Among self-propelled battery models, more than half earn that distinction, and all receive at least midlevel overall ratings. The top self-propelled battery mower, from Greenworks, is priced lower than the top-rated self-propelled gas model, from Honda. Notably, even hyper tough battery those battery mowers that are more expensive to buy may cost you less in the long run. A CR analysis found that depending on the model you choose, the savings on gasoline and maintenance can more than make up for the price difference within a few years of ownership.
I’ve lost a number of nozzle ends and have irreparably damaged a hose, so easy replacement parts are important. Tobie Stanger is a senior editor at Consumer Reports, where she has been helping readers shop wisely, save money, and avoid scams for more than 30 years. During off-hours, she works on her own fixer-upper and gets her hands dirty in the garden. Two-thirds of the battery push mowers in our ratings perform well enough for CR to recommend.
For the cordless vacuums, we tested run time by installing a fully charged battery in each vac and using it until the battery drained completely. We made sure to run this test while the vac was in active use and not just sitting there running, in case the battery drain increased when the vac struggled with larger cleanups. At my house, I also have my own workshop, which I keep clean with a wet/dry vac. I’m also a serial renovator, so a wet/dry vac is always at my side while I’m installing bookshelves, replacing windows, relocating kitchen cabinets, and pulling up old floors.
So the DeWalt vac might not clean as fast, but with that kind of run time, there’s no need to rush. The hose stretches out to about 5 feet—2 feet less than the hose included with either of the Ridgid picks. But because the vac is so easy to maneuver, the shorter hose isn’t a distraction.
We suggest contacting the seller directly hyper tough battery to respectfully share your concerns.