Gas String Trimmers

Two-stroke gas trimmers: light and cheap, but not green

Gas string trimmers are better at trimming tough weeds than most electric trimmers, but they're also louder and pollute more than electric string trimmers. Most are heavier and require more maintenance, too.

Gas-powered string trimmers with four-stroke engines are quieter and pollute up to 75 percent less than two-strokes, and they use straight gasoline instead of requiring a gas/oil mixture. They also tend to run with less vibration. On the downside, they're quite a bit heavier than two-stroke models (heavy enough that you might need to wear a shoulder harness) and require regular lubrication. So there are definitely trade-offs.

While two-stroke trimmers pollute more, many improve their emissions by including a catalytic converter on the engine, which helps them obtain certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Note, however, that CARB-certified two-stroke trimmers may be hard to find in other states.

The 21 cc Echo SRM-225 (*Est. $230) weighs 12 pounds and has a cutting width of 17 inches. It performs very well in tests and gets good user reviews from over 60 people at HomeDepot.com. Echo claims it's the most fuel-efficient straight-shaft trimmer on the market, and it meets Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards as well. The SRM-225 uses a bump-feed spool head and a starting system that's claimed to reduce starting effort by 30 percent, according to Echo. The average user rating at HomeDepot.com at the time of this update is very high, 4.6 out of 5; one user writes that the SRM-225 has "plenty of power… and [is] lightweight enough to keep me from tiring quickly."

The SRM-225 line of string trimmers includes the SRM-225i (*Est. $250) , which has a more advanced starting system that is said to reduce starting effort by 75 percent. Echo's SRM-225 gas trimmers carry a five-year warranty.

With a 24.5 cc engine and 17-inch cutting width, the Husqvarna 223L (*Est. $250) delivers slightly more power with less heft. It weighs only 9 pounds and uses a bump-feed spool that reviewers say is a cinch to load. In a Popular Mechanics comparison test, the 223L earns praise for its power, easy start and minimal vibration. At Lowes.com, this lightweight, straight-shaft Husqvarna trimmer gets an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars for its balanced feel and easy maneuverability, but there are complaints about the heat and strong fumes generated by the top-mounted engine.

At 12.5 pounds, the Stihl FS 56 RC-E (*Est. $240) is heavier than most two-stroke gas string trimmers, but it acquits itself extremely well in tests and earns high marks from reviewers for its excellent trimming and edging abilities. Experts also like the 56 RC-E's easy-start 27 cc low-emission engine, but excessive vibration is noted as a drawback.

Hitachi delivers best two-stroke string trimmer value

While the above string trimmers get great reviews for tackling tall weeds and heavy brush, you can spend less if you'll mainly be trimming a well-kept lawn instead of whacking weeds in the back-eighty. In this price range, the Hitachi CG22EASSLP (*Est. $190) is a standout. With a 21.1 cc engine that holds its own against more expensive two-stroke competitors, the Hitachi CG22EASSLP is a best bet among budget-priced gas trimmers. It gets rave reviews at both Amazon.com (32 out of 38 owners give it a perfect 5-star score) and Sears.com, where owners give it high marks for power and ease of use.

The Hitachi CG22EASSLP gas trimmer has an anti-vibration system for less fatigue, and reviewers praise the trimmer's 60-inch straight shaft, which makes it easier to reach under bushes and decks with less bending. Like the Echo SRM-225, the Hitachi CG22EASSLP's two-stroke engine is fuel-efficient, but because the Hitachi string trimmer also meets California's strict CARB emissions standards, it pollutes less than most other gas trimmers.

At Popular Mechanics, where the Hitachi CG22EASSLP is awarded an editor rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, testers find that while it's not as "beefy" as more expensive gas trimmers, the CG22EASSLP holds its own and cuts "with enthusiasm." Other reviewers agree: despite its entry-level price, the lightweight CG22EASSLP aptly handles most trimming and edging tasks. However, for very dense weeds and grass, the Echo SRM-225 has slightly more muscle. On the downside, we did read some complaints that the Hitachi trimmer's semi-automatic feed head doesn't always dispense properly. Nevertheless, most owners consider the Hitachi CG22EASSLP a solid value.

A curved-shaft version of this gas string trimmer, the Hitachi CG22EABSLP (*Est. $170) is also available and scores well in comparison tests conducted by a leading consumer magazine. There are also curved-shaft versions of the Echo SRM-225 as well, including the GT-225 (*Est. $160) , which has all the SRM-225 features, but with a 16-inch cutting width. It weighs 10 pounds and also performs well in tests.

Another sub-$200 string trimmer that gets good reviews is the Stihl FS 45 (*Est. $160) . This gas string trimmer has a 27 cc engine -- powerful enough for weeds and tall grass -- and weighs 10.8 pounds. A standard bump feed advances the line. A related model, the Stihl FS 45 C-E Easy2Start (*Est. $170) has, as its name suggests, an assisted starting feature. The Stihl FS 45 string trimmer variants are given high ratings in one professional test. In California, a CARB-compliant version is offered.

Four-stroke gas trimmers: Cleaner to run, but heavy and expensive

Four-stroke trimmers take straight gas -- you don't have to mix gas and oil. They're also less polluting. On the downside, they're expensive and heavy.

In its comparison test of 12 gas string trimmers, Popular Mechanics praises the four-stroke,
25 cc Honda HHT25SLTAT (*Est. $350) , saying it offers "smooth, vibration-free performance." The engine can be tilted in any position without danger of damaging it. The HHT25SLTAT straight-shaft trimmer has a cutting width of 17 inches. The Honda's main drawback, aside from its high cost, is that it weighs 13 pounds before you add gasoline.

The same Popular Mechanics review also singles out the commercial-grade Shindaiwa T2510 (*Est. $400) . This gas string trimmer's hybrid four-cycle/two-stroke engine minimizes emissions and helps lower weight (it weighs 12 pounds dry), but still requires you to mix oil with the gasoline. Although the Shindaiwa trimmer was also named a ConsumerGuide.com Best Buy (that review was written in 2007), we've found a number of comments in professional landscaping forums that criticize hybrid engines for maintenance problems. Both the Honda and the Shindaiwa gas string trimmers are available mainly at specialty stores that are authorized retailers for those brands.