Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-03)

Electric Outdoor Tools

161 could be ideal. We

admit it can be expensive

($475 with a 2.5-Ah bat-

tery and charger). But its

explosive power gives it

the muscle of a gas-en-

gine machine for mowing

down the tall stuff and

scything through weeds

and saplings.

8. BEST CORDLESS HEDGE TRIMMER
   Husqvarna
   520iHE3 $450
   With a 22-inch blade on a
   pivoting head and a tele-
   scoping pole providing
   a maximum reach of 11
   feet, this is the most ver-
   satile hedge trimmer
   we’ve tested. Use it to
   clean up and shape tall
   bushes, even their tops,
   or stretch down embank-
   ments with it to get at
   those hard-to-reach spots.


9. BEST ELECTRIC RIDE-ON MOWER
   Ryobi
   RY48ZTR100 $4,199
   This is a zero-turn mower
   unlike any other we’ve
   operated. Its 100-Ah lead-
   acid battery and four
   motors (one each to power
   the rear wheels and the
   two blades) provide a top
   speed of about 7 mph. That
   speed, quietness, and lack
   of choke and throttle to
   futz with make this thing
   easy—and, dare we say,
   fun—to operate. But it’s
   also a grownup machine
   that cuts in 42-inch-wide
   strips, reducing your
   mowing time.


10. BEST CORDLESS STRING TRIMMER
    Greenworks
    GT 161 From $250
    The Greenworks is com-
    mercial-grade, but if
    your trimming require-
    ments are on the heav y
    end of the spectrum,
    then a model like the GT

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