The best of both worlds – The Ryobi One+ range

The Ryobi One+ range of tools is everything you need in the garden.

Traditionally, garden power tools are powered either by mains electricity or by petrol, both with strengths and weaknesses. An electrical power tool offered great reliability and convenience but is restricted by the availability of an electrical outlet, or the length of your extension cord. Petrol power tools offer the benefit of portability, but there is more maintenance required and, of course, the petrol to hand when needed.

Cordless, battery-powered tools give us the best of both worlds – they are reliable, portable and convenient. The Ryobi One+ range of garden power tools offers all of this and more, thanks to being part of the Universal Power Platform.

The Universal Power Platform is a common battery that fits a wide range of power tools within the Ryobi One+ collection. The battery for the drill will fit the chainsaw, will fit the grass trimmer and so on, for a number of different tools. The chargers are obviously also universal.

The 18V lithium-ion batteries themselves are available in a number of different capacities, from 1500mAh (milliamp hours) up to the immense 8000mAh. The larger batteries will last for that much longer per charge, but the exact length of time depends on the tool used and how hard the motor is working. The batteries are charged with the Ryobi XPP-2700 Quick Charger, which is capable of charging a large battery from empty in about 1.5 hours.

If you want your lawn to be healthy you should trim it regularly. The Ryobi XLT-240K Cordless Grass Trimmer is just the tool for this job. Lightweight and ergonomically designed, it is comfortable to use and still has all the power you need. A grass trimmer is particularly suited for cordless technology – you’re not limited by the length of your extension cable and you never have to worry about cutting the cable with the blades. This model comes with a 2000 mAh 18V battery and the XPP-2700 quick charger.

The Ryobi XBL-200K 18 V Cordless Blower is another really useful garden tool – just the thing for clearing grass trimmings off the edge of the lawn or blowing leaves off the driveway. Thanks to the clean and easy battery technology, you’ll find yourself reaching for this tool more often than you’d think. It comes with a 3000 mAh battery and the quick charger.

A heavy-duty application of the Ryobi One+ battery system is the XCS-355 Plus Cordless Chainsaw, which actually uses two 18 V batteries at a time for extra power and runtime. The battery technology allows the chainsaw to be light and manoeuvrable and far cleaner and more convenient than a traditional petrol-powered machine. The XCS-355 comes without batteries or a charger, but the batteries from other tools in the line are compatible.

Finally, the XPCS-18 Cordless Pole Saw is one of those tools that you never knew you needed until you had one – and then once you do, you keep finding new applications for it. For keeping tall shrubs and trees neat and tidy, this is incomparable. It comes with a shoulder strap to make using it less tiring, while the telescopic shaft makes it extra versatile, as does the four-position adjustable head, which can operate from 0 — 45 degrees.

Whatever your need and no matter how big or small your garden is, the Ryobi One+ range of cordless garden tools will get the job done. Builders stocks Ryobi One+ tools and accessories, both online and instore.