Hedge Trimmers: Reviews

Reviews say the dual-bladed Craftsman 79957 electric hedge trimmer is an excellent value -- as long as you don't use it for hours at a time or need to trim thick branches. It vibrates more than costlier hedge trimmers,… which can make it more tiring to use, but most owners don't seem to mind, especially for occasional jobs. At 7.6 pounds, it's relatively light, too. You can lock the Craftsman 79957's main switch on to prevent trigger fatigue, but you still need to use two hands because there's a second trigger on the top handle. A handy clip keeps the cord from being accidentally disconnected.

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While corded electric hedge trimmers keep you within 100 feet of an outlet, the 18-volt Black & Decker NHT518 hedge trimmer provides the flexibility of battery power. It's also lightweight (16.4 pounds) and quiet, but not… as powerful as corded trimmers. Reviewers say the Black & Decker is a good choice for quick trims and handling branches less than a half-inch thick. We read inconsistent reports regarding battery life; some reviews say that after a few months, it only holds a charge for about 15 minutes. This Black & Decker cordless hedge trimmer lacks a lock-on feature, so you must keep the trigger depressed the entire time during use.

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For big jobs or for trimming old growth, reviewers give the Little Wonder 1920 high scores among electric hedge trimmers. Critics say it's got enough quiet power to handle half-inch branches. Safety features are… excellent, and its high-carbon steel, double-reciprocating blades are the type most highly recommended by experts. The Little Wonder 1920 is heavier (8.5 pounds) and more expensive than other electric models, however, so it may not be worth the extra cost unless you have lots of pruning.

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For mobility plus enough power to trim branches up to 3/4 of an inch in diameter, Echo gas hedge trimmers get high scores in comparative reviews. Tests indicate Echo trimmers' double-reciprocating blades make clean cuts… through branches and thick shrubbery without jamming or slowing. However, the Echo HC-150 weighs 11 pounds, and like most gas hedge trimmers, it's noisy enough that hearing protection is recommended. Its anti-vibration handles help minimize user fatigue. If you don't need the additional cutting power offered by the Echo, a strong electric trimmer such as Little Wonder 1920 can tackle most of the same jobs without the hassles of fuel storage and loud operation.

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