
Best 10 Strimmers
As Of May 2022
We did the
Keep your garden free from unwanted long grass by using the Best Strimmer!
The grass is a natural element of your garden that has the habit of growing. And to keep in form overgrowing, it is necessary for you to keep it trimmed all the time. Not only for the sake of maintenance but trimming excessive grass in your garden is also necessary to make it look good.
Now, a lawnmower can seem like a great option for keeping your garden free from excessively long grass. But, the problem with it is the precision. It cannot be used to cut the grass on the edges of the garden or on the decking.
For this, you will need different types of garden tools. One of the best is a strimmer! Alternatively, you can even go for a hedge trimmer. It will help you cut the grass closely and keep your garden in a tip-top state. Here are some indispensable things that you need to know about these great tools.
What is a Grass Trimmer?
It is a power tool used to trim small as well as big garden grass. It is primarily used for trimming grass on the edges of the garden for keeping them fine-lined and tidy. Moreover, it is just like a lawnmower, but the way to deal with garden grass is a bit easy.
For instance, a lawnmower may get damaged if it is used to trim long wispy grass, but a trimmer is a handy tool used to easily remove excessive grass, big or small.
They either use plastic blades or a nylon line to cut the grass. The trimmers that use nylon lines are termed strimmers.
Why do you need a Grass Trimmer?
They don’t just run on electric power as most of the products mentioned above. They use other resources also for trimming grass. Here are some types of grass trimmers based on the fuel they use.
1. Petrol
As teased in the name, these are models that are primarily used for heavy-duty work. Unlike other trimmers, these are perfect to be used for trimming large gardens or allotments. The best thing about petrol ones is that they can be used for a longer time. Interestingly, a petrol trimmer can also be used as a brushcutter to trim brambles.
2. Cordless
This is one of the best string trimmers if you are looking for a lightweight, ergonomic and portable design. They are packed with a lithium-ion battery that enables them to be used without the hassle of managing messy cables.
The cool thing is that you can take it anywhere in your backyard or front yard for grass trimming. The drawback of these models is that you cannot use them for a long time as their battery needs timely recharging. Moreover, they are expensive.
3. Electric
The best thing about the electric ones is their cost. They are relatively cheaper with respect to other variants. But, they can only be used for light jobs. Other than this, they need a consistent supply of direct electricity which means you cannot trim beyond a particular distance. The length of the cable is the necessary factor to look at while choosing this type of trimmer. Yet again, this could be fixed with an extension lead.
Types of Grass Trimmers
They don’t just run on electric power as most of the products mentioned above. They use other resources also for trimming grass. Here are some types of grass trimmers based on the fuel they use.
Petrol
As teased in the name, these are petrol models that are primarily used for heavy-duty work. Unlike other trimmers, these are perfect to be used for trimming large gardens or allotments. The best thing about petrol models is that they can be used for a longer time. Interestingly, a petrol trimmer can also be used as a brushcutter to trim brambles.
Cordless
This is one of the best string trimmers if you are looking for a lightweight, ergonomic and portable design. They are packed with a lithium-ion battery that enables them to be used without the hassle of managing messy cables.
The cool thing is that you can take it anywhere in your backyard or front yard for grass trimming. The drawback of these models is that you cannot use them for a long time as their battery needs timely recharging. Moreover, they are expensive but more eco-friendly.
Electric
The best thing about the electric ones is their cost. They are relatively cheaper with respect to other variants. But, they can only be used for light jobs. Other than this, they need a consistent supply of direct electricity which means you cannot trim beyond a particular distance. The length of the cable is the necessary factor to look at while choosing this type of trimmer.
How do grass trimmers work?
They either use plastic blades or a nylon wire to trim the excessive grass. But, most of the best ones use nylon wire these days. It may seem a bit odd to you, but a speedy nylon wire can provide you with a precise yet smooth cut.
The basic working of the best strimmer includes a nylon line rotating at high speed under the effect of centrifugal force. This nylon wire becomes so stiff and sharp while rotating that it can easily slice off the excessive grass in an instant without any additional force. The grass cutting takes place at the periphery of the trimmer, not at the centre.
When at rest, the wire is not that stiff and can be replaced if damaged. The only thing that varies among various models is the power source.
This is the most critical part, as here we will analyse the factors that you need to take care of while choosing a grass trimmer. As there are countless choices, anyone can get confused about choosing the best product. So, here are some things that you need to check!
1. Handles
Anything that makes a grass trimmer different from other gardening products is the handling. So, do check what type of handles a trimmer has. For instance, if the trimmer has telescopic handles, it will be ideal for users of all heights. Moreover, go for loop handles if you like to work in various positions like sideways or around the impediments.
Wide handles will be best for working in a wide area for a long time. Choose as per your need and preference.
2. Battery power
If you are choosing a model without a cord, it is necessary to check the battery life Most of the battery-powered trimmers can go up to 2500 meters on a single charge. Besides, in terms of time, they can last from 15 minutes to up to 1 hour. Apart from this, it is also crucial to check the time required for charging the battery. Batteries that are of 2.5 or 5 Ah take up to 5 hours to charge, depending on the charger. The chargers are not usually included in the trimmer package so keep that in mind if you want to use it right away.
3. Trimmer head
Its functionality should be closely analysed while choosing one. As the trimmer head allows you to cut the grass on the edges, ensure that it is angle adjustable and rotatable. With an adjustable angle head, you can easily trim grass ever under your garden furniture. At the same time, a rotatable head allows you to finely cut the grass vertically for fantastic results.
4. Weight
Although almost all of them are made lightweight, it is still necessary to verify their weight as it can be difficult to handle based on the person using it. Most of the them come in a weight range of 1.5 to 3.5 kg. Ensure you choose the one that you can handle comfortably for a long time so your hands don’t strain.
5. Width
Everyone wants to finish their work faster, right? Well, for that, it is necessary to check the cutting width. The longer will be the width; the lesser will be the time required to finish the job. Some of the best cordless and electric models come with a 20cm to 35cm width. This number increases in the case of petrol ones, it can go up to 42cm and above.
6. Add-on features
Other than these basic features, you can also look for add-on features that can make your trimming experience better. Here are some of them:
- LCD display: It is generally found in cordless models. The LCD display informs about the battery level of the trimmer so you’ll never run out of battery.
- Cord length: If you are choosing an electric trimmer, it is necessary to look for the one that has a long cord. Look for a trimmer that has a cord length between 10-15 meters.
- The wheel on the trimmer head: A wheel on it helps in cutting the grass at a constant height.
What's the difference between a grass trimmer & a strimmer?
There is no difference between the two based on the functionality. Strimmer is just a short name for this garden tool. There are electric strimmers and models without a cord.
But, a brushcutter is a bit of a different device. It uses metal blades in place of nylon wire for cutting the grass and even small trees.
How important is a trimmer’s cutting width?
As discussed in one of the points above, it is an important aspect to consider while picking the best one. Why?
It affects various other aspects of the machine, such as:
- Power: The more the width; more power will be required to run.
- Clearance: The more the cutting length; more clearance will be needed of the machine. This means you can trim more area in less time.
- Weight: The weight of the trimmer is also affected by the width. As power increases, the weight of the motor also increases.
How much should you spend on a trimmer?
The price of a strimmer is strictly dependent on the features that you are looking for in it. If we have to arrive at a price range of strimmers, it can vary from £20 to over £200.
If we talk about the type of strimmers, the electric trimmers have a price below £100. There is very little possibility that you will spend over £100.
On the other hand, the cordless strimmers are pricey as compared to the electric ones. They may cost you as low as £65 and as high as over £200. Apart from this, the price may also go up based on the brand value and add-ons like charger and battery.
Final Words...
It is worthy to note that a grass cutter is one of the best power tools that you can have in your garden shed. We can safely say that choosing a tool like this one is not a cakewalk. You need to be aware of a plethora of factors while making your choice.
This is why we created this thorough guide, to help you make the best decision for you and your grass. Keep all the essential things in mind and we are certain you’ll end up with the perfect grass trimmer for you! Enjoy that great-looking lawn of yours next time while sipping coffee on the patio.