EGO 56V Power Head Attachment System Review. Weed wacker mower attachment

15.06.2023 Boath attachment, head, power, review, system

EGO 56V Power Head Attachment System Review

The EGO Multi-Head Attachment System offers plenty of power and ease of use. It’s nearly foolproof and has the basic attachments you need to get most pruning, cleaning, and trimming tasks accomplished. EGO now has one of the most robust multi-head cordless systems on the market today. The price makes this system even more appealing.

Having already reviewed most of the EGO string trimmers, getting our hands on the EGO 56V Power Head attachment system seemed a logical next step. It encompasses so many great products in one. You get one power head to operate a string trimmer, edger, pole chainsaw, and much more.

Pros

Robust system of compatible attachments
Deep line of compatible lawn care equipment
Plenty of power
2 speeds plus a variable speed trigger
Excellent ergonomics in the control system design
Several combo kits available to get you started

Cons

Not compatible with standard universal attachments
No shoulder strap included (available separately)

EGO 56V Power Head Attachment System Design Notes

The Value of an Attachment System

Of all the battery-powered outdoor power equipment I’ve reviewed, the string trimmer is my go-to for introducing landscapers to the technology. The EGO 56V Power Head which drives everything continues to use a brushless motor. It moves that motor to the rear of the tool, however, to let you swap out the attachments. Currently, the price for additional attachments ranges from 120 to 180 each.

The big deal with the EGO Multi-Head attachment system is flexibility—but also power. Moving the motor to the back—near the battery—gives it a bit more efficiency. You’re not sending all that battery power down a wiring harness to the head. Since the tool now uses a spinning shaft, it also allows for the use of the aforementioned attachments. That lets you only buy what you need, giving you a pretty robust battery-powered system without having to buy full tools for each function. Of course, if you already have an EGO string trimmer, then you would presumably get into this system for the pole saw, articulating hedge trimmer, tiller, or edger.

EGO 56V Power Head Overview (PH1400)

To cover all that this product does, I’ll start with the actual EGO power head and then move through all of the attachments we reviewed.

The EGO 56V Power Head (PH1400) is the engine behind any of the tools you’ll attach to it. Without a solid power train here, your edger, trimmer, tiller, or pole saw attachments won’t do much good. Fortunately, EGO seems to have done a bang-up job of engineering the driving force of their multi-head system. It performs with enough speed and torque to cut, trim, or otherwise bite through anything the attachments come up against.

Using the Power Head

The safety lock-off button—included in some form in all battery-powered tools—utilizes a side actuation. This type of switch differs from most, but its large size makes it a great solution. After a few tries, grasping it became second-nature while activating the trigger. Speaking of the trigger, the slightly oversized shape lets you get two fingers on it for more comfort. The rubberized grip on the rest of the handle lets you more easily use the EGO power head string trimmer (or other attachments) for extended periods of time.

Spinning the Shaft

Since the motor is behind the trigger, it actually drives a spinning shaft that terminates into what resembles a large spline drive. The parts all seem robust, so we have high expectations for overall tool longevity. To attach accessories to the power head, you unscrew the green “wing knob” (shaft lock) and press the gray shaft-release button. You then line up the arrows between the multi-head coupler and the accessory shafts. Finally, push them together until they fully seat. Sometimes it takes some wiggling from side to side, but I got better at it with practice. You’ll do this process twice when using the pole saw with the 31-inch extension.

Editor’s Note: Since EGO went with a spline drive, the system doesn’t mix with RYOBI Expand-It or other universal attachments currently on the market.

Some Physical Observations

A couple of aesthetic things on the EGO multi-head attachment system bear mentioning. One, EGO continues to use a battery release button that is on the tool, not the battery. I love this. When grasping batteries—especially large ones, it’s much easier to have a spring-loaded eject button on the tool that releases it into your hand. I’m very glad EGO kept this functionality across its entire line.

Two rubber bumpers located on the rear of the tool provide some protection and grip. I stand my trimmers upright more often than not. Recognizing this common occurrence, the placement of these small rubber pads is fortuitous and keeps your tool from sliding on an oily or uneven flooring surface.

The brushless motor has a high and low “gear” that is set by the top-mounted button on the EGO 56V Power Head. Aside from that control, the variable trigger takes care of the rest. There is no “Eco” mode to conserve battery or a Reverse to switch the direction of the head. As you can imagine, defeating reverse for the pole saw and edger would require a lot more development.

Though it’s not included, you can pick it up separately. There’s no standard strap point to clip it in. Intead, EGO’s design connects directly around the shaft.

Available EGO 56V Power Head Attachments

There are currently seven available EGO 56V Power Head accessories or attachments plus an extension. These all fit easily onto the EGO Power 56V Power Head:

15″ String Trimmer (STA1500)
8″ Edger (EA0800)
10″ Pole Saw (PSA1000)
Rubber Broom (RBA2100)
Bristle Brush (BBA2100)
9.5″ Cultivator (CTA9500)
20″ Articulating Hedge Trimmer (HTA2000)
Extension Pole (EP7500)

EGO 56V Power Head 15-Inch String Trimmer Attachment (STA1500)

The EGO string trimmer attachment uses the same Rapid Reload head that has been made available for their 15-inch trimmer. If you have an older head on the 15-inch trimmer, you can actually upgrade to this one for around 29. Some of the weight has been shifted to the rear of the tool—giving it a more balanced feel. We’ll talk about power later—but it feels like there’s more of it.

As a trimmer, the EGO 56V Power Head attachment system provides plenty of power, though not many frills. Perhaps it doesn’t need to. Every time I grabbed it, it worked. In fact, it worked REALLY well—with way more power than I needed for string trimming. Remarkably, the yard I was testing it on allowed me to use the tool at least twice before recharging the 5.0Ah battery pack I used. Using a 2.5 Ah battery presents the real sweet spot since it shaves more weight from the tool.

We felt less vibration than we experienced with most of the tools in our best battery-powered weedeater head-to-head article. The EGO power head shaft does produce a tiny bit more vibration than the EGO 15″ Powerload string trimmer, but not much. Clearly, some attention to ergonomics and feel occurred when developing this system.

But Weight, There’s !

I initially thought I wouldn’t like moving weight to the shaft and the rear of the tool. After all, the battery is already there—that’s enough weight, right? Using the tool for a few hours on and off, I quickly became accustomed to the new distribution away from the front of the trimmer. In fact, this is more akin to what you find with gas-powered models. EGO actually increased the balance of this tool, even while adding some weight. How much weight? The Power Head weighs 5.9 lbs. and the string trimmer head weighs 3.25 lbs. With a 2.5Ah battery, the total package is just under 12 lbs. Compare that to the 15-inch string trimmer and you’re looking at an additional couple of pounds.

I’m a fan of the Rapid Reload head, and the EGO power head string trimmer includes that (as expected). Compared to the original head in their first-gen 12- and 15-inch trimmers, the Rapid Reload head simply saves time. You just cut off a length of line, feed it straight through the head, and then twist the spool to wind it up.

EGO 56V Power Head 8″ Edger (EA0800)

Having some extra power comes in handy when the EGO Power Head gets connected to the 8″ edger attachment. With it, I was able to trim up some very difficult jasmine that borders the front yard.

Coupling the 8-inch Edger with the EGO multi-head attachment system, you get a tool that slices through grass, roots, and vines like there’s no tomorrow. It edges up to 3-inches in depth. You set that depth by adjusting the guide wheel along the depth-adjusting guide bar. No tools are required for this—you just loosen up the green knob and move the wheel up or down along the rail. A debris flap makes a valiant effort to keep dirt and clippings down while edging. The edger attachment also comes with a removable guide plate that I left on as it gives you a nice “curb feeler” for squaring up driveways and sidewalks.

I liked the natural sight line EGO included across the top of the blade guard. This helps you know exactly where that 8-inch blade is going to cut. It removes most of the guesswork.

EGO Edger Attachment Blade Replacement

After the 8-inch Edger blade wears down over time, it can be replaced using the included multi-function wrench. You can use any right-sized wrench, but you do need to pin the shaft to keep it from spinning. EGO also lets you easily replace the guide wheel. The company recommends you check and/or lubricate the transmission gears in the case every 50 hours of operation or so. Unless you’re a commercial user, once a season should do it.

EGO 56V Power Head 10″ Pole Saw Attachment (PSA1000)

The EGO Pole Saw proved possibly the most anticipated tool in the new EGO Multi-Head Attachment System. The 56V line of tools has lacked a decent pole saw since they arrived. Now, you can add both the pole saw and a 31-inch extension to the EGO 56V Power Head attachment system and take care of those higher limbing duties. The saw uses a standard 10-inch Oregon bar and chain, so you can get replacement chains just about anywhere.

The balance on the EGO pole saw was decent. You also get a nice small set of bucking spikes to rest against the limb during cutting. With a pole saw, you want to let the head of the tool do your work for you on your final cut. Good positioning and a steady, smooth cut should do the trick. In our case, we were removing smaller limbs from an old oak tree to trim it up. The included metal hook also does a great job letting you grab and pull limbs out of your way while you work.

Getting oil in the pole saw head was a simple matter, and it didn’t take long to get to work. The saw cuts quickly, and does a nice job of pulling itself into the cut. One thing we did wish for included a longer extension. just a few more inches—perhaps a 36-inch extension—would have made a world of difference. Right now you get around 91-inches with the Power Head and pole saw, and over 120-inches (just over 10-feet) with the extension pole inserted.

EGO 56V Power Head Bristle Brush Attachment (BBA2100)

If you want to clean up leaves—or really any kind of mess on nearly any surface—the EGO Bristle Brush attachment should do the trick. This 22-inch wide x 10-inch bristled sweeper connects to the EGO multi-head attachment system. It basically replaces a broom. We found it interesting that EGO provided both this bristle brush attachment and the below rubber broom. Depending on your desired application, you can choose which is the better fit.

EGO 56V Power Head 9.5″ Cultivator (CTA9500)

The tines on the EGO Cultivator attachment (model CTA9500) can adjust from 8 to 9.5 inches. The heavy-duty steel blades make it easy to do serious tilling without waking the neighborhood. Since the EGO multi-head attachment system includes a variable speed trigger, you can adjust power as needed. This makes it easier to run up the speed on hard-packed ground or dial it back for turning over softer soil.

EGO 56V Power Head 20″ Articulating Hedge Trimmer (HTA2000)

When the EGO 56V Power Head attachment system first came out, we lamented the lack of a pole hedge trimmer. It didn’t take EGO long to remedy this, releasing the HTA2000 to fill the gap. This articulating hedge trimmer attachment provides battery-powered trimming up high and down low. It also gives you incredible reach with a 12-position articulating head. Dual-action blades provide an industry-leading 1-inch cut capacity. You also get a set of 20-inch steel blades to help you confidently cut at almost any angle.

EGO 56V Power Head Rubber Broom Attachment (RBA2100)

At GIE, we saw several new accessories for the EGO 56V Power Head attachment system. Significantly, a new rubber broom provided a 21-inch wide sweeper for cleaning or clearing. It lets you remove dirt and debris on virtually any surface. By design, it would, like the bristle brush above, replace the use of a manual broom. Since it attaches and detaches easily, this works to quickly clean an area faster than you might with a manual method.

EGO 56V Power Head Extension Pole (EP7500)

Last, but not least…OK, perhaps it might fall into that “least” category…the EGO 31-inch extension pole provides the reach you need for several of these accessories. In particular, the pole saw and articulating hedge trimmer benefit from the extra length. That keeps your feet safely on the ground while you trim and cut.

Conclusion

The EGO 56V Power Head attachment system offers plenty of power and ease of use. It’s nearly foolproof and has the basic attachments you need to get most pruning, cleaning, and trimming tasks accomplished. EGO now has one of the most robust multi-head cordless systems on the market today. The price makes this system even more appealing.

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Clint DeBoer

When he’s not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.

Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film video editing, color correction, and digital video MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.

After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.

Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

The 10 Best Weed Eaters of 2023

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry’s most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years of experience and 20 years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Whether you call it a “weed eater,” “weed whacker,” or “string trimmer,” these landscaping tools are ideal for trimming grass and weeds along the edge of a flowerbed, around a tree trunk, underneath a deck, and in other hard-to-reach places.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love, says, “A weed whacker can quickly and effectively trim grass, weeds, and other unwanted plant growth in areas difficult to reach with a mower or shears. When choosing one, the most important thing to look for is the power it offers, as well as the size and weight of the tool. Gas weed eaters are the most powerful, but electric models are best for most homeowners.”

He cautions, “To ensure safe use of a weed whacker, always wear the appropriate protective gear, including goggles and gloves, stand with your feet apart for balance, hold the tool’s handle firmly but comfortably with both hands, and never operate the weed whacker without its guard attached.”

Best Overall

Ryobi 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Electric Cordless String Trimmer

Multiple attachments available
Variable speed
Adjustable cutting width
Very easy to reload with string

If you want the power of a gas weed eater but the convenience of a battery-powered tool, then this 40-volt offering from Ryobi is the answer. Our top choice of string trimmer is loaded with great features, including a brushless motor for longer life with less required maintenance and an adjustable handle so you can position it comfortably for your height. We also appreciate its two-speed trigger with variable speed control, so you can go faster when you need extra power for tough weeds or brush, and slow the tool down to extend the battery run-time when merely cutting small weeds and grass. Plus, it has an adjustable cutting width, with a minimum of 13 inches and a maximum of 15 inches.

This string trimmer comes with 0.085-inch string, which is good for trimming grass and weeds, but you can also load it with 0.095-inch string if desired for tackling tougher weeds, light brush, or thick grass. Either way, the weed whacker is very easy to reload, thanks to the REEL EASY head, which can be rewound in under 60 seconds. When you want to let out more string, a gentle bump of the tool against the ground advances just the right amount so you can keep working without having to stop and let out line by hand. The tool also comes with a set of serrated plastic blades, which can be fitted into the tool’s head in place of string. Use the blades for cutting tougher brush and weeds. While not nearly as strong as metal blades, these do a good job on softer weeds and grasses, but they aren’t sturdy enough for woody weeds.

This versatile weed eater works with the Ryobi line of Expand-It accessories, sold separately, which can turn your string trimmer into a pole saw, electric hedge trimmer, soil cultivator, snow thrower, blower, and more quickly and easily. The weed whacker comes with one Ryobi lithium-ion 40-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with any other Ryobi tool using a 40-volt battery. Depending on conditions, you can get up to one hour and 10 minutes of run-time from the battery before needing to recharge.

Price at time of publish: 213

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 11.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 40 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Budget

Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer

Telescoping handle
15-inch cutting swath
Head pivots for use as trimmer or edger
Some complaints that it is difficult to refill the string spool
Only uses lightweight string

Just because a weed whacker comes at a budget price, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo great features, as this corded electric offering from Greenworks proves. Plug the tool into an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet in length; no smelly gasoline fumes or worrying about a battery running down before you finish. Suited to a small-to-medium yard, this string trimmer’s head easily pivots for use as a trimmer or an edger, doubling its versatility. It has a 15-inch cutting swath and uses 0.065-inch string, which automatically advances as the exposed string wears down. When you need to reload the string, you can use pre-filled spools or rewind bulk string onto the spool that comes with the tool. However, you cannot use heavy-weight string with this weed eater, and if you choose to rewind the spool, rather than replace it, it can be a bit tricky to do correctly.

The handle telescopes from 40 inches to 50 inches, and the grip is also adjustable, so you can set the weed whacker to fit your own height, making it comfortable to use for lengthy gardening sessions. Its 5.5-amp motor runs smoothly and quietly and has enough power to quickly cut through grass and non-woody weeds. At only seven pounds, this is a reasonably lightweight string trimmer, so it won’t wear you down before the job is through.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 7 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 5.5 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Gas

Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer

Powerful cutting capabilities
Fairly easy to start
Wide cutting swath
Can be converted for use with metal blades

If you have a large area of brush, overgrown grass, or woody weeds to clear, then you’ll appreciate the extra power of a gas weed eater like this offering from Echo, which runs on a 25.4 cc, professional-grade two-stroke engine. Like other gas-powered weed eaters, you’ll need to fill the gas tank with a 50:1 ratio of fuel to oil mix. Echo’s i-30 starting system makes it much easier to start up this weed eater than most others, and once powered on, this sturdy beast chews steadily through just about anything you ask it to. The handles are padded and ergonomically shaped for comfort and are also designed to greatly reduce the amount of vibration that reaches your hands and arms.

The 0.095-inch heavy-duty string advances with a bump of the tool against the ground. When the string runs out, the Echo Speed-Feed system requires no tools and takes only seconds to reload; no frustrating fuss or bother. With a 17-inch cutting swath, you can work your way across the lawn quickly. Should you need even more powerful cutting action, Echo sells a separate conversion kit that lets you swap out the string head for a metal-bladed head that easily cuts through thick underbrush and overgrown weeds. Be aware that this weed eater is quite loud and does emit gas fumes, as is typical for gas-powered tools.

Price at time of publish: 329

Type: Gas | Weight: 13.4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 25.4 cc | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best Cordless/Battery

Ryobi ONE 18-Volt Cordless Battery String Trimmer

Battery compatible with other Ryobi products
Can be used as trimmer and edger
Very light

Go cordless with this lightweight string trimmer that’s designed to take care of small-to-medium yards. The curved shaft makes it easy to maneuver around shrubs, rocks, and tree trunks, and the handle is ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip. Plus, weighing a mere four pounds, this is a weed eater that shouldn’t tire you out. It’s powered by an 18-volt battery that recharges in an hour and runs for anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes per charge, depending on how you use it. And with a simple push of a button, you can switch the head‘s orientation: use it horizontally for trimming and vertically for edging.

The cutting swath of this tool is 10 inches, which is on the small side but can be a good thing if you are edging a flowerbed or other area with many obstacles to work around. It can only use 0.065-inch string and automatically feeds out more string as required. It’s not too difficult to reload once the string runs out. The weed whacker comes with an 18-volt battery that can be used in other 18V Ryobi tools, as well as a charger. Note that it is not compatible with Ryobi’s Expand-It attachments, however.

Price at time of publish: 69

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18-volt | Shaft Type: Curved | Maximum Cutting Width: 10 inches

Best Corded Electric

Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer

18-inch cutting swath
Compatible with Ryobi Extend-It attachment line
Powerful motor

As long as you have an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet, and you don’t need to trim beyond that point, a corded electric weed eater is a great option. You get a lot of power, like you would from a gas-powered tool, but you also get the benefits of a cordless tool, including no smelly fumes, no need to keep gasoline on hand, and an easy start at the push of a button. Plus, there’s no need to worry about your battery running out too soon. This corded weed whacker from Ryobi is loaded with great options beyond the above: It has a 10-amp motor for maximum performance, it cuts an impressive 18-inch path, and it is designed to reduce vibrations through the handle, so it’s easy on your hands, although it is relatively heavy for this type of tool.

The tool comes with 0.080-inch string, but can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavy-duty. String advances with a bump of the tool to the ground, and when it’s time to replace the reel, it’s very easy to install a new one or simply rewind bulk string around the reel. Best of all, this string trimmer is compatible with Ryobi’s extensive line of Expand-It attachments, meaning you can purchase a wide variety of optional attachments to turn the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, snow thrower, and more. However, its head does not pivot for use as an edger, as do many other weed eaters.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 11 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 10 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 18 inches

Best Under 200

BLACKDECKER 20V 12 Inch Lithium Ion Cordless 2-in-1 Trimmer/Edger

Battery compatible with other BLACKDECKER products
Lightweight
Budget-friendly

Here’s a reasonably priced tool that effectively whacks weeds with the head in a horizontal position and then serves as an edger when you rotate the head into a vertical orientation. This battery-powered, 20-volt string trimmer from BLACKDECKER is perfect for small-to-medium-sized lawns and has enough power to chew through typical grass and weeds (although this isn’t the tool for tough brush or heavily overgrown lawns). You can adjust the handle up or down to suit your height. The cutting width of this weed eater is set at 12 inches, which is somewhat narrow but sufficient for small yards.

The weed eater comes with 0.065-inch line, which is suited to light use on grass and small weeds. Note that you cannot refill it with heavier line. The line advances automatically as it wears down with use, so you don’t need to carry the task out manually or bump the tool on the ground. The weed whacker comes with the 20-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with other BLACKDECKER cordless tools. Run-time before needing to recharge the battery varies greatly, depending on yard conditions, but you will typically get anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes on a single charge, which is enough to finish trimming or edging a small lawn.

Price at time of publish: 89

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 7.1 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Rated

WORX WG163 GT 20V Power Share Cordless String Trimmer Edger

Comes with two batteries
Free string replacement reels
Converts from trimmer to edger

The WORX Power Share cordless weed eater just keeps racking up high ratings; this weed whacker has more than 20,000 customer ratings and an average of 4.5 stars. But that’s not really surprising, considering that this 20-volt tool comes with two batteries, so you can have one charging and one in use, doubling your working time. The batteries and charger are compatible with any other 20-volt WORX tool. You can easily pivot the head on the weed eater to turn it from trimmer to edger, and it’s easy to angle it for use on a slope or when reaching into awkward spots between plants or around obstacles. When using it as an edger, its rubber wheels help you stay in a steady line.

This weed whacker uses 0.065-inch string, which is easy to advance at the push of a button, thanks to the Command Feed spool system. But most amazing of all, WORX will send you free refill spools of string for the life of the tool; you just pay for shipping. This will come in handy, since the string can run out quickly. It also has a 12-inch cutting diameter, which isn’t the highest but is quite sufficient for average-sized lawns and yards. And at only 5.3 pounds, this is a lightweight string trimmer that’s easy to use even when your gardening sessions stretch out long.

Price at time of publish: 140

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 5.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Splurge

DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit

Adjustable cutting swath
Can be used with many different attachments
Powerful

If you use your string trimmer frequently and want lots of power as well as useful features, then you’ll appreciate the DeWALT weed whacker, which is a cordless model running off a 60-volt battery; that’s a lot of power, although it does add to the overall weight of the product. The high-efficiency brushless motor requires no maintenance to keep on running smoothly and fairly silently. There’s a two-speed, variable control trigger, so you can turn it up high when you need maximum power for chewing through brush or tall grass, or turn it down low to extend the battery run-time. You can even adjust the cutting width between 15 and 17 inches.

The weed whacker comes with 0.080-inch string, but the tool can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavyweight. To advance more string, just bump the weed eater lightly against the ground. The quick-load spool makes it easy to refill the string once you run out. If you want even more versatility from this weed eater, you’ll like its universal-attachment capability, which means you can purchase a wide variety of attachments from DeWALT or other companies to transform the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, blower, tiller, and more. It comes with a 60-volt DeWALT battery that is compatible with other tools from this company, as well as a charger.

Price at time of publish: 301

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 15 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 60 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best with Attachments

BLACKDECKER Corded String Trimmer With Lawn Mower Attachment

Lawnmower attachment is great for small yard or slopes
Easily swivels for use as edger or trimmer

With most models of string trimmers, you have to purchase attachments separately. However, this 6.5-amp corded electric weed whacker from BLACKDECKER comes with a lawnmower attachment, making this a highly versatile tool for small backyards. In fact, it’s three tools in one: edger, string trimmer, and lawnmower. It’s especially good for mowing on slopes or hills where a traditional lawnmower can be hard to maneuver. And it can be used with an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 150 feet in length, so you can work your way around most small yards. Since there is no way to add a clipping bag to the tool, you can leave the grass clippings in place on the lawn to decompose into mulch or rake them up once you are finished mowing.

The string trimmer uses 0.065-inch string. There’s an automatic string feed, so you don’t have to stop and reel string out yourself or worry about bumping it against the ground while mowing. As a weed eater, the cutting swath is 12 inches. It pivots easily into edger mode. For use as a mower, the trimmer simply snaps into the mower base. You can adjust the mower’s cutting height from 1.6 inches to 2.4 inches; the mower does not have blades, but simply uses the spinning string to cut the grass, and it does a great job on most lawn types. You can even adjust the height of this tool’s handle between 33 inches and 43 inches to make it comfortable for your height.

Price at time of publish: 119

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 9.9 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 6.5 amps | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Heavy-Duty

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Quik-Lok String Trimmer

Very powerful
Works with Milwaukee’s line of Quik-Lok attachments
Adjustable cutting swath

This professional-quality cordless string trimmer has the kind of power and run-time you’d expect from a gas weed eater, thanks to its M18 8.0-Ah lithium-ion battery. This sturdy weed whacker consists of two parts: a Milwaukee M18 FUEL power head with Quik-Lok and a Milwaukee M18 FUEL Quik-Lok string trimmer attachment. You can use any of Milwaukee’s other compatible attachments with the fuel head, making this a very versatile tool that can carry out a wide range of landscaping tasks. It has enough power to clear through thick brush, overgrown grass, and heavy weeds, reaching full throttle in less than a second and maintaining power without bogging down. The tool is designed for good balance, making it easy to carry and comfortable to use, even on lengthy yard tasks.

A variable-speed trigger lets you go faster when you need more power, or slow things down when you want to extend battery run-time as much as possible. The cutting width of the weed whacker adjusts from 14 to 16 inches. The string that comes with the tool is 0.080 inches, but you can also use it with heavier 0.095-inch line. Either way, you can reload the string reel in just a few seconds. When the string gets short during use, just bump the trimmer against the ground to advance more string. Not everyone needs a weed eater with this kind of power and at this price point, but for those who do, it’s hard to beat this offering from Milwaukee.

Price at time of publish: 349

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 12.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 16 inches

If you’re looking for a cordless electric weed eater that not only has plenty of power but is also loaded with great features like an adjustable cutting swath, variable speed control, and compatibility with numerous attachments for other landscaping purposes, then it’s hard to go wrong with the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer. But if you need the kind of power that only a gas tool can deliver, then the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight-Shaft Trimmer is our recommendation. It has a 17-inch cutting swath and can be converted for use with metal blades instead of string.

What to Look for in a Weed Eater

Type

There are three basic types of weed eaters, based on their power source.

Gas-powered weed whackers like the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer are the most powerful type, making them the best suited for large properties or for chewing through heavy brush. On the downside, they are much louder than electric models and can be heavier and more difficult to start. Plus, they require you to have a supply of gasoline on hand, and in many areas, they are being phased out due to their emissions.

Corded electric string trimmers are not as popular as they once were, but are still a fine choice if you are looking for a low-priced weed eater, you don’t have a very large lawn or garden to maintain, and you have access to an outdoor electrical outlet and an outdoor-rated extension cord of 50 feet or more. The Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer has an 18-inch cutting swath and great power.

Cordless or battery-powered weed eaters are now the most popular type—the WORX Power Share WG163 is an especially highly rated option—particularly in areas where gas-powered models are restricted. Today’s cordless weed whackers have good power, although not as much as a gas-powered model. Still, they have more than enough oomph to maintain a small to medium-sized lawn. As a rough guideline, you’ll generally get half an hour or so of runtime before you need to recharge the battery. For many people, that’s all that’s needed to get the job done. If you have a big lawn, then it’s convenient to keep two batteries on hand so one can recharge while the other is in use. Other benefits of cordless weed whackers include a lack of smelly emissions, immediate starting at the press of a button, reduced vibrations, and quiet operation.

Cutting Width

A string trimmer’s cutting swath or cutting width is the width of the tool’s cutting capacity, indicating how much you’ll be able to trim in one pass. There are weed whackers with cutting swaths as small as 10 inches, and weed eaters with large 20-inch cutting widths, but most are between 12 and 16 inches. If you have a large lawn, a string trimmer with a wide cutting swath will help you trim more quickly. But if you need a tool that can squeeze between shrubs, rocks, or other obstacles, then you’ll find that a weed wacker with a smaller cutting swath can maneuver a bit more easily.

Some higher-end weed eaters have adjustable cutting swaths that let you go up or down a couple of inches. Our top choice, the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer, can be adjusted for cutting widths between 13 and 15 inches.

Noise Level and Vibrations

Generally, cordless string trimmers are fairly quiet; you’ll mostly hear the whirl of the string and the sound of grass or weeds giving way. However, gas-powered weed whackers are loud enough to require ear protection during use, and corded electric models may or may not be loud enough to make you want to cover your ears, depending on the brand and model. However, you should wear eye protection when using any type of weed eater, as there is always a danger of stones or debris being tossed up into your face.

Vibration can be an issue with many weed eaters, especially gas-powered models. This can be tiring if you are using the tool for an extended session of trimming or chewing through brush. Some brands now build anti-vibration technology into their string trimmers, usually in the form of a handle that helps reduce some of the vibration. You can cut down even further on unpleasant hand numbness or fatigue by wearing a good pair of thick work gloves while you use your weed eater.

Weight

Since you’ll be holding your weed eater the entire time you are working, its weight can become an issue. You don’t want to be tired out before you finish your edging or trimming. As a general rule, electric weed eaters are quite a bit lighter than gas-powered models. The Ryobi ONE 18V Cordless Electric String Trimmer weighs a mere four pounds.

Most electric weed eaters weigh 12 pounds or less, although battery-powered models are usually heavier than those with a cord. Gas weed whackers generally weigh between 12 and 18 pounds.

Safety Features

Any weed eater should have a protective guard over the string to help keep rocks and other debris from flying toward you. However, you should always wear closed shoes, long pants, and eye protection when using these tools. Most weed whackers have the power switch placed so you can easily shut the tool off immediately should there be an emergency.

Straight or Curved Shaft

There are two basic styles of weed eater shafts: straight and curved. Curved shafts are generally easier to maneuver around rocks and other obstacles and are less tiring to the user’s back during long work sessions. However, straight shafts give you more reach and can be extended underneath shrubs or fences. Weed eaters with straight shafts often have a little more power, and battery run-time tends to be a little longer on these tools as well, but the choice between the two mostly comes down to personal preference.

String Control

Weed whackers work by spinning a thin plastic string-like cord very rapidly, which creates enough force to slice through grass, weeds, and brush. Most weed eaters have a roll of string within the base of the tool, so you can reel out more as the cord wears down, which can happen fairly quickly when working on thick brush or grass. There are three basic methods for reeling out more cord:

Automatic feed senses when the cord is getting short and reels out more without you needing to do anything. The Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer is an auto-feed weed whacker.
Push-button feed requires you to push a button on the weed eater’s handle to reel out more string.
Bump-feed weed eaters reel out more cord when the trimmer is bumped against the ground.

Once the reel of string is empty, you’ll need to refill it. This is a fairly simple process for most weed eaters, but be sure to read the instructions before attempting it for the first time.

Note that there are also different thicknesses of string-trimmer lines or strings: as a general rule, 0.065-inch to 0.085-inch string is for light-to-moderate trimming of grass and weeds. For heavier weeds, brush, or tough grass, string that’s between 0.085-inches and 0.110-inches is required. Many string trimmers can use different sizes of line so you can switch them out if necessary.

Standout Features

Speed Control

Most string trimmers have just one set speed. Some higher-end models, including the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless String Trimmer, however, let you adjust the speed with either a two-speed setting or variable control. This allows you to speed up the tool for more power while tackling thicker growth or tougher brush, or slow the speed down to extend battery run-time when working on small weeds or grass.

Attachments

Some string trimmers have heads that can be adjusted from a horizontal position to a vertical orientation, which allows them to be used as an edger as well as a trimmer. Others, including the DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit, allow you to attach a variety of separately purchased heads for other landscaping tasks such as cultivating soil, shearing hedges, mowing grass, or blowing leaves.

The vast majority of weed eaters are stringed tools, using a thin plastic cord that spins very rapidly to cut through grass and weeds. There are more powerful, but similar tools often called “brush cutters,” that use metal blades instead of plastic cord to chop through thick brush, tough weeds, and highly overgrown grass. Some weed eaters can be converted for use with blades as well as with plastic cord. Typically, only a gas weed eater has the power to convert to metal blades for cutting thick brush. The electric corded or cordless models that can cut with blades, as well as cord, typically can only handle plastic blades. These can cut light brush but can’t handle thick, woody stems as a metal-bladed brush cutter can. Neither a string nor blade weed eater is necessarily better; the best choice depends on your specific needs and the condition of your property.

Both gas and electric weed eaters have their pros and cons. Gas-powered weed eaters are stronger and aren’t tethered to an electrical outlet. However, gas weed eaters require filling with gas and oil and create smelly fumes. They are generally much louder than electric models and vibrate more during use. They are also heavier and more costly than electric models. However, for maintaining a large property or tackling thick brush or very overgrown weeds, a gas weed eater can be the better choice. For most yard cleanup, however, an electric weed eater, whether corded or cordless, is sufficient to handle grass, weeds, and light brush that isn’t too woody. Electric weed eaters don’t create smelly fumes and don’t require you to keep gasoline on hand. They generally are much quieter than gas-powered models and don’t vibrate as heavily during use, which makes them easier on your hands and arms.

There are pros and cons to both two-stroke and four-stroke (also called “two-cycle” and “four-cycle”) gas-powered weed eaters. Fewer moving parts means that two-stroke weed eaters are lighter in weight and easier to maintain than four-stroke models. They generally also have quite a bit more power. However, you will need to mix the gas with oil for two-stroke trimmers. If you’re looking for a quieter model that produces lower emissions, a four-stroke gas trimmer is the way to go. Another benefit: with four-stroke models, no mixing of gas and oil is required. Keep in mind, these models are pricier and generally weigh more than two-stroke weed eaters.

There are gas weed eaters for home use with 20 cc engines and professional models with as much as 50 cc engines, but the majority of gas-powered weed eaters used by the average homeowner have 22 cc to 28 cc engines, which provide plenty of power for tackling overgrown weeds, grass, and brush. When it comes to electric weed eaters, corded models for very light use might have as little motor power as 3 amps or as much as 10 amps, but for typical home use, a motor in the middle of that range is more than sufficient. Cordless weed eaters can use batteries between 18 volts and 80 volts, but again, the middle of that range is generally powerful enough for regular home use.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, who specializesin home and garden products. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best weed eaters for this article, she consulted dozens of customer and third-party reviews, considering each product’s power source, performance, ease of use, versatility, and price point. She received additional input from Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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