We found that especially when we were using the machines to cut down weeds, the growth was so tough, it took an immediate toll on the trimmer’s line, causing us to use the bump feed line mechanism at twice or three times the rate that we would in normal grass trimming.Īfter that, we took the trimmer head apart inspected how much dirt got in, if any. For all trimmers, we wanted to see if each machine was comfortable and well balanced, and whether its line feed was finicky or robust. For gas-engine trimmers, we wanted to judge whether the power they provided was offset by their noise and weight. We also did considerable edging where sidewalks meet lawns.įor battery-powered trimmers, our primary goal was to assess power and run time. However, our most severe testing occurred along the sloping bank of a sand floor drainage basin in southern New Jersey, where we used the trimmers to cut down knee-deep weeds and wild flowers. We use the machines on ordinary suburban lawn grasses such as blue grass, perennial ryegrass, and fescues in a variety of suburban and rural locations. We test our gas-engine and battery-powered string trimmers in identical fashion. Related Stories: Ditch Your String Trimmer Line-The Aero-Flex Snap & Trim Head Is Better | The Best Tools of 2022 | The Best Lawn Edgers for a Crisp Landscape

Whether it’s powered by a gas engine or a battery and brushless motor, every machine here gave a good account of itself in our testing. If you need weed-trimming power above all else, they will provide it. The gas-engine machines here are pro-duty and take the 50:1 gas-oil fuel mix. If noise reduction is important to you, then a cordless string trimmer is your obvious choice. However, one benefit that a battery-powered trimmer provides that a gas trimmer can’t touch is that it’s quiet. Although cordless string trimmers still lack the raw weed-slashing power of professional-grade gas-engine machines, they have narrowed the performance difference considerably. Many people are looking to cordless string trimmers powered by a lithium-ion battery to meet their needs, especially in suburbia.

Most Powerful Electric: DeWalt DCST972X1.Read on for quick info on the best string trimmers from our testing, then scroll down for buying advice and in-depth reviews. Trimming a large and diverse rural property requires a far more robust tool than if you live on a 1⁄4-acre lot.

The harder you work the string trimmer, the tougher the machine you need to buy. By any name, it is a handheld power tool that spins a line head by means of either a gas engine (in almost all cases burning a gas-oil fuel mixture) or a lithium-ion battery and a DC motor. They’re correctly called a string trimmer. Some people call them weed eaters others call them weedwackers. Regardless of your preference, the tool you need to put the finishing touch on your landscape is a string trimmer. Some people trim before they mow, while others mow and then trim. If you want a neatly cut yard, you’ll have to trim its grass.

Echo trimmer