Best Reviewed
String Trimmers
- Cordless grass trimmer Black & Decker Grass Hog NST2018 *Est. $100
- Corded electric trimmer; better for weeds Stihl FSE 60 *Est. $120
- Best-value gas trimmer Hitachi CG22EASSLP *Est. $190
- Propane string trimmer Lehr Eco Trimmer ST025DC *Est. $140
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- Lightweight
- Easy to start
- Five-year warranty
- Not as powerful as some gas trimmers
- Two-stroke engine; have to mix oil and gas
- Doesn't meet California emissions standards
The 21.2 cc Echo SRM-225 two-stroke gas trimmer gets good reviews from owners and experts. Echo says it's more fuel-efficient than any other straight-shaft trimmer, and it meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards. It weighs 12 pounds, with a cutting swath of 17 inches. It has a bump-feed spool head, and its starting system reduces starting effort by 30 percent, according to the Echo website. If you'll mainly be trimming a regularly maintained lawn rather than whacking tall weeds in the back-eighty, another option is the top-rated, less expensive and more efficient Hitachi CG22EASSLP (*Est. $190), another two-stroke gas string trimmer.
We found the best comparative reviews of the Echo SRM-225 gas string trimmer at Popular Mechanics and at ConsumerReports.org, where it's compared with 21 other gas models, as well as some electric and cordless models. A review at ProToolReviews.com is based on hands-on testing, and owner reviews at HomeDepot.com provide first-person perspective from people who routinely use this trimmer.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
Editors compare the gas-powered Echo SRM-225 string trimmer with 40 other string trimmers overall (including 22 gas-powered ones), based on objective tests. The Echo GT-225, which is quite similar but has a curved shaft, is also included in the ratings chart.
Review: String Trimmers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, May 2011
This single-product review is based on hands-on testing by the editors of ProToolReviews.com. They rate the Echo SRM-225i 8 out of 10 on performance, and 7 out of 10 on value for the money. The SRM-225i is just like the SRM-225, but with a starting system that reduces starting effort by 75 percent, according to Echo. The editors here find that it does start very easily, and conclude that this trimmer "should definitely be on your short list, and we loved the way it appeals to both commercial and residential users alike."
Review: Echo SRM-225i Trimmer Review, Everett Snyder, May 11, 2010
3. PopularMechanics.comDetails/Subscribe
Editors at Popular Mechanics compare the Echo SRM-225i to five other gas trimmers and give it top billing for its "nearly explosive power and torque." Yet, despite its exceptional performance and "robust skidplate," the SRM-225i's sliding lever disappoints editors who wish this trimmer came with an automatic stop switch.
Review: The Best New String Trimmers: Comparison Test, Roy Berendsohn
Over 60 owners give the Echo SRM-225 an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. One writes, "After finally breaking my 4 cycle trimmer, I purchased this one from HD and I'm very glad I did. It starts easier, runs smoother and is much lighter. Highly recommended."
Review: Echo Gas, Straight Shaft, 17 In., Trimmer, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
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