Gardening is not my favourite chore, so if there’s a tool that can help to make the task easier, I’m always going to be on board. When gardening supremo Webb launched the Eco X Series earlier this year, I had to give them a try. But will 40V battery power cut it for our overgrown lawn?
What’s Hot:
+Can be used wherever needed, without limitation of cables or extension cords
+Lightweight and easy to use
What’s Not:
-Mower handle is quite tall, so not ideal for shorter people
-Different charging methods for the mower and the line trimmer
What is the Webb Eco X Series?
Webb has been manufacturing lawnmowers for almost 100 years and has been at the forefront of innovation, introducing its first side-wheel model in the late 1920s, and showing a prototype remote-controlled battery mower at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1959. The idea didn’t catch on back then, but with the developments in battery technology, Webb now has a complete line-up of battery-powered options.
The Eco X Series is Webb’s new cordless, battery-powered garden range, available in two configurations. The 20-volt version is smaller and lighter, perfect for more compact gardens, while the 40-volt version (which uses two 20-volt batteries) combines enhanced power with long run times for tougher, more extensive plots.
Running on either one or two 20V batteries, depending on the model, the range is cordless, making it both safer and easier to use. With no cables to accidentally run across or get tangled in, things are much easier to work with around the garden, and no corner is too far to stretch to.
Webb 40V 38cm cordless rear roller rotary mower
£280
I’m not the world’s greatest gardener, but I do love it when things look neat and tidy. I had high hopes for the cordless rotary mower, and I am very happy to say it didn’t disappoint.
Straight out of the box, there was minimal construction required, so from unboxing to mowing only took a few minutes. The batteries arrived with a good amount of charge in them, so I slotted them into position under the protective cover and was able to mow our good-sized lawn before needing to recharge. Before heading out for the second mowing of the summer, I fully charged the batteries, and both the back and smaller front lawns were completed, having used about two-thirds of the battery charge.
If you do happen to forget to put the batteries on charge, it takes about 30 minutes to get enough power into them to trim a medium-sized lawn. You can also check the charge level with the press of a button, which, while a little vague with just three indicator lights, it does at least give you a good idea.
The Eco X Series 40V cordless mower can be adjusted to six different cutting heights, so at the beginning of the spring growing season, when things have got a little out of control, you can select a longer height and gradually tame the wild lawn. Once trimmed, lower the height and keep things well in hand for the rest of the summer season.
The detachable grass box is a decent size, holding 45 litres of clippings before needing to be emptied. Alternatively, if you prefer to mulch your grass with every cut, rather than collect the clippings, insert the mulch tool. This forces the clipping back down towards the blade, which chops and circulates them until they drop back down into the grass, acting as a fertiliser.
What I really like about the cordless mower is just how light and easy it is to use. My old Bosch mower felt very cumbersome in comparison, making mowing a chore. The Webb X Series cordless mower is lightweight and agile, and with no cable to hamper things, cornering is fuss-free, too. The only minor irritation is that the handle feels rather long, making it awkward to use if you’re shorter. At 5’ 7”, I can manage comfortably, but for anyone under 5’ 3”, it would be much more challenging.
There’s so much to like about this battery-powered mower. Once you get used to the slight delay in the blades spooling up, it’s easy to get moving and comfortable to push. There’s no need to be concerned about the battery life, either. If you have a particularly large lawn, you might not be able to do it all on one charge, but the average garden should have no problems at all.
Webb 30cm (12″) Brushless Line Trimmer & Brushcutter
£140
Once the main lawn is trimmed up, it’s time to tidy up the rest of the garden. For this, Webb’s 40V cordless brushless line trimmer and brushcutter was a great choice.
This one did take a little more construction before it could be used, but the instructions were easy enough to follow, and it came together fairly quickly.
I tackled the easier edges first, using the line trimmer attachment. With the shoulder strap adjusted to a comfortable height, I got started. Due to the length of the brushcutter and the fact that the batteries are mounted at the very top end of the handle, it is a little unwieldy until you get the hang of it. It did do a great job, though, making short work of the fenceline weeds and stray grasses.
Everything feels solid and well-made, with the exception of the clip that attaches the shoulder strap to the handle. While I was using it, I stopped to move a garden chair, letting go of the handle to do that, and the clasp bent out of shape rather easily, which was a bit disappointing. To let the trimmer dangle for a moment seemed like a natural thing to do, so the weak link feels like an easily solvable oversight.
With the less demanding trimming completed, it was time to change the strimmer attachment for the more beefy brushcutting blade.
Attaching the blade requires a couple of tools and some extra parts, but isn’t difficult. I did use the instruction manual the first few times, just to make sure I was doing it right, but with regular use, it should be easy enough to remember the process.
The blade cut through the bramble that had gradually been encroaching without a stutter. It was a relatively small patch, but I have no doubt that a much larger bush would have been no more of an obstacle.
Trimming up the entire edge of the garden and the bramble bush wasn’t too taxing for the 40V battery, finishing with two of the three indicator lights still lit.
Webb Eco X Series battery-powered garden tools: The verdict
If you’re thinking of upgrading your garden tools this summer season, the Eco X series is an excellent option to consider. The cordless tools make keeping the garden in trim for barbecue season so much simpler, with no need to avoid cables or find the elusive extension cable to reach the whole garden.
Having never used a battery mower or line trimmer before, I did have concerns that they might not be powerful enough to complete the job on a single charge, but the two 20V batteries in each were more than sufficient.
Despite both the cordless rear roller rotary mower and the brushless line trimmer and brushcutter both being part of the Eco X Series, they both use different charging methods, which is a little frustrating. The mower comes with a dual-battery charger, so after each outing, both batteries can be plugged in and fully charged, ready for the next trim. The line trimmer batteries, however, don’t fit the same charger; instead, they use USB to charge. It would seem more sensible, particularly for anyone purchasing more than one tool from the range, to be able to use the same charger to keep them topped up, but alas, that isn’t the case.
I particularly loved how easy the mower was to use. With the batteries directly powering the blade, everything is lightweight and manoeuvrable, making garden work less daunting than with a heavy, cumbersome mower. The trimmer was also simple to use, although the top-heavy battery placement did make it a little less balanced than I might have liked.
With my worries about battery life set aside, the quality of Webb Eco X Series products shines through. Everything feels sturdy and well-made, ready to take years of grass trimming in its stride.
Tested: Webb Eco X Series 40V cordless rear roller rotary mower and brushless line trimmer & brushcutter
Price: From £140
Average Joes Rating: ★★★★☆
