One of the things that comes along with home ownership that no one really tells you about beforehand is yard work. LOTS of yard work! Summer means cutting grass, trimming trees and shrubs, picking up the clippings and trying to win the war against weeds. Winter means mostly fighting to keep the driveway clear of snow. I was introduced to Toro products when using my dad’s Toro lawnmower and snowblower and loved how easy it was to start up and operate. That tag line abut starting on the first pull? Totally true.
Because Toro has been our go-to brand for all seasons, we are thrilled to be partnering with them to highlight their newest line of Force-Flex Yard Tools which are battery powered.
I’ve never really minded doing that summer yard work. What I didn’t really care for was having to deal with pouring the gas into the mower, trimmer and blower. I somehow always manage to spill more outside the machine than I get into the tank. Then I smell like gas for the rest of the day!
So when Toro announced they were releasing a series of Force-Flex 60V MAX* Lithium Ion Products including a trimmer and a blower as well as a 60V battery-powered lawn mower, I couldn’t wait to check them out. Now, I’m thrilled to be able to share them with you!
Let’s start with the lawn mower. It looks a lot like our previous Toro lawn mower and has the same sharp red and black colored body. The top is a little higher than the older one because the battery sits a bit higher. The mower came with all of the accessories you would expect – a bag to collect the clippings or a chute to direct the clippings if you’d rather mulch them.
The 22″ blade makes quick work of any lawn. The battery states that it will last for the time it takes to cut a 1/3 acre lawn. We have exactly a 1/3 of an acre lot minus the house footprint, patio and driveway. We were able to get most of it done before noticing any slow down from the battery. The back quarter of the rear yard was too wet to mow so we were able to finish without a problem but will probably get another spare battery to keep on hand. The mower comes with one 60V rechargeable battery and a charging station. The battery took a few hours to reach full charge and should be removed from the mower when not in use.
While our old Toro mower has always started on the first pull, even after not being used for a season, I have to admit that I love the key start on this model. The ability to remove the key also adds an added level of safety. One of my favorite things about this mower is how easy it is to store! Because it doesn’t have gas, it can be folded up and stored vertically which saves a ton of room in the garage!
The other two tools we received were the 60V Leaf Blower and the 60V String Trimmer
. Both of these run off of the same 60V battery and each came with a battery and charging station. I loved both tools as our only other options have been to deal with a gas powered device or deal with a pesky extension cord. Despite being battery operated, both machines operated exactly the same as their gas/electric counterparts. I didn’t feel like we gave up any power at all.
Having the freedom to move anywhere without having to readjust a cord meant I got all of the trimming and blowing (we blow our cutting clips off of the road, patio and driveway) done in record time.With 605 CFM of air volume and 115 MPH air speed, grass clippings or leaves don’t stand a chance. I used the same battery in both devices and still had plenty of power left when I was finished.
Both devices start with just the pull of a trigger in the handle and there is no wrestling with any pull cords. They are an easy to manage weight and easy to maneuver. I liked them so much I tossed them into the back of my car and brought them over to my parents’ house when I was taking care of their lawn while they were away!
For more information about Toro Force-Flex Yard Tools and specifically the new 60V battery-powered line, check out Toro.com/60V!
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