Stihl HSA 65

Bottom line

For those willing to pay for it, the Stihl HSA 65 is a powerful battery-operated hedge trimmer that will provide excellent trimming for several seasons. Safe and durable, the machine's one disadvantage is its weight.

Performance

Heavy-duty trimmer. Stihl markets the HSA 65 model as one of its professional trimmers, but homeowners and casual gardeners say they also enjoy the trimmer's durable build and high quality construction. After a year of use by reviewer Hal Jones with Extreme How-To Blog, the Stihl didn't require any extra maintenance. Popular Mechanics magazine writer Evan Rothman say this cordless trimmer performs as well as a gas trimmer, but is easier to handle and doesn't produce exhaust fumes in the users' breathing space.

Ease of use

May be too heavy for some users. This professional-grade machine is best for users who have the upper body strength to handle wielding a machine weighing more than 10 pounds. For a slight reduction in weight, a smaller battery can be used, but that also limits the time the trimmer can be used before recharging. However, because of the Stihl HSA 65's strength and speed, users say hauling its heavy body around the garden pays off with a shorter time spent trimming.

To keep hands safely out of the way of the cutting blades, the Stihl HSA 65 requires users to have both hands on the grips in order to operate the trimmer.