Hedge Trimmers: Reviews

Reviews say this dual-bladed Craftsman hedge trimmer is an excellent value as long as you don't need to use it for hours at a time, and as long as you don't need to trim old growth or thick branches. It vibrates more than… more expensive hedge trimmers, which can make it more tiring to use, but most owners don't seem to mind, especially for occasional jobs. Its 7.6-pound weight is relatively light. You can lock the main switch on to prevent trigger fatigue, but you still need to use two hands since there's a second trigger on the top handle. A cord clip keeps the cord from being accidentally disconnected. (check price at Sears)

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While corded electric hedge trimmers keep you within 100 feet of an outlet, the 18-volt Black & Decker hedge trimmer is battery powered. It's also lightweight and quiet, but not as powerful as corded trimmers. Reviews say… the Black & Decker is a good choice for quick trims, handling branches of less than 1/2 inch. We did read inconsistent reports about battery life; some say that after a few months, it only holds a charge for about 15 minutes. This unit lacks a lock-on feature, so you must keep the trigger depressed the entire time.

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For big jobs or for trimming old growth, comparative reviews give the corded electric Little Wonder top ranking among electric hedge trimmers, with enough quiet power to handle half-inch branches. Safety features are… excellent, and the Little Wonder hedge trimmer vibrates much less than others, so it's less tiring to use. While powerful, safe and easy to use, the Little Wonder 2420 is heavier (8.8 pounds) and more expensive than others.

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For mobility plus enough power to trim branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter, Echo gas hedge trimmers get high scores in comparative reviews. Tests show the double-reciprocating blades make clean cuts through branches and… thick shrubbery without jamming or slowing. However, this trimmer weighs 12.4 pounds empty and is noisy enough that hearing protection is recommended. Its anti-vibration handles minimize fatigue.

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