String Trimmer Review

Comparing professional and user reviews of string trimmers

String trimmers use electric motors or gasoline 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 review at ConsumerReports.org, where editors rate and rank string trimmers based on objective tests, including cutting tall grass and weeds. An older test of gas string trimmers by the editors of Popular Mechanics covers just 12 models, but includes some sturdier high-end trimmers and goes into more detail, especially with regard to safety. ConsumerGuide.com's single-product reviews are even more detailed and cover all three types of string trimmers: gas, cordless and corded electric. The reviews at all three sources evaluate each string trimmer over a short period of time under restricted conditions, so we supplement them with owner-written reports from homeowners and professional landscapers. These reviews often uncover problems other reviews couldn't find and help to judge manufacturers' customer service as well.