Best Reviewed Tools: Olympic Edition
Picking the right tool is like choosing a car: the product should meet the individual's needs. For example, a family with eight children isn't going to buy a compact car to transport their hungry kids to the local buffet. In the same way, choosing a corded leaf blower to tackle a 10-acre lot isn't the most logical choice. Its all about purchasing a tool that can perform the best for your job(s) and your budget.
With the passing of the London 2012 Olympics, I feel it's appropriate to hand out some medals to the best reviewed tools in their respective categories. I present to you, an Olympic-themed review of the best tools you can buy in the following categories: 12-volt cordless drills, leaf blowers, riding lawnmowers, and string trimmers. One of our favorite sites, Popular Mechanics, have put these tools to the test.
Read the rest of the article to find out who comes out on top!
12-Volt Cordless Drill
As mentioned our previous article, a reliable cordless drill is must-have for all the DIYers out there. The 12-volt models offer a neat, compact body with a vastly improved run-time thanks to the new lithium-ion battery. Popular Mechanics based their results on performance, value, and battery life. Check out the entire article here to see the full report.
Gold: Milwaukee M12 2410-2
Silver: Dewalt DCD710S2
Bronze: Porter Cable PCL120DDC-2
Gas String Trimmer
In case you haven't noticed, here at eReplacementParts.com we like things with motors--and power. That's why we decided to skip over the electric string trimmer reviews and go right to the heavy-duty gas-powered trimmers. Not only do they offer more braun, gas-powered models are much more reliable for larger yards and help save you money on replacing batteries over the years. Take a look at all of the models and the full review here.
Gold: Echo SRM-225i
Silver: Hitachi CG22EASSLP
Bronze: Kawasaki KTF27B
Riding Lawnmower
Going hand-in-hand with the powerful gas trimmer, riding lawnmowers are the king when it comes to outdoor yard tools. They tackle large yards in less time than traditional lawnmowers, allow you to sit in comfort and can even come with cup holders for your beverage of choice (likely beer). Top-of-the-line models often sell for more than $5000 and are not priced low enough for many consumers to consider purchasing. That stigma is about to change. The review team over at Popular Mechanics tested four great riders under $2000 and found out that quality can come with low prices.
Gold: Husqvarna YTH21K46
Silver: Cub Cadet LTX 1045
Bronze: John Deere D110
Leaf Blower
The time of the year where leaves clog up your gutters and clutter your yard is rapidly approaching. Avoid your rake this season by checking out the eight best reviewed leaf blowers--all below $200--by Popular Mechanics. Their article will give you great insights on the good and the bad of each model. A common misconception with leaf blowers is that low air speed means less performance. They found in their research that just the opposite was true. Whether you're looking to buy a new model or simply want to learn more about the products, this article is a must read.
Gold: Stihl BG 55C
Silver: Husqvarna 125B E-Tech
Bronze: Echo PB-250
All of the reviews from Popular Mechanics were tested and performed by their staff to determine what tool would be a perfect match for you. Although some of the reviewed products received lower scores, the benefits of those models might outweigh the negatives and find their way into your shop. The biggest selling point for me on these products was the overall value. Or in other words, what gives you the most upside for the price.
Medal Count:
And the winner is.....
Coming in with the final tally of one gold and one silver!
Swing by our Husqvarna parts finder to find any replacement parts you might need.
Gold: Milwaukee M12 2410-2
Silver: Dewalt DCD710S2
Bronze: Porter Cable PCL120DDC-2
Gas String Trimmer
In case you haven't noticed, here at eReplacementParts.com we like things with motors--and power. That's why we decided to skip over the electric string trimmer reviews and go right to the heavy-duty gas-powered trimmers. Not only do they offer more braun, gas-powered models are much more reliable for larger yards and help save you money on replacing batteries over the years. Take a look at all of the models and the full review here.
Gold: Echo SRM-225i
Silver: Hitachi CG22EASSLP
Bronze: Kawasaki KTF27B
Riding Lawnmower
Going hand-in-hand with the powerful gas trimmer, riding lawnmowers are the king when it comes to outdoor yard tools. They tackle large yards in less time than traditional lawnmowers, allow you to sit in comfort and can even come with cup holders for your beverage of choice (likely beer). Top-of-the-line models often sell for more than $5000 and are not priced low enough for many consumers to consider purchasing. That stigma is about to change. The review team over at Popular Mechanics tested four great riders under $2000 and found out that quality can come with low prices.
Gold: Husqvarna YTH21K46
Silver: Cub Cadet LTX 1045
Bronze: John Deere D110
Leaf Blower
The time of the year where leaves clog up your gutters and clutter your yard is rapidly approaching. Avoid your rake this season by checking out the eight best reviewed leaf blowers--all below $200--by Popular Mechanics. Their article will give you great insights on the good and the bad of each model. A common misconception with leaf blowers is that low air speed means less performance. They found in their research that just the opposite was true. Whether you're looking to buy a new model or simply want to learn more about the products, this article is a must read.
Gold: Stihl BG 55C
Silver: Husqvarna 125B E-Tech
Bronze: Echo PB-250
All of the reviews from Popular Mechanics were tested and performed by their staff to determine what tool would be a perfect match for you. Although some of the reviewed products received lower scores, the benefits of those models might outweigh the negatives and find their way into your shop. The biggest selling point for me on these products was the overall value. Or in other words, what gives you the most upside for the price.
Medal Count:
And the winner is.....
Coming in with the final tally of one gold and one silver!
Swing by our Husqvarna parts finder to find any replacement parts you might need.
WRITTEN BY
EREPLACE CONTENT TEAM
Comprised of creative, experienced video producers, writers, and graphic designers, the eReplacementParts.com Content Team is focused on using their diverse knowledge base to create high-quality informative content to achieve our simple mission: Help the world fix things. Whether it be through tips, guides, or hacks, we ensure that every piece of content includes only expert knowledge, to guarantee that you can do the job right the first time!
PUBLISHED ON
December 03, 2025