Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: a brilliantly simple way to cut grass

T3's Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review in a sentence: Simple but effective grass cutting without the hassle of power cables or petrol engines.

I got the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower in to review a week after I’d been using the Titan Petrol Lawn Mower, which was an excellent way to compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks of both options for cutting grass. While do I think the best petrol lawn mower route is well suited to larger lawns, it’s hard to beat the convenience of the best cordless lawn mowers. This is especially so if, like me, you’ve got a smaller patch of green to keep looking good.

The Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is a perfect example of a brilliantly straightforward battery-powered machine. It’s lightweight and fuss-free thanks to a lack of cables but still has more than enough battery uptime and power from the electric motor to get the job done. I was a little bit surprised at how much it cost, mind, but the bonus with buying this brand is that it comes with a lot of respect.

Even better, Stihl is smart and, like other brands who do the same, allows owners of its products to mix and match their battery packs. So, any current Stihl owners should be able to use the same battery pack from a Stihl strimmer, leaf blower or similar garden appliance to power the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower. One other thing I’m also really liking is just how much of this model appears to have been manufactured with recycling in mind, especially when it comes to the plastic components.

Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: price and availability

The Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is available now, both direct from the Stihl online store with a current price tag of £314 and other popular online outfits. However, I have also seen it on sale at various other locations for less, so it might be an idea to shop around before you buy.

It’s worth noting that this price via the Stihl site means the mower turns up without a battery. There’s a drop-down menu offering a free battery bundle, although the current price for that is £439.

Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: design and features

One of the best things about the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is the design, which features the classic orange and white colouring synonymous with this brand. It’s very minimalist too, which means it’s going to be much easier to keep clean than some of the lawn mowers I’ve tried over the years. As mentioned earlier, there is clearly a strong emphasis on using materials than can be recycled, with the plastic components all clearly marked as such.

The heavy use of plastics in this design also means the weight of the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is much less than many comparable products, just 15kg. It’s certainly much more svelte than the Titan petrol mower I tried previously. While that isn’t surprising, it does make for a machine that is easy to move around. Usefully, there are also carrying handles, which come in handy if it needs to be moved from the front garden to the rear.

Another interesting aspect of the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is the way that it only has a monohandle down to the body of the machine on one side. I initially wondered if this might feel a bit odd or not be too sturdy, but once I’d fixed it into place (this is the only assembly required saved for clipping the grass box together), everything felt just fine. In fact, this setup works better than a conventional design and also adds to the reduced overall weight of this mower.

Adding to the practicality of the monohandle, the grass cuttings box is much easier to get to and remove for emptying. Plus, the handle folds over for easier storage. Brilliant. Another aspect of the design that Stihl has thought about is the ‘flow-optimised- blade', which purports to cut grass more effectively. On top of that, there are different cut height options, which is done very easily via a selector on the side of the machine.

Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: battery

The Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is going to appeal to anyone who currently uses other products in this range as the battery pack is interchangeable. What’s more, I found the battery to be very efficient and durable too, with a front and back lawn cut with only one bar dropping off the runtime range. Obviously, this does depend on what the mower has to contend with, so if it’s thick grass, the motor is going to have to work harder. Nevertheless, I’m impressed.

Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: performance

I can’t really fault the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower now that I’ve used it a couple of times. It’s very easy to use, with the push button to start and pull lever system to keep the power on being a dependable method of cutting. The lightweight design of this model makes it a breeze to push over a variety of terrain too, with the mower easily able to cope with undulations.

However, it’s worth lifting the cut setting a bit if there are ruts and dips in the lawn, especially if it’s very long in order to avoid scalping the grass and putting undue strain on the motor and battery. I had to do this initially as the delivery setting seemed to be on the lowest (or most extreme) cut option. Raising it though, between 20 and 70mm, is simplicity itself thanks to the lever/notch system located on the side of the mower.

I was impressed with the cut delivered by the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower. I know it’s a new machine but that blade seemed really efficient and has a cut width of 37cm, so it’s perfect for average lawns. It can also get up to edges better than some mowers I’ve tried, with a good cut delivered even when nudging up against stone borders and the like. Other bonus points go to the noise, with levels of just 91dB, while the operation is smooth too – Stihl quotes 1.4 m/s² for vibration in its official stats.

Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower review: verdict

I think the Stihl RMA 239C Lawn Mower is a properly good machine. There are plenty of models out there that cost less, but the practicality of the switchable battery setup adds lots of appeal. If you’ve already got other Stihl kit, then it is a no-brainer. Even if you haven’t, this model comes highly recommended.

The design and build are great, performance is excellent and, so far at least, the efficiency of that battery pack has been impressive too. What’s more, I’m totally sold on just how convenient this model is, with no cables and minimum faff involved.