EmailBest Reviewed
String Trimmers
- Cordless grass trimmer Black & Decker Grass Hog NST2018 *Est. $100
- Corded electric trimmer; better for weeds Stihl FSE60 *Est. $130
- Gas trimmer: most power, but heavy Craftsman 79197 *Est. $200
- Eco-friendly propane trimmer Lehr Eco Trimmer ST025DC *Est. $210
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- Lightweight
- Easy to start
- Most reviewers say loading string is easy
- Five-year warranty
- Not as powerful as some gas trimmers
- Not everyone likes the manual line-feed system
- Two-stroke engine
The Echo GT-200R is a heavy-duty gas string trimmer with a curved shaft. The two-cycle 21.2 cc engine requires mixing the gasoline with oil, and only the California Air Resources Board-certified version, the Echo GT-200RC, adds a carbon canister to meet that state's strict emissions requirements. The manual-feed system is reloaded with precut pieces of line, but this gets mixed reviews; some users prefer a standard bump feed. The Echo GT-200R isn't quite as powerful or efficient as the Craftsman 79197 (*Est. $200) gas string trimmer; those with large overgrown lots may want to consider the Craftsman instead.
We found the best review of the Echo GT-200R gas string trimmer at ConsumerReports.org, where it's compared with 30 other gas models (and some electric and cordless trimmers) based on objective tests run in the fall of 2007. An earlier comparison review at Popular Mechanics provides more detail, as do the owner-written reviews at Epinions.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org compares the Echo GT-200R with 30 other gas string trimmers, ranking and rating all the models based on tests done in the fall of 2007. This review is especially useful, since it also compares the gas string trimmers with both corded electric and cordless models.
Review: String Trimmers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, April 2008
2. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
This review classifies the Echo GT-200R as a pro-quality trimmer; the editors say that it is "the only curved shaft that cut like a pro." They also like how easy and simple it is to start and note that at 9.3 pounds, it is "two to three times lighter than comparable tools." A total of 12 gas string trimmers are tested here.
Review: The Fastest (and Toughest) String Trimmers on the Market, Roy Berendsohn, May 2006
3. Epinions.com
More than 20 owner reviews are posted here, with those dated 2008 or later predominantly favorable. Overall, owners either love or hate the GT-200R; most give it either a rating of one out of five or a five out of five. The main complaints are with the Rapid-Loader system or having to replace the line too often. Some owners warn that the curved shaft is too short for anyone over six feet tall.
Review: Echo Gas Trimmer GT-200R, Contributors to Epinions.com
Fewer than a dozen user reviews have been posted here, but overall owners like the GT-200R, giving it an average of 3.9 out of five stars. Most say this string trimmer is easy to start and use, but a few complain about the line-feed system.
Review: Echo GT0200R Gas Trimmer, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
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