This trimmer cut through 1-inch-thick Japanese knotweed as if it were grass, while the others pathetically slapped their strings against the thick stalks. Considering all that sun joe lawn mower power, you’d expect this trimmer to be noisy. But it was the quietest tool we tested, with a hair-dryer-like hum that sounded more pleasant than the whine of its competitors.
10 weeks later, after dropping it off at HD and having them ship the entire trimmer to a service center somewhere, it came back a bit scratched up but with a new $2 plastic trigger installed. The runtime was actually impressive given how I was using the trimmer to cut thick tall grass and thicker-stemmed weeds that I had no business using a string trimmer on. I think that the 2.5Ah battery included in the kits would power the trimmer through at least several quick maintenance-trimming sun joe lawn mower sessions. To convert the trimmer into a mini-mower, you remove the wheels and reinstall them at the back of the debris guard, so they stick down below the plane of the trimmer string. Now you have a string trimmer on wheels, so it’s a little easier to maintain a consistent height above ground level. When we tested the mower function, we found it easy to roll the trimmer back and forth but harder to keep it parallel to the ground for a truly consistent cut.
So far, EGO has already proven itself over and over again in terms of both power and runtime. Turning their sights on ergonomics just makes good sense. We’ve already been impressed with what we’ve experienced first-hand with this tool.
I use it without the guard as that gives me much more precise control . If you are careful to always work opposite the string rotation direction, it’s not a problem. The trimmer I reviewed comes with a 2.5Ah battery and charger. If you already own some EGO products and have enough batteries, the trimmer can be purchased sans battery at a lower price. Yes, the battery always dies sooner than I like, but the EGO batteries run at full power until they need recharging with no power fade—a great feature. Extra batteries can always be purchased, but they are not cheap.
Fortunately, the guard keeps the flying detritus from our faces, and the noise level is what we’ve come to expect from quieter battery-powered tools. Ego sells larger batteries for longer jobs, as well as a rapid charger, and these are pricey, especially if you’re not committed to the Ego line of tools. When he’s not remodeling part of his house or playing with the latest power tool, Clint enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader. He has a degree in recording engineering and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.