Kobalt KM2180B-06 80-Volt Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review
The durable Kobalt KM2180B-06 80-volt cordless electric lawn mower has a 21-inch cutting deck and comes with two 80-volt batteries that only take about a half-hour to charge. The batteries are easy to put in and remove. Mowers can choose from seven cutting heights, and all it takes to adjust the deck is moving a single lever forward or backward on one wheel. Speaking of wheels, the front ones on this mower are 8 inches, and the rear ones are 10 inches for easy pushing. Everything about this mower is easy, whether you’re taking the bag on and off, installing the mulcher lock, or snapping on the side-discharge chute (yes, it’s a 3-in-1 mower).
Overall, this cordless mower is an excellent option for those who are thinking about the environment and want to kick the habit of using the typical gas-powered mower. The batteries last an impressive amount of time, the cutting quality and mulching option of the mower are impressive, and the astounding five-year warranty is definitely something to consider.
Key Features
- Powerful 80-volt MAX push-button mower has two 2.0 Ah batteries that offer impressive power
- Included quick charger lets you charge one battery as you’re mowing with the other for continual cutting
- Brushless mower maximizes run time and provides extended motor life
- Easy push-button starting
- Handle-folding system offers vertical storage and easy, compact transport
- Generous five-year warranty
- Lightweight 58 pounds
- Cutting height ranges from 1-⅜ inches to 3-⅜ inches
Performance
The adjustable handle has an ergonomically designed foam grip that makes mowing a pleasure. It’s curved nicely so it’s easy on the hands. And whatever slight vibration there might be is stifled thanks to the comfortable grip. This is a smooth-moving, lightweight mower that is also very quiet. So say one of your little ones is running around the yard while you’re mowing. You’ll be able to hear him or her and then be able to stop mowing, ask them politely to get out of the yard while you’re doing your job, and continue on with no problem. Honestly, even if you hate cutting the grass, there’s something about this mower that may reinvigorate you to actually want to mow–at least until we start reaching those dog days of summer days when the temps are regularly over 90 degrees.
Keep in mind that the taller your grass is, the harder the battery will have to work. Also, while this mower does offer the mulching option, if you’ve got tall grass, you’re still going to see long clippings even in mulching mode. Nonetheless, this is not the type of mower that will stall (if you set the cutting height sensibly), and operators shouldn’t struggle with it in the least because the power of the mower boosts itself up when mowing conditions get tougher.
On really tall grass, 8 inches or so, the Kobalt 80-volt is much tougher to move if you’ve got the height setting on one. At this deck level it could possibly stall out because too much grass will get under the deck. Nonetheless, it’ll still chop the mess down even at that low cutting height. On tall grass, the mower does really well at a cutting height of four and won’t stall out. Operators can experiment with the deck height to see which level works best for them.
Ease of Use
Once the battery is charged and installed, the Kobalt 80-volt starts right up in two easy steps: You push a button and pull back the handle on the handlebar. Adjusting the deck height is super simple with just one lever, and mowers can choose from seven settings. The handle is foldable, but unfortunately the middle of the handle has knobs that are required to turn to fold the top half down, which some might find to be a little backward in terms of design, especially considering this is overall a high-tech machine. The height of the handle can be adjusted to three heights so that folks of all sizes can walk comfortably behind this mower. If you choose to bag the clippings, the bag is easy to remove and put back on, and grass will fall right out of it when you’re ready to dump it. Some bags can be clumpy, but this one isn’t.
When you’re done mowing, the Kobalt 80-volt can be stored upright, or the handles can be completely folded in, for easy, out-of-the-way storage.
Cut Quality & Options
A great feature of the Kobalt 80-volt is that it comes with two batteries that take about 30 minutes to charge. If you’ve got a yard that’s one-fourth of an acre, one battery should get you through most of it mowing on grass that’s wet and at medium height. Yes, this blade can handle wet grass. Under normal mowing conditions, you could probably get through a quarter-acre yard on one battery. Under thicker patches, the Kobalt 80-volt kicks into a higher gear to slice through the roughage.
The Kobalt 80-volt is ideal for land that’s one-third of an acre or less. You’ve got seven easy-to-adjust cutting heights and a comfortable, ergonomically designed handle. Watch out, because the deck can get clumped with grass if the cutting height is set too low. So make sure you have a high enough cutting height to that the blade keeps spinning. With electric lawn mowers, it’s important to release the start-handle if you notice the machine getting clogged. If you don’t, you may damage the mower.
Maintenance
General maintenance tips for this electric include cleaning it regularly, including underneath the deck; inspecting the blade from time to time; storing it in a clean, dry location; and servicing it when needed. Check the owner’s manual for all maintenance suggestions.
Safety Features
For safety purposes, the Kobalt 80-volt has a two-stage starting process in which operators must push the start button and then pull back the handle.
Special Features
This high-tech mower has many great functions including:
- Easy two-stage starting
- Bagging, mulching, and side discharge
- Seven, easy to adjust cutting heights
- Two 80-volt lithium-ion batteries that can last up to 60 minutes
- Highly efficient brushless motor
- Short battery-charging times
- Battery-light indicators on charger and on mower
Cost Effectiveness
This is a high-tech mower that offers good options such as two long-running batteries, 3-in-1 mowing options, a nice lightweight design, an adjustable handle, and an impressive blade that is able to slice through even wet, thick grass with no problem. Keeping those options in mind, remember that this self-propelled, battery-operated mower will never require you to shell out money for gas and some of the other high-maintenance needs of gas-powered mowers. Anyone who’s used an electric knows that they’re nice and clean compared to gas-powered guzzlers. This one has a five-year warranty to boot.
