Weed Whacker Review

Why Use a Gas-powered Weed Whacker?

Ice-cold lemonade, bikinis and flip-flops are among the best parts of summer. The same is true of outdoor barbeques, sand castles and croquet tournaments with friends. But the longer, warmer days come with inevitable responsibility. There are lawns to be mowed, gardens to plant and, perhaps worst of all, weeds to decimate. Make the job easier by purchasing a powerful weed whacker online. Our top picks are the Craftsman 29-cc trimmer, the 28-cc Husqvarna line trimmer and the Toro Straight-shaft Gas Trimmer. Read the ten best weed whackers comparisons and reviews to find a power tool perfect for your home.

For more information regarding string trimmers, refer to the additional articles about weed whackers in our Learning Center.

Weed Whackers: What to Look For

For some yards, the best string trimmers are those that can hack through heavy brush and thorny thistles. For the small suburban lot edged with aspen trees or Evergreen shrubs, lighter and less expensive models will do the trick. You want a power tool that can reach all the places your mower can’t, but one that won’t inadvertently damage the trees and shrubs on your property. Look for a suitable model among the best weed eaters we reviewed.

Any lawn care veteran will also tell you the importance of a well-balanced weed whacker machine – one that’s easy to start but safe enough for the 14-year-old neighbor kid to use. We compare line trimmers and string trimmers with a focus on models that won’t have you wasting time rethreading your spool line or going back to the garage for more of the special gas-and-oil mixture required for two-cycle engines. You might also want an energy-efficient string trimmer, or one that can be used by left-handed and right-handed operators. Before you decide, consider common repairs on the models that fit your needs. You’ll want to know how hard it is to get parts, help and advice as you show those annoying weeds who’s boss.

Features
Your next decision concerns personal preferences. You can purchase a weed whacker with a pole that adjusts to match your height, for example. You can also choose the way new string is delivered, the shape of your debris shield and the manner of control such as slide buttons or two-step triggers for your string trimmer.

Design
Choose the right weed whacker by taking stock of your yard. Are there fences to trim around? What about trees or basketball courts? This information will help you choose a weed whacker that’s strong enough but not too heavy. Next, do you have a patio to reach underneath or wide sections of lawn or brush that can’t be mowed? This information will help you choose the size and height of your machine. TopTenREVIEWS took stock of all the string trimmers on the market and compared them based on cutting width, pole height, fuel-tank capacity and engine type. We also noted engine displacement ability, which is a fair measure of the torque power and speed of each machine – in standard cubic centimeters.

Ease of Use
You can spend hundreds of dollars on a weed whacker but if it’s difficult to use, it’s likely to gather dust in your garage instead of attacking tall grass and weeds at your command. We looked first for solutions to three common problems with weed whackers: difficult starting mechanisms, complicated spool replacement and long weeds winding their way up the shaft. The best string trimmers have tool-less line replacement, easy-start springs and debris shields large enough to keep the waste confined. We also looked for anti-vibration and anti-noise features.

Accessories
The only thing better than a new power tool is a new power tool fully stocked with accessories. Common items that complement the best weed whackers are harnesses, cultivators, pole saws, edgers and blowers. Many string trimmers are also compatible with attachments such as steel blades for trimming brush. In this instance, accessories listed are those available that fit on each trimmer. If you want to purchase these extras, plan on spending additional money.

Help & Support
Weed whackers are full of tiny moving parts. This means that even the best models are bound to break down now and again. Therefore, help and support options are vital to your purchase. We looked at string trimmer service centers, phone and email support, warranties, the availability of replacement parts and online manuals and FAQs.

The difference between having an enviable, manicured lawn and one that looks sloppy could be as simple as owning the right string trimmer for the job. Furthermore, the right machine will chop quickly and evenly so you never again have to sacrifice your whole weekend working on your lawn. Find your perfect weed whacker fit and finish your outdoor chores early so you can fully enjoy the flip-flops, lemonade and bikinis that make summer great.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

 
 
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Appliances » Other-Household » Weed Whacker Review
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Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
10-9  Excellent
8-6    Good
5-4    Average
3-2    Poor
1-0    Bad
Craftsman Weedwacker Gas Trimmer Husqvarna 128DJx Toro Straight-Shaft Gas Trimmer Honda Trimmer HHT25SLTAT Poulan PRO PP033 Curved Trimmer Echo SRM-225 Weed Eater Gas FeatherLite Trimmer Hitachi Gas Line Trimmer Troy-Bilt Curved Shaft Gas Trimmer Bolens Gas String Trimmer
Craftsman Weedwacker Gas Trimmer Husqvarna 128DJx Toro Straight-Shaft Gas Trimmer Honda Trimmer HHT25SLTAT Poulan PRO PP033 Curved Trimmer Echo SRM-225 Weed Eater Gas FeatherLite Trimmer Hitachi Gas Line Trimmer Troy-Bilt Curved Shaft Gas Trimmer Bolens Gas String Trimmer
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Lowest Price
Visit Craftsman Weedwacker Gas Trimmer 71170
$170.99
Visit Husqvarna 128DJx
$229.95
Visit Toro Straight-Shaft Gas Trimmer 51974
$199.99
Visit Honda Trimmer HHT25SLTAT
$349.00
Visit Poulan PRO PP033 Curved Trimmer
$119.99
Visit Echo SRM-225
$259.00
Visit Weed Eater Gas FeatherLite Trimmer
$184.31
Visit Hitachi Gas Line Trimmer CG22EABSLP
$199.99
Visit Troy-Bilt Curved Shaft Gas Trimmer TB90BC
$159.99
Visit Bolens Gas String Trimmer BL110
$69.97
Ratings
9.55
8.65
8.13
8.08
7.98
6.00
5.70
5.43
4.95
4.10
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
9.50
9.50
9.25
10.00
9.50
9.25
8.75
7.50
9.50
7.50
9.25
8.00
9.00
5.00
10.00
7.50
8.00
8.00
9.25
7.50
9.00
7.50
8.00
7.50
7.50
7.50
5.00
2.50
7.50
8.75
6.25
5.00
6.25
5.00
6.25
6.25
5.00
9.25
0.00
7.50
6.25
2.50
3.75
8.75
2.50
7.50
5.00
0.00
0.00
9.75
 
Features
Dual Line Exit
Debris Shield
Trigger Control
 
Head Rotation
       
 
Bump Feed  
Adjustable Handle  
      
 
Adjustable Pole           
Accessories
Brush Blade
 
 
Hedge Trimmer
 
   
 
Edger
 
   
 
Harness
 
 
 
Pole Saw
  
   
 
Cultivator
 
 
  
 
Blower
 
 
   
 
Sweeper  
        
Design
Cutting Width (inches) 14 17 18 17 17 17 17 16 17 16
Engine Displacement (cubic centimeters) 29 28 25.4 25 33 21.2 25 21.1 31 25
Weight (pounds) 19 11 16 13 12.5 10.1 9.8 8.8 13 10.6
Height (inches) 53 52 65 73.4 51 59 59 54 Not provided Not provided
Line Diameter (inches) .110/.109 .095 .095 .095 .08 .095 .095 .095 .08 .08
Four-cycle Engine
  
      
Curved Shaft
   
  
Ease of Use
Easy Start
 
Tool-less Line
  
  
No Oil Mixing
  
      
Anti-vibration  
  
 
  
Help & Support
Warranty 2-year 2-year 3-year 2-year Not available 5-year 2-year 7-year 2-year 2-year
Service Centers
Phone
  
Email
 
  
Online Manual