But beware the hype. There’s a fair bit of set-up to get this type of robot up to speed, and we recommend you do your research before handing the lawn over to a bot. After all, these can be more expensive than even the most expensive conventional push lawnmower.

On this page:

• What are robot lawnmowers?
• Getting started
• How loud is a robot lawnmower?
• What to look for in a robot lawnmower?
• Are robot lawnmowers safe?
• How much do robot lawnmowers cost?
• Are robot lawnmowers more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers?

What are robot lawnmowers?

Much smaller than a conventional lawnmower, the robot mower is a mostly automated lawnmower that is battery-operated. There’s no catcher, as a robot mower cuts the lawn fine enough to leave the grass on the lawn. 

They’re expensive compared to most conventional lawnmowers – some can equal the cost of a ride-on mower. They’re suitable for lawns up to 5000 square metres (sqm), but all require a little bit of set-up to get to their reasonably autonomous state.

Getting started

Most robot mowers will come with the main cutting unit, a charging dock and a guard wire. The guard wire is used to set the perimeter of the area it will be mowing. In order to get your mower up and running, there are a few steps you’ll need to take.

How does the robot lawnmower know where to mow?

Many robot lawnmowers use a technology called geo-fencing to guide them where to go. You may have heard of this technology if you’ve used robot vacuums as well. In short, you download the manufacturer’s app to your smartphone, and set up a map of the area you want mowed. This is usually done fairly easily by dragging your finger across the screen to mark out the distances and any unusual lawn shapes (not everyone’s lawn is a perfect rectangle or square).

Install the guard wire

Some older robot lawnmowers will come with a guard wire, which is used to set the perimeter of the area it will be mowing. This allows your mower to detect the edges of your lawn. You’ll need to set up the guard wire using the supplied pegs, although some models let you hide the wire under the soil (some manufacturers can even do this for you). Either way, the wire is not too noticeable, so shouldn’t be an eyesore once it’s installed. 

The guard wire connects to the charging unit, so it can guide itself back to the charging unit. This means you’ll have to place the charging dock close to an electrical outlet.

Set up the app

Once the guard wire is installed, many robot lawnmowers can be set up through an app on your phone, or on the mower itself. You’ll need to create a schedule for the robot mower so it knows when to start cutting.

Prepare your yard

Remove any movable obstacles, such as toys dropped by children or pets. If you’re starting off with long, overgrown grass, you might need to use a regular lawnmower to get the grass down to a shorter length before you start on your robot lawnmower journey. Robot mowers only have so much oomph, so there are limits to the length of the grass they can cut.

Monitor the first mow

You’ll need to monitor the mower’s progress to make sure it isn’t getting stuck anywhere, and check that it reaches all parts of your lawn. From that point on, it should be fairly autonomous – at least until you need to replace the batteries or have the blades sharpened or replaced.

How loud is a robot lawnmower?

Unless you’re very close to the robot lawnmower, you’re unlikely to be annoyed by its noise. They tend to reach around 60dB, which is the equivalent of a conversation.

There are some that can reach 70dB (a loud conversation), which is reflected in the scores of our robot lawnmowers test, but this is when you’re very close to the mower. This volume is equivalent to a regular battery mower.

A standard petrol mower is much noisier and can reach up to 80dB, which is the point where hearing protection is recommended.

You’re unlikely to be so close to a robot lawnmower as it goes about its business, so it’ll come across as very quiet most of the time.

What to consider before buying a robot lawnmower

Smartphone app

In most cases, it will be easier to control the mower via an app (if it has one) than fiddling with onboard controls. But it really depends on how autonomous the robot mower is. 

Some apps will let you set up a map of your garden so the mower knows where to go rather than moving in a random fashion. Some can also let you see whether the robot mower is currently in action. 

In previous testing, we’ve found that some apps will only work with either Apple or Android phones, but not both. All the apps for the models in our current review work with both phone types, but if you’re looking at a model we haven’t reviewed, it’s worth checking the app compatibility before you buy.

Other apps might use Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi to connect to the mower, which means you’ll need to be close to the robot mower to connect to it.

Lawn size

We’ve seen robot mowers suitable for lawns of up to 5000sqm and as small as 250sqm. The maximum stated capacity of a robot mower we’ve tested was 3000sqm.

If you select a robot lawnmower that’s designed for a smaller yard than what you have, you’re likely to run out of guard wire, or the mower is going to run out of puff and need to return to charge before finishing the job. Manufacturers recommend buying a model that’s suitable for a yard a little larger than your own.

Slopes and uneven lawns

If your lawn is on a slope, it’s important to work out the angle and make sure the model you buy can cope with it – the maximum slope they can handle should be stated in the specifications. 

An uneven lawn means dips, and not all mowers handle these equally (we test this as part of performance). If the dip is significant, you might consider filling it in or putting a barrier around it and buying a model with obstacle sensors so it can avoid it. Also, the flatter your lawn, the more likely the mower is to be able to make a full round on one battery.

Sensors

Obstacle sensors

Most robot mowers have sensors for anything they encounter (all models in our review have built-in obstacle sensors). If you have trees, bushes or other obstacles that can’t be removed before the lawnmower starts, it will avoid these elements, just as a robot vac would in the house.

Rain sensors

A rain sensor can be an optional extra or may come with the product by default. Depending
on the brand and model, it might make the robot lawnmower skip a scheduled mow, or it might alert you and ask if you wish to continue.

Multi-zone

Want your robot lawnmower to mow both the front and back lawns? You might need a multi-zone mower, so you can program both lawn sizes and designs. You’ll have to carry or wheel the robot lawnmower between the two spaces, as they aren’t smart enough to move themselves there – yet.

Battery life

The most expensive element of any mower will be the battery, and the size you require will depend on the size of the lawn you want it to cover.

All the models we’ve tested use lithium-ion batteries. Check with the manufacturer before buying to see how long they’ll stock the batteries for and the cost to replace (replacements can be expensive). 

Like with all lithium-ion batteries, you’ll start to see slow degradation over time – the robot mower will start returning to its base unit more frequently for recharging. You can expect batteries for robot mowers to last at least two to five years, depending on environmental conditions such as heat and cold during use and storage, how often the mower is run and what time of day it generally cuts the grass.

Are robot lawnmowers safe?

Each manufacturer will instruct you not to leave pets or children near the robot lawnmower, whether in use or not. There are plenty of built-in safety features for robot lawnmowers, but follow the guidelines regardless.

Even though we haven’t seen a documented case of a pet’s tail getting cut or robot lawnmowers climbing up a shoe, there’s no reason to tempt fate.

How much do robot lawnmowers cost?

Robot mowers are generally more expensive than the average battery or petrol mower, but this is dependent on their feature set and battery size. You can expect to pay around $1000 and up, stretching into tens of thousands of dollars. 

The most expensive robot mower we tested covers up to 2000sqm and costs $3999, whereas the cheapest is $999 and only covers 700sqm. This is enough to cover a small house block.

Are robot lawnmowers more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers?

Robot mowers are more sustainable than petrol models, but only when it comes to direct emissions from the machine. You also need to consider the electricity use for recharging its batteries – if that’s coming from coal, it will offset some of those emissions you’re saving. Then include the rare metal extraction included in the lithium-ion battery and the fact that you’ll have to replace it at some point in the next several years, and you might narrow the margin on overall emissions.

We haven’t done the full Life Cycle Assessment to tell whether robot lawnmowers are more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers, but battery lawnmowers are getting much more popular, so we expect these to pick up the pace of ownership for smaller yards over time.

The post How to buy a great robot lawnmower appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Tasks you can’t see – like wiping the tops of cupboards and exterminating dust bunnies behind the fridge – are all effort and little to no reward.

But cleaning jobs you can see? So satisfying. 

Pressure cleaning would have to be up there as one of the best visible chores: you can see exactly where you’ve been and your cleaning efforts are satisfyingly contrasted against the grime you’re fighting.

To spread the joy of pressure washing, we’ve compiled a list of 11 ways you can use your pressure cleaner around the house.

1. Concrete and paved areas

This isn’t news to anyone – it’s the most common way to use a pressure washer. 

But if you haven’t experienced the sheer pleasure of pressure cleaning your driveway or patio, you really should!

The rotary nozzle (aka turbo nozzle) is your best bet for footpaths and driveways. It makes a circle of pressurised water – which does mean it can leave circular water marks on the area. 

It might take a couple of passes to remove these circular marks, but it’s worth the effort as it’ll leave your concrete sparkling. 

Try your pressure washer on outdoor concrete or paved steps while you’re at it to refresh your whole outdoor space. 

2. Windows

On the outside of your house only, obviously. Don’t try this inside, kids!

Some glass can be pretty fragile, so start with a lower pressure to begin with and see how it goes. 

Try the fan nozzle, which you should be able to tweak so it hits the sweet spot between being gentle enough not to break the glass, but strong enough to get rid of the grime. 

Depending on how your windows dry, you might end up with water spots, so you could find that you need to re-do them with window spray and good old-fashioned elbow grease. But if you’ve pressure-washed them first, it’ll remove all the spider webs, dirt and grime so you won’t have to scrub as hard. 

And if you’re wondering if a robot can really make short work of dirty windows – we reviewed the Ecovacs Winbot W1 Pro and more recently the Hobot-R3 robot window cleaner to find out.

3. House exterior

While you’re pressure washing your windows, you might feel inspired to clean the rest of your house’s exterior.

A pressure cleaner is just the tool for the job: it’ll take care of dust, cobwebs, mould, algae and mildew. (Don’t forget the garage door while you’re out there!)

Brick will generally stand up well to a high-pressure cleaning, but you’ll need to be a little more cautious with painted weatherboard. Start with a lower pressure, especially if you’re working with older paint. 

However, if you’re planning to repaint your house, a pressure washer can be a quick way to strip the paint – it’ll save you hours of scraping. Just make sure that you’re not dealing with lead paint as pressure washing it can release lead particles into the air.

4. Fencing

Cleaning your front fence is a quick and easy way to spruce up your house – if the fence is sparkling, it’ll lift the look of your place. 

Pressure cleaning works especially well for metal fences, such as the Colourbond brand, but can also work on timber fences as long as you don’t blast them too hard. Again, start with a lower pressure and increase it if the fence can withstand the pressure. 

If you’re planning to repaint your white picket fence, you can use your machine on a higher setting to blast away the surface paint, which will reduce the amount of sanding you have to do. Just make sure it’s not lead-based paint, as mentioned above.

5. Outdoor furniture, shade sails, umbrellas

Outdoor furniture is designed to withstand the elements, but even its tough exterior could use a little TLC from time to time. 

Pressure cleaning your outdoor setting will take care of algae, mould, dust, dirt and droppings, giving your entertaining space a makeover. 

The same goes for outdoor umbrellas and shade sails: you can spruce up the look of your outdoor space by giving them a good clean with a pressure washer. 

6. BBQs

You know how some people justify the crud on their BBQ grills as ‘extra flavour’? Yeah, that’s really just gunk. 

To get rid of it, you can use – you guessed it – your pressure washer.

Remove the burners and disconnect the gas first, and be careful of the inlets as you clean. Let everything dry out completely then re-season the hotplates before you use it again. 

7. Kids’ play equipment

Kids will inevitably lose interest in outdoor equipment, no matter how much you spend on it. You can renew their enthusiasm by giving it a refresh with your pressure washer. 

And if they’re still not interested, well, you’ve now got clean equipment that’ll be easier to sell.

You can also turn your pressure washer on trampolines, especially the vinyl sections that cover the springs. A clean trampoline is more likely to appeal to your kids than one that’s covered in cobwebs and algae. 

8. Garbage bins

Cleaning out your Sulo bin might seem a little OTT, but hear us out. 

If you misread the calendar and put the Christmas prawn heads out too early, you’ll be regretting it for months to come. And even if you’re fastidious with your garbage bin, it’ll still develop an unpleasant odour after several years’ service, especially now that many councils collect food waste as well.

Now, if you were to clean your bin by hand, you’d pretty much have to climb into it to reach the bottom. Even the most putrid of bin smells couldn’t induce most of us to do that. 

But using your pressure washer means you can stay well outside the bin, and you won’t have to scrub off any stuck-on gunk. Simple. 

Warning: you’re likely to still get splashback using this method, so don’t do this in your Sunday best, or near anything that you don’t want covered in bin juice.

9. Wooden decks

Timber decking has a tendency to grow moss and become discoloured from being out in the weather. 

Pressure washing it will bring it up beautifully so you can enjoy your deck again. 

Just be aware that if you use too much pressure, it can strip the paint or stain from the boards – which is good to know if you’re planning to re-stain it once you’ve cleaned it, but not good if you’re just wanting to tidy it up. 

10. Cars, motorbikes, mountain bikes, trailers

If it’s got mud on it, you can pressure wash it. (Well, within reason.) 

Instead of spending a fortune having someone else clean your vehicle, get your pressure washer on the job. 

For cars especially, though, don’t use a high-pressure setting on the body as it can damage it. But it’ll work wonders on muddy wheels and tyres. 

11. Plant pots

Are your plant pots looking a little tired? While some of us might like a bit of an algae patina on our terracotta pots, it’s not everyone’s cup (or rather pot) of tea. 

You can give pots a new lease of life by cleaning them with your pressure washer – and it’s cheaper than buying new ones. 

ÌÇÐÄVlog writer Margaret Rafferty swears by this: “I buy second hand pots cheaply and then tidy them up by giving them a good clean with a pressure washer. They come up beautifully!”

Just make sure you don’t hit the plant with the pressure washer spray – it’ll damage or kill even the most hardy plant. 

You can also use this method to freshen up secondhand garden tiles and pavers. It’s a great way to save money and it’s more sustainable too, since you’re buying something that might otherwise go to landfill.

The post Things you can clean with a pressure washer appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What is a line trimmer?
• Petrol line trimmers
• Cordless battery line trimmers
• How much should I pay for a line trimmer?
• Features to look for

What is a line trimmer?

Line trimmers – also known as whipper snippers, string trimmers, edge trimmers, lawn trimmers or weed whackers are a gardening tool predominantly used to cut grass edges. However, they can be more versatile than just providing precision-perfect lawn edges or garden borders. You can go crazy with horizontal trimming along fences and walls, cut wild patches of long grass down to size and even mow reasonable-sized areas of lawn.

Petrol line trimmers

Petrol models are the best choice for really big areas or for professionals, as you can refuel them quickly and they’re generally more powerful and therefore the most effective at cutting through swathes of long tough grass. Here’s what to consider when buying.

Straight or curved shaft?

Petrol trimmers with curved shafts tend to be more common in the domestic trimmer range. Straight-shaft petrol trimmers, often referred to as brush cutters, tend to be more powerful and heavy duty than curved-shaft models, and can also have a longer reach.

Other considerations

• A transparent fuel tank makes it easy to see when you’re running low on petrol; it also makes refueling easier as you can see when the tank is getting full. 
• Most petrol models have two-stroke engines, which are still the most common type of small petrol engine; that means you’ll need to mix the fuel with oil. Two-stroke oil for the fuel mix can be bought at hardware and auto stores, mower shops and petrol stations. 
• Four-stroke engines can be more convenient as they use straight unleaded petrol and emit less pollution too, but make sure to check and fill them with oil before first use or you risk damaging or completely destroying the motor.
• A clutch will stop the cutting head from spinning when the motor idles – this is safer while you’re moving between areas. On clutchless models the line continually rotates when the motor’s running so you’ll need to exercise caution if you walk around while it’s switched on.
• Think carefully about the size and shape of your lawn, the type of grass, and the sort of edges and obstacles it contains (paths, walls, garden beds, trees and so on), and choose the type of line trimmer most suitable for your application(s).

Cordless battery line trimmers

Cordless battery-powered models tend to have less cutting power than petrol trimmers but the gap is closing as battery technology improves, and they can be much more convenient for smaller yards. They’re easier to start than petrol models (there’s no pull-cord start, just a push of a button), safer as they don’t use flammable petrol, and also quieter.

Some cordless models’ motors are at the cutting head rather than the handle end. This means there’s no actual drive shaft, and the length of the shaft can often be adjusted.

What about corded electric trimmers? These require dragging an extension cord behind you, which is potentially dangerous, so they’re only suitable for a small backyard. They aren’t as popular now that cordless models have improved in performance, and our tests now focus on petrol and cordless models only.

Batteries

There are two numbers to consider when it comes to batteries:

• Voltage (V), which indicates the power of the battery. 18V batteries are common, but many models now come with batteries rated at 36V, 40V, 56V and even 82V. Our tests find that a higher voltage usually leads to better cutting performance.
• Capacity (amp hours or Ah) which indicates the relative running time; the bigger the capacity, the longer the running time. While a 1.5Ah or 2.0Ah battery is probably enough for a typical yard, look for larger capacities if you need longer running time.

Consider getting a spare battery; it can be handy if you have a larger yard that can’t be covered with one battery charge, or if you get out the trimmer only to realise you didn’t recharge it after the last use.

Battery ‘ecosystems’

Many manufacturers now produce battery systems, or families, where the same battery can be used in a variety of different tools, including your line trimmer. This is great, as it means you only need a couple of batteries for all your equipment, and as batteries tend to be the expensive part this will save you a lot of money as you can buy your line trimmer, cordless drill or impact wrench as just the tool, no battery. 

It does, however, tend to lock you into a single brand – it no longer makes financial sense to buy tools from different brands as you then have to buy separate battery systems for each of them. So if you already have such a battery system you may find yourself only considering line trimmers from that manufacturer.

Conversely, if this is your first foray into cordless tools, think very carefully about the brand you go with as it will probably dictate or limit all future purchases of cordless tools to that same brand.

How much should I pay for a line trimmer?

Line trimmers typically cost around $200 to $300, but we’ve tested line trimmers that range in price from $59 to $1047. Sometimes battery line trimmers are sold “skin only“Ìý´Ç°ùÌý“baretool“, which means they don’t come with a battery system or batteries. Make sure you double check this, as you could be up for twice the cost you thought once you factor in batteries. The prices we display in our line trimmer review is for both the trimmer and batteries combined.

Features to look for

Safety guard

Mounted around the rear of the cutting head, this reduces the amount of debris flying around. Some guards can limit your view of what you’re cutting, and even with a safety guard fitted you still require eye protection. All the models we’ve tested have safety guards.

Line length-limiting blade

Many models have a small blade mounted on the safety guard that cuts the trimming line off at the correct length (any models that don’t have this usually have blades instead of a line, so they don’t need the line-length limiter). An over-long line can overload the motor.

Shoulder harness

A harness that clips onto the shaft supports the trimmer’s weight, making it more comfortable for extended use, and allowing for bullhorn-style handles. It’s usually an optional extra, but it’s not available with all trimmers.

Line-feed system

Line trimmers use a spool of thick nylon line that spins extremely fast to cut through weeds and grass. Typically two ends protrude from the spool head and perform the actual cutting. The line will occasionally break as it wears out or hits a rock or other hard item, requiring more line to be fed out from the spool.

Found on most trimmers, the “bump feed” system is easy to use – simply tap the cutting head on the ground when you need more line to feed out. An automatic system sends out more cutting line when it gets too short, while a manual feed requires you to turn off the trimmer and pull or unwind the line inside the head (which may sometimes be necessary even with bump or automatic feed, if the line gets tangled).

Rotating head

A cutting head that can be positioned horizontally for grass cutting or vertically for edging. Without this feature, you’ll need to turn the whole tool for vertical trimming, which can be less convenient and lead to petrol trimmers stalling as the fuel pickup is now at the top, not the bottom of the tank.

Edging guide

If you are looking for super straight edges for your paths and garden beds, look for a model with an edging guide.

Spool type

Fitting new cutting line (re-spooling) can be one of the fiddliest tasks when it comes to using a line trimmer. A trimmer with a single cutting line is easier to re-spool than one with twin lines, though the latter can give better cutting performance.

While most line trimmers use flexible nylon line to avoid damage when trimming around trees or fences, some can be fitted with plastic or metal blades, for use as a brush cutter in heavier scrub.

Cutting diameter

A wide diameter is useful if you want to trim open areas. Petrol line trimmers usually have a wider diameter than the cordless and electric models.

Handles

Most models we tested have an adjustable handle that can be rotated on the shaft when you turn the trimmer over, to change from horizontal trimming to vertical edging (on some models, the cutting head can be rotated instead for the same purpose).

Accessories

Adjusting tools such as a spanner are often included as standard. Some trimmers have other accessories (usually as optional extras), such as brush-cutting blades or extra edging heads.

The post How to buy the best line trimmer appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Lawnmower types: Petrol, battery (cordless) and electric
• Are battery mowers more eco-friendly?
• What size cutting diameter does your lawnmower need?
• Battery technology is improving
• Two-stroke vs four-stroke petrol lawnmowers
• How much do lawnmowers cost?
• What features should you look for in a lawnmower?
• Australia’s best lawnmower brand
• Australia’s most reliable lawnmower brand

Lawnmower types: Petrol, battery (cordless) and electric

Petrol lawnmowers

Compared to electric- and battery-powered models, petrol lawnmowers can be a hassle to start and refuel. The cost to the local environment with fumes and noise may also be an issue. But the petrol mowers we’ve tested over the years are usually excellent grass cutters, so they’re a good option for mowing big areas of grass. 

Battery (cordless) lawnmowers

For a small or medium lawn typical of a suburban home (up to about 500m²), one of the top-performing battery mowers is probably a better choice – they’re very capable machines, and you skip the need to store petrol. 

The batteries are usually compatible across a range of power tools from the same brand, which is very convenient if you also have a line trimmer, brush cutter or power drill. And of course there are no petrol exhaust fumes to worry about. But you do need to remember to charge the batteries ahead of time or have a spare charged battery ready to swap.

The more the battery life improves, the bigger the area you’ll be able to mow. Some hold enough charge for 1000m² or more, though if you’ve got spare batteries and/or a fast charger to hand, you’ll be able to mow all day, just like you would with a petrol mower.

Electric lawnmowers

If you don’t mind the minor hassle of dragging a cord around and you have a power point close by, then an electric lawnmower is easy to run and maintain. Make sure to use a suitable outdoor-rated extension cord plugged into a safety switch, which will shut off the power immediately if you accidentally damage the power cord.

Are battery mowers more eco-friendly?

While petrol mowers are usually very good performers, their major negative point is the air pollution they emit. Even a modern four-stroke mower engine running on unleaded petrol can put out far more pollution than you might expect. 

A found that, in total, petrol-powered lawn and garden equipment in the USA contributes huge amounts of pollution into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, fine particulate matter, nitrous oxides, volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde, and other toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. In the case of nitrous oxides, the yearly emissions are the equivalent of fumes from 30 million cars.

Small mower engines don’t generally have as sophisticated pollution control as car engines, and of course the mower produces its pollution right where you, the user, will breathe it in.

Batteries for the win?

The major advantage of battery mowers is that they produce no air pollution while you’re using them; that’s healthier for you and for your neighbourhood. They also tend to be noticeably quieter: another win.

But they don’t get a free pass on the environmental front. Downsides include the following.

• Lithium batteries have some environmental impact at their manufacturing stage (though so does petrol, of course).
• While lithium batteries can be recycled and much of the lithium and other materials can be reused, in Australia at present only about 10% of such batteries end up actually being recycled, as there aren’t many waste facilities able to process them. Most batteries end up in warehouses or scrapyards waiting for recycling, and these stockpiles can pose fire and environmental hazards. Even so, you should still dispose of dead batteries through battery or e-waste collection schemes, to avoid them going to landfill.
• In many homes, when the battery is recharged, it will be with electricity from the grid, and often that’s from fossil fuel power plants. Where possible, a greener option would be to use your own solar power, or at least a Greenpower energy plan.

Despite those caveats, battery lawnmowers are generally a much more environmentally friendly option than a petrol mower. And they are usually easier to use as well.

What size cutting diameter does your lawnmower need?

A lawnmower with a wide cutting diameter means you’ll spend less time mowing the lawn and more time enjoying your weekend.

Petrol lawnmowers commonly have a wide cutting diameter of 45–50cm. 

Electric and battery-powered models are more commonly available with cutting widths from 30–40cm. 

A difference of 10 or 20cm may not seem to be significant, but large lawn-owners will definitely notice if you have to make a dozen more runs for each mowing session. If you have a smallish inner-city lawn, the difference probably won’t worry you.

Battery technology is improving

If you looked at battery-powered mowers 10 years ago and dismissed them as useless, you might have been right. But improvements in cutting performance and battery life have been significant, and battery-powered options have been well worth a look for a few years now.

You get the low-maintenance advantages of an electric mower without having to drag the cord around. 

In our reviews, we find the battery gives typically about 45 minutes of mowing, which is usually more than enough for a typical suburban yard. But they can range from under 20 minutes to well over an hour, so make sure to check the results of our lawnmower test to find one capable of covering your home yard size. 

Remember to charge the battery well before mowing (doing it the night before is a good idea), as it can take two or three hours to get the battery up to full power. That said, charge times are improving and you can buy spare batteries as backups, though they don’t always come cheap.

The lawnmowers we test often have at least 36V battery voltage (often running 2x 18V batteries on the one unit). How long the batteries last in a mowing session depends on a number of factors besides the battery, including the quality of the blades and how long the grass is.

Most battery mowers have removable batteries, making it easier to swap out a spent battery for a fully-charged one, or to trade up to a new battery with a bigger capacity. A few have built-in batteries, which keeps things simple but offers less flexibility.

But there’s still a downside

All lithium-ion batteries lose their ability to hold charge over time. We’ve had at least one report that within four years, a lawnmower battery had dropped to half the running time it originally had when at full charge. 

And after a few years, a manufacturer might discontinue a product and no longer offer a replacement battery. That might leave you with a perfectly good mower but no compatible batteries – probably unlikely with a major brand, but it could happen with a one-off model or a cheapie brand that drops out of the market. 

Unfortunately you might not be able to use a battery from another brand, as manufacturers aren’t collaborating to create any battery standard that would allow you to switch batteries between brands. But you might be able to find an after-market or generic battery that will work.

With petrol mowers, you can be assured petrol will be around for a while longer, though in the long term, petrol prices and pollution regulations will probably work against them.

Two-stroke vs four-stroke petrol lawnmowers

Small petrol engines are generally either two-stroke or four-stroke. 

Two-stroke engines are simpler in design, have fewer moving parts and are more powerful than the equivalent capacity four-stroke, so they can be both compact and reliable. 

However, typical two-stroke engines produce a great deal more pollution because they require a mix of petrol and oil, which you’ll need to mix yourself to the required fuel/oil ratio. 

Four-stroke engines, while more complicated, run on ordinary unleaded petrol and so produce a lot less pollution. 

Almost all petrol mowers currently sold in Australia have four-stroke engines. An emissions law passed in September 2017 will phase out the sale of two-stroke lawnmowers entirely, due to concerns about their environmental and health impacts. Two-stroke engines will continue to be allowed in smaller power equipment such as line trimmers and chainsaws, as long as they meet emissions standards for those products. 

If you’ve got a beloved old two-stroke mower in your shed, you’ll be able to keep it and use it. But new two-stroke mowers won’t be found.

How much do lawnmowers cost?

The models in our most recent battery and electric lawnmower test range in price from $400 to over $1700, including the battery and charger. Battery lawnmowers are usually sold as a kit (including mower, battery and charger) but you can buy them as a “skin” only (i.e. just the mower – the battery and charger are sold separately). Make sure to check what’s included in the price.

Petrol lawnmowers range in price from about $400 to over $2400.

What features should you look for in a lawnmower?

Ease of use

• The handle should be comfortable to hold and preferably height-adjustable.
• A turned-up handle is easier on your wrists and gives better control over the lawnmower. 
• Major controls should be close to hand and easy to see.
• The engine control lever should be on the handlebar for easy access and you should be able to operate it without too much effort.
• Make sure the cutting height is easily adjustable and you have several positions available. Minimum cutting height varies, but one of the battery models we tested can only cut to 35mm at its lowest point. If you want anything shorter than that you’ll need to shop around or go for a petrol model.
• It’s generally easier to start a petrol-powered mower when the pull cord is located on the engine, but a handle-mounted cord is good if you can’t easily bend over – make sure it’s not mounted too high, as this can require a lot of shoulder strength to pull.
• Push button or key ignition models don’t require any strength or dexterity to start so they’re even easier to operate. 
• The mower should be easy to push and manoeuvre in all the conditions you’ll use it.
• Big wheels improve handling on rough ground and a lightweight model is easier to push and turn, particularly on uneven ground.
• Self-propelled models are all easy to push, as they do it themselves.
• We find that rigid plastic catchers are best. With a cloth bag type catcher, you can get showered in dust. The catcher should have two handles to make it easier to carry and empty.
• For battery models, a safety key which prevents the mower from starting unexpectedly when removed is a good feature, particularly if you have young, curious children.
• Most battery mowers have batteries which can be removed for charging. This means if you have spare batteries you can swap them over and keep mowing when you run out of charge.

Mulcher vs catcher mowing

Mulching mowers produce more of a compost than a mulch, using a special ‘mulching plug’ to repeatedly feed the cut grass through the blades, chopping it very finely before forcing the clippings down between the blades of grass and back into the lawn. 

A good mulcher mower will make your lawn look neat and tidy and you shouldn’t be able to see clumps of clippings or unmown grass after you’ve finished.

Australia’s best lawnmower brand

So which brand of lawnmower should you buy? We identify the best lawnmower brand based on our test results for dozens of petrol and battery lawnmowers over the years and feedback from our members on satisfaction and reliability.

Best lawnmower brand 2025: Honda

Honda lawnmowers have performed consistently well over many years of ÌÇÐÄVlog reviews, typically achieving very good scores in our tests – on average, Honda mowers score 80% overall. Among lawnmower brands, Honda had the highest customer satisfaction score (89%) in our most recent member survey, and an excellent brand reliability score (90%) as well.

The runner-up for Best Brand is Masport, whose lawnmowers have also typically performed very well in our reviews. This brand has above average reliability (86%) and satisfaction (85%) scores. 

Best lawnmower brand 2025 scores

1. Honda – 80%
2. Masport – 77%

The other brands fell short in at least one area, such as having below-average brand reliability or test scores, making them ineligible for the title of Best Brand.

It’s important to note that the performance of specific models may vary quite significantly, so don’t assume that one brand’s products are the best across the many different features, functions and price points.

For comprehensive details on every lawnmower we’ve tested (and to find out which models we recommend), check out our petrol lawnmower reviews or battery lawnmower reviews.

Australia’s most reliable lawnmower brand

Our ÌÇÐÄVlog Product Reliability Survey asks thousands of members about the appliances they own, what they think of them, and how well they’ve held up over time. The information they provide gives us a really good indication of how various lawnmower brands stack up over time – something we can’t test in our labs.

In our 2021 survey 7100 ÌÇÐÄVlog members responded, and of these, 1734 respondents told us about their lawnmower.

The top performers

Most reliable brand: Ozito

Highest owner satisfaction: Honda

When considering brand reliability, it’s important to note that some brands tend to specialise in a certain type of lawnmower. For example, 91% of Honda models were petrol walk-behind lawnmowers, while 98% of EGO models were battery walk-behind lawnmowers. 

Other brands were a mix – Husqvarna had 46% petrol ride-on and 37% petrol walk-behind lawnmowers, while Ozito had 50% corded electric walk-behind lawnmowers and 45% battery walk-behind lawnmowers.

What we found

• Ozito was the most reliable lawnmower brand, topping our table with a score of 95%.
• Honda owners reported the highest satisfaction with a score of 89%. EGO wasn’t far behind though, with a satisfaction score of 88%.
• Corded electric lawnmowers were the most reliable type, followed by walk-behind battery and petrol models. Ride-on mowers proved to be the least reliable.

Main problems

In the past eight years, 66% of our lawnmower owners said their machines had no problems or faults. The main problems reported among those who did face issues were:

• difficulty starting the lawnmower (6%)
• the lawnmower not cutting grass well (6%)
• worn out or damaged spark plugs (4%).

Ozito achieved the highest reliability score. People who own an Ozito battery walk-behind lawnmower like the lightness and ease of use, but some said it doesn’t handle thick, long or wet grass well.

When it comes to satisfaction, Honda achieved a higher score than Ozito. Honda also had a higher satisfaction score than Aldi, Rover, Ryobi and Victa. With the vast majority of Honda lawnmowers being petrol walk-behind models, reliability and being easy to start were mentioned repeatedly as good points. There were also compliments that it’s a robust, quality build, but some people mentioned that it’s heavy.

The post How to buy the right lawnmower for your yard appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Key things to know about leaf blowers
• Petrol, electric or cordless?
• How much do leaf blowers cost?
• Features to look for in a leaf blower

Of course, before you throw away your rake and rush off to buy a blower, first ask yourself whether you really need one. In most yards with only a moderate quantity of leaves to clear up, a bit of exercise with a rake is probably a better option – for you and your neighbours.

Key things to know about leaf blowers

You’ll need to wear good ear protection when using a leaf blower, as they can have sound levels over 95dB for the user (that’s as loud as an angle grinder), and 80dB for the neighbours several metres away from the blower. 

Goggles and a dust mask are advisable for the owner, and a courtesy warning for the neighbour is a nice touch if you are doing any yard work over the weekend.

Another point to consider is that any plastic or other litter mixed in with your leaves can clog the vacuum mechanism, so it might be worth doing a quick scan for general litter before you start.

If you’re not fussed about the mulching, you might consider getting just a leaf blower, which is the more common option, rather than a blower vac. Using a blower to gather all the leaves into a pile, then picking them up by hand or with a rake, is often an easier option than fiddling around with converting from blower to vacuum (particularly for most petrol models). 

°¿³Ü°ùÌýleaf blower and blower vac reviews include cordless (battery-powered) blower-only models, and we’ve found several that can do the job well. We test blower vacs by scattering a large bag of dry leaves evenly over a yard, blowing them into a pile, converting the model to vacuum mode and vacuuming up the piled leaves. The best models complete the job in a few minutes – which is not a lot faster than doing the job manually with a rake.

Petrol, electric or cordless?

Petrol

A petrol model would be a good choice if you’ve got a very big area to clean up, but you’ll probably need to mix fuel for them (most petrol models have two-stroke motors) and they emit exhaust fumes. Our testing is now focused more on cordless battery-powered models as this is becoming the default option for most home owners.

Electric (corded)

Most of the electric models are generally a bit easier to use than petrol models, mainly because they’re more easily converted from blower to vacuum and back again, and can be easier to start. They’re also a bit quieter. 

In terms of choosing between battery and corded electric models, it’s worth noting that corded models are usually cheaper and offer the benefit of delivering continuous power. However, you’ll need a long outdoor extension cord (and a safety switch) and dragging the cord around behind you can be annoying.

Cordless (battery)

Cordless models are very effective and convenient, at least for blowing leaves into a pile, though you need to remember to make sure the battery is charged up. Owners of cordless blowers have had to deal with short battery life of under 25 minutes, with some lasting only a little over 10 minutes. However, the capacity and power of batteries are improving dramatically and many models let you use the same battery with other tools such as line trimmers, drills and even lawn mowers.

We’ve generally found that vacuuming performance with cordless blower vacs isn’t as good as the petrol or electric models. While they’re improving, they appear to still lack the necessary power to suck up and shred leaves swiftly and without clogging. As a result they tend to run out of juice too soon.

If you go for a cordless model, consider getting a spare battery; it can be handy if you have a larger yard that can’t be covered with one battery charge, or if you get out the blower only to realise you didn’t charge it last time. 

There are two numbers to consider when it comes to batteries:

• Voltage (V) indicates the power of the battery. Advances in battery technology mean that many models now come with batteries rated at 36V, 40V and even 56V batteries – giving better performance than models with 18V batteries.
• Capacity (amp hours or Ah) indicates the relative running time; the bigger the capacity, the longer the running time. While a 2.0Ah battery is probably enough for a typical yard (at least for blowing, if not vacuuming), look for larger capacities (4 or 8Ah) if you need longer running time.

How much do leaf blowers cost?

Leaf blowers (and blower vacs) usually cost around $100–400, but can range in price from as little as $50 to over $900.

Features to look for in a leaf blower

Weight and balance

Your leaf blower should be well-balanced and not too heavy (remember, a vacuum model will get heavier as the bag fills up).

Collection bag (for vacuum models)

Ideally you want a collection bag that’s easily removed and emptied, and not too large. The bigger it is, the heavier it’ll be when full.

Switching modes (for vacuum models)

It should be easy to convert the machine from blower to vacuum mode – preferably without needing tools. Some models need you to swap the nozzle and attach the bag when converting from blower to vacuum, while others have all the features built-in (making them more bulky) and just need you to flick a lever or switch.

Mulching ratio (for models with a mulching function)

Many models with a mulching function claim a mulching ratio of around 10:1 – that is, 10 bags of leaves reduced to one bag of mulch. However, past testing has shown the actual ratio to be more like 4:1. 

Variable speed

So you can use just enough power to keep the leaves moving without blasting them away.

Ease of use checklist

• Easy access to the fan area to clear blockages.
• It shouldn’t vibrate too much. Turn it on in the store if possible and check it.
• A trigger lock or similar feature that lets you operate the blower without holding down the trigger the whole time, which can be tiring.
• Comfortable handles.

The post What to know before buying a leaf blower appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert tester
• How we choose what to test
• How we test leaf blowers and blower vacs
• Test criteria explained

But how do you know which model will do the best job? That’s what our reviews are for – and here’s how we get our results.

Our expert tester

Our tester, James Thomson, knows how to find out which blowers are worth buying and which are just blowing hot air. When testing performance and ease of use, he uses the leaf blowers in a real-life situation to see how they compare when it comes to clearing leaves and twigs from lawns and, in the case of blower vacs, vacuuming up the pile.

How we choose what to test

Leaf blowers come in electric, petrol and battery-powered cordless varieties, while some also have a vacuum function. Our leaf blower reviews include electric and cordless models, and some with a vacuum function. Petrol models continue to be available, but the latest offerings are of the battery-powered cordless variety – increases in battery capacity and power allow these devices to perform stronger for longer. 

Our product researchers survey manufacturers to find out what the latest models are, as well as specifications. We try to include a range of brands and models found in both mainstream and specialist hardware stores.

Once a list featuring a range of brands and price points is chosen, our buyers then go through the arduous process of ordering the leaf blowers and blower vacs just as a regular consumer would, to ensure we’re not getting special treatment.

How we test leaf blowers and blower vacs

Performance

For the blowing test, we spread a set amount of dry leaves and twigs onto a marked-out grassed area to replicate a home lawn environment. 

Our tester times how long it takes for each blower to blow all the leaves out of the marked area. He penalises the battery-powered models that run out of power before completing the job. 

To test the performance of the blower vacs with a vacuuming function, James times how long it takes to convert from blower to vacuum mode and suck up a 1kg pile of leaves and twigs. He then repeats the test with a 2kg pile of leaves. 

The best scoring models can blow or vacuum the area fastest and leave the fewest leaves and twigs behind.

James also measures the noise produced by each blower and we publish the highest noise level in our blower vac reviews.

Ease of use

James looks at how easy it is to manoeuvre the leaf blower, taking into account the absence or presence of a power cord and the weight of the blower, as well as what it’s like to use the leaf blower, including how easily the machine becomes blocked, intensity of vibrations, trigger comfort and ease of switching between modes for blower vacs.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which products we recommend, is made up of:

• blowing performance (65%)
• ease of use (35%).

As not all models have a vacuum, the vacuum scores for blower vacs are not included in the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating but shown for comparison with other blower vac models.

The post How we test leaf blowers and blower vacs appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which lawnmowers we test
• How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test lawnmowers?
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

Our expert testers

At ÌÇÐÄVlog, the vast majority of our product testing is done by our qualified in-house testers. Our testers are highly experienced in testing a wide range of products, and many sit on Standards committees and belong to other professional bodies. Our robust lawnmower test method is based on the late Peter Horvath’s experience testing hundreds of lawnmowers in real-life conditions over the years.

How we choose which lawnmowers we test

Most of the time, our priority is to test what you’ll see in stores. Our selection typically comes from brands you’ll see in independent lawnmower outlets or major hardware stores – so long as they’re targeted to the domestic market.

To come up with our list, we survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models. Our lawnmowers are bought anonymously at retail, so they’re the exact same products you’d buy yourself, and you can be confident they haven’t been ‘tweaked’ in any way.

We aim to test in spring in order to publish the results in time for the summer mowing season. Sometimes weather and other circumstances force changes to the schedule, but we usually find a way!

How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test lawnmowers?

Lawn is prepared to short (30mm) and medium (70–100mm) lengths, and an area of grass has been left to grow long (300mm+).

Performance

After adjusting the lawnmower settings so they’re performing at their best, our experts assess how well the mowers cut the grass down to various lengths. We use both catcher and mulcher mode (if available) for the short and medium cutting tests.

When judging the results for short and medium catcher and mulcher tests, we’ll look at whether the lawn surface is even or clean, and if there’s any uncut grass or areas left in clumps.

Mulching mowers should cut and blow small clippings neatly back into the lawn. If they don’t, they’ll get points deducted from the performance score.

We also check how well the mowers can handle long grass (it may get this way after a long holiday, for instance). We don’t attach the catcher or use mulcher mode. Instead, we see whether the mower is powerful enough to handle the job without slowing down too much.

Ease of use

Our experts review:

• pushing and manoeuvring
• handle comfort
• ease of operation (how convenient the controls are)
• ease of cutting height adjustment
• noticeable vibration (usually more pronounced on petrol models)
• ease of fitting the catcher
• ease of starting (petrol models).

We also assess noise at operator level and from a short distance away.

Other measurements

Our experts bring along a steel ruler to our test site and measure how much grass is left on the sides and front of the mower after cutting.

For battery mowers we time the actual battery life, as opposed to using the manufacturer’s claimed battery life. We measure battery life with the mower running, but stationary; unfortunately it’s not practical to mow for hours in order to measure the battery life under load. All of this comprehensive information is available in our lawnmower reviews.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• catcher cutting score (25%)
• mulcher cutting score (if applicable) (25%)
• ease of use (50%)

For mowers without a mulcher mode, the catcher score makes up 50%.

Our test lab

We maintain climate-controlled labs that are up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results. For tests of outdoor equipment such as lawnmowers, most of the actual testing is done “in the field”. 

The actual test site can change from year to year, depending on the availability of the site, weather conditions and more, which is why our experienced testers use reference mowers to ensure they keep their assessments as consistent as possible.

The post How we test lawnmowers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which hedge trimmers to test
• How we test hedge trimmers
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

Our expert testers

ÌÇÐÄVlog maintains a highly professional NATA-accredited laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. Our testers are qualified and well-experienced in testing a wide range of products, and many sit on Standards committees and belong to other professional and expert bodies.

For some products there are Australian or international standards, which usually form the basis of our testing for those products. This isn’t the case for hedge trimmers, so our expert testers, project managers and content producers work together to devise a test method that is based on what people are looking for when it comes to a good hedge trimmer.

How we choose which hedge trimmers to test

Hedge trimmers can run using a power cable, rechargeable battery or petrol (2- or 4-stroke engine). There are also far-reaching telescopic types. With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one line trimmer to test over another? Like with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the popular brands and models on the market and what you are most likely to see in the retailers.

Battery-powered hedge trimmers are a fast-growing market with plenty of choice out there, so in recent years we’ve shifted our focus to these types only.

At the moment, battery trimmers generally don’t perform quite as well as other types we’ve tested over the years, but there are still decent models to suit typical hedges as long as you don’t need to cut masses of thick, woody material over a mammoth hedge-trimming session.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test hedge trimmers

Performance

We test the trimmers on a suburban property with adequate amounts of hedge. It’s the same property (and hedges) we used in 2021, but previous locations are not directly comparable as the conditions were different. 

Our garden expert tests how well the hedge trimmers perform when cutting woody branches. An excellent score means the hedge trimmer feels very powerful and doesn’t struggle cutting thicker branches, while lower scores feel underpowered and can’t handle the thicker branches (the result may look very jagged, for instance).

Ease of use

To calculate the ease of use score, we take the following factors into account.

Comfort

Comfort is crucial when using a hedge trimmer and we assess it in both horizontal and vertical modes.

Weight and balance

A lightweight, well-balanced hedge trimmer will make the job easier. If it’s noticeably heavier on one end, it could get tiring to use.

Handles

Our expert rates how comfortable the handles are for both vertical and horizontal trimming.

Controls

We find out how easy it is to use the switches on the wrap-around front handle and the rear handle trigger, for horizontal and vertical trimming.

Visibility

We note how well you can see the cutting edge where it makes contact with the hedge.

Noise

We measure the hedge trimmer’s noise both at the user’s position and at a 7.5m distance.

Other general observations

We record features like anti-jam buttons, wall hooks, claimed battery running time and whether there is a trigger lock.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which products we recommend, for line trimmers is made up of:

• hedge trimming performance (50%)
• ease of use (50%).

Weightings are in brackets.

The ease of use score is weighted equally between the criteria mentioned above. 

Our test lab

We maintain a climate-controlled lab that is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results. For tests of outdoor equipment such as hedge trimmers, most of the actual testing is done “in the field”.

The post How we test hedge trimmers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which line trimmers we test
• How we test line trimmers
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

We put them to the test to weed out any poor performers. Here’s how we go about it.

Our expert testers

ÌÇÐÄVlog maintains a highly professional NATA-accredited laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. Our testers are qualified and well-experienced in testing a wide range of products, and many sit on Standards committees and belong to other professional and expert bodies.

For some products there are Australian or international standards, which usually form the basis of our testing for those products. In other cases, such as with line trimmers, our testers and content producers work together to devise our own test methods based on the key aspects that matter to consumers.

How we choose which line trimmers we test

With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one line trimmer to test over another? Like with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the popular brands and models on the market and what you are most likely to see in the retailers.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test line trimmers

Performance

We test the line trimmers on a large semi-rural property with plenty of long grass. In 2019, 2020 and again in 2021 we had to move the test to new sites, and because the test conditions are a bit different (the grass, terrain etc.) our results from previous years are not directly comparable. That said, we re-tested some models from past reviews on the new site, and their past results are similar to their latest results so we’ve kept all the previous test results in the review.

Our tester tests:

• horizontal trimming along fences and walls and on areas of lawn
• vertical trimming (with the cutting head perpendicular to the ground) along the edges of paths and garden borders. We simulate a hard garden border using a wooden plank on a grassy area, moving the plank to new grass as needed
• cutting long grass.

If the trimmer is supplied with other cutting options (e.g. a brush-cutting blade that can be mounted instead of the line head) these are also assessed and commented on, but not included in the score.

Ease of use

The tester assesses:

• how comfortable the trimmers are to use, taking into account their weight, balance, handles, shaft length, and visibility while edging (the angle of the cutting head)
• re-spooling the line into the head
• using the controls
• starting the line trimmer
• using the line feed
• the amount of vibration
• noise levels, at the operators position and at 7.5 metres from the trimmer.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating, our overall score that determines which products we recommend, for line trimmers is made up of:

• performance (50%)
• ease of use (50%).

The performance score is made up of:

• horizontal trimming (40%)
• vertical trimming (40%)
• cutting long grass (20%).

Weightings are in brackets.

The ease of use score is made up of the following, all weighted equally:

• comfort (weight, balance, handles, shaft length, and visibility while edging)
• re-spooling the line into the head
• using the controls
• starting the line trimmer
• using the line feed
• the amount of vibration.

Our test lab

We maintain a climate-controlled lab that is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results. For tests of outdoor equipment such as line trimmers, most of the actual testing is done “in the field”, in this case quite literally, on a rural property with ample supplies of long grass and brush in order to really challenge the trimmers.

The post How we test line trimmers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which ride-on mowers we test
• How we test ride-on mowers
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

Our expert testers

ÌÇÐÄVlog maintains a highly professional NATA-accredited laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. Our testers are qualified and well-experienced in testing a wide range of products, and many sit on Standards committees and belong to other professional and expert bodies.

For some products there are Australian or international standards, which usually form the basis of our testing for those products. In other cases, such as with ride-on mowers, our testers and subject matter experts work together to devise our own test methods based on the key aspects that matter to consumers.

How we choose which ride-on mowers we test

With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one ride-on mower to test over another? Like with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the popular brands and models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in retailers.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure what we buy is the same as any consumer would find it, and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test ride-on mowers

We test ride-on mowers on a large property with plenty of long grass, focusing on performance and ease of use.

Performance

Our tester scores:

• cutting performance by assessing the consistency of cut grass, evenness, and whether the ride-on mower distributed cut grass evenly
• mulching performance based on on whether the ride-on mower produces fine mulch without undue clumping.

Ease of use

Our tester assesses:

• control use, including the ease of starting, controlling speed, engaging clutch or drive, brake use, blade drive, changing cutting height, checking fuel level, and steering comfort
• seat comfort
• noise, measured at the tester’s ear level at full throttle with the blade engaged (this test does not form part of the scoring).

Test criteria explained

For mulching ride-on mowers, the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating (our overall score that determines which products we recommend) is made up of scores for:

• cutting (25%)
• mulching (25%)
• ease of use (50%).

For non-mulching ride-on mowers, the ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• cutting (50%)
• ease of use (50%)

Weightings are in brackets.

Our test lab

We maintain climate-controlled labs that are up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you the right results. For tests of outdoor equipment such as ride-on mowers, most of the actual testing is done “in the field”.

The post How we test ride-on mowers appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.