Amazon.com Review

As any gardener knows, even the best-laid plans for spending a day with the soil can be ruined by the necessity for repeated trips to the house or shed for the proper equipment. With the Step 2 Garden Hopper, however, it's possible to pack everything you need for a full day's gardening and take it all wherever you go. The Garden Hopper features an extremely sturdy seat that's just high enough to offer a comfortable perch yet low enough to keep you close to your garden. While a molded carrying handle is included within the seat itself, the Hopper's 7-inch wheels make it simple to scoot about without rising. With its sturdy double-wall construction, the Garden Hopper is strong enough to take a lot of rugged treatment. Beneath the seat is a large storage space, perfect for holding your gloves, tools, seeds, cellular phone, and other accessories you may need. In addition, this handy garden helper includes a built-in holder for a 12-ounce beverage, eliminating the need to run back into the house for refreshment. The Garden Hopper measures about 14 inches tall, 12.5 inches wide, and about 22 inches long. --Benjamin Reese ... Read more

Features

• Sturdy double-wall construction
• Work seat with 7" smooth rolling wheels for easy mobility
• Handle is molded into the seat for easy transport
• Large storage shelf for tools and gloves as well as a 12 oz. beverage holder
• Constructed Garden Hopper measures 23" long, 13" wide and 12.5" high

Reviews (7)

Small storage area for tools, seat and cupholder are great.
This is a sturdy cute little addition to my gardening tool collection. The seat is perfect for clipping grass around flower beds. The cup holder is a wonderful idea, now I finish my margaritas not the roses. A warning though, the storage area under the seat is very small. Even a small hand weeder will stick out.

Some good features BUT
This thing is amazingly lightweight, yet incredibly strong. For us old geezers, it's built a bit low to the ground and doesn't move well over grass or dirt when you're sitting on it (if your garden is cement ... never mind).
My two major comments are that my five year old loves the thing to ride around on. He also loves it because, despite the lid being closed, if you leave it out in the rain or snow, it fills with water. thus imitating those little naked cherubs in the fountains when he rides the front wheels over the edge of the sidewalk. Tinkle like a race horse, indeed! But, very funny in a juvenile sense of humor.
So, if you place things inside the Garden Hopper, they will get wet and rusted if metal and ruined if leather (like garden gloves, say). Several items made by Step 2 for kids have better waterproof lids. Just watch at bath time. Wrong engineering for the wrong products, maybe?
I'd look around for better designed products or "always store your stuff out of the rain" as my dad would say.
John Row

Portable, Yet Solid
All you have to do is pick this thing up to know that it's hollow plastic parts. And all you need to do is sit on it once to know that this is one solid little stool.

The manufacturer's catalog that came in the box shows that their other products are children's toys that are built for punishment, yet no so dangerous that they'd crush a child. They've carried that same quality construction through to this little stool.

The wheels are a little on the small side to carry my 230-lb body across a patch of healthy lawn with ease, but it wasn't so difficult that I would have to stand up and move it, either.

I find it a tad inconvienent to reach under the seat to get to tools. There is a cup holder on the outside, but it's design is such that it isn't good for anything but cups or cans. The one thing I'd like to see here is some other sort of outside storage for tools instead of the cup holder.

The all-weather plastic means you can leave it outside, but it's lightweight design means you can store it on an upper shelf, too.

All in all, the solid, but lightweight construction makes this one a keeper.

Great Garden Helper!
I must admit that this was somewhat an impulse purchase, it appeared in my Gold Box and I bought it. It is a great help around the garden. I find that it works best on the sidewalk beside the garden. If I try to sit on it and scoot around the garden, it tends to get stuck. It also works well as a small, mobile table when planting items into my garden. The handy storage area under the seat is a great place to keep garden tools, however it does not provide for drainage, so gloves, metal implements proably should not be stored there.

No more sore back.
This was a gift for the person who does the gardening here. Days spent in flowerbeds were always followed by nights spent in painful spasm. This handy little rolling seat gets you to the right height to work in the garden without having to bend and stoop all day. It rolls easily enough and includes a beverage holder for your water bottle and space enough for several gardening tools. It's been sturdy enough so far and looks like it will last a while. Who knew one of the best gifts would be as simple as a nice place to sit down? ... Read more

Features

• Includes NST2018, NHT518, NS118, 3-18 volt batteries, a 3-port charger, the storage station and all wall mounting hardware
• Easily mountable storage station that makes all three products easily stored
• All products use the same 18-volt batteries
• Battery charger can charge all 3 included batteries at the same time
• Part of the Black and Decker 18-volt products' system

Reviews (5)

Black & Decker CCC3000 does what it says it'll do
I have an acre lawn with lots of landscaping, and this is perfect for my needs. It does take more than one battery pack to trim my whole yard, but with 3 interchangable packs, it is no challenge for it. And with 18 volts, the power provided is more than adequate for the yard. The blower is powerful and makes my yard look much neater, and the hedge trimmer is great. Along with an edge hog electric edger I purchased this year, I have all the tools to make a manicured lawn. You can't beat the price of this set of tools either. All 3 items can be purchased seperatly, but you'd pay quite a bit more for them doing that.

Does Just What I Want
Tried all three units. The guard on the trimmer serves as a trim guide. The trimmer cuts through the suckers that sprout at the base of harvested trees. The blower is just fine for clearing debris from the porch and deck. Can't get much easier. Don't worry much about dead batteries. With the three supplied, normal use is not a problem. If I REALLY want heavy duty (for the few times I need it) gas is the way to go. But who wants the stink and bother?? For the price I paid, my son was amazed the wacker had an auto line feed.

Great tools, great convenience
The tools themselves worked great. I was pleasantly surprised at how powerful the blower was. The line trimmer did an acceptable trimming job, and actually did great at the edging work. The hedge trimmer make quick work of my low hanging tree branches.

I loved the convenience of the two hanging units, one for the tools themselves, and one for the charging unit. Helps to keep an organized garage.

Highly recommend this set for the typical homeowner.

very happy and pleased
Have used this set for the first time the other day and am very happy to say all three tools work great. the ease of use of cordless is just fantastic! The trimmer worked great on ivy and though I feel a little like I sold out with the blower (can't stand the pollution; noise and exhaust) it is quiet and if used responsibly is great to have for those hard to reach/sweep areas. I would highly recommend.

great "bang for the buck" for the AVERAGE home-owner
for the owner of a "modest" yard,..this is an INCREDIBLE bang for the buck. the weed trimmer and the hedge trimmer did their jobs excellently and the sweeper exceeded my expectations to the Nth degree. ALL THREE tools were up-to-the-task of trimming, hedging, edging and sweeping. i was MOST concerned about battery life. i manicured my entire yard with ALL THREE tools with nary a gasp from the battery (15-20 minutes use from each,..NOT counting pauses between "uses"). the package comes with a 3-station battery charger AND a "hanging station" for all three tools (PLUS,..you can pick up an extra 18 volt battery or two at your local megastore IF you need it [for large yards]). i could not be happier.....weeds and grass got whacked, my various hedges got trimmed AND my carport and driveway were cleared of debris in a matter of moments. AND....THE NOISE....DID I MENTION THE NOISE??? THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY QUIET, NEIGHBORHOOD-FRIENDLY POWER TOOLS. i am quite satisfied and would HIGHLY recommend the CCC3000 kit to ANYONE with "fairly" modest lawn care needs. ... Read more

Features

• Lightweight design makes it easy to use by most everyone
• 12-inch cut path cuts more area per charge than other cordless trimmers
• AFS System uses centrifugal force to automatically advance line
• Two 18-volt NiCad battery packs provide plenty of run-time per charge
• Telescoping shaft adjusts for perfect length

Reviews (9)

Fantastic and easy
I bought this for my father who is approaching 70 years old. It is very light and very easy to use. We have burmada on our lawn. The first time we used it, there was a lot of growth so it took three batteries to finish his lot. I do have to point out that he had very bad technique. After I showed him a better way to do it, it worked more efficiently and now if he or I use it once a week, I may be able to get by with one battery. Because it inverts, I can do 40 feet in about 30 seconds, if you edge frequently and don't have massive growth. Just don't push it too close to anything you are try to get rid of, it slows it down and it doesn't work properly and the line won't come out. It has a 12inch area so remember to utilize that. I've also have edge and trimmed the yard 9 times this summer already and I still haven't used the spool of line yet. With our gas one the work would take about 45 minutes and I would have sore back from the extra weight. Now I complete my work in less than 15 minutes. This has been a pleasure to use.

Absolute Junk.
Hey There -
I just returned mine after only one use. The box says it will cut 1/2 with one charged battery. WHO's 1/2-acre were they cutting?!? Not my lawn, which is less than a 1/2-acre. I had to do half the job one day, recharge both batteries, and finish the job the next day. The spool was out when I'd finished. The box says "Gets The Job Done." It most certainly did not.
I called B&D Customer Service, and they agreed, the battery life is 15 minutes per battery, fully charged (maybe 20 at the most). Is that enough time for YOU to get "the job done"? Not me. I was really excited but it turned out to be a complete bust.

Very decent for basic use
I think this is perfect for someone who really:
1) dislikes the noise and smell of the gas trimmers
2) wants something fairly light
3) does not want a cord to always worry about
4) already has firestorm or B&D 18 volt products (batteries are interchangeable)

I have used all 3 types of trimmers, gas, 120 wired, and this cordless one and I have to say the convenience is great. Instant on with a press of the switch is great. The plastic is a bit cheap feeling but it seems to do the work. I think it could've been much better constructed, but the battery life is pretty impressive and the speed/torque of the trimmer is also pretty impressive on a well grown/groomed lawn. It did have a bit of trouble instantly tackling a thick busy section of grass but after going over it 2-3 passes...it took care of it. This same spot has given me trouble even with the corded 120 volt version from Toro so this was expected. The gas one I had chewed through it easily but that's gas...

I think for light to moderate work, it's fine. If you have thorny and thick undergrowth or even small plants with a fibrous stem, it'll take more work to get down than a gas.

Oh..if you even TRY to 'bump and feed' this unit, you will find the spool falls off VERY easily with a solid thump to the bottom (THAT was a pain in the as* as it flew off and unwound a ton of filament that I had to rewind by hand and figure out how to put it back on!

If you have 18 volt black and decker goods like I do, then you'll REALLY like having the two extra batteries and one extra charger. I have 4 batteries and 2 chargers amongst all the goodies now so I know i'll always have more than enough juice for anything around the house.

I would vote 5 stars, but the plastic has a cheapy feel.

B & D cordless string trimmer
My parents are getting up there and we sibs continually look for the simpliest and easiest yard tools for them to use, rather than hire others to do the things that they still want to do on their own. This trimmer fits the bill; it's easy to use, light-weight, no gas/oil, no electric cords, no bumping.
They love doing their own yard-work. This is certainly much quicker and efficient for them than other methods of trimming that they have used.
It was a great Father's Day gift !!

Light weight and easy to operate.
I am a single senior who just can't manage the gas trimmer any more. So I purchased the Black and Decker grasshog and am amazingly surprised on how easy it is to operate. I had no problem assembling it, it is light and easy to handle. The two batteries lasted for my half acre. If it lasts only two years, it will be worth it. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year warranty
• PowerGear design maximizes leverage for increased pruning power
• Replaceable ultra-hardened steel blade is designed to stay sharp longer
• 3/4-inch cutting capacity is perfect for pruning green growth
• Reinforced nylon handles engineered for strength and lightness

Reviews (20)

So far, so good
We just bought our first house, and along with it a few trees, a lot of shrubs, and a couple dozen rosebushes, so I needed something good and easy-to-use. After sampling the options in the local hardware store, I decided these were the most comfortable, easiest to use, and seemingly best mechanism of the bunch. I've only been working with them for a month, but they're performing well so far.

The hold-closed latch is easy and well-placed (though it is easy to pop it unlatched if you stuff the clippers in your back pocket), the grip width is adjustable with a set screw (so small hands don't have to suffer), and the blade spread is admirable for a hand-held pruner (though adjusting the grip width does take a little off the blade spread too). The spring and other critical mechanical components are well shielded, so you won't be gumming them up with debris easily. It cuts through the rose pruning like butter and even gets through thick woody dead stuff with only a little effort. The rotating handle makes a huge difference in the comfort level, especially when cutting the the thick woody stuff.

They say buy the best you can afford, and these certainly seemed like the best option to me, and they weren't even that expensive. Certainly better to buy one pair of good pruners instead of three bad ones.

Great for small hands, light duty
Having read the reviews and being a gadget freak, I decided to get these. I figured the rotating lever would reduce the blister inducing rubbing my fingers experience when doing a lot of heavy pruning. And the power advantage would be a boon to my aging and no longer as strong hands.

Well, it does work as advertised; the finger abrasion is reduced and it requires less effort to cut a given branch with these compared to my trusty Felco pruners. BUT, two problems arose for me. First, due to the size of these pruners and the Powergear technology, the lever rotates my fingertips smack against my palm, and if I'm cutting a large branch with some serious squeezing, it does it hard enough to hurt! I do have fairly big hands, but I'm not Shaq. It is a serious annoyance for me. And second, it is not nearly as rugged as my Felco. It just isn't strong enough to cut larger woody branches that do fit between the blades and the Felco handles without strain. The cutting blade flexes and so the bypass cut doesn't happen and you have a partially cut branch with the pruners stuck in it.

I do like their precise feel for light to medium work, where I'm not squeezing hard enough to have either of the above problems. But I'd like to see Fiskars make a larger, heavier duty version of this technology. (I know they make a Powergear mini-lopper; I'd like to see a 20% bigger and heavier duty pruner)

Conclusion; if your hands aren't large and you don't intend to do heavy duty pruning, these are quite slick.

Sharp, strong, and oh so comfortable!
When I read the description, I still couldn't imagine how the handle could "rotate." But when it arrived in the mail it was obvious. I hadn't thought of it but, when one squeezes such a tool, one's fingers roll over the handle. And on this pruner, the rounded handle rolls with the fingers. This clever idea not only makes it more comfortable to squeeze, but the gearing incorporated into the design also makes it easier on the muscles.

I gave the new pruner a tough initiation by trimming some low redwood branches, and even though a few were a tad larger than the rated 3/4" -the tool bit right through them all. The grip was so comfortable, it didn't even seem like work.

Great Pruner
This is the best Pruner that I've used. They are very easy to use and feel really comfortable in you hands.

does this for a living
blades gum up easily after repetitive use. Need to keep spraying lubricant to keep blades from gumming up. Corona Professional bypass pruners are a bit more resistant to gumming. Otherwise, an excellent pruner. Love the teflon coated blades because it doesnt rust and is easy to clean. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With 225 mph of maximum force, the Toro Ultra Blower is a three-in-one machine--blower, vacuum, and leaf shredder--that's ready to rip through leaf-covered lawns with the power of a small hurricane. Better yet, you'll likely find it to be not only one of the most powerful lawn tools in your garage, but one of the most versatile as well. To facilitate the different uses, the blower comes with a quick-release latch for easy conversion as well as infinitely variable air control. In addition, the metal impeller mulches leaves with fearsome efficiency, reducing 16 bags of leaves down to a single bag. For those looking for a blower that'll make quick work of acres of matted-down leaves, Toro's Ultra Blower is up to the task. --Rivers Janssen ... Read more

Features

• Variable air control
• 225-miles-per-hour maximum air force will clear just about any lawn
• Metal impeller for efficient mulching
• Reduces 16 bags of leaves to 1
• Converts from blower to vacuum mode with no tools necessary

Reviews (22)

Good, but they skimped on the details.
I've used this for 6 months now. My primary interest was for its mulching of leaves, so I can compost them. I've run out of space in my woods, and throwing them away seems like a waste. I've used the blower too.

It works great sucking up leaves. The pieces are generally chipped to perhaps half to 1 fingernail in size. As to how much it reduces the volume, I took a mostly dry slightly overfull wheelbarrow full of leaves - and it was reduced to a little less than half-full after running it thru the machine. So that's roughly a 2:1 reduction, not 16:1, as Toro advertises. It's good enough for my needs, in terms of composting. (Mulching the leaves adds an extra 40 degrees of heat to the composting process, in a compost tumbler, 160 vs. 120 degrees.)

The blower works well too. The variable speed makes it easier to control where leaves go. I gathered leaves from one tree into a pile in 5 minutes, and vacuumed them up in another 10 minutes, filling (stuffing) one 39 gallon 'lawn & leaf bag' (so 2 bags worth, unshredded). I've also blown dirt, weeds, rocks, gravel and other crud off my driveway (2500 sq. feet) in a matter of ~10 minutes, which would take perhaps an hour to sweep by hand.

And I suspect, and was told in correspondence with a well-known Consumer's magazine, that the magnesium impeller should last a lot longer than other models, which are typically made of plastic. That was my primary reason for buying it. We'll see on that score. So far, its holding up.

Where Toro missed:
it doesn't do well with leaves that have virtually any amount of moisture to them IF they've decayed (meaning last year's). They jam up the outlet passage within 1-3 minutes (going in to the bag), as well as the crevice area around the impeller. You have to unplug it, undo the bag attachment, and access the impeller region, and fish around with your finger, digging out all the wet gunk which has been chopped in a very fine mess. Freshly fallen leaves which are wet don't cause this problem. Skimp # 1: Toro didn't bother to include some plastic gadget for digging out the stuff, so you scrape your knuckles quite a bit (I'm afraid of using a screwdriver and ruining the impeller).

Skimp # 2: the bag, the cord, and the handles seem backward to me. But then, I'm left handed, and most of the world seems backward to me. The vac is still quite useable, backward though it is, but Toro seems to have chosen to ignore 10% of the population that is left handed, which doesn't impress me.

Skimp #3: in that it's electric, you're chained to a cord. The owner's manual says not to go over 150' in length, and to use 14 gauge for that distance. I happen to like 12 gauge cord for long distances, and that's what I own - and the 'cord lock' (a piece of plastic on the handle) is not big enough to handle 12 gauge cord. C'mon Toro! What's it cost to make it a smidgeon bigger to handle a larger size extension cord??

Skimp #4: in converting from blower to vac or the other way around, you have to omit certain pieces of equipment from the machine, both large and small. There's no place to store them, on the machine. So, I suspect they'll be either easy to lose or misplace. Or a pain to keep track of. It would be far nicer if the small pieces were storable, and Toro had figured out a way to make the large pieces in such a way so that they could be left on the machine at all times (e.g. the blower has a bottom cover that has to be removed so the vac has access to the impeller. Why not have a sliding door for that cover piece?)

Skimp #5: the bag is tiny. It fills up in ~3 minutes, and that is 1/3 of a lawn and leaf bag. And your property involves how many lawn and leaf bags for you? i.e. A lot of stopping and emptying. One company's product, as I recall, has a set up where the vac empties in to a garbage can directly.

Overall, it does what I want and need, and I'm happy. But it's not without its faults, and I expected better from a company of Toro's reputation.

Toro 51598 Ultra Blower
I purchased this itme last year and have been very happy with it. Its so easy to use and it is very powerful. I don't even have to have the power on all the way and it gets the job done. I love that adjustable power knob. And it is true what the description says about it reducing 16 bags of leaves to 1. It has a stainless steel mulching blade. The only bad thing i have to say about it is that there is no different shaped attachments for different jobs. Other than that i recommend this blower to everyone, it is the best! It will also work with 200 feet worth of cord. I bought 2 100 feet cords, and the blower works fine.

Died in less than a year
I purchased this blower last summer. I did not use it very much and now it has burned out. I am trying to get the warranty honored by Toro's service centers. I will see if they will honor the two year warranty, but I would not buy this blower again. Less than a year of service and it burns out, that is lousy workmanship.

Ultra Blower Rocks It!
I can't get over how hard the Toro blows. I live in a forested villa where I often get mounds of leaves falling into my drive-way. It used to be a big problem, but with my Toro, those leaves practically jump off my driveway, screaming in terror. Also works well against my ex-wife when she asks for the child support. Ha ha! I would recommend this for anyone who hates leaves as much as I do. And no one hates leaves as much as I do. Especially in fall.

good blower
If you don't need a gas blower this does the job very well. I use it mostly for cleaning off the driveway and patio. It can of course work the leaves too. You'll be pleased. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Originally invented and marketed in Germany, the Garden Weasel is still an amazing garden tool, even after 15 years of "As Seen on TV" advertising here in the States. Its self-cleaning rotary cutters run crosswise against each other, meeting about 1-1/2 inches below the ground to break the surface soil and creating a fine till with their scissorlike action. Use this tool to break up soil in large areas or wide rows or to scarify soil for seeding. If you remove a few of the blades, you can work on exceptionally narrow rows or around plants. By using the short handle (included), you can work in greenhouses or rock gardens. Clearly, there are many uses for this tool--it's hard to imagine, but after all these years, it's still one of the best cultivators on the market. Ingenious design, versatile applications, and solid construction have kept this tool at the top for decades. --Ariel Meadow Stallings ... Read more

Features

• Loosens the soil and does the weeding
• Wheels run crosswise against each other
• Scissor action ensures that the soil is continually broken up and weeds uprooted
• Wheel prongs clean themselves of dirt automatically

Reviews (15)

It actually works pretty well.
I bought my Garden Weasel about eight or ten years ago at a local (now defunct) home store chain. At the time I'd been using an inexpensive mini-tiller that drank gas and oil and jammed up regularly, and a couple of hand cultivating tools that took a lot of effort for little result. Being the lazy sort I'm always a sucker for something that claims it'll do my work for me.

I tried it in my 20x20 vegetable garden, and you know, it actually works. It's not a tool for breaking up hard soil- but then, my cheap power rototiller didn't do that very well either. The Garden Weasel does one thing, and that is weed betwween the rows of a vegetable or flower garden, so long as you use it on a regular basis. Leave the garden for a month, and you may as well get out the machete and the heavy dutytiller. But used for its intended purpose, it's pretty good.

My veggie garden's best friend!
This tool is fantastic! It's dual handles, and detachable blades make it very versatile. The stainless steel blades clean up effortlessly under a house, or swished in a bucket of water (with no rust problems!) This tool saves your back, and knees from weeding your garden rows, and the small handle allows you to cultivate right up to the plant itself. Using the Garden Weasel once a week helps catch emergent weeds before they have a chance to root, and keep them from finding a home in your garden. The tines are 1.5 inches long, and will not harm your shallow rooted plants, like strawberries, etc. It does an excellent job of breaking up that top layer of soil, allowing water, fertilizer, and oxygen to help nourish your plants.

Good for preparing soil for planting, but not much else.
This tool works good at tilling soil before planting seed, but I have not found much use for it other than that. It definitely doesn't work on established weeds, I found that large weeds just got all tangled up in the spokes and jammed it.

It does what they say it does
It actually works pretty well. I was impressed.

It has a tendency to fall off the handle, and you should wear gloves when handling the blades, as they're pretty sharp.

What? What the ... negative four million...
I bought mine at sav-on ten years ago and it was useless. We have sand for soil on a vineyard in the Calif. Central Valley. The sand was either too soft and the blades didn't spin or the sand was packed and the blades didn't penetrate but just scratched at the surface. The "Blades" are not even remotely sharp. They are just the cheapest cast aluminum you could imagine. They had to have been a quarter of an inch in width at their sharpest edge. Also the "blades" have an inch give at least with their attachment point when you forced them down. This acted like a shock absorber so you couldn't muscle them into the ground! I considered this product a true piece of junk.

I sure hope they changed the product to get people to give this five stars... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Do your favorite gardener (or yourself) a favor and save knees with these deluxe garden kneepads. These extra-thick pads provide the ultimate protection from rocks and fatigue, and they conform to the contour of your knee. The wide straps are crafted from neoprene for comfort and durability, and the stitched-on rubberized cap provides protection on rocky terrain. Designed with a large surface area that is thicker than most kneepads, these are the ideal pads for landscaping or serious gardening. Two-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Two-year warranty
• Thick pads with rubberized padding
• Neoprene straps
• Conforms to contour of your knee
• Perfect for rocky terrain

Reviews (9)

Durable pads - horrible straps
Thee pads were great for me this past summer and fall. I used them to lay a cobblestone driveway. They really took a beating and the pads remained unscathed. The straps on the other hand are not so durable and one of the pads is near the end of its usefulness as the strap has almost seperated. To make matters worse, the neoprene does not breathe and your knees and backs of your legs will get sweaty in warm weather. All in all, a solid product that might not stand up to very hard use.

Super-durable and Very Comfortable
That about sums it up - these pads work great for any work in the garden or around the house. My only quibble is that you'll get pretty hot underneath the neoprene straps when working outdoors in the Summer.

The Pads For All Seasons
My wife and I bought a pair of these pads in the Spring of this year. We are carpenters and organic gardeners so we have gone through countless pads in the past: gel types, hard caps, neoprene, latex, etc. All of latter have never met our needs nor fulfilled our expectations.

The Fiskars Kneepads Plus are lightweight and truly do conform to our knees. We work them on hard concrete, slate, marble, rough gravel, and clay soils in total comfort. We are both right-kneed (prosaic license)and have worn out so many Carharts that we could start a second-hand store! Now our jeans last for much longer so these pads can actually save you bucks!

The Fiskars Plus pads also stay up and do not wrap around our knees. The padding causes very little sweating and dries quickly. The elastic and hook-loop fasteners have sagged a bit after so much use but my better half is also a seamstress and has re-sewn them to new condition.

It is a rainy Autumn morning as we now head to the garden to harvest our crops before the frost....Fiskars strapped in place.

Yea,They're Pretty Good
I'm a service tech for the local phone company. I spend a lot of time on my knees, stapling wire to base boards, crawling under houses, crawling in attics. These are the knee pads I use and I've used them about 2 years. These are light weight but have just enough padding to insulate your knee from rocks or hard surfaces. It's real strong suit is that when it's time to put them on or take them off, it's really easy and fast. Plus they stay on your knees(not migrating down towards your ankles). There are cushier pads around, and pads that insulate the rock shock better but they cost a lot more or they are time consuming to put on and take off. So for ease of use, cost, and reliability I don't think you can go wrong with these.

These are essential equipment for my oval office
These pads are SO good, they could be deemed "presidential." I recently used them when broke my leg at the ankle. When I wasn't using crutches or a wheelchair, I was getting around by crawling around on my hands and knees like a six-month old. (haha, fooled you, where did you think I was going with that opening sentence, you naughty person, you?)

When I am back on my feet (literally) I intend to use these to clean the floors (not done in months) and to remove the traces of my garden which has been destroyed by the drought. Or use them while praying to the rain gods. They will be handy indeed. ... Read more

Features

• Protection up to 1/2 acre
• Easy to Bury, low voltage (12v) power cord
• Silent and odorless, 24-hour protection against mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other biting insects
• No Flame
• 1 Year Warranty

Reviews (32)

If you have Asian Tiger Mosquitos
Don't use the Octenol cartridge for Asian Tiger Mosquitos because it repels rather than attracts them. Read and follow the placement directions.

After getting 6-15 bites by those nasty critters everytime I went into the garden and being held prisoner indoors for a few months, I decided to spend the bucks on the Defender. My husband was skeptical, but I was desperate.
Initially, it wasn't properly placed and I thought that I had made an expensive mistake. After we read the placement directions, viewed the CD and moved it to the recommended area of our yard, the Tiger mosquitos flocked to the Defender to dehydrate and die. We have won the battle with the Asian Tigers and now are using the Octenol cartridges to catch the everyday garden variety mosquitos.

We started using the Mosquito Magnet on July 1 and are very happy with the results. We still have some mosquitos and I get bitten every now and then, but I don't have to coat myself with OFF and I can enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the garden.

Works great for me!
I read these reviews before I bought a Mosquito Magnet Defender, and, though there seemed to be some disagreement as to whether this machine actually works, I found that Consumer Reports liked it, so I decided to shell out the money to buy one.
I just set up the machine in my backyard on July 3 after reviewing the placement assistant on the included instruction c/d. It was very easy to set up (once I had the propane tank, it took about half an hour including 20 minutes warm-up time). Mosquitoes started swarming around the machine after it had been running for an hour. In three days I've emptied the trap twice. I counted over 100 mosquitoes each time (a tip: open the trap in a plastic bag to prevent the live mosquitoes from flying out). I'm sure I that's a fraction of the probably three trillion mosquitoes living on my half-acre lot, but - hey - it's a dent.
I could actually go out on the deck today (in the rain) and not get bitten. I'm looking forward to see how it works over the next month (how long the manufacturer claims it takes to break the mosquito breeding cycle).
At this point, I'm very happy with my Mosquito Magnet Defender.

I Love This Thing!
The Mosquito Magnet is destined to be one of those indispensible items to have in-and-around anyone's home. This thing is terrific. Before I got my computer, DVD, and cell phone, I couldn't imagine life with them, now I cannot imagine life without them. So it is with the Mosquito Magnet.

I live in Maine, Mosquito and Black Fly Central. The bugs here are the size of small housecats, and are happy to hold you hostage until you pay a handsome ransom... of your blood. I researched bug-catching devices and bug killers galore, in Consumer Reports, all over the internet, everywhere. The Mosquito Magnet was hands-down the most-recommended item around. Amazon clearly offered the best deal. Free Shipping, $50 off my next purchase, and a free box of octenol cartridges. OK, I was sold.

The assembly was a breeze. Turned on the propane tank, plugged the thing in, and wahoo! I have had it for just three weeks, and upon emptying the bug box for the first time, it was absolutely packed with a solid brick of dead mosquitoes and blackflies! Ewww! Thousands and thousands of them! Unbelievable! Damnedest thing I ever saw! And everyone of those little buggers I "offed" was one less to bite me in the @ss. And more importantly, one less to survive thereafter, laying eggs and spawning the next generation of little fiends.

I have already noticed a dramatic decrease in ANYTHING buzzing about me while noodling around the garden and grill. This little darlin' works slick as snot on a doorknob! And my home is on a lake in the woods of Maine, with lots of fresh water and foliage everywhere for the little buggers to live in. Not anymore, thanks to the Mosquito Magnet. I was a skeptic at first (my wife, too, thought the money would've been better spent paying a high school kid 10 cents apiece to swat them one at a time!), but now having lived with it, I'm so thrilled that I'm telling EVERYONE about it!

A caution: When they say "Change the tank every 21 days", they mean it. I tried to weasel a few extra days out of the Rhino tank, and at the end of day 22, the propane tank was spent. Make sure you have a spare handy, so you can make a smooth transition. I've read about other folks' problems with gas flow and starting problems. No such problems here. It has worked perfectly in every regard.

The other deal is, I see no reason why you'd need the bigger, and much more expensive models. My property is about 5 acres of woods, but the little Defender is true to its name! Does a terrific job, and even the specs on the larger models fail to provide convincing data on why or how they should be superior.

You, too, will love this thing. It's crazy to spend umpteen thousands on a home, and then be held hostage by bugs such that you cannot enjoy it. The Defender is the best $300 you'll ever spend for your yard.

So far, great!
I live next to conservation land, and my Mosquito Magnet has caught 1/2 of it's basket full of mosquitos in less that one 21 day cycle. Mosquitos hover around it all the time.

The only downside is that it was hard to get running the first time. It may require level ground (my first try was at a slight slant), and I had problems with getting it to feed from my propane tank.

Don't bother in Maryland
Used one of these for 6 weeks on the Eastern Shore of MD and didn't catch 6 mosquitos in that time. They don't tell you until you open the box that you shouldn't use the octenol if you have Asian Tiger mosquitos which is what we mainly have.

Out the price of 2 tanks of propane and a third spare tank I had purchased, but I returned the "magnet" to Hom. Depo. for a refund.

They shouldn't sell these things in states that they don't work in. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Hang on to Toto when you fire this baby up--the air blast out ofthis blower is phenomenal! The literature says it produces up to a 215mph current, and they're not kidding. It converts in a few seconds to avacuum by removing the inlet tube and cover; just hook the front of thevacuum tube on and snap. Attach the generous bag and you're ready topick up the mountain of leaves you've blown. As it vacuums, the fanimpeller will mulch the leaves down, too, reducing 10 bags to 1. Welike the ergonomic handle and the comfortable strap. The tubes aresturdy and won't crack if you accidentally whack them. It's a lightunit at 7.3 pounds, and it's not nearly as loud as most, though at 69decibels, you'll still want to wear ear protection. Bravo, Toro!--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Two-year full warranty
• Blower's 210 mph maximum air force clears sticks, debris and large, heavy leaves
• Converts from blower to vacuum mode quickly--no tools needed
• Two-speed motor gives you control in both blower and vacuum modes
• Exclusive cord lock system holds the cord firmly in place

Reviews (32)

great for the price
I have been using this blower vac for a few months now and am really shocked by how well it works. I was a bit skeptical at first, but the blower changes very easily into a vacuum and vice versa. I use it to blow leaves into a pile then suck them up to use on my garden as mulch, bye bye leaves and bye bye weeds in my garden. The job of raking and sweeping leaves that used to take me hours, now only takes minutes. I can blow down my patio, suck up all the leaves and have the place looking great ten minutes before guests arrive. If you are like me and have a great backyard that you entertain in then pick this baby up and cut your work time by 50%!

Get yourself a long extension cord with this purchase also. The noise and pollution of this blower/vac is virtually non existent. I was shocked by how low the noise level was. I use the low setting for around other garden plants and when i really need the power switch it to high. Like another reviewer i had a small delay in shipping but it was worth the wait!

Great value for a very useful tool in a small yard
I wish I'd bought this Toro several months ago. We have a small yard in San Diego. Our next door neighbor has a huge ficus tree that sheds a lot of leaves in our yard. We already have 20 or so bags of debris stacked on the side of the house. I tried this blower out for the first time yesterday. In low power mode, it was able to push the leaves out of a cedar-chipped area without distuburbing the cedar chips too much. It's noisy, but not so noisy that you need ear protection. The vacuum mulcher seems to work well so far. Low power suction doesn't pull in too much, but high power works well. For a really large amount of leaves, it would probably be easier to rake, but for our small California yard it's perfect. I was concerned about the plastic impeller being able to handle all pea-sized seeds among the leaves, but so far so good. I'm not sure if the compression is really 10-to-1, but it definitely makes a difference. I haven't tried it with wet leaves, but in San Diego the leaves aren't wet very often so that's not a concern. The unit was easy to set up out of the box, and easy to switch back and forth between modes.

Great value. Awesome blower
THe blower is awesome, and not terribly loud.

The vac isnt good for vacuuming your van's carpet, but for clearing grass clippings off of your driveway, it is beautiful.

For the price this simply cannot be beaten.

Impeller info # 100-9068
Hey, all you whiny people who say they've looked all over heck and back for a new impeller. It's identified on the Toro site as # 100-9068 and my local hardware store charged $7 plus shipping, so I bought two. Yes, they do break easily, but I don't think I'll try sucking any more rocks...

The best blower in the market!!!
I love it because its 1) Easy to start 2) has superb power 3) runs smoothly...I am on the fairly small side and find its perfect for me over those big ol' gas blowers I simply can't handle much less start up. My husband loves it because, even though he is a big guy, it makes small work out of our large orchard of walnut leaves!!!! In fact, watching him go into the garage, I find he picks up that little blower of mine with all the power over his big monster gas blower...when asked, he declares, its simple...more air and less work!! ... Read more

Features

• Includes narrow and wide hand spade, a hand cultivator, a by-pass hand pruner, kneepad, and cotton gloves, overnight charger, and a canvas carry bag
• Cuts up to 5,500 strokes per minute, completing trimming tasks with ease
• Lock-off switch prevents accidental start-ups
• 35-minute run time on single charge
• 3-inch scissors-type hardened blades for durability

Reviews (2)

Great product, don't review this until you OWN it!
I can't believe someone reviews a product without actually owning it, that isn't fair to the product. Anyway, it DOES include a battery (not sure exactly what type) but it's inside of the grass shearer. Just plug it's cable into the A/C and it charges. When it's ready to be used, it works like a charm in hard to reach areas of the garden. For me, I find it especially useful around patio lights that can't be mowed around easily. I'm sure I'll find other areas of the garden too!

The included tools are very nice. They have rubberized grips and look like quality tools. The kneepad could be a little softer, but it'll do. The hand pruner worked perfectly to oust a HUGE weed in the garden. Gloves are decent too.
The carrying bad is large, tough, and better than expected. A great addition!
It even comes with a 30-day no risk satisfaction guarantee. How can you go wrong for $24.99? If you bought all these items seperately, it'd be way more than that. Just a pair of garden gloves can be $15!

We just moved into our first single family home less than a week ago and I took a risk and pre-ordered this Black and Decker gardening set. It's a perfect set. Great for first time home owners like me, who literally don't own one gardening tool! (NONE!) A great set, and I am happy with it!

Happy gardening!

What kind of battery does this use?
Does anyone know whether this uses the same 3.6 Volt Versapak battery as the Scumbuster and Dustbuster? Black and Decker is certainly making it difficult to determine. I looked all over the box in The Home Depot and couldn't find the answer. My guess is they are trying to hide the fact that the battery probably isn't included.
It's aggravating, because I might be willing to buy this anyway since I already own Versapak batteries, but they treat you like an idiot and leave you guessing.
I tried to submit a question to B&D web site, but, of course, they want me first to create an account and give them all my personal information.
F--- 'Em. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

While mowing the lawn may never be considered a recreational activity, this rear bag mower from Black & Decker makes the chore as close to fun as it will ever get. With its 24-volt battery, which delivers 5-horsepower gas equivalent at peak torque, this cordless electric mower represents the top of Black & Decker's line of lawn mowing products. During our field tests, this orange powerhouse stood out above other mowers for ease of use and performance. Its versatile operation allowed us to mulch, bag, or expel the debris from its 19-inch cutting path. Switching between the three methods was as easy as removing the catch bag and the mulch plug--easily performed tasks when the mower is not running.

The most obvious difference between the new generation of electric mowers and the heavier gas-powered mowers of yore is the start-up. The ease with which this mower starts is almost stupefying. Simply pull and hold the thin handle lever, then pull the ignition lever, and presto!--the engine is running. To minimize safety risks to young children, a removable safety key must be inserted prior to starting the mower.

Once started, this mower runs like a dream and is much quieter than older gas-powered models. In addition to the lack of noise, vibrations were also dampened by the cushioned handgrips, a feature that makes mowing a much more comfortable experience. Another innovation is the method by which the mower is raised and lowered. Where once it was necessary to adjust each wheel individually, the height of the mowing platform is now controlled by a single squeeze of a single lever, which allows for seven positions from 1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches. While this mower is much lighter than a gas mower, we did find that this Black & Decker cordless model, weighing in at 76 pounds, is heavier than its corded relatives.

The only disadvantage this machine seems to have is in the power department. While there were no serious problems during our field test, it was necessary to slow down or go back over thicker sections of grass in order to make a completely clean cut. This cordless model also requires a substantial charging time when first out of the box: the manufacturer suggests at least a 16-hour period initially in order to get peak performance and maximum run time. According to Black & Decker, the battery will be 70% energized with four hours of charging. When fully juiced, this mower can be expected to cut between 1/2 and 1/3 of an acre per charge. Though the charge is one aspect that needs to be considered when deciding whether to purchase a corded or a rechargeable mower, we found the added maneuverability of the cordless over the corded model far outweighs the inconvenience of charge times.

When you've finished mowing, the handles fold back, making it easier to store this mower in a tight garage or shed. It comes with a 30-day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and a manufacturer's full two-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 30 day no-risk satisfaction guarantee and full two-year warranty
• Convertible mulcher/rear bagger
• Cuts up to 1/2-acre lots on one charge
• One touch height adjustment (1-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches)
• Lifetime 19-inch 3-in-1 deck

Reviews (59)

6 Years and Running...
Huh. I've had one for 6 years now and never had a problem with charge capacity (I wonder if it's because I keep the charger connected all winter when not in use). It's been everything it was advertised to be - quiet, no fumes, reliable, easy to use, economical. I have an average size suburban lawn and have gone up to 3 mowings without recharging. It doesn't make as smooth a cut as a high-vacuum gas mower but that's an acceptable tradeoff considering the advantages (and the only reason I gave it a 4). The reviewer who claims you're using more fossil fuels (and creating more pollution) when using an electric mower is shortsighted. Electric power generation plants have very stringent pollution controls and the net effect is that electric powered devices contribute much less pollution to the environment and waste less fossil fuels than internal combustion engines. That reviewer should do some real research instead of spewing pseudo-science. Besides, the people who use that argument usually pull out a 2-stroke string trimmer to finish the job - talk about pollution (and noise). I'm actually considering buying a new CMM1000 since I gave my old one away. Sounds like there may be some reliability issues with the newer ones (orange, mine was old enough to be green) - I'll have to look into that.

Works fantastic and I don't miss smelling like fumes!
I have used a Black & Decker CMM1000 19" Cordless mower for over three years. While my lot is 1.5 acres, the open grass area is only about 1/3 of an acre. The battery life is plenty to cut this entire space with no problems. If your lot is bigger, you can still use this mower, you'll just have to break up the mowing over a few hours or two days (to allow recharge time). It can recharge to 50% run-time in only about 2 hours.

I have to echo others that the one lever height adjustment is a great design. It only takes seconds to alter the cutting height. No exhaust means you don't smell like gas fumes, and the low noise is also a plus. I have to say I have not missed the oil changing and other maintenance needed for a gasoline powered mower.

It should be noted that a replacement battery is only about $100. But even now as I head into my fourth year using this mower, I am seeing no loss of run-time from the original equipment battery that came with my CMM1000. Even if I need a $100 battery every five years or so, a maintenance cost that breaks down to only $20-$25 per year is cheaper than the cost of maintenance and gasoline you'd use on the typical gas powered mower over that amount of time.

Heavy plastic beast dies after 2 summers
Listen to the negative reviews. I bought a CMM1000 in early 2002. I have a very small lot, no hills - should be an ideal candidate. I had to put it out for large-trash pick up this morning.

It worked OK for the two years it would hold a charge. But it was just OK, not great.

Operation: It's not self-propelled, and it's a good deal heavier than any gas mower I've owned (that battery is a huge, solid chunk). That makes it hard to push, even for a fairly big guy like myself. It has small, hard-plastic wheels that tend to be slippery. I did like not having to keep a full can of gasoline or extra oil around in my garage, though.

Performance: It never cut grass very well, especially on the higher blade settings. Mulched OK, but had no blowing power. I wasn't able to bag clippings, really, because they clogged up in the expulsion chamber. The blowing power is so bad that you can't even blow clippings off your sidewalks with the mower.

Build quality: The entire thing is plastic, except for the blade, handle and wheel axles. The washer that holds the blade on is a tiny piece of plastic with a tiny overlapping edge. Mine wore out after the second time I sharpened the blade and tried to remount it. Even the padding on the handlebars shredded after only three months or so.

Longevity: Here's the worst thing. When I revived it for this year, it lost all ability to cut for more than about 3 minutes at a time. Starts up fine, but bogs down even on normally tall grass. The service center told me I need a new battery, and that's $100 plus installation.

I've always followed the battery instructions to the letter. Biggest waste of four hundred bucks I've ever seen. Wish I could give it negative four stars, but one will have to do.

CMM1000 19"
The Black & Decker CMM1000 19" works great, I purchased one to mow around my swimming pool. The mower mows great and holds a charge, the mulching keeps the grass out of the swimming pool while the mowing job keeps the grass looking great. If your looking for a mower that will not only do a good job, but will last, its the Black & Decker CMM1000 19"

Not as expected
I have used this mower about 2-3 times. The battery charge lasts about 45 minutes before it goes into yellow region of charge indicator (time to recharge). When cutting grass, the mower leaves some larger blades of grass partially uncut and you have to go back and recut the grass. This is not a big problem if you have a small yard but with a larger yard it can be very frustrating. This problem may be due to the narrow blade on the cordless mower which is much narrower than my gas mower. I have gone back to using my gas mower for most of my mowing since it doesn't choke down nearly as often and I don't have to deal with recharging after 45 min. or going back and recutting grass. ... Read more

Features

• The original
• 1 year warranty

Amazon.com Review

Using spinning brushes and human push power, the clever Hoover SpinSweep sweeper makes quick work of debris, clippings, sand, and dirt on flat outdoor surfaces. With no motor, cord, or batteries to fuss over, the sweeper's counter-rotating brushes kick up matter and whirl it into a generous collection bin. The cleaning path is a wide 21-inches--giving push brooms a run for their money--and the design means there is no need to wrestle with dust pans. Suitable for sidewalks, paths, patios, and garages, the SpinSweep is quiet, lightweight, and easy to control. Eight dial-controlled adjustable height levels accommodate a range of tasks and surfaces, and the collection bin pops out for quick and simple emptying. Equipped with comfortable grips and a metal handle, the handy SpinSweep hangs for storage. Hoover includes a one-year warranty. --Emily Bedard ... Read more

Features

• 21-inch cleaning path; 1-year warranty
• Motor-free outdoor sweeper for patios, walkways, and poolside
• Rotating brushes work on sand, debris, clippings, and dirt
• Large capacity, easy-to-empty collection bin
• Quiet; lightweight; hangs for storage

Reviews (6)

works great cleaning pool deck
I had some doubts about buying this based on how it looks - but it is terrific. It used to take us about an hour to clean our relatively large pool deck of concrete pavers with a push broom - it now takes about 15 minutes with this tool and it does a better job. Well worth the purchase price

Works on all kinds of textured surfaces
This thing is great, I'm so shocked that something so clever actually lives up to its description. I have several different huge areas around my house, a driveway the size of a basketball court (smooth surface)--worked great, a verandah with a small pebble surface--could never get it clean with those industrial brooms--spinsweep picked up sooo much grit and dirt I didn't even know was there-then finally as I live in Seattle, we have a textured coating on our decks for non-slip surface, great idea but a pain to keep swept, spinsweeper saved the day again. Also it's light weight! Helpful reminder: Make sure you follow directions and keep it stored with the undercarriage brushes upright so you don't wear them down.

Works great by our pool! We have pavers...
Our patio is made up of pavers and I was not sure how this would work, but IT WORKS GREAT!! It picks up fine sand and rocks. My 2 year old even likes to push it around. It is easy to put together and easy to clean out. Much easier than sweeping.

Awesome as always thanks Hoover
just recieved mine today...what an incredible machine. Even sucks up dead frogs!!! (have two cats) In 20 minutes I de-dirted my driveway, three large sidewalks, a carport floor, and a garage. Works just like the street sweepers without the noise. I highly recommend.

I love it!
This little sweeper is the best thing since sliced bread! I ordered one after seeing it mentioned in the gardening section of the paper, but was skeptical that it would really work as advertised. I have a large stable with a very wide concrete aisle that must be swept daily, so it gets some serious use. It works soooo good! The brushes pick up debris and dust and even the dead lizards the barn cats bring in. It is easy to push and easy to empty the container, so that you can dispose of the material where you want, without having to use the dustpan. It has cut my sweeping time down by 75% and does a better job than a broom.
My friends that have tried it have all loved it, and are going to order one too. Hoover needs to market this thing to horse owners!
I have also used it on my garage and patio with the same great results. ... Read more

Features

• 1 Year Warranty
• Protection up to 1 acre
• Self powered - no power cord required
• Silent and odorless, 24-hour protection against mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other biting insects
• No Flame

Reviews (12)

Still a killing machine: 7 week update
Original review below: So far 2 propane tanks, 3 weeks each. The machine is virtually silent. I skipped using the CO2 "quick clear" cartridge as recommended after the first tank and the machine shut down 2 weeks into the second tank. Quick clear solved the problem. Our large yard has embedded woods, shrubs, wet areas and this year has been very wet. Bugs are out in force and the machine continues to catch loads of mosquitos and no-see-ums but less than a few weeks ago. I change the net when the fan is covered... about every other day. I wash out the old net after the contents stop moving. I treat it like a vacuum cleaner bag with the cleaner = more suction theory. Compared to our neighbors, our pool area is mosquito free. Placement is critical and must consider shade and the downwind CO2 dispersion. Would I buy another Liberty Plus? Probably not. Am I sorry I bought it? No. The technology works but I don't understand how the Liberty series is rated for 1 acre. I assume it generates a larger CO2 plume. In hindsight, for the money I think I'd rather have two $300 Defenders and set up a perimeter. Of course, that presumes the Defender kills like the Liberty. I'm going to move the machine and see if I can thin the biting population in a different part of the yard.

(original review) We've had the MM for 4.5 weeks and so far it's worked as advertised. It was a big bite in the wallet but it's allowed us and the kids the use of our backyard pool and deck through twilight for the first time in 6 years. It's under an apple tree for shade and it sucks in an incredible amount of mosquitos and no-see-ums from the nearby bushes and damp areas.
First propane lasted 3 weeks, as expected. The MM shut down once by itself but started right back up. I empty the net every 2 days. I recommend swapping the full net for an empty one because dumping out the squirming mass into a trash bag is a horror show. You can tie off the full net and let the active ones die. After all these years it's great to be able to enjoy the yard and it's sweet revenge on the biters.

The First One Wasn't Working........
I received my Libery Plus on April 5th. I pulled it out of the box and everything listed in the instructions was included in the box (alaways nice) and the Liberty appeared to be a quality product. I had a newly-purchased propane tank that I immediately connected to the Liberty - I had high hopes for this machine!

The Liberty wouldn't start.

It failed repeatedly to complete the warmup cycle. I tweaked the prpoane connection, double-checked the battery and everything else that I could think of. My first call to tech support (after a 10 minute wait) resulted in a few more sugggestions from the rep as to what may be the problem with my unit.

I tried them all and the unit still wouldn't complete the start cycle. A second call to tech support verified that the igniter in my unit was not operating. Tech Support offered to send me a replacement unit without hesitation and didn't ask for a credit card number as some manufacturers try to do. They sent me a second one with no issues.

The second one worked as advertised though it hasn't been running long enough to catch anything yet. Don't buy one of these unless you are willing to chance a non-working unit as the quality control doesn't seem to be that good. If you do have problems you will find that Tech Support is top-notch.

Works Great once you get it started
My mosquito Magnet is sucking down a bagful of sceeters every day. (I'm guessing that's about 1000 or more mosquitos per day). It has returned our back yard to us. Well worth the price and the struggle to get it running.

And it was a struggle to get it running; most of which had to do with the propane supply. They aren't kidding when they tell you to open the valve on the propane tank very slowly. I now do about 1/8th of a turn in 30 seconds. Once I did that, my starting problems came to an end. In my case, I also learned to open the valve only partially....Only to the point where I could begin to hear the gas flowing and no further. The Mosquito Magnet has a very sensitive regulator that will slam shut if too much gas presure is applied to it. This makes the machine think its connected to an empty tank. (That's my theory... for what's it's worth...I'm not an expert on propane and propane accessories)

If you are not the type of person who is willing to patiently twiddle with something until it works, you may not want this. I wouldn't call it a typical plug and play consumer appliance. Hopefully, they will develop it further so that it will be easier to start in the future.

If a little twiddling doesn't scare you and you are ready to buy, but are torn between the two models "Liberty" and the "Liberty Plus" , get the the Liberty Plus. I had a Liberty last summer and it got fried sometime during our numerous power outages (there were about five caused by storms). It seems the mosquito magnet needs to have its internal fan running for about 1/2 hour after it shuts down. If it doesn't, it will burn up on the inside. Since the Liberty is connected to household current, the fan goes off whenever power is interupted. This does not allow the machine to cool off and thus it becomes damaged. The Liberty Plus has a battery operated fan and is therefore not subject to this kind of failure. In addition, you need to plug it in only once at the beginning of the season to charge it up. When its operating, I'm assuming that the fan is somehow run by propane. The battery is just for start ups and cool downs.

I am sort of peeved that I didn't realize that my first machine got fried until after the waranty was out (Isn't that the way it usually works?), But when machine worked, it worked so well, that I was willing to buy another. I guess you could say I'm a sucker----a sucker for a mosquito free back yard. That's what Mosquito Magnet has done in my case.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY
I've had the Freedom 2000 for several years now. I have had multiple problems with it and I figure it has caught about one mosquito for each tank of propane I have bought. I have seen a total of about 7 unlucky mosquitoes captured in a year.

I didn't even bring it out last year because I figured I didn't want to spend any more money on propane. It turns out that my wife has a friend of a friend that works for American Biophysics and she said they were awesome, so I figured I would try it again.

After trying it again, I still think it is a complete waste of the $900 I spent on it.

Complaints:
1) It takes 3 or 4 tries over several hours to get it running.
2) It mysteriously shuts down.
3) It doesn't consistently run the fan fast enough to suck even a tiny piece of tissue paper up the horn.
4) I was paying for an attractant for a whole year that actually repelled Tiger mosquitoes.
5) American Biophysics sticks to their one year warranty, so if you buy one, get them to buy it back before the year is up. They are unyielding after 12 months!!!!

Funny enough after talking to several of their tech support people over the last few days, they realized that my MM is a piece of junk and offered to let me part with some more money to get a replacement--Uh, I may look funny, but I didn't just fall off the turnip truck!!!

I'd recommend buying a hose-end bottle of insecticide and spraying your yard. This ended up working much better than the MM.

Avoid this Product
You should avoid Mosquito Magnet products. They are poorly made. They catch a handful of mosquitos, but not enough to make a difference. They are very expensive, and require constant add-on purchases. Use Deet or screened porches instead. ... Read more

Features

• 1 Year Warranty
• Protection up to 1 acre
• Ideal for large yards, in-ground pool areas and small commercial applications
• Silent and odorless, 24-hour protection against mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other biting insects
• No Flame

Reviews (27)

My two cents
I purchased this unit in June from Home Depot. It took 2 hours to assemble (and I'm pretty good at assembling things). It wouldn't complete the warmup cycle properly so I called their tech support line. The wait wasn't too bad for me but the result was that I had a defective unit. I opted to return it to the store rather than wait for the replacement. I complained to the manager about having wasted two hours and another trip to the store and he knocked off $25 bucks on the second unit. I complained because I had read several reviews from people that have received defective units and I think the dealers need to get a message that customers are not happy with quality of the merchandise from this company. Anyway, second unit has been working fine. It did start catching mosquito right away and I noticed a difference within a few days. It's quite fun to check the trap each day to see how many of the little blood suckers are in there. It is hard to get an accurate estimate because the do bunch up and dehydrate but you can see several still buzzing around inside the net and you can point at them and say - HA! For me, the results are proven by less mosquitoes biting or flying around me so I don't worry about counting. My other complaint about this thing is cost. You're dropping a pretty penny for this unit and then don't forget to add on the cost of the tank and the propane - another $40-$50. The propane lasts for 21 days and then you have to refill the tank. You are also suppose to replace the octenol cartridge which run you $20 for 3 (that's less than a three month supply), plus they tell you to buy CO2 cartridges (3 for $10) and run that through the system every second tank. So, doing the math, say a tank refill every 21 days runs you $15 (and that's cheap right now), $7 every 21 days for octenol, $1.50 for CO2, plus electricity - you're looking at upwards of $25 every 21 days in extra hard costs to keep the thing running. That's $35-$40 a month if you like to break it down that way. With that said, if that doesn't scare you off then give the unit a shot. It does make a difference. I won't say there are no more mosquitoes or no-see-ums but I can regularly go out in the yard for a few minutes and come back inside without any bites when before that would not have been possible. It's just hard for me to believe this company charges so much for this thing and then half of them don't work. That aggravates me, but mosquitoes biting my son aggravates me more.

Problematic
Don't waste your money; unless you have a lot of it to waste. I have the Freedom model and have had it for two seasons. It works great for a couple of months, depending on placement of course if you've read up on these things. But after that it won't start. The first season I was still under warranty and sent it back. They sent me a rebuilt one after about two months and after mosquito season was over. So I lost two months of use. So with my rebuilt one, which now had a clear valve, I was optimistic this season. Deja vu! Same thing happened. It would not start after a couple of months. And now my warranty is up! PS: They won't answer angry emails. Their service is bad as well!

Bad Quality product, 2 year life or less, good when works
I now own three American Biophysics Mosquito Magnets. The oldest one I have is two years old and cost me about $900 to purchase. The two year old unit no longer works, so AB technical support wants to sell me a replacement part for $500 or you can buy a new unit, after returning the Power pack, for $425. What a racket. Build an expensive product that doesn't last more than 2 years and then charge a lot to fix or agree to buy another unit that also has shoddy quality. I agree it catches the mosquitos that they claim when it operates properly. But because of the cost of the units and their limited life I would not recommend this product unless you have a lot of money to burn.

It works in New Hampshire!
I read all of the reviews for a whole year before we invested in this unit. Its been about 4 weeks now, I can't tell you how many ,thousands, of mosquitos and deer flies this unit has grabbed! We love it, it works for us! Read the directions carefully and it will work for you too! It says 4-6 weeks before you see a difference, and we are just starting to be able to go out in the pool at night and not get attacked! Now how can we get rid of our wasps? They are nesting everywhere this season!!

Expensive, but it works
We had been debating the Mosquito Magnet since the summer of 2003. It was a wet spring in New England in 2004 and in May when my mother-in-law drove her car up in midmorning (not peak misquito time) and I saw 2 dozen of the blood suckers throwing themselves against her car hood I started to worry. I looked at my 18 month old son, wondered how he was going to play outside with out being dunked in DEET, and then went online that morning and ordered one.

We have 4+ acres of land, mostly woods so the empty all your standing water advice is not helpful to us. The area around the house is clear and is about 1 acre. We located it on one side of the house, about 10 feet into the woods, which I think helped the catch ratio since misquitos prefer shade.

RESULTS: Within 24 hours I noticed a difference in my front door area. I could be outside during the day with my son and never see a misquito. At dusk I would see some and eventually get bitten, but I wouldn't be swarmed like I had been previously. After 3-4 weeks there was definately a reduction in the local misquito population. Everytime we checked the net there were too many misquitos flying around to count. When we empty the net bag out every 2-3 weeks there is a mass of dead, dried out misquito bodies about the size of my fist. (Impressive, considering a dead misquito really doesn't tak up a lot of space.)

WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR LIFE: We have two dogs an a child, so the door is always being opened and shut. Last year there was ALWAYS a misquito in the bedroom. Now we get one once a week, maybe. My son has one bite on him now, I'm not even sure he got that in my yard. He can go weeks without a bite. We can sit out on the deck in the evening, an impossibility before. In general I am enjoying my yard much more this summer.

DOWNSIDE: It is expensive, and you have to buy propane & the attractent every 3 weeks. The company is clearly run by a bunch of engineers, and the instructions & set up reflect that. So if you are non-engineerish, get an engineer geek you know over and offer them a 6-pack of beer to set it up. I friend of mine had problems with hers and when she called the company they said she shouldn't use the propane tanks that are from those "swap tank" places, since the lines are not fully purged of air. Air in the line is a frequent cause of problems with the device.

Placement can also be tricky. If you have a big house and are surrounded by breeding grounds you almost need two for both sides of the house, but we do make do with just one. We did have to move it once to get the best coverage. It obviously isn't cheap, but I haven't found a better alternative. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Surprise that new neighbor or window box gardeners with this great gift set from Rumford Gardener. The sturdy canvas mini tote has seven pockets, five of them with elastic handle catchers. Also included in the set are six quality indoor gardening tools: a tiny cultivator, trowel, spade, pruning shears, floral snips, and a mister. With rubber and wooden grips, the tiny tools feel great in your hand as you're transplanting or repotting. Who needs a garden to be a gardener? With this kit, anyone can get their hands in the dirt--even if it's just indoors. --Ariel Meadow Stallings ... Read more

Features

• Deluxe indoor gardening set with mini-tote
• Everything you need to care for your indoor plantings
• Canvas mini-tote includes two mini hand tools, pruner, and plant mister

Reviews (4)

Indoor gardening set
I am very pleased with the product. It was difficult to locate. The seller shipped the product in one day of placing the order. I received the product in excellent condition and packaged well (3 days!). The product is perfect for indoor gardening and small projects.

Back to buy another one!!
I bought this for my sister who lives in a condo and babies her window boxes, only to have it appropriated by my gardener son. He fell in love with the tiny tools, and the perfect sized bag. The clippers are mine now, and they are wonderful. They are ideal for putting in my pocket and clipping as I go around the yard, and they clip thicker branches than my full sized fiskers. I clipped a 3/4 inch branch yesterday! Like I said, I'm back to buy at least one more, and I think I'll stack up for presents for all of my apartment dwelling friends...

A great gift
My friends just loved it. Perfect for all the indoor gardening work. (...)

Handy for container gardening or apartment dwellers
I bought two indoor gardening totes last Christmas -- one for my mother and one for myself. I have gotten a lot of use out of my tote, particularly while I lived in a third floor apartment.

While I still use the tools for my patio container gardening (the snipper and pruner are especially useful) I have purchased full-size garden tools for larger tasks. The tote is handy since even with the included tools and mister stowed there is plenty of room for seed packets, fertilizer, a pair or two of gardening gloves or a small hand tool. I like being able to pick up the tote and have all my basic garden equipment immediately accessible.

Considering Amazon is offering the tote forless than what I paid at the mall chain store I visited, I'd say the tools & tote are a bargain. ... Read more

Features

• Ground flush loading
• Foldable compact design
• Strong ergonomic design
• Holds up to 125 lbs.

Features

• Stainless steel blades
• Hardwood handles
• Includes transplanter, fork, trowel, and cultivator

Features

• Easy empty bag design
• Powerful 230 MPH blow speed for fast leaf and debris removal
• Push button conversion from blower to vac for ease of use
• Anti-clog Vortex vacuum system for hassel free work
• 10 to 1 mulch ratio for efficient removal of leaves and debris

Features

• Die-cast aluminum
• Sturdy canvas tote