Cordless grass trimmer Black & Decker Grass Hog NST2018 *Est. $100
Corded electric trimmer; better for weeds Stihl FSE 60 *Est. $120
Best-value gas trimmer Hitachi CG22EASSLP *Est. $190
Propane string trimmer Lehr Eco Trimmer ST025DC *Est. $140

See All String Trimmers

Shindaiwa T2510

*Est. $400

Reviewed

May 2011

Pros

Relatively lightweight
Speed Feed line-reloading system
Powerful and efficient
Hybrid engine less polluting than two-stroke engines

Cons

Expensive
Some professionals don't like hybrid engines
Have to mix gas and oil

Our Analysis

Experts say the Shindaiwa T2510's hybrid engine combines the best features of four- and two-stroke engines. Like two-stroke engines, it's lightweight, but it's also fuel efficient and has lower emissions than two-stroke engines do. It is designed for commercial use, but suitable for a homeowner who needs a powerful and durable trimmer for tough jobs. It features a Speed Feed system that allows users to reload line in the cutting head in less than 30 seconds. However, this string trimmer is very expensive. The two-stroke Echo SRM-225 costs half as much (*Est. $230) and weighs about the same, though its engine is not quite as powerful.

We found the best reviews of the Shindaiwa T2510 in Popular Mechanics, which tests and rates 12 gas trimmers, and at ConsumerGuide.com. There are a few discussion threads at LawnSite.com, a forum for landscaping professionals, in which the T2510 is described by owners.

Our Sources

The Shindaiwa T2510 is classified as a professional-quality trimmer in this review. It is described as having "power to spare." Those who tested this along with 11 other gas trimmers found nothing to dislike about it, though the review notes that it is expensive.

Review: The Fastest (and Toughest) String Trimmers on the Market, Roy Berendsohn, May 2006

2. ConsumerGuide.com

The editors of ConsumerGuide.com name the T2510 a Best Buy gas trimmer. Editors rave about its power and efficiency and praise its hybrid engine, which they feel "combines the top features from both two- and four-cycle engines." They also like how easy it is to reload line into the cutting head.

Review: Expert Review: Shindaiwa T2510 String Trimmer, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Feb. 14, 2007

3. LawnSite.com

This discussion thread includes several comments about the Shindaiwa T2510, with one own describing it as "much quieter/smoother" than another Shindaiwa gas string trimmer.

Review: Buy Shindaiwa Online?, Contributors to LawnSite.com, April-May 2008

4. LawnSite.com

This brief discussion thread includes comments from two owners of a Shindaiwa T2510 string trimmer.

Review: Shindaiwa T2510 Hard Start Fix, Contributors to LawnSite.com, June 2005

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