Popular Mechanics USA - 03.2020 - 04.2020

W

hile so much
power-tool inno-
vation lately
has focused on
cordless, we
still maintain that you
turn to a gas-engine
tool when you need out-
right tenacity. Take the
(9) Ariens Rapidtrak
($3,49 9). Powered by
a 420cc engine and a
hydrostatic transmis-
sion, the snow thrower
clears a 32-inch path
and launches its out-
put (in our case, wet
sawdust, weighing 21
pounds per cubic foot)
a whopping 36 feet.
The (10) DR Power
SP30 ($1,300) is a
self-propelled mower;
at its top speed, you’d
need to jog behind it.
The aluminum deck
reduces its weight and
the potential for rust-
ing, and its 223cc
engine provides all
the power you need for
clipping and bagging
wet grass and leaves.
The beauty of
the (11) Echo PB-250
($185)—a simple
gas-engine, handheld
blower—is the off-
set tube that recoils
in line with your arm,
where you can best con-

trol it, not to your side.

By reducing that twist

inherent to leaf blow-

ers, Echo made one

of the least-fatiguing

handheld models

we’ve used. And it’s got

power to spare.

Another simple-

but-great Echo product

is the (12) CS-361P

($4 0 0). Its torque-

rich 35.8cc engine and

10 -p ou nd fra me g ive

the chainsaw a high

power-to-weight ratio.

Combine that with the

responsive trigger, and

you get a saw that’s pro-

ductive and fun to use

for feathering your way

through a branch or

using its torque to fell

and limb.

Finally, Honda’s

newest inverter gen-

erator, the (13) E2200i

($1,0 49) has 2,200

watts—compared with

the 2,000 of its pre-

decessor—without an

accompanying jump

in weight. Its shut-

off dial provides more

thorough fuel removal

when you’re emptying

the carburetor, elimi-

nating the chances of

damaging the E2200i

with stale fuel and

hard starts.

Gas-Engine

Outdoor Tools

BEST

SNOW

THROWER

9

11

BEST

HANDHELD

LEAF

BLOWER

60 March/April 2020