Cordless string trimmers, also referred to as weed eaters or weed whackers, had always been large bulky tools which ran out of juicy pretty quickly, so they were not considered that efficient.
That changed in the past few years, as cordless string trimmers are now nimble gadgets with a huge focus on ease of use, an extremely long battery life, and efficiency.
This is why we’ve gathered a few of the most popular ones, as we intend to find the best cordless string trimmer out there.
Why Do You Need One Anyway?
If you want to keep your yard neat and tidy, you need proper tools for that. A good lawn mower will keep the lawn clean and tidy, but you can’t really make it all shine without a good cordless string trimmer.
Such a trimmer can get to some tricky places and deal with different types of terrain and plants that grow on it. A good cordless string trimmer is light and easy to use.
Besides cordless string trimmers, there are also corded and gas-powered string trimmers. When compared to those, cordless electric string trimmers are much lighter than gas trimmers and much easier to carry around than electric trimmers that you have to drag around with bulky extension cords. They are also much more affordable to run and maintain, as you don’t need to pour gas in them and you don’t need to change the oil, air filter, and other spare parts.
Now, let’s dig in a little deeper to show you the good and the bad sides.
Pros
Cordless string trimmers are similar in operation to their gas-powered counterparts, but let’s check out some of the main advantages.
Very convenient to use
Cordless string trimmers require no fuel of any sorts and they involve no tricky starting routines. You simply need to push the power button to start disintegrating the weeds in your yard. Unlike their corded electric counterparts, they don’t limit your movement, and you can use them just the same as you would use a gas-powered trimmer.
Also, these do not emit any fumes, so they are safer to use. Due to a much simpler construction with fewer moving parts than gas-powered models, they can also collapse or fold up so they are much more convenient to store when not in use.
Lightness and portability
Cordless string trimmers are usually the lightest, though not necessarily compared to corded models, so they are easy to carry around and use for prolonged periods of time. As they share a similar construction with their gas-powered counterparts, they can reach the unreachable little spots in your yard.
Quiet operation
No matter how quiet the manufacturers claim their gas-powered string trimmers to be, there is no way they can compete with cordless battery powered ones. Since most of them operate at less than 80 dB, you don’t need to wear ear protection when trimming your yard.
You can only hear the whir of the trimming heads and the string as it slices through the weeds and the grass, simple as that.
Cons
As for the cons, there are only a few of them, but you should still take notice.
Power issues
Compared to gas-powered string trimmers, cordless trimmers simply can’t deliver that much power, unless you choose one of the heavy duty models with high voltage. On the other hand, there are only rare occasions where you will need that much power.
Short run
Gas-powered trimmers can run as long as they have gas. With cordless models, it’s not that easy. When the battery runs out of juice, you have to charge it again, so it might be handy to have two or three backup batteries.
Pricing
Cordless string trimmers of comparable performance are less competitively priced than their gas-powered counterparts. But that is somewhat compensated through the fact that gas-powered trimmers need gas and maintenance. On the other hand, there are also really cheap light-duty cordless trimmers that are cheaper than gas trimmers, though we’re talking about totally different classes of machines.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
Don’t fall for marketing tricks and ads, as the best cordless string trimmer is simply the one that will best suit your needs. First of all, you need to decide on a budget and then go out hunting for a trimmer that is the most comfortable to carry around, the easiest to use, and performs well enough. Let’s get a quick rundown of all the important factors that you should take into consideration before a purchase.
How big is your yard?
In most cases you don’t need an industrial-grade string trimmer, so take into consideration the size of your yard before spending a fortune on a tool.
Carry that weight
Always try out a trimmer before purchasing, because you will be carrying that weight around. Don’t buy a trimmer that seems too heavy.
Batteries
Most cordless string trimmers come with lithium-ion batteries which can run up to an hour of continuous use. Once the battery runs out of juice, it will need to be recharged, so you should consider purchasing additional batteries.
Comfort and ease of use
Your cordless string trimmer needs to feel comfortable and all the controls need to be easy to use and operate. The whole thing needs to feel well balanced while you’re holding it in your hands.
Safety
Whichever trimmer you choose, make sure you use long pants, boots, gloves, and safety glasses during operation.
Now let us show you the best of the best – our own top list of six cordless string trimmers that we firmly believe are worth checking out.
Cordless String Trimmer Reviews
Let’s start off with a very solid product, both in terms of features and the quality of build. It is supposed to run on a 40V lithium-ion battery, but both the battery and the charger need to be purchased separately, which is the biggest issue we have with this trimmer.
That explains why it is priced quite a bit more competitively than its rivals here. The battery will give you approximately one hour of continuous operation and the trimmer is most suitable for yards which are not bigger than half an acre.
The cutting head has a nice pivoting feature, so it also doubles as an edger with a wheel for finishing off the edges in a rather precise manner. The head itself has a 13-inch cutting width which should be enough for all but heavy duty projects.
- Built to last
- An hour of continuous performance
- Pivoting cutting head
- 13 inches of cutting width
- Batteries and charger not included
Here we have an excellent trimmer that comes from a very reputable power tool company. Alas, once again we can’t really proclaim it the best cordless string trimmer as it does not come with a battery or a charger.
It is one of the lightest trimmers we’ve tried, as it weighs only 6.4 pounds, including the battery (once you purchase it separately). The overall performance and power are quite satisfying, and due to all the adjustment options, it is quite easy to find the optimum cutting position.
The motor runs at 7,800 rpm, so it is somewhat faster than most, and it has a tilting head, which is a big plus, especially combined with the telescoping shaft. This means that even very tall people can use it.
- Plenty of adjustments
- Very powerful
- Even tall people can use it
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Not exactly cheap
Next, we have a massively interesting combo, as it is basically a cordless string trimmer that comes with a blower. This is a very competitively priced package, especially when you consider the fact that it also comes with two batteries, so you can always work with one, while the other is being recharged.
The addition of a blower is very thoughtful as you can simultaneously trim and clear all the areas you work on. The trimmer requires no bumping, as it features an automatic feed spool.
As you would expect from such a reputable manufacturer, the LCC222 is very light and comfortable to use, and it’s also rather low noise.
It is an overall great performer, and one of the strongest contenders for the title of the best cordless string trimmer out there.
- Comes from a reputable company
- Features a cordless blower
- Two batteries included
- Great performance
- Cutting width is a modest 10 inches
Here is a very solidly built electric cordless trimmer that simply amazed us, when we consider the fact that it comes at a really low price.
It is lightweight and very easy to use. Its feeding system is definitely next level, as it relies on a button on its handle which releases more string when you press it. Also, its spool is only 10 feet long, which is rather short when compared to the 30 feet that most other manufacturers utilize. This means that you might need to change it more often, whenever you run out of string.
On the other hand, you wouldn’t expect such an advanced gadget to come without edging ability, so, yes we can confirm that, too. The cutting head has a 12-inch cutting diameter and is powered by a motor which runs at 7600 rpm, so you can expect some rather speedy results.
Did we mention that it comes with two batteries and a charger? It is definitely a package that’s tough to beat.
- Competitively priced
- Comes with two batteries and a charge
- Advanced feeding system
- Cutting diameter only 12 inches
Unlike our other favorite cordless string trimmers, the Ryobi One+ features a curved shaft and the overall design and appearance is much more high-tech than what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing so far.
Even though it looks great, we are sad to inform you that it doesn’t come with batteries, so you are going to have to purchase those separately, along with the charger. On the other hand, it is a good thing that it is compatible with both lithium-ion and Ni-cad batteries.
It is also nice to know that it has a rotating cutting head, so it can double as an edger, although without any wheels it will not be as precise as some of its competitors.
- Light and easy to use
- Excellent design
- Doubles as an edger
- Batteries and charger not included
Last but not least, we have what is probably the most highly acclaimed trimmer out of the whole bunch. It boasts a brushless motor that runs on 56V and a rather simple design based around a straight shaft for increased reach.
Its cutting diameter is not that modest. At 15 inches, it can take quite a heavy duty beating, but on the other hand, once again we didn’t like the fact that the product doesn’t come with batteries. They had to keep the costs low somehow.
It is weather resistant and light. The trimmer is easy to use and very comfortable to carry around even for longer periods of time.
- 56V operation
- Wide cutting diameter
- Easy to use and adjust
- Batteries not included
What Is The Best Cordless String Trimmer
Now that you’re well acquainted with these machines, it is time to choose the best cordless string trimmer. When we consider all the factors outlined, we definitely have to place our vote on the Worx WG163.
This clever trimmer gives you the most for your hard-earned cash. It is well-made, it has a strong motor, excellent adjustability, and it comes with 2 batteries and a charger. This is a package that’s hard to beat.
It can also convert from a trimmer to an edger in a matter of seconds, and it has excellent cutting diameter and length. We have a clear winner here, especially if you consider the fact that it really ticks off all the factors and features we’ve mentioned at the beginning of our article.
Off you go now into your new gardening endeavors!
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Last update on 2024-12-08 / Affiliate links / Product Images from Amazon Product Advertising API