Ryobi is a go-to in the DIY and homeowner space for a reason—they have tons of tools for just about any task. Today, I’m going to show you five Ryobi electric yard tools that every homeowner should have in their garage and why.
40V attachment-capable string trimmer
Stop worrying about gas and oil
I’ve used my fair share of both gas and electric string trimmers in the past, but there’s nothing quite like a quality attachment-capable electric string trimmer.
It used to be that you needed a gas-powered string trimmer to get any real oomph when weed eating or running attachments. Modern battery-powered systems, like Ryobi’s 40V platform, can offer near-gas-like performance without any of the downsides.
For instance, electric-powered string trimmers don’t need gas, oil, spark plugs, or air filters. All they need is the battery charged when you’re done. I love this as it means I don’t have to run to the gas station to fill up a gas tank to then fill the string trimmer up. Or, worse yet, buy pre-mixed 50:1 2-cycle fuel.
Just make sure whatever string trimmer you get is attachment-capable. Being able to switch out the string trimmer head for a pole saw, edger, or anything else is very convenient.
40V Whisper Series leaf blower
It’s lighter than a gas blower and easier to use than a plug-in one
Leaf blowers are actually quite versatile, and having a battery-powered one makes it even more useful.
Ryobi’s 40V Whisper Series leaf blowers have quite a bit of power. There are several models in the lineup, with up to 800 CFM of airflow as options. This means that the leaf blower can do more than just blow leaves around.
You could use the leaf blower to clear grass clippings after mowing the yard, tidy up the patio, or even dry a vehicle after washing it.
As a woodworker, one of my main uses for a leaf blower is to blow the sawdust out of my garage-based workshop when I’m done with a project. It works better than my air compressor and doesn’t tether me to a wall.
18V ONE+ pruning shears
Stop straining your hands to cut branches
I grew up helping my mom do yard work, and we had several different types of pruning shears, from small handheld ones to large loppers. The problem with manual shears is that they definitely wear your hands out after a while.
Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ pruning shears use the same battery as your drills and other tools, but make the action require just the pull of a trigger to cut branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter.
Now, that might not be the largest capacity out there, but it’s perfect for smaller jobs like trimming up bushes, hedges, or small limbs. Using a battery-powered pruning shear lets you save your energy for the bigger branches instead of getting worn out after dealing with the smaller ones.
18V ONE+ 700 PSI power cleaner
You probably don’t need that big pressure washer anyway
I have a big 1,800 PSI electric pressure washer, and it’s nice to have. I enjoy not having to deal with gas or oil, but it is a bit frustrating to use for smaller projects.
There are often times when I want to pressure wash something small, and I just don’t feel like lugging the big pressure washer out, getting an extension cord hooked up, and then putting it all back away when I’m done.
Ryobi’s latest 18V ONE+ handheld pressure washer is the ticket to solving that problem. It might not be as powerful as a bigger pressure washer, but you don’t always need that power. Cleaning off patio chairs, pressure washing the car, or other smaller jobs can easily be done with 700 PSI.
Plus, it’s battery-powered, so there’s no extension cord to get out or deal with. It’s even an all-in-one unit, so there’s no high-pressure hose or wand to deal with either as it’s all built-in.
18V ONE+ pole hedge trimmer
Dragging a cord to trim a hedge is a thing of the past
I’ll admit, the hedges at my house often go untrimmed. Not because I don’t have a hedge trimmer, but because I don’t care to lug out the extension cord to trim them.
If I had a battery-powered hedge trimmer, it would be a whole different story. Not having to get an extension cord out and lug it around takes an already tedious task and makes it slightly less tedious.
Plus, Ryobi’s pole hedge trimmer has a reach of up to nine feet, which lets you get to those hard-to-reach areas of your hedges. A single 2Ah battery, which is the smallest size of battery you’ll likely have, delivers over 40 minutes of usage on a single charge, too.
Ryobi’s expansive platform makes it an ideal choice for homeowners
Between Ryobi’s 18V and 40V battery platforms, you can accomplish just about anything you need as a homeowner. From simple DIY projects to full-on lawn care, you can do it all with the Ryobi platform, making home maintenance simpler than having to keep up with multiple battery brands and chargers.