String Trimmers: Reviews

If you mainly need to trim edges of a lawn (and not tall grass or weeds), experts and owners top-rate the 7-pound, cordless Black & Decker NST2018. This trimmer runs quietly and can last about 25 minutes per charge; two… batteries are included, extending runtime to about an hour. Owners say this model works well on maintained lawns, but it's not powerful or durable enough to handle tall grass or weeds. For that, you'll need a corded electric, gas or propane-powered string trimmer.

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Although you must contend with a cord, reviewers say the Stihl FSE60 corded electric trimmer handles tough weeds and tall grass as well as most gas trimmers in the same price range, yet is lighter (8.7 pounds), quieter,… easier to use and less polluting -- and you don't have to buy gasoline and oil for it. Owners praise it for quality and durability, and it can be used with a 200-foot extension cord.

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If you want the range of a cordless trimmer, yet need enough power to whack tall grass and weeds, reviewers praise the Craftsman 79197 gas trimmer. This four-stroke model runs more quietly and is less polluting than… two-stroke models, and it doesn't require the mixing of gas and oil. Instead of bump feed, this Craftsman trimmer uses lengths of precut line; owners say it's very easy to start and line refills are quick. The split shaft enables the use of optional attachments. However, the Craftsman trimmer weighs 20 pounds (without the gas), so you'll probably need a shoulder harness. A less polluting solution at a similar price can be found in the propane-fueled Lehr Eco Trimmer (*Est. $210).

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The Lehr Eco Trimmer ST025DC is a curved-shaft string trimmer that's as powerful as a gas trimmer. However, the LEHR trimmer uses 1-pound propane canisters for fuel instead of gas, a solution that's less polluting. While… you won't have to buy gas, you'll have to stock up on propane canisters, which cost $3 to $5 each and give you about two hours of runtime. The canisters can't be refilled, but they are recyclable when empty. The Lehr trimmer weighs 15 pounds with the canister, so it's lighter than many gas trimmers, but a lot heavier than an electric trimmer. So far, reviewers say this propane trimmer is a great alternative to a gas trimmer, as long as your local stores stock the small propane canisters.

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