Which strimmer is best for you? Is a strimmer even the best option?
To help you choose, here is a guide to 8 of the highest-rated strimmers out there. They run the gamut from bare-bones entry-level minimum to an absolute embarrassment of riches so you can see which one fits your particular circumstances.
Our TOP Strimmers to Buy in 2023
Best Strimmers to Buy in 2023
- Vivianus Cordless
- Ejoyduty 2-in-1 cordless
- Mountfield MM2605 5-in-1 petrol
- Worx WG157E cordless
- Black and Decker GL9035GB 900W electric
- Einhell GE-CT 18 Li-Solo cordless
- Black+Decker 36V cordless
- Husqvarna Flymo Contour 500E Electric
Vivianus Cordless
Key Features:
- Power Source: 2x21V 2Ah batteries and a fast charger
- Battery included
- Weight: 2kg
- Adjustable Shaft
- Cutting Head: Swivel head
- Handle Type: Loop handlebar
- Extras: Rubber side wheels, skate runners, 5 double whicker nylon blades (for grass), 5 willow blades (for light brush), 2 circular saw blades, 2 steel lancet blades and safety goggles
Although not technically a strimmer, the Vivianus is so innovative that it can’t be ignored. This company has completely rethought what a strimmer does and the best way to do it.
Replacing the traditional spinning nylon thread with nylon blades makes it possible to introduce side wheels and glide runners, making it easier to achieve a cleaner, straighter cut with more even lines. By supporting and guiding the cutting head at the same height throughout the trimming process, it also makes a harness unnecessary.
When the blade encounters hard surfaces like stone, brick or concrete, the motor drops into neutral and the blade stops spinning until the cutting head has moved away from the obstruction.
The cutting head can be swivelled to 5 angles up to 90°, turning the strimmer into a vertical edger. Replacing the nylon blade with a circular saw blade turns the strimmer into a brush cutter.
Another boon that comes with side wheels and glide runners is the ease with which you can tackle steep slopes. This setup avoids all the pitfalls that accompany mowing hills. You can mow side to side or up and down, whatever you’re comfortable with.
Pros:
- Light and compact
- Highly versatile
- Excellent value for money
Cons:
- Some of the extras come separately at a price
Ejoyduty 2-in-1
Key Features:
- Power Source: 2x24V lithium-ion
- Battery Included: Yes
- Cutting Width: 15cm
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Adjustable Shaft: Yes
- Head: Nylon and steel blades
- Handle Type: Loop handlebar
- Extras: Charger and accessories included
The Ejoyduty is a trimmer and a brush cutter. It is quite possibly a hedge trimmer, too, since the cutting head can be turned on its side, although I should qualify that by saying that it would work best on small-leaved hedges.
It comes with 10 nylon blades for mowing strips of grass too narrow or awkward for a lawn mower, 2 stainless steel blades for trimming wood-stemmed weeds and shrubs, 2 manganese steel circular saw blades for pruning young branches, a pair of side wheels, gloves, safety goggles and sundry bits and pieces.
The length of the telescopic drive shaft is adjustable between 90cm and 120cm while the engine is running.
The child safety lock might work for very young children: I doubt it would deter older kids who could disarm it by simple trial-and-error since all it consists of is sliding a switch forward before pressing the starter button.
Warranty information is unavailable at this time.
Pros:
- Value for money.
- An all-inclusive package: gloves, safety goggles, the works
Cons:
- Inferior documentation and possibly misleading instructions
Mountfield MM2605 5-in-1
Key Features:
- Power Source: 25.4cc 2-stroke petrol engine
- Cutting Width: 25.5cm
- Weight: 8.2kg
- Adjustable Shaft: Yes
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop handlebar
- Extras: A 3-tooth metal blade and a hedge trimmer attachment
This is a hedge trimmer, edge trimmer, pruner, brush cutter and strimmer all rolled into one. It’s best suited to farms and allotments where an electric strimmer isn’t feasible because of the distances involved and work areas are outside the range of a cordless strimmer’s batteries.
It comes with a spool head of the tap variety: rather than feeding out extra line automatically, you release thread by tapping the spool head on the ground. Because the tap mechanism is simpler, there’s less to go wrong, making it more reliable than its counterpart. Controlling the frequency and amount of thread that’s played out also means that it’s more economical.
Pros:
- Very versatile
- Capable of tackling any kind of terrain
- Tap thread spooler
Cons:
- Being a 2-stroke engine, you have to mix the petrol and oil
- Can be rather loud
Worx WG157E
Key Features:
- Power Source: 20V lithium-ion battery
- Battery Included: Yes
- Cutting Width: 25cm
- Weight: 2.62kg
- Adjustable Shaft: No
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop handlebar
- Extras: Charger included
The Worx WG157E Cordless is a strimmer that converts easily into an edger by turning the cutting head 90°.
It works best with Worx’s proprietary DNA2 Double Helix spool thread, a patented polymer blend designed to cut better and last longer than conventional threads, but you can use other brands, too.
The 3m-long single line feed is automatic from start-up, measuring out the right length of thread, longer if you have a small garden and want a wider cutting length, or shorter if you need to extend the run time.
Also proprietary is Worx’s 20V lithium-ion battery, interchangeable across the range of Worx power tools, so you’re in luck if you already have Worx products in your workshop.
The warranty is good for 3 years of domestic use.
Pros:
- Very inexpensive; in fact, the cheapest of the bunch.
- The battery is interchangeable with other 20V Worx tools.
- The cutting width is adjustable.
Cons:
- The drive shaft is not extensible.
Black and Decker GL9035GB Electric
Key Features:
- Power Source: 900W mains electricity
- Cutting Width: 35cm
- Weight: 3.2kg
- Adjustable Shaft: No
- Cutting Head: Bump feed thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop
- Extras: Wheel edge guide; adjustable second handle
As with all Black and Decker tools, this strimmer is as reliable as it is dependable. It does everything it says on the box and, with minimal maintenance, should last years. There are, however, a couple of caveats.
Firstly, there is no safety mechanism, just a dead switch that sets the spool head spinning when depressed. If this switch is triggered accidentally while you happen to be adjusting the thread, let’s just say that this is one more reason why you should be wearing gloves.
Secondly, at 16m, the length of the power cable is woefully inadequate. You will need an extension cord. Just make sure that it is rated for use with heavy-duty household appliances, otherwise, there’s a fire risk involved. Extension cords that are only rated for lamps, computers and the like aren’t built to deliver a heavy current.
That said, as long as you’re a savvy user with prior experience with power tools, a modicum of caution should suffice.
Pros:
- Large cutting width
- Very powerful
- A bump (also known as tap) feed spool head
Cons:
- No safety lever
- Not enough power cable
- Vibrates strongly
- Heavy enough to require a shoulder strap that you will have to buy separately
Einhell GE-CT 18 Li-Solo Cordless
Key Features:
- Power Source: 1 lithium-ion polymer 18V 2Ah battery
- Battery Included: No
- Cutting Width: 24cm
- Weight: 1.8kg
- Adjustable Shaft: Yes
- Cutting Head: Replaceable nylon blades
- Handle Type: Ring grip handlebar
- Extras: Charger not included. Comes with 20 nylon blades and a flower guard
One of the few things in life you can count on is German engineering and Einhell is no exception.
This strimmer’s cutting head swivels 90° in either direction and inclines to 5 different positions. This is especially useful if your garden has lots of nooks and crannies, paths, walkways, flowerbeds, ornamental shrubberies and the like.
It also solves the problem of a strimmer being too long or too short for the user. Now you can keep the cutting head parallel to the ground simply by tilting it forward or back.
20 nylon blades fit in a storage compartment on the handle and a sturdy, robust metal flower guard prevents you from accidentally ‘trimming’ your spouse’s dahlias.
The Einhell warranty that applies to all its products covers the unit itself for 3 years and their Power X-Change batteries for 2, contingent upon your online registration. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Advanced ergonomics
- A comprehensive warranty
- Versatile design
Cons:
- This is a standalone unit so batteries and chargers are not included in the price
Black+Decker 36V Cordless Strimmer
Key Features:
- Power Source: 36V lithium-ion battery
- Battery Included: No
- Cutting Width: 33cm
- Weight: 3.2kg
- Adjustable Shaft: Yes
- Cutting Head: Swivel thread spooler
- Handle Type: Loop
- Extras: A charger is not included
Slightly heavier than other strimmers, this one has a couple of features not seen elsewhere.
Its brushless motor is not only more efficient than the brushed variety, but it also saves on wear and tear and improves battery performance.
It has a guide wire for straighter edges and a proprietary Automatic Line Feed System (AFS) that eliminates jamming and just makes the job so much easier.
This strimmer is covered by a full 2-year manufacturer’s warranty where material faults and workmanship are concerned. It doesn’t cover wear and tear or worn-out parts.
Pros:
- A reliable, reputable brand
- Tried and true engineering
- Battery compatibility across the Black & Decker range
Cons:
- Batteries and chargers are sold separately
Husqvarna Flymo Contour 500E Electric
Key Features:
- Power Source: 500W mains electricity
- Cutting Width: 25cm
- Weight: 3.1kg
- Adjustable Shaft: Yes
- Cutting Head: Thread spool
- Handle Type: Loop
- Extras: 10m cable; a plant guard
This is an excellent strimmer at a competitive price from a highly reputable company. It’s capable of trimming straight and curved edges, nooks and crannies, irregular patches of lawn, the borders of flower beds and the base of walls and fences.
A versatile configuration makes it easy to trim under garden furniture too.
The motor is of the continuous type rather than the step variety, adjusting its speed smoothly from high to low in response to the obstacles it encounters.
Pro tip: The key to automatic line feeds is to stop about once a minute just long enough for the spool head to reel out more thread. This stops the thread from getting so short that it unclips from the spool and has to be reloaded.
Pros:
- Automatic double line-feed delivers nice clean lines
- A nice broad cutting width
- A large central edging wheel rather than the usual two small rollers
Cons:
- Somewhat heavy
- A limiting 610m power cord
- No safety switch
How to Buy the Best Strimmer
Key Factors
The two key factors you need to take into account are the extent and type of terrain that needs strimming.
Consider the following when buying a strimmer:
- How big is the property? Is it a small residential garden with nooks and crannies, an outdoor patio, a stretch of lawn, some garden furniture, pot plants and a tree or two?
- Is it a suburban garden with hedges, lots of grass, flower beds separated by narrow strips of lawn, big trees and flowering shrubs?
- Has it been regularly maintained or has it run to seed?
- Are you starting from scratch or picking up where someone else left off?
- Are there weeds? If so, are the weeds of the wood or grass-stemmed variety?
All these questions are pertinent to your final decision so take them into account. Also: don’t rely on your memory. Go outside and take a good look around. Make sure that the picture you have in your mind matches reality.
Power Options
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the three main types of strimmer:
Electric Strimmers:
Pros:
- Quiet enough that you won’t disturb the neighbours
- As powerful as its petrol-driven counterparts
- Less vibration than petrol-driven counterparts
- No exhaust fumes
- A simpler motor so there’s less to go wrong
Cons:
- Only viable for small to medium-sized gardens.
Cordless Strimmers:
Pros:
- Very quiet
- No exhaust fumes
- Low vibration
- All the benefits of an electric strimmer but you’re not tethered to a mains outlet
- Batteries are often interchangeable with tools of the same brand
Cons:
- Depending on the size of the property, you might need multiple batteries
Petrol Strimmers:
Pros
- Freedom of movement
- Lots of power!
Cons
- Heavy
- Extremely noisy
- Exhaust emissions
- Since they’re more complex than electric or battery engines, petrol-driven engines are more prone to breakdowns. They also require more servicing (spark plugs, carburettor, points, etc.)
- Unless it’s a 4-stroke engine, you have to mix the oil and petrol yourself. Make the mixture too rich, the engine won’t run smoothly. Don’t make it rich enough and it hiccups, runs in fits and starts, and performs poorly
Fit-for-Purpose
A lush, beautiful lawn is achieved by degrees, not all at once. Grass is supposed to be cut an inch at a time until you’ve reached the desired height. This applies to the whole lawn, including the edges.
If you’re not getting the results you expected from your strimmer, chances are you’re not using it properly!
If you cut your lawn down from five inches to one in one fell swoop, you are going to injure the grass, creating unsightly brown and even bald patches. No blade or trimming thread is sharp enough to cut thick grass cleanly, without ripping and tearing the stalks.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the debris produced by aggressive cutting is going to smother surrounding grass, arresting new growth and depriving the grass blades of sunlight.
Manufacturers know all this and design their tools accordingly because they know that the best advertisement for their product is a beautiful, soft, full, springy lawn.
Ease-of-use
Unless a strimmer is already the right height for you, a telescopic guide bar (actually the drive shaft) is essential. It’s exactly the kind of feature you miss most when it’s not there, especially if you’re somewhat taller or shorter than the average.
The shape of the strimmer is also important. Some people find a curved design more comfortable while others prefer a straight shaft because it makes for easier trimming under shrubs and garden furniture.
Even if you’re planning to buy online, I’d strongly suggest visiting a local retail outlet and ‘test-driving’ the strimmers they have in stock. Get a sense of the heft and feel of them, keeping in mind that the cutting head should be parallel to the ground.
The Warranty
As a rule, the battery warranty should last at least two years and should cover you in case of any defects in manufacture. The unit itself is generally guaranteed for up to three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What protection should I wear when operating a strimmer?
A pair of safety goggles is the absolute minimum. Trimmers and brush cutters spit out stones and bits of wood, spraying debris in every direction, any of which could permanently injure an eye. By the same token, you should also protect your hands from cuts and bruises with a pair of gloves, either of the gardening or workman’s variety.
Should I buy an electric or cordless strimmer?
It depends on how many extension cords you own and how much time you’re prepared to devote to moving them from one side of the house to the other.
Cordless strimmers don’t have that problem and, when you’re done, you don’t have miles of cable to untangle, roll up and put away.
Can you use a strimmer on wet grass?
Grass should never be cut wet, no matter what tool you’re using. Cutting grass when it’s wet stresses the motor and makes it harder to clean. It also tears up grass rather than cutting it cleanly.
How to store a cordless strimmer?
First of all, remove the battery. Clean the moving parts with a soft, damp cloth, then place the strimmer in a dry place out of reach of children or hang it on a wall.
Strimmers are best stored vertically; that is to say, upright. Hanging them up prevents damage to the cutting head.
Can I trim a hedge with a strimmer?
If your strimmer has a hedge-trimming attachment then yes, by all means. If it hasn’t, but the cutting head rotates to 90°, you’d be best advised to try it first on a hedge with small leaves. Strimmer thread isn’t sharp enough to tackle thick foliage and may do more harm than good.
Also, be warned that once you’ve lifted the cutting head above waist height, the cutting guard can no longer protect you from flying debris.
What is the difference between a trimmer and a strimmer?
Strimmer is short for string trimmer. Instead of a metal, ceramic, or plastic blade, a strimmer uses a short length of 2mm thick nylon cord that gets spun out from a reel. As the cord wears away with use, it is replaced by fresh cord from the reel.
Unlike a regular trimmer, when a strimmer bumps into something unyielding like a stray stone, the leg of a piece of garden furniture, some brickwork, the edge of a wall or the trunk of a tree, the cord shreds itself rather than inflicting damage on the whatever got in the way.
Can you do a whole lawn with a strimmer?
Yes, it’s possible, but it’s going to take a lot longer as it doesn’t have the cutting width of a lawn mower. Also, unless you use side wheels or skate runners, you are not going to get the nice, even, level lawn that you would with a lawn mower.
How long do electric strimmers last?
With care and proper maintenance, there’s no reason why an electric strimmer shouldn’t last upwards of ten years or more. The trick is to not make unreasonable demands of it. Stay within its operational parameters but, if you have to test its limits, be respectful and cautious. Take care of the hardware and the hardware will take care of you.
Conclusion
We think cordless is the way to go, regardless of the tool you’re buying. It’s safer and quieter, it produces zero emissions and its reduced vibrations mean it’s more precise. And in every instance, it’s cheaper. A cordless strimmer will cut four times as much grass as its petrol-driven counterpart, as witnessed here.
Greg from Machinery Nation put 12p of petrol into his petrol strimmer. His battery strimmer takes 12p to charge up. The petrol strimmer ran for 4 minutes while the battery strimmer ran for 19, conclusive proof that battery strimmers are not only cheaper, they are much, much cheaper.
Share this article
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.
