The main selling points of this model are the Powerload line reload feature and the carbon fiber shaft. You could do without them, but personally I am really liking the auto-winding head. Having experienced it, I’d pay the premium for this feature.
The sturdy build quality, indestructible shaft and quiet brushless motor make this trimmer—dare I say it—fun to use. I know my wife is intimidated by gas powered equipment, and I imagine it’s easier to get kids involved with electric stuff as well. With proper care/maintenance I expect 10 years out of a trimmer. I don’t expect the current iterations of battery operated tools will last 10 years, without factoring for the batteries which probably won’t make it that long either. I’d prefer to have the attachment system and a split boom. The shaft for the end part comes out of a coupler.
I say temporary, because you have a 90-day return period , that you’re just going to return for a refund after getting your original tool back. Tool-free adjustments sometimes loosen up over time and can be a hassle to retighten, and so long-term the 4-screw shaft clamp will work just fine. I jammed the motor a couple of times, and it started right back up each time. I’d say that I abused the tool, and kept it running nearly continuously for a little over two hours. My three 5.0Ah batteries could have kept me going for even longer, but I ran out of line. During Testing, I didn’t make much use of the variable speed control.
One other big change EGO is making is that both the powerhead and string trimmer attachment with a carbon fiber shaft. This is the first time EGO has paired PowerLoad technology with its 56V battery-powered multi-head system. If you’re new to the feature, PowerLoad automatically winds up your trimmer line, saving you the irritation of doing it manually.
The powerload string trimmer is definitely worth the price of admission. In our testing, there’s just not a lot to complain about. The handle could stand to be a tad stiffer and larger—a small ding on an otherwise superb product. The power and balance are as solid as the previous model and there’s a noticeable weight difference in favor of the new carbon-fiber shafted model.
The other really notable feature of the new EGO Carbon Fiber String Trimmer is the Powerload auto-feeding head. Anyone who has wrestled with loading fresh line into a string trimmer head understands this. Some systems work better than others—but none work as easily as the Powerload system. However, weight distribution plays a big part in how comfortable the string trimmer actually feels. The feather-light shaft doesn’t mean a whole lot if the trimmer is unbalanced. You wind up having to physically overcompensate by keeping the heavy side lifted up.
The String Trimmer has what EGO calls POWERLOAD. It’s a silly term for a welcome and cool feature. To load string into the trimmer, all you need to do is cut the length of string you need (for me, it’s a little over two outstretched arm’s length—not very precise). Then just feed one end into and through the trimmer head. Pull the string through until you have equal lengths coming out of both sides of the trim head. Lightly hold the string creating a tiny bit of tension.
Ego seems like a great company all around and their warranties show they aren’t afraid of backing up their equipment. I read something a while back about their batteries being advanced like the Tesla batteries but I don’t know much beyond that. The multi-head attachment tool is pretty cool and dead simple to use.
I have several ego products and appreciate having the batteries to use on all the equipment. Currently we offer FREE FedEx/UPS small package Ground shipping and FREE ABF/YRC freight ground shipping on most orders of $199 or more within the 48 contiguous states. Most orders under $199 will receive $6.49 flat rate shipping. Some irregular shaped or oversized items may include a special handling charge. The charge will show on the product detail page of applicable products. Having a love of automobiles that stems from his father’s racing days, Tim has spent a lifetime around cars and trucks.