Comments on: Neutons Rule

By: Tickie Young

Tickie Young — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:20:28 +0000

I have this same mower and it works for me. No nasty gas smells on me or in the garage. Just pop a fresh battery in, squeeze the handle and go. I have two batteries but seldom use the second. I am over 60 and do my lawn for the exercise once a week or whenever I see an area I’d like to trim a little better. I do wish the machine had more width, but like the convenience two in one when you attach the trimmer to the mower. It also has a safety key to insert before the mower will engage . As for the squeeze handle it has its pros and cons, but I feel it needs to be improved in the next generation of the model. I never get hand cramps and it is instant safety when you let go since it stops. After a year and a half it’s more than paid for itself and it’s eco-friendly.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the Neuton, Tickie. I wonder if they’ve improved the handle on the newest model. I’ll have to track down a local dealer some time and check it out.
-Nan

By: jeff-naturehills

jeff-naturehills — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:29:13 +0000

Looks like a great machine. Next summer I’m going to be in the market for a new lawnmower and the Neuton will be considered. I agree it does look a little dorky.

I’ve noticed that they tried to streamline the appearance of the newer Neuton model, but I can’t help but think it still looks toy-like. The thing works, though, so I try not to dwell on its aesthetic appeal (or lack thereof).
-Nan

By: Nancy Bond

Nancy Bond — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:53:44 +0000

Thanks for the review — it looks like a versatile machine! When I think that it costs my Dad $33 to fill a 5 gal gas can, the electric mower makes perfect sense for smaller lawns, especially.

You’re right, Nancy. At my old place, I had a tiny lawn, and I loved using a reel-type push mower to maintain it. Here, that’s simply not an option. But the cordless electric mower has been a great compromise.
-Nan

By: our friend Ben

our friend Ben — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:58:40 +0000

Wow, Nan, this is great! And thanks for the close-up pictures; it really helps to see exactly what you’re talking about, especially for clueless Luddites like me. I agree with you, though, I’m shocked that they’d make you compress the handle to keep the mower running. Even when I’m pumping gas for the car, I’ve noticed that I have to really pay attention to keep the same amount of pressure on the handle or I’ll unconsciously start easing up. If you can maintain steady pressure for an hour, your hand strength must be phenomenal!

Yeah, you don’t have to squeeze hard, but the handle’s a bit wide, and I think that’s why it’s tiring after a while. As long as you have two hands on it, it seems fine. But if you’re using only one, it’s very easy to loosen up your grip.
-Nan

By: Kitt

Kitt — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:36:03 +0000

I have a corded electric mower (Craftsman) that I like very much. I got it maybe 8 years ago, when rechargeable batteries were a more iffy proposition. I figured the hassle of the cord was better than the hassle of having to replace the battery. It has worked great for me. I’ve got a super-long cord and can get the whole yard done in short order.

Another advantage to electric mowers: They’re very light, so if you have to mow on a hill, go up or down stairs, or even put it in the car to lend to a friend, you can do that by yourself. The handle on mine folds down for compact storage.

Thanks for chiming in, Kitt. Great point about the weight. I think the Neuton is about 30 pounds without the battery (about 45 with it), and it too has a handle that can fold down. So winter storage, and transport, too, is very easy.
-Nan

By: Lisa at Greenbow

Lisa at Greenbow — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:20:56 +0000

I have a couple of battery powered lawn implements and I do like them. I have extra batteries and with no more than I used a blower and a string trimmer I really like them. I can imagine how convenient a battery mower could be. I am such a weenie that I don’t do much of the mowing and most here is done on a rider. Now if they get a riding mower that workes like a golf cart that would be the ticket for us.

Brilliant, Lisa – a hybrid golf-cart/mower! That could revolutionize the golf course business. Now, how to get the golfers to drive evenly over the course…?
-Nan

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:54:58 +0000

I got a black and decker cordless electric as a wedding present from my folks last summer (yippee, huh?). But I was dead set on not having to deal with a gas mower. I looked at the Neuton and was very turned off by its cutting deck width. My b&d is 19″, and every minute I ain’t mowing is, as you say, better used in the garden. It takes me 45 minutes to mow my front and back, and if it’s wet, I have a few strips left cuz the mower gives out. That’s the big annoyance. Anyway, as with the Neuton, it’s pricey. I’m very happy with the b&d, and though it ain’t super quiet, it iss about like a vacuum cleaner–my wife can’t hear me mow from inside, and I can feel smug when the neighbor mows at 7am and wakes me. Hope it continues to work well for you.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Benjamin. We should have shopped around, I guess, but we really do like this company, and Mom felt that this mower would be a comfortable size for her to use too. If I’d known that I’d end up using it to do almost all of my mowing, and if they’d had the 19-inch model available at the time, I definitely would have chosen that one.
-Nan