Spring 2018 Is Here, And So Are Some Of The New 2018 Ryobi Outdoor Power Tools!

I have been on a quest to replace my old gas powered lawn equipment with some of the new 18 volt brushless tools that are coming to market.

I did not need anything that was pro grade, but instead something that I could use around the house. There were many different brands to choose from, so I needed to do my research. I was looking for the perfect set of diy friendly tools I could find, and I wanted them at a good price.

Before I decided which brand to invest in, I had a few criteria that they needed to meet.

1. They had to be set at a good price.
2. wanted them to all run off the same battery (preferably the same batteries my tools run on).
3. They had to be built well.
4. They could not be corded.
5. Replacement part (if needed) had to be easy to find.
6. They had to do the job well.

That’s not too much to ask right? Well… it was not easy. I looked at a tone of different leaf blowers, weed trimmers and chainsaws. Each had their own qualities, but one thing kept me away, price. After months of looking, I nearly gave up on finding the perfect cordless tool until I seen that Ryobi was releasing a few new models of their power tools. 

ONE+ 12 in. 18-Volt Brushless electric chainsaw

I already have a bunch of their hand tools, but would the batteries and chargers that I already have work with the new 18v outdoor tools? YES they would! I kept looking at the specs, and found that everything I was looking for was being offered in the chainsaw, leaf blower and trimmer. I decided to pick them up and give them a try, let’s just say that I’m glad I waited, because these tools are awesome!

The Chainsaw: Model # P548A

This 12” saw is just a beast. It actually feels like you are holding a gas model in your hand, but it runs on an 18v battery. Even though it felt solid in the hand, I figured it would probably lack a bit of power, I was wrong again. I was able to take down full size trees with this monster, and had no power loss at all. It ran smooth and the blade ate everything that I put in front of it.

I really could not believe that I was using a battery powered chainsaw that ran this good. I have tried a few of the gas powered Ryobi models in the past, but this was way better. No smells, no fumes, no mixing/storing gas no crazy loud engine noise, just power!

Now that being said, you will need to buy a bit of chain/bar oil so you don’t burn up your saw, but that’s it. And speaking of bar/chain, there is a very easy to use tension knob that will tighten or loosen your chain. No extra tools needed, just adjust and cut. 

The Weed Trimmer: Model # P20010A

The Ryobi cordless string trimmer was the biggest surprise when it came to power. This little beast is extremely light, but packs one heck of a punch. It only has one line, but the surprising part was I could not tell the difference.  

It’s light enough that anyone can pick it up and use it, but the power that this has rivals that of a gas

10-12' Ryobi ONE+ Trimmer

power. I was able to cut down very high/thick weeds without a bogging of the motor, and paired with a 2.0Ah battery, I still got around 30 minutes of heavy use out of it.

One of the things I really like about this trimmer is that it comes with a full safety guard. Many of the cordless models on the market come with a very small guard that won’t help shield you from debris, but this will. I also love that the line is very easy to change. That has to do with it only being a single line trimmer, but anyone can do it quickly when you need to re-fill. 

All in all, the trimmer was comfortable in the hands, light and had a great reach so you don’t have to bend over when trimming. I was most surprised about how much power this trimmer had, and I love that all I need to do is pull the trigger and go. Not to mention, it also has a self-feeding line 12” line, so that’s a big plus too!

The Leaf Blower: Model # P2190

So let me start by saying that this leaf blower is meant to be used around the house on small jobs only. You’re not going to move a ton of yard debris with this blower, but you will be able to clean off your driveway, deck, patios and sidewalks with ease. 

I mainly wanted this to clear away grass clippings from the driveway after cutting grass. I hated dragging a cord around, and no way did I need a $400 gas blower for such a small area. I also wanted something I could use to blow out the garage/shop with after woodworking projects.

Though not a lot of power like you would find on some of the larger models, this did everything I wanted, and it did it well. It’s also extremely light and easy to use. There is only one speed on/off, but

ONE+ 90 MPH 200 CFM

that's all I was really looking for.

What’s great about this blower is the nozzle can be removed to make storage much easier. It also has a built in clip area on the back so you can hang it on the wall (chainsaw also has this feature).

Now, if you are looking for something that can also mulch the clipping, this won’t give you that option. Not a big deal as I will probably just blow them back into my neighbor’s yard like they do to mine! You also won’t be able to move mountains with this unit, but for smaller jobs, it works great.

At the end of the day, I was really impressed with all three of these new Ryobi outdoor tools. They did exactly what I wanted, and they were set at a great price. In most cases, they even preformed much better than I thought they would. 

 

If you are looking to purchase some new cordless outdoor power tools for your yard this year, definitely check these out, as you will be very happy with the performance you get for the price.