A weed eater is a great expense for your home, especially considering that the alternative is hiring a company to handle your lawn for you. In any event, purchasing a weed eater can be difficult, as you have a multitude of choices that accomplish the same thing. This choice becomes arduous if you’ve never bought a weed eater. As such, it’s a good idea to have a guiding hand that can steer you to the right one, whether it’s gas, electric, or battery-powered trimmers that you’ll ultimately be looking for.
In this review and buyer’s guide, our goal is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of some of the best options currently available on the Internet.Not only that, but we’ll also only highlight the highest rated brands in the industry, ensuring that you’re only considering the best of the best. This guide will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff, pairing you with a great weed eater that will consistently get the job done.
Best Weed Eaters Comparison Chart
Top 5 Best Weed Eater Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER LST136W Best Battery Weed Eater
BLACK+DECKER has long been the gold standard in virtually every type of power tool currently on the market. Their LST136 carries on that tradition in a weed wacker. This is a battery-powered trimmer powered by a 20-volt Lithium battery. The battery allows for it to operate much quieter than its gas-powered cousins, though it isn’t one that seems to sacrifice much power in its operation. This is due to their trademarked PowerDrive Transmission that power from the motor to the cutting string.
One of the biggest selling points of the LST136 is its battery life. It’s packed with a 1.5 Ah battery. This allows you to get a lot of work done without having to charge it all day. In fact, you can charge the battery from zero to 100 percent in just one hour. It also has a two-in-one trimmer or edger. This means that it can seamlessly convert from an edger to a trimmer, bringing you the best in both worlds. What’s more, there is a decent variable in speed, ranging from 6500 to 8500 RPM. This change in speed is for people who want high-power and short term tasks to low-power long term tasks. This versatility is good for those who want a little bit more out of their weed whacker.
However, you’ll find that this versatility isn’t particularly preferably for those who may have larger tracts of land. As it is a battery-powered weed whacker, you’ll have to charge it more often than you’re probably comfortable with.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Surprisingly powerful
- 2-in-one mode for versatility
- Automatic feeding
Cons
- Can’t provide high-power usage for long periods of time
2. BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Eater – Best Value
As you would expect, the LST300 comes with a lot of similarities as the LST136, although there are some things that necessitate this as a standalone product. One of the first things that you’ll notice is that this is more of an economical product. Of course, this isn’t to say that the LST136 is expensive, though there is a good enough difference in price point.
One of the bigger differences between this and the LST136 is the maximum speed. With this being a 20 V, you can only get up to speeds of 6500 RPM as opposed to the 8500 RPM that the LST136 is known to kick out. This means that you’re probably only going to be relegated to low-intensity work, which is for those who don’t have large properties. However, you will be helped out by the 2 AH battery, meaning that you will get some good work done before you have to charge it.
Like the LST136, the LST300 comes with both the Power Drive and automatic feed system. Both of these are quality of life implementations. The Power Drive will ramp up the power and the automatic feed system will allow you to spend less time bumping. Lastly, the BLACK+DECKER LST300 also comes stock with the two-in-one trim or edge system. This allows you to trim or edge your property, switching between both of them seamlessly, just like its big brother. All in all, this is a great weed eater that comes with similar accouterments as the LST136, though the largest selling point is what it will do for your wallet.
Pros
- 2 AH Battery
- Great price point
- Two-in-One edger and trimmer
- Automatic feeding
- PowerDrive system
Cons
- No fast charging
- Only low-yield yard work
3. Hitachi CG22EAP2SL Weed Eater – Best Gas Option
Hitachi is a fantastic company when you’re looking for gas-powered weed eaters, and the CG23ECPSL is no exception. While we love all of our electric and battery-powered eaters, sometimes you have to bust out something that’s willing to cut down everything in its path. The CG23ECPSL is a 22.5cc pure fire two-stroke engine that can really kick out the power without causing any emission concerns. What’s more, this Hitachi product does this without sacrificing power, efficiency, or adding any additional weight.
In fact, it only sports a ten-pound dry weight, meaning that it’s one of the lighter gas-powered weed whackers that are currently on the market. In other QoL advancements, the CG23ECPSL has an anti-vibration system. This is good for those who will be using this for heavy use, as vibration in a gas weed whacker can cause you to get pretty tired. It is also built very solidly. It has a solid steel drive shaft, which provides more gear head power and durability on the machine as a whole. Additionally, it features a “Tap & Go” nylon trimmer head that allows for it to be used continuously.
If you’ve ever had an issue with starting eaters, the Hitachi has built something to combat this with its S-Start reduced recoil system. It features a Walbro carburetor with a purge bulb to provide easier and reliable starting. It’s also a pretty long, as it comes in at 69.6 inches so you don’t have to bend as much if you’re a bit taller on average.
Pros
- Very easy to start
- Anti-vibration system to reduce user fatigue
- Longer trimmer to reduce bending
- Pretty lightweight for a gas weed eater
Cons
- Runs a bit noisier than a lot of gas-powered weed eaters
4. Tanaka TCG27EBSP Electrical Weed Eater
While most on this list are designed for light work, the Tanaka TCG27EBSP is probably the best commercial weed wacker on this list. It comes stock with the requisite efficiency, power, and toughness to get the job done if you’re looking to use it as a means to make money. Firstly, it starts with the amount of power that the TCG27EBSP has, boasting a 26.9 cc Commercial Grade PureFire engine. This two-stroke will eliminate all weeds and it starts up like a dream with its S-Start technology.
With something with this kind of power, you can expect it to be loud. Coming in at 111 decibels at its racing speed, it’s basically required for you to wear something that will protect your ears. Much like the Hitachi eater, the Tanaka has a 5-inch cutting line that holds thirteen feet of nylon trimming line. Tanaka has helped develop a special copolymer that is made to reduce noise by up to fifty percent.
What we appreciate about this commercial machine is that it has an anti-vibration system, a decently long shaft, and some padded handles for comfort. All of these things are preferable for people who plan to use it for a hard day’s work. As you’d expect, this is a bit of a costlier model than the other ones here. Since it is designed for commercial use, it uses higher-quality materials and a robust engine.
Pros
- Easy to start due to S-Start Technology
- Anti-vibration
- Long shaft and padded handles for comfort
- Very strong engine
Cons
- Ear protection is required
5. BLACK+DECKER LCC140 Weed Eater
This BLACK + DECKER product is probably one of the favorites in the line, as it has similarities of the other two on this list as well as differences that make this a perfect choice for home use. The LST201 comes with a 20 Volt lithium battery pack. This allows for it to run about thirty-three percent longer than many of the popular varieties currently on the market.
Deployed with Runtime Extention Technology, you can get even more use per pack. Without usage, it can hold a charge for up to eighteen months, which is a far cry from what many on the market can provide. Like the other two, it comes with PowerDrive, so you can trust in its power despite it being a pretty small. Black + Decker has usually maximized the power in their battery-powered weed eating, and this is no different.
It also has an automatic feed spool, so you can work longer without having to worry about bumping when you’re using it. It comes with a two-in-one option that switches from trimmer to wheeled edger, meaning that you can get as much use out of it as you’d like. The LST201 also has a nifty feature that allows you to adjust the height and handle that allows you to use the machine with decent comfort. Lastly, this is a very light machine, coming in just five and a half pounds.
Pros
- One of the lightest on the market
- PowerDrive
- Adjustable height and handle
- Very economical
- Long battery life
Cons
- May have issue with thicker weed types
Features Should Be in Best Cordless Weed Eater
Buying a weed eater will open up a lot of different choices, with some of them being good while others aren’t so good. What we all do know is that if you own a piece of property, you’ll probably want to own one. We all know that weeds will continuously grow, and even if you have someone committed to cutting your lawn and making it pretty, it’s probably still in your best interest to have one tucked away.
Should you be a person that likes to do your own lawn maintenance, it’s absolutely imperative that you have a good one. If you stick to a decent schedule, you’ll be able to catch a weed before it happens to mature.
While you obviously won’t be able to eliminate all of the weeds, a great maintenance schedule will cut down the number of weeds that reproduce. As such, we’ll break down what you need to know about buying a weed eater, including the types and their strengths and weaknesses.
Different Varieties of Weed Eaters
- Battery-Powered
Battery-powered weed wackers, as the name implies, are machines that use a battery pack that feeds power to the motor. The motor goes to the head of the trimmer, so you’re getting cutting power from the motor to the head of the trimmer. Battery-powered eaters aren’t limited by range. They’re also lighter than many and don’t produce a lot of noise. However, they’re not very strong and aren’t really good for those who expect to sue them for long periods of time.
- Electric-Powered
Electric weed wackers draw their power from a common power outlet or extension cord. These devices are surprisingly good for power and don’t make a whole lot of noise, much like a battery-powered weed eater. The electric weed eater will go as long as you can supply it from an outlet. This means that you don’t have to fill it full of gas or will you have to worry about recharging a battery. However, it is attached to a cord, so it’s probably not going to get a lot of use for people who happen to own large pieces of property.
- Gas-Powered
Gas-powered weed eaters are easily the strongest of the common types used today. Usually powered by a two or four-stroke engine, these are powered by a gas engine that rotates the trimmer head at the bottom. They’re usually are a bit more costly, heavier, and produce the most noise out of the main three types of weed eaters.
Factors to Consider in Best Gas Weed Eater
- Frequency of Use
If you plan to be doing yard work pretty diligently, you’ll probably get by with using a battery-powered weed eater. This is because the weeds will more than likely be a lot smaller and not have taken a decent hold in your yard. If you’re going to be a lot less diligent in your lawn maintenance schedule, you’ll probably want to bring out the bigger guns and spring for a gas-powered weed eater. This will allow you to do more work, hit the weeds harder, and get more bang for your buck. The idea is for you to keep the amount of time down and not have to worry about fatiguing or being annoyed with the yard work.
- Types of Weeds
Not all weeds are created equally. Depending on where you are in the country or area, you will find that some weeds are more stubborn than others. If you have some thinner weeds in your yard, you will probably get more bang for your buck with an electric or battery-powered eater. On the other hand, if you have something closer to a forest for weeds in your lawn, you may want a gas-powered eater. This isn’t particularly a problem of ease of use, but more of an ability issue. Some battery-powered models may not be able to do the job.
- Location of Weeds
The location is important. If you have a lawn that isn’t that big, you can get away with a battery-powered weed eater. The same can be said about an electric-powered weed eater, though you will have to consider where your outlet is if you want to use it. That is, if you can’t reliably hook up to an outlet, a battery would be a better way to go. However, if you have a larger yard, you may want to go for the gas-powered variety of weed eater. The same can be said if you think that it will take you more than one hour to handle all of your weeds.
- Home or Commercial Use
You will also have to consider whether or not you’ll want to use it for home or you’re going into business and need a weed wacker as a tool to make money. If you’re generally paying someone else to handle your lawn maintenance, you will be fine with using an electric or battery-powered eater. On the other side of the coin, if you’re cutting weeds every day, you’ll soon find yourself out of luck using a battery or electric-powered eater. In these cases, you’re being paid for performance and speed, so you’ll end up losing money with them. As such, you’ll want to use a gas-powered weed eater. They’re workhorses and can provide commercial weed-eating capabilities, as your clients will expect and appreciate.
Conclusion
When you’re shopping for a eater, it’s important for you to consider things like warranties, types of weeds you have, amount of vibration, downtime, and the type of power and how it’s generated. There should also be a focus on weight, especially if you plan on using it even semi-often. This way, you’ll be able to use it properly without being fatigued. One of the worst things that you can consider is just its cutting power. While it’s certainly important, it’s not really the only thing, especially when you consider the number of similarities that all of the options are currently available on the market. Looking at the bottom line here, it’s important for you to determine which machine will work for you. If you’re using this for a commercial endeavor, you’ll want a gas-powered device with great build quality. If you’re someone who is a hobbyist or someone who pays someone who to your lawn work, you can probably get away with a battery-powered or an electric-powered best weed eater. Understand that with the advancement of technology, you will probably do well with many on this list, so as long as you know exactly what its use will be.
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