Is Ryobi's 18V One+ Power Spreader Worth Buying? Here's What Reviews Are Saying

It's always helpful to have the right tool for the job. Walk-behind spreaders allow you to easily disperse things like grass seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, sand, soil, and even ice melter across your property with the press of a button. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ Power Spreader is a promising spreader that offers a one-gallon tub and several adjustable settings for tailored and easy dispersal of whatever material you're using. Before investing, take a look at its pros and cons and determine whether or not it's worth buying.

Ryobi was founded in Japan and has been making high-quality consumer tools for over 80 years. That includes power tools, yard maintenance gear, storage solutions, cleaning tools, and recreational gear. One of its most popular systems is the 18V ONE+ platform, which includes this spreader. The line features all kinds of high-tech tools that make work in your home and garden a breeze. And what's more, its 18V batteries can be used across any of them, making the Ryobi Power Spreader a great choice if you're already in the 18V ONE+ ecosystem.

No matter the task, Ryobi's battery-powered spreader is eager to help, making spreading grass seed easy. It has a one-gallon tub and can spray up to 5,000 square feet per single tank, so you can stay on task without frequently refilling its tub. 

The spreader distributes evenly and has a spread width of five feet, which will help you cover your application area at a faster rate. You can adjust the flow rate knob and spread lever to your liking, along with the dispersion angle from ultra-wide to narrow. Users also seem to like the spreader, as it has a 4.5-star rating on Ryobi's website. One enthusiastic review states, "I love it. Used it within the first week and it worked flawlessly. Just pour in fertilizer, set your dial to appropriate setting, pull trigger and start walking." It's one of many Ryobi tools that can help whip your lawn into shape.

The spreader tool alone weighs just 4.25 pounds, making it lightweight and easy to maneuver. If you have a small yard or won't be using this power spreader often, you can choose to go with the basic 1.5Ah lithium battery, but there are also higher-power options available depending on your needs and budget. The batteries are easy to remove and recharge as needed, and you can even buy additional batteries and chargers together in a kit. Lastly, this tool ships with a three-year manufacturer's warranty.

Although the spreader offers some handy features, it also has some disadvantages. One of the most notable is that Ryobi's tools are primarily sold at Home Depot. A feature that seemed to confuse some users is the two-phase trigger. One user noted, "Stay mindful this spreader has an electric agitator but a manual door. Once you've set the door opening and activated the agitator, press harder on the trigger and the door will open. It's not broken." This issue accounts for a decent amount of the product's negative reviews. While this isn't an uncommon tool design, Ryobi could perhaps make this function more explicit in the future.

Additionally, one user mentioned hand cramps from squeezing the trigger, saying, "You must squeeze the trigger very tightly to dispense the content. I got hand cramps after applying fertilizer to a large yard." The only other major con was about the dispersal door sometimes staying open. Other users noticed this but said it was simply because some stuck grains blocked the door and it just needed to be cleaned. (via ryobitools.com)

Overall, though, the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Power Spreader is a powerful tool at a reasonable price. Considering a generous warranty backs it, that it's a part of Ryobi's 18V ONE+ tool and battery ecosystem, its solid array of adjustable features, sizable tub and spray capacity, and wide content support (from fertilizer to ice melt), the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Power Spreader seems to have far more upsides than concerns, making it a great option for your yard.