String Trimmers: Expert and User Reviews

Our AssessmentBased on two and a half days of exhaustive testing along trails, barns and stone walls, Roy Berendsohn names the best string trimmer from among six gas-powered models. Competition is close, but the Echo 225i emerges the victor with a perfect 5-star rating for its "explosive power and torque" in thick grass, weeds and overgrowth. However, all the trimmers in the test earn at least 4 stars out of 5. The article provides a brief summary of each trimmer's pros and cons.

Our AssessmentThe owner 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. In general, cordless string trimmers, such as the Black & Decker LST220, get the highest ratings. The gas string trimmers sold here are mostly inexpensive models with fewer reviews. Because Amazon.com doesn't carry higher-end gas-powered trimmers from brands like Stihl, you won't find any ratings for them here. The only gas-powered model that gets high overall ratings is the Hitachi CG22EASSLP.

Our AssessmentSears sells its own Craftsman brand, as well as trimmers by brands such as Hitachi, Worx and Black & Decker. However, we did not find as many owner reviews at this site as at Amazon.com or HomeDepot.com. Although a few models accumulate 50 reviews or more from users, most of these do not earn particularly high overall ratings. However, a few trimmers -- including the cordless Worx GT WG150 and the gas-powered Hitachi CG22EASSLP --receive high overall ratings from 25 users or more.

Our AssessmentOn the lawn care forum site, we found it easiest to use the search box, where we first entered "string trimmers" and got 316 threads -- 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. The discussion threads are quite useful, as the responses to the initial question are usually from people who have used the model or brand for some time. You can also post your own question.

Our AssessmentProduct tester Everett Snyder evaluates three string trimmers in this review. Of the three, the gas-powered Echo SRM-225i earns the highest marks: 8 out of 10 on performance and 7 out of 10 on value for the money. Snyder says that the SRM-225i's powered starting system makes it easier to start than other trimmers and concludes that this trimmer "appeals to both commercial and residential users alike." The Stihl FS 56 RC-E does not fare as well in testing, earning only 6 points for performance and 5 for value. Like the Echo, the Stihl starts easily, but Snyder says it has "rougher vibrations than some other models we've tested," and the bump feed for the string does not work reliably. The final model, the cordless Black & Decker NST2018, has since been discontinued.

Our AssessmentProfessional landscaper Quinton Guenther equips five gas-powered string trimmers with optional attachments that till, saw and cultivate. One of the models he likes, the Stihl KM 56 RC-E, is discontinued. However, two others, the Echo PAS-230 and the Husqvarna 128LDx, are praised for their performance on tall, wet grass. The article also evaluates a variety of attachments available for each trimmer.

Our AssessmentDavid Beaulieu, About.com's guide to landscaping, covers three string trimmers in his reviews of lawn care equipment. Two of these, the propane-powered Lehr Eco Trimmer models and the cordless Black & Decker NST2018 (now discontinued), earn reasonably high marks. Another article, listed above, compares these two models directly. Beaulieu is less impressed with another cordless trimmer, the Weed Eater LT 20V, which he finds awkward to use and confusing to recharge. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentAbout two dozen gas and electric string trimmers are sold at AceHardware.com. However, we did not find any with enough owner reviews to make the average rating significant. Although the reviews are scant, they are fairly thorough, offering a list of each trimmer's pros and cons -- so this might be a helpful site to consult once you have narrowed down your choices.

Our AssessmentThis is a single-product review of the Lehr Eco Trimmer ST025DC. Reviewer Dusty Overby doesn't specify which Lehr Eco Trimmer model he tested, but it can be identified from the photos and from links within the article. Overby highly recommends this trimmer, saying it is "every bit as powerful as my grizzled, commercial-grade Shindaiwa gashog" adding that it "incorporates all of the features that you'd expect from its gas-powered equivalent." He also notes that propane is both "cheap and clean."