Echo SRM-225i

The Echo SRM-225i gas string trimmer shares most of its features with the less expensive Echo SRM-225 (*Est. $200) . Like the 225, it has a five-year warranty, 21.2 cc engine, a 17-inch cutting path and a bump-feed system that users say works well. The main differentiator is the 225i's more advanced starting system, which Echo says reduces starting effort by 75 percent.

Reviewers say that the 225i is easy to start, and they add that the trimmer has ample power and is easy to reload when the cutting string runs out. However, at 12.5 pounds, it's a bit heavy for some users. Another quirk that expert reviewers at ProToolReviews.com point out is that the fuel tank is positioned so that the trimmer can stall when it's tilted, if the tank isn't completely full. They recommend dealing with the problem by topping off the tank and doing edging chores first, then going back to finish trimming.

Like all two-stroke gas trimmers, this trimmer requires owners to mix oil and gas, but otherwise it's easy to maintain, according to the expert reviewers. Another consideration with this trimmer is its elevated price tag. For roughly the same amount, you can purchase the best-reviewed Husqvarna 223L (*Est. $250) , which  weighs less and  gets excellent reliability ratings.

Testers at Popular Mechanics give the Echo SRM-225i top marks, naming it the best of six gas-powered trimmers evaluated in a comparison test. This trimmer also gets a detailed write-up based on hands-on testing from the reviewers at ProToolReviews.com. Owner reviews for this trimmer are very limited in number, but we found about more than a dozen at HomeDepot.com, most of which are positive.