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

Stihl MS 400 C-M Professional Chainsaw Review

MS 400 C-M Chainsaw

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Stihl
Model number: MS 400 C-M
Price: $1,079.99
Power source: Gas Engine
Motor size: 66.8 CC
Weight: 13.44 Lbs. Powerhead

The ToolBoxBuzz Crew has recently focused on primarily battery-powered OPE due to the market push towards those products. However, gas-powered tools still have their place. The chainsaw world is a perfect example of there is no replacement for displacement. I am glad to see Stihl continuing to innovate in the gas-powered world.

Featured and Specifications

• Powerhead Weight: 12.8 Lbs.
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″
• Chain Gauge:  0.050″
• Recommended Bar Lengths: 16″-25″
• Engine Size: 66.8 CC
• Fuel Capacity: 20.3 Oz.
• Bar Oil Capacity: 11 Oz.
• Oiler: Adjustable

Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw Weigth and Balance

Stihl recommends a 20″ bar with this saw, but it can accept anywhere from 16″ up to 25″. I received the saw from Stihl with a 25″ factory ES Light bar. This combination felt balanced and excellent for working from an upright standing position. A longer bar can save your back when cutting wood that is at roughly ground level. During testing, I used a variety of bars and chains, including a 20″ GB Pro titanium bar.

I recorded the weights of the saw as a bare powerhead and with the 25″ and 20″ bars. Due to the variety of configurations available as well as the large degree of user preferences, it is impossible to pick a true do-all configuration. Hopefully, this information helps qualify the manufacturer’s specifications.

Overall the bare powerhead weight of the MS 400 is astounding. It is a very agile and balanced tool in the hand. The magnesium piston creates a mid-sized professional-grade saw that balances better than any other I have used. Additionally, the extra almost 8 CCs of engine displacement makes it more capable with a variety of longer bars than other saws in this class.

Stihl Professional Grade

What separates professional-grade chainsaws from homeowner models? A professional saw is designed with demanding daily use in mind. Furthermore, its internal components can be rebuilt instead of replacing entire units. A Stihl pro-grade saw is rugged enough to be used daily and typically requires very little maintenance. The M-Tronic electronic self-adjusting carburetor compensates for every variable from altitude to chain speed. When an issue does arise, the saw can be plugged into a diagnostic program by a dealer to figure out the problem.

Don’t let all this “pro-grade” talk discourage you if you aren’t a full-time tree care pro. Buying a professional-grade chainsaw as a homeowner or hobbyist is a smart investment. They outlast most consumer saws and offer better performance.

MS 400 C-M Run-time

A chainsaw typically requires several tanks worth of fuel to get broken in. Users will often see a slight increase in cutting power and performance once the saw has a chance to run when brand new from the factory. With electronic carburetor saws like the MS 400 C-M the break-in period allows the saw to compile data for better adjustments and performance.

The 20″ GB Pro Titanium Bar with a factory Stihl chisel chain was used for this test.

After running through about ten tanks of fuel in my sample, I outfitted the MS 400 with a factory sharp chain and fresh fuel. I was able to perform a total of approximately thirty-seven cross cuts, plus some additional trim cuts, through a green sugar maple tree that I had dropped recently. The diameters ranged from 8″ up to 25″. This was performed at one time with minimal breaks or downtime between cuts. Overall I was extremely happy with the amount of production capable on a single tank of fuel.

The capability of the MS 400 is extremely beneficial to professional users. It offers less downtime and better production with a saw that is lighter to carry and consumes less fuel.

Stihl Cutting Performance

As mentioned previously, the MS 400 C-M is lightweight and powerful. The lighter magnesium piston allows the engine to spin up to full chain speed extremely fast. Additionally, the controls on the saw are fast and responsive. I left the adjustable oiler in the full open position during testing and this provided more than adequate lubrication regardless of what length bar I was using. The saw consumes roughly 80% of the bar oil reservoir per tank of fuel.

Noodle cuts were performed to break down these large rounds of white ash wood.

My test cutting was performed on hardwood species native to the Northeastern United States. This included ash, oak, maple, and some other hardwood trees. One of the performance tests I ran was making “noodle” cuts. This is when a saw is used to make a parallel to the grain cut on a large round of wood that is often close in length to the bar on the saw. It is a very demanding cut due to the cutting teeth on the chain having to pull through a full 16″+ of parallel-grained material.

While the MS 400 C-M was capable of doing this with the 25″ bar, it struggled at times. The 20″ bar was the optimal length and there was less resistance when cutting, it also threw beautiful, long, “noodle” chips with ease. While many West Coast users prefer the longer 25″ or even 28″ bars on a saw this size, the 20″ was ideal for my application relative to our native tree species.

Room For Improvement

I am a huge fan of the power and performance that the Stihl MS 400 C-M chainsaw provides. However, during testing, I encountered an issue with the factory OEM felling spikes, or “Dogs” as they are referred to. While processing a large-diameter tree, I made multiple cross-cuts with the 25″ bar and chain where the saw was buried to the nose. A cut like this is where pronounced and aggressive dogs are an important feature. Because the factory OEM dogs are short, the front of the muffler repeatedly came into contact with the wood. I didn’t realize it at first, which caused the muffler to burn the wood and also get debris baked onto the muffler.

Stihl offers longer factory spikes as well as a dual set, but they must be purchased and installed by the user or at a service center. These longer spikes would be a welcomed feature on this saw as a factory option.

Finally, the front handlebar of the MS 400 C-M is made out of plastic. It is nice reinforced plastic, but it is still plastic. I firmly believe that Stihl has tested the compound and found it to be as strong or possibly stronger than metal. However, it just doesn’t feel right and can be flexed when leaned into during cutting. A professional-grade Stihl chainsaw doesn’t feel proper without a metal handlebar.

Overall Impression

The Stihl MS 400 C-M is an impressive professional-grade chainsaw. Overall it packs outstanding power and technology into a lighter-weight and easy-to-use package. I was thoroughly impressed with it during the review process as were all of the tree-care pros that used it with me. It’s not too big, not too small, just right. The Goldilocks of chainsaws if you will. I can’t imagine many lumberjacks wanting to refer to their chainsaw as Goldilocks, but it’s an accurate analogy!

The MS 400 C-M is an excellent option for pro users who want a tool to perform most tasks while reducing operator fatigue and potential injuries. This saw would be right at home in a bucket or attached to a climbing rig. Additionally, it would make a great one-saw solution for serious firewood cutters or landowners. The MS 400 has been overshadowed by its brother the MS 500i and because of that it is often overlooked by pro users.

If you are in the market for a lightweight and dependable chainsaw that will pull a 20-25″ bar all day and ask for seconds, then consider the Stihl MS 400 C-M. As with all Stihl saws, they are only available from your local Stihl dealer. As of February 2024, the MS 400 is available for $1,079.99 with 25″ bar and chain. The price will differ depending on your desired bar and chain length. While more expensive than any saw at a big box store, this is a true professional-grade option that is designed with longevity and an enhanced user experience in mind.

Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best Battery-Powered Top Handle Chainsaw Testing

This Head-2-Head will take a look at the best battery top-handle chainsaw for 2023.  Battery technology has evolved to become arguably the king of outdoor power equipment. But does it measure up to what dedicated Pros need? In 2020 the ToolBoxBuzz crew hosted our first Best Cordless Chainsaw Head-2-Head where we evaluated twelve traditional rear handle saws. During that testing it was clear that a battery saw was an excellent option for a homeowner or DIYer, but not for full-time use in the forestry and tree care industry.

Fast forward to 2023 and the battery tool industry has continued to evolve. Additionally, the pro arborist and landscaping trades have seen an increased demand for pro-grade battery offerings. Many communities and even some states, like California, are moving to ban gas-powered OPE altogether. Bearing all this in mind, the TBB Crew set out to find out who makes the best battery top-handle chainsaw.

Top-handle chainsaws are often commonly referred to as climbing saws or bucket saws. They are designed for in-tree use by trained climbers or when working from a bucket truck in the air. These environments require the user to make cuts at adverse angles or from overhead or unsupported positions. They are often hung from the belt harnesses worn by arborists when climbing trees for takedown work. These unique demands require a saw to be compact and robust and move the handle location to the top of the saw to scale down the overall length.

Pro User Feedback

Scott Angelovic of Angelovic Tree Service, LLC.

Pro-user feedback is something we pride ourselves on at ToolBoxBuzz. In order to ensure that our testing protocols catered to tree care pros, we enlisted some local help. Our tests were conducted in Oxford, Connecticut by crew member Wes Bartosik. Additionally, Wes reached out to his friend Scott Angelovic of Angelovic Tree Sevice LLC. Scott is a long-time friend of Wes and a local business owner. Scott provided invaluable feedback on how each of our saws stacked up for pro use.

Jake Pollak better known as @DudeRanchDIY

ToolBoxBuzz was also fortunate enough to work with Jake Pollak of @DudeRanchDIY  for the first time on this project. Jake is an arborist by trade but also sells firewood and operates his own Youtube channel showcasing his firewood operation and equipment as well as arborist and chainsaw-related content. Jake is another Connecticut native and was able to provide us with some excellent feedback on the saws. Check out Jake’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram accounts where he cross-posted a lot of the content we worked on together.

Testing Criteria

In order to keep the sample pool as consistent as possible, we developed a set of selection criteria. First and foremost, the saw must be a purpose-built arborist saw designed for professional tree work. There are several saws on the market that happen to have a handle on top but are not tailored to professionals in any other way. Next, we limited the bar length to between 12″and 14″. Some models that were sent by manufacturers had their OEM bars swapped out to the proper length for testing. While we could not narrow down the pitch or gauge any further amongst samples, the bar lengths were kept consistent. Finally, we limited the battery pack Ah size to the kitted offerings from each manufacturer. Some of our manufacturers offer their saws as an a la carte system with multiple chargers and battery offerings (such as Husqvarna and Stihl). For these manufacturers, we selected the recommended battery offering for the tool.

The above-mentioned criteria provided us with a sample size of eight saws from six manufacturers. Makita and Stihl both had two models included in the testing. Makita with their legacy 36V 18V LXT X2 saw as well as the new 40V Max XGT and Stihl with their legacy pruning saw as well as their newest offering.

Saw Lineup

Echo

• Model: DCS-2500T
• Bare Tool Weight: 3.84 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 56V eFORCE
• Battery Tested: 2.5 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″ Low Profile
• Chain Gauge:  0.050″
• Tool Warranty: 5 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial
• Battery Warranty: 2 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial

Greenworks Commercial

• Model: 48TH12
• Bare Tool Weight: 6.10 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 48V DualVolt
• Battery Tested: 4.0 Ah
• Automatic Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″
• Chain Gauge: 0.050″
• Tool Warranty: 2 Year Limited
• Battery Warranty: 2 Year Limited

Husqvarna

• Model: T540i XP
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.66 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 40V
• Battery Tested: Bi200X 5.2 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″, 14″,16″
• Chain Pitch: 0.325″ Mini
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Tool Warranty: 3 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial

Makita 36V LXT

• Model: XCU08
• Bare Tool Weight: 6.28 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: (2x) 18V LXT
• Battery Tested: (2X) 5.0 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 14″, 16″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″ Low Profile
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Tool Warranty: 3 Year Limited
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Makita 40V XGT

• Model: GCU03Z
• Bare Tool Weight: 5.74 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 40V Max XGT
• Battery Tested: 4.0 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″, 14″, 16″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″ Low Profile
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Tool Warranty: 3 Year Limited
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Milwaukee M18 FUEL

• Model: 2826-22T
• Bare Tool Weight: 7.30 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: M18 FUEL
• Battery Tested: 8.0 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″, 14″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″ Low Profile
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Tool Warranty: 5 Year Limited
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Stihl MSA 161T

• Model: MSA 161T
• Bare Tool Weight: 4.86 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 36V AP Series
• Battery Tested: AP 300S 7.2 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 12″
• Chain Pitch: 1/4″ PICCO Micro 3
• Chain Gauge: 0.043″
• Tool Warranty: 3 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial

Stihl MSA 220TC-O

• Model: MSA 220TC-O
• Bare Tool Weight: 6.10 Lbs.
• Battery Platform: 36V AP Series
• Battery Tested: AP 500S 9.4 Ah
• Manual Adjustable Oiler
• Bar Length: 14″
• Chain Pitch: 3/8″ PICCO
• Chain Gauge: 0.050″
• Tool Warranty: 2 Year Commercial Only
• Battery Warranty: 3 Year Consumer / 2 Year Commercial

Testing Criteria

Our saws were evaluated and ranked based on the following categories;

• Ability to Stall Out
• Small Diameter Speed Cut Testing
• Large Diameter Speed Cut Testing
• Weight
• Decibel Output
• Price
• Features
• Ergonomics

Based upon this information we named a best overall winner as well as a best value winner.

Safety Considerations

Chainsaws are an inherently dangerous tool by design. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 28,859 chainsaw-related accidents in 2020. The majority of those accidents (11,630) were to users’ legs. Bearing this in mind proper safety gear was mandatory for our testing crew. Each test cutter was required to wear safety toe boots, leg protection, as well as eye protection.

The ToolBoxBuzz crew strongly recommends any user interested in purchasing or working with a chainsaw invest in some quality protective gear. It is a simple initial investment that can save your life.

Ability to Stall Out

Before beginning our performance testing, we wanted to measure the ability of the user to stall out the saw during a cut. Traditionally a pro-grade gas saw can be “leaned into” when cutting to push through tough material, pinching forces of the wood,  or overcome a slightly dull chain. Battery-powered saws are far more temperamental and less forgiving of the user levering them during use. Many manufacturers include overload protections in their battery tools to shut the saw down if the motor or the battery is being overworked. While this is a great idea in theory to protect the tool, it can be problematic for pros in the field.

An arborist may be suspended in the air making an intricate hinge cut on a limb. At that moment, the user needs the saw to be able to power through and not bog down or stall out completely and need to be reset. Based upon this we set up a testing rig using a section of maple log. The test cutter was then instructed to make a crosscut while burying the saw to the nose and leaning into the cut. The test cutter was also instructed to apply the same amount of force each time in order to cause the saws to stall out.

The Two best performers in this test were the Milwaukee and the Stihl MSA220TC. Our test cutter described both as “Beastly” and was unable to stall them out in the test log. Both saws provided outstanding consistent power throughout the cut. In second place was the Greenworks saw, which slowed during the test but continued cutting while being pushed through the cut. All three of these saws demonstrated an excellent low-end torque band that is ideal for demanding cutting tasks.

The Husqvarna and smaller Stihl MSA161T were our next best performers, stalling out only once the bar was at a depth consistent with the full width of the bar. Both Makita saws stalled out once the saw bar reached approximately half the width of the bar into the cut. Once this occurred, both saws had to be lifted up and then re-engaged to begin cutting again. The Makita XGT then stalled a second time before completing the cut. It seemed to our test crew that the Makitas were stalling in order to preserve the electronics, but this additional stop/start represents wasted time and productivity for professional users.

The Echo struggled the most in this test. The saw stopped multiple times and struggled to perform when being leaned on by our cutter. The Echo is also the smallest saw we tested and appears to be ideally suited for cutting smaller-diameter limbs or pruning work. Our test crew all agreed that the saws with larger full-size chains were preferable for commercial work and that reset buttons belong in video games and not on chainsaws.

Speed Cut Testing

In order to determine our fastest cutter amongst the sample group, we designed two speed-cutting tests. The first was a smaller diameter cut to simulate a limbing or pruning job and the second was a larger diameter cut to simulate a full takedown job. For both tests, we used a green hardwood log from a tree species native to New England. We focused on green wood with this H2H in order to simulate the conditions that pros would encounter in the field. To keep it as green as possible, we dropped some trees on the day of testing!

Scott using a Stihl MS400 to drop our test log tree.

Both tests were performed on sugar maple logs. Maple was selected as a medium-grade hardwood to offer a compromise between some harder species like oak which is plentiful in the Northeast and some of the pine species that are common on the West Coast. The Janka scale, which is the industry standard for hardness, lists sugar maple at approximately 1,450 Lb./Ft. The smaller diameter piece had an average measured diameter of 4.87″ and the larger diameter piece averaged at 7.75″.

Moving our test log into position with a Vermeer mini-skid machine with a hydraulic grapple.

The test cut pieces were strapped securely to a log stand and the same test cutter performed the cuts with all eight saws. The instructions for the crew member were to guide the saw through the cut without leaning into it and allow gravity and the weight of the saw to do the work. For the smaller diameter test (T1), the cutter performed a down, up, and down cut to make a total of three cookies. The larger diameter test (T2) was limited to a down and up only in order to prevent stall out or thermal overload. This was the first test performed; all eight saws had fresh factory sharp chains.

Small Diameter Speed Cut T1

The winner of T1 was the Stihl MSA220 at 8.47 seconds, finishing almost three seconds faster than the runner-up. Milwaukee came in second at 11.10 seconds and Husqvarna in third at 11.56 seconds. The slowest cutter for T1 was the Echo at 23.35 seconds.

Larger Diameter Speed Cut T2

The Makita XGT saw powering through our larger diameter speed cut test.

The winner of T2 was the Stihl MSA 220 at 10.97 seconds. T2 showed the Makita XGT rising to second place at 11.59 seconds and Husqvarna beating out Milwaukee for the number three spot by 0.01 seconds. The slowest cutter for T2 was the Echo again at 39.29 seconds.

The Stihl was absolutely unstoppable. The saw’s heavier weight and powerful battery system allowed the saw to rip through both tests. This test also demonstrated the capabilities of the new Makita XGT platform compared to the legacy Makita 36V saw. The XGT platform provided constant speed and power throughout the trial.

The Echo was the smallest saw we tested and lagged behind in both tests by a substantial margin.

Weight

Weight is a huge factor to consider when selecting a top-handle saw. By design, these tools are meant to be used at adverse angles and uncomfortable positions. A tree care pro may use one of these saws at shoulder height or above for hours at a time. Therefore in order to paint the complete picture of what each of these saws weighs, we took two measurements.

The first was the bare power-head weight. We weighed each saw with an empty bar oil reservoir and removed the bar and battery. Then we attached the bar and chain, filled the oil reservoir, and inserted a battery. We ranked the tools based on the fully assembled weight but thought that the bare powerhead weight and subsequent increase in weight was a good data point to collect.

The lightest assembled saw was the Echo at 7.46 Lbs. Second place went to the Stihl MSA161T at 9.84 Lbs. and third place to Husqvarna at 10.16 Lbs. The heaviest assembled saw was the Stihl MSA220TC at 12.38 Lbs.

The Echo is an incredibly light saw in the hand at under four pounds as a powerhead. Even fully assembled the Echo is almost as light as the Milwaukee powerhead. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Stihl MSA2210TC powerhead is about one pound heavier than its gas counterpart the MS201T.

Decibel Output

The level of received noise at the ear is a concern for the longevity of all professionals. According to OSHA standards, any exposure for eight hours of 85 decibels or higher requires hearing protection. In order to measure the noise output of each saw, we placed them on a jig with a decibel meter placed in a designated location to measure noise output. We then ran each saw for ten seconds at full speed, while not under load, and recorded the decibel range.

The quietest saw was the Stihl MSA161T at 80.8 decibels. This was the only saw that was under the 85-decibel threshold as well. Second place was Milwaukee at 91.3 decibels and third place went to Husqvarna at 92.4 decibels. The loudest saw tested was the Makita XGT at 100.9 decibels.

An interesting field note from our pro-user testers was that decibel ratings were really not a concern to them. They all wear helmets with built-in hearing protection and radio capabilities for communicating with their ground guys. However, the lower decibel output of all of our battery saws, compared to their gas counterparts, can be beneficial when working in areas with noise-based work hour restrictions, such as residential neighborhoods.

Price

For this H2H we chose to rank the tools based on a kit price. While carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, are likely loyal to a battery platform and heavily invested, the same cannot be said of most tree care pros. A tree care pro is likely buying a battery top handle saw for the first time and has no other tool that runs on that platform. Therefore we chose to select a kit option for the price ranking that includes the battery we used during testing.

The winner of the price rankings is a tie between Greenworks Commercial and Milwaukee. As of July of 2023, both companies are offering a kit with battery and charger for $499.99. In second place is Echo at $549.99 and third place is the Makita 36V at $579.00. Our most expensive saws are the Husqvarna at $1,049.00 and Stihl MSA220TC at $1,169.97 as kits.

While price is important to all users, we chose to not include it when determining our final rankings.

Features

Our entire saw lineup featured outstanding professional-grade features. For instance, all eight saws included manual chain tension adjustment systems. This traditional, tooled, style of adjustment is our preferred method due to its robustness. In order to determine which saw had the best set of features, we outlined nine total evaluation criteria. We then ranked each saw’s feature on a scale of one to three, with three being the best. The saw’s total overall score was used to determine rank. Our evaluation criteria are as follows;

1. Felling Spikes
2. Chain Brake Contour/Response
3. Lanyard Ring(s)
4. Electronic Chain Brake
5. Automatic Oiler
6. Manual Chain Tensioner
7. Additional Modes
8. Standout Features
9. Safety Auto Shut-Off

The saw with the best features is the Milwaukee. The M18 saw has outstanding aggressive felling spikes as well as a large manual chain brake lever that is responsive and has a very positive click action. The steel lanyard ring is in a great position and locks in the open position. It has a very responsive electric chain brake and the chain tensioner features an extra bar stud to lock the mechanism in securely. Our crew agreed that an automatic oiler system is their preferred option, but Milwaukee’s manual adjusting oiler performed well in the highest output setting. The Milwaukee is also the only saw with an onboard saw wrench or “scrench”. While not an absolutely mandatory feature, it is a nice bonus.

Second place went to the Stihl MSA22oTC-O, which has an outstanding billet of professional-grade features. In fact, the “O” designation in the Stihl’s name refers to their electronic bar oil monitoring system. The saw will monitor the flow of bar oil via an internal laser. The system also monitors for dirt and contaminants. When the oil is low or full of debris, a light will activate on the saw’s main control panel to alert the user. This feature was unlike anything our testing crew had seen before.

Where Milwaukee excelled over the Stihl to our crew was with the different safety auto shut-off systems. The Stihl has a push-button activation switch to turn the saw on and off. There is also a warning light to alert the user when the chain brake is turned off as well as a tang safety in the top of the grip that must be depressed. Once the user releases that tang safety, with the chain brake off, the saw shuts off in about five seconds. This was a real annoyance to our crew during testing and our pro users agreed that this was too fast. Conversely, the Milwaukee uses a spring-loaded tang safety in the grip with no additional on/off switches. It is intuitive to use and ruggedly simple. Our pro-user crew agreed that Milwaukee’s system would be more user-friendly and productive for them.

Third place resulted in a tie between the Echo and Husqvarna saws. The Echo is an extremely lean-built saw and doesn’t have many extra bells and whistles. It lost points due to the shorter felling spikes but has a simple and excellent push-button activation switch. The Husqvarna features an excellent digital battery display at the activation switch to show power consumption in real time as well as an Eco mode for battery conservation. However, the Husqvarna chain tensioning mechanism makes it difficult to get seated properly when removing the clutch cover and changing bars and chains. Twice the Husqvarna saw chain completely slacked out during our test cutting. We experienced the same issues in our 2020 Head-2-Head testing.

Rounding out the category, the Makita 36V saw has an impressive feature set, including a high-performance “Turbo” cutting mode. But the mode is difficult to switch back and forth from. The Makita XGT lacks some of the additional features of the legacy 36V saw, but both offerings have excellent felling spikes and chain brake designs. The Greenworks Commercial and Stihl MSA-161T had very basic features compared to the rest of the test sample. The Greenworks saw lost points due to having rounded felling spikes that did not grab into our cutting materials during testing as well as a confusing power activation button.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is one of our most subjective categories, but is one of our favorite and most discussed evaluations. If a tool is not comfortable or works against the user in any way, it is almost worthless. Similar to our Features section, we chose a total of six evaluation criteria to rank our battery top-handle chainsaws. The ergonomics of a top-handle saw are critical to a pro user in the field when working in the air, wearing gloves, or working in inclement weather. That is why we selected the following categories for evaluation;

1. Grip Comfort
2. Grip Contour
3. Forward Handlebar Angle
4. Bar Oil Fillcaps
5. Weight and Balance
6. Ease of Battery Change

The winner of this section is a three-way tie between Echo, Makita XGT, and the Stihl MSA-220TC. All three saws featured well-contoured and comfortable grips. The texture on all of them is excellent and all of the controls are easy to reach with one hand. The forward handlebars are also out of the way but easy to reach with an off-hand. Weight and balance were interesting with these models because they represent the best of our small, medium, and large offerings. The Echo is lighter and more compact, but both the Makita XGT and Stihl are compact in their overall design with no wasted space.

Although all three saws received the same overall score, the Echo had the best and most comfortable grip of the three as well as the nicest bar oil reservoir caps. However, the Makita XGT and Stihl have superior battery-changing mechanisms. The Stihl is the easiest to change batteries thanks to the battery being spring-loaded and inserted from the top of the saw.

Husqvarna took second place in ergonomics for battery top-handle chainsaws with excellent weight and balance as well as very comfortable grip material and handlebar angles. The criticisms of the Husqvarna were that the chain brake lever is too close and can be cramped on the user’s hands. Additionally, the sliding tang safety on the top of the grip was awkward to all of our test cutters. The Milwaukee came in third place with excellent grip materials as well as the most room for your hands of all of the saws test. The Milwaukee is a very big saw though. It sacrificed compact size for more room and feels bulky compared to most of the other saws. The side handlebar of the Milwaukee also bows out further than any other saw and gives it a Beachcomber bicycle feel.

Finally the Makita 36V saw was bulky and more off-balance than its counterparts due to the two-battery system. While they are easy to change, managing two batteries was not something our test crew viewed as desirable. The triple manual grip safeties of the Stihl MSA-161T were our least favorite and seemed almost impossible to use, safely, for lefties. The Greenworks saw felt off-balance and the controls were cramped and on top of each other.

Best Value Battery Top-Handle Chainsaw

One of our favorite categories to name is the Best Value, especially when we are talking about a battery top-handle chainsaw. These are expensive tools and present pro-users with a large financial investment. So which saw gives the best performance while still remaining reasonably priced? It is hands down the Milwaukee M18 Fuel.

The Milwaukee battery top-handle chainsaw finished in the top three of every category except for weight. Additionally, it achieved a first-place finish in the features category while tying for first place in the Stall Out test. Furthermore, Milwaukee also tied the Greenworks saw as our most affordable saw tested.

Overall Best Battery Top-Handle Chainsaw

At the completion of our testing, all of the data we gathered on the saws was compiled. When then used this to create rank structures for every category and finally used those ranks to create an overall final rank structure. The saw with the lowest number of points in this final ranking structure was our overall winner.

With a final overall score of nineteen points, our best battery top-handle chainsaw is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel. The Milwaukee is ergonomic and powerful with well-thought-out features. The safety system on the M18 saw was also one of the most preferred designs by our test crew due to its simplicity and similarity to their traditional gas-powered saws. The Milwaukee is a large saw though and is heavy. Because of that, our pro users weren’t sure if it would be suitable for full-time climbing work. The fact that the Milwaukee battery platform is so widespread and commercially available is a nice bonus but was not a determining factor for our tree care pros.

Second place was a tie between the Stihl MSA-22TCO and the Husqvarna. The two biggest names in the chainsaw world and both companies make an incredible battery-powered top-handle chainsaw. The Husqvarna has been on the market for several years now and has remained mostly unchanged. After testing it we realized that this is because Husqvarna got it right with the first generation. It is a fast, light, powerful, and nimble saw. The Stihl is brand new to the market and focuses more on raw power. We described the saw as “Beastly” earlier and that really is the best word for it. The Stihl is hands-down our top choice for demanding take-down work. Our test crew all greed that the Husqvarna and Stihl would be their top choices as tree care professionals and likely the only choices that would earn a coveted spot in their tree trucks due to the commercial warranties, dealer support networks, and overall reputation of both brands in the industry.

Third place went to the Stihl MSA-161T which shares many of the same perks as its younger, but bigger, brother. However, the MSA-161T has a proprietary bar design and uncommon chain size that make it less desirable. Stihl also does not do online sales, even for parts, making it more difficult to source these bars and chains.

All smiles!

The Makita XGT took fourth place overall. Showing that it is a product-improved version of the legacy Makita 36V saw. The improved battery technology and electronics of the XGT platform make for a saw that is really enjoyable to cut with. The legacy Makita and Echo tied for fifth place. The Echo struggled in our performance cutting tests but was a crew favorite thanks to its lightweight, great ergonomics, and professional-grade features. For smaller-diameter cutting tasks, the Echo is definitely worth a look. The Greenworks Commercial came in sixth place overall. While powerful, our crew agreed that it lacked some of the features and ergonomics they want in a saw.

Final Thoughts

Overall our test crew was impressed by the evolution and capabilities of all of the battery top-handle chainsaws tested. The saws discussed above are true professional-grade tools and are capable of performing a variety of tasks common with the Arborist and tree care industries. We would strongly encourage any user out there considering a battery-powered option to give it a chance. The ease of battery-powered electric motors versus traditional gas-powered engines is well discussed and documented. They make for an exceptional user experience and will only get better with time.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the saws mentioned in this article, please check out our Buy Now links listed below. These links will bring you to some of our preferred industry partners such as ACME Tools. Additionally, you can find Echo, Husqvarna, and Stihl battery-powered OPE at your local outdoor power equipment dealerships.

Best Battery Top Handle Chainsaw Head-To-Head Video

Best Top Handle Chainsaw | Head-to-Head | 2023 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best Cordless Blower | Head-To-Head

What would the perfect cordless leaf blower be? Wait…can we even call them leaf blowers? I certainly don’t use mine for leaves, I use them to blow sawdust on my job sites, my tools, out of my van and tool shed, or to clean off my patio and porch. They’re just blowers!

Comparing 15 Blowers

Fifteen manufacturers sent us their best handheld cordless blower. The majority of these blowers can be found in kit configuration and are sold at most common and online retailers. In past testings, we’ve received comments that we should include Harbor freight tools, so in this head-to-head test, we’re happy to welcome Harbor Freight’s Atlas blower to this test.

ATLAS

Model – 56994
Voltage – 80V
Battery Watt Hour – 288 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 150
CFM’s – 605 CFM’s
Length – 35-⅜”
Weight – 4lbs, 6oz
Price – 274.99 (when added kit components)

CRAFTSMAN

Model – CMCBL730P1
Voltage – 20V
Battery Watt Hour – 100 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 110
CFM’s – 410 CFM’s
Length – 33-½”
Weight – 5lbs, 7oz
Price – $149.00

DEWALT

Model – DCBL772X1
Voltage – 60V
Battery Watt Hour – 180 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 125
CFM’s – 600 CFM
Length – 36-¾”
Weight – 6lbs, 2oz
Price – $299.00

ECHO

Model – DPB-2500
Voltage – 56V
Battery Watt Hour – 252 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 158
CFM’s – 549 CFM’s
Length – 36-¼”
Weight – 5lbs, 6oz
Price – $199.99

EGO

Model – LB7654
Voltage 56V
Battery Watt Hour – 280 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 200
CFM’s – 765 CFM’s
Length – 36-½
Weight – 4lbs, 11oz
Price – $329.00

GREENWORKS

Model – BLB489
Voltage: 80V
Battery Watt Hour – 180 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 170
CFM’s – 730 CFM’s
Length – 37-1/8
Weight – 5lbs, 8ozs
Price – $342.99

HART

Model – HLB07VNM
Voltage: 40V
Battery Watt Hour – 180 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 155
CFM’s – 600 CFMs
Length – 37-⅜”
Weight – 6lbs, 12ozs
Price – $138.00

KOBALT

Model – KLB 1040A-03
Voltage 40V
Battery Watt Hour – 160 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 120
CFM’s – 520 CFM’s
Length -33-¾”
Weight – 5lbs, 4ozs
Price – $169.00

MAKITA

Model – GBU01M1
Voltage 40V
Battery Watt Hour – 160 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 143
CFM’s – 565 CFM’s
Length – 33-1/2″, 35-1/2″, 37-1/2″ (ADJUSTABLE)
Weight – 5lbs, 5ozs
Price – $439.00

MILWAUKEE

Model – 2824-20
Voltage 18V
Battery Combined Watt Hour – 288 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 145
CFM’s – 600 CFM
Length – 37-⅜”
Weight – 6lbs, 1oz
Price – $707.00 (not kit)

RIDGID

Model – R01601K
Voltage – 18V
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 130
Battery Watt Hour – 288 Wh
CFM’s – 510 CFM’s
Noise dB – 83.1
Length – 34-¼”
Weight – 5lbs, 7ozs
Price – $241.53

RYOBI

Model – RY404100
Voltage – 40V
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 190
CFM’s – 730 CFM’s
*Battery Watt Hour – 144 Wh
Noise dB – 84.6
Length – 37-⅞”
Weight – 6lbs, 4ozs
Price – $269.00
*Wh based on one battery

SKIL

Model – BL4713-c-11
Voltage 40V
Battery Watt Hour – 100 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 193
CFM’s – 500 CFM’s
Length – 36”
Weight – 4lbs, 3ozs
Price – $159.00

STIHL

Model – BGA 86
Voltage: 36V
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 154
Battery Watt Hour – 337 Wh
CFM’s – 459 CFMs
Length – 38-½” (ADJUSTABLE)
Weight – 6lbs, 5ozs
Price – $839.97 (not kit)

TORO

Model – 51822
Voltage – 60v
Battery Watt Hour – 216 Wh
Max Air Speed (MPH) – 157
CFM’s – 605 CFMs
Length – 37-½”
Weight – 5lbs, 8oz
Price – $290.03

Cordless Blower Testing | 7 Criteria

Our goal was NOT to verify marketing claims, instead, we used ANSI testing standards as a guide, to create consistent, repeatable, and measurable data that you can make intelligent decisions on.

Our team scored the blowers on seven criteria, each ranked independently, and the “Overall Best Cordless Blower” was determined using the combined test results.

We include but did not rank price and best value categories, but list them here for your own informational purposes.

7 Scoring Criteria

1. Pitot Tube Run-time Testing – Directly measure air speed with a pitot tube and calculate MPH and CFM during a runtime performance test
2. Weighted Sled Test – tested the thrust performance with a sled rig on rails.
3. Ergonomics and Features – Ergonomics is really important to users and an important category to consider when purchasing any power tool.
4. Balance – Measured the balance and resulting rotation in the off and full throttle states.
5. Noise -Measured Decibels at full throttle
6. Best Value – Not ranked.
7. Price – The kit price at the time of publishing. Not ranked.

Anemometer | Pitot Tube Air Test

I’ll be honest, I had to ask Jeff what a Pitot tube was. 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.

Using fluid dynamics theory and measured environmental parameters like temperature, pressure, and humidity, the average and peak MPH and CFM values can be calculated.

We replicated this ANSI procedure to validate the measured MPH values gathered from our pitot tube instrument. Both measurements aligned. Here’s a summary of that procedure:

1. We used a 13.8 in ± aluminum plate as a force plate for our electronic scale.
2. We vertically mounted and centered the blowers in our rig and off the force plate 5”.
3. The blower was operated for 10 seconds, and the result was recorded.
4. Three tests were performed for an average measurement.
5. Barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity were recorded
6. Used ANSI blower performance equations to calculate theoretical peak and average blower speed

Anemometer and Pitot Tube | Testing

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 full throttle. The data was collected at 1 Hz sample rate or once per second until the battery was drained.

An ExTech HD350 Pitot Tube Anemometer was used to perform this test. The chart below shows data for all 15 blowers.

Using this data we were able to determine and calculate 4 important metrics for each blower, ranked them separately, and also combined them for an “Airflow Performance” winner.

1. Run-time in minutes
2. Average Speed
3. Average CFM
4. Total air moved

Run-time | Sustained Performance Winner | Stihl

You can see from the chart that the Stihl ran the longest, at 25.4 minutes. Second place was ECHO with 19.4 minutes, followed in third place by Milwaukee at 16.7 minutes.

This is a good time to talk about open and closed-loop battery control and how it relates to sustained performance. One of the biggest complaints with cordless blowers is their poor run-time and tendency to suffer a drop in sustained performance over time, as the battery discharges.

Three blowers Makita, Milwaukee, and Stihl all have closed-loop control on the battery output enabling them to run at a consistent [not peak] speed, for the life of the battery. While these blower batteries may have more power that could be drawn from them, these closed loop controls limit the output so an expected level of sustained performance can be delivered over a longer period of time. This is a feature that appeals to Pro users.

In contrast, most of the blowers, we tested, showed open-loop control.  Their peak performance was delivered within the first few moments of battery discharge, and then a variable level of declining performance results, as the battery discharges.  For example, the Ryobi blower showed a 22% drop in performance when comparing a fully charged battery to one that is half “empty”.

The three closed-loop control blowers we tested, all handle the dwindling voltage of their batteries a bit differently:

• Makita ran at a consistent speed until it quit.
• Milwaukee ran at a consistent speed for over 90% of the battery life before rapidly fading.
• Stihl ran consistently for over 80% and then when the voltage began to drop, it forced a reduction to 75% peak power to continue on for an additional 5 minutes.

As pro tool users, we feel that having a blowers power stay consistent, and maintain its performance over the entire battery charge is really important.

Average Speed Winner | Stihl

Speed is measured in miles per hour and measures air velocity, or more specifically, the rate at which air passes through the blower’s nozzle.

A higher mph rating, results in the ability to push more dense or sticky debris like gravel or wet leaves. One interesting fact is that many tool companies market their blower’s performances by their PEAK measurement. We used average recordings to give you the MOST realistic and honest measurement.

The Stihl performed the best with an average speed of 124.5 mph. Second place was Milwaukee at 119.8 mph and closely followed in third place was Makita at 119.5 mph.

Note – The chart shows the EGO with the highest initial peak speed, but its average performance over time dropped, resulting in a fourth placement.

CFM Winner | EGO

Cubic feet per minute or CFM was calculated by taking the measured speed data and combining it with the area of the nozzle opening, to calculate the volume of air moved per minute.

The EGO came in first with 659 CFM. Second place was Makita with 643 CFM, and third was HART with 628 CFM.

The higher the CFM value, the more air your blower produces, resulting in a wider area cleaned in a shorter time.

Total Air Moved Winner | Stihl

The winner of this category is a combination of run-time and average CFM. This is an indication of the total amount of work performed on a battery charge.

The Stihl performed the best, coming in at 11,550 cubic feet, followed by ECHO with 11,126 cubic feet. Third place was Milwaukee with 10,032 cubic feet.

Overall Airflow Performance Winner | Milwaukee

It’s important to note that two of the above categories are power performance values, and the other two are indications of battery size and runtime. In order to level the playing field between tortoises and hares we combined all four categories to see how the blowers performed in totality.

The winner was Milwaukee, followed closely by EGO and Stihl.

Weighted Sled Test | Power Test Winner | EGO

Who doesn’t like a strong-man contest?  We’ve touched on the importance of MPH and CFM, but the importance of where these two values intersect is the overall “force or thrust” that a blower can produce.

Manufacturers measure this force in Newtons in their development and testing. We developed a test rig to indirectly measure thrust and provide a good visual understanding.

We built a weighted sled that rides on low-friction wheels attached to inclined rails.

Sled Procedure

Prior to each blower test the rails and wheels were cleaned and lubricated with silicone. To perform this test we placed each blower’s tube onto a v-shaped rest, mounted to the sled. We placed the blower body onto a tool rest setting the blower in the same plane as the sled rails. Once set, we ran each blower for a 10-second count and recorded the sled movement on a measuring tape mounted to the sled. Three tests were completed for an average measurement. All blowers were tested with a 5.5 weight placed on the sled rig.

Two blowers maxed this test out, they were the EGO and Ryobi. We then added a second 5.5. lb plate and retested both blowers. The Ryobi was able to move the sled approximately halfway, while the EGO maxed out the rig a second time!

The sled topped out at 70 inches. Our chart below does not account for the additional weighted tests for EGO or Ryobi. EGO was the clear winner, Ryobi was second followed by Harbor Freight’s Atlas blower which was able to move the sled 66 inches.

Blower Nozzle or No Nozzle | What’s Best?

We wanted to see the direct impact of the nozzles on our weighted sled rig. The nozzles are designed to narrow the opening of the chute and increase the speed of air coming out.

Many people don’t realize that manufacturers will often use a nozzle to measure higher peak MPH values and will use the wider chute opening without the nozzle to list their peak CFM number. The same blower, but tested with different configurations.

Most manufacturers supply a nozzle because many users feel it increases performance, and they ask for it. The reality is that adding a nozzle may increase the localized air stream speed, but the added friction and constriction reduce the overall performance.  [E.g Milwaukee reduces from 17.5 to 17 Newtons, but increases from 145 to 155 mph]

Our sled test results showed that adding a nozzle to the blower drastically reduced the blower’s performance on the sled test. For example, the Ryobi which was able to max out the test sled at 70-inches without a nozzle, was only able to achieve 58-inches with a nozzle. Similar results were observed with EGO and Milwaukee nozzles.

Ergonomics and Features Winner | EGO

This category is compiled from the combined opinions of the TBB crew after using the tools. Grip, throttle, battery removal, intake placement, and adjustable chute length were evaluated.

The EGO eked out a win with 10 points, followed closely by Makita and Milwaukee which tied for second place each with 11 points.

Grip

While all blowers had relatively comfortable grips, both the EGO and Milwaukee stood out. They have base stands that can double as a two-handed hold for overhead use or off-balance use.

Throttle | Trigger | Power On

When it came to evaluating the blower’s throttle, the TBB crew favored blowers with a single point of activation. Unfortunately, most blowers employ a boost button, which we feel is an unnecessary hassle and a marketing gimmick.  Some of the blowers, like the Craftsman, have boost features that can be locked on – we preferred that to having to hold the button down. Pro users definitely do not want to have to engage a second button.

The Milwaukee throttle stood out with ambidextrous use and had a very responsive throttle control and no boost button.

Lastly, some blowers have a power-on switch, or safety feature, in order to power on the trigger. Most of the crew found these features frustrating.

Battery Insertion and Removal

When considering the battery removal and installation, the crew really liked those blowers, like the Kobalt, that offer a spring-loaded ejection.

Milwaukee lost points in this category by being the only blower to employ dual batteries.

Adjustable Chutes

Makita, along with Stihl offers an adjustable chute, with several configurations. We felt this may appeal to users who might want to adjust their blower chute to their height.

Air Intake Location

Intakes were also evaluated. The team favored rear-mounted over side-mounted intakes due to side-mounted intakes sucking in the user’s pant legs when held close to the body.

Balance and Rotational Force Winner | ECHO

Too much rotational force can result in a blower that you’re constantly fighting to control, or worse results in a wrist injury like tendonitis. Wrist tendonitis is frequently caused by activities requiring sideways motion of the wrist while gripping. Activities such as using a blower in a side to side motion can lead to Dequervain’s tendonitis.

Rotational Force Rig

We built a rig to hold each blower’s handle to simulate a neutral grip position. The rig allowed the blower to rotate freely on this axis.

We used some image analysis to capture the angle of the blower chute relative to the horizon. The angle at rest with the blower powered off was measured, followed by the blower in the full throttle state.

We considered two values to be the most important when analyzing this data and used their individual rankings to determine the blower with the best balance.

1. Angle under load
2. Difference between no-load and full load

The first was the angle under load relative to the horizon. We found the most strain on the wrist was felt when the blower wanted to pitch down directly at the ground, forcing the user to pull the blower back up to a useful working angle.

The blowers we tested pitched down between a comfortable 40 degrees, to a very uncomfortable near vertical 89 degrees.

The second value we considered important was the change or Delta between the blower at rest and under load. A well-balanced blower should have minimal change in pitch when the throttle is activated. A bower that swings a large amount is likely to be harder to control. The smallest delta observed was 15 degrees and the highest was 57 degrees.

The ECHO took the best Balance category. The Echo had a no-load balance of 19 degrees and deflected to 40 degrees down under full throttle. This comfortable 40 degrees nose-down attitude coupled with the relatively small change of just 19 degrees scored it top marks.

Craftsman came in second with a  no-load measurement of 31 degrees and a full load of 46 degrees. Stihl followed in third place with 19 and 41 degrees.

Cordless Blower Noise Winner | Stihl

OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure based on a worker’s 8-hour work day. For noise, OSHA’s permissible exposure limit is 90 dB.

To measure relative decibels mounted the blowers. back into our rotational rig, and mounted a decibel meter 24” away from the blower to simulate the distance between a user’s ear and wrist. Three readings were captured and an average was recorded.

The blower that was the quietest was the Stihl coming in at 81.5 dB. The second quietest was the RIDGID averaging 83.1 dB followed by the RYOBI averaging at 84.2 dB.

The blowers that were the loudest were the DEWALT and ECHO averaging 97.9 db.

Best Price Winner | Hart

When purchasing tools, price is unquestionably a crucial factor, particularly for those of you who are just beginning out in the trades or are DIY/Homeowners just starting out.

We ranked pricing as *kits and with blowers that weren’t sold in kit form, we included a battery(s) and charger to even the playing field.

* Ryobi kit comes with 2 batteries.

At the time of testing, the best-priced blower kit was the Hart coming in at $138.00. The second lowest price was the Craftsman at $149.00 and the third was the Skil at $159.00.

The most expensive blower we tested was the Stihl BGA 86, coming in at $839.97.  The majority of these blowers can be purchased at ACME Tool or your local big box store.

Best Value Blower Winner | Hart

Price and quality will continue to be the top deciding factors for consumers. In today’s economy, consumers are looking for ways to stretch their dollars further, and tool companies need a solution to deliver a well-made, powerful tool at a competitive price, without sacrificing quality.

As we have indicated, we do not include pricing in our overall scoring, but we include it and always suggest our pick for best value.

The Hart was an easy decision for us, it performed exceptionally well in our testing, and is priced the lowest, guaranteeing a seat at the “best value” table. Hart scored in the fourth place in noise, and mid-pack on pretty much all the other categories scored, finishing in 6^th place.

Best Cordless Blower Winner | Milwaukee

Milwaukee 36-volt cordless blower came in first place scoring a total of 20 points. It scored tops in airflow performance, second in features and ergonomics, and fourth in balance.

The Milwaukee operates easily in either user’s hand and has a responsive trigger. Its sturdy base plate doubles as a secondhand grip, and the heads-up battery display is a nice touch. The crew appreciated that there was no boost or turbo button to engage, everything you need comes from the trigger. Milwaukee did suffer in the ergonomic battery scoring category due to the fact that it was the only blower in the lineup with two batteries.  That second battery, while inconvenient, clearly helped push the power and runtime up where it needs to be.

The formidable EGO came in second place with 22 points. EGO scored tops in both ergonomics, features, and the sled thrust test. The EGO was clearly the most powerful of the blowers out of the gate.  The open loop battery control and resulting performance drop over time coupled with the mediocre balance numbers pulled the EGO down from walking away with the top spot.

The EGO is a powerful blower but some users will find that they have to fight to hold it in position, it has a recessed throttle control which the team appreciated. Like Milwaukee, the EGO has a base stand that allows the user to place a two-handed hold for overhead use. Ego also has a nice spring-assisted battery removal feature, which one would not appreciate unless you were testing 15 blowers!

Stihl took third place with 25 points. Stihl took tops in noise and third place in both balance and airflow performance. The Stihl is a robust tool with a nicely designed spring-assist battery removal setup. The team liked that it has an adjustable-length chute, but did not like having to manipulate the awkward safety lever to power it on.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re considering purchasing a blower you should first think about the application, you’re using it for, and then performance. A lot of these blower measurements we shared result in a compromise, so if you want our advice, we feel you should choose a blower that is “stronger for longer.”

Our Head-to-Head tests take time to complete and we are ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company. We cannot do long-term testing that would shed light on longevity or durability, and we can’t possibly test every application that you might use a blower for.

We receive a lot of comments about how we arrive at our winner.  We’ve openly shared ALL the data from our tests, and you can rank the tools however you want. In this article, if you hover over the line or column in our graphs, you’ll be able to see the actual values. Hopefully, you’ll find this Head-To-Head useful when comparing compact cordless blowers.

If you have a moment, please check out our other Head-to-Head Tests.

Best Cordless Blower | Head-2-Head Video | 2023

Best Cordless Blower 2023 | Head-To-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Stihl MSA 220C-B 16″Cordless Chainsaw [2-Year Look-back]

Stihl MSA220C-B

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Stihl
Model number: MSA220C-B
Power source: 36V Li-Ion Battery
Weight: 6.4 Lbs. Bare Tool

The MSA220C-B has been a constant go-to option for me since then. It has seen constant use as a firewood saw as well as doing clearing work and clean up around my home and farm. Two years of experience with it has shown me where the MSA220C-B shines as well as identify its shortcomings. This tool review will be a look back at that experience.

Specifications

• Weight: 6.4 Lbs. (Bare Tool)
• Guide Bar Lenght: 14″ or 16″
• Chain Gauge: 3/8″ Stihl PICCO Super 3 Low Profile
• Bar Oil Capacity: 7.1 Oz.
• Battery Sytem: Stihl AP Series
• Tool Free Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Stihl Quickstop Chain Brake
• Stihl Coast Down Electronic Chain Brake
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Year Residential / 2 Year Commercial

Power to Size Ratio

One of the most impressive attributes of the Stihl MSA220C-B cordless chainsaw is the runtime and power available from such a compact package. The Stihl is shorter, slimmer, and lighter than many other saws in this category but still cuts like crazy. With the large 7.2 Ah AP300S battery inserted, the saw weighs in at about 10.4 pounds. Because the power-head portion of the saw is so compact, the weight feels very balanced and proportionate in the hand. If I could only use one word to describe the Stihl, it would be svelte.

In the picture above, the Stihl is lined up against the new DCS-5000 56V chainsaw from Echo. The Echo will be featured in its own stand-alone review soon.

Cutting Performance

The MSA220C-B is not a replacement for a large bore saw for heavy cutting tasks. It is likely in the ballpark of 35-45cc gas in terms of performance. The low profile Stihl 3/8″ PICCO chain is typically reserved for top-handle arborist saws for climbing and trimming.

However, the Stihl battery saw produces an incredible torque band. It will chew through wood that would normally be way out of bounds for a comparable battery saw. Additionally, it shines when cutting wood that is sub 12″ in diameter. I cut a variety of hardwood species here in the Northeast and the MSA220C excels in all of them.

Making some red oak noodles.

Conversely, as we discussed in the H2H article, the Stihl MSA220C-B cordless chainsaw will stall out when pushed too hard. Whether we are discussing chainsaws or circular saws, battery saws will stall out when pushed too hard into the material. This is often a design feature to prevent burning out motors and batteries. The Stihl is no different. When making cuts to the full length of the bar, it is easy to stall out. For this reason, I do not like it as a felling saw. When making the back cut on a tree, the last thing I want to worry about is the chain stalling out or if I have enough power to make it through the cut safely.

Tool Free Adjustments

The MSA22C-B features a tool-free adjustment mechanism for chain tension as well as securing the bar. Instead of bar nuts, there is a folding adjustment lever on the clutch cover. This lever turns to tighten or loosen the tension on the bar. Above it, is a rotary cog wheel for setting chain tension. Initially, I thought this was gimmicky. However, to my surprise, it has held up exceptionally well. I have never had a chain slack out or a bar come loose. I also have not broken the lever regardless of how hard I crank down on it. Even with my gorilla mitts.

STIHL Chain Oiler

The Stihl features an automatic chain oiler. This system ensures that enough bar oil is provided during use to prevent excess friction, wear, and burnout on the bar.

Our experience has shown that the Stihl system works well with the longer 16″ bar. It distributes it even and consistently as needed. Furthermore, the saw uses about a tank of bar oil per battery charge with an AP300S battery. Many battery saws will burn through all their oil in about half a battery charge. This can lead to damage if not caught by the operator.

The steel gear pictured above must be spun off its shaft in order to change or flip bars.

The only criticism I have is that after heavy use the chain tensioner wheel may become gummed up from fine sawdust and oil. This makes it difficult to adjust. Removing the cover plate and cleaning it out with a brush alleviates this. The cover plate must also be loosened considerably to let the tensioner spin easily.

Overall Impression of the Stihl MSA220C-B Cordless Chainsaw

Since first using it in 2020, the Stihl MSA220C-B has become one of the benchmarks for how I evaluate cordless chainsaws. It is compact, ergonomic, and very powerful. It is one of my constant woods companions for processing firewood or doing storm cleanups. Furthermore, a lightweight and portable saw like the MSA220C-B excels as a bucket or climbing saw for smaller-diameter takedowns and limbing work. An arborist friend of mine uses an MSA220C-B in conjunction with his chipper. The ability to grab it and go with the flick of a switch is invaluable when trying to work efficiently.

The MsA220C-B is Stihl’s largest and most powerful battery-powered saw currently available. While it performs well at tasks suited for its weight class, it still is not a replacement for my larger gas-powered saws. However, seeing what Stihl has been able to accomplish so far with their 36V platform and AP series batteries I am confident that big(ger) things will be coming from them in the future. In fact, check out our recent Instagram posts covering the 2022 Equip Expo to see what Stihl is working on now.

Stihl MSA220C-B Cordless Chainsaw Review

Stihl MSA220C-B Cordless Chainsaw [2-Year Review] is a post from Tool Box Buzz

STIHL’s New Zero Turn Mowers Preview

We covered the 2022 GIE [Green Industry and Equipment] show in Louisville Kentucky. Countless new products were unveiled to the thousands who attended! The STIHL booth was a happening place and we wanted to show you a preview of their new line of Zero Turn mowers they are launching!

STIHL was founded on a dedication to providing high-quality products for customers. Since its founding in 1974, STIHL Incorporated has been committed to providing gas and battery-powered outdoor power equipment for the professional, commercial, agricultural, and consumer industries. Outdoor power tools that can be used on-the-go, such as chainsaws, hedge trimmers, edgers, and earth augers, as well as battery- and gas-powered grass and weed trimmers, handheld blowers, and backpack blowers.

STIHL’s 100 Series  & 200 Series Zero Turn Mower

The STIHL 100 Series and 200 Series zero-turn mowers provide homeowners the durability, performance, and dependability they have come to expect from STIHL. They also come loaded with a variety of features to ensure a comfortable, effective cutting experience. The STIHL RZ 142, RZ 152, and RZ 261 are three models for homeowners that sport the Ready Start technology, which enables speedy start-up with the turn of a key. Additionally, dependable V-Twin Briggs & Stratton engines [between 23 and 25 horsepower]  which enable forward ground speeds of 7.0 – 8.5 mph and 4 mph in reverse, are standard on the STIHL 100 and 200 Series models.

STIHL RZ142 Zero Turn Mower

The four-wheel suspension with adjustable rear shock absorbers on the STIHL RZ 152 and STIHL RZ 261 will also let users to handle a variety of terrain. With a 61″ commercial-grade mowing deck, the 200 Series, STIHL RZ 261—the largest of the consumer models—is the perfect match for a variety of properties, from home lawns to a farm or ranch. Additionally, two USB-A connections are standard on all STIHL 100 and 200 Series tools so that users can charge devices.

STIHL RZ152 Zero Turn Mower

With these zero-turn mowers, STIHL is thrilled to enter a new product category,” said Brian Manke, STIHL Inc. product manager. “With a range of features on the STIHL 100 and 200 Series, homeowners receive an excellent combination of performance, comfort and capability they’ve come to expect from STIHL.”

Series 100 and 200 Standard Product Features

Both the STIHL 100 and 200 Series are equipped with the following key features and benefits:

•  3-gallon fuel-capacity.
• Foot-operated cutting height
• Trailer hitch
• Deluxe Seat
• Cup holders
• USB-A ports

Series 100 and 200 Price Points

The suggested MSRP are as follows:

• STIHL RZ 142: $3,899.99
• STIHL RZ 152: $5,649.99
• STIHL RZ 261: $7,449.99

STIHL’s 500 Series Zero Turn Mower

The STIHL 500 Series zero-turn mowers are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of users, including farm owners and professionals wishing to modernize their mower fleet.
These mowers have commercial-grade Hydro-Gear ZT-3400 transaxles, which give them a top forward speed of 10 mph and a top reverse speed of 5 mph. The cutting-edge four-wheel suspension system with mowing deck height compensation is made to give a smooth ride and maintain a consistent cutting height. The STIHL 500 Series’ four models—the STIHL RZ 552, STIHL RZ 552 K, STIHL RZ 560, and STIHL RZ 560 K—allow owners to preserve their properties with specialized features and great performance.

STIHL RZ560

With a choice of a professional-grade 52” or 60” mowing deck and a Briggs & Stratton or Kawasaki carburated engine, the STIHL 500 Series gives users the power options they need to efficiently mow multi-acre properties,” said Brian Manke, STIHL Inc. product manager. “On top of all that users will experience improved performance and a more comfortable ride on uneven surfaces with the adjustable rear suspension with shock absorbers.”

STIHL 500 Series Standard Product Features

The STIHL 500 Series is equipped with the following key features and benefits:

• Independent front suspension
• Large fuel capacity
• Roll Over Protection System (ROPS)
• Aluminum 5.25” mower deck spindles
• Two USB-A ports
• Foot-operated cutting height adjustment.
• Deluxe seat with armrests
• Cup holders

Series 500 Price Points

The suggested MSRP are as follows: Note the K stands for Kawasaki engine. No K means equipped with Briggs & Stratton

• STIHL RZ 552: $9,949.99
• STIHL RZ 552 K: $10,449.99
• STIHL RZ 560: $10,499.99
• STIHL RZ 560 K: $10,999.99

STIHL 700 Series  & 900 Series

The STIHL 700 Series and STIHL 900 Series zero-turn mowers provide professional users the broadest selection of mowing options. They feature effective performance, clean cuts, robust construction, and comfortable rides that reduce user fatigue. Professionals have a total of 12 new models to choose from within the 700 and 900 Series, with deck widths ranging from 52″ to 72″ across the range and a variety of high-performing engine options, including carbureted and fuel-efficient EFI [electronic fuel injected] engines.

STIHL RZ972 Zero Turn Mower

The STIHL 700 and 900 Series both come with an innovative four-wheel suspension system that compensates for the height of the mowing deck and features an independent front suspension with upper and lower control arms and a shock-absorbing rear suspension. The 700 Series’ and 900 Series’ effective top forward ground speeds are 10 mph and 12 mph, respectively, thanks to strong Hydro-Gear ZT transaxles. The reverse speed on both professional series is 5 mph, giving the user mobility.

To help keep pros comfortable on the job, the 700 Series features a deluxe seat with armrests. However, the 900 Series offers superior comfort with a premium suspension seat providing an adjustable backrest, armrests and padding for comfort during longer professional jobs.

STIHL is thrilled to launch the two professional series of zero-turn mowers,” said Brian Manke, STIHL Inc. product manager. “With three distinct engine options and various mowing deck sizes, professionals can choose the ideal mower for even the most demanding landscaping jobs.”

STIHL 700 & 900 Series Standard Product Features

Both the STIHL 700 and 900 Series are equipped with the following key features and benefits:

• Engine options include Vanguard Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine, Kawasaki carbureted engine or Kawasaki EFI engine.
• Four-wheel suspension system
• Independent front suspension
• Adjustable rear suspension with shock absorbers
• Heavy-duty 8” and 10” cast iron, grease-able mower deck spindles
• Two-belt mower drive system
• Two USB-A ports
• Trailer hitch
• Foot-operated cutting height adjustments
• Cup holders
• Large fuel capacity
• Roll Over Protection System (ROPS)

Series 700 & 900 Price Points

The suggested MSRP are as follows: Note the [i] Vanguard Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine, [K] Kawasaki carbureted engine or [i K] Kawasaki EFI engine.

• STIHL RZ 752i: $13,149.99
• STIHL RZ 752 K: $11,899.99
• STIHL RZ 752i K: $11,849.99
• STIHL RZ 760i: $13,849.99
• STIHL RZ 760 K: $12,499.99
• STIHL RZ 760i K: $12,449.99
• STIHL RZ 960i: $17,899.99
• STIHL RZ 960 K: $17,899.99
• STIHL RZ 960i K: $18,199.99
• STIHL RZ 972i: $18,399.99
• STIHL RZ 972 K: $18,399.99
• STIHL RZ 972i K: $18,699.99

Overall Thoughts on the STIHL ZT Mowers

Both professionals and homeowners rely on STIHL for the accuracy, robust design, and powerful performance required to complete any outdoor  task. With the brand-new STIHL zero-turn mowers, STIHL is mowing a new path after nearly a century of innovation in outdoor power equipment.

STIHL Introduces Zero Turn Mowers is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Cordless Lawn Mower Head-To-Head | 2022

Like Ricky Bobby says ” If you ain’t first then you’re last.” While we love the spirit of that statement, we feel that does not hold true when it comes to the Best Cordless Mower. We feel that there is a place for cordless mowers, whether it is in a small backyard, large backyard, or even a commercial field!

Cordless Lawn Mowers continue to be the most popular OPE (outdoor power equipment) in retail stores. The buzz is real and everyone is competing for a seat at the top when it comes to best in class. The field is ever-changing, even in the 2 years since our last 2020 Cordless Mower Head-to-Head there have been new models and technology improvements.

In this best cordless lawn mower head-to-head we compared 16 cordless mowers from 14 manufacturers. We put these mowers through specific tests against each other to crown the Best Cordless Mower.

Benefits Of A Cordless Mower

Gas-powered mowers require a lot of maintenance, such as oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, and air filters. Not to mention rising gas prices. Let’s be honest, most people don’t properly maintain their gas mowers, and put off service until the mower won’t start! Anyone who has had to get a small engine fixed understands how inconvenient and time-consuming it can be.  All of the above-mentioned maintenance, as well as last-minute fuel purchases, are eliminated with cordless mowers, which are also quieter to operate.

Cordless Lawn Mowers Tested

We reached out to 14 of the top cordless lawn mower manufacturers and asked if they would like to participate in our best cordless mower head-to-head article. The models we tested included:

Black and Decker

Model: CM2043C
Voltage: 40V
Deck Size: 20″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 47 Lbs
Price: $265.95

DEWALT

Model: DCMWSP255Y2
Voltage: 20V x 2 (40V)
Deck Size: 21-1/2″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 92 Lbs
Price: $669.00

ECHO

Model: DLM-2100SP
Voltage: 56V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 69.5 Lbs
Price: $499.00

EGO

Model: LM2156SP
Voltage: 56V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 2
Weight: 68 Lbs
Price: $799.00

Greenworks

Model: 2533402
Voltage: 80V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight:  74 Lbs
Price: $749.00

Hart

Model: HLPM061US
Voltage: 40V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 89 Lbs
Price: $498.00

Kobalt

Model: KMP6080-06
Voltage: 80V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 87 Lbs
Price: $599.00

Kobalt

Model: Model KSPM-1040A-03
Voltage: 40V
Deck Size: 20″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 65 Lbs
Price: $429.00

Makita

Model: XML11CT1
Voltage: 18v x2 (36V)
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 88.5 Lbs
Price: $499.00

Makita

Model: XML08Z
Voltage: 18v x2 (36V)
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 94 Lbs
Price: $699.00

Milwaukee

Model: 2823-22HD
Voltage: 18V x2 (36V)
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 80.5 Lbs
Price: $999.00

Ryobi

Model: RY401210
Voltage: 40V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1.5″
Number of Blades: 2
Weight: 74 Lbs
Price: $799.00

Skil

Model: SM4910-10
Voltage: 40V
Deck Size: 20″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 60 LBs
Price: $449.00

Snapper

Model: 1687982
Voltage: 82V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 71.5 Lbs
Price: $658.36

Stihl

Model: RMA 510 V
Voltage: 36V
Deck Size: 20″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 64 Lbs
Price: $699.99

Toro

Model: 21566
Voltage: 60V
Deck Size: 21″
Max Cutting Height: 4″
Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″
Number of Blades: 1
Weight: 81 Lbs
Price: $799.00

Best Cordless Lawn Mower Head-to-Head Comparison

While this isn’t a professional testing facility and we are not a professional testing crew, we did gather measurements, analyze each mower in a variety of categories, and rank them against one another.

We always strive to figure out how to make our Head-To-Head tool tests uniform, reproducible, and fair when we start putting them together. In order to give you the Best Cordless Lawn Mower, we looked at the following 10 categories.

1. Noise
2. Run-Time
3. Speed Test
4. Ergonomics and Features
5. Handle Comfort & Adjustment
6. Amount of Grass Mowed
7. Maneuverability
8. Deck Height Adjustability
9. Compact Storage

Cordless Mower Cut Quality

There was no BIG discernible difference in the cut quality of the mowers. The grass we mowed was field-quality, green, and approximately 6-7 inches high. As a result, the grass plant type was not particularly uniform. This made the cut quality hard to determine, and since we did not have a sod-quality lawn, we did not rank this category.

Editor’s Note – Both the Ego and Ryobi have multiple cut blades which enhance the quality of the cut. All the other mowers that we tested had single-blades.

Ego has three blade sets included in your purchase. A set of Mulching Blades for shredding grass into fine bits. For all-around performance, the extended runt time blades set provides a perfect blend of cut quality and duration. Finally, they include their “High Lift Bagging Blade” set, which provides greater suction for bagging and leaves your yard free of clippings.

The Ryobi mower comes with stacked, two crosscut blades making the quality of the cut better, by creating smaller grass clippings.

Quietest Cordless Mower Winner  – Stihl

One of the most often asked topics concerning cordless mowers seems to be how much noise they make.

To gain a relative comparison of noise, we ran a basic decibel test to measure the loudness of the mowers in a controlled environment. The test consisted of running each mower in our barn, on a concrete surface with the deck lifted to its full height. Each mower was tested in the same spot on the floor, and the decibel meter was at the same height and relative position as an average user.

Note: the mowers were tested on top of a concrete slab. In practice, when utilized on a lawn, these mowers are significantly quieter.

When the ECO mode is selected, the mower operates at a lower RPM for situations requiring less power. This increases energy efficiency and battery runtime as well as reduces the noise of the mower. To switch the ECO mode on, swing the battery cover open and hit the ECO select button, and then close the lid.

We ran the test for enough time to have the mowers reach a maximum and stable rpm speed. Many of the mower motors start at a high RPM and then cycle down to a slower speed to save energy. The quietest mower we tested was the Stihl which measured in at 79 decibels.

A three-way tie for second at 80 decibels was Greenworks, Snapper, and Toro. Coming in the loudest mowers were the Ego and Makita XMLCT1 at 88.5 decibels.

There are five mowers that have a turbo feature which increased the noise decibels between 3.5 to 5.0 DBS.  Milwaukee, Echo, Stihl, Greenworks, and Toro. When in turbo mode, which Milwaukee calls “High lift mode,” the Milwaukee was the loudest mower we tested at 90.0 decibels. High lift mode uses a higher blade speed to achieve additional airflow and increased grass lift to deliver better quality mulch or bagging results.

Cordless lawn mowers allow you to cut your lawn efficiently and quietly, with none of the noise, gas, oil, or maintenance that comes with gas-powered solutions ~ ROB

Gas vs Cordless Mower  | Noise

For comparison, the average gas lawnmower produces 95–100 decibels. The noise measurements for our test mowers averaged 82.6 decibels. When compared to a loud gas mower, these cordless mowers cut sound energy by over 20 times when compared to a 100 dB noise level.

Many towns have enacted noise ordinances that limit the times of day you can mow with a gas mower. Cordless mowers are unaffected by these ordinances.

Most Grass Cut | Cordless Mower Run-time

Run-time used to be a big question in the minds of people considering the purchase of battery-powered tools. Huge advancements in battery technology have made cordless mowers a viable option for users. The million-dollar question on everyone’s mind is how much grass will a cordless mower cut on a battery charge?  Mowing run time will vary greatly depending on the height of grass, the thickness of grass, and the type of grass.

Best Cordless Mower Run-time Procedure

We measured and marked mowing lanes for each mower and kept track of the time and total distance that each mower traveled.

Grass Conditions: The grass we mowed was field-quality, green and white clover, and approximately 6-7 inches high. Every mower was set at its highest cut setting, 4″. We set each mower to its maximum speed if it were self-propelled. We asked the operators of non-self-propelled mowers to move at a comfortable pace. It was interesting to note that a 40-year-old man in good shape pushing a mower was faster than most of the self-propelled mowers.)

If any mower completed mowing its entire marked lane, we lowered the mower deck by one additional inch and re-cut that lane. Once the mower stopped running, we used a measuring wheel to measure its final resting spot.  Some mowers have dual batteries that will operate separately. In this instance, if the batteries were provided in the kit, we doubled the calculations to come out with our total distance mowed.

Most Grass Cut | Run-time Winner – Milwaukee

The winner of the most grass mowed in this year’s Best Cordless Mower Head-to-Head goes to Milwaukee.  The M18 mower runs on two 18V 12 Ah batteries.  These power banks propelled Milwaukee to run for 14,936 feet or 2.83 miles.  The total cutting area was 26,138 square feet, a truly impressive amount of grass for a battery-powered mower. The final ranking is based on the area the mower can cut with the total batteries on board. We also showed a column of data on area per watt-hour just as additional information. Ultimately what users are most interested in, is how much area can I mow on a single charge.

Just behind Milwaukee was the Kobalt 80V, mowing a distance of 14,017 feet and 24,540 square feet in our test. The Kobalt is powered by a single 6 Ah battery.

Rounding out the top three was the EGO mower. A single battery powers the EGO like the Kobalt and this kit came with a 10 Ah battery.  The EGO was able to run for 10,868 feet or 2.06 miles, cutting grass over a 19,000 square foot area.

Watt-Hours

It’s important to note that all 16 of these mowers have different battery Amp-Hour, capacities, and voltages.  Comparing one tool’s battery capacity to another by referencing “Amp Hours” is a common practice but an inaccurate and misleading one.  Watt-Hours is calculated by multiplying the voltage (actual load voltage, not the MAX that some companies advertise) by the battery pack Amp-Hours. This calculation allows us to compare the total energy available to do the work based on both the voltage and size of the battery pack (amp-hours).

For example, we can take a look at the two leaders of the runtime/area mowed test, Milwaukee and the Kobalt 80V.  The Milwaukee uses two batteries at 18V and 12 Ah a piece.  Each battery has 18V*12Ah equaling 216 Watt Hours capacity.  Adding both batteries together yields 432 WH onboard and supplied with the kit.  The Kobalt has a single 80V Battery rated at 6Ah with a Watt-Hour capacity of 480.  The takeaway here is that even though the Milwaukee has two batteries each with an advertised 12 Amp Hour, and the Kobalt has a single with “only” 6 Amp Hour, the Kobalt has a larger/more energy-rich battery.

Since we already gathered the data we went ahead and calculated the Area (sf) / watt-hour mowed for each mower kit in the test.  This value is a crude measurement of the efficiency of the mower at cutting grass given its battery capacity.

While an interesting exercise that helps explain how some mowers with smaller batteries outperformed those with larger ones, we feel that this data and any kind of battery normalized performance is irrelevant in this case.  We set out to find which mower “Out of the Box” could cut the most grass.  If you already own batteries of a particular mower platform, this could greatly swing your decision to invest in a particular mower if run-time and cutting area is a concern.

Speed Test – Winner – Milwaukee and Toro

After performing our runtime test, many of the mower operators shared that they wished that their mower moved faster. We decided to test the highest setting propelled speed of the mowers. We set up a 100-yard dash to see who was the fastest. Two crew members were assigned per mover; one operator and one to record the time.

Because many of the mowers require several feet to ramp up speed, we started every mower 6 to 8 feet in front of our timing line. Once the wheels hit the orange line the timer started. Once the wheels hit the 100-yard mark the timer stopped. We tested each mower twice and recorded the average time. There were two mowers that were not self-propelled, the Black and Decker and the Kobalt 40V. These mowers did not compete in this test.

Milwaukee and  Toro tied as the fastest mowers, with an average time of 51 seconds.

ECHO and Ryobi tied for third place, with an average time of  57.5 seconds, and the turtle in the race was the Snapper mower coming in at 78 seconds.

Ergonomics and Features– Winner Ryobi

All 16 mowers have fairly similar features, we considered the following features for this category…

1. Handles
2. Propulsion
3. Controls
4. Foldability / Storage
5. Deck Adjustment
6. Mulching
7. Bagging

For the ergonomics/features, we evaluated seven areas. These included the adjustability of the handle, the effort of maneuverability, human factor in the ease of foldability and storage, deck adjustment, ergonomics, and propulsion/control ergonomics.

The Ryobi shined in this category with 10-points. This 40V HP brushless whisper series 21″ all-wheel-drive mower, has a super easy push-button start, and an onboard lever to choose from: mulching, or bagging.  The 7-position single point height adjustment quickly changes the height from 1″ to 4″. We thought the handle was super comfortable with no hot spots or pinch points. The self-propelled paddle lever being adjustable is a nice feature allowing the user to pick their desired setting. The variable speed control is in a perfect position to adjust on the go without having to take your hand off the handle.

The external fuel gauge ensures was clear and easy to see the battery charge and the one-touch aluminum folding handles store this mower horizontally or vertically into a more compact package.

EGO came in a close second place at 11-points, with its simple and intuitive adjustments and controls. EGO provides an excellent user experience. Most of the control and adjustment buttons or levers are bright green making them easy to find. Our crew also liked how quick and easy the mower handle folds for storage, as well as, the comfortable rubber over-mold handle grip.

Echo came in third with 13-points, with simple, intuitive, and ambidextrous controls. The contoured handle, while comfortable does not allow multiple gripping positions, and the crew noted that while the controls were easily accessed, they were spread out a bit, requiring the operator to remove the hand from the handle. There is NO variable speed paddle, and it has a separate on/off the headlight switch.

Notable Mentions

The DEWALT mower has an “average ” 45-degree pronated grip. The propulsion control lever has little to no modulation. Fine control is difficult to achieve and appears to be a mechanical clutch mechanism. The auto-adjusting speed slows down the mower blade over easy-to-cut grass, and because the propulsion is based on a mechanical clutch it also slows down your pace (at exactly the time when you want to speed up). Slow speed necessitates the operator to extend and hold their fingers, which is awkward and causes hand fatigue. When walking over gravel while pushing the mower, it cannot be propelled without the blade spinning, which could result in a flying item hazard.

The Makita (not PRO) has excellent controls that are easily accessed on the top of the handle assembly. You do however have to move your hand from the handle to access them. It does have an easily adjustable deck height and the handle is all metal making it very durable.

In the last two years, the biggest upgrade to mowers seems to be in the lower tier mowers – Ethan

The Makita Pro has similar features as the other Makita but is way more solid a build. The crew noted that the speed control is a bit off the reach, making awkward adjustments on the fly.  It has excellent controls, easily accessed on top of the handle assembly, you do have to remove your hand from the handle.

Overall the crew felt that the Makita Pro was easy to use, maneuvered fine and the self-propulsion can be left on its turn as the mower speed is slower.  The mower is a bit slow on the speed-up – ramp-up speed which is one reason many of the crew users did not turn off the self-propulsion on turns.

The crew noted that the mower bogged down in 7” inch clover set at 4” deck height.  Operating on two batteries, this mower has a compartment for 4 batteries with a switch between the 2 with a knob on the motor, so you do not have to open the lid to access it. A battery led shows all 4 battery charges at the same time.

When set at mid-range [or lower] we noted that the front right wheel was not touching the ground. The crew all felt that in terms of cut quality it would have a negligible difference on the cut, as this measurement off was 1/8” strong.

The Makita Pro has two handle height adjustments that require a tool to set.   This is a heavy machine, with front and rear lift points, it is truly built for daily Pro use.

The TORO has what they call a “Personal Pace” self-propel drive, which is a  sliding handle grip that slides along with the handle frame – as you push it forward,  it starts propulsion and controls it. It definitely takes some getting used to. The arched [rounded] shaped handle is unique looking, and comfortable but has side-to-side slop possibly causing it to rack. Other than the propulsion system this mower is no-frills and could use an upgrade. (Cannot be propelled without the blade spinning, requires each wheel lever to adjust the deck height Handle does not telescope).

The SNAPPER has a self-propelled sliding handle similar to the Toro, Snapper calls it “step-sense” The Snapper has a variable speed that is built into the Step-sense handle feature. Unlike the Toro, the variable speed can be locked out with a locking knob on the handle deck. Lightweight. This is a no-frill mower, with no lift points.

Maneuverability Winner – Black and Decker and Kobalt 40V

Because they were not self-propelled, the Black and Decker and Kobalt 40V mowers were more maneuverable than the others. To move tightly with self-propelled machines, the user must disconnect the propulsion. The operator must press against the propelling mechanism to turn the mower tightly.

The Black and Decker is super light, very maneuverable, and great for smaller framed people or folks who might have issues with a heavier mower. Because of the weight and no propulsion, this makes trimming around gardens and trees incredibly easy.

The same can be said about the Kobalt 40v, due to the not having a self-propulsion, this mower is geared to smaller yards or a yard with lots of maneuvering around planting beds.

Milwaukee took 2nd place and was the best maneuverability in the self-propelled mowers. This was due because of the short wheelbase front to back. The mowers with the longest wheelbase ranked towards the bottom.

The maneuverability of push mowers is especially important when trimming around gardens, trees, and other landscaping features. The ease with which the mower turns is largely due to the wheels and mower weight.

EGO took third place, and the crew noted that by applying pressure with your palm you can easily engage the self-propelled system. When mowing, users discovered that easing up on the drive button made for smoother, tighter turns.

The Hart mower lost a wheel on one of our maneuvering tests. It looks like the nut /washer on the wheel could benefit from a Nylock nut. Based on this, Hart received a low score in the fit and finish the scoring. The mower itself once repaired maneuvered well.

Deck Height Adjustability Winner – Kobalt 40V and Kobalt 80V

All of the mowers, with the exception of one, we tested include a single-lever, deck height adjustment feature. This sure does beat adjusting each wheel like the old-style mowers we grew up with.

The winners of this category were the Kobalt 40V and 80V due to a combination of their large lever, they both have a strong return spring and are easy to engage. They both feature a 7 deck-height adjustment option, ranging from 4″ at its highest to lowest at 1-1/4″ setting.

Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Stihl came in a close second due to their large handle levers, spring-assisted, and easy-to-use lifting and lowering levers.

The only mower that still has individually adjustable wheels is the Toro. Due to this, we had no choice but to put it in last place for deck adjustability – that’s just archaic.

“Come on Toro! Individually adjustable wheels? Nobody has time for that… it’s 2022!” – SCOTT

Notable Mention

The crew liked the EGO deck adjustment height lever. It has a nice handle but agreed that it was tough to actuate. We assume in time the spring might loosen up and might be easier to raise and lower. 

Some mowers had knuckle-busting setups that would cause the user to hit the lower part of the handle assembly when adjusting the mower for taller cutting.

Compact Design & Storage Size Winners – EGO and Ryobi,

Garages tend to get taken over by mowers, trimmers, and tools throughout the summer, so foldability and storage are crucial to some people. Furthermore, cordless mowers CAN be stored upright without the worry of spilling gas or filling the engine cylinder with oil.

The entire crew considered factors such as; telescopic handles, pivot points, grab handles, and the ability to stand upright on its own while evaluating how easy it was to set up and fold down each mower.

We examined these aspects and attributes as a group and then scored them on a scale of one to five, with one being the best.

There was a three-way tie for the most compact mower in this category. When folded, the EGO, Ryobi, and Hart have the smallest storage space. They are incredibly compact and can easily be stored vertically or horizontally.

EGO

The EGO mower is easy to fold and store compact. You can hang it from the front handle or store it upright. The handle can be telescoped in and out using two side levers. To fold the handle down horizontally, simply pull a large, easily accessed lever. If needed, the EGO additionally has two handles for easy carrying.

Ryobi

The Ryobi mower has a single pull lever to open to fold the handle. Once folded it is very compact and easily stands vertically. The Ryobi had one rear carrying handle the no telescoping features.

HART

The “fast-fold” feature on the Hart mower is a lever that pulls up for a quick, smooth handle fold. There is no need for a telescoping feature because of the short handle, and it folds up extremely compact.

The one mower that does not fold is the Makita PRO grade. We believe that commercial mowers are not meant to store. They are put in a trailer and come off at every site. With that being said the Makita Pro mower has front and rear lift points and is truly heavy duty! A workhorse for sure!

Best Cordless Mower Price Winner – Black and Decker

One of, if not the most sought question is going to be how much money are these mowers.  We always mention that one big factor is what battery platform you are working off of. Well, we think that for cordless mowers that might not be the case. There are several brands on this list that do not manufacture power tools and the majority of the ones that do have larger voltage systems for their mowers.

At the time of publication, these prices are mowers that come in a kit form. Some of these mowers can be purchased in big box stores, or on the web at Acme Tools, or other retail websites. Below is a chart of how these mower kits are sold and the components in each kit.

Coming in at the lowest cost is the Black and Decker CM2043C which will run you $347.0.0 and is a great mower for someone who is mowing a smaller area. The mower deck is plastic and is a “no-frills” mower that will get the job done for your average homeowner. Cutting at roughly 1/4 acre on a single charge, this mower can handle your weekly lawn cut!

With a price of $399.00, the Skil mower comes in second place as the lowest-priced mower. Powered by Skil’s PWRCORE 40V battery, this mower covered a lot of grass on our tests! Covering more than 1.5 miles of mowed grass, this Skil finished mid-pack. It is lightweight and has a telescoping handle for great storage.

The Kobalt 40V mower is the third-ranked lowest-priced mower at $429.00. This mower also has a steel deck and provides about 45 minutes of continuous cut on a 40V 6.0Ah battery. This is a good choice if you are already using other 40V Kobalt Outdoor Power Equipment!

On the flip side, the Milwaukee 2823-22HD comes in at the highest mower and will run you $999.00. That being said, it shined in our area mowed testing, it won the fastest mower test and has some sick features like multiple LED lights. This mower ships with (2) M18 12.0 Ah batteries which probably make up half the cost of the mower!

Best Cordless Mower – Milwaukee

These tests and evaluations are very difficult, take a lot of time, and are ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company. We also cannot do long-term testing that would shed light on durability. In order to choose the best cordless mower, all six [6] evaluated categories were scored and ranked 1 through 16, to define the winner. We then tallied those category numbers to come up with a total number. The lower the number the better.

The Milwaukee M18 21″ Self-Propelled Dual Battery Mower took the crown on Best Cordless Mower of 2022. This mower is powerful, running on (2) M18 12.0Ah batteries! It was super fast in our speed test and it covered over 14, 936 feet mowed. That is 2.83 miles of mowing. It ran at full speed for over 44 minutes which is up at the top of the pack when it comes to run time. The team really appreciated its great ergonomics, foldability, maneuverability, and nicely thought-out design!

The team was impressed with the fit and finish of the handles, controls,  steel deck, and overall durable design of this mower. The rear wheel self-propelled drive allowed this mower to move fast and maneuver well.

Many of the crew members who used the mower commented on how quick the throttle to the motor reaction was.  

Milwaukee claims that its optimized steel deck design, higher blade speed, and airflow deliver increased lift which reduces missed grass blades and clumps for better quality grass cutting. Our team noted that the mower’s higher blade speed helped, and did not stall the mower in taller grass.

The blade and propulsion reached full throttle in under 1 second. The throttle or “Active Speed Management Paddle,” as Milwaukee refers to it allowed us to easily adjust mower speed to walking pace. The Milwaukee delivers 10 ft-lb cutting torque and a variable speed self-propel: 0 MPH – 4 MPH.

Many of the crew liked and commended the futuristic 4 location LED light design, although we all agreed that lights on a mower are not an important feature.

As a Milwaukee cordless tool user, I immediately recognized that the two 12Ah batteries with this unit separately cost $500, and can be used in my other high-demand tools. That makes this mower much more attractive to me and puts it in the $400 range. ~ ROB

Lastly, the single-point height adjustment, 2-point carry handles, and easy vertical storage allowed this mower to rise quickly to the top.  As professional contractors, we also like that the Milwaukee mower batteries will run Milwaukee tools.

Our hats go out to The EGO POWER+ 21″ Select Cut XP Self-Propelled Mower which continues to crush its competitors when it comes to outdoor power equipment. This mower is no slouch and it finished right under the winner. It has great ergonomics, cut just over 2 miles at 10,868 ft on a single 56V 10.0Ah battery. This machine will cut anything you throw in front of it. Having the ability to turn off the self-propel feature avoids accidental flying hazards while moving the mower over non-grass areas. 

The team liked that you can engage the “Touch Drive” self-propel function with the touch of your palm, and control the variable speed with a dial with your other hand.  The Ego delivers 8.3 ft-lb cutting torque and a variable speed self-propel: .9 MPH – 3.1 MPH

The Ego also has a 7-position cutting height adjustment from 1.5″- 4″ and bright LED headlights. Ego’s Select Cut Multi-blade Cutting System is equipped with three, interchangeable lower blades; the Mulching Blade, High Lift Bagging Blade, and Extended Run-time Blade.

Ryobi and Stihl tied for third with 30-points.

The Ryobi was the only all-wheel-drive lawn mower. It features two interactive battery ports, and a fast and easy  7-position single-point height adjustment from 1″ to 4″. The crew appreciated the external fuel gauge, LED lights, and one-touch folding handles but were impressed by the integrated mulch plug which engages with a simple one-handed lever.

The Stihl RMA 510 V performed exceptionally well in all of our tests with exception of the speed test. Users wished that this awesome mower self-propulsion was a little faster.

The Stihl was highly maneuverable with an easy-to-use variable speed setting control, allowing mowing speed between 0.6 mph to 2.8 mph. Our crew was impressed with this mower’s fit and finish, especially the durable, 10-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front ball-bearing wheels.

Our team liked that it offers seven adjustable cutting heights, and the handlebar adjusts to three height positions for user comfort. The Stihl is priced $100 less than the Ego and Ryobi, and $300 less than the Milwaukee.

Best Cordless Mower Value Winner – Greenworks

The ECHO mower is our best value winner. This mower competed with the big boys for sure. It scored 6th in the overall finish scoring and came in 5th with a cost of $499.00.

The ECHO scored top three in the fit and finish speed, and ergonomics categories.  It has simple, intuitive, and ambidextrous controls. This machine gives you seven adjustments for cutting increments between 1 and 4-inch cutting heights and an auto-switch dual-battery dock.

Overall the team thought you would get the best bang for your buck, or should we say “cut for your green.”  

Final Thoughts

The noise, odor, and maintenance that come with owning a gas-powered mower are no longer an issue for cordless mower owners. Coupled with other cordless outdoor power equipment, you can now keep the gas to your cars. Cordless outdoor power equipment has come leaps and bounds since its inception and it continues to impress us.

Gas mowers have been around for over 100 years but with powerful lithium-ion battery technology, they are really competing with gas-powered mowers!

Thanks for following and please check out our other Head 2 Head tests!

Best Cordless Mower 2022 | Tool Testing Review Video

Best Cordless Mower 2022 is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Best Cordless Chainsaw Comparison Test – 2020

There is nothing cooler than a chainsaw. They are aggressive tools that make processing heavy timber materials effortless and enjoyable. But are cordless battery-powered chainsaws ready for the spotlight? A chainsaw requires a high output of power in order to cut efficiently, without stalling or bogging down. With the advancements in battery and electronics technology over the last few years, we were anxious to see how the cordless tool world applies that technology to chainsaws.

The benefits of cordless OPE are well known. Ease of maintenance, effortless long term storage, reduced noise, no more exhaust fumes, no more mixing fuel, just to name a few. Many pros are tired of dealing with the maintenance of gas-powered saws as well. But what kind of performance can you realistically expect from a battery-powered chainsaw? That’s what we set out to find with this latest Head-2-Head.

Cordless Chainsaw Head-2-Head Selection Criteria

Currently, there are dozens of different models of cordless chainsaws in a variety of different voltages and bar lengths. In order to limit our sample size, we determined what size saw would be most practical across a wide range of applications. We identified three main categories of users that could benefit the most from a cordless chainsaw.

The first is arborist’s or tree care professionals looking for a smaller, maneuverable saw, requiring less maintenance for limbing work or cleaning up brush piles to be chipped. The second is contractors or construction professionals who are already invested in a battery platform and looking for a saw for occasional use or home use. And finally, homeowners or landowners looking for a tool for occasional use or storm cleanup.

Based upon this, we chose to test saws with a bar and chain between 14″-16″ long. A saw of this size would be practical in the hands of most users for a variety of tasks. Likely in place of a gas-powered chainsaw in the 30-45 cc range. We also limited the voltage from 18V-62V. This gave us a sample size of twelve saws from all of the major brands and manufacturers.

Cordless Chainsaw Lineup

DEWALT Flexvolt MAX 60V

• Model: DCCS670X1
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: OEM
• Weight: 12.2 Lbs
• Battery Size: 3.0 Ah
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited /1 Year Free Service / 90 Day Money Back

DR Power PULSE 62V

• Model: 414170
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Oregon
• Weight: 9.9 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 2.5 Ah
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir W/ Replaceable filter
• Warranty: 2 Year Residential / 90 Day Commercial

Echo 58V

• Model: CCS-58V4AH
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Oregon
• Weight: 13.7 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 4.0 Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 5 Year Consumer / 2 Year Professional

Ego Power+ 56V

• Model: CS1604
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: OEM
• Weight: 8.69 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 5.0 Ah
• Tool Free Chain Tensioner
• Autimatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 5 Year

Greenworks PRO 60V

• Model: 2014502
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: OEM
• Weight: 10.0 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 2.0Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 4 Year Tool and Battery

Husqvarna 536li XP 36V

• Model: 536li XP
• Bar Length: 14″
• Chain Manufacturer: Husqvarna
• Weight: 5.29 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 9.4 Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Year Residential / 2 Year Commercial

Kobalt 40V

• Model: KCS 4040-06
• Bar Length: 14″
• Chain Manufacturer: OEM
• Weight: 10.9 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 4.0 Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 5 Year Limited

Makita 18V X2 / 36V LXT

• Model: XCU04PT1
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Oregon
• Weight: 8.3 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 5.0 Ah (X2)
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
• Adjustable Oiler
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Year Limited

Milwaukee M18 FUEL

• Model: 2727-21HD
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Oregon
• Weight: 13.9 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 12.0 Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 5 Year Limited

Oregon 40V

• Model: CS300
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Oregon
• Weight: 10.2 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 6.0 Ah
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Years

Ryobi 40V

• Model: RY40550
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: OEM
• Weight: 12.4 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 4.0 Ah
• Manual/Tooled Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Screw Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 5 Year Limited

Stihl 36V

• Model: MSA 220C-B
• Bar Length: 16″
• Chain Manufacturer: Stihl
• Weight: 6.4 Lbs.
• Battery Size: 7.2 Ah
• Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
• Automatic Oiler
• Manual Chain Brake
• Flip Cap Oil Reservoir
• Warranty: 3 Year Residential / 2 Year Commercial

Cordless Chainsaw Evaluation Criteria

Up until recently, cordless chainsaws were honestly kind of a joke. But the cordless revolution and improvements in battery technology have now given manufacturers the foundation they need to build truly capable chainsaws. In order to thoroughly evaluate our sample body of tools, we conducted a series of demanding tests. Each saw was ranked based upon a total of nine evaluation categories.

When determining our evaluation criteria it was important to select tests that applied to a wide range of users. Our compiled data needed to be as relatable to tree care professionals as it is to contractors and home/landowners. Testing each saw to its limit was also critical in order to clearly establish the line that separates the capability of a cordless saw from a traditional gas-powered model. It is also worth mentioning that all of our tests were performed on hardwood trees as they are common and widely available throughout the Northeast.

Bearing all this in mind, we settled on the following categories:

• Run-Time Cutting
• Speed Cutting
• Torture/High Demand Cutting
• Tool Size and Balance
• Weight
• Features
• Ergonomics
• Decibel Output
• Price

In addition to these ranked categories, we wanted feedback from true professional users and reached out to a local tree company to be a part of the testing. They were on-site with us for the day of testing and brought their bucket truck. We put each saw in the hands of an experienced tree pro and put them to work limbing up a standing dead ash tree. This is a real-world application that has always been done with a gas-powered saw. Performing this task gave us valuable feedback in determining if any of the battery-powered tools were ready for demanding professional service.

Cordless Chainsaw Run-Time Test

Run-time testing seems pretty straight forward, right? Put a battery in the thing and just cut some stuff. Our goal is to truly test the limits of these tools and run-time testing was a premier opportunity for us to do this.

Our run-time test consisted of inserting a fully charged battery in each saw with a factory sharpened chain and then proceed to cut as many crosscut slices through a tree length log as possible on a single battery charge. Each saw was filled with Stihl Woodcutter bar and chain oil prior to beginning the test and chain tension was also set properly.

The test logs were Maple, all approximately 13.5″ in diameter. The logs had sat off the ground seasoning for approximately two years. Because no tree is a perfect column, we had some variation in diameter. The average diameter of the logs calculated out to 13.6875″.

Maple is not the hardest species of wood out there, but these were some BIG logs. In fact, they were likely bigger than what most of these saws were designed to cut, which is why we chose them. This test forced the saws to work hard, and it showed. In order to keep things uniform, we kept the same two test cutters for the entire test. Both operators were instructed to perform five cuts at a time and then pause for 25 seconds to allow the batteries a brief relief and avoid thermal overloading.

First Place: Ego

Ego crushed this test, plain and simple. The Ego saw performed a total of 31 full depth cuts and then a partial cut of 4.25″ on the 32nd cut before dying. Ego has a rock-solid battery platform, and this test highlights that.

The electronics of the Ego saw are extremely efficient and transfer the power of their 56V ARC technology seamlessly to the 16″ bar and chain. The Ego was the first saw we tested and as we watched the stack of cookies rise, we started to worry that we might run out of test material. Our crew did mention that after the 15th cut, there was a change in cutting speed and the tool seemed to slow down slightly, but kept going.

Second Place: Milwaukee

The Milwaukee FUEL saw was the lowest voltage tool of the day, but still shined as a cutter. The FUEL completed a total of 21 cuts with a partial depth of 9.25″ on the 22nd. The proven M18 platform with the massive 12.0 Ah battery did very well in our testing. However, this saw did experience a battery overload at the 18th cut. We had to remove the battery, let it cool down for almost ten minutes, and then continue the test. The Milwaukee saw uses a slower chain speed compared to some of the other saws, but delivers a ton of torque and power while cutting.

Third Place: Greenworks

The Greenworks Pro 60V saw is no stranger to the Tool Box Buzz crew. It performed a total of 21 full cuts and maintained constant chain speed and power throughout. Overall our test cutters agreed that it had excellent power and was a “Top Cutter”.

Learning to Cut Differently

While evaluating run-time, our test cutters learned that operating a cordless chainsaw is drastically different from a traditional saw. A gas-powered saw will typically allow you to lean into a cut and put extra leverage and force on the tool. A gas-powered motor will power through this while bogging down without incident. However, an electric saw will shut itself down when encountering extreme resistance to prevent damaging the motor. Our operators had to allow the saws to do the cutting and hold back from leaning on them too much.

Of the saws we tested; Makita, Stihl, and DR Power had issues with stalling out and had to be reset to continue cutting. The Stihl in particular had to be reset, battery removed, and cooled off, several times to continue the test.

Speed Cutting Test

Published chain speeds, RPM ratings, manufacturer cutting claims can all get pretty confusing. So we made it a priority to see just how fast our cordless saws could perform a cut in a piece of hardwood. A seasoned length of Ash was selected to perform the speed cutting test. Our sample log measured out to an average diameter of 11.02″ based upon measurements taken before the start of each test cut.

We chose to keep the same operator for the entire test to maintain consistency. Our test cutter then performed three timed cross cuts as quickly as the saw was able to. After the results were recorded, we reset and performed the test a second time. The average of the two times was calculated and used to rank each saw.

First Place: Echo

One of the test cutters summed up the Echo perfectly; “This thing feels like a chainsaw!” The Echo saw powered through the speed cuts with an average time of 44.5 seconds. Echo’s 58V system uses a slower chain speed but delivers a lot of felt torque in the cut. This balance of speed and power allowed the Echo to chew through our test material quickly without bogging down or dropping in speed.

Second Place: Stihl

Stihl is a big name, if not the biggest in the chainsaw world. Their reputation is built upon their solid construction and professional-grade engineering and features. This lineage really showed itself during out speed cut testing. With an average cut time of 48 seconds, the Stihl had zero issues cutting through the 11″ Ash log. While the Stihl struggled with the larger diameter run-time log, the smaller log used here, along with Stihl’s very aggressive profiled chain yielded impressive results.

Third Place: Greenworks

With an average cut time of 50.2 seconds, Greenworks continued to shine as a “Top Cutter.” The Greenworks PRO 60V saw’s performance in the speed cutting test is an outstanding example of a tool that was built from the ground up as a cordless chainsaw.

Cordless Chainsaw Torture Test

In order to break down a large round of wood to a more manageable size, chainsaw users will often perform a rip cut or “Noodling” cut as it is more commonly referred to as. We selected a noodling cut as our torture test due to the fact that it greatly tests the full powerband of the cordless saw. A noodling cut is performed parallel to the grain of a full log round.

What makes it so difficult is the chain has to pull the long-stranded chips through the entire kerf length of the bar and chain. These long-stranded chips resemble curly noodles, hence the name Noodling. Traditionally a user would need a larger and more powerful gas-powered saw to perform such a cut.

For our test, twelve pre-cut rounds, of wet Red Oak, were placed standing on a block and cut parallel to the grain. Our rounds were each twelve inches long and averaged 16.78″ in diameter. The toughness of the grain structure of the Red Oak and the moisture content of the wood placed a huge demand on our saws.

We chose to make this test a Pass/Fail evaluation mainly because we were unsure if the saws would be able to complete the test. To our surprise, almost every tool passed the test! The only saw which failed to complete the noodling cut was the Milwaukee M18 FUEL. During the test cut, the Milwaukee jammed with sawdust and noodle strands completely binding and seizing the blade. The saw had to be disassembled and cleaned out before it was functional again.

The performance of these battery-powered saws during our torture test was extremely impressive. It showed us the benefit of modern electric motors and their ability to maintain a constant output regardless of demand.

Weight

We ranked our saws based upon the bare tool weight of each model. Based upon the published bare tool weights we ranked the saws as follows:

Overall Size and Balance

Numbers alone do not always tell the full story of the overall feel of a tool in hand. We chose to include size and balance in addition to weight during our evaluation. Some of the saws did a great job of balancing this increased weight and size while others did not. One of our test cutters remarked that operating some of these saws felt like “driving a big Cadillac boat like my Grandma used to drive”.

Our professional tree cutter felt that overall size and balance was one of the biggest factors for him when deciding if he would take one of these saws up in the bucket. If the saw was bulky and unwieldy, then it would be an absolute no-go for them to even consider.

First Place: Stihl

The Stihl felt like a compact professional-grade tool in the hands of every user. The overall size and balance is excellent and felt more like a chainsaw with a battery in it than a battery-powered chainsaw.

Second Place: Husqvarna

Husqvarna is the other biggest and most well-known name in the chainsaw world. The 536li XP felt nimble and balanced in hand. It’s lightweight and compact design makes it a true professional-grade tool. Our tree cutter stated that the Husqvarna had “great balance and lightweight in hand”. He felt that it was the most realistic choice of all the saws for use in a bucket or tree due to the weight.

Third Place: Makita

The Makita XCU04PT1 saw offered a great combination of weight and balance. The Makita 36V two battery system places the battery packs higher up and centered on the saw. This cuts down on the overall length of the saw body and streamlines it as well. Much like the Stihl and Husqvarna, the Makita saw balanced similarly to a traditional gas-powered saw and was easily controlled by our test crew.

Cordless Chainsaw Features

Our saws ranged from basic and Spartan in terms of features to jam-packed. We examined each saw and compared features such as manual chain brakes, chain tensioning systems, bar oil fill cap design, onboard tool storage, bumper spikes or felling dogs, and many other areas as well. Based on this detailed comparison, we were able to rank our tools as follows.

First Place: DEWALT

The DEWALT Flexvolt saw has an outstanding set of features that make it very user friendly. The manual chain brake, in particular, stood out to our crew as a well thought out and executed safety feature. The brake lever had an excellent contour to it with very short travel to engage and disengage. DEWALT’s tool-free chain tensioning system was also the most user friendly. As a right-handed operator, I could easily hold the saw by the forward handle in my left hand while using my right hand to adjust the chain tension. All of the controls featured high-quality, flip-down levers that are easy to use and store securely. The flip cap design of the bar oil reservoir was also extremely easy to use. One area of improvement for the saw would be a set of steel bumper spikes as opposed to the current molded plastic ones.

Second Place: Oregon

The Oregon name is well known as a manufacturer of high-quality bars, chains, and other forestry products. But the CS300 chainsaw was a bit of an unknown surprise to our crew. Having never tested a tool from Oregon before, we were pleasantly surprised by this mighty monster. Oregon saw was packed with features that were very clearly designed by chainsaw people. The first of which was the Oregon Self Sharpening system and 91PS056X chain. Oregon included a self-sharpening system in which the user simply pulls upwards on a control lever for 3-5 seconds while running the saw to automatically sharpen the chain. The lever lowers a contoured sharpening stone down onto the chain and sharpens as it runs. This feature makes the often foreboding task of sharpening a chain effortlessly. The chain is proprietary and the sharpening stone will only work with the special chain. Oregon also has excellent bumper spikes and a responsive chain brake as well as a tool-free chain tensioning system.

Third Place: Stihl

It comes as no surprise that a professional-grade tool like the Stihl includes professional-grade features as well. Stihl includes an inboard clutch design along with steel bumper spikes and chain catch with the MSA 220 C-B. The tool-free chain tensioning system is very user friendly. The finger rotary dial design for adjusting tension was found to be slightly less intuitive than the DEWALT Design.

Of all the saws that were tested, Kobalt was the only model to not feature a manual chain brake lever and it’s placing in this category reflects that. The Kobalt also requires a tool to tension the chain. Our crew found an overwhelming preference for saws with a tool-free chain tensioning method as opposed to a traditional tooled system. For saws of this class, tool-free seems to make the most sense.

Overall Ergonomics

The term ergonomics gets thrown around a lot and is completely user-dependent. Bearing that in mind we ranked our tools in terms of ergonomics based upon the way they worked with us during use. The areas we focused on were handled angles, grip textures, control locations, and felt vibration. All of these features are worth considering to find the tool that is comfortable to the user.

First Place: Husqvarna

The Husqvarna saw was designed for all-day professional use. The contoured angle of the handles was comfortable as well as made the controls easy to reach. The saw featured a simple push-button power switch as well as a manual chain brake, and grip tang safety release. These controls all worked smoothly together in hand. There is also little felt vibration with this saw and no hot spots on the grips.

Second Place: Stihl

The compact body design of the Stihl along with ergonomic controls makes this one of the most comfortable tools in hand. The Stihl features a push-button safety release on the left side of the rear grip as opposed to an on/off switch, this button is easy to reach and unobtrusive during use. The ease of battery access and quick change were exceptional on the Stihl.

Third Place: Makita

The Makita saw followed the same design path as the Husqvarna, with a push-button on/off switch and a grip tang safety release. This simple feature alone was found to be a favorite among our testing crews. The tree care pros also greatly favored this system and found the Makita to be extremely similar to their current gas-powered saws.

Decibel Output Rating

One of the main benefits of cordless chainsaws and cordless OPE in general is the lack of noise. But just how quiet is a cordless chainsaw. To test this, the saws were placed on a concrete slab open garage space in the same general area. An average Decibel rating from each saw at approximately arms length away. The same rough distance as users ears would be from the tool during use. The decibel rating was captured during the loudest rev-up phase of the tools, similar to how they would perform while cutting.

Husqvarna metered the lowest at 74.4 and DEWALT followed closely behind at 74.5. The majority of the saws fell between 74.5 to 76.5 decibels, Greenworks was the loudest saw at 80.1 decibels.

All of the saws tested fell within the OSHA safe hearing level standards and are drastically quieter than a comparable size gas-powered saw. For prolonged use, a set of hearing protection is a good idea in my opinion. I found the pitch of the electric motors to be annoying after extended use. Similar to listening to a miter saw all day.

Price

Using a host of different online vendors and local dealers, the saws were ranked based upon the current market price on a bare tool, at the time of this article. The bare tool price is the best way to rank a comparison such as this because many of our manufacturers sell their saws as a la carte system. They allow the individual user to select the battery packs and charger right for them.  Such as Stihl, Husqvarna, and Oregon.

Looking at bare tool prices, we see three of our top-performing saws all the way at the bottom. This wide difference in price is a direct reflection of a truly pro-grade tool as opposed to a residential or homeowner grade tool. The Kobalt will not be capable, or expected to perform, to the same level as the Husqvarna or Stihl. Stihl is also unique in that they do not offer online sales. In order to buy a Stihl chainsaw, you must visit a Stihl dealer. This dealer experience is a trademark of the Stihl brand and is something that TBB Crew Member Jeff Williams discussed in a previous review.

Below is some “Buy Now” links to purchase some of the saws featured in this Head-2-Head from our sponsor at Ohio Power Tool.

Best Overall Value Cordless Chainsaw

Echo CCS-58VA Chainsaw

Of all the cordless chainsaws featured in this comparison test, the Echo stood out as a tremendous value backed by outstanding performance. The Echo was our fastest cutter and ranked in the top 5 for run time and weight. But more importantly, it tied for third for the price as a bare tool. The echo has a solid heft to it that makes it feel like a traditional gas saw in hand but is still relatively light. Because it cuts at a lower chain speed with higher torque, the 58V Echo chewed through every species of wood we threw at it with no issues.

While a little bulky for a tree climber or bucket saw, the Echo is an excellent saw for firewood cutting or general clean up around a home or property. Echo also gives users the option of online ordering as well as the local dealer experience or purchasing from a large home center. The CCS-58VA is part of a larger lineup of cordless OPE from echo and would serve any homeowner well as part of a complete system of products.

Best Cordless Chainsaw Results – Winner Stihl

Based on our evaluation criteria, each saw was ranked and a point value was recorded. These scores were then added and a final ranking order was determined. The lower the score, the better the placement of the tool. Based upon this, Stihl took top place overall with 36 points. DEWALT and Husqvarna tied for second place with 41 points. Makita followed close behind with 42 points and was a solid performer.

Overall our test saws established themselves into three categories. Power tool companies that made a cordless chainsaw, chainsaw companies that designed a battery-powered saw, and battery-powered companies that built a chainsaw around their platform. Each individual tool had its own strengths and weaknesses and their performance was clearly based upon their battery system. Overall our crew was extremely impressed with the power and capabilities that these cordless saws have to offer.

If you are currently invested in the battery platform, then you likely can’t go wrong with picking up a matching chainsaw. If you are considering purchasing a saw and aren’t invested in a platform, take a look at the full range of tools from each manufacturer when making your decision. Cutting a tree a few seconds slower is nothing compared to the expense of investing in multiple battery platforms.

For the tree care pros out there, a battery saw is worth looking at as well. Charging a battery is way easier than filling a gas can and less messy. More importantly, a battery-powered saw goes from on to off with the flip of a switch. While expensive, the professional-grade tools highlighted in this test are extremely capable and powerful. A pro will be surprised at how often they would find themselves reaching for a battery-powered saw over a gas-powered model.

So whether you are a backyard lumberjack, a rugged tree cutter, or an eco-conscious cannibal from Texas, a cordless chainsaw is likely a great option for you.

Best Cordless Chainsaw Video Review

Best Cordless Chainsaw Head-to-Head is a post from Tool Box Buzz

STIHL RMA 510 V Cordless Lawn Mower

If you have a fast-paced walk as I do then this mower is for you.  STIHL’s RMA 510 V self-propelled, a cordless lawn mower is easy to use and offers variable speed control that can be adjusted to any suburban homeowner.  And what’s better is that it works on STIHL’s AP battery platform.

STIHL Cordless Lawn Mower Features

• Model: RMA 510 V
• Cutting Width: 20″
• Cutting Height: 1″- 3.9″ (7 spring assisted)
• Grass Catcher Capacity: 19.8 Gallons
• Deck Material: Steel
• Battery: AP Series 36V 6AH
• On Board 2nd battery storage
• Weight of Mower: 66.1 lbs
• Weight of Mower with Battery: 69.9 lbs
• Mower Blade Speed: 3200 rpm & ECO mode 2800 rpm
• Self Propel Speed: 0.6 mph to 2.8 mph
• Handlebars offer 3 different height positions
• Storage Options: 3 stowed position
• Safety feature: Removable locking key
• Noise level: 87.6 db

First Impression

The new STIHL cordless lawn mower offers a sleek and attractive appearance.  During my first use with this mower, I was completely impressed by the speed and how fast you can cut on just a single 36v battery.  Another feature I like is that there is onboard storage for the second backup battery.

It’s very user friendly.  To start it up you set your deck and handlebar height, then push the start button, squeeze the bottom power bar and begin cutting your lawn.  Adjust the speed if you need to. So simple and quiet!

STIHL RMA 510 V  Run-time Test

The RMA 510V ran for a constant 28 minutes before having to swap out the battery.  The total square footage that was mowed with the 2 AP 300 STIHL battery was 12,090 sf.  We can also translate that into miles traveled and that would be 1.3 miles.

The grass conditions for our Head to Head Best Cordless Lawn Mower were dry and recently cut the week before to maintain consistent height. It was an open field area. The speed and strong power coming from this cordless 36 V lawnmower was very impressive.

This mower set in normal running is quiet enough to make grass cutting enjoyable.  You can also have the mower drive-in self propel mode without engaging the blade.  This is a feature that I truly like and use. This lawnmower handles similarly to my old gas job and offers a steel deck!  Not all of the new cordless mowers do.

RMA 510 V Adjustment Levers

Remember when you would struggle with adjusting the height of each wheel with your old mower?  Well if you didn’t, lucky you!  I absolutely dreaded having to adjust the heights on my old gas mower.

Now, it’s one lever to adjust all four wheels at once and it’s like a dream to adjust the deck height on the RMA 510 V.  Collapsing the handle will take you a couple of minutes if you have to store it or transport it in a collapsed fashion. Just adjust/pull all 4 knobs and it’s in a compact form.

Suggested Improvements

The only thing that I am not a fan of is the placement of the lower metal power lever. The placement of this power lever is uncomfortable when you grip it to the foam bar.  It feels like it almost doesn’t line up right.  The upper bar/engage self propel lever with foam handle work well together, but the lower one not so much.

Another small issue I found was after using the self propel it takes a few seconds to disengage from that mode.  If you disengage the self propel mode and want to pull the lawnmower backward, the wheels need to be pushed forward then pulled back to go into freewheel mode.  Not a deal-breaker but another step during use.

STIHL Manufacturing

When you buy STIHL you’re buying American built tools. They have a state-of-the-art facility in Virginia Beach that manufactures millions of finished products every year and exports them to more than 90 countries around the world.   Made by STIHL is a brand promise – no matter the location of production.  So STIHL and China have been a very successful combination for many years.  Since 2006, their plant in Qingdao has been proving that tried-and-tested STIHL quality can also come from China.

Final Thoughts

STIHL has made a good cordless lawn mower with the option to expand from this AP battery platform into their other cordless OPE.  If you’re in the market for a cordless lawnmower with the thought of expanding into other outdoor power equipment then I would recommend giving STIHL a look.  See what they have to offer your property at STIHLusa.com.  It just makes sense.

STIHL 36V Cordless Lawn Mower Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Cordless Lawn Mower Head-To-Head | 2020

Cordless Lawn Mowers have taken over the lawn and garden section in many retail stores. Six years ago, Tool Box Buzz ran a Best Cordless Lawn Mower Head-to-Head test of five cordless mowers, so we were really interested in how the field of manufacturers has increased and how the offerings have changed after six years.

Our 2020 cordless lawn mower head-to-head will answer the question of whether cordless mowers’ performance “cut it” when compared to a gas-powered mower.

Why Cordless Lawn Mowers?

Even when operated correctly, gas-powered mowers require lots of service including oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, and air filters. Oftentimes people wait to do service until the mower won’t start! Anyone who has had to get a small engine repaired knows the hassle and time-sink that can be. Cordless mowers eliminate all of the above-mentioned maintenance, last-minute fuel purchases and they’re quieter to operate and do not emit fumes.

Cordless Lawn Mower Line Up

We reached out to 10 of the top cordless lawn mower manufacturers and asked if they would like to participate in our head to head article. We received 12 mowers, Greenworks and Kobalt sent two models. The models we tested included:

Black and Decker  60 V POWERSWAP 20″ Cordless Mower CM2060C

DEWALT  2x 20V Brushless 20 in. 3-IN-1 Cordless Lawn Mower DCMW220X2C 

EGOPower+ 21″ Select Cut Mower with Touch Drive Self-Propelled Technology LM2130SP

Greenworks   60V 21 in. Cordless Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with 5Ah Battery and Charger 2520102

Greenworks 60V 25 in. Cordless Mower  with 4Ah and 2.5 Ah Battery and Charger 2510802

HART 40V Brushless 21″ Self Propelled Mower Kit HLPM021VMN

Kobalt 80-volt Max Brushless  Self-propelled 21-in Cordless Mower MP 6080-06

Kobalt 40-volt Max Brushless Self-propelled 21-in Cordless Mower KMP 2580-06

Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT® Lithium‑Ion Brushless Cordless 21″ Self‑Propelled Lawn Mower Kit with 4 Batteries (5.0Ah) XML08PT1

Ryobi 21 in. 40-Volt Cordless Self Propelled Mower with 7.5 Ah Batteries & 1 Charger RY401130

SKIL PWRCore 40 Brushless 40V 20″ Self-Propelled Mower Kit SM4910-10

STIHL Cordless Lawn Mower RMA 510 V

** Weight includes batteries but does not include clippings bag.

Cordless Lawn Mower Head-to-Head Comparison

While this head to head is not a scientific research project, we did take measurements, evaluate each mower in several categories, and rank them against each other. When we begin to pull together our Head-To-Head tool tests, we always try to figure out how to make the tests consistent, repeatable, and fair. Often, we figure out how to take the human variable out of a test, but we couldn’t do that with mowers.

We looked at the following categories in order to give you the Best Cordless Lawn Mower.

• Quality of Cut – This was a subjective comparison based on mowing adjacent areas of lawn and comparing the quality of the cut areas.
• Noise – We measured decibel levels for each mower. The test was performed with each mower set at the highest deck level, sitting on a concrete slab. We measured the noise at the highest motor speed and the lowest (Note – some models motors ramp down due to demand to save battery life).
• Run-Time – Run-time is affected by so many different variables. However, we wanted to give a relative comparison for discussion purposes so we tested the run-time using a very large field and ran the mowers under “load” conditions.
• Ergonomics – Ergonomics play a major role in all of our evaluations and testing. Not only does the mower need to perform well, but it’s very important that it is comfortable, which ultimately leads to more productivity and reduced risk of injury.
• Handle Comfort & Adjustment– Another subjective comparison focusing on the handle height, adjustments, and overall comfort.
• Maneuverability – We evaluated how easily the mowers were to push and to cut around trees.  This category is largely factored based on the mower weight, self-propulsion, and wheelbase design.
• Deck Height Adjustability – We ranked each of the mowers based on how easy they were to adjust the cutting deck height.
• Rough Stuff – We took the mowers to a field that had 18” tall grass to see which mowers could handle this condition.
• Compact Storage – Users know that folding up and storing these mowers is an important consideration for purchasing. We examined what it took to fold these up and how much volume it takes to store them.

Cordless Lawn Mower Features

All 12 mowers have fairly similar features included the ones noted in the table below:

Both Hart and Stihl have an inoperable battery storage bay (this means when one battery is exhausted, the pack needs to be swapped out manually). One of the big differences with the mowers is how many battery packs each one uses, and how those packs are combined/utilized to power the mower.

• The Greenworks switches automatically to the next battery pack when the first one is exhausted.
• Makita has a switch that is used to change from one set of packs to the other when the first packs are exhausted.
• Lastly, there are others that run two batteries in parallel, like DEWALT and Makita (Makita holds 4 batteries onboard that swap over with a switch).

Cut Quality – Winner EGO Power+

To evaluate the cut quality we mowed adjacent areas with each mower side by side. After cutting the grass we evaluated how well the grass was cut.  The cut quality of the grass areas was excellent. This is due to the fact that each mower was brand new with an extremely sharp and new blade. There was no BIG discernible difference in the cut quality of the mowers.

Note on grass quality: The grass we mowed was field-quality. As a result, the grass plant type was not particularly uniform. This made the cut quality harder to determine than if we had cut a sod-quality lawn.

Since we were evaluating cut quality, we noted that one mower had a unique blade configuration. The Ego Power+ mower comes with three blades. The mower itself runs with a two-blade combination. The top blade is consistent in any combination. The bottom blade is designed to be switched out with either:  a ‘Premium Mulching Blade’ or a ‘Premium Bagging Blade’.

The Premium Mulching Blade is ideal for weekly mowing, giving you the cut quality and run time expected from high-end gas lawnmowers. The Premium Bagging Blade is a heavy-duty blade that turns grass into fine fragments ideal for both bagging and mulching.

We wanted to see if there was a difference in cut quality between all of the single-blade mowers, and the two mowers that had unique blade configurations, [EGO and 25″ Greenworks] hoping to see a cut quality difference.

We attached grass bags to the mowers and mowed a consistent section of grass. The team examined the clippings and saw a substantive difference in the size of the grass pieces. The EGO clippings were much smaller in size than the second-best sample that belonged to the 25″ Greenworks mower. Both of these mowers cut the grass into much finer pieces than the single-blade mowers.

We ranked the EGO mower in the top spot, followed by the 25″ Greenworks mower. The ten single-bladed mowers ranked in third place for cut quality.

Noise Winner – Makita XML08PT1

One of the biggest questions readers have asked about cordless mowers seems to be how much noise do they produce?

We did a basic decibel test to measure the noise of the mowers in a controlled situation to get a relative comparison of noise. The test consisted of running each mower with the deck raised to its midpoint level sitting on a concrete slab. We placed each mower in the exact same designated spot on the floor in a large barn and the decibel meter located in the same height and relative position to the test mower. The decibel meter used an ITU-R 468 frequency rating.

We ran the test for enough time to have the mowers reach a maximum and stable rpm speed. Many of the mower motors start at a high RPM and then cycle down to a slower speed to save energy. Our time interval took the readings before the speed algorithms stepped the rpm down because of the no-load condition.

Makita took the win with 80.5 dB and was noticeably quieter even without a decibel meter. HART came in second place with 82.4 dB and EGO was third with 84.1 dB.

For reference, the average gas lawnmower produces approximately 95 – 100 dB. The average of the noise measurements for our test mowers was 86.1 dB. Compared to a 100 dB noise level, these cordless mowers reduce the sound energy you hear by just over 20 times compared to a loud gas mower. (decibels are a logarithmic scale, 14 decibels difference is approximately 20 times louder).

Many communities have adopted noise restrictions that limit the time that you can mow with a gas mower. Please note that these mowers were measured while running on top of a concrete slab. In practice, these are much quieter when used on a lawn. As a group, these mowers will not have to be limited in their time of use. That is a great improvement!

Run-Time Winner – Kobalt 80v MP 6080-06

Run-time is a big question on the minds of people considering the purchase of battery-powered mowers. Huge advancements in battery technology are making these cordless mowers a viable option but the million-dollar question on everyone’s mind is how long can you mow on a battery charge? Mowing run time will vary greatly depending on the height of grass, the thickness of grass, and the type of grass.

The winner of our run-time test was the Kobalt 80v mower.

It’s important to note that all 12 of these mowers have different battery Amp-Hour, capacities, and voltages. So, how do you make any sense of that in order to determine the best runtime?  We measured the performance of the mowers “out of the box,” and also normalized performance on the basis of the energy available. [Watt-Hours explained below]

In order to get a relative comparison of run time, we tested the mowers in a very large field under load conditions. The field was mowed a week prior to our test and the grass type and height were very consistent within the borders of the test area. We set the deck height at the same height of 2 ½” for each mower.

We set each mower to its maximum speed if it were self-propelled. For the push mowers, (DEWALT and Black & Decker) we asked the operators to move at a comfortable pace. (It was interesting to note that a 40-year old man in good shape pushing a mower was much faster than most of the self-propelled mowers.)

Runtime Procedure

We measured, and marked off mowing lanes for each mower and kept track of the time and total distance that each mower traveled by counting the number of laps it traveled. We required the operator to place the wheel onto the furthest extent of the previous lap.

In the event that any mower completed its entire lane, we lowered the mower deck by one additional inch and re-cut the lane.

Watt-Hours is calculated by multiplying the voltage (actual load voltage, not the MAX that some companies advertise) by the battery pack Amp-Hours. This calculation allows us to compare the total energy available to do the work based on both the voltage and size of the battery pack (amp-hours).

The Kobalt 80v took first place, it ran 85.5 minutes and mowed 38,600 sq. ft. Second place went to the MAKITA, it ran 83 minutes, and mowed 35,000 Sq. Ft. Third place went to the Greenworks 60V 21″ mower which ran for 65 minutes and mowed 27,700 Sq Ft.

The HART mower ran the least at 22 minutes and mowed 8,400 Sq. Ft.

Ergonomics – Winner 25″ Greenworks

Ergonomics is the science of designing and producing tools that improve a worker’s efficiency while reducing discomfort, fatigue, and risk of injury.

For the ergonomics, we evaluated seven areas. These included the adjustability of the handle, the effort of maneuverability,  human factor in the ease of foldability and storage, deck adjustment ergonomics, and the control ergonomics.

The Greenworks mowers were virtually identical in a number of ergonomic categories and scored very well in those. The mowers’ handle adjustment factors, the ease of folding and unfolding the mowers, and the design of the mower control were where the Greenworks units shined. In close second place was the ergonomic scores in these categories that the EGO mower collected.

Handle Comfort & Adjustment Winner –Both Greenworks Mowers Models 21″ 2520102 and 25″ 2510802

When it comes to comfort with respect to push mowers the handle is a big deal. Both of the Greenworks mowers were superior to the group in terms of comfort, handle height, and adjustments. Adjustment is easily done with the two slides on each side of the handle. Just pull back on them and they dis-engage pins that set the adjustment and you can move the handle up or down. Release the slides and once the pins spring back into place you’re ready to go!

The EGO has a very simple and intuitive adjustment single lever near the base of the handle. Testers liked the large rubber over-mold handle and found it to be quite comfortable. The controls are also easy to use and everything is pretty intuitive, most buttons or levers are green making them easy to find.

The Skil has a wide paddle switch for the self propel mode along with an easy handle adjustment. Making it a third-place runner up in this category.

Maneuverability Winner – Black & Decker Model CM2060C

Black and Decker and DEWALT were more maneuverable than the rest of the mowers because they were NOT self-propelled. The self-propelled units require the user to disengage the propulsion in order to maneuver tightly. The user must then push against the propulsion mechanism to turn the mower tightly.

The 25″ Greenworks was the best maneuverability in the self-propelled mowers. This was due because of the short wheelbase front to back. The mowers with the longest wheelbase ranked towards the bottom.

The maneuverability of push mowers is especially important when trimming around gardens, trees, and other landscaping features. The ease with which the mower’s turn is largely a result of the wheels and mower weight.

Deck Height Adjustability Winner – Ryobi

All of the mowers we tested include a single lever deck height adjustment feature. This sure does beat adjusting each wheel like the old-style mowers. The Ryobi mower was a dramatic stand out with a grab handle that allowed the user to lift or drop the mower while adjusting the height. Rather than the other mechanisms which all relied on a short lever to lift the mower.  EGO took second place with the deck height adjustment out on the deck, clear of any obstructions. Third place went to the Skil, the large handle and reinforced plastic detent plate worked smoothly and easily.

Some mowers had knuckle-busting setups that would cause the user to hit the lower part of the handle assembly when adjusting the mower for taller cutting.

Rough Stuff Testing – Not included in Rankings

We took the mowers to a field that had 18” tall grass and weeds to see which mowers could handle this condition. We recognize that this is the WRONG application for this type of equipment, and did not use the results in the final rankings.

Almost all of the mowers pushed the larger weeds down and simply cut the leaves off of them. The lighter mowers with plastic decks tended to float over the top of the weeds, the Skil and Hart mowers were especially prone to this. Amazingly only one mower failed this test. The 40v Kobalt stalled out three times in quick succession and was the only mower that we felt ‘did not finish’.

Some mowers stalled out but started back up or were simply clogged up with leaves and weeds, and once cleared started up again. The Black and Decker, 21″ Greenworks, 25″ Greenworks, Skil, and Kobalt 80v mowers completed the test without stalling or needing their bags emptied. Testers found that the lightweight Black and Decker, Skil, and Hart mowers basically just slid over the top of the really tall weeds and didn’t do much cutting, but they did cut the overgrown grass.

A few mowers clogged up and needed their bags emptied (we decided to give them a thorough test on bagging in this context as well).  The 25″ Greenworks cut well, which we attribute to the dual blades. The Stihl stopped running a few times because the bag was full but completed the test and absolutely dominated bagging efficiency. The Makita clogged up but would get right back to it when the bag was emptied. The Kobalt 80V got through the test without stalling but didn’t cut as well as some of the other mowers. The EGO’s dual blades made for better cutting and it filled it’s bag near the end of the test and stopped at that point but picked right back up after the bag was emptied. All in All the 25″ Greenworks, 21″ Greenworks, and Kobalt 80v mowers performed best in this test, no stalling and doing a decent job of knocking down the rough stuff.

Compact Design & Storage Size Winner – EGO LM2130SP

Storage is important to some folks, as garages seem to be taken over by mowers, trimmers, and tools during the summer.  Additionally, cordless mowers CAN be stored vertically without the fear of spilling gas onto the floor or filling the cylinder with engine oil.

The EGO LM213oSP really blew away the competition with their very easy to store design. In just 15 seconds you can quickly fold the unit up and store it vertically in a space the size of a suitcase. Because the EGO can be stored both horizontal and vertically, it offers a better solution in tight spaces. Also, with the vertical solution, you can even hang it on the wall which I think is a great option for those of us with a need to hang everything in its place.

Both Greenworks and the HART models also fold up fairly small. The Makita model doesn’t fold and that is due to its durability and PRO grade construction. This mower is designed to be a professional-grade piece of equipment that lives on a landscaping trailer. The handle was specifically designed this way to eliminate a weak point at a hinge.

Fit & Finish Winner – Makita XML08PT1

Makita stands out in this category. This mower was built for daily nonstop use by professional landscapers. The Makita features large-diameter rubber over-molded wheels, a steel deck, and everything about it is tight and made to stand up to some hard use. Screws and bolts hold everything together including the handle which is not adjustable or foldable without a wrench. Almost all of the parts are metal. In short, this high-quality tool is made for the long haul.

The Ego and Greenworks mowers also stood out with regard to fit and finish. The EGO has heavy-duty parts, simply to operate levers and clamps, and a very polished appearance. The Greenworks mowers also have heavy-duty parts and smooth operating features.

Best Value Winner –Greenworks 21″

At the time of publication, the 21″ Greenworks mower was priced at about $349 with a 4.0Ah battery given the performance and overall quality this was a solid pick for the best value. This mower came in tied for 1st place overall and is the second least expensive in the group.

Best Cordless Lawn Mower – EGO and 21″ GreenWorks 

These tests and evaluations are very difficult, take a lot of time, and ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company. We also cannot do long term testing that would shed light on durability.

In order to choose the best cordless lawn mower, all ten [10] evaluated categories were scored and ranked 1 through 12, to define the winner. We then tallied those category numbers to come up with a total number. The lower the number the better.

Our test in 2014 crowned EGO as the best cordless lawn mower and its obvious they didn’t take their foot off the gas with this generation 3 mower.  EGO tied for the best mower with the 21″ Greenworks mower. Third place went to the 25″ Greenworks and Black and Decker coming in 6-points behind the top two mowers.

Each of the mowers we tested did a good job cutting grass and offer features that you’d expect from a great mower.

The EGO LM2130SP has an excellent portable design and performed well in all categories, especially the quality of cut, fit and finish, handle comport, adjustments, controls, and ergonomics.

EGO also offers a platform of outdoor power equipment with a blower, trimmer, edger, hedge trimmer, snowblower, chainsaw, a multi-head system, and a portable power station. The EGO is above average in cost compared to the rest of the mowers.

Greenworks also offers a platform of outdoor power equipment with a chainsaw, blower, trimmer, edger, hedge trimmer, pressure washer, and a portable power station. Both EGO and Greenworks tools work off the same battery platform and provide a complete solution for all of your lawn and garden tasks.

Final Thoughts

While gasoline mowers have been around since 1914, the advances in powerful lithium-ion batteries have created a battery-powered lawnmower market that can truly compete for many users with gasoline-powered mowers. Today’s cordless mower owners are not subject to the noise, smell, and maintenance issues that are the hallmarks of gas mower ownership.

Best Cordless Lawn Mower Video Review

Best Cordless Lawn Mower 2020 is a post from Tool Box Buzz