Inexpensive cordless weed trimmer

[Fardringle]

I have a pretty small yard (less than 1/4 acre total including the house, driveway, and garden areas, so probably .10-.13 acre of actual lawn) and I've been using an old corded weed trimmer to clean up the edges for quite a few years but the old trimmer finally died and needs to be replaced. There's about 100-120 feet of edge where the grass actually meets up with the house, small shed, and one fence line, plus maybe 35-40 feet of sidewalk/driveway edge so not a huge job. I really like the idea of not having to drag a long extension cord around but I have no need for the power of a gas trimmer so I've been looking into cordless trimmer options.

I'd like to stay pretty cheap partially because of budget - I don't really NEED it, so I need to keep the cost low to avoid annoying my wife too much - and also because I really don't need anything special. However, I also don't want a complete piece of junk..

After reading and watching quite a few reviews, it seems like the Black and Decker LST523 with a 20V 3Ah battery might be a decent option. It's on sale on Amazon today for $72 (It was listed at $89 yesterday) so OK for the budget, and while it doesn't have a huge amount of power almost all of the reviews say it works well as long as you're not cutting down a jungle or trying to chop heavy roots. I considered the option with two 1.5Ah batteries for convenience of always having one charging and less weight when the price was closer to the same for both options yesterday, but saving an additional $17 is seriously tempting...

My main question is if there are any better options in that same price range that I should look at or if the LSTE523 is going to be my best option without spending a lot more money. For example, is it worth paying twice as much for a 40 Volt model instead? Thanks!

 

[thedarkwolf]

I hate weed eating so a bottle of weed and grass killer

 

[Fardringle]

While there are times that I'd like to just kill the whole lawn and be done with it, that's not really an option. So...

After banging my head on a wall for a while and reading more reviews, I think I'll go with the slightly more expensive LST136W 40 volt model. Reviews say the battery lasts a bit longer, it has a LOT more power on "high" mode for when it's needed for heavy weeds and stubborn/overgrown edges, and it includes a fast charger so less down time if I ever actually run it long enough to deplete the battery. I'll just use my ~$50 in available Amazon credit points to get the cost under $100 to keep the boss lady happy.

 

[13Gigatons]

I like weed trimmers, the electric one anyways. I would say you made the right choice going with the 40v model. I'm not big on Black & Decker though.

 

[stargazr]

I'm in the same situation. I just ordered the 40V version. We had a Black and Decker corded older style for over ten years. What I like about B&D models is they can switch to an edger. I have a bad back and find it easier than edging with a standard weedeater. The only ones I know of like that are Worx. I decided to stay with B&D. Hope it works out.

 

[Fardringle]

It might be a few days before I order mine since I need to make sure all the beginning of the month bills clear first and so the charge goes on my Amazon card after the next monthly billing cycle starts on the 8th (gotta avoid that interest charge!). If you get a chance to use yours soon please let me know what you think about it.

 

[Fardringle]

I like weed trimmers, the electric one anyways. I would say you made the right choice going with the 40v model. I'm not big on Black & Decker though.

Is there another brand/model you'd recommend in the under $150 price range?

 

[Thebobo]

Looking myself never heard of the company but it has 400+ very good reviews at amazon. And its cheap, but that scares me to.

Greenworks 14-Inch 40V Cordless String Trimmer (Attachment Capable), Battery Not Included 2100202
457 customer reviews
| 156 answered questions
List Price: $169.00
Price: $93.34 Free Shipping for Prime Members
You Save: $75.66 (45%)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IPA15D...hm&pd_rd_r=384DW86J07BJW68S7T1Z&pd_rd_w=WmYgW

 

[paperfist]

I'd vote for Ryobi.

My yard is 200' x 40' and I can trim all the way around the yard with it on a single charge. It feels like a toy in your hands though.

Battery works in all their tools.

I had one of the first B&D Grass Hawg and it was awesome. After it died I replaced it with another and it was junk.

The problem with these cordless tools is if you use the battery seasonally you run the risk of the battery going and replacement is basically the same as a new tool cost.

 

[Fardringle]

Looking myself never heard of the company but it has 400+ very good reviews at amazon. And its cheap, but that scares me to.

Greenworks 14-Inch 40V Cordless String Trimmer (Attachment Capable), Battery Not Included 2100202
457 customer reviews
| 156 answered questions
List Price: $169.00
Price: $93.34 Free Shipping for Prime Members
You Save: $75.66 (45%)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IPA15D...hm&pd_rd_r=384DW86J07BJW68S7T1Z&pd_rd_w=WmYgW

Reviews look decent, but that price is without a battery. Have to add about $80 to get a battery.

 

[Fardringle]

I'd vote for Ryobi.

My yard is 200' x 40' and I can trim all the way around the yard with it on a single charge. It feels like a toy in your hands though.

Battery works in all their tools.

I had one of the first B&D Grass Hawg and it was awesome. After it died I replaced it with another and it was junk.

The problem with these cordless tools is if you use the battery seasonally you run the risk of the battery going and replacement is basically the same as a new tool cost.

Ryobi does make some good stuff, but unfortunately the only cordless trimmers I see on Amazon have pretty terrible reviews, and they are about $80-100 plus another $180-$250 additional to get a battery and charger. Sadly, that's way out of my price range for this project...

 

[Thebobo]

Reviews look decent, but that price is without a battery. Have to add about $80 to get a battery.

Oh yea duh.

 

[paperfist]

Ryobi does make some good stuff, but unfortunately the only cordless trimmers I see on Amazon have pretty terrible reviews, and they are about $80-100 plus another $180-$250 additional to get a battery and charger. Sadly, that's way out of my price range for this project...

I have this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...ery-and-Charger-Not-Included-P2003A/203838315

Could have sworn battery and charger is another $50 so all in was $90 for me.

Edit: on that link you can add battery and charger at bottom for $70 all together.

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/18-Volt-Lith...nd+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=311ejzV+APL&ref=plSrch

 

[rh71]

I have about the same amount of grass area and an 18v B&D "single source" battery which barely lasts front and back. You made a good choice with the 40v. The most annoying is when it starts to run out when I'm only 3/4 done. I have a 2nd battery but it takes 9hr to charge them... just not worth a 2nd one.

 

[stargazr]

It might be a few days before I order mine since I need to make sure all the beginning of the month bills clear first and so the charge goes on my Amazon card after the next monthly billing cycle starts on the 8th (gotta avoid that interest charge!). If you get a chance to use yours soon please let me know what you think about it.

Sure, Amazon says it might be here by the week-end.

 

[Fardringle]

I have this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...ery-and-Charger-Not-Included-P2003A/203838315

Could have sworn battery and charger is another $50 so all in was $90 for me.

Edit: on that link you can add battery and charger at bottom for $70 all together.

Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Electric-Cordless-Trimmer/dp/B075W21PRG/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1528235373&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=ryobi+string+trimmer+and+charger&dpPl=1&dpID=311ejzV+APL&ref=plSrch

Ah, you're right. The battery and charger addition aren't much on that one. It's odd to only see one review on Amazon, though. I'll see if I can find more info on it from other sources.

The other Ryobi trimmers I looked at had much more expensive battery/charger costs...

 

[shortylickens]

We got this one just over four years ago.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HH4K548/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

Works great. No problems. Can also mow the lawn.
And its compatible with the basic little leafblower we also bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZW9Y82/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When they break, we'll probably buy something better.

 

[NoCreativity]

I've got this ryobi: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...-Battery-and-Charger-Included-P2080/206451828

Works pretty well. I get about 4-5 trims out of the battery with the trimmer setting on high. Takes me about 10 minutes to do all my trimming.

 

[Fardringle]

We got this one just over four years ago.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HH4K548/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

Works great. No problems. Can also mow the lawn.
And its compatible with the basic little leafblower we also bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZW9Y82/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When they break, we'll probably buy something better.

That's actually really cool, shortylickens! Unfortunately, the "grass" that grows in our area is sometimes very thick and tough so sadly it probably wouldn't work as a mower in my yard. I love the modular style, though!

 

[Fardringle]

I've got this ryobi: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...-Battery-and-Charger-Included-P2080/206451828

Works pretty well. I get about 4-5 trims out of the battery with the trimmer setting on high. Takes me about 10 minutes to do all my trimming.

That's an intriguing possibility. It uses the thicker .080 line (most low cost battery trimmers use .065), which is nice, and the edging wheel looks like it might actually be somewhat useful now and then. I can't use my Amazon credits that way, but maybe I'll just use those to buy something for my wife instead..
I'll definitely have to look closer at it before I decide. Thanks!

edit: The side rotating head for walk-behind edging instead of the standard head rotation of most other convertible trimmer/edgers is nice. I'm not sure how I feel about having the on/off power trigger also advance the line, though, since a lot of my trimming is a few feet of trimming, then move somewhere else, so I'd potentially be wasting a lot of line every time I move... Line is cheap, so that may not be a deal killer since the rest looks pretty nice.

 

[lupi]

Got this last summer on sale for $200. Already have several dewalt batteries so was just looking for something decent enough to minimize how often I'd have to break out my gas versions. Performed well enough I haven't used my gas ones since.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...-Blower-and-Battery-DCST920P1720205/300454945

 

[Fardringle]

I've been looking more at the Ryobi trimmers since I like the brand, and I really like the thicker line that they use, but now I'm conflicted between several different models..

This 18V model with edging wheel and a 4AH battery that NoCreativity has for $119: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...-Battery-and-Charger-Included-P2080/206451828
This 40V model with the same edging wheel and a 2.6AH battery also for $119: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-4...ttery-and-Charger-Included-RY40210B/203763425
Pretty much the same unit but with a (theoretically) stronger 40V motor. Minor negative of this one is it's not available in local stores so I'd have to special order it. Not really a big deal...

Or this 18V dual string model with a more powerful brushless motor (and maybe quieter?) that costs a bit more and doesn't have the edging wheel, but reviews say can rival some lower end 2 stroke gas trimmers: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...-Battery-and-Charger-Included-P2090/300339420
This one also doesn't feed line when the power trigger is released and that's the one thing I'm not sure I like on the other two. I would miss the "official" edging option now and then when I actually want to do some edging, but any trimmer can be used for edging - just may have to hold it weird...

 

[nakedfrog]

I've been looking more at the Ryobi trimmers since I like the brand, and I really like the thicker line that they use, but now I'm conflicted between several different models..

This 18V model with edging wheel and a 4AH battery that NoCreativity has for $119: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-O...-Battery-and-Charger-Included-P2080/206451828
This 40V model with the same edging wheel and a 2.6AH battery also for $119: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-4...ttery-and-Charger-Included-RY40210B/203763425
Pretty much the same unit but with a (theoretically) stronger 40V motor. Minor negative of this one is it's not available in local stores so I'd have to special order it. Not really a big deal...

I got that 40V one about a month ago, so far I'm pretty satisfied with it.

 

[paperfist]

The ones with edgers must suck the life out of the battery? There's alternatives to string too, though I've only tried the plastic blade from Roybi and it doesn't cut great and saps battery power.

 

[Fardringle]

To complicate things just a bit more, or possibly simplify them, my wife showed me this one and said, "What about this? It's blue." (She knows that I love blue things!)

40V 2.5Ah battery, dual .080 line that should theoretically cut better than single line trimmers, bump feed so no waste from "auto" systems, rotating head for edging (only a guide wire instead of the Ryobi wheel, but that's the way my old one was and it worked fine), adjustable speeds, several reviews say the battery lasts an hour+ on high which is better than the other models if true, battery charges in just over an hour, it has a 5 year warranty, and in stock at the Lowe's down the street from my house.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-40-...mer-Edger-Capable-Battery-Included/1000180459

The only possible downside I can see (I haven't watched read/many reviews yet, so I'm going on the assumption that they don't report anything really negative) is that it is a bit more than 2 pounds heavier than the 40V Ryobi. I suspect part of that is in the bigger dual feed head and physically larger battery. I'm not too concerned about weight. It does add up after really long jobs, but my yard isn't big enough for that to matter unless I decide to go on a trimming rampage around the neighborhood, or if I really test it out on my dad's 2/3 acre back yard. EDIT: Turns out the reported weight on Home Depot's site is wrong and the Ryobi is actually a few ounces heavier than the Kobalt so this is a non-issue.

The battery is also interchangeable with this beautiful beast if I ever move to a place with a yard that needs something better than my nearly 40-year-old Craftsman gas mower that refuses to die no matter how much I abuse it.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-40-...ic-Lawn-Mower-Battery-Not-Included/1000332229