Is this the best electric mower for mid-sized lawns? This homeowner's EGO lawn mower review thinks so.
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EGO Lawn Mower Review: I Tried This Self-Propelled Mower and Was Shocked by Its Performance
Being a solo homeowner means I’m responsible for ALL of the chores. From cleaning the house to maintaining the lawn, it’s a lot of work, so I try to find the best tools to keep everything maintained. Although I eventually wanted to purchase one of the best robot lawn mowers to take on the job of mowing the lawn for me, I wanted to find a solid electric mower I could use in the meantime.
I tested the EGO Self-Propelled lawn mower to see if it’s up to standard and makes mowing the lawn less of a chore. After four cuts, it’s already better than my old push-mower and officially the newest addition to my time-saving tool stockpile. The EGO Self-Propelled lawn mower is officially my new favorite lawn tool and an option I confidently recommend to other homeowners looking for a powerful mower with all the bells and whistles
What is the EGO Self-Propelled Mower?
The EGO Self-Propelled lawn mower is a 21-inch 56-volt Lithium-ion Self-Propelled cordless lawn mower that is great for small to medium-sized lawns. From the EGO Power+ Line of cordless power tools, the EGO mower is advertised to have the “power and performance of petrol, but without the noise, fuss and fumes.”
After using the EGO mower, I can confirm that this is a powerful unit that lives up to the hype. This mower has an abundance of features, including LED lights, an impressive runtime, a self-propel feature and the ability to fold the mower to store compactly. Outside of features, this mower packs a punch and has simplified my mowing experience.
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
EGO POWER+ 21
EGO's 21-inch 56-volt cordless lawn mower is a powerful and easy-to-use mower that's perfectly suited for medium-sized lawns.
EGO Self-Propelled Mower Features
Pre-Assembled
The EGO Self-Propelled mower came pre-assembled and took less than 10 minutes to remove the secure packaging and adjust to my preference. As a note, the angle of the mower handle is adjustable, but the length is not since the handle must be fully extended for the unit to function. The battery arrived half-charged, and it took around 30 minutes to fully charge and get outside.
Ease of Use
The EGO Self-Propelled mower is extremely easy to use. The unit is lightweight and has smooth rolling wheels, allowing it to glide over your lawn. The handle deck includes instructions with photos to remind you to extend the handle fully, press the start button and then squeeze the bar to start mowing. The self-propel feature is also easy to use and only requires you to set your speed and squeeze one or both of the green handles to start. The mower didn’t have any issues getting over yard debris or raised areas in my yard and was able to easily take curves around trees and a fire pit.
Cutting Specifications
The EGO mower can customize both your cut type and style when mowing. This mower can cut in six heights ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 inches and can mulch, bag or discharge grass clippings from the side. I love the ability to change the way I cut to prioritize the health of my yard. When the grass is too long, I love raising the height and bagging any excess grass and then lowering the height and mulching the rest to help increase my soil health and reduce weeds. Switching between functions is simple and takes minimal time.
Battery Life
The EGO Mower comes with numerous battery configurations when purchasing your mower. For my lawn, I opted for the single 7.5Ah battery. This battery is a little heavier than other batteries I’ve used, coming in right around 6 pounds, but it packed a punch. The EGO brand prides itself on its batteries and includes many features within its battery line including keep-cool technology and fast charging.
The battery lasted me a full 40 minutes while using the self-propel feature on a lower to medium setting, and just under 50 minutes when I used the feature on low. My yard is mostly flat so using the self-propel feature on its fastest setting isn’t needed, but if I had more hills, I would expect the battery to last 30+ minutes on the highest speed. If you do have a yard that has more hills, I would recommend getting a backup battery to account for the use of the self-propel feature. The one thing I don’t love about the EGO battery is the cost-it’s expensive compared to other electric mowers on the market so purchasing a backup can be pricey.
Extra Features
The EGO mower has a few extra features outside of its amazing battery life and versatility. This includes independently controlled LED lights for added visibility, the ability to fold for compact storage between cuts and up to a 5-year warranty on the unit itself.
How We Tested It
After a few weeks of higher-than-normal temperatures, I was able to put the EGO mower to the test on the first mow of the season. That was followed by three additional mows after a week of rain that resulted in thick grass and some exploding clover patches in my yard. While my medium-sized yard is mostly flat, I do have some small hills in my backyard, a ton of trees and a firepit that always seemed to be a nuisance to cut around with my old mower, so I made sure to check the EGO mower’s maneuverability with these obstacles.
Cut Quality
The most important aspect of a mower is how well it cuts your lawn. With as many cut options as this mower has, I was already expecting a good cut but was still surprised by just how great it was. The first time using this mower was my first lawn cutting of spring, so the grass and weeds were overgrown and things were a mess. Despite that, the ECO Mower cut through everything like butter. Even when hitting the worst parts of my lawn that would have choked up previous mowers, I had no issues with the EGO mower. The cut on my lawn was even and clean, and after my fourth mow, I’m still just as impressed.
Maneuverability
With my yard having multiple obstacles, maneuverability is very important. To test the maneuverability, I pushed this mower to all the problem spots to see how it would do. The wheels spun smoothly and handled pits and roots like a champ. This mower has a great turn radius, and didn’t give me any issues when making my way through the trees and around the fire pit. Plus, the mower is surprisingly light, clocking in at a dainty 62 pounds—an impressive 10 pounds lighter than my old gas mower—which made it easy to push.
Speed
The self-propulsion feature is a fantastic way to make mowing your lawn less of a chore. The EGO Self-Propelled mower provides variable speed propulsion ranging from 1.3 MPH to 3.1 miles per hour. This is a huge help on hills and is a great way to make the work on flat laws go faster.
Pros
- Solid tool for a competitive price. The features and build of a more expensive mower for a mid-tier price
- Handle-mounted controls and lights make maneuvering the mower comfortable and easy
- LED headlight helps improve visibility
- Ability to fold for compact storage
Cons
- The self-propel feature while helpful, decreases the runtime drastically if used on the highest setting
- Extra batteries are expensive compared to other brands
FAQ
Can EGO mowers cut wet grass?
On their website, EGO answers this question stating, “In theory, there’s no safety issue from a battery-operated EGO lawn mower but there are a few reasons why you should avoid using it while the grass is wet.” The reasons range from lawn or mower damage to a very low risk of electrocution, so we suggest you don’t mow wet grass and instead wait for your lawn to try.
How many years will an EGO battery last?
On their website, EGO confirms, “Due to their high capacity, all EGO batteries can be stored unattended for a minimum of 10 years without damaging capacity and cycle performance.” In addition, EGO offers up to a 3-year battery warranty when registered within 30 days of purchase.
Are EGO and Ryobi the same?
EGO and Ryobi are not the same and are owned and produced by different companies. Ryobi is owned by Techtronic Industries, which also owns Milwaukee tools, while EGO is owned by Chervon which owns other popular tool brands like FLEX and Skil/Skilsaw. It’s an easy mistake to make, though, since the brands have a similar green and black color scheme,
What other reviewers and experts have to say
The EGO mower has extremely positive reviews, earning it a 4.6/5 star rating on Amazon with over 1,500 ratings. Many mention that the mower cuts well and is high quality, and they enjoy the ability to choose between the mulching, bagging or expelling options.
Experts also give very positive feedback when it comes to the EGO mower. Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love says, “This is a great lawn mower. EGO has the top-rated battery platform due to its battery’s durability and performance. ARC Li-ion batteries have a shock-resistant design, and they rarely overheat.” He continues, “The mower’s 56-volt ARC Li-ion battery combines with a high-efficiency brushless motor to give it 6 foot-pounds of cutting torque. It’s the ideal mower for carbon-conscious homeowners with flat lawns up to one-half acre, and it’s one of the best lawn mowers at its price point.”
EGO Self-Propelled Mower vs. Ryobi 40V Mower
After trying both the EGO Self-Propelled mower and the Ryobi 40V mower, I don’t think there’s much of a competition. In all categories other than price, I believe the EGO is superior for those with a mid-sized lawn. The EGO has a superior motor (56V vs. 40V HP) which allows for more power when cutting your lawn. That paired with its upgraded 7.5Ah battery compared to Ryobi’s 5.0Ah means you’re spending less time charging, as well as fewer stops to re-charge your battery. EGO’s additional features, including its ability to fold for compact storage and powerful LED lights, are bonuses for this highly efficient unit.
If you have a smaller yard or budget, the Ryobi mower still has features that could make it an option. In fact, Ryobi made our list of the best mowers for small yards. If you’re looking for a mower with more power, a longer battery life and better ease of use, the EGO is well worth the extra money.
Final Verdict
Overall, I believe this mower is one of the best options available at this price point. It checks all the boxes to make mowing the lawn easier and less of a chore. Not only is the EGO Mower priced competitively in the market, but it includes more features and abilities than other mowers. Since trying, I’ve decided I’m no longer willing to live without those bonus features. The multiple cutting and disposal options of this mower, along with its ease of use and added LED visibility, I don’t know what this mower can’t do. I’ve tested multiple electric mowers, and this is at the top of my list. My final verdict? I love it.
Where to Buy the EGO Self-Propelled Mower
VIA MERCHANT
We Tried It
EGO POWER+ 21
EGO's 21-inch 56-volt cordless lawn mower is a powerful and easy-to-use mower that's perfectly suited for medium-sized lawns.
The EGO Self-Propelled mower is available online at Lowe’s and Amazon. At Lowes, the mower is available without the battery and charger for $499, or for $699 with the battery and the charger. If you don’t have an EGO-compatible battery for other tools, it is a much better deal to buy the combination deal, since the 7.5Ah battery separately is sold for $399.
At Amazon, the mower is only sold as a package deal with the mower, battery, and charger. It is usually listed for $649, though we have seen the price drop to $549 a few times a year. If you don’t need a mower immediately, waiting for a sale could get you a killer deal.
