Cordless Hedge Trimmers

Cordless electric trimmers increase freedom, but sacrifice power

Cordless electric hedge trimmers let you work untethered. but they definitely offer less power than corded models. Tests show cordless trimmers bogging down in thick hedges, and many user reviewers at Amazon.com testify to the frustration users experience when they try to trim thick branches and shrubbery.

Despite these issues, many people continue to favor cordless hedge trimmers and praise their maneuverability, though their battery packs make them heavier than most corded trimmers. Some user reviews find cordless trimmers adequate for most jobs, even when they have thousands of feet to trim. Most cordless hedge trimmers now make extra battery packs available, effectively eliminating runtime as a problem (as long as you have access to an outlet for recharging the spent batteries).

The 18-volt, 22-inch Black & Decker NHT518 (*Est. $100) is recommended by more reviewers than any other cordless hedge trimmer. Each battery recharges in about three hours. The Black & Decker NHT518 cordless trimmer has an average rating of 4.3 stars out of five in around 100 user reviews at Amazon.com. Customers posting previews at Lowes.com also rate it quite highly, and About.com's guide to landscaping, David Beaulieu, gives it a perfect five-star rating. Although the NHT518's dual-action blades are rated for branches up to 3/4 of an inch thick, users report that this cordless hedge trimmer runs into trouble with branches more than 1/2 of an inch thick. We also found a few complaints about its 6.4-pound weight and the omission of a lock-on switch. The Black & Decker NHT518 does have a safety lock-off switch, however, which keeps it from being turned on accidentally. As is the case with other Black & Decker hedge trimmers, the cordless NHT518 carries a two-year warranty.

The only other cordless hedge trimmer receiving good marks from a significant number of users is the Worx WG250 (*Est. $100), an 18-volt trimmer with a 20-inch blade. More than 30 users rate it at Amazon.com, giving it just under four stars out of five -- not nearly as much feedback as we found for the Black & Decker NYT518. We were unable to find professional reviews of this cordless hedge trimmer, however.