What is it?
The Stihl RMA 239 C is part of Stihl's extensive range of cordless battery powered lawn mowers. Designed for small to medium-sized lawns, it has a 37cm cutting width (or 14.5 inches in old money) and is height adjustable from 70mm down to a 20mm cutting height. It features an unusual one sided handle, designed to make removing the 40 litre grass box easier.
The handlebar is height-adjustable and also folds down for when the mower is stored away. Handy if you've got a small shed. Power comes from Stihl's family of 36 V Lithium-Ion AK batteries. We're testing it with the standard AK 20 battery which gives a claimed range of 250m2 but opt for the AK 30 and it will cover up to 330m2.
The RMA 239 C is priced at £319 without the battery or £439 with the AK 20 battery and charger. The good news is that the AK battery can be used across a huge range of Stihl cordless equipment from grass trimmers to chainsaws. You can buy it directly from Stihl here. It comes with a two year warranty.
Is it any good?
Once out of the box, putting the Stihl RMA 239 C together is straightforward as it's pretty much just the handle that needs bolting into place. And it's this unusual handle design which makes the Stihl unique. The 'mono-comfort handlebar' as Stihl describes it, is only mounted on one side of the lawn mower, making it easier to access the grass box.
It's a clever bit of design and it certainly works we've found during our extensive testing over the summer months. Removing the 40 litre grass box, especially when full, is much easier. The wide opening means it's simple to empty too although there are a few corners that trap grass. That said, it's not as useful if you're one of the 10% of the population that's left handed as it's fixed to the right hand side of the mower...
It's height adjustable - well more angle adjustable - and there are only two heights, but on the highest I found it pretty much spot on at 6ft2. You can also fold the handle down with the same press of the lever, which is extremely helpful for storage or for transporting.
One of our concerns with the one-sided design was the strength of the handle, plus whether it would affect manoeuvrability. But we needn't have worried. It's as sturdy as a traditional dual handle mower and just as to move around, in fact, we actually found this sturdier than many mowers we've test with a 'normal' handle.
We tested the Stihl RMA 239 C over several months across both (awkwardly) small and larger lawns. At 16kg with the AK 20 battery fitted, it's on the heavier side of similar mowers we've tested yet we found it just as easier to manoeuvre around tight corners and up to the edges of borders. We actually prefer a bit of weight when it comes to mowers as it tends to make for a more even cut, especially over uneven or undulating lawns. And the Stihl does delivery a beautifully neat and even cut. It's quiet too.
You can easily change the cutting height on the side with a sliding adjustment for 6 different heights - like most mowers of this ilk it simply moves the body up (or down) from the wheels - but the adjuster feels sturdy yet smooth.
The AK 20 battery will give 250m2 of coverage according to Stihl. We're not experts at calculating area but from fully charged, we managed around 45 minutes of continual use (with occassional stopping to empty the grass box) and still had a one bar of power left in the battery.
Charging the AK 20 battery takes around 3 hours from empty or you can charge it to 80% in 2hrs15. It slots in with a reassuring click and you're ready to go. The battery has a line of LEDs to show you at a glance how much battery you have left. Usefully there's a little window on top of the mower so you can check the battery level without opening the cover.
Should you buy one?
We have been mightily impressed by the Stihl RMA 239 C during our time testing it, making it our go-to lawn mower for every day jobs. Yes it's more expensive than similar sized mowers like the Gardena Powermax 37 P4A but we think the design of the Stihl really shines through. It has plenty of clever features such as the one-sided handle which makes getting to grass box much easier. The quality of the unit meanwhile, is top notch, as we've come to expect from Stihl.
This is a mower that is built to last and while not cheap, it's certainly a sound investment for the long term, especially given that the interchangeable AK battery system is compatible with dozens of other Stihl tools. Among a crowded market of cordless mowers, the cleverly designed Stihl RMA 239 C really stands out.
