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String Trimmers: Ratings of Sources
Total of 22 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
April 2008
String Trimmers
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Our Assessment

ConsumerReports.org tests 31 gas string trimmers plus 10 corded electric and three cordless string trimmers, rating them for their ability to perform vertical edging, trim a lawn and handle tall grass and weeds. (The models are tested on growth over a yard high, as well as edging along walkways and wood pilings.) Each trimmer is also rated for balance and responsiveness, as well as ease of starting, replacing and feeding out cutting line and overall usability. String trimmers are rated and then ranked (based on an overall score) according to type.

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2. ConsumerGuide.com
As of June 2009
Lawn Care Equipment
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
Our Assessment

The reviews at ConsumerGuide.com have improved a lot in the last two years, showing signs of expertise and some test results. One review covers the new 36-volt cordless trimmer by Black & Decker. In all, 10 cordless and nine corded electric string trimmers get detailed full reviews and ratings here, along with 19 gas models. Some of the reviews date back to 2006, but many were new in the spring of 2008. We found none dated later than April 2008. The corded Worx WG-103 and Black & Decker Grass Hog GH1000, along with the cordless Black & Decker NST2036 and Ryobi P2000, are recommended. The Craftsman 79197 earns a Best Buy designation.

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The Fastest (and Toughest) String Trimmers on the Market
by Roy Berendsohn
Our Assessment

This review doesn't rate the 12 gas string trimmers tested here, and recommendations are based on only three days of testing, with less emphasis on edging than the ConsumerReports.org review offers. But Popular Mechanics categorizes the string trimmers nicely into pro, near-pro and homeowner models, recommending straight commercial (pro) quality trimmers for durability and low vibration, but noting that for a homeowner with a large but well-maintained lot, a near-pro model should do fine. The Weed Eater Featherlite SST25 was voted the best value. The Echo is included among the pro-quality trimmers.

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4. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
String Trimmers
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Our Assessment

The owner-written ratings and reviews of string trimmers are easy to filter and browse here, since the model listings show not only the average rating but also the number of reviews on which the rating is based. Cordless string trimmers get the highest ratings here. The gas string trimmers sold here are mostly inexpensive models with fewer reviews. Amazon.com does sell the detachable-shaft models of the Lehr Eco Trimmer, but there were few reviews of them posted on the site at the time of this writing

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5. HomeDepot.com
As of June 2009
String Trimmers
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
Our Assessment HomeDepot.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of the string trimmers sold here -- mostly gas models by Echo, Cub Cadet, Homelite and Ryobi, but also a few cordless and electric string trimmers as well. We were surprised to find two models with the lowest possible rating, so you can certainly find string trimmers to avoid.
6. Sears.com
As of June 2009
Line Trimmers
by Contributors to Sears.com
Our Assessment Sears sells its own Craftsman brand, as well as Poulan gas trimmers and electric trimmers by Worx and Black & Decker. Many models have accumulated enough user reviews to enable shoppers to select the best-reviewed models in each category.
7. Lowes.com
As of June 2009
Trimmers
by Contributors to Lowes.com
Our Assessment Lowes.com publishes ratings and some user comments regarding the string trimmers sold here. The ratings are detailed, covering design, features, quality, ease of use and overall value. Cordless string trimmers get the highest marks, but most of the models offered for sale are gas trimmers by Troy-Bilt, Bolens and Husqvarna
8. GardenWeb.com
As of June 2009
Lawn Care Forum
by Contributors to GardenWeb.com
Our Assessment

In the GardenWeb.com forums, people post questions, each of which starts a discussion thread. Once on the lawn care forum site, we found it easiest to use the search box, where we first entered "string trimmers" and got 316 threads about them, which is a lot to sort through. However, you can also use a search term like "Echo string trimmers" if you want to research a specific model or brand. Using a generic term like "gas string trimmers" is not very useful, since you'll only get threads in which the initial question contained those specific words, and far more of the questions in the forum are about choosing between different brands, or models of a brand. The discussion threads themselves are quite useful since the responses to the initial question are usually from people who have used the model or brand in question for some time. You can also post your own question.

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9. About.com
June 2, 2009
Eco-Friendly Weedeater Comparison: Lehr vs. Grass Hog
by David Beaulieu
Our Assessment

In this comparative review, About.com's guide to landscaping, David Beaulieu, compares two eco-friendly string trimmers: the new Lehr propane-powered Eco Trimmer models and Black & Decker's cordless NST2018. He recommends Lehr's Eco Trimmer for professionals and for homeowners who need a powerful string trimmer that can handle tall grass and weeds. However, for the average homeowner, Beaulieu recommends the NST2018, which weighs less. Beaulieu also feels that "it's easier to charge a battery than to make a trip to the store to buy more propane." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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10. GardeningClub.com
As of June 2009
Member Tested Review
by Contributors to GardeningClub.com
Our Assessment Volunteer testers report on their usage of the 18-volt Worx WG150 cordless trimmer, giving it a high overall numerical rating. The manufacturer supplies the product to be tested, and it's not clear how much experience the testers have with other string trimmers. Often products rated here don't get very high ratings, however, so this review has some credibility.
11. This Old House
Not Dated
Choosing and Using String Trimmers
by John Kelsey
Our Assessment

This overview on selecting and using string trimmers recommends using both a string trimmer and metal-bladed brush cutter. The article covers the pros and cons of two-cycle and four-cycle gas trimmers, brush cutters, corded electric and cordless trimmers. Specific trimmers are recommended for each type, but no testing is documented so it's not clear why these models were selected. The recommendations carry some weight, however, because of the overall credibility of the "This Old House" television series and website.

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12. LawnSite.com
March 2008
Does Anyone Use Honda Weedeaters?
by Contributors to LawnSite.com
Our Assessment This discussion thread compares new Honda string trimmers with other brands such as Echo, Husqvarna, Shindaiwa, Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt. It is part of a forum aimed at professional landscapers, but contains useful information for homeowners as well. You can also search the forum to find comments from experienced users about specific string-trimmer brands or models.
13. ToolMonger.com
Aug. 2007
Hot or Not? Cordless Electric String Trimmers
by Chuck Cage and contributors to Toolmonger.com
Our Assessment Quite a few readers weigh in with comments about their experiences with cordless string trimmers, pro and con. There's no consensus about the best type of string trimmer, not to mention any specific model, but a few models do get recommended by at least one owner.
14. Walmart.com
As of June 2009
Trimmers & Edgers
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Our Assessment

Walmart.com publishes owner-written ratings and reviews of the electric string trimmers it sells (made by Weed Eater and Black & Decker). A nice feature of these reviews is that they say how long the owner has actually used the trimmer; some cover more than one year of use. Only two models, both electric, have received enough reviews to make the average rating mean much. The corded Weed Eater RTE115C is rated four out of five, while the cordless Black & Decker 12v CST1200 is rated 3.6 out of five.

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15. About.com
Aug. 3, 2005
Cordless String Trimmers
by David Beaulieu
Our Assessment

David Beaulieu, About.com's guide to landscaping, provides a short, single-product review of the Black & Decker NST2018 Grass Hog. He also discusses the pros and cons of gas, propane and electric corded and cordless string trimmers, explaining that he had used the NST2018 "as an example of cordless string trimmers." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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String Trimmer Reviews
by Editor of The-Lawn-Advisor.com
Our Assessment This brief review compares seven gas string trimmers based on their ease of use, comfort, durability, weight-to-power ratio and overall value. The author also compares brands for their estimated resale value. Although the models rated here are professional grade, there's some useful information for homeowners, too.
17. Northerntool.com
As of June 2009
String Trimmers
by Contributors to NorthernTool.com
Our Assessment The owner-written ratings and reviews on this retail site include two features that are especially nice: asking the owner's level of experience and whether or not the owner would recommend this model to a friend. We'd rank this review site higher if more models had accumulated reviews, but none have more than four or five.
18. Ace Hardware.com
As of June 2009
Untitled
by Contributors to AceHardware.com
Our Assessment

None of the string trimmers sold at AceHardware.com have accumulated enough owner-written reviews and ratings to make the average rating significant, but some of the criticisms are worth noting. The Black & Decker NST2018 is their best-selling cordless electric model; the Black & Decker ST1000 is the best-selling corded model. Ace puts the new propane-powered Lehr trimmers in the same category as gas trimmers, and the LEHR ST025DS is both their top-selling and top-rated model, although it is rated by only six users.

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19. Buzzillions.com
As of June 2009
Trimmer Reviews
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
Our Assessment Buzzillions.com consolidates reviews from several other sites. You can sort the list of models to show the top-rated string trimmers first, and the list shows not only the average rating but the number of reviews on which it's based. When more reviews have accumulated, we might rank this site higher.
20. LifeAndLawns.com
May 9, 2009
LEHR Eco Trimmer Review
by Allyn Paul
Our Assessment

Allyn Paul, has worked in the lawn-care and landscaping industry for decades and had his own company at one time. This review is a video posted on Paul's blog. He tests the Lehr Eco Trimmer straight-shaft model by using it on his own property. He highly recommends it, saying it meets his two criteria for choosing green technology: it doesn't cost more than models with the same power that are more polluting, and its quality is just as high.

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21. GearPatrol.com
April 22, 2009
LEHR Eco Trimmer Review
by Dusty Overby
Our Assessment

This is a single-product review, but it is not clear which Lehr Eco Trimmer model Dusty Overby tested; he mentions that there are four models (the differences are their shaft types) but doesn't specify which he is reviewing here. Overby highly recommends the Lehr Eco Trimmers overall. In the review he says, "I actually found the Lehr to be every bit as powerful as my grizzled, commercial-grade Shindaiwa gashog. The Eco Trimmer incorporates all of the features that you'd expect from its gas-powered equivalent." He also notes propane is both "cheap and clean."

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22. Epinions.com
As of June 2009
String Trimmers
by Contributors to Epinions.com
Our Assessment We'd rank this owner-review site higher if more reviews were shown, but Epinions.com archived its store of reviews and has started fresh. In the past, Black & Decker trimmers received mostly positive reviews here, as long as they're used for grass and not tough weeds.

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