Flymo Hover Vac 280 Lawnmower Review

Design and Build

The Flymo Hover Vac 280 is an electric hover mower, designed to provide easy maneuverability and convenience. Characterized by its distinctive orange body, this mower is built to glide over the lawn, making it ideal for small gardens with irregular shapes or slopes. The lightweight design, weighing in at just 8.8 kg, ensures it can be easily carried and stored, often hanging on the garage or shed wall to save space.

Performance

As a hover mower, the Hover Vac 280 is particularly well-suited for gardens with slopes, uneven surfaces, or intricate landscaping, as it floats on a cushion of air. This feature allows it to move in all directions effortlessly. The 28 cm cutting width and metal cutting blade provide a neat and tidy cut, and while it’s not designed for very rough or wet conditions, it performs admirably on typical lawns in dry to slightly damp conditions.

Engine and Efficiency

This model is powered by a 1300 watt motor, which offers a balance of energy efficiency and cutting power for small lawn areas. Being electric, it requires a power outlet, and the convenience will largely depend on the proximity of one’s power source and the length of the extension cord used. The electric motor provides a green alternative to gas engines, with no emissions and lower operating costs.

Ease of Use

The Hover Vac 280 shines when it comes to ease of use. Its simple design means very little setup is required before use. The hover technology eliminates the need for pushing over the grass, significantly reducing the physical effort required. Adjusting the cutting height is done via spacers, which is slightly less convenient than lever-adjusted systems but still straightforward.

Collection Box

The lawnmower features a 20-liter grass collection box, which is modest in size. It is well integrated into the unit’s body, maintaining the aerodynamic profile essential for the hover feature to work correctly. The box is easy to remove and empty but will require frequent attention if you’re cutting a lot of grass due to its limited capacity.

Noise Level

The noise level of the Flymo Hover Vac 280 is reasonable for an electric mower. It’s not as quiet as a battery-operated model, but it is significantly quieter than petrol mowers, making it neighborhood-friendly for most residential areas.

Cons

The smaller grass collection box means more frequent emptying during use, which can be a downside for users with more extensive lawns. Also, while the hover design is advantageous for certain terrains, it may not provide the same quality of cut as a traditional wheeled rotary mower on very flat or dense lawns.

Conclusion

The Flymo Hover Vac 280 is an excellent choice for those with smaller, contoured gardens looking for a mower that’s easy to handle and store. It offers a clean cut with the unique advantage of being able to move in any direction, which is a significant plus for those with ornamental gardens or lawns with tight spaces. While it might require multiple emptying of the grass box and the occasional hassle with the power cord, the convenience of its design and the quality of cut make it a worthy consideration for the right type of garden and user.