Ryobi's Expand-It Tool Promises Convenience, But Can It Take Care Of Weeds?

Ryobi is well-known for offering a great range of value-for-money tools to whip your lawn into shape. The brand's Expand-It system is based around a cordless power unit with a variety of attachments that are easy to swap in and out. This promises added versatility and could save money. Having attachments rather than individual tools also makes better use of storage space. It all sounds very convenient, but can Ryobi's Expand-It tool take care of weeds like the best battery-powered weed eaters do?

According to Ryobi, Expand-It attachments are compatible with Ryobi's 18-volt One+ cordless power head, the more powerful 40-volt version that the brand claims delivers gas-like power, and the two-cycle gas unit. However, while some retailers may still have stock, it appears from Ryobi's website that the gas unit has been discontinued. Nevertheless, the two cordless models offer eco-friendly power options that should satisfy most homeowners if the tools live up to expectations. We checked customer feedback for some real-world insight into whether they could tackle everyday weed problems.

The majority feel that they can and that they do the job well. User groberts23 was "very pleasantly surprised" with the 18-volt string trimmer. JDHKauai went with the 40-volt option, saying, "I have the string trimmer, leaf blower, and edger attachments and all of them work great!" Most other comments were in the same vein.

The positive responses should come as no surprise. Ryobi's 40-volt string trimmer is proven to whack weeds right out of your lawn and tackles tall growth with ease. The same battery power unit is used with the Expand-It system. The 18-volt model is a lighter and more affordable option. Obviously, it can't compete with the 40-volt model in performance terms, which restricts it to smaller yards. Although complaints are rare, there are owners who feel that battery life could be improved. Buying a spare is an option, but they aren't cheap.

There are currently over two dozen attachments in the Ryobi Expand-It range. Along with the string trimmer, there is also a steel-bladed brush cutter for taking care of tougher weeds, as well as a hedge trimmer, a pruner, a leaf blower, a cultivator, a snow shovel, and other tools. What's more, many of these tools work with attachment-capable systems from other brands, so you don't necessarily need to have a Ryobi power unit to take advantage of them (though you will need to check compatibility before buying).

If you're shopping only for a single garden tool, like a weed wacker, for example, there is a lot of competition. Another model could be more affordable than this Ryobi. However, if you're looking for an expandable, interchangeable system that is competitively priced, saves space, and is more than capable of taking care of your weeds, then the Ryobi Expand-It tool is tough to beat. The range is available from Amazon and The Home Depot.