String Trimmer Review

Comparing professional and user reviews of string trimmers

String trimmers use electric motors or gasoline or propane engines to rotate one or two thin nylon lines with such speed and force that they can cut grass and sometimes weeds. Also called grass trimmers, line trimmers or Weed Eaters (a brand name that's become a generic term), these tools make trimming and edging a lawn much faster and easier than using hand tools like grass shears. The best string trimmers can handle tough weeds and tall grass along long fences and keep a long driveway neatly edged. String trimmers can also reach under shrubbery and cut grass in places too narrow for a lawn mower to reach.

We found the most recent comparison reviews at ConsumerReports.org, where editors rate and rank string trimmers based on objective tests, and also in Popular Mechanics, where six gas trimmers are tested and compared. In two older tests, editors at Popular Mechanics evaluate several propane, gas and cordless electric trimmers. A few high-end trimmers are also detailed in the report and considerable attention is given to safety. ConsumerGuide.com's single-product reviews cover gas, cordless and corded electric string trimmers. We also looked at single-product reviews at About.com. We supplement expert reviews with owner-written reports from homeowners and professional landscapers. These reviews often uncover problems other reviewers don't find and help to judge manufacturers' customer service as well. Gardening and lawn-care forums provide another valuable source of information from owners.