If you have a house with a backyard I am sure the main place for every summer dinner is there. The barbecue is slowly working, friends are chatting and you are enjoying. But, to make that happen, your backyard should be trimmed and weed free. I know that in spring it is a struggle to clean the backyard, but once you are done with that chore, you can grill a barbecue and enjoy your scenery.
To make gardening easier and your backyard great looking you will have to roll your sleeves and do the work. With proper equipment, that shouldn’t be a hassle at all.
Weed eaters which are also known as weed wackers or trimmers can make your gardening chores a breeze, as long as you know how to pick the best weed eater for your backyard. You are probably thinking, how hard can it be to buy the best weed trimmer? It isn’t hard at all.
The hard part is to buy the best weed wacker for you and your backyard.
When you are thinking about weed trimming you are probably thinking that the only criteria are that the trimmer cuts the weed. You aren’t wrong, but there are many other things you can think about to make your trimming responsibilities easier.
I had trouble with the weed wacker I had and I thought it is the best weed trimmer until I have figured out that there are more than just one weed trimmer models. The variety is extremely big, all you have to do is to decide what you are looking for. And to do that, I will first show you what are the things you can choose. You will be surprised.
So, due to that, I have made this guide on how to pick the best weed wacker for you. First, lets us talk about the types of weed eaters:
What is the best weed eater type for you?
The first and most important category to choose the best trimmer is a type of trimmer. This means that you can choose an energy source of the trimmer. Three main types of weed eaters are:
Battery powered weed eater
Battery powered weed eater is a great weed eater, actually the best weed eater for smaller yards. It is a simple device which you can use if you don’t know much about trimming. What makes this weed wacker so great is that it is an extremely light device. You can trim your yard and you won’t feel pain in your arms because of the trimmer.
Another great advantage of battery-powered trimmer is that it is portable. No cords, you can put it in the car and go to the summer house. For fully functioning trimmer all you need is a charged battery.
The thing which is its main advantage can be its main disadvantage as well. When you are trimming and the battery runs out, you have to wait until the battery charges again to continue trimming. If you don’t like to make unexpected brakes due to the empty battery, buy another battery and use the second one while the first one is charging. I know that this may sound like an expense, but remember, you are using the electric power which is much cheaper than gas.
In my opinion, the best weed trimmer with battery is a solution for people who have small yards, don’t want to be surrounded with cords and want to make things done immediately. When you are using a battery powered weed eater, all you need to do is to grab the trimmer and turn it on. No cords, no gas, no complications.
Electric corded weed trimmer
This trimmer also runs on electricity, but it has some boundaries. And by boundaries, I mean it literally, physical boundary. If you want to buy an electric trimmer which will work without charging the batteries the corded trimmer is the best weed trimmer for you.
This means that you won’t get interrupted with empty battery signal, but it also means that you have one radius you must respect. When you get to the end of the cord, you can’t go any further.
Since it is an electric weed trimmer, this trimmer doesn’t produce much noise and it is an eco-friendly product. I would recommend this trimmer to be the best weed trimmer for people who have small backyards and want to do the entire job in a few hours, without interruption.
Also, you don’t have to be an expert in weed trimming to handle this trimmer, all you need to know is where to plug it in and how to start the trimmer.
Gas powered weed wacker
A gas powered weed wacker is a more heavy-duty device. It is for people who love to use their hands because this weed wacker is the only one of those 3 which needs maintaining. Don’t worry it isn’t anything complicated. It is more like changing the spark plugs and cleaning the wacker.
A gas weed wacker is better if you have more durable weed in your backyard which just doesn’t seem to be destroyed by the electric weed trimmers. Gas powered weed wackers are stronger than electric ones, but also smellier (it is gas after all) and they do produce more noise.
You may want to use an electric weed eater on a Sunday morning, but don’t use the gas weed wacker if you don’t want to irritate neighbors. The gas weed wacker is the best weed wacker for people who have large yards with stubborn weed which don’t want to go away.
It is more durable and stronger than electric ones but it requires more maintenance and more money to buy one. I will dare to say that in this category, gas weed wacker is for people who know their backyard trimming.
What do you need to look at the best weed trimmer for you?
Besides types of weed trimmers, there are many things you have to think about and to make sure that you know what you need. Due to that, I have prepared you a guide that can lead you to the best weed eater for you and your backyard. You don’t have to do anything but read my guide and at the end of the guide, you will know exactly what you want your best weed wacker to be like.
The size of the yard
No matter if you have a front yard or a backyard, you have to maintain it. Think about the size of your yard.
If you have a yard that can be trimmed in under an hour, then I would recommend a battery weed eater. A battery weed eater is the best weed eater because you can do everything before the battery runs out and you don’t have to drag the cord behind you.
If you have a bigger yard which doesn’t have obstacles (like a trampoline or some tree in the middle you can’t avoid) you can use an electric corded trimmer. Even though I am more of battery weed trimmer guy, I think that on some occasions the best weed trimmer is an electric corded trimmer.
One of that situations is definitely making the job done all in one. Just imagine you have a big yard and you only have like 10 minutes of work and your battery dies. All that can be avoided with a corded trimmer (if the cord is long enough – think about the length).
Your skill level for handling weed cutter
For a rookie, the best weed trimmer is an electric one, with or without the cord, while for an expert the best weed wacker is the gas wacker.
Electric trimmers are far easier to handle and you don’t need to maintain them. The only thing you must do is to recharge the battery and after a while buy a new one. For the electric corded all you need to do is to make sure that you don’t cut the cord with the weed trimmer. If you are in Australia these are your best options.
When it comes to gas trimmers, there are more maintenance but nothing too complicated, like I mentioned earlier in the article. Also, gas-powered trimmers are more complicated due to the fact that they are powered with gas. You can’t just plug and start working, you have to have the best gas for them.
If you are a rookie in the gardening category then I suggest you take the weed wacker with a curved shaft. The curved shaft is much easier to handle because they are lighter and the curve gives you better maneuverability.
The weed wackers with straight shaft are better for taller persons because they are longer, but that also means they are heavier hence – harder to control. I suggest you don’t buy a straight shaft weed eater if you don’t have experience so you can avoid injuries.
The price & warranty of the best weed trimmer for you
Price is also something you can’t set aside. Budget dictates what is the best weed eater for you as well. Sometimes, even we don’t want to admit it, the price is our main criteria.
Overall, you have to be aware that pricier models are the gas ones, so if you don’t want to spend much on a weed eater than the best weed trimmer for you is the one with the batteries. It is the cheapest one, but it is the weakest one.
If you don’t like buying expensive items then I would suggest you make sure that the weed cutter you are interested in has a warranty. The warranty is proof of the quality and durability of any weed eater on the market. You will feel better if you invest your money in the garden trimmer that has a warranty then if you buy a yard trimmer without one no matter how affordable it is.
You can always look for best buy weed eaters and find the best solution for you in that best-buy section. Just remember, if you want to buy the best weed wacker on the market, you shouldn’t look at the price.
The best of the best reviews
The best weed eater powered by electricity – Battery weed eaters
BLACK+DECKER LST136W 40V MAX Lithium Trimmer
Black+Decker is an American company which produces gardening tools and almost everything you need for home improvement. Their weed eater is really light and gets the job done. If you don’t have strong arms, don’t worry, you won’t have any problem with carrying this electric trimmer around your yard. The battery holds approx 40 minutes, which is a downside, but on the other side, it can be fully charged in about half an hour. Due to that, I would recommend this cordless weed wacker for people with small backyards. To be sure it is the best pick for you, read my full review with pros and cons in my post about LST136W weed trimmer.
Makita XRU02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer, Tool Only
This cordless weed wacker is well balanced which means you won’t get tired using it, which is pretty important. This weed cutter is very adjustable because you can adjust the length of the shaft and the angle of the head which means you can use it in any position. But, there is one thing you need to be aware of. There are offers where you buy the Makita weed trimmer, but you have to order a battery separately so make sure that the model you are looking has both the tool and the battery. Read more about this Makita string trimmer in my full review.
DeWalt DCST920P1 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Lithium-Ion XR Brushless String Trimmer
People in DeWalt made a special gear drive design which is patented and provides better performance of the handheld grass trimmer. It is easy to handle and the unit comes with the 3-year warranty so you don’t have to doubt its quality. Just like the model above, you can buy this great quality string trimmer with the battery and without so make sure you know what you are buying. If you are interested in the unit has a charger, read the full review about DeWalt cordless lawn trimmer.
The best weed eater powered by electricity – Corded weed eaters
GreenWorks 21212 4Amp 13-Inch Corded String Trimmer
GreenWorks made one of the best weed wacker on the market when it comes to electric corded weed wackers. You don’t have to be an expert to handle this weed wacker. It is lightweight and strong enough for an average weed in the backyard. Due to the fact that it has a cord, it may not be perfect for large yards, but it is great for average size yards. It won’t break easily but don’t test it on extra durable weed, because this weed wacker isn’t made for that. If you recognized your backyard in his description read the full review of the model because it is the one you are looking for.
Toro 51480 Corded 14-Inch Electric Trimmer/Edger
Toro is a corded string trimmer that uses 5 amp motor to cut grass in your backyard. The head is 14-inch with dual-line which means it will make the job done fast and simple. The user-friendly corded trimmer has adjustable telescopic shaft and additional handle which makes this corded weed trimmer great for inexperienced owners. The length of the cord and the materials used in this handheld grass trimmer you can find out in the Toro 51480 full review.
BLACK+DECKER GH900 6.5-Amp String Trimmer/Edger
One of the best string trimmers is very impressive as it has a special AFS automatic feed system so you can continue working without any interruptions on the way. It is a lightweight string trimmer which has a telescopic shaft and pivoting handle so you can completely adjust the weed eater edger to your preferences no matter what you are doing. This grass cutting machine will help you with backyard chores and I suggest you read the full review before you buy it.
The best weed eater powered by gas
Hitachi CG23ECPSL
Hitachi is a company in Japan which produces high-quality products in many fields, not just gardening tools. Their weed eater is very durable which means it will last a long time, but it is also lightweight so you don’t have to be a professional to handle it. Also, the fact that the warranty lasts for 7 years tells a lot about the quality. It cuts ordinary weed and even stronger ones without any hassle, so if you haven’t touched the yard in your cottage for years, you could probably do it all with this weed trimmer. I must say, this weed trimmer seems like it is the best-balanced weed trimmer on the market which means you can hold it for a long time without getting tired. Read the full review about this lawn trimmer to make sure it is the one before you buy it.
Husqvarna 128LD 17-Inch Straight Shaft Detachable String Trimmer
This cordless weed wacker uses gas and it is a beast among string trimmers. This is one of the best string trimmers which has the 28cc engine and it is for more experienced users. You can cut stubborn weed without any problem with .095 diameter trimmer line. What makes this line trimmer so interesting is that it is detachable, which means you can turn it into other tools with the right equipment. If you like the possibility to have more tools in one then I suggest you read the full Husqvarna 128LD review.
Remington RM2510 Rustler 25cc 2-Cycle 16-Inch Curved Shaft Gas Trimmer
Remington’s gas trimmer has a curved shaft which makes it easy to control so you don’t have to worry about handling it. The 25cc engine starts in under a second with special QuickStart technology. The longer cutting swatch can reduce your trimming time which makes this tool great for medium backyards and if you found yourself in this gas trimmer, read the full review here and order the unit.