And it sliced the tough stuff with a fair amount of power—not as aggressively as the company’s gas-engine equipment, but still quite well. They are all the same lawn maintenance equipment and will do the same thing – to cut grass and give your yard a well-manicured … However, our list of the 13 best string trimmers for 2020, not only narrows it down for you but does so based on certain qualities every product should have. But when it comes to more detailed work, you need a string trimmer—or line trimmer, weed eater, weed wacker, or whatever else you want to call them. The heavy-duty motor and large cutting width make this weed eater powerful enough for the toughest jobs. Spread the love. Options considered: 40. It’s a bit too big and overpowered for the average residential yard. The trimmer’s handles are comfortable and the machine is well balanced, enabling long trimming sessions. Don’t let the “weed whacker” designation fool you. A 13-inch cutting swath should be enough for small to medium jobs, and it delivers 4.2 amps of power. And certainly, it has plenty of features that sound good on paper, such as a telescoping shaft, a rotating head, and an adjustable handle with additional strap for balance and comfort. The Greenworks 18-Inch 10 Amp Corded String Trimmer is the best electric string trimmer for the value it provides. These slim, handheld power tools are designed to make short work of garden and lawn maintenance. If you're using an ad-blocker you might miss out on seeing the deals. This is a serious, pro-duty trimmer, not a toy or an experiment in engineering outdoor power equipment. To reduce fatigue, it’s best to invest in a self-propelled string trimmer … Whether you opt for corded or cordless, select a cutting swath (10 to 16 inches), that makes sense for what range you need. Share; Tweet; Pin; 0 shares. The trimmer cuts well and is a shade less aggressive than the similar Greenworks GT161 below, but it’s still more than enough for residential purposes. For more expensive products and particularly those machines that are clearly built to be contractor-duty, we see how effective the trimmers are on heavy weeds, briers, and tall non-turf grass, such as Timothy and Foxtail. Sign up for our newsletter to get real advice from real experts. It converts from trimmer to edger with a turn of the shaft, and you can vary the speed in order to optimize performance and runtime. There’s a lot to evaluating these tools, and we hope our report below leads you to your next great machine. While a gas string trimmer is generally preferred by professionals, an electric trimmer (corded or battery-powered versions) makes more sense for a small yard and at-home use. The trimmer bump feeds reliably, and a speed adjustment wheel abreast of the trigger is large and easy to turn. Updated May 3, 2020 Used indiscriminately over wide swathes of grass, lawn mowers are the brute force of the lawn care world. But about that battery: We actually smelled it leaking ozone into the air while charging, making it a decidedly less eco-friendly option. What constitutes “heavier than average” work with a string trimmer? We admit right up front that this is an expensive, professional-duty product; for this price, the Makita better be good. For almost all residential applications, today’s battery-powered model is up to the job. Set its rotary-dial choke and pull the recoil start. Best overall WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare 12" Cordless String Trimmer & Edger, 12in Check price. The 10 Best Gas String Trimmer 2020 – Reviews & Buying Guide. After researching almost 60 different cordless string trimmers, we bought the 7 best models on the … The XRU15 is quiet, well balanced, and runs as free from vibration as any power tool we’ve ever used–due largely to a well balanced, solid steel driveshaft and a specially designed high-torque motor with an external rotor that has a surprisingly high power-to-weight ratio. Get smarter about what you're buying. We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. Tweet. Tweet on Twitter. That’s why testing string trimmers, along with mowers, is a yearly event at Popular Mechanics. In the case of the ST120VX, it has gas-engine power. Top 15 Best String Trimmer Reviews for 2020. How to make your poinsettias last through Christmas, I tried paper crafting my own Christmas cards—here are my tips, 10 lawn mistakes everyone makes in the fall, 25 things to buy when you move into a new house, Greenworks 13-Inch 4 Amp Corded String Trimmer 21212, Ego 15-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless String Trimmer, Craftsman 30378 13" Electric Cordless String Trimmer, Black and Decker LST136W 40V MAX Lithium String Trimmer, Worx WG163 GT 3.0 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger with Command Feed, Ryobi One+ 18-Volt Lithium-ion Shaft Cordless Electric String Trimmer and Edger, Toro 51480 Corded 14-Inch Electric Trimmer/Edger. The manufacturer is also considerate of your limited storage space, thus providing a detachable shaft. 1) GreenWorks 21102 Leading Mount String Trimmer. I’m also an amateur gardener, currently in possession of an urban garden—read: unpaved, gone to seed, apartment backyard plot. Links to the best string trimmers we listed in this string trimmer review video: 1. Updated May 20, 2020. BLACK+DECKER Trimmer Line, 30-Foot, 0.065-Inch, 3-Pack (AF1003ZP) Check price. 55 Views 0. It may start, in which case you press the throttle lever and the choke dial automatically moves to the run position. The … Popular Mechanics participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Its strong suit is two-fold: It offers outstanding throttle response and torque, in part due to a great engine, but also a 2:1 gear reduction that multiplies that torque output. The 5 Best String Trimmers for 2020. Working on your walkway is just a matter of minutes. The starter and engine will turn on effortlessly. If you are searching for the best gas string trimmer for the money, then you have landed in the right place. We found the supplied line too fragile for the trimmer’s power. The 3 Best Corded Electric String Trimmers – Buying Guide. It also comes with two batteries and a charger, making it a cost-effective purchase, but with a 12-inch cutting range and half the voltage of the Black and Decker (and one-third of the Ego), it’s really best for grass shearing and dainty detail work. Brilliant. Best Cordless String Trimmer of 2020. We experienced some weed winding around the head when chopping down tall weeds, but it was not an objectionable amount. Edge along sidewalks and driveways, clear underbrush, cut down weeds, and tidy up your landscaping on properties small and large. 6 Zero-Turn Riding Mowers: Comparison Test, The Power of Han Solo Is Alive in Guardians of the Galaxy, Which Kind of Fuel is Best for Lawn String Trimmers ? And it sliced the time we generally spend battling our yard practically in half, thanks to a wide, dual-feed twist line, a brushless motor with variable speed, a 15-inch cutting range, and a whole heap of power from a 56-volt lithium-ion battery. And the big question in 2020 is whether you go gas or electric when purchasing a trimmer. 15 Best Cordless String Trimmer 2020 1. 0 Shares. Power source: Most of the string trimmers are usually powered by batteries and motors. A trimmer earns extra points if it’s easy to maintain. Earthwise ST00115 Corded String Trimmer. Over the course of a hot, wet (i.e., verdant overgrowth choked) summer, we put electric trimmers from leading brands to the test. Check price. When you buy through links on wimpole.org, We may earn an affiliate commission.” / 5/5. This Black and Decker battery motor-powered weed feeder is the greatest general trimmer on the marketplace that we extremely commend. Maybe, but it could prove handy for preventing misfeeding and other problems associated with loading the line. Ranking criteria: value for money, customer reviews, popularity, brand trustworthiness. Updated Oct 6, 2020 at 8:32pm 123rf.com (Mykhaylo Pelin) Whether you call it a weed whacker, weed eater, or even a Destructroweed 3000, a string trimmer is … Or, as popularly known, string trimmers. A true value trimmer, the 4.5-pound Ryobi offers all of the convenience of a cordless option for less than $100. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process. We're diehard gas-engine people at Popular Mechanics, but we were forced to admit that this trimmer's speed and its ease of use are both impressive. If you have a patch of green to tend, it’s a safe bet you care about the environment, too. We also assessed how comfortable each unit was; if the weight was evenly distributed from top to bottom, if the controls were accessible, where the handles were situated, and if the shafts could be adjusted for better reach. Share on Facebook. The electric cordless Craftsman 30378 was our pick for Best Value. It is equipped with the Smart Start system, so unlike many other gas powered string trimmers, it is very easy to start up. Lori Clark May 20, 2019 GARDEN No Comments. To buy the best string trimmer, users need to dedicate some time to the indispensable features of any trimmer. Sodramjet Could Reach Anywhere on Earth in 2 Hours, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Then we put the trimmers to work on both short and tall grass, as well as tougher roots and weeds, seeing how quickly, efficiently and consistently they tackled each job, and maneuvered around edges and obstacles without running out of battery or breaking a string. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. I’ll show you what you need to consider when making your choice, and afterwards we’ll take a look together at my top pics for the year. Set the wheel to reduce motor rpm, conserve battery life, and make the machine even quieter. Best Gas String Trimmer Reviews of 2020. The Husqvarna 128LD 2-cycle gas string trimmer is a best and most versatile machine that is made to suit your medium or home yard. How much string trimmer do you really need? So you go down to the store and of course they offer you a gas trimmer, which is naturally more powerful than an electric one. Weed eater. At $99 for the trimmer and more than $200 with the battery (which can be used with other tools, if you’re one of many Makita brand devotees), you’d expect this sleek weed eater to live up to the cost. We also trim along driveways and walks, then tip the trimmer vertically to cut a shallow notch parallel to the paved edge. A rotating shaft, and press and turn button enable it to convert to an edger when needed, and it’s reasonably comfortable to use and well balanced, despite the fact you can’t adjust the molded plastic auxiliary handle. Battery-powered models offer the mobility of gas, without pull-starting, fueling, and fumes, but are heavier and more expensive than corded, and have a battery life with a run time between 30 and 60 minutes before needing a recharge. The Stihl has explosive, weed-eating power. 10 Best String Trimmers In 2020 – Reviews & Buying Guide. We put a premium on a high power-to-weight ratio and a lack of vibration. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. If you own land, you are probably in the market for a Best gas string trimmer. We blanched when taking this behemoth out of the box; it practically stood taller than us, and sported a mammoth, bulky battery pack on one end. We trim standard turf grass, such as blue grass and fescues, growing along fences, posts, foundations, trees, and flower beds. Our advice is to reserve this machine for rural properties, maintaining fence lines, keeping brush at bay at the pasture’s edge, and the like. ©2020 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. There is so much to choose from that getting confused is natural. Extendable Shaft ; 56V Lithium Ion Battery; Charger included in the kit; CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON 5/5. The Husqvarna 129C is considered the best curved shaft gas string trimmer on the market. Just don’t expect it to stand up to unwieldy overgrowth, considering its 10-inch swath and 18-volts of power. All rights reserved. On a budget? Share. It’s also a comfortable, well-balanced machine. It can be used to trim, taper, or edge your lawn. The DEWALT DCST920P1 String Trimmer is one of the most popular cordless trimmers on the market today. You can mount a steel brush-cutting blade on it or a bump-feed string trimmer head with .105 line, with the 27cc full-crankshaft engine putting either head to work in a serious way. That means carrying the trimmer’s battery in a backpack, which is blessedly well designed and comfortable. … My name is Sarah Zorn, and I’m a professional food and lifestyle writer. I’ve done a lot of research and used a lot of string trimmers in my life, and the Greenworks 21102 is one of the best. But it has slightly better vibration damping than the Echo and is a bit heavier. We assembled each trimmer, taking note of how clear the manual instructions were, how much set-up was required, and how easy it was to install a new string. And at around $299.99 (if you include the battery), you'll pay for features like its impenetrable aluminum construction.