Factors to consider when buying a string-line trimmer include how often it will be used, how powerful it needs to be, and what types of special features will make your particular cutting job go more smoothly. Quality trimmers from Echo, Stihl, and other brands offer a wide range of versatile options – from straight or curved shafts, to different types of engine, to loop or bicycle handle styles.
What to Look For
If you’re a homeowner with light cutting jobs to do around the house, most trimmers will work for you. For commercial use or maintaining large properties, the weight and power of a trimmer become higher priorities. You’ll want a trimmer light enough to work with for long periods of time, but powerful enough to finish tough cutting jobs.
Vibration-reducing features on higher-end models, such as solid-steel driveshafts and forged crankshafts, make the trimmers easier and more comfortable to operate. Also look for exhaust deflectors that aim heat and engine exhaust backwards rather than to one side (this is particularly important for left-handed operators).
Several lawn equipment brands produce quality, reliable string-line trimmers. If you’re wondering which brands are best, Consumer Reports’ string trimmer buying guide describes Echo and Stihl as leading manufacturers and marketers of gas-powered string line trimmers.
Curved-shaft Trimmers
Trimmers with curved shafts are generally lighter weight than straight-shaft models. Some users also consider them more comfortable and easy to work with, though they have a shorter reach than straight-shaft trimmers and cannot handle the same types of heavy-duty cutting.
Stihl FS 40 C-E Trimmer is lightweight at only 9.9 pounds, with a 27.2 cc low- emissions engine. An Easy2Start system means that the engine doesn’t require a strong pull on the cord to start. The comfortable handle puts all controls within easy reach.
Echo’s GT-225 and GT-225i curved shaft trimmers both run on 21.2 cc engines. The GT-255 weighs 9.6 pounds and has an i-30 starting system to reduce the effort required to start the engine by 30%. The GT-255i is even easier to start, with an i-75 starting system requiring 75% less effort. It weighs 10.6 pounds. The GT-230 model is more powerful, with a 22.8 cc engine, and weighs 11.5 pounds. This trimmer has a greater reach, with a 52-inch shaft instead of 48-inch.
Straight-shaft Trimmers
Most commercial trimmers have straight-shafts. They have a longer reach, and keep flying debris farther away from the operator. Different brands and models offer different features, like the Honda HHT35SUKA and HHT25SLTA trimmers which run on fuel-efficient 4-stroke engines rather than the 2-stroke engines found in most trimmers.
Echo’s SRM-225i trimmer is very similar to the the GT-225i model, but with a 59-inch straight shaft. The anti-vibration system for this trimmer is highly rated by Popular Mechanics, which states that in tests it “ran smoothly, cutting with nearly explosive power and torque.” The more powerful SRM-266 and SRM-280 models have 25.4 cc and 28.1 cc engines, respectively. These trimmers are designed for increased engine life, and feature heavy-duty anti-vibration systems.
Stihl’s extensive line of trimmers offers several straight-shaft models. These include the FS 90 R and FS 100 RX professional trimmers. The FS 100RX is 8% lighter and more than 10% more powerful than the FS 90R, but less versatile. The FS 90 R can use a variety of cutting attachments, including steel grass and brush blades. These trimmers both feature loop handles. Several of the more powerful trimmers can be purchased with bicycle-style handles, like the FS 310, which also features a double-harness to distribute its 15.9 pound weight evenly on the operator’s shoulders.
