DeWalt is one of the best-known brands in the power tool industry. This includes a wide range of battery-powered tools and appliances. Like the
DeWalt DCBL772X1 60 Volt electric leaf blower which includes a 3 Ah lithium-ion battery and a charger in the purchase. This batter is also compatible with many other battery-powered devices in their line. This adds to the value for people who have brand loyalty toward the DeWalt line of battery-powered tools.

The DeWalt DCBL772X1 and move an impressive 600 CFM of air at up to 125 MPH. Technically, this is very strong for a battery-powered electric leaf blower. It was designed with variable speed controls as well as a “Speed Lock” cruise control feature. A single full battery charge has a maximum runtime of up to 30-minutes, and the 3Ah lithium-ion battery in 30 to 45 minutes.

Sun Joe does their best to infuse their product line with innovation as well as the kind of value that is appealing to people who are working with a limited budget. The
Sun Joe SBJ597E-SJB has a corded 6-Amp electric motor that can move a 260 CFM air volume at a very brisk 155 MPH

Yet this little leaf blower only weighs in at 3.9 pounds. Which means it’s going to wear out your arm or shoulder while still providing you with the power to tackle the leave in a small yard or blow away grass clippings after you are done cutting the grass. All at a price that won’t leave you with “Buyer’s Remorse.”

The
Husqvarna 150BT was designed to appeal to professional lawn care companies as well as homeowners who prioritize high-quality lawn care equipment. This backpack leaf blower has a 50.2cc 2-cycle gasoline engine designed with Husqvarna’s proprietary X-TORQ technology and a special air purge feature.

These characteristics make it easy to start, as well as improve fuel efficiency by up to 20%. At the same time, it also reduces exhaust emissions by up to 60%.

All this power gives the Husqvarna 150BT the ability to move air volume of up to 434 CFM at an incredibly fast 251 MPH velocity. This gives it the power to blow away leaves, light lawn debris, grass clippings, and even mulch.

The Husqvarna 150BT has a padded back panel on the backpack with padded, adjustable shoulder straps. It’s also been engineered to minimize the amount of vibration that is transferred from the engine to the operator.

How We Picked

There are a lot of different takes on the leaf blower concept. Some even include vacuum features that suck in and grind up leaves and small pieces of lawn debris. The best way to filter out the wide range of leaf blower options is to break them down by the benefits of gasoline or electricity.

Gasoline and electric leaf blowers both have their own strengths and weaknesses. This makes the power source a good starting point for filtering your options. With both, we tried to narrow the field with respect to the factors that make them attractive.

With a gasoline-powered blower, you have the luxury of power, which translates into the ability to move a higher volume of air at a greater speed. This is often represented by CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) over 250 and MPH (Miles Per Hour) air velocity over 130. Which is the sort of numbers you need to do things like move light mulch, thick piles of leaves and clumps of grass clippings.

Of course, all this power also means that gasoline engines weigh nearly double or more than their electric counterparts. Most also have 2-cycle engines that need mixed gas at a specific ratio. If you get it wrong and the fuel is too lean, it can score the piston or cause overheating issues. If it’s too rich with oil it can cause excessive smoking, gum up the carburetor or severely affect the spark plug’s performance.

Electric leaf blowers tend to have lesser CFM and MPH ratings. Though there are some high-quality units that have surprising power for their size. Electric leaf blowers also tend to be much lighter. They also don’t produce any noxious exhaust. Not to mention the maintenance needs of an electric leaf blower are next to none.

Unfortunately, corded electric leaf blowers are limited by the extension cord. Which is usually 50-feet or less. Battery-powered leaf blowers have a better range for a large yard, but limited run time. To try to help get around this problem, we tried to keep an eye out for battery-powered leaf blowers by popular manufacturers who offered other tools that used the same interchangeable batteries.

We also tried to keep in mind that there are leaf blowers that also have a lawn vacuum mulcher function built into them. A fair number of these also have accessory gutter cleaning devices that are an extra purchase but will also spare you the risk of climbing up a wobbly ladder.

One of the biggest benefits of a mulcher/vac function is that the leaves and small pieces of lawn debris are sucked up and ground into bits by an internal auger. It’s then deposited in a storage bag, that you can either add to your compost pile or condense into a yard waste bag.

Some of the better-designed blower/mulcher/vacuums can reduce leaves down at a 16:1 ratio. Meaning what would normally fill 16 standard yard waste bags can be reduced down into one, by reducing the air space.

The counterpoint against leaf blowers with a mulcher/vac feature is that the suction is sometimes strong enough to suck up something large and hard, which can jam the internal auger or damage it. So, we tried to look for mulcher/vac leaf blowers that had a metal auger which significantly reduces jams and risk of internal damage.

Poulan Pro PR48BT, 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Backpack Leaf Blower

Specs:

• 48 cc 2-cycle gasoline engine
• 475 CFM
• 200 MPH
• Variable speed control trigger
• Cruise control
• Weighs 22-pounds
• Adjustable shoulder straps
• 2-year warranty coverage

Poulan Pro is one of the most trusted names in lawn care appliances, tools, and equipment. They have both gas and electric powered leaf blowers. The Poulan Pro PR48BT gets its power from a 48 cc 2-cycle gasoline engine that needs a 50:1 mix ratio.

The Poulan Pro PR48BT blows at up to 200 MPH with 475 CFM of force. This is more than enough to move a substantial pile of leaves, blow away grass clippings, and even send stray wood chips back into their landscaping bed after a storm.

The backpack itself weighs just a little over 20-pounds and has adjustable padded straps for superior comfort. The control handle is designed for ergonomic comfort and has a variable speed trigger. There’s also a cruise control feature that lets you see one specific speed and maintain it without having to constantly squeeze down on the trigger. This is a great feature for big jobs like clearing away grass clippings on a large yard.

Poulan Pro backs this gas-powered leaf blower with a 2-year warranty.

What We Liked

The 200 MPH and 475 CFM represent the kind of power you can enjoy from a gas-powered leaf blower. Only weighing in at 22 pounds with compression straps mean you can wear this pack comfortably for a long time without fatigue.

Overall

The Poulan Pro PR48BT Is well designed, with enough power and comfort to handle professional use. It’s covered by a two-year warranty, which demonstrates Poulan’s confidence in their quality and material selection. Just bear in mind that it doesn’t have any sort of vacuum function.

Sun Joe SBJ597E-SJB 6-Amp 155 MPH Electric Leaf Blower

Specs:

• 6 Amp electric corded blower
• 155 MPH
• 260 CFM
• 3.9-Pounds

Sun Joe is a fast-growing lawn equipment manufacturer who embraces innovation, while also trying to provide customers with a friendly price tag. Their SBJ597E-SJB 6-Amp 155 MPH Electric Leaf Blower is powered by an extension cord.

It’s rated to move up to 260 CFM at up to 155 MPH, which is on the powerful side for an electric leaf blower. At the same time, it only weighs in at 3.9 pounds. So, it’s not going to wear out your arm or shoulder.

What We Liked

The 260 CFM at 155 MPH from a 6 Amp electric is relatively strong for such a light leaf blower.

Overall

This is a great value electric leaf blower for people with a limited budget. There isn’t any sort of cord lock or holder feature, and the plastic exterior housing might not survive an accidental drop. Still, you can’t argue with the friendly price tag and the overall power the Sun Joe SBJ597E-SJB electric leaf blower produces.

Greenworks 24212 40V 150 MPH Cordless Leaf Blower, 4.0Ah Battery, and Charger Included

Specs:

• 40 Volt electric battery-powered leaf blower
• 4.0 Ah battery
• Battery charger included
• 150 MPH
• 135 CFM
• Variable speed control
• 3.3-pounds
• Battery interchangeable with other tools

Greenworks is another fast-growing company in the lawn care industry. They have an expansive line of electric battery-powered lawn care equipment that uses the same 4.0 Ah lithium-ion batteries like the 24212 electric leaf blower. This blower is rated to move up to 135 CFM at 150 MPH, which is technically on the weak side for a leaf blower. Especially when you compare it to the specs of a gas-powered leaf blower.

Still, it’s enough to move a light amount of leaves or loose grass clippings. The sweeper tip accessory that is included with the Greenworks 24212 Cordless Leaf Blower helps concentrate the airflow, which makes it more powerful in real life than it looks on paper. It also has a variable speed control.

The 4.0 Ah battery’s ability to be interchangeable with other Greenworks devices, makes it handy for people who are loyal to the brand. On its own, a single battery can last up to 28 minutes on a single charge and take approximately an hour to recharge.

It’s also worth noting that the charger is not a “Smart Charger.” So, keep an eye on it while recharging. If you frequently overcharge this type of battery it can decrease the overall lifespan.

What We Liked

The fact that you can interchange the 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery with other lawn care tools in the Greenworks line is handy. Especially for people who already own multiple Greenworks power tools.

The sweeper tip also helps maximize the airflow that this somewhat under-powered leaf blower produces.

Overall

The Greenworks 24212 40V 150 MPH Cordless Leaf Blower arguably has increased value for brand-loyal homeowners who need to maintain their lawn. While it might look at a little bit on the weak side on paper, the sweeper tip does help concentrate its power more effectively.

Toro 51619 Ultra Electric Blower Vac

Specs:

• Dual function Blower/Vac combo
• 7.0 Amp electric motor corded
• 250 MPH
• 350 CFM when blowing
• 410 CFM of suction when setting to vacuum
• Durable metal impeller
• Quick-release attachments

Toro is one of the long-term leading names in the lawn equipment industry. They have decades of experience engineering products for maximum effectiveness and versatility. You see this really shines through with their Toro 51619 Ultra Electric Blower/Vac combo.

It’s powered by a 7.0 Amp electric motor, which moves an impressive 350 CFM volume of air at 250 MPH when it’s set to blower mode. It also has a robust 410 CFM rating when set to vacuum mode. It also has a heavy-duty metal impeller that chews up lawn debris with a decreased risk for damage and jams.

88% of the leaves and lawn debris that reaches the metal impeller is ground up into a half-inch piece. It’s then deposited into a cloth bag with a convenient bottom zipper. You can quickly switch from blower to vacuum thanks to quick-release attachments.

It’s also worth noting that Toro offers a gutter cleaning attachment kit that will fit the 51619 Ultra Electric Blower/Vac. It’s relatively inexpensive and allows you to clean your gutters without having to mess around with wobbly ladders.

What We Liked

The 350 CFM volume of air at 250 MPH in blower mode is very impressive for a corded electric leaf blower. The 410 CFM rating in the vacuum mode is also very strong. You also have to give a big thumbs up to the metal impeller which does a great job of grinding up lawn debris without jams or internal damage.

Overall

If you are looking for an electric blower/vac combo with the robust statistics to handle everything you throw at it, then it’s hard to ignore the Toro 51619 Ultra Electric Blower/Vac. While you’re at it, you might want to also put the gutter cleaner in your cart.

WORX WG512 Trivac 3-in-1 Vacuum Blower/Mulcher/Vac

Specs:

• Blower and mulcher vacuum in one
• 12-Amp electric motor
• Corded
• Dial control to change modes
• 600 CFM
• 70 MPH
• 2-speed settings
• 16:1 mulching ratio
• Easy release bag
• Metal impeller
• 8.6 pounds

The WORX WG512 Trivac is a 3-in-1 lawncare device. It can be set up as a blower, or a mulching lawn vac via a single, easy-to-use dial. When set as a mulcher-vac the metal impeller has a 16:1 ratio. Meaning that in Worx tests of the Trivac the mulching feature was able to reduce 16 bags of loose leaves into a 1-bag volume.

The 12 Amp electric motor requires an extension cord. It’s engineered to move an impressive 600 CFM volume of air. Though it only has a speed of 70 MPH, which is a little low compared to many of its close competitors.

The benefit of this is seen in the two-speed modes. When set to low speed it helps you better control the flow of the leaves over smooth surfaces like sidewalks, pavement, and driveways. If it’s set too high, the MPH tends to scatter leaves.

The mulcher relies on a durable metal impeller and has a 16:1 mulching ratio.

What We Liked

The ability to quickly change from blower to vacuum with a single dial is handy. The 16:1 mulching ratio also helps you save on bag space, which is really nice if you live in the city and have to pay per bag. Taken in that light, the WORX WG512 Trivac could pay for itself over the course of two autumn seasons.

Overall

The 70 MPH rating of the WORX WG512 Trivac looks like a small red flag. What it’s really telling you is that this blower/vac and mulcher combo is dialed into keeps suburban yards clean. It’s not necessarily geared for a professional lawn care company that needs to blow out grass clippings and cleanup scattered mulch after a big storm.

CRAFTSMAN BV245 27cc 2-Cycle Full Crank Engine Gas Powered Vac Leaf Blower

Specs:

• 27 cc 2-stroke gasoline engine
• Handheld blower with vacuum kit attachment
• 450 CFM
• 205 MPH
• Variable speed throttle
• Vibration reduction handle
• The mulching ratio of 16:1
• Craftsman’s “Easy Start Ignition”

You might look at the CRAFTSMAN BV245 with its 27cc 2-cycle gas-powered engine and think that it’s an ergonomic nightmare. Once you get your hands on it, you’ll find that Craftsman made a real effort to design it to be easy to use, despite the inherent weight that comes with a 2-cycle engine block.

In fact, it only weighs in at 10.2 pounds, whereas a lot of gas-powered blowers with similar statistics weigh closer to 20-pounds and need to be mounted in a backpack. Craftsman also designed the BV245 with a variable speed throttle and vibration reduction to minimize the impact on your arm and shoulder.

It’s meant to be used more as a blower than a vacuum, but it still does include the lawn vac accessories in the purchase. It’s rated to move an impressive 450 CFM at a brisk 205 MPH.

Craftsman also installed its proprietary “Easy Start Ignition System” which you see on a lot of their successful gas-powered devices. You simply prime the engine, choke, and then pull the drawstring for a very reliable start.

If you do want to use it as a vacuum, you need to change over the attachments manually. It then has a mulching ratio of 16:1, which means it can reduce a traditional 16 bags of leaf litter into just 1 bag.

What We Liked

The fact that the Craftsman BV245 is a gas-powered hand-held blower instead of a backpack is somewhat rare in this niche. You see this in the superior power of 450 CFM moving air at 205 MPH.

Overall

This is one of the heavier hand-held leaf blowers on the market, just by virtue of its 2-stroke gasoline engine. Still, at 10.2 pounds it’s not prohibitively heavy and offers a trade-off of superior power over its electric cousins. If you have shoulder and upper back problems, the Craftsman BV245 might not be the best for you.

Husqvarna 150BT, 50.2cc 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Leaf Blower

Specs:

• 50.2 cc 2-cycle gasoline engine
• X-TORQ engine for less exhaust and superior fuel efficiency
• 434 CFM
• 251 MPH
• Padded back and padded, adjustable shoulder straps
• Low vibration dampers
• X-TORQ engine for less exhaust and superior fuel efficiency
• Adjustable tube length

Husqvarna designed it 150BT to cater to professional lawn care companies and homeowners who want a powerful, yet easy-to-use leaf blower with comfort built-in. It’s powered by a 50.2cc 2-cycle gasoline engine with its proprietary X-TORQ technology and air purge feature.

This makes it easy to start, while also improving fuel efficiency by up to 20% and reducing exhaust emissions by an impressive 60%.

The power the Husqvarna 150BT generates translates into a movable air volume of up to 434 CFM at a blistering 251 MPH. This is more than enough airflow capacity to blow away leaves, light lawn debris, and grass clippings. It even has enough strength to blow away sand and mulch.

The backpack itself has a comfortably padded back panel with padded, adjustable shoulder straps. The Husqvarna 150BT was also designed to minimize vibration from the engine to the operator.

What We Liked

The 434 CFM and 251 MPH produced by the Husqvarna 150BT’s 50.2 cc 2-cycle gasoline engine delivers professional-grade power for maximum versatility. The fuel efficiency and exhaust reduction of the X-TORQ engineering are also very convenient.

The padded back panel and adjustable padded shoulder straps with minimized vibration is also a nice touch.

Overall

The Husqvarna 150BT is a truly professional leaf blower that can also impress homeowners with the budget for a truly premium blower. It does all this weighing in at a comfortable 22.5-pounds.

DEWALT DCBL772X1 Blower

Specs:

• 60 Volt electric motor
• 3 Ah battery
• Battery charger included
• 600 CFM
• 125 MPH
• Variable speed control
• Speed lock cruise control

DeWalt is one of the giants in the power tools industry, with a wide range of battery-powered tools and Jobsite appliances. Many of which run off the same type of 60 Volt 3 Ah lithium-ion battery that you find in the DEWALT DCBL772X1 leaf blower.

The 60-Volt electric motor can move up to 600 CFM, at speeds up to 125 MPH. This is incredibly strong for a battery-powered electric leaf blower. It also has variable speed controls as well as a “Speed Lock” cruise control feature. It has a potential runtime of up to 30-minutes, which is usually sufficient for clearing a small to medium-size yard.

There is a battery charger included in the purchase. It typically recharges the 3Ah lithium-ion battery in 30 to 45 minutes.

What We Liked

The 600 CFM air volume at 125 MPH is exceptionally powerful for a battery-powered electric leaf blower. It’s also nice that DeWalt includes a 3 Ah lithium-ion battery and charger in the purchase. It especially adds to the value if you are also a fan of the DeWalt line and own other 60 Volt appliances to repurpose the battery.

Overall

The DeWalt DCBL772X1 is a very well-designed leaf blower with the quality materials you expect from an industry leader like DeWalt. It can move a serious volume of air in a single minute at speeds that you usually only see in gas-powered leaf blowers.

If there’s a complaint with the DeWalt DCBL772X1 it’s that it weighs in at 9.1 pounds which can wear out your arm and shoulder during the course of clearing a large yard.

Buyers Guide

Many people think of a leaf blower as being something that sits around in the garage collecting dust 10-months out of the year and only sees’s the light of day when it’s time to clean up fall leaves. Taken in this light you could even start to develop an unconscious resentment towards a leaf blower for taking your time away from watching fall football games.

Yet a leaf blower can be used for much more than simply getting autumn leaves out of your way. In fact, if you look at a lot of serious landscaping and lawn care companies, you will find leaf blowers are a part of their arsenal for much of the year. It’s all in how creatively you want to use it.

In the spring a leaf blower can be used to clear out the last scraps of leaves and other organic debris that ended up in your yard right before the first snowfall. As things start to green up your leaf blower could even help blow away grass clippings. This is especially handy for preventing thatch build-up, while also helping your lawn to look tastefully manicured.

There are even companies out there that offer special attachments that you can use to help repurpose a leaf blower to clean the gutters. If you’re a little bit handy, there are even videos on the internet that can teach you hot to do this yourself with some PVC pipes, a few clamps, and of course, copious amounts of duct tape.

Now, you might also be surprised to hear that for a device that just basically creates a strong blast of air, there are some key features that come into play. Dialing in the right priorities for how you are most likely to it will go a long way toward helping you find the best leaf blower for maintaining your yard.

Gas Leaf Blowers Versus Electric

Most leaf blowers are powered by either small a gasoline engine or a compact electric motor. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks.

Right off the bat, gasoline-powered leaf blowers tend to be more powerful than their electric counterparts. They also tend to have higher CFM and MPH ratings, which means they can move more total cubic feet of air per minute at a higher rate of speed.

The drawback here is that they tend to be heavier to lug around and they need more routine maintenance. Oil changes, cleaning air filters, and the inevitable problems that come from carburetors with spark plugs can eat up your time. It also gradually adds to the overall long-term cost of ownership.

An electric leaf blower only requires a minimal fraction of maintenance compared to a gasoline engine. They also tend to start more reliably. Unfortunately, many of them require you to be connected to some type of power source, which can limit your overall range. Not to mention the fact that you will inevitably end up with a nasty tangle in an inconveniently long extension cord.

It’s worth noting that there are some battery-powered electric leaf blowers on the market. Unfortunately, they tend to be a little on the weak side, and even the best ones are only capable of running for a short amount of time. This makes them only truly viable for people with very small lawns.

In the past, electric leaf blowers were considerably quieter than their gasoline counterparts. Though recent improvements in small gasoline motors have now moved some of them arguably closer when it comes to noise levels.

Choosing Between A Handheld Or Backpack Leaf Blower

Now that you have a better idea of the pros and cons of gasoline versus electric leaf blowers, you can now move on to how the power plant and other hardware components are mounted.

With electric, corded leaf blowers, you are usually looking at a lightweight handheld unit. At most you might have to sling your extension cord over your shoulder, just to keep it out of your way.

Battery-powered electric leaf blowers tend to be a little bit heavier, due to the dense weight of the batteries. With these, you might want to lean toward a backpack model. It spares your arm and also helps balance out the weight on your back.

Gasoline-powered leaf blowers are almost always mounted to some type of backpack. Preferably one with padded adjustable shoulder straps and a sternum strap. In the past, these units might have been very heavy, but today they are relatively lightweight. Some of the better ones can feel comfortably balanced on your back and shoulder.

Vacuum Features

There are some leaf blowers that have a vacuum feature built-in. With these leaves and other small pieces of yard debris are drawn in and ground up by the internal impeller. The small bits are then deposited into a storage bag. There are some people who insist on these features, and other people who stay away from them.

Those who don’t like the vacuum feature talk about the propensity for the impeller to jam up when a stick finds its way through the system. For a larger yard, you also end up emptying the small bag frequently. However, the way they are ground up also makes the pieces a nice way to add carbon to your compost pile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does The Manufacturer Matter?

A: When it comes to lawn care appliances and power tools, the manufacturer can be an important factor. It’s at least a good place to start. Afterall the big-name manufacturers got where they are by doing it right over and over again each year. This includes names like DeWalt, Echo, Ego, Husqvarna, Kobalt, Stihl Toro and Weed Eater.

Q: How Do I Mix Gasoline For A Two-Stroke Motor?

A: A lot of gas-powered leaf blowers have a two-stroke engine. The benefit here is that you don’t have to perform any routine oil changes. This is because the oil is mixed right in the gasoline and actively lubricates it throughout the combustion process. It’s also worth noting that the oil used is not the typical 10W30 that you put in your car.

The problem is that the art and science of mixing two-cycle oil and gasoline are slowly being lost to the simplicity of modern life. The mixing process itself is relatively straight forward. Just make sure that you are doing the mixing in a gas can. You should never attempt to mix in the leaf blower’s fuel tank!

Double-check your model to make sure you know the mix ratio. Not all leaf blowers use the same 2-cycle oil to gas ratio. If you mix it too lean, meaning there’s not enough oil, it could score the piston or damage the internal workings of the motor. If you mix it too rich, meaning there’s too much oil it could cause misfires, excessive smoke, and possibly cause carburetor or spark plug problems.

Fortunately, there are some leaf blower manufacturers who are aware that mixing oil and gas at specific ratios can be tricky for some people. Rather than risk driving you away from their gas-powered leaf blower toward electric, they will offer special little oil bottles that are at just the right volume. Usually, you pour one little bottle into your gas can, followed by one gallon of premium unleaded gasoline.

The act of filling the gas is usually sufficient for mixing the oil properly. Just make sure the oil is in the can first. If you let the can sit for a day or more the oil and gasoline inside can start to separate a little, but a gentle slosh should be enough to blend them again.

It’s a good idea to mark the gas can with a permanent marker. Make sure to note that it’s mixed, and at what ratio as well as the name of the device. You don’t want to accidentally use the leaf blower’s mixed gasoline in the chainsaw if they both need a different ratio.

Q: Is A Warranty Important?

A: On the face of it, you want to see at least one year of warranty coverage from a leaf blower you are considering. For the most part, if there are any factory defects or manufacturing problems, they should show up in the first 12-months. Anything more than that shouldn’t be the tipping point of one leaf blower over another.

Q: What Are CFM And MPH?

A: You see these technical terms mentioned with some leaf blowers. CFM stands for Cubic Feet per Minute, which is a rating based on the amount of air moved by the blower in one minute. Ideally, you want to see an CFM rating around 300 for doing things like moving a significant volume of leaves or being able to blast grass clippings off your landscaping mulch.

MPH stands for Miles Per Hour, which as you can imagine is the speed measurement of the air coming out of the blower. This also impacts the overall velocity that you can move lawn debris. You want to see both of these numbers being relatively high. If one is low and another is high, it’s likely a warning sight of less than stellar engineering.

Q: Does The Impeller Material Matter In a Vacuum Leaf Blower?

A: There are some people who love leaf blowers with a vacuum feature for its ability to clear small areas and grind yard debris into small pieces for the compost pile. Though there are some people who are against the vacuum function and stay away from the slightly higher price tag of blower/vacs.

One of the big criticisms of blower/vacs is that the internal impeller can jam up, or even break pieces off, which leads to an even more costly repair. One way around this is to look for a blower/vac that specifically states it has a metal impeller, which is far less likely to fracture of jam.

Q: Do I Need Ear Protection When Using A Leaf Blower?

A: Some small electric leaf blowers might seem quiet. There are even some manufacturers who will talk about how quiet their leaf blowers are in marketing terms. Yet even the most well-designed and quiet leaf blowers still make enough noise to damage your hearing. Especially if you are going to be using it for long periods of time.

It’s best to invest in some quality ear protection like 3M Peltor Optime 98 Over the Head Earmuff or Walker’s Hearing Protection and make a point to wear it at all times while operating a leaf blower. While you are at it, you might want to also think about safety goggles or some other type of eye protection like AmazonBasics Glasses or XAegis Tactical Eyewear. The high-velocity air produced by a leaf blower can do funny things to lawn debris when it deflects of landscaping and retaining walls.

Conclusion

There are a lot of options out there for leaf blowers and blower/vac/mulcher combos. Whittling them down can be a little bit of a challenge.

If you are a professional landscaping or lawn care company looking to expand your services, then you might want to lean toward one of the gas-powered backpack models. Recent improvements in engineering quality and design have made these units more comfortable as well as more efficient than their predecessors.

If you are a homeowner, with a modest yard, then a lightweight electric leaf blower, is probably going to be more on your radar. At that point, you will have to evaluate whether you want to go with a corded model or battery-powered leaf blower.

This decision can sometimes come down to a basic matter of dimensions. Most people don’t want to lug around an extension cord that’s longer than 50-feet. Not to mention extreme lengths beyond 100-feet could cause the blower to experience a power loss. So, if you need to go more than 50-feet, you might want to lean more toward a battery-powered leaf blower. Preferably one that comes with a battery charger included in the purchase.

Dancing in the gray area here is the realm of the leaf blower and mulching vacuum. They are handy for reducing the overall volume of you leaves you to need to bag and can even help clean up other pieces of lawn debris. Just make sure to double-check that it has a metal impeller. Otherwise, you might end up with a nasty jam o your hands, right when you don’t want it.

Regardless, whatever your needs and the size of your yard, there is certainly a quality leaf blower or blower/vac on this list for you.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Disclaimer: Prices might fluctuate due to the current situation.

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AOC G2590FX Frameless Gaming Monitor has a 24.5-inch frameless display with 1920 X 1080 resolution. It’s also engineered with 1ms, at a 144 Hz refresh rate with up to 20-levels of gray. These basic technical specs mean it’s definitely up to the task of handling some serious gaming. Though some special features do help set it apart from some of the competitors.

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Sceptre C248W-1920R is surprisingly affordable for a curved gaming monitor. You get the sense that it was specifically designed to appeal to gamers on a tight budget, who still don’t want to sacrifice visual quality. It also has multiple connection ports for HDMI, VGA, and PC as well as a display port

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Acer ED273 Abidpx is a high-quality curved gaming monitor that pushed right up to the limit of what you can buy for under $200. It measures in at 27-inches with 1080p resolution and it has a 144 Hz refresh rate which produces nearly cinematic quality images.

The Acer ED273 also offers a 178-degree viewing angle on both the horizontal and vertical. The mount is included in the purchase and it lets you tilt the gaming monitor by up to 15-degrees for a customized viewing experience.

This gaming monitor comes with a display port, as well as an HDMI port and a DVI port. This means you can potentially connect multiple devices at one time without having to waste a lot of time unplugging and plugging every time you want to switch to a new console.

Its also worth noting that this gaming monitor comes with Acer’s proprietary VisionCare Technologies which was designed for a flicker-less viewing experience and also includes a special Blue Light Filter, as well as low-dimming technology. This further helps reduce eye strain during marathon gaming sessions.

How We Picked

Manufacturing and tech improvements have helped high-quality gaming monitors to come down in price to the point where you can get a nice unit for under $200. Though in some cases, manufacturers have given into the temptation to cut a corner here and there.

Resolution And Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is a major criterion, that ranks up there right alongside resolution. We tried to filter out anything that was under 75 Hz. Ideally, 144 Hz was even better, but for a gaming monitor under $200, it’s pretty hard to find anything with a higher refresh rate. 1ms response rate is also somewhat standard, if not on the cutting edge for the best gaming monitors under $200.

When it comes to resolution, 1080p or the relative equivalent was also a key factor. Sure 4K is growing in popularity and availability as the way of the future. Unfortunately, it also tends to drive up the price, which makes it hard to keep your gaming system on a budget.

Flat Or Curved Display

Curved versus flat is also a key consideration that deserved to be weighed in on during the review process. In the past, a curved monitor usually landed outside of the $200 price range. It’s only been recent that they’ve come in reach of gamers working with a limited budget.

The advantage of a curved monitor is that you get a more immersive experience. If you’ve got a little bit more of a budget to play with, or you come into some money later on down the road, you can even link several of them together to make you feel like you’re inside the game. The downside of a curved monitor is that most of them feel awkward for times when you might want to play against a friend. It’s a little hard to share the same curved gaming monitor if you’re saying in a dorm room.

With a flat-screen gaming monitor, it’s much easier to have two people sit reasonably close together to play at the same time. Flat gaming monitors also tend to be a little lower in price, which can save you some money if you’re working with a slim budget.

Connection Ports

Connectivity and ports are also something we kept an eye out for. HDMI is sort of the standard now, though VGA still has a place in the gaming monitor world. Coming up fast and gaining traction is the display port, which allows you to connect a wider range of devices. When a unit had multiple connection ports we naturally moved it up the list for the simple fact that it spares you the hassle of unplugging and plugging in different consoles or devices when you want to use them.

Audio ports are also a nice touch as they let you connect to secondary speakers or even tap into a home audio system. Though most gaming monitors these days do come with some speakers built-in. You shouldn’t be overly dismayed if the wattage output of those speakers is a little on the low side. Especially when you consider that you’ll likely be sitting rather close to the gaming monitor.

Blue Light Filtering And Anti-Flicker

These are somewhat new technologies that are growing in demand. Right off the bat blue light reduction helps reduce eye strain, which is a big deal for marathon gamers. At the same time, there’s a growing body of research that points to excessive blue light exposure in the evenings contributing to certain sleep disorders.

A gaming monitor under $200 that also has some type of auto-dimming was something we saw as an added feather in the cap. While it’s not a make-or-break it type of feature, a lot of gamers do end up playing in low light conditions or a dark room. Bringing down the brightness output of the monitor by a miniscule 10 to 15% helps to reduce eye strain, while also making it easier to see what’s going on in the world around you.

ASUS VG245H 24-inch Full HD 1080p

Specs:

• 24-inch display
• 1080p resolution
• Dual HDMI ports
• Game Fast input technology
• 75 Hz refresh rate
• 1ms response time
• Adaptive Sync
• Eye care reduced blue light
• Game Fast input technology

The ASUS VG245H attempts to marry a very friendly price point to the kind of essential features you want to find in a gaming monitor under $200. It measures in at 24-inches on the diagonal and displays images at 1080p resolution.

On the side, you will find dual HDMI ports, which is nice if you are using it for more than one device or console. It spares you having to constantly switch back and forth if you have more than one console.

ASUS designed this gaming monitor with a 1ms response time and a refresh rate of 75 Hz. On paper, the frame rate is a little bit on the low side for a gaming monitor. Especially when you consider that some of the competitors have a 144 Hz refresh rate.

However, they compensate for this with their “Game Fast Input Technology” which helps to reduce input lag while making for better combos and in-game effects. The ASUS VG245H is compatible with AMD FreeSync technology which further helps to eliminate screen tearing as well as things like choppy frame rates.

The ASUS VG245H gaming monitor also has 6 pre-set display modes that are kinked to an OSD hotkey. With the single press of a button, you can cycle through different visual settings to find the one that is right for the visual dynamics of the game you are playing.

This gaming monitor was also engineered with “Eye Care” which essentially reduces blue light. While you might not notice the impact in the course of a single short session, it can help reduce eye strain for marathon gaming sessions.

What We Liked

The 6 preset display modes that are also linked to a single “OSD” hotkey is convenient, especially if you are taking advantage of the dual HDMI ports to switch between multiple consoles and/or games.

The “Eye Care” blue light reduction is also a nice touch. Especially for marathon gamers, or individuals who have noticed a link between late-night gaming and troubles falling asleep.

Overall

If you have multiple consoles and you want to be able to quickly switch from one to the next, or you want to be able to quickly optimize your visual experience, then the ASUS VG245H deserves to be on your radar. True the 75 Hz frame rate is a little on the low side, but this is compensated for in devices using a compatible AMD graphics card.

AOC G2590FX 25″ Frameless Gaming Monitor

Specs:

• 24.5-inch frameless display
• 1920 X 1080 resolution
• 144 Hz frame rate
• Compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync
• Low blue light mode
• Clear Vision coverts SD to HD
• 20 levels of gray

The AOC G2590FX measures in at 24.5-inches on the diagonal and is considered “Frameless.” It has a 1920 X 1080 resolution with a nice 1ms, 144 Hz frame rate. It also has 20-levels of gray.

Beyond the nuts and bolts technical components you’ll also find some special features that might be appealing if you like playing first-person shooters or you have a retro console that you still love to play. Their proprietary “Dial Point” was designed to give you superior accuracy for FPS and other games with first-person simulations.

AOC also has what they call “Clear Vision” which is designed to covert SD content to HD quality images. This is nice for times when you might want to use a retro console, or you have some other older device that you want to connect to the gaming monitor.

When the AOC G2590FX is paired with an NVIDIA graphics card it’s compatible with G-Sync. It also has a “Flicker Free” low blue light mode that helps to reduce eye strain. It’s particularly nice for marathon gamers.

What We Liked

The Dual Point functionality certainly appeals to FPS gamers. You also have to like the Clear Vision feature for times when you might want to pull out a retro console.

Overall

There’s a lot to like in the AOC G2590FX technical specs. If you already have a new NVIDIA graphics card, and you like first-person shooters or you have a retro console that you’d like to dust off for a few more goes, it probably deserves to be floating near the top of your list.

Sceptre E255B-1658A 24.5″ 165Hz 144Hz 1ms AMD

Specs:

• 24.5” LED-backlit display
• 1920 x1080
• 1sm 165 Hz frame rate
• Anti-flicker feature
• 2 HDMI ports
• Display port
• Built-in speakers

The Sceptre E255B-1658A is a 24.5-inch backlit LED gaming monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a 1ms at 165 Hz refresh rate which makes it capable of handling action games and movies with little-to-no ghosting or blurred edges.

Connectivity is a nice little bonus with the Sceptre E255B-1658A. Not only does it come with two HDMI ports, but it also has a “Display Port.” This is an increasingly popular option for people who want to quickly connect multiple devices to the same gaming monitor.

Sceptre also engineered this gaming monitor with an Anti-Flicker feature. This shows some thoughtfulness in design as backlit LED monitors are sometimes prone to momentary flickering. Especially with dynamic fast-changing graphics.

What We Liked

The dual HDMI ports and the display port let you use the Sceptre E255B-1658A as the beating heart of a multi-console or multi-device gaming system. The Anti-Flicker is also a nice touch.

Overall

The Sceptre E255B-1658A means is arguably geared for you to be sitting at your desk rather than say back in a chair at a distance. It doesn’t have the blue-light reduction that some of the competitors do, but some gamers feel this is a relative non-issue.

The 165 Hz refresh rate and the anti-flicker features are nice for fast-paced games and movies. The dual HDMI ports and the display port also lets you keep multiple devices connected at one time, without having to constantly physically switch between them.

Acer XFA240 bmjdpr 24″ Gaming G-SYNC Compatible Monitor

Specs:

• 24″ Widescreen Full HD display
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 1ms at 144Hz Refresh Rate-
• 2 speakers producing 2 watts each
• Acer VisionCare Technologies
• 1 Display Port
• 1 HDMI/MHL port
• 1 DVI
• G-SYNC compatible

The Acer XFA240 measures in at 24-inches on the diagonal and is a full HD widescreen with 1920 X 1080 resolution. It has a 1ms response rate and 144 Hz. It’s also G-Sync compatible with tear-free smooth gameplay. This gaming monitor also comes with a pair of two-watt speakers for added immersive sound.

The stand is impressive for a gaming monitor under $200. A lot of manufacturers at this price point will cut corners on the stand to stay in the budget range. This stand is adjustable in height and can also pivot and tilt. The display also has an impressive 170-degree viewing angle on the horizontal plane and 160-degree viewing angle on the vertical plane.

The Acer XFA240 has a variety of connection options. It’s engineered for maximum performance when you connect via the display port. Though it also has an HDMI port and a DVI port. Depending on your hardware, you could potentially connect three devices, and switch them out as needed.

This gaming monitor was also designed with Acer’s “VisionCare Technologies” which integrates several components to reduce overall eye strain without muting the visual performance. This includes their “Low Dimming Technology” which effectively reduces the brightness by up to 15% when the lights in the room are turned off or dialed low.

What We Liked

As simplistic as it might sound, the adjustability of the stand is impressive. A lot of manufacturers cut corners with the stand to ring in at a lower price. The horizontal and vertical viewing angles are also wide enough that you can have another person gaming with you in the same room without one of you feeling left out or off to the side.

Overall

The Acer XFA240 is a nice option for two people who want to game together, or for adjusting the monitor to best fit the room and seating options. The refresh rate and visual quality don’t disappoint. If something is missing, it’s the lack of some sort of blue light reduction. Acer does try with their VisionCare Technologies, but it’s half a step behind the blue light reduction systems you see in several of the competitors.

AOC C24G1 24″ Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor

Specs:

• 23.6-inch curved monitor
• 1920 X 1080 resolution
• 1ms at 144 Hz refresh rate
• AMD FreeSync
• Display port and 2 HDMI ports
• Low blue mode and anti-flicker technology
• 178-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angle

Just a few years ago the technology behind curved displays tended to drive the price up. Thankfully, manufacturers have started to be able to offer this more immersive screen shape at more reasonable prices. You see this in the very friendly price tag of the AOC C24G1.

It measures in at 23.6 “Frameless” inches. The shape of the curvature still allows for an impressive 178-degree viewing angle on the vertical and horizontal plane. This also means that while it’s meant to be immersive for a single person, there’s still enough viewable space for two gamers without one feeling completely left-out or off to the side.

It comes with an adjustable stand. The gaming monitor also has a VGA port, a display port, and a pair of HDMI ports. This means that you can potentially connect a variety of devices at one time, without having to constantly unplug and plug the console you want to use.

It’s also worth noting that the AOC C24G1 has AOC’s low blue light mode and reduced flicker. This reduces eye strain during marathon gaming sessions and gaming before bed. It also has AMD’s FreeSync display to eliminate screen tearing, stutter and input lag.

What We Liked

The curved shape with the 178-degree viewing angle is a nice touch at this price point. AMD’s FreeSync is also a nice touch for certain PC gamers.

Overall

For a curved frameless gaming monitor, there’s a lot to like with the AOC C24G1. If you like to marathon game, or you’ve noticed sleep quality issues from gaming with a standard blue light monitor this gaming monitor needs to be on your radar.

Acer Gaming Monitor 27” Curved ED273 Abidpx

Specs:

• 27″ Curved Widescreen VA G-SYNC Compatible Display
• 1080p resolution
• 144 Hz Refresh Rate
• Acer VisionCare Technologies
• NVIDIA G-SYNC compatible
• 1 Display Port
• 1 HDMI and 1 DVI
• Connection Cables Included

The Acer ED273 Abidpx is another high-quality curved gaming monitor. At 27-inches with 1080p, it pushes right up to the limit of what you can get for under $200.

It has a 144 Hz refresh rate which produces stunning, nearly cinematic quality images in a 16:9 aspect ratio. This gaming monitor also offers a 178-degree viewing angle on both horizontal and vertical access.

The mount also lets you tilt the gaming monitor by up to 15-degrees to customize it to where you are sitting. It comes with a display port, HDMI port, and a DVI port to connect multiple devices at one time.

The ED273 Abidpx was also designed with Acer’s VisionCare Technologies for a flicker-less viewing experience with a Blue Light Filter, as well as low-dimming technology. The net effect is far less eye strain for marathon gaming sessions.

What We Liked

The fact that you can get a 27-inch curved display gaming monitor for under $200 is impressive in-and-of-itself. The VisionCare Technologies are also nice for reducing eye strain or times when you want to put in a few hours at the console right before going to bed.

Overall

This is an impressive gaming monitor that rides the line of what you can get for under $200. It would be nice if there was an additional HDMI port or more height adjustability in the stand, but those are very minor complaints.

Sceptre C248W-1920R 24-inch Curved Gaming Monitor

Specs:

• 24″ Diagonal curved display
• 1080p resolution
• 1800R Curved Screen
• 75 Hz refresh rate
• Display port, HDMI, VGA, and PC ports
• Audio In Ports
• Built-in Speakers

Curved gaming monitors have come down in price in recent years to the point that there are a few that are well under $200. The Sceptre C248W-1920R is one such display that was designed to appeal to gamers who need a quality gaming monitor, who also have a tight budget.

The 24-inch monitor is curved to create a more immersive viewing experience. Two built-in speakers enhance the ambiance, with additional audio ports.

The display itself has a 75 Hz refresh rate, which is a little on the low end of the spectrum, yet still respectable.

There are even multiple connection ports for HDMI, VGA, and PC as well as a Display Port.

What We Liked

The multiple ports let you connect more than one device, or if you prefer you can use it as your home office monitor during the day and gaming monitor at night.

Overall

There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles with the Sceptre C248W-1920R, and the 75 Hz refresh rate is a little low, but so is the price. If you have a tight budget for your gaming monitor, this might just be the best of both worlds.

Viotek GNV27DB 27-Inch Curved QHD Gaming Monitor

Specs:

• Backlight E-LED
• 1920 x 1080p Resolution
• 16:9 aspect ratio
• 144 Hz refresh rate
• 4ms
• 1800R Curvature
• 1 display port with cable included
• 2 HDMI ports
• 2 3-watt speakers
• Up to 1-degrees of tilt
• A 3-year buyer protection program

The Viotek GN27DB is another curved gaming monitor with a friendly price tag. To that end, it has a backlit LED display with a 1080p resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 4ms is a little slow but it makes up for it with the 144 Hz refresh rate.

It is compatible with AMD’s FreeSync for extra-smooth gameplay while also reducing visual distortion. It also has “Overdrive” which increases the response rate to 3.1ms. The GamePlus targeting crosshairs also helps with first-person shooters.

The Viotek GN27DB has a display port with the cable included as well as a 1.4 and 2.0 HDMI port. There is also a pair of built-in 3-watt speakers, and you can tilt the screen up to 15-degrees.

What We Liked

The little extras like Overdrive, AMD’s FreeSync compatibility, and the GamePlus targeting system are nice little bells and whistles that might move the Viotek GN27DB up your list.

Overall

The Viotek GN27DB is a good value gaming monitor under $200. It’s maybe a little slow response rate for high-speed action games, but otherwise, you get a lot of quality for the money.

Buyers Guide

There’s no doubt about it, a serious gamer needs to have the right gear. Sure, in the 1980s everyone was happy just to have a gaming console and a tube TV to plug it into. If you were lucky you only had to pull the cartridge out once an hour to give it a good couple slaps to get it to work right again.

Today the pace of modern gaming has evolved to embrace everything modern-day technology. This includes state-of-the-art gaming consoles, wireless controllers, blazing fast internet speeds, high definition sound, and visually rich gaming monitor.

Of course, all these things cost money, and unless you are a professional gamer, chances are you aren’t going to see a true return on your investment. Yet at the same time, you also don’t want to be that guy who’s getting outclassed running on last generation’s technology.

One of the biggest causes of “Buyer’s Remorse” for gamers is often from over-investing in a gaming monitor that later proves to not be worth its hefty price tag.

Key Features To Look For In A Quality Gaming Monitor

Balancing budget with high-quality features can be a little bit of a tightrope act. However, there are a few key characteristics that serve as a good starting point.

The Relationship Between Size And Viewing Distance

There is a little talked about relationship between viewing distance and monitor size. Some gaming monitors have an “Ideal” viewing distance. This can even become a foil against the notion that bigger is always better.

Let’s say you have a small apartment or a dorm room. It might be tempting to fill a wall with a monster monitor. While it might be impressive and even leave you with questions about eye strain, you might also notice it hard to visually keep track of the action at the periphery of the screen.

At the same time, a lot of people who go for a giant gaming monitor try to save money on a unit with less than high resolution.
If you will be sitting a little bit closer to the monitor you should permit yourself to go a little bit smaller, in favor of superior resolution or special features.

Resolution

Of course, the resolution is the next natural step when shopping for the best gaming monitor for you. While 4K is certainly appealing and the way of the future. However, it does increase the overall price. If you are massaging your budget, you might find a good gaming monitor at an attractive 1080p resolution.

Refresh Rate

The monitor’s refresh rate is typically based on the number of frames per second. An average computer monitor for a desktop or laptop might only have a refresh rate around 60 Hz which might get the job done on paper but tends to have a noticeable amount of lag in the action. Especially for fast-paced games with rich video and high-resolution graphics demand.

This has spurred on rapid evolution in monitor refresh rates that go far beyond what a simple desktop monitor can truly handle on its own. When it comes to a gaming monitor you should consider your floor at 75 Hz and go up from there to possibly as high as 240 Hz.

Though as you can imagine, as the refresh rate increases, so do the price. Some gaming monitor manufacturers will offer a value-priced unit with a 75 Hz then will use special proprietary features to improve image quality and the ability to transition quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How Does Blue Light Affect Gamers?

A: In recent years a growing body of research has started to shed new light on the impact of blue light on the eyes as well as the human brain. There appears to be a direct correlation between excessive amounts of blue light causing headaches, contributing to eye strain issues, and even impacting certain sleep disorders.

Some physicians and neurologists encourage people to limit their blue light exposure from smartphone screens, monitors and other devices. This includes staying away from blue light within an hour or two of going to bed. Of course, this doesn’t wash well with avid gamers. So several gaming monitor manufacturers are now offering units that have some type of “Eye Care” or “Blue Light Reduction.” It has an even more profound impact on marathon gamers and people who like to squeeze in a few hours right before going to bed.

Many gaming monitors that have reduced blue light features also have other features to reduce eye strain. You might see this in terms like “Flicker Free.”

Q: Do I Need To Have A Compatible Graphics Card?

A: Several gaming monitors under $200 have enhanced graphics or special features that you can enjoy if you have an affiliated graphics card in your PC or console system. It’s important to note that most of the time these are enhanced features. As long as you have a reasonably up to date graphics card the gaming monitor will work. You will just have a superior experience if you do have a compatible graphics card.

Q: What is the difference between led and a backlit LED?

A: An LED monitor generates the pixel colors directly from the light-emitting diode. With an LED-backlit monitor, the colors are generated by colors indirectly by filtering white light. An LED monitor that generates colors directly tends to be more energy-efficient. It also tends to produce superior image quality at a greater distance, which makes it a better option if you like to game from a couch or chair, rather than right at your desk.

Conclusion

In the past, if you wanted a quality gaming monitor, you had to be willing to pay top dollar. Recent improvements in tech and manufacturing efficiency have helped bring quality gaming monitors down in price to the point where you can get one that doesn’t leave you with a case of buyer’s remorse for under $200.

When choosing the best gaming monitor under $200 for you, take a moment to think about where you’ll most likely be using it, as well as who you might use it with. If it’s going to be you alone in your man cave, then you might want to lean toward a curved display screen. If you want to occasionally play against your roommate in your dorm, you might want to lean toward a flatscreen display.

Next, you can start filtering by resolution capability. While 4K might be sexy and likely will take over in the future, there’s no reason to turn your nose up at a respectable 1080p gaming monitor.

At this point, you can start filtering out by refresh or frame rate. 75 Hz should be your absolute floor. Any lower than that and you might as well just use an old desktop monitor. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s going to be a challenge to find a gaming monitor under $200 that has a refresh rate that’s more than 144 to 165 Hz.

You can often optimize performance even further by selecting a gaming monitor that is meant to be paired with your PC or other device’s graphics card.

Don’t turn a blind eye to blue light technology, anti-flicker features and other factors that might reduce eye strain. Not only are they handy for the ever-popular gaming marathon sessions, but they can also have a strangely positive impact on your overall sleep hygiene.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The
CyberPower CP1500 has a 1,000-Watt load capacity as well as 12 outlets. Of those outlets, 6 are reserved for battery backup with surge protection and the remaining 6 are surge protection only. This gives you the ability to make sure essential devices are powered in an outage, without having to worry about losing runtime to powering non-essential devices.

The CyberPower CP1500 a multi-function color LCD panel with the ability to tile it up to 17-degrees. This makes it easier to read if you want to keep the tower down low or in a hard to reach area. This UPS also comes with CyberPower’s Power Panel Management software which you can connect to a PC to help manage the system at a glance.

Amazon’s concerted push to make its presence known in the consumer electronics market includes a wide range of devices designed to cater to various needs. The
Amazon Basics Standby has a 450-Watt load capacity which caters more to homes and single office workstations.

Yet it still does have an impressive 12 outlets with six directly connected to the battery backup and the remaining 6 are connected to just an internal surge protector. Technically it doesn’t have a traditional AVR, but the battery backup outlets do help buffer connected devices against abnormalities in the current coming from the grid. If you like, there is a free downloadable power management software available, and you can connect to the UPS via a USB port.

The bXterra 3000VA UPS SP3000LCDRT2U Smart Sine Wave UPS was designed to support small to medium size server rooms or larger office settings. It has a 27,000-Watt load capacity and 6 NEMA 5-20R as well as 1 NEMA 5-30R outlet, it has robust specs to support small to medium-size server rooms.

This UPS has pure sine wave line interactive topology as well as AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) to help protect connected devices from abnormalities that can occur during a brownout or surge. It’s also Energy Star certified. The batteries are hot-swappable. So if you purchase additional replacement batteries you can interchange them for added runtime in the event of a power outage that occurs when you are in the middle of a complicated process.

The bXterra 3000VA UPS SP3000LCDRT2U also comes with special “Power Frame” software which includes remote access features. This means you can still access the system if a power outage occurs when you or your IT staff are away from the facility.

How We Picked

These days making sure that your essential appliances and electronic devices receive consistent power is more important than ever. While a complete power outage is certainly a cause for concern, even a brownout or a momentary power surge can still damage electronics and lead to a loss of critical data.

Connecting your computer and other essential electronics to an uninterrupted power supply with built-in surge protection is a relatively inexpensive way to preserve high-value electronics. More commonly referred to as a UPS, these sophisticated devices pay for themselves with peace of mind.

Of course, there are a few things that go into finding the best-uninterrupted power supply for your home or office. Throughout the review process, we tried to keep our eyes out for key features and thoughtful engineering.

Wattage Capacity

Most of the best UPS systems use Watts as the unit of measure. To determine the capacity you need, you will have to check the wattage rating of each device you want to connect. You can find this in the owner’s manual or stamped into the back or bottom.

For our review process, we tried to target UPS systems that had at least an 800 Watt load capacity. This should be enough to let you safely power down a typical home or small office during a power outage. Though we did make sure to include a few lower wattage budget models that you might want to place in a child’s bedroom. Some units are designed to handle more than just a single office, with the wattage requirements and sophisticated software to support a server room or similar IT environment.

AVR

Automatic Voltage Regulation is increasingly popular for protecting today’s sophisticated, yet often sensitive electronic devices. A brownout or a power surge that manages to make it from the external power grid to a plugged-in laptop, or server could cause severe damage as well as potential data loss.

AVR essentially acts as a buffer against these problems. We tried to look for it, or something similar in the UPS systems we reviewed.

Connectivity And Management Software

A lot of the best UPS systems on the market today have some type of management software. This lets you check the status of your system at a glance, or make any necessary alterations. Remote access via a cloud-enabled system was also something we tried to keep an eye out for when it comes to units with a higher price tag.

APC 1500VA BR1500G UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector

Specs:

• 865 Watts
• 10 Outlets (5 are surge protection only)
• AVR
• Data line surge protection
• User-replaceable, hot-swappable batteries
• PowerChute software with energy management features
• Auto shutdown software
• 3-year warranty

The APC BR1500 G was designed to handle up to 865 watts and was engineered with AVR. It has a total of 10 outlets, but only five of them are directly connected to the battery backup and surge protector. The other 5 are only surge protector outlets. This lets you connect your essential electronics without worrying about non-essential devices draining the power. It also has data line surge protection ports on the back.

The batteries are “User Replaceable” meaning that you can replace them yourself without worrying about voiding the 3-year warranty that comes included in the purchase.

They are also hot-swappable, which means you can exchange spent batteries with replacements without interrupting the power flow to your essential electronics.

There’s an LCD that lets you monitor the system status. The APC BR1500 G comes with automatic shutdown software as well as “PowerChute” energy management features that can be linked to a laptop.

What We Liked

The fact that you can replace the hot-swappable batteries yourself without voiding the 3-year 150,000 warranty coverage is a definite feather in the APC BR1500 G’s cap.
Though you will have to purchase the replacement batteries separately.

Overall

This is a great UPS for a professional or home office, though it could also play an important role in protecting a home theatre system.

Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT 1500VA 900W UPS Battery Back-Up

Specs:

• 900 Watts
• 10 outlets (5 with battery backup and surge protection)
• AVR
• TEL/DSL/Ethernet protection
• 3-year warranty with $250,000 insurance
• Management software
• LCD status display screen
• USB ports to connect to a PC
• Sine wave output

The Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT was designed to support a professional or home office, with up to 10 outlets. Five of which are connected to the 900-Watt internal battery backup with surge protection, while the other five are connected just to the surge protector. Tripp Lite notes that this system can power an average PC with a runtime of up to 90-minutes.

With the TEL/DSL/Ethernet protection, it allows you to connect essential devices like a router, computer tower, desktop monitor and printer during a power outage. It also comes with AVR to help buffer the system against surges, and brownouts.

The Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT also has management software built-in. You can control it with the LCD status display screen or if you prefer there are USB ports that allow you advanced control by connecting to a PC.

What We Liked

The three-year warranty itself is on par with industry standards, however, the $250,000 insurance coverage is above par. You also shouldn’t overlook the sine wave output which reduces the risk of damage for certain AC motor appliances like a refrigerator or a microwave.

Overall

The 900-Watt capacity, AVR, and warranty coverage tick all the necessary boxes to make the Tripp Lite SMART1500LCDT one of the best UPS systems on the market. If there’s an area where it might be lacking, it’s that the batteries aren’t hot-swappable. Meaning you only really have the charge that’s in them to save data or run your entertainment equipment.

CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD Mini Tower

Specs:

• 1,000-Watt capacity
• 12 outlets with 6 being surge only
• AVR
• Multi-function color LCD with tilt
• Power panel management software
• 3-year warranty with $500,000 insurance coverage
• Power panel management software with dual USB ports

The CyberPower CP1500 was thoughtfully designed to be easy to use. With a 1,000 Watt capacity and 12 outlets, with 6 reserved for surge protection only, it gives you the ability to power multiple essential devices.

It also has AVR or automatic voltage regulation, which helps protect devices from brownouts and unforeseen power surges.

There is a multi-function color LCD panel that tilts up to 17-degrees. It also has CyberPower’s Power Panel Management software which you can control via the display screen, or you can connect a PC via one of the two USB ports.

The CyberPower CP1500 comes with a standard three-year warranty as well as an impressive $500,000 of insurance for connected devices.

What We Liked

On paper, the 17-degree tilt on the color LCD might not seem all that impressive. Still, when you consider that most people place their UPS down on the floor or some other out-of-the-way place, it spares you having to stoop over at awkward angles just to see what’s going on.

The 12 outlets with 6 having battery backup and surge protection are also 2 to 4 more than a lot of the direct competitors with similar characteristics and prices.

Overall

The CyberPower CP1500 is a great UPS for the money. It has the nuts and bolts functions you want like AVR and power management software. The easy-to-read color LCD with a tilted face is something you might come to appreciate more than you think.

Amazon Basics Standby UPS 800VA 450W Surge Protector Battery Backup

Specs:

• 450 Watts
• 12-outlets 6 with battery backup
• Downloadable free energy management software
• USB port connection
• 1-year warranty with $75,000 insurance

In recent years Amazon has been making a conscious push to expand into the world of consumer electronics. With a 450 Watt load capacity, the UPS – 800 VA was designed to cater to homes and offices with a slightly lower wattage need.

Though it still does have 12 outlets. Six of which are directly connected to the battery backup as well as a surge protector and another 6 are connected to just an internal surge protector. It’s worth noting that in this configuration there isn’t any sort of traditional AVR. However, the six outlets that are connected to the battery backup will still be regulated against abnormalities in the incoming AC.

It’s also worth noting that the Amazon Basics UPS – 800 VA produces a simulated sine wave in the current provided by the battery backup. This means it’s not a good option for certain electronics that have an AC motor. Essentially, you can hook up your TV or desktop monitor without concern, but it’s not a good idea for a minifridge with an AC compressor.

There’s also free downloadable power management software. You can then connect a PC to the UPS via a USB port.

What We Liked

You can’t argue with the price of this bargain UPS system. The number of outlets on such a relatively small UPS device is also impressive.

Overall

There aren’t a lot of sophisticated features with this budget UPS system. Still, it has what you need to keep a computer or the basic electronics in a child’s bedroom operating long enough to safely power down in an outage.

bXterra 3000VA UPS SP3000LCDRT2U Smart Sine Wave UPS

Specs:

• 2,700 Watts
• 6 NEMA 5-20R outlets
• 1 NEMA 5-30R outlet
• Pure sine wave with line interactive topology
• AVR
• Power Frame software with remote access feature
• Energy Star certified UPS
• Rotating LCD screen
• 3-year warranty with $350,000 insurance coverage

The bXterra 3000VA UPS SP3000LCDRT2U Smart Sine Wave UPS is a full step up from the smaller UPS systems on the market. With it’s 27,000-Watt load capacity and 6 NEMA 5-20R as well as 1 NEMA 5-30R outlet, it has the robust specs to support small to medium-size server rooms.

It has pure sine wave line interactive topology with automatic voltage regulation. This gives it the ability buffer to protect your sensitive electronics from surge and brownout events that affect the power grid or your building’s internal wiring.

The bXterra 3000VA UPS SP3000LCDRT2U Smart Sine Wave UPS is Energy Star certified and has hot-swappable batteries. This means if you have charged replacement batteries on hand that you can extend the overall runtime of the system for times when you might need to complete an important task or you need more time shutting the system down safely.

This system also has power frame software with remote access features. Even if you are not at the building during a power outage you can manage the system via a laptop or other wireless device.

What We Liked

The pure sine wave line interactive topology with 2,700-Watt load capacity and AVR is what you want to see for supporting a NAS box or other small data station.

You also have to like the Power Frame Software with remote access for managing a power outage when you might happen to be away from the facility.

Overall

This a great UPS system for a small server room or a NAS box with other attached network devices. The Energy Star certification is also a nice touch. You can even invest in replacement batteries for a hot-swap to make sure the system can still operate if a power outage occurs while you are doing something like installing software updates.

APC Smart Ups Pure Sinewave UPS Battery Backup

Specs:

• 2,700 Watts
• Power Chute Software
• Cloud-enabled with secure web portal
• 6 primary outlets

On the face of it, the Smart-UPS SMT3000C has a lot of the physical engineering you want to see in a UPS that’s designed to support a small to medium size server environment.

It’s also cloud-enabled for remote access through a secure encrypted web portal. To use it, you simply connect the UPS to your router via an ethernet connection, then you register it and the Power Chute software helps guide you through the process.

It has six primary outlets and AVR to help regulate AC power and prevent damage from surges or brownout events. It has an automatic green mode that monitors and manages the system for peak performance.

What We Liked

The Cloud enabled connectivity with secure remote access is very nice for times when there might be a power outage or another system fault that needs your attention, but you are away from the building. The intuitive interface and superior technical support offered by APC also makes it easy to maintain your network, even if you don’t have a dedicated on-site IT staff.

Overall

The APC Smart Ups Pure Sinewave UPS Battery Backup has all the nuts and bolts you want to see in a UPS system to support your IT environment. The software is easy to use and offers you secure, remote access.

If there’s a complaint here, it’s that the price tag is a little bit on the high side. This is likely due to APC assuming that companies without an IT staff will be recruiting support from APC’s tech support. If you already have a reliable IT staff on-site, you could save money by looking at a lower-priced competitor.

OPTI-UPS DS1500B (1500VA/1050W) Online Double Conversion Sinewave

Specs:

• Sinewave on-line, double-conversion, single-phase (2W+G)
• 1050 Watts
• Automatic sensing
• Converts current AC to DC, and DC to AC
• Zero transfer time
• Smart fan speed control
• Sophisticated software
• 2-year warranty protection

The OPTI DS1500B is a double conversion UPS that can convert the current from AC to DC and then back from DC to AC. This has the net effect of making it more energy-efficient, as well as versatile. Though it does require the internal cooling fan to run frequently.

The double conversion engineering is designed to isolate the outside environment by efficiently converting power from AC to DC. This same current can then be converted back to AC. This works to buffer surges and brownouts that can influence the grid, to keep them from damaging your sensitive electronics. The three robust internal batteries provide uninterrupted power.

There is a suite of software that you can install which will provide you with secure remote access. It can also be set up to shut down a Windows server unattended. OPTI also offers a 2-year warranty with this the DS1500B.

What We Liked

The double conversion topology is a nice way to replicate AVR, without compromising energy efficiency. The suite of software that can also be set up to shut down a Windows server unattended is also a nice touch.

Overall

The OPTI-UPS DS1500B is arguably set up to support a server environment of a small office NAS box, rather than say a home theater system. Taken in that light, it has pretty much all the hardware and software features you need, at a price that outstrips the competition.

Unfortunately, the double conversion topology also means the internal fan will run nearly continuously. So, it’s best to give it its environment where you don’t have to deal with the soft, white noise all day long.

CyberPower EC850LCD Ecologic UPS System, 850VA/510W, 12 Outlets

Specs:

• 510 Watts
• 12 outlets 6 battery backup, and 6 surge protector
• 3 Eco mode outlets
• USB communication port
• 3-year warranty
• $100,000 insurance

The CyberPower EC850LCD was designed to support the backup power needs of a single desktop computer, a work station or a modest-sized home theater.

It’s rated for 510 Watts and includes 12 total outlets. Of them, 6 are connected to the battery backup and the internal surge protector. Of the 6 remaining outlets, all of them are surge protector only, with three being on the Eco outlets, which shut down power when a device goes to sleep or is turned off.

There is a small LCD panel that lets you monitor the UPS at a glance. Though there’s also a USB communication port, which lets you connect to a laptop, which could be handy if you want to tuck the CyberPower EC850LCD out of sight.

There’s also a 3-year warranty with $100,000 insurance. This is pretty impressive for such a small and inexpensive UPS.

What We Liked

The CyberPower EC850LCD’s low price tag combined with a variety of outlets let you connect a lot of low wattage devices. The three Eco ports are also a nice touch for devices that turn off automatically or go to sleep like a digital picture frame.

Overall

You’re not going to keep a whole office powered up for more than a few minutes with this 510-Watt UPS. Still, it has the load capacity to let you power down a single computer station or home theater in the event of a sudden power outage. At such a low price point, you’re probably also going to buy the CyberPower EC850LCD as much for being a surge protector as a battery backup system.

Buyers Guide

Right off the bat, the temptation is to assume that an uninterrupted power supply system is only necessary for power outages. Sure, they are an absolute life-saver for a short-to-mid-term blackout. However, that’s not the only time you might consider yourself blessed to have a UPS in your home or office.

On the face of it, an uninterrupted power supply is a sophisticated battery backup system that is designed to power your essential electronics during a power outage. They play a critical role in preventing data loss or the potential hardware stress that can sometimes occur during a hard shutdown.

At the same time, a quality UPS also acts as a surge protector. This can be especially handy if a local power surge affects your area, which can cause short-term damage or reduce an electronic device’s long-term lifespan.

Beyond surges and total blackouts, there are a few other scenarios where a UPS can come in handy. Especially, if for powering essential office electronics to maintain the normal flow of operations. This includes things like:

A Brownout is where there is a prolonged drop in voltage. Some brownouts are related to weather, though with our aging electrical infrastructure it could be a failure in part of the electrical grid. Sometimes a brownout is an early warning sign of a blackout. Being able to keep essential electronics powered up can help you prepare for total power loss. Especially if you need to do things like backup crucial data.

A Voltage Sag is like a miniature brownout. The problem here is that they sometimes occur in a short series, which can potentially damage certain types of electrical equipment.

An Over Voltage Event is like a mini-surge that lasts longer than normal and can damage sensitive electronics. A UPS with a sophisticated surge protection feature helps buffer the voltage to keep electronic devices safe.

Line Noise can disrupt or potentially degrade the performance of a circuit.

Frequency Variation can be a problem if you are running off a generator and the power frequency fluctuates. Here again, the UPS acts as a buffer to maintain a consistent frequency level.

Different Topologies Of UPS System

At first glance, UPS systems pretty much all do the same thing. They act as a battery backup as well as a buffer against surges and other electrical events that might otherwise travel from the grid to your sensitive electronic devices.

However, different “Topologies” or types of UPS are engineered with features that cater better to specific needs.

A Standby UPS – Sometimes referred to as an Offline UPS, it essentially draws current from a standard electrical outlet and switches over to the power from the internal battery backup the instant it detects a power failure. This is arguably the most common type of UPS system and one you might often find in an individual office setting to provide backup power for a computer, printer or other electronic devices.
is the most common type of UPS found in a computer or office supply store. It draws current from the AC outlet and switches to the battery within a few milliseconds after detecting a power failure.

A Line-Interactive UPS – This type of system uses AVR or Automatic Voltage Regulation to effectively correct abnormalities in voltage without having to immediately resort to the reserve battery power. It does this through a special type of transformer that either lowers or boosts the voltage as needed. A

Line-Interactive UPS is essentially a buffer to protect your sensitive electronics from events that affect the power grid or the internal wiring of a building. They are particularly handy for protecting Network-Attached Storage devices and modest-size data storage servers.

A Double Conversion On-Line UPS – It shares a lot of features and functionality with a Standby UPS. One of the key differences is that it inverts the AC power to reduce heat output and improve efficiency.

Wattage Load Capacity

For a UPS system to run properly it must have the capacity to meet the power demands of every electronic device that’s connected to it. This is typically expressed in a wattage rating, that you can then correspond to the total overall load of the devices you plug into it.

To accurately calculate your load needs, you will have to add up the wattage of every single device you want to connect to the UPS. You can usually find this information in the owner’s manual. Though a lot of appliances and electronic devices will have some sort of plate stamped or printed on them with wattage and other key specs.

Once you have your load calculated you start filtering through the UPS systems that are closest to your needs. Though you shouldn’t push it right up to the limit. It’s a good idea to target a UPS system that is rated at least 10% higher than you need. Especially if you’re thinking of upgrading or updating your devices a year or two down the road.

To make your UPS run properly, your UPS has to be large enough to support all of the equipment plugged into it. You will need to find the UPS capacity. Capacity is how much power a UPS system can provide (measured in Watts). The higher the capacity, the more electronic equipment, and devices it can support. To find the UPS capacity, you will need to calculate the load. The Load is the combined amount of power each of the devices uses.

To identify the load, make an equipment list, including the total watts each piece of equipment requires to run properly. Include all of the devices the UPS will need to support. If a piece of equipment has a redundant power supply, only count the wattage of ONE power supply.

If you are unsure how many watts your equipment requires, consult the manufacturer or power supply specifications in the user manual.

The Number Of Outlets

A quality UPS system is not the sort of thing you want to daisy chain like Christmas lights. You really should have 1 outlet per power cord. Plugging in a power strip or a splitter is a bad idea and could impact performance when you need it most. If you plan to plug three devices in the UPS system, you need to find one that has at least three outlets.

Determining Runtime Needs

Since the UPS is essentially a sophisticated battery backup system, it has a finite capacity. As time goes on, the current stored inside the battery will gradually start to dwindle. The “Runtime” is essentially the number of minutes of consistent power the UPS system can support from a full charge.

It helps to take a moment to do a little thought experiment on how long you’ll want the power to your essential electronics. If you need time to save essential data on your laptop or print another copy of a business proposal during a short-term blackout, you might be fine with a shorter runtime. If you want to keep working for hours after a power outage, or you simply want enough power to finish watching a movie on a stormy day, while you wait for the power company to restore the lines, then you might prioritize a longer runtime.

It’s important to remember that the runtime will be influenced by the wattage of each device. The lower the wattage demand, the more minutes of runtime you will get from the batteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I Need A UPS With A Sine Wave Or Simulated Sine Wave Output?

A: The power grid delivers AC power in a sinewave. When everything is operating normally, you UPS is simply passing this sine wave on to all the connected electronic devices. In the event of a power outage or brownout, the UPS will produce a sine wave or simulate a sine wave to your electronics.

With a simulated sine wave, there is sometimes a minor power gap during each cycle. Some appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and air compressors with motors that run on AC electricity can be damaged by a simulated sine wave.

Q: What Is A Hot-Swappable Battery?

A: A UPS with hot-swappable batteries allows you to exchange additional backup batteries without having to shut the unit down. They are especially nice for times when your area suffers a prolonged power outage, and you want to continue working or using some essential electronics.

Q: What Is The Difference Between A Rack-Mounted UPS and a Tower?

A: With most UPS manufacturers a rack-mounted or tower UPS tends to have the same basic specifications and features. The rack-mounted version tends to be more popular for a UPS device that’s meant to support a server or a Network-Attached Storage device. If you are just looking to back up a single office computer, a work station or a home theater, then a tower is probably easier to work with.

Q: Why Do Some UPS Devices Only Have Half The Outlets Connected To The Battery Backup?

A: UPS manufacturers recognize that part of the value of the system is acting as a surge protector. At the same time, when there’s a power outage have a ton of devices plugged into the battery backup outlets. The last thing you want is the lamp in the corner or a digital picture frame on the wall draining current and reducing the overall runtime available to safely shut down your workstation computer.

Q: Should I Max Out The Load Capacity?

A: While each UPS is rated for specific maximum load capacity, it’s also best not to push it to the max. The general rule of thumb is to only ask it to deliver 80% of the maximum load capacity at any one time. So, if you have a UPS that’s rated for 1,000-Watt maximum load capacity, you should try to keep the wattage demand of the devices on the battery backup side to around 800 Watts.

Conclusion

Investing in a UPS system makes a lot of sense beyond just buying you some extra time to save your work or finish watching a movie when the power goes out. A quality UPS system also helps protect your investment in the electronic devices and data it supports. In a worst-case scenario, a single surge or brownout event could cause thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Taken in this light even a high-priced UPS system pays for itself in short order.

Finding the best UPS system for you still will require a little filtering and some basic mathematics. Right off the bat, you will want to double-check the wattage rating for each device you want to connect. This will give you a target range for load capacity to help weed out the field.

If you aren’t going to support a server or NAS box, then you can just stick to a “Standby UPS” If you do need to support some type of server environment, then you might want to prioritize a Line-Interactive or a Double conversion topology. In the case of a server support UPS, you might want to also look for a rack-mounted UPS rather than a tower.

At that point, you can start to dial in special features like management software and price. You should also keep an eye out for warranty coverage, as well as taking a look at how much insurance coverage the manufacturer offers for connected devices.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The
TP LINK Deco M5 was designed to be very easy to setup. It’s also compatible with Amazon’s Alexa for voice control or if you prefer there is an app that’s compatible with both IOS and Android devices. When properly deployed it can cover up to 5,500 square feet.

This Wi-Fi network can connect to up 100 devices, this means the TP LINK Deco M5 could also be a great option for offices, and businesses with an expansive showroom. It could save you money versus cabling costs if, for example, your business is expanding into an older building with no structured cabling in place.

While it certainly has a lot of features that appeal to business, TP Link doesn’t lose sight of the functional features that matter most to families. This includes advanced parental controls with features that let you set time limits, group devices into a single profile setting, and it even deploys active content filtering.

The TP LINK Deco M5 designed with adaptive routing technology, which essentially chooses the highest performance signal for each network device. It even comes with a 3-year subscription to antivirus software powered by Trend Micro as well as a 2-year warranty with free 24/7 customer service.

This
whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system by Tenda was designed to be easy to use, easy to set up and also able to work with other smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. As a dual-band Wi-Fi network, it can support both 2.4 GHz and 5.0.

This Tenda Wi-Fi network includes LED range indicators on the nodes. This cuts down on the guesswork of placement for optimum coverage. It’s Nova Mesh Wi-Fi app further helps with setup and includes a suite of helpful tools that let you manage the network effectively.

There are also some basic parental controls as well as the ability to create a guest network. This lets you give network access to guests, yet they still don’t have access to your family’s more sensitive information. for letting guests have access to your home Wi-Fi without necessarily giving them access to more sensitive data.

Amazon’s impressive expansion into the tech and smart home device niche includes a lot of versatile solutions for modern-day living. Their thoughtfully designed
eero Wi-Fi mesh network comes with an Echo Dot as well as a three-pack of Wi-Fi nodes. This bundle is also set up to work with the Apple Home Kit and Amazon Alexa.

This bundle offers 5,000 square feet of potential coverage. Yet it’s also expandable and has dual-band Wi-Fi signals that can simultaneously operate at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Amazon also engineered the eero to be easy to set up to the point that even tech-savvy can people typically set it up in less than 10 minutes via an intuitive eero app.

The “True Mesh Technology” effectively routes signal traffic to reduce congestion, buffering, and prevent drop off problems. There are even advanced parental controls that let you do things like pause access to specific devices as well as monitor content.

How We Picked

Wireless connectivity and Wi-Fi networks are increasingly popular. This has inspired many manufacturers and tech giants to rush their options to the consumer marketplace, to the point that it can be a little bit challenging to find the best Wi-Fi mesh network for you.

Right off the bat, a lot of the systems sold online and at the retail level talk about being “Whole Home” or some other type of family-oriented marketing lingo. Yet, there are a lot of instances where a mesh Wi-Fi network could be a cost-efficient option for business. Especially businesses that are set up in an older building where installing up-to-date cabling is cost-prohibitive, or a company that relies on an expansive showroom as part of their sales strategy.

While exploring the Mesh Wi-Fi Network options on the market, we tried to look for systems that have the features a family might prioritize, while also being thoughtful to represent business interests.

Family-Friendly Features For A Home Wi-Fi Mesh Network

Many homes simply aren’t designed with wireless connectivity in mind. Even just ten years ago the vast majority of internet signals were carried through ethernet wires or transmitted via a cellular signal from a local tower.

This means that in a lot of homes there are some “Dead Spots” or places where the signal strength is impeded to the point of being frustratingly slow. This is increasingly common in older and/or larger homes.

A Mesh Wi-Fi Network gets around this efficiently by using a series of nodes. With proper placement, each one communicates with the others to create a seamless network throughout the home without any frustrating areas of signal loss.

The number of nodes you need for your home will vary by size and might also be influenced by the structural materials and layout. Most two or three node Wi-Fi mesh networks will cover between 3,000 to 4,500 square feet.

Special features that a lot of homes and families prioritize include things like parental controls, as well as basic anti-virus software and the ability to prioritize devices. While filtering for these options, we also kept an eye out for other functional options like the ability to work seamlessly with popular “Smart Home” systems like Amazon’s Alexa, Echo Dot, or Google Home.

Mesh Wi-Fi Networks For Offices And Professional Means

Several tech manufacturers offer Mesh Wi-Fi network packages that appeal to offices, and other professional spaces. Yet, they also don’t lose sight of the fact that the same package might also be appealing to homeowners. Putting in our due diligence, we tried to also keep an eye out for these packages.

The coverage area tends to be a top priority for office Wi-Fi mesh networks. Especially for older buildings, and showroom spaces. Though a Wi-Fi mesh network might also be something to invest in a small public venue or a library. A Wi-Fi network that is “Expandable” or allows you to connect additional nodes to the same network at a later date, also tends to be appealing in professional applications.

Security and anti-virus software tend to be very high on the priorities list in a professional-use Wi-Fi network. A package that allows the user to create a “Guest Network” is also very handy. It allows you to give clients, visitors, and outside contractors access to the mesh Wi-Fi network without necessarily giving them access to sensitive information. Other special features like data encryption and advanced password protection also tend to be attractive in a professional use Wi-Fi network.

TP LINK Deco M5

Specs:

• Coverage up to 5,500 square feet
• Connectivity for up to 100 devices
• Guided assistance app
• Adaptive routing technology
• Device prioritization
• Parental controls with active content filtering
• Anti-virus software included for up to 3-years
• 2-year warranty with 24/7 free tech support
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa

The TP LINK Deco M5 was designed to be compatible with Amazon’s Alexa. To that end, you can set it up for voice controls through your Alexa device or via an app that’s compatible with IOS and Android.

It can connect up to 100 devices, which is nice if you want to use the TP LINK Deco M5 in an office setting. This is a great option for say letting your salesforce or customer service staff all stay connected to the network for looking up information and answering client questions.

The TP LINK Deco M5 was designed with adaptive routing technology, which essentially chooses the fasted path for each network device. This particular package can cover up to 5,500 square feet, which is great for a large home with an outbuilding, or an expansive office setting.

The TP LINK Deco M5 comes with a 3-year subscription to antivirus software powered by Trend Micro. There are also parental controls that let you keep close tabs on what your children are viewing.

A 2-year warranty with free 24/7 customer services is included in the initial purchase. So, you know that if you do have a question or concern, you’ll have easy access to expert help without having to worry about a surprise bill appearing on your credit card. Of course, the TP LINK Deco M5 also comes with a guided assistance app and is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa.

What We Liked

The 3-year subscription to state-of-the-art antivirus software is a nice touch. Some of the direct competitors offer a one, three or six-month trial subscription, then charge you an annual fee after that.

The two-year warranty coverage, with 24/7 free tech support also makes a statement that TP LINK designed the Deco M5 for performance and that they believe in the product they are putting out.

Overall

Some competitors offer a Wi-Fi mesh system with more sophisticated parental controls and other bells and whistles. Still, the TP LINK Deco M5 was designed to do the things you need a Wi-Fi network to do. The fact that it also can cater to an office environment also increases its versatile value.

Meshforce M1 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System, 3 Pack

Specs:

• Up to 4,500 square feet of coverage
• Expandable up to 10,000 square feet
• Connect up to 50 devices
• WPA2-PSK Mixed WiFi security
• Ability to set up a guest network
• Dual-band capabilities
• Parental controls
• Easy set up in under 10-minutes

The Meshforce M1 was designed to be a “Whole-Home” Wi-Fi mesh network. Though it could just as easily support an office environment. This particular three-pack provides up to 4,500 square feet of coverage, and it can connect up to 50-devices. The Meshforce M1 is also expandable to 10,000 square feet. It also has dual-band capability at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

WPA2-PSK Mixed WiFi security with password encryption to keep hackers and unwanted users from accessing your network. Yet it also gives you the ability to create a guest network without exposing your sensitive information. It also has sophisticated parental controls that let you limit your children’s exposure to media, control screen time, and reduce the risk of internet addiction.

Meshforce also made a conscious effort to make this Wi-Fi network easy to set up and maintain. Most people can install it ready for use in under 10-minutes. It also comes with a My Mesh app, for IOS and Android devices that allow you to keep track of the network even when you are away from home.

What We Liked

The dual-band capability and the ability to expand coverage up to 10,000 square feet is nice for large homes and businesses that need to maintain a wireless network across a large sales floor.

At the same time, the ability to set up a guest network with proper security features and encrypted passwords lets you keep your sensitive information secure, while still allowing for approved guest access.

Overall

The word “Whole Home” might appear in the Meshforce M1 title, but you shouldn’t let that lure you into thinking that it’s only for residential applications. This Wi-Fi network has versatility, security, coverage, and expandability to serve a wide range of businesses.

Amazon eero Mesh WiFi System 3-Pack With Echo Dot

Specs:

• Up to 5,000 square feet of coverage
• Expandable for larger structures
• Easy setup with eero app
• Comes with Echo Dot
• Parental controls
• Works with Apple Home Kit And Alexa
• Automatically updates safety and security software
• True Mesh Technology efficiently routes signal traffic

Amazon has an increasing presence in a lot of markets, especially with tech, and smart home devices. This includes their thoughtfully designed eero Wi-Fi mesh network. This particular package comes with an Echo Dot and a three-pack of Wi-Fi nodes. It also works with the Apple Home Kit or Amazon’s Alexa.

This gives it up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. Though if you have a larger home or a business with a showroom it is easily expandable. It has dual-band WiFi radios, that can operate simultaneously at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Setup is very easy and even people who aren’t necessarily tech-savvy can typically get it up and running in less than 10 minutes. This is thanks in part to the eero app.

This eero Wi-Fi mesh network has “True Mesh Technology” which routes signal traffic efficiently to reduce congestion, buffering, and drop off problems. It also automatically updates safety and security features to make sure your system is optimized. Security and network services include WPA2 encryption, Family Profiles, threat scans, content warnings, and ad-blocking.

It has advanced parental controls that make it easy for you to manage devices in your home. This includes the ability to pause access if you think one of your children has had too much screen time.

What We Liked

The overall ease of use makes the eero Wi-Fi mesh convenient for everyone, including people who aren’t very tech-savvy, yet still need a wireless network in their home.

The ability to work with Alexa, Apple Home Kit and the Echo Dot make it easy to fit in with your existing or planned smart home devices.

Overall

The Amazon eero is thoughtfully designed, versatile, and easy to set up. It updates itself while giving you total control of access across the network.

If there’s something to complain about it’s the fact that it only comes with a 30-day trial of the Secure+ upgrade. After that, you have to pay a monthly subscription to use its more advanced features. Though this is relatively common in many, but not all the competition.

Google WiFi system, 3-Pack – Router replacement for whole home coverage (NLS-1304-25)

Specs:

• Dual-band at 2.4 of 5 GHz
• Up to 4,500 square feet of coverage
• Network Assist software
• Companion app
• Ability to prioritize devices
• Family controls

Google is constantly growing its presence throughout all things tech. So, it’s no surprise that they offer a Wi-Fi mesh network designed to cater to the needs of homeowners and families. The Google NLS-1304-25 is a three-pack designed to be a whole home router replacement network.

This particular three-pack was designed to be very easy to setup. However, you will need an active Google account, a smartphone, a modem and of course a reliable broadband connection coming to your home. This will allow you to download the special Google Wi-Fi app.

The app lest you closely control every aspect of the network. This includes things like the ability to prioritize devices, which is handy if you want more bandwidth available to a home theater or a gaming system. There’s also a network assist feature that actively works to find the clearest signal for each device in the network.

The family controls are also thoughtfully engineered. You can even use the Google Wi-Fi app to “Pause” signal to specific devices. This is very handy for getting your kids off their phone for meal times or making sure that they aren’t using their phones after bedtime.

What We Liked

The Google Wi-Fi companion app is very intuitive giving you the ability to truly customize the network mesh to your family’s specific needs. Being able to prioritize devices that need more bandwidth and being able to keep a careful finger on your children’s access is a truly commanding experience.

Overall

This is a thoughtfully designed Wi-Fi mesh network with a lot of the features a family wants to see. The parental controls, and device prioritization, and the network assist maximize performance while keeping you in control.

Of course, you do have to invest in Google’s line to make it work, but that’s par for the course with everything they do. If you’re already a fan of Google’s line or you’re already using some of their Smart Home devices, then it’s a no-brainer.

NETGEAR Orbi Tri-band Whole Home Mesh WiFi System with 3Gbps Speed (RBK50)

Specs:

• Tri-Band at up to 3GB
• Up to 5,000 square feet of coverage
• Supports up to 25 devices
• Optimized for internet plans up to 5 MB
• Works with Amazon’s Alexa
• A 30-day trial of NetGear Armor’s Security
• Advanced parental controls
• Up to 7 LAN ports per node

NetGear’s presence in the tech space has been growing quickly in recent years as they embrace thoughtfully designed tech products that make life easier. Their new Orbi Wi-Fi mesh system is available in a few different configurations. This particular 2-pack was designed for families who prioritize security and parental controls.

For a two-pack, this Wi-Fi mesh offers an impressive up to 5,000 square feet of coverage and can support up to 25 devices. This is thanks in part to the tri-band technology, which helps maintain and optimize multiple connections without having to sacrifice network speed.

The NetGear Orbi Wi-Fi Mesh is compatible with Amazon’s Alexa. It also comes with a 30-day free trial of NetGear’s Armor Anti-Virus and Security Software. If you like it they offer it at a reasonable $69.99 per year.

There is a sophisticated suite of parental controls that allow you to do things like view the history of sites visited as well as filtering websites for appropriate media. This goes a long way toward eliminating accidental exposure to inappropriate media or catching activity early. NetGear also offers an upgraded suite of special features for $4.99 per month. This gives you the ability to do things like set time limits for users as well as scheduling access.

What We Liked

The Tri-Band technology and the wide 5,000 square feet of coverage from two nodes certainly stands-out and helps maximize performance throughout the network. Being able to sync with Amazon’s Alexa is also handy for homes that already use the system or want to invest in it as part of their Smart Home solutions.

Overall

The NetGear Orbi rides on the front lines of innovation in Wi-Fi mesh networks. It has a lot of the features that a family will prioritize.

The knock here is that all of the security and advanced parental controls come at an extra cost. This does add to the overall long-term cost of the system, which is a little bit on the high side. Still, if you have the budget space for it, they are worth the money.

Tenda Whole Home Mesh WiFi System – Dual Band

Specs:

• Coverage up to 3,000 square feet
• Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
• Nova Wi-Fi Management App
• Parental controls
• LED range indicator
• Ability to create a guest network
• 3-year warranty
• 24/7 tech support
• Easy to add additional nodes for expanding the network

This Tenda whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system was designed to be easy to set up as well as integrate seamlessly with any new or existing smart home devices. It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It’s engineered for dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5.0.

This Wi-Fi mesh was designed for easy setup. One complaint that sometimes comes up with people who aren’t very tech-savvy is knowing exactly where to place the nodes for optimum performance. Tenda attempts to solve this issue by including LED range indicators. This helps take a lot of the guesswork out of the process. The Nova Mesh Wi-Fi app also has helpful tools and helps you manage the network from just about anywhere.

This Wi-Fi Mesh network also includes some basic parental controls. It includes a parent-friendly Wi-Fi timeout feature. There’s also a feature that lets you create a guest network, which is nice for letting guests have access to your home Wi-Fi without necessarily giving them access to more sensitive data.

What We Liked

The price is honestly one of the most attractive things about this network. When you take a look at all the features it offers, then compare the price to the competitors, there’s an obvious saving.

The LED range indicators are also a nice touch that helps you set up your network to catch all the dead spots as well as areas that might simply suffer from reduced signal clarity.

The three-year warranty with 24/7 tech support is also a nice touch. There are several competitors with more than twice the price point that don’t offer this robust coverage protection. It makes a real statement about how much Tenda stands behind this otherwise bargain-priced Wi-Fi network.

Overall

This is a great value-priced option for families who want to get a home Wi-Fi network but don’t want to pony up the high price tag that you see with so many of the competitors. Some of the features maybe aren’t as sophisticated as the software that you see with those higher-priced units. Still, at this friendly price tag, there’s a lot of functionality to like, without all the bells and whistles.

Buyers Guide

These days “Smart Home” devices and media streaming are incredibly popular. As more and more manufacturers and providers are offering competitive services their popularity seems likely to continue to grow for many years to come.

Of course, wireless connectivity and things like voice control are a critical component of this impressive evolution on home technology. A reliable WiFi network in the home is equally important to make sure that wireless routers, smart devices, and other components can connect seamlessly, without interruption due to distance or structural things like walls, metal studs or brick. It’s especially popular in larger homes here distance from one room to the next or one floor to the next could be significant.

Sometimes range extenders can help fill in wireless signals in trouble spots and “Dead Zones” within a house. Unfortunately, they usually have limited bandwidth, which can impede performance. Especially if your home office tends to one of these dead zones in your house.

Additional access points like an in-room ethernet connection you to maintain a full bandwidth connection to the nearest wireless router, regardless of the connection. Unfortunately, they’re not always that convenient.

A Wi-Fi Mesh Network is essentially a hybrid system consisting of multiple network components that are all connected to your home’s main router. It’s designed to work directly with “Nodes” or “Satellite Modules” that you place in key areas of your home. This could include high traffic areas like the main living room, as well as personal spaces like bedrooms, home offices, or a workshop.

These nodes are all connected to the same wireless signal and share the same SSID as well as the same password. One important difference between a Wi-Fi mesh network and range extenders is that range extenders tend to communicate with the local router through a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band. Whereas a Wi-Fi mesh system has the satellite nodes communicating seamlessly with each other. This essentially means that each node is serving as a connection for the others to ensure that even a node that is far from the primary router will still have a strong signal. Some of these systems will even use a dedicated radio band to connect and the router. In this type of setup outside clients and guest users on the network can make the most out of the standard 2.4 or 5 GHz bands.

The overarching goal of a Wi-Fi mesh network is to seamlessly connect multiple components to the main router. Then the main router connects to the primary modem to crease a single, blanket of coverage.

Key Features Of A WiFi Mesh Network

There is a fair amount of difference between a traditional router set up with a range extender and a Wi-Fi Mesh network. Right off the bat the router and the satellite nodes use their internal antennas. Most manufacturers make it a point to disguise nodes tastefully, so you can leave them out in relatively plain sight, with them looking out of place.

Most have one or more LAN ports to connect to other physical devices like a flatscreen TV, home audio system, desktop computer or a gaming console. A few even include USB ports, but this is a decreasing trend.

Most Wi-Fi mesh networks are multi-band use 802.11ac wireless technology and operate either on a 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or its dedicated radio band. Though there are models that are set up to support MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output) technologies. This gives them the ability to simultaneously stream data to multiple network devices.

Wi-Fi Mesh Network Special Features

They often use some form of “Band Steering” which helps to select the cleanest or least-crowded radio band to optimize network performance. This is especially helpful for homes in dense urban or suburban areas where the signal density of all forms tends to be high.

Other special features include things like:

Parental Controls – Which helps families better filter the level of access children have to various media messages and images. This includes things like accidental exposure to inappropriate media. Parental controls with active content filtering further help keep your children from accidental exposure to inappropriate media and maybe a priority for families with a wide range of ages.

Some parental control features also include features that let you limit or restrict access to certain individual devices. This is handy for keeping children off their phone or tablet at mealtimes or making sure they aren’t on their phone after bedtime.

Guest Networking – Is a very popular option for homes with frequent visitors such as teenage friends coming over to game together or watch movies. It is also handy for a Wi-Fi mesh network in a small business with spread out office spaces.

Device Prioritization – This feature essentially lets you allocate a higher percentage of the bandwidth to a particular device or user. This might be something like a flatscreen TV, gaming system, a desktop computer for a graphic designer or some type of streaming device.

Guided Assistance Apps – This is an app that comes free with the initial purchase. It’s designed to help less tech-savvy people set up and optimize their Wi-Fi mesh network.

Adaptive Routing Technology – This is a special software feature where the network determines the fastest signal path for each device to optimize performance on its own.

Anti-Virus Software – Included in the package to help keep your home or office network up to date on the latest protection features.

Compatibility With Other Smart Home Devices – Many Wi-Fi mesh networks are compatible with multiple smart home systems. Though there are a few that are specifically designed to work best with a particular affiliated brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is A Range Extender Or Wi-Fi Mesh System Better For A Whole-Home Network?

A: On the face of it, range extenders are a technology that seems doomed to eventually be phased out due to the potentially limited bandwidth. In some situations, a Dead Zone connected to a range extender might only be able to support half of the total bandwidth. This would be unacceptable if this dead zone happened to be the home theatre in your basement or the computer lab being used by a team of graphic artists.

Wi-Fi Mesh systems don’t have this same limitation, and proper placement can even have a greater range. They also tend to not have the same visual impact as range extender hardware. A Wi-Fi network also tends to be easier to use and the transition from one part of the home or office is typically seamless. However, set up can potentially take a little longer which might be addressed if you are tech-savvy or you have access to some level of professional IT support.

It’s also worth noting that networks that use range extenders also require you to manage multiple network names. Sometimes the names assigned may not be immediately obvious. Especially if you are going to frequently have guest users such as gamer friends or visiting clients.

Q: Do You Need To Pay A Subscription To Use A Wi-Fi Mesh Network?

A: Once set up the Wi-Fi network itself doesn’t have any subscription costs. However, there might be other long-term costs associated with companion smart home devices that connect to the network. At the same time, many Wi-Fi mesh systems come with some type of affiliated anti-virus software on a limited contract. If you want to continue service beyond that time frame the anti-virus company may require you to pay an annual subscription fee.

Q: What Does “Expandable” Mean?

A: Some Wi-Fi mesh networks come in a basic package with one to three nodes. This typically gives them a range of anywhere from 500 to around 5,000 square feet. This is usually sufficient coverage for most large homes and small offices.

If you have a larger home, with outbuildings or perhaps a guest house, you might need more than 5,000 square feet of coverage. At the same time businesses with a large office space or an expansive sales floor/showroom might also need more coverage than the basic package can handle. A Wi-Fi network that’s “Expandable” makes it easier to accommodate these needs.

Q: How Many Wi-Fi Nodes Do I Need?

A: The material construction of the home or business, as well as the number of floors, can potentially influence coverage clarity. As a general rule of thumb, one node will cover between 500 too 1,000 square feet, which makes it a good option for small homes and apartments. A two-node Wi-Fi mesh network can cover between 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, which will cover most residential homes and modest office spaces. A three-node Wi-Fi mesh network can cover from 3,000 square feet up to 4,500.

Conclusion

At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that Wi-Fi mesh networks are only meant for residential use. Many of the most popular packages indeed have the kind of functionality and features that appeal to families. This is arguably the demographic that has the highest demand.

Still, you shouldn’t let features like parental controls and “Smart Home” device compatibility lure you into thinking a WI-FI mesh network is only for a homeowner. When you take a moment to think about it in a broader sense, a seamless Wi-Fi network can be a perfect connectivity solution for many businesses.

Let’s say for example that your small business has outgrown your original building, but the new brick and mortar location you’re looking at is older and doesn’t have any up to date cabling infrastructure. A cabling company might give you a prohibitive quote in the thousands! Compare that to the cost of an expandable Wi-Fi network and your budget gets a whole lot friendlier.

If you have an auto dealership or a furniture store with expansive showrooms and office spaces a Wi-Fi mesh network could be very cost-effective. Sales staff, customer service personnel, and guests could all enjoy seamless access to your network without you having to endure the cost of traditional cabling.

Of course, if you have a family then you are likely looking for a Wi-Fi, network with a few more special features. Things like security encryption help ensure that you don’t have neighbors and strangers getting access to what could be sensitive information. Parental controls and a partner app with integration to other smart home devices are also attractive, as they give you greater control.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Fullstar offers a complete package of products in one purchase. The
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer includes a push block cutter, with a large collection bin, and a mandoline accessory with a handguard, as well as an adjustable spiralizer. This lets you do just about anything from cut your French fries, to making curly fries, slicing up your own zucchini noodles, or just dice up an onion for some pico de gallo.

The plastic components are all BPA-free, and the heavy-duty, razor-sharp cutting blades are made from stainless steel. The collection bin is large, however, it doesn’t fully seal. So, if you want to bring a salad with you to work or on a picnic, you’ll have to put it in a separate Tupperware container.

The trade-off here is that it has a removable tray. It is handy for times when you want to work in large batches, or you simply need to switch from one type of vegetable to another without having to open the top.

The spiralizer included in the purchase is also very handy as it lets you cut attractive vegetable noodle strands, and on its largest setting, you could even make some small curly fries.

Chop Wizard was one of the first vegetable choppers to rise to popularity. It’s long-term staying power is none-the-less a testament to its overall quality and simplicity. There are only two stainless steel cutting blade assemblies. One for chopping and the other for dicing. All the components are dishwasher safe, though you should put them on the top shelf.

It uses a hinged push plate to manually drive the fruit or vegetables through the blade assembly. The durable plastic container underneath also has volumetric measuring lines. This lets you know just how much of your chopped or diced material you have for a specific recipe. Though you make need to jostle it at little to get chopped pieces to level out.

For some people, a traditional mandoline slicer seems a little bit dangerous. This is because many of them have awkward handguards that tempt people into using them improperly. To answer this very real concern Dash designed their DSM100GBAQ04 Mandoline
for safety while adding functionality and versatility.

It uses a special type of push block that is designed to securely holds the food, without letting your fingers get anywhere near the razor-sharp, stainless steel cutting blades. By engineering it to stand up gravity helps feed the food being sliced with minimal risk of it shifting. This also makes it easier to control the force being applied.

When you aren’t using it the Dash DSM100GBAQ04 can collapse down small enough to fit in most kitchen drawers. So, it’s also a great space saver!

How We Picked

Vegetable choppers originally started as very simple devices that you could slap, slam, or slide to break vegetables down into convenient pieces. Chances are good if you watched a little late-night TV you probably saw a few on infomercials. They’re especially handy devices for people who want to break down onions, peppers, and other common vegetables without having to put their fingers near a knife blade.

Of course, their early, and impressive popularity inspired a wide spectrum of manufacturers to try their hand at offering models in stores as well as online. Some are very much a manual version of an electric food processor, while others simply replicate what you could do with a knife and impressive manual dexterity.

While reviewing this diverse field, we tried to look for units that had features that helped them stand out a little from their nearest competitors. This starts with the way the manual force is applied.

Pull Cord Vegetable Choppers

A pull cord vegetable chopper is arguably as close to a traditional food process as you can get without actually plugging a device into an electric socket. This type of device usually has a recoil cord that’s a little bit reminiscent of the pull cord on your lawnmower, only smaller.

When you pull on it, the internal blades on the cylinder spin, which drives the cutting blades through the food being cut. The more time you pull the more the food is broken down. With some of these vegetable choppers, the blade itself is enough to essentially mix the food. Though some have mixing attachments, which is handy if you want to make sauces like pico de gallo or guacamole where the vegetables might be different textures.

With these, we looked for quality materials and engineering principles to keep the moving parts from breaking down or jamming. We also tried to keep an eye out for a model that just used blades as well as one with a mixer or other accessories.

Push Plate Vegetable Choppers

They sometimes seem a little simplistic, as all you do is push down on a hinged lid or plate that drives the vegetable through your preferred blade assembly. As you can imagine there’s a little bit of extra elbow grease necessary to cut very hard vegetables. Still, if you are willing to put in the extra effort, a deeper unit might allow you to make fresh-cut French fries.

With these, we tried looking for blade assemblies that were robust enough to handle firm vegetables. Just in case you wanted to cut fresh French fries. Ones with multiple blade assemblies and accessories tended to rise on our list.

Mandolines and Slicers

Mandoline slicers and other horizontal blade slicers can be a little trick, at least when it comes to safety. To keep your fingers safe from a potentially severe cut, you should always use the protective handguard. Of course, the biggest complaint with most mandoline-type slicers is that the handguard is usually a little awkward, which tempts people to take risks with their soft fingers.

With these units, we tried to look for crucial safety features, as well as a thoughtful handguard that encourages proper use. Along the way, we also tried to prioritize units that had some versatile options built-in.

Push Handle Vegetable Choppers

Chances are you’ve seen one of two of these units on late-night television where you slap or slap on a push handle. The more times you press the plunger the finer it chops the food. With these, you’re typically working with small amounts like cloves of garlic or half of an onion. You usually put them on a cutting board rather than depositing the chopped vegetables in a receptacle container.

With these push-handle choppers, a lot of force is delivered to the blade edges and other internal components. While reviewing these, we looked for manufacturers with a reputation for quality materials and engineering, or that backed their product with a confident warranty.

Container Size and Characteristics

A lot of vegetable choppers come with some type of container or receptacle. Right off the bat, you might think that these containers are simple. Yet there are a lot of interesting twists in this diverse field.

Size and volume capacity are important. You want the container to hold what you need to cut, slice, or process in a single session. Some containers have special features built into them like a pull out drawer or a divider. There are some that seal tightly, which lets you transport what you cut for a picnic or those times when you want to bring a salad with you to work. A few even do their best to keep you from crying when you cut onions.

Chef’n VeggiChop Arugula Model

Specs:

• Dual rotating blades
• Pull cord operated
• 3.8 cup storage bin
• Dishwasher safe

The Chef’n “Arugula Model” of the VeggieChop is essentially a manual food processor. It has two stainless steel blades that are securely connected to a central rotating column, which is founded into the lid.

To rotate the blades you simply pull back on a pull cord with a built-in recoil. The more you pulse the blades the finer it chops the food inside. One pull might be all you need to process walnuts into small pieces.

On the other end of the spectrum, you could add ingredients in small loads for four or five pulls to blend up some homemade guacamole. While it is primarily used for vegetables you can potentially use it to cut soft, boneless meats.

The collection bowl will hold up to 3.8 cups of processed food. The components are rated to be dishwasher safe. However, the manufacturer recommends putting them on the top rack. This is balanced by the fact that it’s pretty hard to hand clean. Especially the very sharp dual cutting blades.

What We Liked

The dual stainless steel blades and the ability to process vegetables as well as soft meats to the consistency adds to this vegetable chopper’s overall versatility. The fact that you can clean it in the dishwasher is also very handy.

Overall

This is a very versatile, high-value vegetable cutter that lets you process a wide range of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and even boneless cuts of meat. Just make sure you have a dishwasher to properly clean the Chef’n VeggiChop Arugula.

ONSON Food Chopper And Vegetable Slicer

Specs:

• Manual press chopper
• Multiple accessories included in the purchase
• Comes with a peeler
• Includes a safety glove
• Cleaning tools included
• Made from BPA-free plastics
• Stainless steel cutting blades

A manual chopper and slicer like the ONSON Food Chopper And Vegetable Slicer will require a little more active force from you, the user. The trade-off here is that there aren’t any complicated internal structures of pull cords that could fail. So long as you are using it responsibly the hinges on the cutting push plate will hold up for a long time.

This particular model comes with 8 accessory cutting dies. You can use it as a slicer, fry cutter, julienne, coarse & fine grater, and even a lemon or orange juicer. There are even a vegetable peeler and special cleaning tools included in the purchase.

The collection container is large enough to accommodate a typical salad. The lid also seals tightly, which means you can take it with you for a salad lunch at the office. When not in use you can store the accessories and cutting plates inside, so you know you’ll have them the next time you want to use it.

The bottom of the collection container has small rubber strips to help hold it in place. So, if you have a wet countertop, or you plan on cutting something hard, you might want to put down a tea towel or a rubber mat first. Just to buy yourself a little extra traction.

What We Liked

The multiple accessories make this an incredibly versatile vegetable cutter, and the large collection bin with a sealable lid means you have the storage space to hold as much as you want. The cleaning tools included in the purchase are also a nice touch.

Overall

This is a great push-plate and a manual vegetable chopper that lets you do just about anything you want. Though the accessories can be a little bit fiddly to remove and install.

DASH DSM100GBAQ04 Safe Slice Mandoline

Specs:

• Mandoline slicer
• Designed for safety
• Accessories for 30 different cuts
• Adjustable thickness
• 1-year manufacturer warranty
• Stainless steel blades

Mandoline slicers have a somewhat earned reputation for delivering a nasty cut or two. This is due to many of them having awkward handguards that discourage you from using them as intended. Dash tackles this challenge with gusto, by specifically designing their DSM100GBAQ04 Mandoline for safety, without sacrificing functionality.

It has a special type of push block that securely holds the food, without letting your fingers go anywhere near the stainless steel cutting blades. This mandoline is also designed to stand up which means gravity helps feed the food being cut with less risk of it shifting like you sometimes run into with a horizontal sliding vegetable cutter. It also makes it easier to control the force being applied.

Still, you shouldn’t let the vertical orientation lure you into thinking that this mandoline taking up a lot of space. When you want to store it, the Dash DSM100GBAQ04 can collapse down small enough to fit in most kitchen drawers.

What We Liked

This mandoline was specifically designed for safety and ease of use. You can pull it out of a drawer, and expand it in a matter of seconds. Then the push block and other engineering cues help keep your fingers away from stainless steel cutting blades.

Overall

If you love the versatility of a mandoline, and you don’t necessarily need a storage container, then the Dash DSM100GBAQ04 is one of the best and safest vegetable cutters on the market today.

The Fullstar Mandoline Slicer Spiralizer And Vegetable Slicer

Specs:

• Package of accessories
• 5 interchangeable blades
• Manual push plate
• Stainless steel blades
• BPA-free plastic
• Spiralizer included in the purchase
• Large collection bin

This is a package suite by Fullstar that includes a push block cutter, mandoline accessory, and an adjustable spiralizer. All these features and components mean you can do just about anything from cut your French fries, make your curly fries, slice zucchini noodles, or just plain dice onions or other aromatic vegetables.

All the plastic components are BPA-free. The cutting blades are made from stout stainless steel and are razor sharp. The collection bin itself is large, but there isn’t a sealable lid for it. This means you can’t necessarily do something like process a salad and take it with you for lunch.

Though it does include a removable tray, which is handy for times when you want to work in large batches, or you simply need to switch from one type of vegetable to the next without having to open the top.

When you attach the mandoline slicer accessory, there’s also a small handguard. It’s also worth noting that the rubber feet are a little on the small side. So, you might want to put down a tea towel or a rubber mat to hold it in place. Especially if the countertop you are using it a little wet.

The spiralizer is handy in that it lets you cut attractive vegetable noodle strands, and on its largest setting, you could even make some small curly fries. If the potato you are working with is excessively hard, you could microwave it for 30 to 60 seconds to soften it.

What We Liked

The sheer number of accessories and adjustment features is staggering. It helps boost your culinary creativity, when you think about all the different things you can do.
The removable tray in the large collection bin is also convenient. You can work in batches, or switch between different types of vegetables, without having to open the top or mess with the cutting blades.

Overall

If you want an all-inclusive vegetable cutter at a sweet price point, this package from Fullstar is definitely worth the money. Just don’t overestimate the stability of the small rubber feet.

Brieftons Manual Hand Held Vegetable Chopper

Specs:

• Dual stainless steel blades
• Manual pull cord
• Mixer attachment
• 4-cup container
• BPA-free plastic
• Anti-skid base

This four cup vegetable chopper from Brieftons is a step up from their very popular 2-cup version. It uses a retracting pull cord to power two internal stainless steel blades.

The more pulls you give it the more it processes the food. If you want to break down almonds into slices and pieces, you might only need one or two pulls. If you wanted an almond meal, you might want to try five or six pulls. This same methodology plays out with other things like slicing onions, mincing garlic, and dicing peppers.

One way that this manual vegetable chopper separates itself from many of its closest competitors is that it comes with an internal mixer attachment. It allows you to mix in your own ingredients for making things like guacamole or pico de gallo.

The bottom of the 4-cup receptacle has a robust anti-skid treatment. This is important in a unit like this as it gives you the traction you need to let the pull cord do its work.

What We Liked

The mixing attachment is a nice touch that you don’t always see in the competitors. It spares you having to chop your vegetables and then stir them together with a spoon, which can sometimes be inconsistent for things like guacamole.

Overall

If you are looking for a compact vegetable chopper with a pull cord that won’t slip around the countertop on you then this unit by Brieftons might just be the best value for the money.

Zalik Vegetable Chopper Pro Mandoline Slicer, Dicer, Cutter & Grater

Specs:

• 430 stainless steel blades
• 11 accessories
• Reinforced plastic
• Dishwasher safe

The Zalik Vegetable Chopper Pro was designed to be very versatile. It comes with 11 accessory inserts which let you processed vegetables and even soft meats in just about any way you can imagine. It even includes a small mandoline blade for slicing.

All the metal components are made from 430 stainless steel. The plastic components are reinforced to handle the necessary force to cut through things like sweet potatoes, firm onions, and russets. There are small rubber feet underneath to help anchor it on the countertop. Still, you might want to put down a rubber mat or a tea towel for extra traction.

The container is large, which lets you process a high volume of vegetables without having to worry about opening it up. Unfortunately, there isn’t a fully sealable lid for doing things like making a salad with you to work.

What We Liked

The 11 different cutting blades make the Zalik Vegetable Chopper Pro one of the most versatile options on the market.

Overall

For the money, you can enjoy the versatility of the Zalik Vegetable Chopper Pro. Just double-check that you have the traction you need on the countertop when working with hard foods. If you want to make a salad or a chopped condiment like pico de gallo with you, then you might want to also invest in some inexpensive Tupperware.

The Original Vidalia Chop Wizard

Specs:

• Chopper and dicer blades
• Manual press operation
• Stainless steel blades
• Container has measurements
• Dishwasher safe

The Chop Wizard was one of the first vegetable chopper devices to rise to popularity on late-night infomercials. To this day it remains a popular option for people who don’t want to play around with knives just to chop an onion or dice an apple.

You could argue that it’s a little bit on the basic side. There are just two blade assemblies, one for chopping and one for dicing. You then manually move the hinge-mounted push plate to drive the fruit or vegetables through the stainless steel blades.

The container underneath holds two cups of food. There’s even a measurement scale on the side to read it you simply turn the Chop Wizard sideways. If you’ve been working with hard, rough-cut vegetables like bell peppers, you might want to give it a gentle shake to let everything settle accurately.

What We Liked

The dishwasher safe materials and the measurements on the side of the container make the Chop Wizard very convenient. For what it’s worth the way the push plate closes down also spares you a lot of the tearing up that typically comes with chopping onions.

Overall

The Chop Wizard doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. Still, it has a tried and true reputation as being a very affordable way to spare you having to fiddle around with traditional kitchen knives.

Cuisinart CTG-00-SCHP Stainless Steel Chopper

Specs:

• Stainless steel blades
• Press handle operation
• Dishwasher safe
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cuisinart is one of the strongest names in the home kitchen appliance industry. So, it’s no surprise that they also offer a well-designed manual vegetable chopper like the CTG-00-SCHP.

It borrows the engineering concept from other advertised brands that let you slap or press down on the handle. The force is then directed down into the vegetables below, which are chopped by the stainless steel blades.

The more you press the lever the finer it chops, dices, or minces the vegetables. The cutting chamber underneath is arguable small. It’s meant more for garlic, small onions and nuts like almonds or walnuts. Ideally, you want to use it over top of a wood or food-grade plastic cutting board.

Cuisinart backs this vegetable chopper with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s also dishwasher safe, so cleanup is easy.

What We Liked

The limited lifetime warranty speaks to Cuisinart’s dedication to quality materials and engineering.

Overall

If you just need to quickly process a small volume of vegetables, fruits, or nuts, then there’s a lot of quality and value in the Cuisinart CTG-00-SCHP.

Buyers Guide

Some people can saw through vegetables like a celebrity chef on a cooking show. Yet there are those of us who simply don’t have that gene, or simply don’t want to play around with an ungainly chef’s knife. Not to mention there are some recipes and salads that just take up too much of your precious time to chop all the vegetables.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of vegetable choppers and kitchen devices that rise to answer these needs. Some are innovative and well designed, while others look like they just fell out of an infomercial.

Weeding through this thick field of options can feel daunting. More than one person has simply pulled the trigger on a cheap device only to be let down a week or two later with a nasty case of buyer’s remorse.

When shopping for the best vegetable chopper for your needs there are a few basic features and characteristics to be mindful of.

Material Quality

Right off the bat, you want to only consider vegetable choppers that are made from “Food Grade” materials. BPA free plastics, commercial-grade stainless steel, and ideally materials that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration should always be on your radar.

These materials also tend to last longer than their slightly less expensive counterparts. Which is particularly handy for making sure you are getting a full return on your investment and then some.

Ease Of Use

The last thing you want to do is fiddle around with hard to change blade assemblies or safety features that just get in the way. Sometimes it can be hard to tell from just looking at a few pictures on an online retailer’s site. Still, there are sometimes special cues you can tap into, like “Quick Disassembly” or “Push-Button Release.”

Safety

Safety features tend to dovetail into ease of use. Ideally, the best vegetable choppers are going to put something between your hand and the actual cutting blades. Beyond that you also want to keep an eye out for other features like non-skid feet, suction cup mounts or other things that will ensure the vegetable chopper stays where you want it to. Especially if you plan on cutting a lot of hard vegetables.

Ease To Clean

With some vegetable cutters, there can be a lot of small corners and crevices. Especially in multi-blade units or cutting dies that mince or finely chop vegetables. The last thing you want is for there to be some residual material leftover that can turn into a breeding grounds for bacteria when it’s not being used.

Ideally, the best vegetable chopper should come apart easily and most of the parts should be rated as dishwasher safe. This gives you the confidence to know that it’s always properly clean before putting it away in the cupboard.

The Size Of The Collection Container

A lot of vegetable choppers deposit the processed vegetable pieces in some time of container or collection bowl. It might help to take a minute to think about how you are more likely to use your vegetable chopper. If you want to be able to quickly assemble a garden salad, then you might want to prioritize a unit with a large collection bowl. One with a sealing lid would also be helpful for times when you might want to toss the salad before plating and dressing it.

Even if you don’t want a connected collection container, or you are planning on using the vegetable chopper for processing small batches of vegetables, you might still want to lean toward one that can secure over a mixing bowl.

Accessory Blades

Chopping, mincing, dicing, and julienne are all special terms that relate to the final size and shape of the vegetable being cut. Many of the best vegetable choppers have multiple blades for these different functions. A few even give you the ability to cut fancy or visually interesting shapes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I Cut Seeds And Nuts?

A: With some vegetable choppers, you can cut soft nuts like walnuts, almonds, and even peanuts. This tends to be the case with rotary blade choppers and push handle vegetable choppers. When it comes to vegetable choppers with push plates the idea of pressing nuts through the blade assembly becomes a little bit more of a concern.

Especially if you are trying to cut firm-fleshed nuts like Brazil nuts. You might be able to get away with it a handful of times, but chances are each time you try to cut firm nuts you risk dulling or denting the blades. In some cases, you might even end up damaging the mounting points that hold the blades in place.

You run into a similar problem with hard seeds like chia seeds or coffee. With these, the pressure of trying to process it can chip or ding the blades. So, it is best to turn to something like an electric coffee or spice grinder.

Q: How Often Should I Clean My Vegetable Chopper?

A: Just like how you wouldn’t put a dirty knife back in the butcher block, you shouldn’t put away a vegetable chopper when dirty. If you are working with similar vegetables you might not need to clean the blade assembly when switching from one to the next. An example would be cutting onions, celery, and carrots for vegetable soup.

If you are going to make a dramatic change and you are worried about the flavor of onions from one batch transferring to the apple you need to chop for your child’s snack, you can always rinse the blades under warm water. Most blades are made from stainless steel which does a good job of releasing material when rinsed.

Q: Can I Put A Dishwasher Safe Vegetable Chopper On The Lower Rack?

A: Most vegetable choppers that are rated to be dishwasher safe still require you to put it on the upper rack. This is to keep the heat of the drying cycle from deforming any of the plastic components. It also helps to keep the relatively lightweight device from moving around under the typically higher force of the lower spray bars. The last thing you want is an accidental ding in a blade from a nearby fork.

Q: Can I Sharpen Dull Cutting Blades?

A: The thinness of the blades and the nature of stainless steel make it pretty difficult if not impossible to sharpen a vegetable chopper or mandoline blade. Even if you use a fine-toothed mill file rod, chances are you will leave jagged edges that could potentially leave tiny metallic shards in the food you cut. It’s best to take good care of your blades and wash them after every use.

Q: Do I Need Special Hand Protection?

A: Well-designed vegetable choppers are engineered to keep your hands out of the way of any sharp cutting surface. Though mandolines are especially risky. Especially those with minimal or awkward feeling handguards.

If you are worried about safety, you could always invest in a protective glove. Not only do they help when using a mandoline, but you can use them for other tasks like filleting fish or cutting a roast. A lot of professional restaurants will give these to “The New Guy” when they prep vegetables. You can check these gloves ChefsGrade, ARCLIBER Cut Resistant Gloves and TONSUN Stainless Steel Mesh Metal Wire Gloves.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of options in the vegetable cutter marketplace. Asking yourself a few key questions in advance will help you narrow down the list to find the best vegetable chopper for you.

If you are just looking for a way to make quick work of onions and the occasional apple, then a relatively basic push-plate model with two or three cutting dies will likely get you by. If you love salads and want to make them quickly then you might want to prioritize one that has a large container. You can then load the lettuce in it, then chop onions, peppers, carrots, and cabbage into it. One with a sealable lid is also handy for tossing the salad afterward and taking it with you.

Now if you want to be a little more creative you could look for a vegetable chopper with French fry cutting assemblies, and other special die types. This lets you make all sizes of fries, vegetable noodles, spiralized cuts for curly fries, and more.

A mandoline vegetable slicer isn’t so much geared to chop as a slice. Yet some high-quality models have adjustable thicknesses which very much replicate chopping. A few can even be set up to do things like making waffle-cut French fries of zucchini noodles.

However you intend to use it, chances are good that the best vegetable chopper for you is somewhere on this list.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Versatility adds to the value of most modern-day kitchen devices. So, Tiger Chef includes multiple dies and blade assemblies in the original purchase of this
”[amazon. It comes with stainless steel ½-inch ¼-inch, 3/8-inch fry cutter, and vegetable cutter blades as well as 6 and 8 wedge blade assemblies.

It has a very durable cast iron frame for a long lifespan and the ability to handle even the hardest potatoes. For mounting options, this French fry cutter comes with four detachable suction cup feet, or it can be permanently mounted at a professional restaurant prep station counter.

This is a “Mandoline” which is technically a type of manual food processor designed to help slice vegetables of all kinds with consistency, and speed.
This unit by Lekoch is very versatile and has four adjustment settings as well as a variety of attachments. Not only does it cut potatoes into French fries, but it can also help process just about any type of salad fare.

Amongst the accessory features is a waffle fry cutter, as well as settings to make stick-shaped French fries. To make the waffle fries you simply slice a potato to your preferred thickness. Then set up the waffle accessory and pass the slice of potato through. Then turn it 90-degrees and run it through again.

The
Nemco Spiral Fry Potato Cutter 55050AN is a heavy-duty “Spiralizer” made from heavy-duty cast aluminum instead of plastic. This means it’s robust enough to handle the A-typical forces involved in making curly fries from fresh russet potatoes. The Nemco spiralizer also comes with a mounting foot with a knob that tightens the bolt.

The rotating push block has spikes that sink firmly into the potato. It’s arguably easier to work with if you simply clean the potato, but don’t peel it. Once it’s firmly set in place you can carefully spin the crank handle, which will screw down while applying continuous pressure as the potato is spiral cut.

How We Picked

Fresh cut French fries are a real treat, and surprisingly easy to pull off at home, in a food truck, or a professional restaurant. Not to mention they can be a real money saver for a family that’s trying to stretch the food budget.

These days a lot of French fry cutters are also engineered to handle other fruits and vegetables. This puts things like zucchini sticks and rutabaga wedges on the menu right next to a plate of steak frites.

Throughout the review process, we tried to look for versatile units. Right off the bat, this included things like additional cutting dies and blade assemblies. These let you make things like quarter-inch shoestring fries, half-inch standard cut, or even wedges and steak fries. We also tried to keep an eye out for units that let you be a little more creative to make things like waffle-cut fries and even a high-quality spiralizer for curly fries.

Durability was also another critical priority in the units we reviewed. There are a lot of plastic French fry cutters that carry little warranty or no warranty coverage at all, that simply breakdown. Sometimes within just the first few uses.

For the most part, we tried to stick to heavy-duty materials like cast iron, stainless steel, or cast aluminum. If a unit had some plastic components, they need to be well-engineered and lived up to food-grade standards.

Safety and mounting features were also something we made sure to keep on the radar. Things like suction cup feet or permanent mounting options are important. When you are working with a firm potato or another type of hard vegetable, the amount of force applied by a lever or crank mechanism might surprise you.

Making sure that the French fry cutter had a reasonable way to stay in place without you having to physically resist the pressure applied by one arm with the other arm was something we were mindful of throughout the process.

New Star Food Service 42313 Commercial Restaurant French Fry Cutter with Suction Feet

Specs:

• Heavy-duty cast-iron frame
• Stainless steel components
• Anchors to counter with four suction feet
• Optional permanent mounting hardware on a wall or countertop
• Cuts potatoes up to 6″ long
• Half-inch French fry blades
• Makes French fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini sticks, and other favorites
• Optional die accessories in 6 and 8 wedges

With its durable cast-iron construction and stainless steel cutting blades, the New Star Food Service 42313 Commercial Restaurant French Fry Cutter was designed to make easy work of even the firmest potatoes. This also means it’s got the wear with all to cut other vegetables like zucchini, rutabagas and of course, sweet potatoes.

This particular package comes setup to cut standard quarter-inch French fries. Though the New Star Food Service does also offer additional die types for times when you might want thicker fries. This includes a 3/8th inch, as well as 6-wedges and 8-wedges.

These larger settings are handy for working with other vegetables like sweet potatoes, zucchini, and rutabaga. Though they are also nice for those times when you might want steak fries or other thick-cut vegetables.

The New Star Food Service 42313 French fry cutter relies on a stout cast iron lever to drive the potatoes through with force. The suction cup feet are intended to hold it securely in place on most flat countertops, like the stainless steel workstations you find in most professional kitchens.

If you happen to have a more porous countertop like butcher block you might need to lightly wet the feet first to ensure a tight hold. It’s also worth noting that the New Star Food Service 42313 can just as easily be mounted or permanently bolted in place.

What We Liked

The robust materials and engineering are certainly nice. You don’t have to worry about this French fry cutter standing up to even the hardest of potatoes. The length of the handle also makes it easy to get a superior mechanical advantage.

It’s also worth noting that the push block and blade assembly easily come apart. This makes the New Star Food Service 42313 easy to clean. It’s especially convenient if you plan to permanently mount this French fry cutter in place.

Overall

If you are looking for a heavy-duty French fry cutter that is easy to use and maintain, with the robust engineering to last for years, then the New Star Food Service 42313 might just be the best French fry cutter for your kitchen.

Tiger Chef Heavy Duty Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter

Specs:

• Cast iron frame and heavy-duty construction
• Stainless steel cutting blades
• Multiple dies and blade assemblies included
• Suction cup feet or permanent wall mount
• Long handle and robust push plate
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Tiger Chef recognizes that greater versatility often translates into greater value with kitchen devices. So, they made sure to include multiple dies and blade assemblies with this commercial-grade French fry cutter. It includes ½-inch ¼-inch, 3/8-inch fry cutter, and vegetable cutter blades as well as 6 and 8 wedge blade assemblies. All are made from stainless steel.

If you wanted shoestring potatoes or carrot match sticks, you could use the ¼-inch die. For more standard French-fries you could turn to the ½ or 3/8-inch fry cutting dies. You could even use the 6 or 8 wedge blade assemblies to cut things like tomatoes and zucchini for a crudité platter.

The heavy-duty, cast iron frame has the durability to last for years, if not decades. It also comes with four detachable suction cup feet to help hold it in place on a counter. Though in a professional kitchen you could also permanently mount it on a wall or a prep station counter.

What We Liked

The fact that five different blade assemblies are included in the initial purchase and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee is certainly a feather in Tiger Chef’s cap. It allows you to make fresh-cut French fries any way you want. It also makes it very easy to quickly breakdown other vegetables. They even include a helpful guide.

Overall

If you want everything you need for a high-quality professional-grade fry cutter for home or professional use the Tiger Chef Heavy Duty Commercial Grade French Fry Cutter deserves to be on your radar!

Meshist Commercial Potato Cutter

Specs:

• Extended handle
• Stainless steel tube construction
• Stainless steel blades
• Two interchangeable blade assemblies
• Designed to handle multiple vegetable types

The Meshist commercial potato cutter is arguably more suited to a home kitchen than it is a professional setting. Though a commercial kitchen that occasionally needs to breakdown vegetables and fresh-cut French fries, this unit could still be very much in play.

It has an extra-long handle which gives you superior mechanical leverage. The downward force that is also generated helps to hold this French fry cutter in place. However, there aren’t any technical anchor hardware of suction feet. You might want to put down a non-skid mat like a little added insurance to hold it in place.

The majority of the body is made from tubular stainless steel. It also comes with a pair of blade dies for cutting half-inch as well as 3/8-inch French fries.

The ease of access and sharpness of the stainless steel blades also makes it easy to process other hard vegetables like rutabaga and zucchini, as well as softer vegetables like onions.

What We Liked

The copious use of stainless steel construction gives this French fry cutter visual appeal, as well as a long lifespan. The extended handle also gives you a superior mechanical advantage. The low price tag is also attractive.

Overall

If you are looking for a lot of value for the dollar, and you are willing to improvise a little to secure it in place, the Meshist French fry cutter might be the best choice for your home kitchen.

ROVSUN Patented Commercial French Fry Cutter with Rudder Stock Lever

Specs:

• Vertical French fry cutter
• Crank operation for easy application of force
• Stable base with suction cups
• Food grade 304 stainless steel construction
• Three-blade sizes included

The ROVSUN Commercial French Fry Cutter incorporates a vertical design with a special type of “Rudder Stock Lever.” Not only does this patented engineering concept make it easy to cut through even the hardest potatoes, but it can also be dialed in to gently process softer vegetables like onions and some tomatoes.

The body is made largely from 304 food grade or “Commercial Grade” stainless steel. The base is exceptionally sturdy and also includes suction cup feet.

The ROVSUN Commercial French Fry Cutter comes with three different cutting blades. This means you can put in the ¼-inch stainless steel blade assembly for shoestring fries or change over to the ½-inch blades to process rutabagas and make zucchini sticks. If you want robust fries without the flatness of classic “Steak Fries” you can quickly install the 3/8-inch cutting blades.

What We Liked

The rudder stock lever lets you apply superior force when you need to cut through tough vegetables. Yet it also has the finesse to gently process softer vegetables like onions. The base was engineered to be very stable, which is necessary for effectively applying vertical force. The additional suction cups also take that stability to the next level.

Overall

If you want to spare yourself the elbow grease that comes with a mechanical lever, or you simply want the kind of finesse you need to carefully breakdown softer vegetables, the ROVSUN Commercial French Fry Cutter deserves o be high on your list.

Tuntrol Commercial French Fry Cutter And Vegetable Dicer

Specs:

• Push handle lever
• 4-legged base
• Rubber feet
• Protective gloves included
• 440 stainless steel and aluminum construction
• Water washable

This French fry cutter by Tuntrol employs a vertical pressure handle that makes the most out of your physical force as well as the mechanical advantage of the lever.

It’s worth noting that this is an updated model. It is made largely from aluminum alloys and 440 stainless steel, which makes it lightweight as well as safe to wash with water.

The Tuntrol French Fry Cutter comes with a ¼-inch and 3/8-inch cutting blades. They are both made from very sharp stainless steel. To this point, Tuntrol includes a pair of safety gloves in the purchase.

Just keep in mind that they are meant to reduce the risk of an accidental cut or pinch where you might fail to get your hand completely out of the way. You could still suffer a significant injury if your hand remains in the cutting area while actively pressing.

What We Liked

The engineering principles of the vertical lever certainly give you a lot of mechanical advantage when working with hard vegetables. It also lets you apply a little more finesse for times when you want to work with softer vegetables. With a practiced hand, you might even be able to break down a beefsteak tomato with this French fry cutter.

Overall

You need to practice a little extra care to safely operate this French fry cutter. Not only in terms of the pressing action of the lever but also with the base which is only rubber feet without suction cups.

Assuming you’ve accounted for these things, and the countertop or work station is dry, then you can process a high volume of French fries and other vegetables with this cutter by Tuntrol.

GOFLAME 8541971856 French Fry Cutter

Specs:

• Stainless steel construction
• Four blade assemblies included
• Manual press handle operation
• Sturdy base without suction cups

The GOFLAMNE 8541971856 French Fry Cutter is made from corrosion-resistant, food-grade 304 stainless steel. This means you can easily wipe it down or wash it with water, without having to worry about rust and corrosion issues.

The base is technically meant to be mounted onto a workstation, table, or vertical surface. Though there are accessory suction cup feet available. Regardless, you need to be mindful of how you mount it, as this French fry cutter does have a manual push handle, which applies force directly to the body of the cutter.

This GOFLAME French fry cutter comes with three square blades which at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/8-inches. Each set is easy to remove and secure quickly to let you make whatever type of French fries you want. It also includes a fourth blade for processing firm-flesh fruits like apples and pears.

The blades are sturdy enough to handle even hard russet potatoes and other firm vegetables. Though the push-lever handle and the way the push plate contacts the blades, it probably isn’t the best for processing soft vegetables like onions and tomatoes.

What We Liked

The three vegetable blades and the fruit blade assembly make this GOFLAME French fry cutter very versatile. Especially when you consider the friendly price point. When mounted properly, its also rock-solid, which helps process fries, vegetables, and fruits efficiently.

Overall

If you are looking for a sturdy French fry cutter with four versatile cutting plates include, and you are willing to put in a little extra elbow grease, then the GOFLAMNE 8541971856 French Fry Cutter might be the best option for your kitchen.

Lekoch Stainless Steel Mandoline Slicer

Specs:

• Mandolin Slicer
• Fry and waffle fry blades
• Multiple size settings
• ABS heavy-duty food-grade plastic frame
• Stainless steel blade
• Handguard
• Non-skid handle and feet

Technically this is a type of food slicer known as a Mandoline, which is a type of manual food processor designed to make quick work of mid to firm vegetables. They’re a great way to get uniform slices of cucumber, onions, and other salad fares. This particular Mandoline by Lekoch is very versatile. It has four adjustment settings and a variety of attachments.

Among these attachments is a waffle fry cutter specifically for potatoes. You simply set it up. Pass your preferred thickness of potato slice through it. Then turn the slice 90-degrees and run it through again. The result is the kind of “Waffle-Cut” French fry that kids love, and adults love to put toppings on like cheese and chopped scallions.

With thoughtful planning, you can also adjust the blade thick enough to cut traditional stick-style French fries. Though it will require multiple passes and proper use of the included handguard.

Mandolines do have a little bit of a reputation for being dangerous. If you don’t respect the razor-sharp stainless steel blade or you don’t use the hand guard properly, it can indeed give you a cut that could send you on a trip to the emergency room. Though this is true of a lot of sharp kitchen devices.

With proper use, you can create a lot of interesting foods including stick-cut fries, waffle fries, and just about any fruit or vegetable that needs slicing. The nonstick feet also help hold it firmly in place, so you don’t end up fighting yourself too much with each pass.

What We Liked

It’s hard to look past the versatility of a well-designed Mandoline slicer like the Lekoch. The fact that they put a lot of thought into safety features like the non-skid feet and the handguard.

Overall

This is a great fit for a family that enjoys things like salads and sliced fruit, yet also occasionally enjoys the comfort food feel of homemade waffle-cut French fries.

Nemco Spiral Fry Potato Cutter 55050AN

Specs:

• Spiralizer for curly fries
• Aluminum construction
• Manual crank
• Adjustable mounting foot

As the name implies, “Spiralizers” are designed to make spiral cuts of potatoes, apples, and other consistently hard starchy foods. If you make a quick internet search, chances are you will find a staggering number of spiralizers for sale at shockingly low prices. Most of them are plastic or reinforced with weak metal alloys that fail quickly. Even those that manage to make it to the end of their warranty usually start to dull quickly.

Nemco designed this spiralizer to be strong enough to handle the A-typical forces applied to the device. This is thanks in large part to heavy-duty cast aluminum construction and thoughtful engineering. It also includes a mounting foot with a knob to tighten the bolt. If you don’t want to permanently install it in your home kitchen, you might want to consider connecting it to a wooden cutting board.

To use a spiralizer like this, you need to marry the spikes or the rotating push plate to the back of a potato. This is easier if you don’t peel the potato first. Simply wash it to get any dust or dirt off and give it a few minutes to dry. It’s arguably easier with a firm, cold potato. If you need to work in a large batch, it can help to position the end of the spiral cutting blade over a large pot of warm, salted water.

What We Liked

The heavy-duty aluminum construction is the thing that sets this Nemco spiralizer apart from many of the cheap, plastic competition.

Overall

If you love curly fries and hate buyer’s remorse, then the Nemco Spiral Fry Potato Cutter 55050AN deserves your strong consideration.

Buyers Guide

The seemingly humble French fry has grown to become a beloved institution in countries around the world. You can find them at every type of restaurant, from fast food drive-thru a, to greasy spoon diners, steakhouses, and even high-end gastropubs. French fries are even stocked in grocery store freezers in towering cold cases that empty every week.

This begs the question, can you transform humble potatoes into delicious crispy French fries from the comfort of your home kitchen?
The answer is “Yes.” You can indeed make some very tasty French fries that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You just need to tackle a couple of basic challenges first.

Right off the bat, you have to get your hands on the right potatoes. This usually means russet potatoes, which have just the right kind of starch content and structure. Though you can arguably get by with Yukon gold potatoes or even Kannebecker. Red or waxy potatoes don’t tend to do well for French fries and play better in quarters or other dishes.

Once you have the starchy potato of your choice sorted out, you can then turn your attention to the next critical part of the equation, the French fry cutter. Now you could sit down, meticulously peel each potato, and then attempt to cut them into a traditional French fry shape, but trust me, this is an unnecessary cause of extreme hand cramps.

Not to mention that unless you have some sort of classic culinary training, you will be hard-pressed to cut your little potato wedges into relatively even pieces.

With a quality French fry cutter, you can transform a lot of potatoes into a basic French fry shape in just a few minutes. This also gives you relatively uniform fries, which means your entire batch of fries will get to perfectly golden brown around the same time. If you are trying to hand-cut your French fries you will end up with some that are overdone and dark brown, mixed in with pale under-done fries and a handful that are perfectly golden brown.

When you consider just how affordable a French fry cutter is, you can spare yourself the headache of trying to sort out fries one by one as they fry, bake, or air fry.

Now, you might be surprised to hear that for something that does such a seemingly simple job, there are some interesting engineering and material cues to keep in mind.

The Type And Size Or The Blades

Some French fry cutters stick you with one static shape and can’t be adjusted. These usually range around a quarter-inch thick, which is what a lot of people would consider an “Average” French fry. Though if you want to get creative from time to time, or you just want to have an evening with some steak fries, then you might want to look for a French fry cutter with adjustable blades.

There are even some that let you get creative with different types of fries. You might even be able to use them for other vegetables like rutabaga, sweet potatoes, and zucchini.

Die And Size Accessories

Several French Fry cutter manufacturers offer units with accessories and die. You simply remove the original die for the quarter, three-eighths, or half-inch sticks, and secure a new one. This allows you to get creative with shapes as well as opening the door for cutting sticks, fries, or wedges with other vegetables.

Durability And Blade Strength

Chances are you’ve noticed that some potatoes are harder than others. Depending on where they were grown, how they were stored, how long they were stored, and the time of year, you could be dealing with a very firm russet potato that takes a lot of force or a softer one that might be a little tricky to get it to cut straight. In times like this, the last thing you want is to have flimsy cutting blades that bend, twist or deform when you pass the potato through.

While you’re at it, take a moment or two to look at the fry cutter’s other components, like the frame and the mounting. Something you can firmly clamp down on a countertop or lock into a mounting bracket lets you concentrate the force of cutting the potato on the potato itself without necessarily having to fight yourself with your other hand.

If possible, you want to prioritize a metal frame and components over plastic. Especially if you are going to be making fresh-cut French fries. Though there are some heavy-duty plastic devices out there that might be available at a budget price point that could appear on your radar if you are only going to occasionally cut fresh French fries.

Ease To Clean

Ideally, you want a French fry cutter without a lot of moving parts or one that comes apart easily. In a perfect world, the best French fry cutter would also be dishwasher safe. This also spares you from accidentally injuring yourself trying to clean a sharp blade.

Mounting Method

While a potato might seem like a relatively simple thing it can take a fair amount of force to simultaneous divide one into a dozen or so fresh-cut French fries. Especially when you are dealing with a hard potato fresh out of cold storage. The last thing you want is to be pushing with one hand and resisting with the other hand.

There are a few different ways that a French fry cutting might be mounted. In some professional kitchens, you will see them anchored directly onto walls or other prep stations. Chances are you probably don’t need something this structurally sturdy hanging out in your kitchen on a daily basis.

Instead, a French fry cutter with some type of suction cup feet, or a pair of sturdy screw-down clamps might be all the security you need to safely breakdown a handful of potatoes into a big batch of fries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is There Anything I Can Do To Make It Easier To Work With Really Hard Russet Potatoes?

A: There are sometimes when a russet potato is surprisingly hard. Not only can this add a lot of elbow grease to the equation, but with some French fry cutters, it can potentially deform the blades! In a pinch, you can soften a rock-hard russet by giving it a 30-seconds in the microwave to release some of the internal trapped steam.

Just don’t poke holes in it with a fork like you would a microwaved baked potato. If you still want it a little softer, you can wait a minute or two before giving it another 30-seconds in the microwave. If you give it a full 60-seconds right off the bat, as it could produce too much steam causing a rupture in the potato.

Q: How Do I Keep Fresh Cut Fries From Browning When Cutting A Large Batch?

A: Oxidation is a naturally occurring chemical process that happens with a lot of high starch foods like apples and russet potatoes, which turns them irrevocably brown. As the name implies is requires the presence of oxygen to affect the surface. Once it does the fries will still be edible, but perhaps not as visually appealing.

If you’re cutting a large batch of fresh French fries the easy way around this is to cut them directly into a pot or warm salty water. This will prevent oxygen from interacting with the surface of the fries. The salt and warm water together will also help to draw out some of the natural starch from within the fries. Giving them a few hours to soak in warm salty water before they hit the fryer will give you a better chance of frites with a crispy exterior and a fluffy interior.

This is something that a lot of high-end gastropubs and restaurants do. It also lets you prepare your fries will in advance of cooking to keep you from getting “In The Weeds” when you cook lunch of supper. You can even put the saltwater-soaked fries in the refrigerator for up to a day without worrying about them breaking down.

Q: Can I Bake Fresh Cut French Fries?

A: French fries sometimes get a bad reputation for being fatty foods due to their association with deep frying. These days oven-baked French fries and air baked French fries are increasingly popular as a low-oil method of cooking potato products of all kinds.

To do this you first need to preheat your oven or air fryer to 400 to 450 degrees. Once it’s ready, you can take your fresh-cut French fries, and lightly toss them with oil. If you don’t want to get your hands greasy, you might want to try a reloadable oil sprayer. Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle or Besmon Olive Oil Sprayer allow you to gently mist foods and pans with your choices of heart-healthy oils like olive oil or sunflower oil.

Once you have a little oil on the fresh-cut French fries, you can then lightly salt them. This is a very important step, as the oil will help the salt to adhere to the fries. If you wait until after they are baked, the salt will simply slide off and sit on the pan or plate.

Conclusion

Finding the best French fry cutter for you can depend on several factors. Right off the bat, quality materials and durability matter. So, prioritizing things like cast iron, stainless steel, or food-grade plastic will go a long way toward making sure that you see a true return on your investment.

While you’re at it, you might want to also keep your eye out for versatile units that come with multiple cutting blades or other special attachments. Especially if you want to use it to process other types of vegetables.

Safety and ease of use are also things that need to be on your radar. Take a moment to think about where you will most often use the French fry cutter. If you’re just going to use it occasionally to make the kids some French fries, then a unit with suction cup feet might be all you need.

If you are going to be using the French fry cutter in a professional kitchen or to process potatoes and other vegetables regularly, you might want to look for one that has the option to be permanently mounted to a prep station.

If you want something a little more creative than simple stick-cut French fries, you might want to look for a specialized unit. With the correct attachments, a mandoline can be used to make high-quality waffle fries, while also helping you to process a wide range of other vegetables.

On the other end of the spectrum, a heavy-duty spiralizer might be just the thing for a family or a popup restaurant that loves to have curly fries on the menu.

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A lot of portable ice makers produce opaque “Bullet” ice which tends to melt relatively quickly. There are some pros and cons to this from an engineering standpoint. However, clear ice tends to be harder and colder, which means it lasts longer in the collection bin as well as in the glass.

The Sentern Portable Countertop Clear Ice Maker is specifically designed to produce hard, clear ice cubes. Then they also heavily insulated the collection bin to help keep the ice frozen for longer. A single cycle takes around 15-minutes, which is a little longer than some of the competitors, but the ice lasts longer.

The Sentern Portable Countertop Clear Ice Maker has a large 2.2-liter water reservoir and was designed for quieter operation. The stainless steel exterior and the digital control center also means it looks good on a kitchen counter.

The
LITBOOS IML-001 Portable Ice Maker was engineered for easy portability and fast operation. It only weighs 22-pounds and also has a relatively small countertop presence. This makes it a great choice for RV travelers, and tailgaters where space is at a premium, but still, need ice on demand.

It has a 1.7-liter water reservoir, which is significant given its compact size. This portable ice maker can generate 9 cubes of bullet ice in roughly 7 to 9 minutes. It has an internal ice bin that will hold up to 1.5 pounds of ice cubes at a time which is about 75 to 80 bullet ice cubes. It’s rated to produce up to 26-pounds of ice in a single 24-hour span.

It has a sleek stainless steel and black plastic exterior. The plastic components are BPA-free and certified to meet ETL standards. The control panel includes indicator lights and there is even an automatic shutoff feature.

The
GE Opal Ice Maker is one of the larger and more sophisticated portable ice makers on the market. This particular unit weighs in at 47-pounds. So, it’s probably not the ideal choice for a tailgate party. Still, it’s compact design means it can live on your kitchen counter or in an RV. It’s especially attractive for a home kitchen with a refrigerator that doesn’t have an ice maker in the door.

It’s can produce up to 3-pounds of ice per cycle, and a single full cycle takes just under 20-minutes. The ice bin can also hold up to 3-pounds of ice at a time, which is usually enough to supply your average family at home or on an RV adventure. It’s also worth noting that the GE Opal is rated to produce up to 24-pounds of ice per day.

This portable ice maker also comes with Bluetooth connectivity and the GE Profile app. It allows you to do other things, while still keeping tabs on it. Which can be handy if you’re entertaining outside, while It works in the kitchen.

How We Picked

Portable ice makers are a somewhat new appliance that makes the most out of modern-day materials and engineering. Right off the bat, they appeal to campers and RV travelers who have access to electricity but don’t want to get tied up making daily ice runs. Though portable ice makers can appeal to so many other niches. This includes homes with outdoor kitchens, pop-up restaurants, food trucks, and people who want ice on demand, but their current refrigerator doesn’t have a water line.

We tried to keep these various interests in mind during the review process. Of course, the best portable ice maker for each niche can be influenced by several factors.

Total Ice Production Per Day

RV travelers, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts tend to lean toward portable ice makers that can support their coolers without having to take time out of their day to make a run to the ice store. This also means they prioritize units that can produce more than 20-pounds of ice per day. Not only does this kind of capacity save you time, but it also helps pay for itself, by saving you the cost of daily bags of ice.

Cubes Per Batch

Factoring in the amount of ice you need at any one given time can also be a factor depending on how you want to use the portable ice maker. If you are looking for a unit that can provide ice on demand for you and another person in your man cave cocktail station, then you might want more total cubes per cycle.

Cube Type And Size

Most portable ice makers create “Bullet Ice” which tends to be opaque and has a propensity for melting faster than cube ice. From an engineering standpoint, bullet ice lends toward rapid freezing and melting. It’s arguable “Soft” to the point where you might even be able to chew it. Bullet ice’s somewhat faster melting rate also helps the unit to recycle the ice back into the reservoir for another batch. In that light, it uses water efficiently.

Clear ice tends to be much harder and it takes longer to start melting. The tradeoff here is that it usually takes longer for clear ice to fully freeze. So, you’re going to have more time in a cycle. It’s particularly nice if you want your portable ice maker to support your RV or campsite cooler. With these units, we also tried to look for portable ice makers that had superior insulation in the sidewalls of the ice collection chamber. That way you can make a big batch and trust that you’re not going to lose much if any to melting.

Cube size is also a factor in freezing and melting rates. Some portable ice makers have features that let you select the size of the cubes. The smaller the cube the fast it tends to freeze, but it can also mean the ice will melt faster. Especially with bullet ice.

Size And Weight

As the name implies a “Portable Ice Machine” needs to be portable, at least to some degree. While you don’t need to install direct water or drain lines, you also probably don’t want to lug a monster ice machine with you. Especially if you want it for tailgating or camping.

Throughout the reviewing process, we tried to keep an eye out for a wide spectrum of sizes and weights. Ideally, if you’re going to be on the move a lot with a portable ice machine, you want it to weigh less than 25 pounds empty. When you also add in the water and ice it could be a real back-breaking experience.

Of course, some portable ice makers aren’t going to be moved around a lot. A few just live on a kitchen counter to make up for a refrigerator without an ice maker in the door, or an RV kitchen. These can be a little larger or smaller depending on what your needs are. Ideally, it’s still a situation where you should measure twice before buying.

GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

Specs:

• 3-pounds of ice per cycle
• 24-pounds per day
• Produces ice in under 20-minutes
• Bluetooth connectivity
• GE Profile Opal app
• 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
• 15. 5 x 14.25 x 17. 2-inches
• Unit weighs 47-pounds

The GE Opal Ice Maker is one of the largest and arguably one of the most sophisticated units in this market niche. Weighing in at 47-pounds, it’s not the sort of thing you are going to take with you on a tent camping trip or to a tailgate party. Yet it is still compact enough to have a deserving place on your counter, in your RV, or as part of a protected outdoor kitchen space.

It’s rated to produce 3-pounds of ice per cycle, which is typically enough to keep drinks cold and refreshing for around six to seven people. One full cycle takes just under 20-minutes, which is a little bit longer, but the trade-off is the high capacity per cycle.

The GE Opal is rated to produce up to 24-pounds of ice per day, and the collection bin holds up to 3-pounds at a time. It also comes with a side tank, ice bin, ice scoop, and a drip tray.

One other area where the opal stands apart is the Bluetooth connectivity and the GE Profile app. This lets you be away from the portable ice maker, while still knowing is status and what it’s doing. It’s especially handy if you happen to be entertaining outside, while It’s working away in the RV or home kitchen.

What We Liked

If you need a portable ice maker for entertaining indoors and out, but you don’t want to be tied to it at the hip, then you are sure to love the Bluetooth connectivity and the GE Profile app. The ability to produce three pounds of ice per batch and 24-pounds in a single day also means it has the performance to support your RV’s cooler without having to take a trip to the store.

Overall

This is one of the more sophisticated ice makers on the market, with the special features and overall capacity performance to be the best portable ice maker for a home, outdoor kitchen, or an RV. If you love glamping, but you don’t want to push the freezing performance of an absorption freezer, then this portable ice machine deserves to be near the top of your list.

Crownful CF-IM01 Ice Maker Machine for Countertop

Specs:

• 9 ice cubes in under 10 minutes
• Ice bucket holds up to 80 ice cubes
• 14.6 x 14.2 x 10.7-inches
• Weighs 17.6-pounds
• 18-month warranty

The Crownful CF-IM01 Portable Ice Maker was designed to be highly portable, yet it can also be right at home on your kitchen counter. It has a 9-cube capacity per cycle and freezes water in 8 to 10 minutes. However, the ice bin can hold up to 80-cubes.

This makes it a nice compact option to supply ice for two or three people. Trying to use it to fully support a campsite cooler might be a little bit of a stretch in hot conditions.

If you do want to fill the bin for easy on-demand ice, in the great outdoors, you might want to place it in a cool or shady spot.

The fact that the Crownful CF-IM01 Ice Maker only weighs a little over 17-pounds when empty, which makes it easy to take with you just about anywhere with electricity.

What We Liked

The fast rate of freezing is impressive. If you only have two or three people needing fresh ice for their beverages, the Crownful CF-IM01 will be able to put out ice faster than you need it. As long as the surroundings aren’t hot, you’ll have plenty of room in the 80-cube ice bin.

Overall

Considering the very friendly price point and the fact that it’s covered by a robust 18-month warranty, this lightweight portable ice machine is one of the best budget units on the market. Just be mindful of the temperature on hot days.

COSTWAY Ice Maker for Countertop

Specs:

• 9 cubes in 7 to 15 minutes
• Up to 33-pounds of ice in 24-hours
• Variable cube sizes
• Reservoir indicator light
• 10 X 16 X 17-inches
• 24-pounds
• Made from ABS food-grade plastic
• Stainless steel
• Self-cleaning feature

The Costway portable ice maker was designed to be just as comfortable on your kitchen countertop as it is at a tailgating party or on an RV adventure. It weighs in at 24-pounds and has a very small footprint. Costway was also thoughtful with material selection using only food-grade ABS plastics and sleek stainless steel.

Thoughtful engineering was also put into the overall functionality and ease of use. This portable ice maker has a reservoir indicator light that lets you know at a glance if the reservoir needs to be refilled or if the ice bin is full.

There’s also a self-cleaning mode that helps descale the internal plumbing. Though you do need to use a special cleaning solution, mixed with water.

This Costway portable ice maker can make large of small cubes with the press of a button and can produce up to 9 cubes in 7 to 15 minutes. The smaller cubes tend to have a shorter freezing time than the large ones. It has been tested to produce up to 33-pounds of ice in 24 hours. Which means it’s more than capable of supporting a large cooler on a summer camping trip, without having to break camp for an “Ice Run” to the store.

What We Liked

The indicator light, and cube selection, as well as the self-cleaning feature all, make this portable ice maker very easy to use. The fact that it can produce up to 33-pounds of ice in a given day is also impressive, and not a lot of the competition can say the same.

Overall

The Costway portable ice maker is a nice machine with the functionality and ease of use that you want, with a price tag that won’t hurt your budget. It’s small enough and light enough that you can take it with you when you want ice service on demand, yet it can still live comfortably on even a small kitchen counter.

Vremi VRM010636N Countertop Ice Maker

Specs:

• Makes ice in under 10 minutes
• 9 cubes per cycle
• 8-gram ice cubes
• 26-pounder per day
• Large 2.2-liter water reservoir
• 9. 5 x 12 x 13. 5-inches

Vremi is an international company that has been growing throughout the consumer appliance market. Their VRM010636N portable ice maker was designed to quickly produce small batches of ice in less than 10-minutes.

Yet it still does have a 2.2-liter water reservoir, and only makes nine, 8-gram ice cubes in a single cycle. This essentially means that you can fill the reservoir at the start of the day and let it run without having to constantly reload it with more freshwater.

Just keep in mind that the ice storage bin can only hold around 1.8 pounds of ice at a time. So, if you are going to use the Vremi VRM010636N Countertop Ice Maker to support a cooler, you won’t want to stray too far.

Portability is also a strength for the Vremi VRM010636N Countertop Ice Maker. It only weighs in at 20-pounds, which makes it easy to take with you camping or on an RV adventure. It’s 9. 5 x 12 x 13. 5-inch footprint also saves counter space, which makes it easy to use year-round at home or in your man cave bar.

What We Liked

The 2.2-liter water reservoir lets you load it up once and not have to worry about reloading it for hours. The fact that it can also produce up to 9-cubes in less than 10-minutes, with its small footprint also makes it a great option for on-demand ice in a home bar.

Overall

If you need on-demand ice in your man cave, downstairs bar, or small kitchen, yet you still want a unit that you can take with you on a special outing, the Vremi VRM010636N Countertop Ice Maker needs to be near the top of your list

Northair Portable Automatic Stainless Steel Ice Maker

Specs:

• Up to 12 cubes in under 12 minutes
• 3 cube sizes
• 48-pounds of ice in 24 hours
• 2.65-pound ice storage bin
• Engineered for quiet operation
• LED display with intuitive controls
• 15 x 17.1 x1 7.0-inches
• Weighs 38-pounds when empty
• 1-year warranty

One look at the technical specs and it’s easy to see that this portable ice maker by Northair was made to support people with high ice needs. The fact that it can produce up to 48-pounds of ice in 24-hours gives it the ability to support one large cooler or two small ones. Yet the unit itself weighs in at 38-pounds, which makes it better suited for RV’s, campers, and cabins where you want to keep ice around the firepit area. Though it certainly has a place at an outdoor kitchen or even a food truck.

The LED control panel allows you to select three different ice cube sizes. The smaller the cube, the faster it freezes. Meaning on the smallest setting you could have a dozen cubes in around 8-minutes. On the largest cube setting, you could have 12 cubes in under 12-minutes.

The storage bin can hold up to 2.65-pounds of ice. If you like the reservoir can also be connected to a 5-gallon water cooler, which makes it very convenient.

This Northair portable ice cube maker was specifically designed to be quieter than most of it’s nearest competitors. They also support it with a 1-year warranty program.

What We Liked

The high capacity of ice in a single day speaks to the Northair portable ice maker’s ability to support you on a camping trip, or simply let you have ice on demand. The quiet operation and the LED display allowing you to choose three different cube sizes also means you can set up ice to your specific needs. Whether it’s filling a cooler, or simply ice for a refreshing smoothie.

Overall

Families and food services that need a serious bulk of ice on demand should have the Northair portable ice maker near the top of the list. It can produce a high volume of ice in a short amount of time. This makes it a great option for supporting a campsite cooler, a popup restaurant, food truck, or a lavish outdoor kitchen.

Sentern Portable Countertop Clear Ice Maker Stainless Steel Ice Making Machine

Specs:

• Produces a batch of ice in under 15 minutes
• 11.2 x 14.4 x 13.8-inches
• 2.2-liter water tank
• Easy-to-use digital control panel
• Superior insulation
• Attractive clear ice cubes
• 1-year warranty

One of the common complaints you get with the ice produced by some portable ice makers is that they tend to make cloudy ice, which melts quickly. With some units, this is by design as they recycle any unused ice back into the reservoir as it melts.

This Sentern Portable Countertop Ice Maker was designed to create much harder clear ice cubes. The ice bin is then heavily insulated to help keep that ice frozen. A single cycle takes only 15-minutes, to provide you with cubes that will arguably last longer in your glass or your cooler than the bullet ice produced by their competitors. The 2.2-liter water reservoir also lets it keep producing ice without you having to hover nearby to refill it.

It’s also worth noting that the Sentern Portable Countertop Ice Maker was designed with an impressive stainless steel exterior that will look impressive in just about any kitchen. It also has a very easy to use digital control center.

What We Liked

Right off the bat, you have to like the fact that this portable ice maker produces clear, hard ice. This type of ice cube is intended to last longer and arguably looks nicer in a glass than cloudy bullet ice. The gleaming stainless steel exterior also makes it visually attractive on your counter. You also have to like that Sentern backs this portable ice maker with a one-year warranty.

Overall

If you need clear, hard ice to support a day-pack or picnic cooler, or you want an attractive ice maker for your kitchen counter, then this portable ice maker by Sentern needs to be high on your list.

LITBOOS IML-001 Portable Ice Maker

Specs:

• Makes 9 ice cubes in under 9 minutes
• Ice bin holds 1.5 pounds of ice at a time
• Weighs 22-pounds
• 1.7-liter reservoir
• 9.5 x 13 x 14.1-inches
• Certified with ETL; The BPA-free

The LITBOOS IML-001 Portable Ice Maker was designed to be quick, convenient, and easily portable. To that end, it only weighs 22-pounds and has a very small footprint on a countertop. This moves it right up the list for RV travelers and tailgaters where space is at a premium, but still, need ice on demand.

This portable ice maker has a 1.7-liter water reservoir, which is substantial for its size. It can produce 9 cubes of bullet ice in 7 to 9 minutes, which is pretty fast. The internal ice bin will also hold 1.5 pounds of ice cubes at a time. This translates into around 75 to 80 bullet ice cubes. The LITBOOS IML-001 Portable Ice Maker is rated to produce up to 26-pounds of ice in a single 24-hour span.

The exterior is made from stainless steel and black plastic. The control panel includes indicator lights and there is even an automatic shutoff feature. The plastic components are BPA-free and certified to meet ETL standards.

What We Liked

The 1.7-liter water reservoir and the 1.5-pound ice bin are impressively large for a small, lightweight portable ice maker. You also have to like the fact that it can make 9 cubes of bullet ice in under 9 minutes, and up to 26-pounds of ice in a single day.

Overall

If you need a lightweight portable ice maker that won’t take a big bite out of your checking account, then the LITBOOS IML-001 Portable Ice Maker deserves a good hard look. It was specifically designed to be portable and take up a minimal amount of countertop space. Yet you can still get an impressive 26-pounds of bullet ice from it per day.

Buyers Guide

Portable ice makers were invented to provide ice on demand. While they tend to be more popular for RV travelers, tailgaters, campers, and outdoorsmen. Though they certainly have found a niche for themselves with people who want an ice supply close at hand without having to run back into the house when they are sitting around the backyard fire pit or grilling at their outdoor kitchen.

They work very much like a traditional freezer ice maker. A small water pump taps into a reservoir or water, which delivers it to the freezing system. A built-in compressor and a fan then work to rapidly freeze the water in the ice cube tray, which is then released when it’s ready for use. If you don’t use it a reasonable amount of time, the system will gradually melt the ice and return it to the reservoir to keep it at the ready.

A lot of portable ice makers generate what’s called “Bullet Ice” which is cylindrical. Though there are a few models that generate impurity-free clear cubed ice as you might find in a restaurant.

The thing that drives the increasing popularity of portable ice makers is that they can often produce a modest amount of ice in a mere matter of minutes. When you contrast this to the traditional ice tray that might be sitting in your kitchen freezer which could potentially take hours to provide you with a dozen or so cubes.

Finding the best portable ice maker for you calls for evaluating a few key factors. You can then filter them into the ways you are most likely to use the ice cube maker.

Size and Overall Portability

Most portable ice makers are compact enough to fit comfortably on a countertop while also being large enough to hold a reasonable volume of ice. They are typically around 15-inches high and around 12 to 14-inches wide. Though some manufacturers make larger and smaller units. Particularly those that might be tailored for RVs and outdoor kitchens.

If you need to manually transport your portable ice maker, then you might also want to factor in weight. Ultimately, you want to be able to take it with you camping or tailgating without feeling like lugging the portable ice maker around is a chore.

Freezing Speed

The faster a particular model can produce ice, the more people it can support. This might also be a factor if you are camping away from convenience services and you want to keep producing ice for your campsite’s cooler.

There can be a little variance in ice production speed, but on average most portable ice makers can make a reasonable batch of bullet ice in around 7 to 15 minutes. As you can imagine, the smaller units tend to be able to produce a batch of ice in a shorter period of time.

So, if you just need to be able to offer ice for drinks around the backyard firepit a small model with a fast production time might be a better choice. If you need to fill up a day-pack cooler at the campground without having to make a daily ice run to town, then you might want to target a larger unit that might take 15-minutes per batch.

Smaller units also tend to make colder ice and are insulated a little more, which reduces the chances of the ice melting and being recycled.

Production Capacity

With some portable ice makers, you might see their performance stated in “Pounds of Ice Per Day.” This is only a minor factor if you are going to be using it for tailgating. However, if you want to use it for supporting your coolers at a remote campsite then a pounds-per-day capacity rating might be an important barometer.

Location Of The Drain Plug

Even though you don’t need a dedicated drain line to run your portable ice maker, you will still need to drain excess water in the system from time to time. Anytime you turn it off or get ready to put it away, you want to drain all the water out of the system. Any water that’s left in the lines or the reservoir could eventually start to get moldy. A drain plug at the bottom is usually much easier to use.

Filter

Anytime you are using a portable ice maker outside there’s a risk of things like pollen, dust and the occasional stray hair can sometimes sneak into your reservoir. Some type of mesh filter will help catch these contaminants to prevent them from getting into your ice.

Cube Size

Some portable ice makers give you different options for cube size. This isn’t a make-it or break-it feature, but it might be something to consider if you want to use your portable ice maker for craft beverages and cocktails.

A Timer

There are even a few portable ice makers that come with a timer. It might be handy if you are making ice while preparing a meal or refreshing everyone’s drink, and you use it as a reminder. It could also be a handy feature if you are planning to serve a multi-course meal at a pop-up restaurant and you need the ice on demand at a specific time. Again, just like cube-size, it’s not a critical feature, but a timer might come in handy depending on how you plan to use it.

A Self-Cleaning Feature

Just like any other type of foodservice appliance the best portable ice makers need some basic care and cleaning. The term “Self-Cleaning” is a little bit of a misnomer, as you still need to add a specially formulated cleaning solution and set things up. Still, having a button feature to help handle the internal process is handy for descaling, but not a major feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does A Portable Ice Maker Need Its Own Water Line?

A: Technically portable ice makers don’t need a dedicated water line running to them. Instead, you fill a small reservoir and the internal components handle the rest. So while you don’t need a dedicated line, it helps to have water on hand near the portable ice maker, so you are keeping it supplied as needed.

The portable ice maker also doesn’t need any sort of drain line. The ice cubes it produces tend to melt relatively quickly, and the system automatically returns it to the reservoir. In a certain light, this helps with water use efficiency.

Q: Does A Portable Ice Maker Use AC Or DC Electricity?

A: Most portable ice makers run on the same standard 120 Volt AC electricity available in a standard electric socket. Even if you are boondoggling in an RV or otherwise of the traditional electric grid, all you need is a portable generator with an AC socket.

Q: Is A Portable Ice Maker Hard To Maintain?

A: For the most part, portable ice makers are relatively easy to maintain. Though they do have a slightly higher risk of developing a mold problem when they aren’t properly cleaned. To answer this issue many manufacturers offer some type of ice machine cleaner solution. You simply mix it with a little water, then pour it into the reservoir and run a standard ice making cycle until all of the mixtures have been turned into cubes. Discard the cleaner cubes and wash your ice scoop. Check these Impresa Products Ice Machine Cleaner, Essential Values Ice Machine Cleaner, Affresh W11179302 Ice Machine Cleaner.

Q: Will A Hot Day Affect How A Portable Ice Maker’s Performance?

A: Just like how a hot summer day will impact a basic cooler, the surrounding air temperature and things like direct sunlight can have a modest impact on how fast a portable ice maker can produce ice. To hedge your bets when using it outside, try to keep it in the shade on a hot, sunny day.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of interesting portable ice maker options. Taking the time to think about how you are most likely to use it, will help you to quickly dial in the best unit for you.

If you want a portable ice maker that will support your campsite cooler, and you’re willing to let it run overnight or when you’re out for the day, you might want to lean toward a unit that produces clear ice cubes. These harder cubes tend to be very cold and hard, which means they melt slower.

On the other end of the spectrum, let’s say that you wanted a portable ice maker for your kitchen to compensate for a refrigerator that doesn’t have a water line in the door. Then you might want to look for a unit that produces bullet ice, which will melt and absorb heat energy from the surrounding water to cool it.

While you’re at it, also think about weight and size. If you want a compact unit for the kitchen or RV, you might want to play around with a measuring tape before pulling the trigger on a specific portable ice maker. If you want to use it for tent camping, tailgating, or an occasional night around the backyard fire pit, then you might also want to prioritize one that weighs less than 25-pounds.

Whatever your specific interests might be chances are the best portable ice maker for you is somewhere on this list.

Product Boxes: Last updated on 2020-08-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API