When it comes to tailgating there are a number of things on short supply. Running water and electricity are two of those things. And although running water is the most rare commodity while tailgating, the dearth of power in the parking lots has been solved by bringing portable generators to stadiums and arenas. The main problem with generators? They are typically big, bulky, emit noxious fumes and the most annoying aspect, they are typically loud.
Go anywhere in the tailgating parking lots and the generator you will see most is the Honda EU series. Honda struck gold when they rolled out the EU series with the highly desirable combination of fuel efficiency and noise reduction. But with high quality came a hefty price tag. For example, the Honda EU2000i Generator
typically costs $1,300 but you know what they say, “You get what you pay for”. The Honda EU Series became the de facto gold standard by which all portable generators were judged based on the muffler and lack of noise output.
We recently had the opportunity to test and review the Ryobi RYI 2200 Digital Inverter Generator and put it through its paces in a simulated tailgating environment. Naturally we wanted to compare it to a Honda EU series generator to see how it stacks up side by side when it comes to noise output. Here is the video review we put together comparing the Ryobi RYI 2200 to a Honda EU 1000i generator.
(Disclaimer: We received a sample Ryobi RYI 2200 for free. The fact this sample was provided without charge in no way influenced our opinion of the product nor did it impact our ability to test and review the Ryobi RYI 2200 fairly and objectively.)
If you chose to skip the video, it is safe to say the Ryobi RYI 2200 is “Tailgate Approved”. In the video we compared the Ryobi generator to a Honda EU 1000 generator. Although it was not an apples to apples comparison seeing how the Ryobi puts out a maximum wattage twice that of the Honda we were comparing it to, that was by design. Common reasoning would assume that a generator that puts out double the wattage would in turn, produce twice the noise. That was not the case with the Ryobi. We found the Ryobi RYI 2200 to be just as quiet as the Honda and the added bonus is that the maximum load is 2200 watts compared to just 1000 watts.
Here are some specs for those of you wanting the low down on all the features of the Ryobi RYI 2200:
Running Watts / Starting Watts: 1800W / 2200W
Voltage / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
Rated Amperage: 15 Amp AC, 7.5 Amp DC
Engine: 106cc OHC 4 Cycle
Starting: Recoil
Fuel Tank: 1 Gallon
Run Time 2.5 hrs @ Full Load / 5 hrs @ 50% Load
Outlets: (2) 120V AC 20 Amp, (1) 12 V DC 7.5 Amp, Parallel Kit Capable
Weight: 51 lbs.
Another great feature of the Ryobi that we found to be superior to the Honda is that is comes with rear wheels and a telescoping luggage handle that allows for ease of transportation. The handles on the top allow it to be easily moved into place once you are parked but the rear wheels makes it a breeze to roll it to the opposite end of your vehicle and away from your tailgate party guests.
Now comes the real clincher. The Ryobi RYI 2200 sells for nearly half the cost of the Honda EU 2000i. Exclusively sold through Home Depot, the Ryobi RYI 2200 sell for around $599.00. Compare that to the Honda EU 2000i that normally sells for around $1,300. (A quick search on Amazon.com and we found one priced at $1,285.74)
Based on the power, fuel efficiency, noise abatement and overall the more affordable price, we are going to deem the Ryobi RYI 2200 definitely “Tailgate Approved”.
The added power and functions of this generator and the ability to be a good tailgating neighbor with low noise output, we are now considering the Ryobi will be a replacement for the Honda EU 1000 as our “go to” generator for future tailgate parties. The ability to watch the early games on TV and still be able to mix up a batch of margaritas in a blender without worrying about maxing out the power load on the generator makes for a more enjoyable tailgate party.
To learn more about the Ryobi RYI 2200 visit, ryobitools.com. To buy one of your own, visit HomeDepot.com or just walk into your local Home Depot and head towards the tools aisle.