Gas Hedge Trimmers

Gas hedge trimmers for the most power

Most homeowners can get by with an electric trimmer, but if you need to prune old-growth hedges with branches up to 3/4 of an inch in diameter, you'll need a more powerful (and more expensive) gas trimmer. Be aware, though, that gas hedge trimmers produce more noise and vibration than electric or cordless models -- not to mention the smelly exhaust and the engine's maintenance requirements. Furthermore, gas hedge trimmers can be pretty expensive compared with corded or cordless electric trimmers.

The Echo HC-150 (*Est. $280) is the top gas-powered hedge trimmer in two comparative reviews. Popular Mechanics editors note that "Echo has a great reputation for its engines and this one didn't disappoint." The Echo HC-150 uses 20-inch, double-sided, double-reciprocating blades, much like the top-rated corded electric hedge trimmers. It also incorporates a commercial-grade air-filtration system that meets federal clean-air standards using a fuel-efficient two-cycle engine. Dealers say the Echo trimmer's two-cycle engine is less apt to need repair than a comparable (but heavier) four-stroke engine. At more than 10 pounds, the Echo HC-150, like other gas hedge trimmers, is significantly heavier than most electric hedge trimmers.

The newer Echo HC-150i (*Est. $310) adds the i-start feature to the HC-150. The manufacturer states that it reduces starting effort by 75 percent, and dealers say this makes the HC-150i very popular (we didn't see independent reviews of this feature). The higher-priced Echo HC-165 (*Est. $450) has a longer 24-inch blade and convenience features, including a rotating handle for better maneuverability and a vibration-reduction system. The Echo HC-185 (*Est. $470) has a 30-inch blade, but otherwise it's mechanically identical to the HC-165. Echo's gas-powered hedge trimmers are commercial-grade tools, and they're backed by a five-year warranty for homeowner use.

The 24-inch Stihl HomeScaper Series HS 45 (*Est. $320) gas hedge trimmer gets even higher ratings than the Echo HC-150 in one recent review. Like the Echo HC-165, the Stihl HS 45 has vibration dampening built in, but the Stihl hedge trimmer has a more powerful 27 cc engine (compared with the 21 cc engine employed on the Echo hedge trimmers), and it weighs over a pound less than the comparable Echo model. Stihl also makes an HS 45 variant with an 18-inch blade (*Est. $300), which reduces the trimmer's total weight from 11 to 10.4 pounds. The 18-inch Stihl HS 45 is available through dealers, but Stihl products aren't sold online.

A lower-cost option to consider is the Poulan Pro 25HHT (*Est. $210) gas hedge trimmer. It has 22-inch double-reciprocating blades, a 25cc, two-cycle engine, and is fairly heavy at 11.8 pounds. Amazon.com user reviews report that the Poulan gas hedge trimmer cuts through 3/4-inch limbs with ease. Only about six people provide reviews, however, and we were unable to find many more at other websites that sell the Poulan Pro 25HHT.