After two months of edging lawns, trimming grass, and relentless weed destruction on a ten-acre orchard, we’ve picked the Black+Decker – LST136W as the best string trimmer for the average-sized home lawn. Perfect for edging your lawn and even for cutting grass on uneven terrain, Black+Decker’s award-winning 13-inch trimmer is light and easy to use but still has plenty of power. For larger field jobs, we like the Ego – Power+ 1502-SF.
How we selected finalists to test
First, we looked at reviews and customer feedback for the top-selling trimmers on the market. We also covered the top-placing trimmers from publications like Consumer Reports and Wirecutter.
We reviewed battery-powered trimmers, because, let’s face it, two-stroke gasoline engines are noisy, smelly, and expensive. Gas trimmers earn a place on the trucks of professionals with top power and long run times, but most homeowners will be happy with clean, quiet, and simple battery power.
While we set out to test battery-powered trimmers, we also used some other tools alongside our test lineup for comparison. We included a gas-powered HUSQVARNA – 129DJX Trimmer in our tests to see how the electric trimmers compare to the industry-standard workhorse that’s already doing the heavy work for landscapers and ranchers. We also purchased and used a plug-in edge trimmer and trencher, the Black+Decker – LB700.
We picked a set of top-ranked trimmers in two size categories: trimmers with 15-inch cutting heads as well as compact 12-to-13-inch machines. We bought from brands with good reputations for warranty coverage that are available at major retailers. (In comparison, many commercial-grade brands like Stihl are only available through a dealer network.)
When selecting a trimmer from Ego, we picked the best-priced package at the time, the 1502-S. Ego’s model numbers are a composite of the trimmer model, battery size, and extra features. This kit includes a 2.5 AH battery and the 1500 trimmer with “split-shaft” folding for storage. This review has a table that explains the differences in kit accessories and features.
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