a new cell type that doesn’t have the heat issues of 18650 and 21700 lithium-ion cells. Because of this they can charge batteries MUCH faster, they can draw more amps without overheating the tool, and ultimately deliver more power at higher rates than the market standard cells. This is VERY obvious from how this mower performed in the field.

Why didn’t I test run-time? It’s a great question and typically that would be a big issue in a cordless tool review. But the reality is that you can mow with this mower and fully charge in 8 minutes! Think about that, an 11 Ah pack charged in 8 minutes, which is likely less time than it takes to drive to the next job! At that point it’s no different that gassing up  your mower between jobs. As tool companies solve the heat issue with batteries and find ways to fully charge them in minutes, the argument of time lost diminishes and cordless tools become a very attractive solution for every industry.

Obviously another consideration is longevity of the batteries. We’ve seen this with many different brands and it’s a real question. For this review we can’t possibly report any information on the longevity of these battery packs. However, from what I’m seeing in the Kress lineup I have a feeling these are very robust packs that will last through many cycles. Rapid charging is typically not great for the long term health of a battery. Despite this, Kress guarantees 3000 life cycles (charge and discharge) on the CyberPack batteries.

These batteries come with a 6 year (commercial use) warranty or 3,000 cycles warranty which is really quite impressive. 3,000 cycles. If you charge that battery once a day, 5 days a week, that’s nearly 23 years!! Obviously they are very sure of this battery platform and stand by it!

Cost

Obviously commercial outdoor power equipment is typically expensive and an investment. This new line of Kress equipment is certainly an investment but the long term savings in fuel and maintenance can’t be overlooked. If you’re a professional landscaper there will be some overlap with chargers and batteries. I’m not including the CyberTank Portable Power Station as we’ll have another article focusing on that. Here are the listed prices on what we tested for this stand alone mower.

• Mower – KC710.9 – $799.99
• KAC840 Dual Port Charger – $779.99
• KAC810 11 Ah CyberPack Battery – $1,399.99

As a stand alone setup you’d be looking at roughly a $3,000 investment. With the current pricing of fuel this certainly isn’t a terrible proposition along with the warranty that comes with the mower and battery.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been reviewing power tools long enough to remember a few huge transitions in our industry. Kress has unlocked a major transition in OPE with this 60V lineup that is sure to revolutionize this industry. This is the real deal and something that will certainly disrupt this sector. Landscapers and professional lawn-care companies, especially ones working in areas that cannot use gasoline powered engines should take this new product seriously. When you combine really good quality with superior engineering you’ve got a winner. Kress has hit a home-run!

Kress Commercial 60V 21 Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Commercial 60V Cordless Backpack Blower

Kress, a long established and well respected tool brand from Germany made a splash at the 2022 International Equip Exposition with its North American introduction of its Kress Commercial Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) lineup.  There exists an ever-growing pressure in commercial landscaping to switch from traditional gas powered equipment to battery powered alternatives with many local municipalities and even entire states intending to ban certain gas powered landscaping equipment. Kress intends to insert itself directly at the front of the electric powered OPE movement.

At the core of it’s strategy, Kress introduced a brand new and exciting battery platform and charging solution.  The Kress 8-minute CyberSystem has an unprecedented 8 minute charging time from 0 to 100% battery when its DC-DC CyberTank charging solution is used.  The CyberTank is essentially a massive battery and charger that can be transported to the jobsite in a truck or trailer.  The rapid 8 minute charge time means crews can finally rapidly swap battery throughout the day and stay on top of productivity as much as a gas powered platform.

The team here at ToolBoxBuzz has received several of their OPE tools including the Commercial 60 V 16.5” Line Trimmer, the Commercial 60V 21” Self-Propelled Lawn Mower and the Commercial 60V 16” Chainsaw.  Here in this review we are taking a look at the Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower.

Specifications:

• Voltage: 60V MAX, 54V nominal
• Battery Size: 11Ah, 660Wh
• Max Air Speed: 190.1 mph
• Max Air Volume: 899.9 cfm
• Blowing Force: 35 Nm
• IPX4 waterproof rating
• Noise: 62dB at 49 ft
• Weight: 32.2 lbs (Blower and Battery)

Build Quality

Batteries are heavy and OPE manufacturers have a challenging engineering problem with trying to incorporate enough battery power to compete with gas powered tools but also keep overall weight of a tool down.  Oftentimes thinner materials are used and plastic pieces can feel flimsy and delicate.  With the blower and battery weighing in together at 32 lbs,  Kress clearly decided to take the hit on weight in exchange for quality and durability.  The 60V 35N Backpack Blower has thick and durable components from the frame down to the tip of the metal reinforced blower nozzle.

To compensate for the extra weight, the blower incorporates a very well designed harness.  The traditional shoulder straps are there but the bulk of the weight is supported on the hips thanks to a sturdy and comfortable waist belt.  When the blower harness was adjusted appropriately we found the weight to distributed very well and felt very minimal fatigue on the shoulders.

Easy to Operate Controls

The blower has all its controls located on a joystick style tube mounted control grip.  To activate the tool a power button on the grip below the LCD screen needs to be depressed and the grip mounted variable trigger depressed.  The maximum speed can be controlled at 4 different levels with two large + and – buttons.  The final remaining button is a cruise control button that will lock in the current throttle value until pressed again.

The LCD screen icons are simple and show the current battery charge remaining, Bluetooth connected symbol, Cruise Control Enabled symbol and a standard warning triangle.

Performance

The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower has its performance rating right in the name.  A value that the company is clearly proud of.  This 35 Newton force rating is an indication of the amount of overall thrust and power the airstream coming out of the nozzle can do.  The peak velocity is rated right at 190 miles per hour and a cubic feet per minute (CFM) volume of 890.  This blower is the strongest electric blower on the market and is only outperformed by the largest and loudest premium gas blowers available.

We were very impressed with the power of the blower, oftentimes running at 50-75% throttle to prevent damage to the lawn and landscape.

Battery Run-Time and Performance

At the heart of the Kress Commercial OPE line is their 8-Minute CyberSystem battery.  We tested the blower with the 11Ah CyberPack KAC810.  This 660 Wh battery weighs in at whopping 17 lbs., 2 lbs. heavier than the blower itself.

Below is a chart of the measured stream velocity of the blower over time.  This test was designed to gain an understanding of the battery performance throughout the drain of the battery.  We performed a similar test in this year’s consumer electric blower head to head.  Its important to not only determine how long the battery will power the tool, but also understand what that performance looks like over the course of the battery discharge.  We found that many battery powered OPE tools saw drastic difference in blower performance when comparing the first 20% to the last 20% before the battery drained completely.   For reference the results can be found here,  Best Handheld Blower 2023

The Kress 60V Backpack Blower was mounted with a pitot tube anemometer placed 125mm from the opening in the center of the blower stream.  Power was set to the highest setting and the data was recorded at a 1Hz sample rate. The blower ran for 13 minutes and 20 seconds before cycling off with a low battery indicator.

The graph shows great performance especially when compared to previous blowers tested.  We measured a very slight dip and rebound roughly two thirds of the way through the discharge.   The last minute of performance measured is  >96% of the first minute.  This shows a fantastic level of consistent performance over the drain of the battery.

Charging

The Kress KAC810 has impressive performance when paired with Backpack Blower.  However, discharge performance is only part of the equation when considering the the validity of an OPE battery platform.  The 8-Minute CyberSystem gets its title from the 0 -100% charging time the battery battery platform experiences when using the CyberTank DC-DC charger.  The CyberTank is essential a very large battery, 5040 Wh or 7200 Wh depending on model, that can quickly charge the the smaller 4.0Ah or 11.0Ah multiple times throughout the day.  The DC-DC charging is extremely efficient and fast as the energy requires no conversion and a large amount of power can be transferred from one battery to another quickly.  The CyberTank gets charged typically overnight from an AC power source that takes 4-6 hours.

Kress also has an AC-DC charging solution with their KAC840 Kress Commercial 30A AC Charger.  We tested this unit along with our battery and blower.  While the AC charger is not as fast as the 8-minute DC-DC charge, the KAC840 is still able to charge the 11Ah CyberPack battery in under 25 minutes and the 4.0Ah battery in 12.0 Minutes.  This is still unbelievably fast compared to other industry leaders.  By comparison the 11Ah Cyber Pack is 660 Wh and the new Milwaukee MX Forge 8.0 Ah Battery is 576 Wh.  The new Milwaukee Supercharger can charge that battery in 45 minutes compared to the Kress at just 25 minutes!

Rapid charging is typically not great for the long term health of a battery.  Despite this, Kress guarantees 3000 life cycles (charge and discharge) on the CyberPack batteries.

Pricing and investment

The Kress 60V Commercial OPE lineup is truly impressive with an unbelievable power system at its core.  The tools and their battery system really impressed the ToolBoxBuzz crew.  The products are intended for lawn-care professionals looking to invest in a longterm battery powered solution. As a result, the cost of the Kress Commercial line, particularly the batteries and chargers is steep. The Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower is currently prices at $499.99.  The KAC810 11 Ah CyberPack battery is $1,399.99 and the KAC840 30A AC Charger is $779.99.  To see the true potential of the 8-Minute charging capability, the 5 kWh CyberTank Portable Power Station can be purchased for $10,499.99.

The full Kress Commercial Lineup and current pricing can all be found here at  https://www.kress.com/en-us/8-minute-cybersystem/

To protect the investment in Kress Commercial system, Kress offers a tiered Warranty system depending on the equipment and use. Most tools see a 2 or 3 year warranty while the batteries have an extensive 6 year or 3000 cycle warranty.

To help determine if this investment is right for you, Kress offers a Return on Investment (ROI) calculator that can be found here. https://www.kress.com/en-us/roi-calculator/

Kress Commercial 60V 35N Backpack Blower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Kress Model KC300.9 60V Battery Chainsaw

This tool review will feature the impressive new Kress 60V battery chainsaw. The Model KC300.9 combines professional-grade features and durable construction to produce a genuinely commercial-level tool. The Kress chainsaw includes a 16″ bar with 0.325″ Low Profile pitch and 0.043″ gauge chain. This smaller chain produces fast cuts with minimal chatter. However, the most impressive feature is the power plant that brings this beast to life. The Kress 60V CyberSystem battery platform provides the most incredible recharge times ever seen in cordless OPE.

Who is Kress?

Kress is a German company that originated in 1928 making electronics for the automotive industry and later electric motors. In the early 1960s, Kress launched their first lines of professional portable power tools. Fast forward to 2017 and Kress went all-in on developing cordless OPE for professional landscapers and demanding homeowners.

In 2023 Kress completed developing and released their new CyberSystem battery technology. This technology boasts the “world’s fastest-charging times”. While not as common in the United States, Kress is a top brand amongst landscaping professionals in Europe.

60V Battery Chainsaw Specifications

Specifications

• Bar Length: 16″
• OEM Bar: Oregon Solid Tip
• Oil Reservoir: 6.4 Ozs.
• Oiler Type: Automatic
• Chain Pitch: 0.325″ Low Profile
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Motor Type: Brushless
• Battery Size: 4 AH/240 WH
• Battery Weight: 6.80 Lbs.
• Powerhead Weight: 7.82 Lbs.
• Assembled Weight: 16.56 Lbs.
• Noise Output: 94.5 dBs.
• Chain Speed: 78.7 Ft/S
• Construction: IPX4 Dust and Water Resistant
• Warranty: 3 Year Tool / 2 Year Batteries and Chargers

Kress KC300.9 Cutting Performance

Battery chainsaws are almost universally accepted at this point in time. They are easy to maintain, great for occasional or casual users, and also eliminate the use of gas. But what good are they if they can’t cut? The Kress 60V battery chainsaw has excellent cutting performance. The brushless motor is fast to rev up to full power, but also sounds smoother than most saws I have used. There is a noticeable difference in the tone the motor makes. It sounds smooth and refined. Almost like it isn’t working hard at all.

During the testing process, I used the Kress saw on a variety of hardwood trees with different diameters. The largest piece of wood I cut was an approximately 24″ diameter ash log that required a cut from each side to completely sever. The Kress handled this task without any issues. Ash is a tough wood to make cross cuts on but has a very linear grain structure, which makes it easy to split. While making length of bar cuts, the Kress was smooth and comfortable with very little felt vibration. The saw is also difficult to bog down.

In our recent Best Top-Handle Chainsaw H2H, we discussed proper cutting techniques with a battery chainsaw. Allowing the saw to cut at its own pace and not lean into it too much. I was able to bog the saw down when aggressively leaning on it, but otherwise, it cut smoothly and consistently through all species of wood. The smaller pitch and gauge of the OEM chain are big factors in this. Many users scoff at a small (low) profile chain, but my experience has shown that low-profile chains really shine with battery saws. The automatic oiler on the Kress 60V battery chainsaw also provides a generous amount of oil while cutting. I did not experience any issues with the bar overheating due to insufficient oil.

Battery Run-time

I mentioned the 60V CyberSystem power plant that Kress has created in the article. CyberSystem gives you an absolute, genuine, no BS, twelve-minute charge time. Yes, that is correct. A completely drained 4.0 Ah 60V battery will fully charge in twelve minutes regardless of condition. This is thanks to the Kress 30Amp AC Dual Port Charger.

The charger is a total battery management station that optimizes the battery’s performance and extends its lifespan. The charger also features air-cooling fans to lower the temperature of the batteries during charging. I ran through a battery making full-length crosscuts and it was very warm to the touch when I took it out of the saw. I slapped it in the charger and had a fully charged battery in less time than it took to field sharpen the chain. Unfortunately, all this technology makes the charger about the size of a hotel room refrigerator.

The batteries themselves are large too. A 4.0 Ah battery weighs in close to seven pounds and is about as ergonomic as a Belgian Block Paver. As a result of this, the saw must have a large body to accommodate the bulky battery. The Kress chainsaw body feels longer and wider than most other “commercial” or professional-grade battery chainsaws. That extra saw body is a fair trade-off though for the battery performance and recharge speeds. We will discuss the Kress 60V CyberSystem further in a later article.

I performed a run-time test on some fresh sugar maple tree-service wood that I received. The piece I selected was approximately 14″ in diameter and would be challenging, but not impossible, for the Kress. The chain was field sharpened before testing and the battery was fully charged. The saw was able to complete a total of sixteen full cross-cuts as well as achieve a partial cut depth of about 8″ on the seventeenth. This is an outstanding runtime for a battery saw. The maple was cut down the day before and had a very high moisture content. I paused for thirty seconds after every third cut to ensure the saw would not overheat or overload the system.

I would not recommend using this saw daily for cutting logs this size. There was a slowdown in performance once the saw was in the bottom 25% of the battery. However, this test showed that the Kress is an extremely capable saw and would provide even greater run-time in smaller-diameter logs and trees.

Room For Improvement

While the Kress battery and charger system is truly impressive, this article is intended to focus on the merits of the chainsaw itself. During my test cutting, I encountered a couple of issues with the saw that are worth mentioning. The first of which is the automatic oiler system. The oiler on the Kress keeps the bar generously oiled during use but seems to continuously seep out when not in use. When storing the saw, oil pooled up underneath it. Typically this issue can be overcome by opening the bar oil fill cap to release the pressure in the system. The Kress saw continued leaking even after releasing the pressure. To the extent that I now completely drain the saw of bar oil before storing it.

Bar oil can be seen seeping out of the oiler port with the bar removed.The second issue is related to the chain cover of the saw. Kress touts on their website that their cover is constructed from solid magnesium. A metal chain (clutch) cover is an outstanding feature and the fins on the inside of the cover do a great job of throwing chips. However, the saw’s bar nuts are not captive on the chain cover. Given that this is a commercial-grade tool, captive bar nuts are a must if not the standard. There is no worse fate than losing a bar nut during the middle of a project or cleanup job without a replacement easily available.

Overall Impressions

The Kress family of tools is an impressive lineup and is a true complete replacement for gas-powered OPE. In their almost one-hundred-year history, they have never made an internal combustion engine. Their battery platform and charger system are designed for demanding commercial landscapers and eliminate downtime. However, that technology comes at a cost.

The Kress KC300.9 60V chainsaw retails for $349.99 as a bare tool. This is a competitive market price for a true commercial-grade tool. The 4.0 Ah 60V battery used during testing has an MSRP of $549.99 and the 30 Amp charger has an MSRP of $779.99. Based upon this, the Kress chainsaw would make an excellent addition to any contractor’s arsenal who is already invested or planning on investing in the Kress 60V platform. As a stand-alone tool, the overall cost of the initial investment would be far too great for most users. Where it would excel though is with heavy industrial crews that may be doing emergency storm cleanups and benefit the most from such fast recharge times. Or landscaping contractors that would primarily use the batteries and chargers for their string trimmers and blowers and occasionally use the chainsaw as well.

Overall the Kress 60V battery chainsaw is an impressive tool. It is a smooth, fast, and consistent cutter with minimal felt vibration. The Buy-Now link below brings you to the Kress website to order directly or access their large network of dealers.

Kress Commercial 60V 16″ Battery Chainsaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz