Unfortunately, even small lawns and gardens need some looking after. But if you do have a small lawn, with hard to reach areas, a traditional lawn mower is not going to cut it. (Pun intended!)
Imagine if you wasted a load of money on an expensive lawn mower, only to find that you can’t get rid of all of your pesky weeds in awkward spots. What a waste.
Thankfully, there’s an easy solution – you can get yourself a weed eater instead. A weed eater, also known as a string trimmer or weed whacker, is significantly more affordable than a lawn mower, and more often than not it’s all you need to keep your lawn looking exactly how you want it.
In this article, I’ll be sharing with you my honest reviews of 5 of the best weed eaters on the net that I have tested out myself, complete pros and cons.
Then I’ll give you a handy buying guide that will walk you through everything you need to know before you buy.
Then I’ll top that off with a section where I answer all of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get into it!
A quick heads up – the terms weed eater, weed whacker, and string trimmer will be used interchangeably because they are all the same thing.
The 5 Best Weed Eaters Around
In a hurry? Check out my number one pick!
1. Worx WG154 PowerShare Cordless String Trimmer & Edger
If you ask me, one of the best types of weed eaters are cordless rechargeable ones (more on this in the buying guide). And this one is my favorite for several reasons…
In addition to cutting down weeds and trimming grass, this machine also doubles as an edger, and this ability is derived from its lightweight at just 4.2 pounds which gives it excellent maneuverability.
It’s also really powerful – with its 20 volt 1.5 Ah battery, that’s the same power you find in a
It has a cutting width of 10 inches, which is all you really need. And it has a special flower guard, so you can trim the grass and weeds right up to the flower stem without having to worry about the flowers getting damaged.
It also has an automatic feeder line, whereby you can just press the button whenever you need more fresh string from the spool.
My personal experience with it: Having tried this out for myself, and many others besides, I can honestly say that this is one of the best performing models out there.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this weed eater, and you can click on “check price” to see if they have a deal now.
Pros:
- Very reasonably priced, especially if you catch a deal!
- It has a handy flower guard to prevent damage to them
- You can use the same battery to power your other tools
- No pesky cord or gas required, but plenty of power
- There’s a handy automatic feeder line for more string
Cons:
- The battery rarely lasts much more than an hour and several customers have bought spares
Also available to buy at:
2. Black+Decker Corded Electric String Trimmer
For those of you who love the reliability of a corded machine, this is THE best weed eater from the brand that dominates the retailer bestseller list in this category. And it’s available at an absolute bargain of a price.
It functions as both a weed eater or trimmer and as an edger as well. All you have to do is rotate it to change its function.
And thanks to the 6.5 amp motor and Powerdrive transmission, it can power through even the toughest weeds and overgrowth. And fast.
It has a great cutting width, coming in at a generous 14 inches. And it’s quite lightweight for such a powerful machine, at just 6.34 pounds.
There’s also automatic feed spool technology, so you don’t have to keep stopping to get more spool in position.
The other thing I love about this one is that it has adjustable height positions. And you don’t have to worry about accidentally pulling the cord out of the socket as you go because there’s an integrated cord retention system to prevent it.
And of course, you never have to worry about buying new batteries, spare batteries, or recharging a battery. And the uninterrupted performance you can get from it makes it a good choice for trimming larger lawns.
My personal experience with it: I am really happy with this model, I think it’s such a great bargain, especially given how effective it is and how it gives you uninterrupted grass trimming and weed eating.
Pros:
- The price is an absolute steal if you ask me!
- It’s lightweight and has a generous cutting width
- Pure, uninterrupted overgrowth trimming performance
- Adjustable height positions for use by different individuals
- Doubles as an edger, but great for cutting down tough weeds
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with a power cord, which means that you can buy one that’s the perfect length for your needs
Also available to buy at:
3. Husqvarna 128LD Gas Powered String Trimmer
If the price tag and the impact on the environment were of no concern to me, then this would have been my number one pick…
Since gas-powered string trimmers, such as this one, have the sort of engine and power that can cut through grass, weeds and overgrowth, even when it’s soaking wet with rain. Which can be particularly helpful in some parts of the country.
And it has an impressive cutting width, coming in at a staggering 17 inches. And that combined with the engine power makes it quite the beast. Perfect for trimming larger lawns in wet climates.
But it isn’t as heavy to maneuver as you might expect, weighing just 11 pounds.
The engine and starter are specially designed for quick starts with minimal effort. It’s easy to reload. And the fuel tank is see-through, so you can gauge whether you need to top up the gas at any time.
It comes backed by a limited 2-year warranty, and there are loads of handy attachments you can buy to make the device even more useful.
My personal experience with it: I wanted to really put this one to the test, so I tried using it in the rain (after heavy rain and during light rain) and I was suitably impressed. It did the job no problem at all, it was a breeze and there were no issues to report.
Pros:
- It’s powerful enough to trim even thick grass that’s wet with rain!
- It has a very wide cutting width, coming in at 17 inches – perfect for large lawns
- It’s designed for zero-effort fast starts, thanks to features like Smart Start recoil
- It’s a versatile machine with a wide range of add-ons available for other functions
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price (you can buy a lawn mower for less money)
- Gas powered tools tend to be louder, spew fumes, and have a negative, albeit minor, impact on the environment
Also available to buy at:
4. Greenworks 40 Volt 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer
Another bestselling model, and again coming from a top brand, this weed eater has all the benefits of any electric cordless trimmer, such as easy maneuverability, easy push button starts, a lack of fumes and so on.
And this one does have some rather stand-out features besides…
For example, it has a wide cutting path, coming in at 12 inches. It can run for up to 45 minutes on a full charge, and can recharge within about an hour or so.
It’s also powerful enough to power through the toughest grass and weeds, thanks to the 40 volt, 2.0 Ah battery that comes included in the box when it arrives, along with the charger.
And there’s an on-board indicator for the battery life, so you only have to glance at it to know whether it could do with a recharge.
There’s an adjustable cutting swath, and using it helps the battery’s runtime. And, it even has a variable speed trigger.
It’s been selling in its thousands and comes highly recommended.
My personal experience with it: I really like this one, easy to maneuver, and it really whacked through my weeds. The battery life was exactly as expected and advertised.
Pros:
- A bestselling model, coming from a top brand
- It has a wide cutting path, coming in at 12 inches
- It only takes about an hour or so to fully recharge
- It can power through the toughest grass and weeds, thanks to the 40 volt battery
- There’s a battery life indicator and a variable speed trigger
Cons:
- It’s relatively heavy for a cordless trimmer, but this is offset with a superior ergonomic design to reduce user fatigue
Also available to buy at:
5. Black+Decker 20v Max Cordless String Trimmer
Such a great brand, I deemed it worthy of not just one spot, but two spots on my shortlist.
But, unlike the one I mentioned earlier, this one operates cordlessly, and comes with a dedicated battery and charger included in the price. So there’s no worrying about buying your own cord, tripping over it, or carrying it in your other hand.
It functions as both a weed eater or trimmer and as an edger as well. And thanks to the Powerdrive transmission, it can really power through tough weeds and overgrowth.
It has a really good cutting width, coming in at a good 12 inches. And it’s quite lightweight for such a powerful machine, at just 5.7 pounds for easy maneuverability.
There’s also automatic feed spool technology, so you don’t have to keep stopping to get more spool in position. I also love the handle’s premium micro texture grips – great for comfort, great for safety.
The other thing I love about this one is that it has adjustable height positions. Perfect for when you get the youngsters to tend to the lawn for you.
My personal experience with it: Again, I was really pleased with this one. Excellent maneuverability and cutting power.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this weed eater, and you can click on “check price” to see if they have a deal now.
Pros:
- It’s lightweight and has a generous cutting width at 12 inches
- Adjustable height positions for use by different individuals
- Doubles as an edger, but great for cutting down tough weeds
- You can use the same battery to power other Black and Decker tools you may have
Cons:
- The battery rarely lasts much more than an hour and several customers have bought spares
Also available to buy at:
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let me walk you through the key points to consider when choosing a good weed eater.
Electric: Corded Vs Cordless
Most of the weed eaters on the market are electric, with electricity or battery being the most popular power source.
When your weed eater is hooked up via a cord to your home’s electric supply, you get a steady and reliable source of power that won’t suddenly stop when you’re halfway through.
If you’re interested in a corded weed eater, I can recommend the Black+Decker Corded Electric String Trimmer.
But while that might sound like a better option at first, you then have to consider potential problems such as the cord not being long enough, or the cord causing a serious trip hazard. Which is why battery powered cordless weed eaters are so popular.
Battery
If you decide to go for a battery powered weed eater, you can choose from either a rechargeable battery that comes with a charger, or you can buy yourself new batteries as and when needed.
If you’re interested in a battery powered weed eater, I can recommend the Worx WG154 PowerShare Cordless String Trimmer & Edger, the Greenworks 40 Volt 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer, or the Black+Decker 20v Max Cordless String Trimmer.
If you choose a model where you have to buy new battery packs, then you should look for models where new battery packs are readily available when needed.
And the bigger the charge that the battery can hold, the longer it will last before needing to be recharged.
Gas Powered?
Gas powered weed eaters aren’t as popular as their electric powered counterparts, but you do occasionally see gas powered weed eaters on the retailers’ bestseller lists. This is because gas powered trimmers are better for larger lawns and taller grass.
If you’re interested in a gas powered weed eater, I can recommend the Husqvarna 128LD Gas Powered String Trimmer.
But of course it’s not considered as clean an energy source as electric ones. And some states have banned their use.
Maneuverability
Weed eaters have to be maneuvered manually, so the more lightweight your weed eater is, the better.
I would also argue that a corded weed eater can be a hindrance to maneuverability, because you may have to carry the cord around with you as you move to prevent tripping hazards.
Cutting Width
The greater the cutting width of a weed eater or string trimmer, then theoretically, the more lawn you will be able to cover in less time.
Other Features
Adjustable length, customer ratings, safety features
Brand
There’s a lot to be said for buying from a good, well established brand name. Such brands have a reputation to maintain, and as such their goods are reliable and are made to the best possible standards.
In the realm of weed eaters, the brand Black and Decker are currently dominating the online retailer bestseller charts, closely followed by Worx, and Greenworks. All three of these brands are included in my reviews of the best weed eaters.
Value For Money
The best weed eater has to be the one you can actually afford, in fact, that’s one of the reasons many people prefer to use weed eaters or string trimmers instead of a lawn mower.
Weed eaters can range in price from as little as $40 to as much as $360, so it pays to shop around. Given this price range, I would argue that all of the weed eaters I’ve reviewed here are either very reasonably priced or even a bargain.
The most affordable one in my top 5 is the Black+Decker Corded Electric String Trimmer.
Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
Which Is Better: Electric Or Gas Weed Eater?
In most instances, an electric weed eater will do just fine, but if you have a particularly large lawn or particularly thick grass, then a gas weed eater may be better.
What Is The Number One Brand Weed Eater?
When this article was written, the brand Black and Decker were dominating the online retailer bestseller charts. The remainder of the lists are mostly made up of Greenworks, Worx, Husqvarna, Ego Power+ and DeWalt.
