iRobot Braava 380t Review

After spending my fair share of time with the IROBOT BRAAVA 380T and the Neato XV-21Best Price at Amazon, one thing was certain: My apartment floors were free of debris, but they still needed a good scrubbing. Unfortunately, my growing reliance on robot vacuums rendered the thought of mopping more painful than ever. Between the unwieldy mop and big drippy bucket of soap and water, not to mention the physical act itself, I'd be overjoyed if I never had to mop again. Luckily, there's a 'bot for that.


The iRobot Braava 380t is like a big sibling to the iRobot Braava. The Braava 320 costs $100 less, but the 380t has a bigger battery with faster charging, room-to-room cleaning capabilities, a pause button, a quick clean mode, and a furniture-protecting bumper. You'll still need a vacuum for large debris, as well as the occasional helping hand for tough spills, but it's a great accessory for the neat freak who hates to clean.

Design and Setup
The Braava 380t looks a heck of a lot like the Braava 320, with the same two-tier shape and dimensions. It measures 9.6 by 8.5 by 3.1 inches (WDH) and weighs in at 4 pounds. It comes in shiny black plastic instead of white, with the same matte black plastic along the sides. There are just three simple function buttons on top of the device: Power, Mop, and Sweep, along with navigation system indicator lights underneath. There's also a handle on the back that allows you to pick up and transport the robot easily. The only way you'd really know that this is a different model, aside from color, is the rubber bumper on the front. While both Braava models work slowly and gently enough that I wouldn't worry about it scuffing even the most delicate furniture, the rubber bumper makes for added peace of Before you can start cleaning, first you must charge the robot. Stand it up on its back to access the charging port, plug it in, and wait for a solid blue light to appear on the Power button. It takes about four hours to reach a full charge, which should last for up to four hours of sweeping or two-and-a-half hours of mopping. A Turbo Charge Cradle is available for $59.99, which charges the Braava to full capacity in just two hours. It's easier to use, too, since you don't need to stand the device on its back.

Poulan Pro 967087101 48cc Backpack Blower Review

The POULAN PRO LEAF BLOWER 967087101 48cc Backpack Blower is a powerful tool for powerful jobs. Blowing at speeds of 200 mph makes you glad it’s a backpack and not a handheld blower. The variable speed throttle control means precision is easy. Poulan Pro has managed to make a product that is unmatched in its class. It’s obvious from just one look at this blower, reviewing it in detail is almost unnecessary.

Poulan Pro 967087101 Features in a Nutshell

48CC 2-stroke system.
200 mph/475 cfm.
Cruise control.
Heavy duty structure.
Adjustable speed throttle controls.


Power

The 48cc 2-stroke motor is sure to make quick work of any leaves, debris, or anything else you need out of the way. Fire it up, and you’ll unleash a hurricane. The variable speed throttle control that comes with the backpack blower allows you to adjust all the way up to the impressive 200 mph top speed, and all the way down to a more leisurely speed for more delicate jobs.

Ergonomics

You are probably tired of the difficulty of keeping a consistent speed with most variable speed throttle controls. With the cruise control that comes with this Poulan Pro model, that isn’t a problem. The backpack is light enough to be easily used for hours without discomfort.

Great Design

The design of this backpack blower is probably its greatest feature. It has downfalls, like any product does of course, but the benefits far outweigh the downsides of the design. Overall, one of the main downsides is most likely that the assembly may be a bit confusing, but once it is figured out, it is a matter of minutes before you are ready to go. Once you’ve got it assembled, you’ll notice that the heavy duty frame makes it feel sturdy, not cheap. The hose on the blower is screwed on and isn’t going to come off easily like most other designs that end up just frustrating you. The trigger response doesn’t need any words to describe it other than instant. Despite the heavy duty design, it’s still compact enough to be stored anywhere.

Versatility

Looking at the backpack blower, you might not expect that there are much more uses for it than just clearing lawns. It’s powerful enough that you can clear rocks and whatever you need moved with it! Additional uses for it can be drying your car or even clearing snow from your walkway. There really isn’t much you can’t do with it because of its commercial-grade power.