Which petrol strimmers are best? Is the petrol strimmer a good option?
Anyone maintaining a garden for more than five minutes realises that a lawn mower will only get you so far and even hedge clippers have their limits. Beyond that, they just don’t cut it. What you need is a strimmer: a powered trimmer with a rapidly-spinning nylon cutting cord.
As you can imagine, strimmers come with a bewildering array of options and accessories: loop, bicycle and bullhorn handlebars; support straps and harnesses; hedge trimmers, brush cutters and even actual chainsaws.
This article will provide you with all the information you need to decide which strimmer meets your needs, whether or not you’re on a budget.
Our TOP Picks
The Best 8 Petrol Strimmers
- Our TOP Picks
The Best 8 Petrol StrimmersIKRA IBF 31-4
Webb WELT26
Einhell GC-BC 31-4 S
Tenwell AOSOME 5-in-1
Wolf PowerKing Big Horn 2-in-1
Arebos ECO 5-in-1
Stanley STR-750A
FUXTEC Professional 2-in-1Hyundai 52cc Petrol Strimmer and Brush Cutter
- Webb WELT26
- FUXTEC FX-MS125 Petrol Strimmer and Brush Cutter
- Tenwell AOSOME Multifunction 5-in-1
- FUXTEC FX-4MS142 4-Stroke Petrol Strimmer
- Hyundai 52cc Petrol 5-in-1 Garden Multi Tool
- McCulloch Trimmac 25cc Petrol Strimmer
- FUXTEC FX-PS152 Professional 2-in-1
Hyundai 52cc Petrol Strimmer and Brush Cutter
Key Features:
- Engine: 52cc 2-stroke petrol
- Cutting width: 45cm
- Heads: Nylon line head plus 255mm steel brush cutter blade
- Shaft: Split for storage
- Warranty: 3 years
For big, overgrown areas, the Hyundai 52cc is the most powerful strimmer here. The Hyundai 52cc petrol strimmer is a 2-in-1 grass trimmer and brush cutter for rough, overgrown ground. A nylon line head handles grass and edges, and the 255mm steel blade cuts through brambles and dense growth. The 45cm cutting width clears big areas quickly. The split shaft fits in a car boot, and the twin shoulder harness spreads the weight.
Pros:
- Very powerful 52cc engine
- Line head and metal blade included
- 3 year warranty
Cons:
- Heavy for small gardens
Webb WELT26
Key Features:
- Engine: 26cc 2-stroke
- Cutting Width: 25cm
- Weight: 4.6kg
- Harness: Strap
- Goggles: No, but some retailers include free gloves and goggles
- Wire Thickness: 2.6mm nylon
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop
At 4.6kg, the Webb WELT26 is one of the lightest strimmers on the market, so much so that many users found the support strap unnecessary.
The longer shaft length offsets the weight of the motor so that the strimmer’s pivot point is at the loop handle, making it very easy to control and manoeuvre.
Webb designed the 26cc 2-stroke engine for fuel economy, high performance, and minimal vibration.
This strimmer is best suited to domestic use: trimming hedges and shrubs, around walls, fences, the edge of lawns, and the base of tree trunks. Although it could probably handle a lot more, it’s not a brush cutter in the accepted sense of the term.
The WELT26’s warranty is good for 2 years.
Pros:
- When the cutting head is bumped on the ground, the bump feed mechanism reels out the cord
- A Webb-designed 2-stroke engine
- Ergonomically balanced for ease of use
Cons:
- The oil supplied is semi-synthetic and uses a different mixing ratio than regular oil
- A mixing bottle is not included
FUXTEC FX-MS125 Petrol Strimmer and Brush Cutter
Key Features:
- Engine: 25.4cc 2-stroke petrol, 1HP
- Weight: 5.5kg
- Heads: Line head and metal blade included
- Handle: Bike-style two-handed
For a light petrol brush cutter, the FUXTEC FX-MS125 is easy to handle. The FUXTEC FX-MS125 is a light petrol strimmer and brush cutter for medium gardens. At 5.5kg it is easier to handle than the 52cc machines, and the bike-style handle gives a natural, scythe-like swing. FUXTEC includes both a line head and a metal blade, so you can switch between trimming grass and cutting tougher weeds.
Pros:
- Light at 5.5kg
- Line head and blade included
- Budget price
Cons:
- Less power than 52cc models
Tenwell AOSOME Multifunction 5-in-1
Key Features:
- Engine: 52cc 3hp 2-stroke
- Cutting Width: 25cm
- Weight: 15kg
- Harness: Double shoulder strap
- Goggles: No
- Wire Thickness: 2.5mm
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop
The Tenwell AOSOME is the Optimus Prime of strimmers. For one thing, it weighs almost twice as much as other strimmers. For another, it comes with a range of attachments that turn it from a strimmer to a brush cutter, a hedge trimmer, and a chainsaw pruner.
This is the strimmer you need to tend a complex garden with hedges, trees, shrubs, lawns, and flower beds. It transforms easily from one tool to another without the need for tools, the screws on other strimmers having been replaced by knobs and quick-release connectors. A 1m-long extension brings high branches and tall features within reach.
The Tenwell AOSOME carries a 3-year warranty.
Pros:
- It comes with an extension pole to reach high branches and the top of tall hedges
- The brush cutter blades are double-sided
- The harness straps are extra-wide and heavily padded
- A quick-release mechanism detaches the strimmer from the harness for easy removal
Cons:
- Because the engine is a 2-stroke, a 40-to-1 mixture of petrol to oil is required
- Some users feel that the chainsaw attachment could be sturdier
FUXTEC FX-4MS142 4-Stroke Petrol Strimmer
Key Features:
- Engine: 42.5cc 4-stroke petrol, 1.7HP
- Fuel: Unleaded petrol, no mixing
- Head: Double line, automatic feed
- Controls: Variable speed and emergency stop
If you hate mixing fuel, a 4-stroke strimmer is the answer. The FUXTEC FX-4MS142 runs on a 4-stroke engine, so it uses ordinary unleaded petrol with no oil mixing. Four-stroke engines are usually quieter and smoother than 2-stroke ones. The double-line head feeds line automatically, and the air filter and carburettor can be reached without tools. A 3-tooth metal blade is available separately for thicker growth.
Pros:
- 4-stroke, no fuel mixing
- Variable speed
- Easy maintenance
Cons:
- Metal blade sold separately
Hyundai 52cc Petrol 5-in-1 Garden Multi Tool
Key Features:
- Engine: 52cc 2-stroke petrol
- Tools: Grass trimmer, brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw
- Extension: 800mm shaft
- Harness: Double shoulder
- Warranty: 3 years home use
For a do-everything petrol tool, the Hyundai 5-in-1 is excellent value. The Hyundai 52cc 5-in-1 is one petrol engine with four cutting heads: a grass trimmer, a brush cutter, a hedge trimmer and a pole saw. The 800mm extension shaft reaches tall hedges and overhead branches without a ladder. A double shoulder harness spreads the weight, and Hyundai backs it with a 3 year warranty and UK parts support.
Pros:
- Four tools on one engine
- Long reach with the extension
- 3 year warranty
Cons:
- Heavy
- Needs a fuel and oil mix
McCulloch Trimmac 25cc Petrol Strimmer
Key Features:
- Engine: 25cc 2-stroke petrol, 0.6kW
- Cutting width: 40cm
- Weight: 3.9kg
- Head: Tap n Go double line
- Shaft: Split
For occasional trimming, the Trimmac is the lightest petrol strimmer here. The McCulloch Trimmac is a light 25cc petrol strimmer for occasional use in home gardens. At 3.9kg the McCulloch Trimmac is one of the lightest petrol strimmers you can buy. The Tap n Go head feeds more line when you tap it on the ground, and the air filter cover comes off without tools. With over 1,100 Amazon ratings it is a proven choice.
Pros:
- Very light at 3.9kg
- Tap n Go line feed
- Split shaft for storage
Cons:
- Not for heavy brush cutting
FUXTEC FX-PS152 Professional 2-in-1
Key Features:
- Engine: 52cc 2.95HP 2-stroke
- Cutting Width: 22cm
- Weight: 12.7kg
- Harness: Yes
- Goggles: No
- Wire Thickness: 2.5mm
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Bullhorns
This tool is both a strimmer and a brush cutter.
FUXTEC has redesigned the cylinder and piston to reduce wear and tear and extend the life of the engine.
The drive shaft has also been revised. Now it is mounted on oil dampers to reduce vibration.
The FUXTEC Easy Starter system preloads a spring when you pull the starter cord, storing up energy and releasing it at the right moment.
The warranty for this tool lasts 2 years from the date of purchase.
Pros:
- Toolless access to the air filter and the carburettor
- An emergency stop switch
- The carburettor has a primer pump
- The ignition is contactless and maintenance-free
- The thread spool can be replaced without opening the cutting head
Cons:
- Some users complain that the harness is uncomfortable
What’s the best petrol strimmer to buy?
The Webb WELT26 is the best petrol strimmer to buy based on our extensive testing, research and analysis. It is lightweight, quick, economic with fuel use, and ideal for domestic use.
How to Buy the Best Petrol Strimmer
Here are some things to consider when buying a petrol strimmer:
Application Suitability
Buying a strimmer to suit your needs starts with assessing those needs.
If you’re only concerned with trimming the edges of lawns and flower beds, strips of grass too narrow for a lawn mower, and around the bases of shrubs, tree trunks and potted plants, then a basic, entry-level strimmer is all you need.
If there’s a hedge involved, you’re going to need a strimmer with a hedge trimmer attachment. If you try to use a strimmer on its own, chances are your hedge is going to look like you bought it from the agricultural equivalent of a thrift shop (see the FAQ below).
There is a second option: good, old-fashioned hedge clippers. If you want a perfect finish with clean cuts all the way around, hedge clippers are the way to go.
Of course, this only applies if the hedges you want to trim are relatively small. A long, tall hedge will take a while and give your triceps the kind of workout not even a gym can provide. In which case you’re better off with a hedge trimmer attachment.
By the same token, if you plan on clearing an unkempt section of your yard, you’re going to need a strimmer with a brush cutter attachment. Brush cutter attachments use a spinning steel blade rather than the strimmer’s nylon thread.
Comfort
If you’re tall or short, you’re going to need a strimmer with an adjustable shaft. Otherwise, the balance is going to be off and a strimmer is not going to hang right.
Equally important are wide, padded harness straps. Plain narrow straps don’t offer the same support, don’t stay in place, and cut into your shoulders.
Bump Feed or Automatic Line Feed
An automatic line feed pushes out the line as cutting wears it away. A bump feed mechanism pushes out the line when you tap the thread head on the ground.
Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. In general, the bump feed comes out on top. It’s a simpler mechanism so there’s less to go wrong and it lets the user control the length of the line. However, if you’re tempted to extrude too much line, that can lead to tangling issues, a problem that doesn’t come up with automatic line feeders.
Warranty
The warranty shouldn’t be less than two years and should cover any defects in manufacture.
Protect Yourself!
Strimmers, hedge trimmers and brush cutters spray grass, leaves, twigs and bits of wood in every direction. From a health and safety perspective, it is absolutely essential that you protect yourself. To ensure that a spot of gardening doesn’t turn into a trip to A&E, you need the following:
- Eye protection: A pair of safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris.
- Hand protection: A pair of heavy-duty gardening or workman’s gloves to shield your hands from cuts and bruises.
- Ear protection: The tools we’ve been discussing routinely produce noise levels in excess of 100 dB. The noise from petrol engines in particular comes in the form of high-energy pulses that can damage your inner ear and result in hearing loss, if not immediately, then over the course of months and even years.
- Leg protection: For the same reason your hands need protection, you need to wear either workman’s boots, wellingtons, or thick trousers and shoes that cover part of your ankles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy an electric or petrol strimmer?
A couple of years ago it was still possible to make a case for the petrol strimmer. With breakthroughs in battery technology, the gap has narrowed until now the benefit of a petrol strimmer only applies to professional lawn care specialists, who use their strimmers for hours on end every day.
Can you use a petrol strimmer on wet grass?
Grass should never be cut wet. Not only will it put undue strain on your strimmer, but it will also tear and rip the grass rather than cutting it. It might even damage the grass enough to produce ugly brown bald patches.
How to store a petrol strimmer?
Wait until the engine is cool then empty the petrol tank. Put the petrol cap back on and try to start the engine. Keep trying until the engine no longer ‘coughs’. Store the strimmer in a lockable cupboard or hang it on a wall out of reach of children.
Can I trim a hedge with a strimmer?
No, for two reasons. The nylon thread on a strimmer isn’t sharp enough to cut cleanly so the end result will be ragged and uneven and may even damage the hedge. Also, the head shield can no longer protect you from flying debris once you’ve lifted it above waist height.
Conclusion
The best option is a 2-in-1 or 5-in-1. That way you have a cheap, quick, easy way of giving your garden that final polish with enough left over to cope with the unforeseen.
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Charl is a full-time writer with a range of passions and expertise in lawn mowers and other garden power tools. After many years in the corporate rat race, he decided to follow these passions. When not writing, Charl can be found in his garden, tending to or propagating plants, keeping the lawn near perfect, and enjoying the outdoors with his dogs. He is also fascinated by emerging technology and tries to squeeze in a round of golf as often as possible.
