However, it also has its flaws, including a very noticeable lack of a safety key, and a self-propelling option that isn’t really worth using. If you don’t use the self-propel option anyway and practice careful mower maintenance, then these issues can be greatly reduced. Press the power button and then pull back on the bail bar to start things spinning. The self-propel drive motor works separately from the blades, so you can move the mower to and from your shed or garage as needed without expending more battery power than needed. There’s nothing wrong with that, though, and we like the additional capacity. It’s not quite up to the performance level of a farm and ranch chainsaw, but it’s much better than most homeowner gas saws we’ve used.
We took the Greenworks Pro 60V 25-inch self-propelled lawn mower out to see how it stacks up against the best mowers we’ve tested. Having used and appreciated the commercial 25-inch lawn mower from Greenworks, we loved how they transitioned that product into a consumer product. Now residential users have the option to choose between a traditional 21-inch mower and a wider 25-inch model with dual batteries. That can really shorten your mowing time on larger lawns. Get the 21-inch mower for lawns under 1/4-acre and get the 25-inch mower for anything larger.
The tools also have less vibration, allowing customers to use their outdoor power equipment for longer. Additionally, battery-powered equipment does not need to be winterized. A single nut holds each of the 23.75-inch cutting blades in place underneath the steel deck. Like the commercial version, the Greenworks Pro 60V 25-inch self-propelled lawn mower overlaps the blades to cover a full 23.75” cutting width. Each blade is smaller and weighs far less than any single blade sported by a standard 21-inch mower. That seems to give this mower an advantage in power though it must drive both blades at once.
These provide you with more control and maneuverability when steering your mower. Take a look at how easy it is to start your self-propelled lawnmower. Traditional ones have a recoil start with a pull rope.
The Optimow 50H did a fantastic job of keeping my entire lawn evenly trimmed. It was very quiet, never once wandered out of the perimeter, and navigated inclines and depressions in my lawn without issue. The sensors did their job, stopping the mower when it encountered garden barriers, tennis balls, and large fallen branches, and the Rain Guard feature worked as intended after a particularly heavy downpour. The machine is so quiet and features LED headlights.
The one thing that bugs me about battery-powered tools, is that there are no generic one-design-fits-all batteries. Each company has its own proprietary battery designs, so once you buy that first tool, you are locked into that brand if you wish to swap batteries. If you decide to mulch, there’s a safety plug that goes where the bag catches grass at the rear of the deck. Bagging requires that this plug be removed and the bag be inserted under a large lift-up door—much like every other mower available today. Designed for lawns of up to half an acre, the Optimow 50H measures 12.2 by 20.0 by 25.0 inches , weighs 26.4 pounds, and has an IPX5 water-resistance rating that means you can wash it off with a hose.