Disclosure: EGO sent me their Power+ Mower to review on Going Dad. I was not compensated for this post, and all thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.
The Going Family received our EGO Power Plus Lawn Mower about a month ago, and we’ve used it every weekend since.
Right out of the box, it’s basically ready to kick some mow your grass! No gas, oil, or air filter that you’ll frantically check every time the pull-string motor doesn’t start. Those of you with gas mowers, you know what I’m talking about; I was there too. Just a clean, battery powered mower with plenty of power and convenience.
It’s everything we wanted in mower, or is it? Avery helped me look it over and even helped with the mowing, here’s what we have to say.
Looks and Lights
A blogger friend of mine said it looked like something Luke Skywalker would use to mow his lawn (if it was more than just sand), and I agree. It’s futuristic bright green battery cover and LED headlights set it apart from other push mowers. I can’t find anything I don’t like about the looks of the EGO and think Avery agrees too.
One of Avery’s favorite words for the time being is “lights”, so it comes as no surprise to see her fascination with the LED’s on the EGO. She’ll push the button to turn them off and on forever until one of us stops her. And who can blame her? Those things are cool!
But they aren’t cool without a purpose. One day, I found myself spending time with Avery and my wife while it was light out and wound up running out of daylight before I could get started mowing. Luckily, there was no need for concern since I had super bright LED’s to lead me on my grass cutting path and help me dodge the stinky “dog bombs” in our back yard.
Cutting Power & Noise
Unlike the typical cordless mowers that seem to struggle just to propel their blades against air, much less your lawn, the EGO Power+ Mower is impressive. My first time to use the EGO was also the first mow of the season where we scalp the grass using the lowest setting. Our yard wasn’t terribly overgrown or anything, but there were many thick, patchy areas on their way to overgrown status.
There was slight hesitation when the 20″ deck went over the really thick areas or made contact with the dirt from our uneven lawn, but it forged through and scalped just as well as any gas mower I’ve used in the past. The cut is clean and even across our yard too, which I’ve owned many mowers that do a crappy, choppy cut which makes an overgrown lawn look elegant.
Now I use a higher setting which is a breeze to adjust with just one handle that glides effortlessly from the lowest, 1.2″ to the highest setting, 3.5″.
The noise level on this thing is nothing like that of gas mowers (30% less, as a matter of fact), and found it easy to talk over the mower if needed. Sure, you’ll know when the motor is running, but it’s a welcome sound compared to the loud, relentless drone of a gas mower. Avery never once seemed timid from the noise and had no problem chasing after my wife while she was mowing.
Battery
Ahhh, yes, probably the most complained about aspect of cordless mowers, the battery! Well, no complaints here. Even after the first mow on the lowest setting and with the lights on 50% of the time (due to Avery pressing the button), the 4. 0Ah 56-volt Lithium-Ion battery was still showing green with plenty of juice left.
It takes me about 30 minutes to mow the front and back with the EGO, and without recharging, am able to almost finish mowing again the following week. The light finally turned red on me after I finished the front and had made a few rounds in the back. But no worries, the battery charger has the battery fully charged and ready to finish the job in 30 minutes or less.
I was happy to set it on the charger and go for a quick walk around the neighborhood while waiting. To go along with the futuristic looks, I feel like I’m handling a mini nuclear reactor each time I slide the battery on its nuclear charging station. It’s fun to pretend, right? I mean, for the kids…..
Functionality and Storage
You know those mowers with handles that fold down using thumb screws in a pivot that quickly bends out of shape? Yeah, EGO’s design team knows that sucks, and made adjusting the handles a cinch. First, there’s a lever on the side that allows you to quickly fold or unfold for storage or mowing action, respectively. Once you select the angle, the handle is extended using the bright green clips on each side.
The down side is there are only two handle angle settings for mowing, and it must be fully extended for use. If you try to lower the handles while the motor is running, it will start to shut down until you extend them again. Trust me, I tried.
I’m 5’10, my wife is 5’6, and we were both able to easily mow despite the lack of height and angle options. Even Avery doesn’t seem to mind.
The only time it gets annoying is when I’m trying to turn while next to the fence line or do a 180 degree turn in the narrow area on one side of our house. It’s not even close to being so annoying that I wish we had something else though, and as long as I don’t try and throw it like Thor’s hammer, everyone comes out just fine.
Once you’re done mowing, just undo the clips, push the handle down, and fold it using the side lever to set it to storage mode. Then, my favorite part, you store it vertically! This is the best way to store a mower and don’t know of any others that do it so well. Having a home gym in my garage means space is precious, so this is a welcome feature and absolutely LOVE IT!
Wrapping It Up and Where To Buy
The EGO Power Plus Lawn Mower has a lot going for it. With it’s cool looks, light-for-a-mower weight, highly powerful 56 volt battery with insanely quick recharging speeds, and easy storage, there’s not much to complain about. My biggest issue is the one length setting which can make maneuvering in tight places a pain, but like I said, it’s not a big deal to me. Being able to adjust the length would still be nice though.
I have no problem mowing our entire lawn on one charge, but if you have a bigger yard, you might want another battery for non-stop mowing. Or just wait the short 30 minutes for a recharge and go back to finish what’s left. The best thing to do is start with one and see if you really need an extra battery. I can’t say enough about how pleased I am with the power on this mower, and love not ever worrying about gas or changing the oil and filter. Cars are enough.
The mower comes with a bag or inserts for mulching or side discharge. I used the bag for the first mow and it worked just as a bagged mower would without issue. But we are firm believers in mulching since letting fresh grass clippings rest across the yard allows important nutrients to be retained in the grass for a better, healthier lawn. Whatever you choose, EGO gives you the accessories needed to easily adjust to your liking.
Overall, I’m convinced this exceeds that of a gas mower and will end up saving money and tons of stress in the long run. The EGO Power Plus Mower currently sells for $499.00 at The Home Depot which I consider a fair price considering the long term savings. It also comes with a 5 year limited warranty which is one of the best I’ve seen. The season is just getting started, so if you’re in the market for a new mower, consider going “green” with EGO and experience the #PowerBeyondBelief.
Here’s an informative info-graphic showing Gas vs. Electric mowers when it comes to saving money and keeping our planet clean too.
Don’t try and save a $100 now and regret it later, I suggest giving EGO a home in your garage, it won’t take up much room, and be happy with your eco-friendly mower. Thanks to this mower, I can finish mowing in no time and get back to other things like being a husband and daddy to my two favorite girls! Now if only I could get Avery away from the thing….
