I tried this $229 cordless string trimmer, and now I'm done messing with gas-powered weed wackers

The Home Depot

• A high-quality string trimmer is easy to handle and control, can trim tall grass and weeds, and does an excellent job of edging.
• I like the EGO 56-Volt Lith-Ion Cordless Electric 15-Inch String Trimmer because it runs for 30 minutes on a single charge, makes reloading the cutting line effortless, and it feels comfortable and balanced in my hands.
• Though it's more expensive than most string trimmers (currently $229 from Home Depot), the EGO weed wacker comes with a 2.5 Ah battery and battery charger that are compatible with other EGO equipment, and it's backed by a five-year limited warranty.

I love my lawnmower. It does an excellent job cutting the vast majority of my yard. However, there are places where it simply does not reach no matter how hard I try. This is where a good string trimmer comes in handy. Also known as weed wackers, string trimmers get those hard-to-reach places and help you achieve nice, tidy edges along your walkways.

EGO recently sent me their 56-Volt Lith-Ion Cordless Electric 15-Inch String Trimmer to test, and I was impressed with the battery life and how comfortable it felt in my hands. Below are the details of my experience with it.

Specs

The EGO String Trimmer Kit that I tested comes with a 2.5 Ah battery, a battery charger that plugs into your wall, and some extra trimmer line. Here are the important specifications:

• Carbon fiber shaft backed by a lifetime warranty
• 15-inch cutting swath
• Dual-line
• Compatible with .095-inch and .080-inch lines
• Variable speed control
• Antivibration
• Bump line advance
• Weighs 12 pounds

Additionally, Home Depot offers a 90-day return policy on the trimmer. And, it's backed by a five-year limited warranty.

Set-up process

The Home Depot

Before using the string trimmer, you need to charge the battery. I own the EGO Rapid Charger so I indulged my impatient side and used it for a faster charge. In the meantime, I unfolded and secured the shaft, mounted the guard, and installed the front-assist handle.

Once I was done fully assembling the trimmer - a process that takes less than 30 minutes - the battery was completely charged.

The trimmer comes with the cutting line already installed in the head, but installing it yourself is simple thanks to the rapid-load head. You simply feed the line through the appropriate holes. Make sure that the same amount of line is coming out of both ends. Then, you press the line-loading button which winds the line up inside the head.

To start the trimmer, you just press the lock-off button and engage the switch trigger.

What the string trimmer is like to use

Once the trimmer was ready to go, it was quite easy to use. I don't have much experience weed-whacking so I made a point of reading the user manual closely. It was helpful and simple to follow. Before you get started, you should put on a long-sleeve shirt and pants along with eye protection.

The Home Depot

When I let the weeds go a little wild in my yard, the 2.5 Ah battery didn't have enough juice to finish the job. It came close but petered out after running for 30 minutes. Fortunately, I then turned to the 7.5 Ah battery that came with my EGO lawnmower and I was able to complete my yard work. I thought my arms would easily tire using the 7.5 Ah battery since it weighs significantly more, but the added weight was negligible.

Even with the heavier battery, the weed cutter has impressive balance. This is a major benefit during more labor-intensive jobs where muscle fatigue could become a factor.

The EGO weed wacker trims even tall weeds and grass easily on a single pass. And, along sidewalks, it produces clean edges. Though the trimmer is still fairly loud since it involves a cutting line whacking at grass and weeds, it's much quieter than gas-powered units.

The battery charger that comes with the trimmer takes about 45 minutes to charge the 2.5 Ah battery from dead to full, which was fast enough for my needs.

Cons to consider

Securing the front-assist handle to the shaft was a pain. First, I had to unscrew the four screws that held it together to fit it on the shaft. I didn't realize that the nuts weren't held in place so two of them fell out. I thought I placed them in a safe spot, but I was outside, and the wind sent them flying. I lost one and didn't have a replacement on hand. Fortunately, the handle stayed secure despite only having three screws holding it in place.

You might consider buying extra EGO batteries so you can keep whacking when your battery dies. Unfortunately, they're incredibly expensive. A new 2.5 Ah battery is currently $149 from Home Depot. At that price, it makes sense to buy another EGO tool that comes with a battery. For example, for $50 more than the price of the battery alone, you can pick up an EGO electric blower, which comes with the 2.5 Ah battery.

The Home Depot

Should you buy it?

Despite these minor drawbacks, there's a lot to love about the EGO String Trimmer. But, should you buy it? And, what model should you get?

If you just want a bottom line answer, here it is: If you are looking for a tool that will get the hard-to-reach parts of your yard and to cleans up your edges, the EGO Cordless String Trimmer is an excellent choice. This is especially true if you own other EGO outdoor equipment since you can use the batteries interchangeably. However, if you own cordless equipment from another company and the batteries are compatible, you might want to consider staying with the same brand for your weed wacker.

Which model should you get?

Home Depot offers about eight models of EGO string trimmers as well as reconditioned options. The main differences between the models are the types of shafts and accessories. Even if you have several EGO batteries, we recommend buying a trimmer that comes with a battery because the marginal cost is so low compared to buying a battery on its own. You never know when an extra might come in handy.

Some of the trimmers come with 5.0 Ah batteries. We think you can skip this option. Still, it might be helpful if trimming and edging your lawn takes more than half an hour, and you don't mind lugging around the heavier battery.

Follow this link to see the exact model that I tested.

What are your alternatives?

For recommendations on other weed whackers, check out our guide to the best string trimmers.

Overall, I strongly recommend the EGO 56v Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer if you are looking for a weed wacker that doesn't require gas, is lightweight, easy to load, and has long run and fast charge times.

Pros: Cordless, lightweight, 30-minute run time with included 2.5 Ah battery, fast 45-minute charge time, easy line loading, dual lines, the battery is compatible with other EGO equipment

Cons: Additional batteries are expensive

Buy the EGO 56-Volt Lith-Ion Cordless Electric 15-Inch String Trimmer from Home Depot for $229

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