Worx gas trimmer. Worx gas trimmer
WORX GT2.0 20V MaxLithium Trimmer/Edger Review
Are you tired of hauling around a heavy, smelly gas trimmer? Or tripping over the cord on an electric one? Then the new, redesigned WORX GT2.0 MaxLithium TM 3-in-1 Grass Trimmer/Edger/Mower may be the perfect tool for you.
Unlike most trimmers, this one is battery powered.
I was skeptical at first. I’d read some less than positive reviews about an earlier model (the WORX WG155 20V MAX Cordless Lithium 10-Inch String Trimmer/Edger) – about the poor battery life, the difficulty in adjusting it, and the 10″ trimming width. But with the 2013 redesign, WORX seems to have fixed these issues.
For me, ease of use is of primary concern. That means it has to work as it’s supposed to (and not run out of battery power halfway through the job) and it must be comfortable to hold and use. The new battery-powered trimmer hits on all fronts.
Operating the WORX GT2.0 String Trimmer/Edger
Using the WORX trimmer is as simple as sliding in the battery back and pressing the ‘On’ button. No gas tank to fill, no cord to pull, no trying to find an outdoor electrical outlet. Just press and go. Of course, you do have to plan ahead to ensure that the battery pack will be charged by the time you need it …
Using the String Trimmer
The tool can be used as a regular string trimmer. In this redesigned version, WORX has increased the trimming diameter to a full 12”, allowing you to trim a nice, wide swath.
WORX recommends attaching the support wheels underneath the Safety Guard to keep the trimmer head a safe, consistent distance above the ground. However, the wheels limit you to a very unnatural side-to-side movement and make for pretty slow going. Don’t bother using the support wheels – just extend the Flower Guard (to prevent you from chopping down your prized petunias) and use it as you would any other string trimmer. When working along uneven walls or around rocks, you may want to push in the Flower Guard so you can get closer to the object.
Using the Edger
With a simple adjustment to the handle and trimmer head (see video for how-to), the WORX GT2.0 3-in-1 trimmer can be converted to a pretty good edger. By attaching the wheel assembly onto the side of the trimmer head, you can easily ‘drive’ the edger in a straight line with only one hand.
Using the Mower
WORX suggests that you can use the trimmer as a mower to get into hard-to-reach places where a lawn mower wouldn’t fit (for example, between or underneath bushes). To do that, they recommend attaching the support wheel underneath the Safety Guard and using the trimmer in a straight backward and forward motion. That works – sort of. The front of the trimmer head keeps nose-diving as you move back and forth and it’s difficult to move the trimmer where you need it because of the wheel assembly. Don’t bother with the wheels – just use it as a string trimmer and it will get the job done.
Using the Support Wheels
I’ve mentioned the wheels several times already, but what exactly are they? The WORX GT2.0 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger comes with an optional wheel assembly that’s intended to provide support when the tool is in use. The support wheels easily slide onto metal plates located in several places on the trimmer head or safety guard, including a handy spot where they can be stored on the tool itself when not in use (a good idea for those of us who tend to lose items that aren’t locked down!).
While the support wheels are helpful when using the tool as an edger, they only get in the way when trimming or mowing. The tool is light enough that the wheels aren’t needed for support.
Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery
Previous versions of the WORX Trimmer/Edger had problems with battery life. The manufacturer says that they’ve found a new battery provider who has rectified the previous problems and that the new high-density MaxLithium TM battery has almost twice the capacity of previous batteries. After using the trimmer for a full season, I can say that I’ve had no problems with the battery at all. In fact, I’ve been able to trim my (admittedly small) property twice on a single charge.
For full details about the battery, read our QA About the WORX MaxLithium Battery with Brandon Martin, WORX Product Manager (it’s in our review of the WORXAIR Blower).
The Li-Ion battery must be fully charged before first use (it is not charged when you purchase it) which can take up to 12 hours the first time you charge it. After that, charging should only take about 3 hours.
New Worx Cordless GT Revolution | Grass Trimmer, Edger, Mower. Review 2019
And never, never, never try to “squeeze all the juice” out of the battery when it stops working. That’s a sure-fire way to kill the battery. Just put it on the charger and recharge it (this is where a second battery comes in handy!).
If you store your trimmer in a garden shed or other damp spot, you’ll want to store the battery charger somewhere else – water is never a good thing when dealing with electricity.
The WORX GT2.0 Trimmer/Edger easily adjusts to a compact size, perfect for storage.
Lightweight
I’ve used a lot of string trimmers and one of my biggest complaints is weight. A heavy tool gets, well, heavy… And that makes trimming or edging a much more difficult job. But the WORX GT2.0 is only 5.7 lbs. Wow. (Note that the 32V model weighs 6.2 lbs.)
Super Adjustable
The feature I like most about the WORX GT2.0 is how easily it adjusts to nearly every position imaginable. And all without any tools.
The trimmer head tilts 90 degrees with only two clicks of the pivot head locking knob (one click to unlock it, a second to lock it). No torquing on it to move it into position.
The shaft length (now 2” longer than previous models) is fully adjustable to suit your height, and the auxiliary handle can be moved into a wide range of positions. Between the two, you can easily adjust the tool to the perfect height and angle of use.
Users with smaller hands may find the main handle (where the on/off switch is located) to be a little large and, after prolonged use, your hand may start to cramp up.
Assembling the WORX GT2.0 Trimmer
Before first use, the safety guard must be attached to the trimmer head with the provided screw. The instructions for doing this are not particularly clear so take your time and make sure it looks right before you screw it together.
When adjusted to its smallest size, the WORX GT2.0 Trimmer/Edger fits easily in even the tightest storage space.
Storing the Trimmer
Because the WORX GT2.0 Trimmer/Edger is so adjustable, it can be stored in spaces where other trimmers couldn’t. I keep mine hanging on the wall in my garden shed (see photo to right) where it’s out of the way yet easily accessible. If you have limited storage space, you’ll love this feature.
Instruction Manual
In looking at the instruction manual, it’s pretty clear that this trimmer/edger is targeted at women. All of the drawings show a woman (complete with pony tail) performing the various adjustments and using the tool – all using only one hand while the other hand is placed jauntily on her hip. Given the light weight, simple adjustments, and ease of use, it’s a good trimmer/edger for smaller individuals. But seriously, let’s not make the instructions look like a housewife vacuuming!
Recommendation
If you’re looking for a lightweight, adjustable, and convenient string trimmer, I highly recommend the WORX GT2.0 MaxLithium 3-in-1 Trimmer/Edger.
Update April 2015: After two years of frequent use, it’s still going strong. There have been no battery issues, string spools have been easy to replace, and I love the convenience of not having to gas up or plug in.
Where to Buy It
It’s available at local retailers, on the WORX website, and on Amazon (as the WG160) for under 115. It’s also available in the more powerful 32V model (WG175) and with a 1/2 hour quicker charger for 149.85.
Note that the 10-inch 18V model (WG150 or WG155) is no longer available.
Last update on 2023-05-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Disclaimer – GPReview would like to thank WORX for giving us a free sample to review. There was no expectation that it would be a positive review and we received no compensation for writing it. All opinions expressed here are those of the author based on personal experience using the product.
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About The Author
Monica is the founder and Editor of the Gardening Products Review. She’s had a lifelong love affair with gardening and a fascination with gardening tools. She’s been known to disassemble tools just to see how they work and has a tendency to break tools while testing them in the garden.
Worx vs Black Decker Weed Eater: 2023
Worx vs Black Decker string trimmers is a tale as old as time. Two giants in the battery powered lawn tool space with massively popular string trimmers.
You just pulled up the two on Amazon and don’t know which one is better.
Buckle up your seatbelts, because we might be experiencing some turbulence.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Worx vs. Black and Decker: A history
Let’s take Worx for example: The Worx WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare 12” Cordless String Trimmer Edger has over 16,000 reviews on Amazon. A LOT of people are buying this trimmer – and for a good reason (we will get to that in a minute).
Something that many of you may be scratching your head around is….what is Worx? It isn’t quite the household name that DeWALT, John Deere, or some of the other big name brands. Worx has quietly been creeping into the marketplace and has found a niche in electric lawn tools.
Black Decker is also a ubiquitous household name. Virtually every garage has some sort of Black and Decker tool stored away in it. One of the first tools I owned was a Black and Decker power drill that I still use to this day.
To add more confusion, these two brands even have the same color scheme. And to take things even further (!), the color scheme is the same as Home Depot. I mean, c’mon people, get it together.
What to look for in a string trimmer
I have an electric string trimmer. It’s a Ryobi 40V string trimmer and it gets the job done. But I have had some ups and downs and learned things the hard way.
- Make sure you buy a tool that has a battery that fits other tools
- Why waste time and wall space with a million different batteries in your garage? Simply flip the same one in and out and get on your merry way.
- Comfort is king – find a trimmer that has some adaptability with the handles to tailor it to your fit
- I am very, very tall. The mixture of my height with the weird, stiff handle on my Ryobi 40V means that I often finish trimming in pain. Don’t do that.
- Find a trimmer with easy-to-advance trimmer line.
- This means when you inevitably lose some of the trimmer line, you can easily bring out more trimmer line without having to slow down too much.
If you’re looking to upgrade your weed eater, make sure you right-size your weed eater string.
Worx string trimmer vs Black and Decker string trimmer: Feature comparison
Now that we understand what we are looking for, we can roll up our sleeves and compare these two. Let’s start with comfort.
Comfort
As mentioned previously, comfort is super important in a string trimmer. You frankly have to hold the trimmer at a weird angle, which ends up torquing my upper back.
Both of these trimmers have adjustable handles, meaning you can change the ANGLE but not the LOCATION of the handle. Changing the location would be ideal, but changing the angle will get you close enough.
Let me show you the below picture and ask you: which do you think is more comfortable?
While the Black and Decker handle looks more like a typical power drill handle, it’s actually going to give you more problems. You see, the battery location being at the very tip of the handle means that it is going to weigh that end down. This then forces your other arm to push down on the handle (which is super close), and causes you to pull up on the trigger.
This action-counteraction is normal, but starts to really wear down your back when you are trimming over a long period of time or being particularly meticulous. Frankly, it makes it hard to control.
The Worx battery is just under the handle, which is still going to cause the action-counteraction we saw in the Black and Decker, but to a lesser degree.
Batteries
Let me get this out of the way right now – battery life is super hard to measure in tools like these. So instead, I am going to talk about batteries more broadly.
Worx and Black and Decker both have 20V batteries with 2 Amp Hours (measure of power). They are going to be very similar in battery life and power output – so no concern there.
One area that you want to be sure to watch out for is how many other products you can swap out the battery for. Work has a ton of other products that use the same battery, but honestly – Black and Decker might be the best in the game at this.
Black Decker has power tools, lawn tools, and even home cleaning tools that all can take the 20V battery used on this trimmer. That means one plug, one charger, and you’re good to go.
Worx is growing their line, but doesn’t quite have the scale or the dominance in this space that Black and Decker has had for decades.
The advantage here is clear: Black and Decker wins this round.
Usability and functionality
Something neat about both of these trimmers is that they come with a funny looking wheel on the top. Well, the wheel isn’t just for toying around with – it can serve as a guide wheel for a relatively light-duty edger.
While most edgers come with a big metal blade, much of the simpler jobs can be done with the normal string trimmer. Simply turn the tool on its side, let the wheel balance, and let it rip. This will give you nice, clean lines around your driveway or sidewalk.
One thing that gives Worx a slight advantage in this category is the brush guard that it has.
This metal thing is collapsable, so when you convert it from a string trimmer to an edger, simply push it in and keep going. The metal brush guard helps you from running the string into brick or wood that quickly deteriorates the integrity of the trimmer line.
Price comparison: Worx vs Black Decker
The Worx WG163 GT trimmer is for sale right now on Amazon for about 115, which is a pretty dang good price. It includes two batteries and a charger as well.
The Black and Decker is on sale for a shockingly-low 82 on Amazon. This comes with one battery – but can also use the battery from any of the Black and Decker tools you might already own.
The overall review: Worx vs Black and Decker String Trimmer
We have reviewed the comfort, battery life, usability, and price of the Worx string trimmer and the Black Decker string trimmer. I’ve gotta say – this is one of the tougher comparisons I have done.
Overall, I think the Worx is the better tool. BUT is it 30 better? It depends. If you already have a Worx piece of equipment and can reuse the battery, I say go with Worx.
If you are completely new to battery powered cordless lawn equipment, then I would grab the Black Decker for a lower price. Once you have the battery, then this will help you as you choose your next set of tools.
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5 Best Battery Powered Leaf Blowers: 2023 Ranking
Alex K
Alex is a lawn tool enthusiast who cut his teeth as a normal Joe lawn dad. After burning through expensive, fancy tools, Alex became dedicated to finding the best tools on the planet. He is now a leading expert on electric lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other publications.
The Worx WG163 is a lightweight weed trimmer and edger that’s easy to adjust.
Top Ten Reviews Verdict
The Worx WG163 Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger is a great weed eater with plenty of adjustment options.
Cons
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
The Worx WG163 is a sleek tool that takes care of shaggy edges and thanks to its improved battery power, it provides extended runtime. It weighs 7lbs and can be converted from a trimmer to an edger in seconds.
Dimensions: 37.2″ x 5.9″ x 17.7”
Power needed: Battery Powered
Battery life: 30 minutes
Cutting width range: 11.8”
Energy Star Certified: N
In our list of the best electric weed eaters, the Worx WG163 is priced at the higher-end but comes with advantages such as an adjustable handle, reduced noise and hassle-free usage.
The main positives of this terrific cordless trimmer are the low noise levels and a shaft that can be adjusted to suit the user’s posture and height while having the option to tilt 90 degrees to cover a wide range of terrains.
In contrast to gas-powered weed eaters, the Worx 20-Volt WG163 requires little maintenance, boasts low carbon emissions and is easy to store, making it ideal for the average homeowner. The only downside of the electric trimmer and edger is long charging intervals, sometimes up to five hours. However, it also comes with a spare battery, a two-year warranty and free replacement spools for life.
Worx WG163: Features
The Worx 20-Volt WG163 weed eater is a powerful tool with both extended runtime and longer reach thanks to the improved battery power. At just 5.3lbs it’s lightweight and maneuverable, with a front handle further increasing how easy it is to use in difficult or tight spaces.
It easily and quickly converts to a wheeled lawn edger, without the need for any extra tools. The adjustable head of the Worx 20-Volt WG163 can move through 90° for a range of terrains, while the front handle is also adjustable, aiding not only maneuverability but the ease of carrying too.
Worx has also included a patented line-feeding system too. It works at the press of a button on the handle for less string fuss. It also has a free spools for life promise, so you don’t need to worry about the extra expense of buying replacement spools. Along with the two-year warranty, it’s clear Worx is aiming for longevity with this weed eater.
As with most cordless trimmers, it doesn’t have the gusto of gas-powered weed eaters, but it does come without a lot of the hassle too. There’s no need to replace gas or drain it ready for winter storage and the Worx 20-Volt WG163 is definitely powerful enough for the average homeowner.
Another benefit of electric weed eaters is the reduced noise, and the Worx 20-Volt WG163 is no exception. It also vibrates less, making trimming your yard less of a chore, especially if you have a larger area to cover.
Worx WG163: Pricing and value
The Worx Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger is at the pricier end of the market at just over 150 but that extra expense allows the Worx WG163 to provide power and versatility for a great cutting experience.
It also only has a few features over the Greenworks 21142 18-Inch 10 Amp Corded String Trimmer, which is about half the price. The big advantage the Worx WG163 has is that it’s battery-powered, but if having a cord isn’t a dealbreaker for you then you could save some cash by opting for the Greenworks weed eater.
Worx WG163: User reviews
Users tend to rate the Worx WG163 well, averaging a score of 4.3 out of five at Walmart. Most reviews are positive and commend the battery life and ease with which they were able to trim their lawn. Users like the light weight of this weed eater as it was less tiresome.
The few negative reviews didn’t like the lack of an automatic string feeder as they felt they had to continually stop to feed more string. They also didn’t like the long charging time of the batteries, often up to five hours.
Overall, users really liked the Worx 20-Volt WG163, saying it was powerful enough to do a great job on their lawns while the light weight and ease of use were big plus points too.
Should you buy the Worx WG163?
The Worx Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger is a great budget cordless weed eater with some great features for improved maneuverability. The extra battery is also a must-have, considering the long charge time, while the two-year warranty and free replacement spools for life mean Worx have really paid attention to the longevity of this weed eater.
If this product isn’t for you
The RYOBI RY40204A Electric Weed Eater is a great all-around electric weed eater. It’s a battery-powered lawn trimmer that charges quickly and can keep cutting for longer than most other battery-powered weed eaters, covering gardens with large terrains with ease.
Though it is corded and slightly heavier than most electric weed trimmers, the Greenworks 21142 is budget-friendly, very powerful, durable and comes with a handy shoulder strap that provides good weight distribution for longer uses.
The Black Decker LST300 is a lightweight, two-in-one lawn trimmer and edger with a design that can tackle tough spots under fences that are beyond the reach of a full-size lawn mower. The battery tends to last for a shorter period, so it’s better suited for smaller gardens.
Worx WG170.2 20V Power Share GT Revolution 12-inch string trimmer review
Some nice extra features, such as the guide wheel, rotating head and spare spool holder make the Worx WG170.2 a flexible string trimmer, but it lacks power for large jobs and has limited battery life.
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
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The Worx WG170.2 is a cheap string trimmer, but that doesn’t automatically make it a bad one. It isn’t the best string trimmer that I’ve tested, but it has surprisingly good performance for the price, with adequate cutting power for light foliage, and offered a couple of features that made it more useful for navigating tight spaces and trimming small lawns. However, the 12-inch cutting width means that it clears less with each pass than other larger trimmers, and the lightweight battery only provides for just under 30 minutes of cutting at a time.
Worx WG170.2 string trimmer review: design and build quality
The Worx WG170.2 feels like a cheap trimmer. It’s made out of plastic except for the metal shaft. However, this shaft telescopes, so you can adjust the height of the trimmer to match your height or fold it down for storage.
There are a lot of other adjustments you can make on this trimmer as well. The angle of the handle can be shifted, and the entire trimmer head can be tilted 90 degrees and locked into place. This angling makes it easier to use this for edging, where the trimmer head has to be vertical.
Another nice idea is a small, clip-on wheel that clips onto the back of the trimming cover. This allows you to wheel the trimmer along when edging, which makes it easier to handle.
While most string trimmers use a bump of the base to let out more line, the WG170.2 uses a button on the top of the handle. Press this when the motor is disengaged, and more line spools out the next time you start the motor. It seems a bit hit and miss, though: it sometimes took two or three tries to get more of the single trimming line to come out.
The single trimming line that the WG170.2 uses comes from a small spool stored under a cover. To replace the line, you have to swap the entire spool out, or manually rewind it. The spool also holds just 10 feet of line, so you’ll be swapping out the line more often than with other trimmers. That’s a bit of a pain to do, but there is one plus here: this trimmer comes with two spare filled spools, and there is a holder on the control handle that can store a spare spool. So, if you run out partway through trimming the yard, you can swap out the spool without having to head back to the garden shed.
The trimmer uses a 20V Power Share battery, which means that it can be used on any Worx device that can take this battery type. That includes chainsaws, lights, leaf blowers and sanders amongst others, which is a plus if you have other Worx tools.
WORX WG186E 40V CORDLESS LINE/BLADE BRUSHLESS GRASS TRIMMER
Worx WG170.2 string trimmer review: performance and accessories
The WG170.2 didn’t have great performance. I found that it was powerful enough to cut through grass and light foliage, but it choked on anything thicker than a quarter of an inch or so, or anything with stem tougher than grass. So, larger weeds and plants are either going to be beyond the capabilities of this trimmer or will take a long time to cut through.
I also found that the button that let out more line didn’t seem to work every time. Sometimes it required two or three presses to get enough line out to start cutting properly again.
On the plus side, this string trimmer is very adjustable. You can change the angle of the cutting head, the angle of the handle and the length of the shaft, so you can get comfortable while trimming. That’s more adjustment than most offer, and this makes it easier to use.
When you are using the trimmer in its normal horizontal orientation, the clip-on wheel also works to keep the trimmer at a fixed height, so this can double as a lawnmower when required. If you only have a small area of grass, this could save you the need for a separate mower, using the trimmer to both mow and edge your lawn.
Worx WG170.2 string trimmer review: verdict
There are definitely things to like about the Worx WG170.2. It is very easy to adjust the trimmer, and the tilting head makes it more flexible as a trimmer and edger. The wheel is a simple idea that works rather well, so it can double as a mower for small areas. However, this string trimmer isn’t very powerful, and the small battery does not last that long. So, it might be a good pick for small areas that need clearing, edging, and trimming, but it would struggle with larger areas and thicker weeds.
