Michael Reynolds

I tested eight of the most popular robotic lawn mowers this season, and the category has finally grown up. The newest models cut boundary wire out of the equation, climb 80% slopes with all-wheel-drive traction, and map multi-zone yards in a single afternoon. If you’ve been waiting to hand off your weekend mowing, this guide … Read more

I spent six weekends testing the best pressure washers for driveways on three real homes – one with a stained concrete driveway in Ohio, one with asphalt in North Carolina, and one with brick pavers in Texas. I timed how long each unit took to strip algae off a 600-square-foot pad, weighed the noise on … Read more

A self-propelled lawn mower uses a built-in drive system to power the wheels, so the user only steers rather than pushing the full weight of the machine. The best self propelled lawn mowers pair a reliable engine or brushless motor with variable speed control, a 21 to 22 inch cutting deck, and 3-in-1 options for … Read more

If you own a property between one and five-plus acres, the best string trimmers for large yards in need to deliver more than the average suburban trimmer. They should clear a 15 to 22 inch swath, run for at least 30 to 45 minutes per battery cycle, and pack enough torque to chew through blackberry … Read more

If you heat with a wood stove, fire up a backyard fire pit, or just hate seeing logs rot in the woodpile, you already know that a good chainsaw turns firewood prep from a back-breaking chore into a Saturday morning job. I grew up splitting rounds with a maul and a handsaw on a small … Read more

After 90 days of cutting oak, pine, and storm debris with 10 different cordless chainsaws, I can tell you the gap between gas and battery has finally closed for most users. The best cordless chainsaws in match a 40 to 50cc gas saw in cutting speed, start instantly, run quiet enough for residential neighborhoods, and … Read more

A flat top grill is a propane-powered outdoor cooking surface built around a single piece of carbon or stainless steel that heats evenly for smash burgers, pancakes, bacon, and full breakfasts in a parking lot. I spent 6 weekends hauling eight different portable flat top grills to NFL and college tailgates, firing up smash burgers, … Read more

Our team has cooked on charcoal smokers from backyard cookouts to KCBS grand championships, and we know one truth: on the competition circuit, the cooker you choose decides whether you spend the night firefighting or sleeping. The best charcoal smokers for competition hold temperature within a few degrees for 12-plus hours, roll over rough gravel … Read more

Buying your first smoker feels like standing at the edge of a swimming pool – you know you want to jump, but the pool of opinions is deep. I spent the last three months testing seven propane smokers in my driveway, smoking over 40 pounds of ribs, chicken, salmon, and a couple of stubborn briskets, … Read more

I spent the last three weekends moving my grill across the patio like a game of chess, balancing cutting boards on lawn chairs while my tongs rolled into the grass. That is exactly the kind of chaos the best grill carts for outdoor kitchens are built to fix. Our team pulled ten models into the … Read more