would like comparison of string trimmers

[Duds13]

Echo 2620 owner here. Love it. Starts much easier than my pervious Stihl trimmer, and changing the line is so much easier with the speed feed. I'm 6'3" but still added the attachment in the link below and it is a game changer.

Buy Darwin’s Grip PRO for USD 69.99-329.99

Stand tall with the heavy-duty Darwin's Grip PRO. This aluminum weedeater and string trimmer extension lets you stand up straight & reduce strain.

www.ballard-inc.com

I have been using an Ego electric at my parent's house recently and it is pretty nice. Much shorter though so the attachment in the link above would make it much better.

 

[kenmbz]

I have a Stihl FS110, always finicky on first start after a few months, but once running I use a blade to take out brush. With the handlebars it is quite easy to handle and the weight is a big improvement over my last brushcutter. I have hundreds of hours and it runs like new.

I have an M18 string trimmer, but I already have many M18 batteries. I use it for 2 hours at a time to get through the many sections. 600 foot shared road, 150 foot trench , both sides. Around the road frontage about 300', and along the lawns about 900'.
So I do one section at a time in rotation.
The easy loading head works great, use. Weight is good with 8AH batteries. Use 3 batteries per section.
Third year using this trimmer instead of a gas one.

I am 6' tall and find the straight shafts just long enough for me.

If I ever switch the Stihl back to trimmer, I would get the same/similar head like the M18 has.
Being able to just line up the head and slip in 15' of string and turn the head to wind the spool means I can be back up in a few minutes out in the field with string.

 

[kozal01]

What great input. I am attempting to compare/narrow down the trimmers by weight(would like around 10 lbs) and cc(may stay around 25). And, to keep it simple, will not be looking at any trimmers that accept attachments, that will just complicate comparisons. Probably will not go battery option as I did get a battery powered chainsaw and dislike it intensely, mainly for the lack of power.
Saw comments, on a lawn care site, that the Stihl FS94 can be persnickety in starting. Especially when warm outside. Have you found that so?

The FS94 I had has been the only Stihl tool that I didn't like, it was finicky and not very powerful. My KM130 Kombi unit has been a workhorse and absolutely reliable for the 10 or so years Ive had it.

 

[skipmarcy]

Maruyama here. On my 2nd one now for 8 years, the first one lasted 19 years. 23cc - NEVER a starting issue on either one. I use it HOURS at a time, .095 Oregon square string on speed feed head(s) - I go thru heads every 2 or 3 years. Light weight (10 lb) and less vibration than Husq and others I've tried.

 

[kozal01]

Maruyama here. On my 2nd one now for 8 years, the first one lasted 19 years. 23cc - NEVER a starting issue on either one. I use it HOURS at a time, .095 Oregon square string on speed feed head(s) - I go thru heads every 2 or 3 years. Light weight (10 lb) and less vibration than Husq and others I've tried.

I should have mentioned Maruyama, I have one as a lightweight option for big trimming jobs. It is a fantastic trimmer, light, powerful for its CC and butter smooth. If I could only have one trimmer though Id keep my KM130, its way more powerful than my 25cc Maruyama.

 

[mrmikey]

I would like to try the Darwin grip because of all the good reviews on it but I'm not going to get hosed on price because I live in Canada. The US$ price of $70 is CAN$95 so why is it CAN$145 which equates to US$ 107