Hedge Trimmers

Much like their gas-powered counterparts, battery-powered trimmers come in both pole and handheld versions. They also included grip bars, blade guards, and safety shut-off triggers. However, unlike gas-powered trimmers the battery-powered models are 1) better for the environment and 2) considerably less noisy.

Many manufacturers, such as Dewalt, design their outdoor power equipment to function with the same batteries as their tools. This is definitely a plus if you already have a set of battery-powered tools.

The DeWalt that we just mentioned uses the 20v Max batteries for its model DCHT820P1. If you already have this battery for other tools then you can pick up this hedge trimmer without a battery for a reasonable price. Ego and Greenworks are also good alternatives and are in the same price range as DeWalt. If you’re looking for more budget-friendly options then Black+Decker leads the way here. They have many reasonably priced options. Another budget brand would be Sun Joe. This manufacturer puts out a 3-in-1 pole model that includes a weedeater head, pole saw head and hedge trimmer head.

You can see all of our reviews and comparisons in our article on battery-powered trimmers.

Not much difference here compared to the other two power types in regards to safety features. All of them had safety shut-off triggers, grip bars, and many of them had ample blade guards. The one big difference here is that you need an extension cord to power the tool.

Some models like the Black+Decker are only 2 prong and have no need for a grounding prong so keep this in mind if you are in need of purchasing an extension cord. One of our TekEons researchers owns many Black+Decker outdoor power equipment and construction tools. In his experience, the corded tools have a 2 prong connection surrounded by circular housing. This design flaw makes it difficult to use a grounded 3 prong extension cord with Black+Decker without some sort of plug extender going from the tool to the cord. The circular housing is too small to accommodate a 3 prong extension cord properly without damaging the extension cord.

One huge safety risk with corded electric power trimmers is accidentally cutting the cord with the trimmer. Our same TekEons researcher from above did this exact thing last year when he nearly electrocuted himself. During the course of his yard work, he was moving the cord and didn’t realize that as he had moved the cord it became draped in the blade. When he started the tool again it nearly sheared the cord in two. Although this could have been a shocking experience for our researcher he came out of it unscathed but had to go shopping for a new 100 ft extension cord.

You can see all of our reviews and comparisons in our article about electric corded trimmers.

One of the pros to using a gas-powered trimmer is the speed at which you can operate the tool. Another pro is that many brands have a model that is designed similar to a chainsaw with a grip bar and blade guards and a pole model. Some of the pole models lacked in some of the features but more on that in a minute.

Gas-powered trimmers have drawbacks too. One drawback is the noise produced by the two-stroke engine. Similar to gas-powered chainsaws and weedeaters, gas-powered hedge trimmers require gasoline and oil mixed at the correct ratios to work properly. Almost every trimmer we reviewed had a safety shut-off trigger. This trigger is designed to cut power to the machine in the event that the trigger is let go. Some other safety features included grip bars used for increased control and blade guards used to deflect your hands in the event of a slip or fall.

We were impressed with the Craftsman selection of gas-powered hedge trimmers. Craftsman has both handheld and pole versions of its trimmers. The handheld checks all the boxes for safety. It includes a grip bar for added control, a safety shut-off trigger, and an ample blade guard. The pole version was not far behind by any means. Because the oscillating trimming blade is at the end of a shaft there isn’t a need for a blade guard but it still included the safety shut-off trigger and a grip bar.

One brand we were NOT impressed with was Husqvarna. Firstly, the sticker shock of the current, as of writing, price of $500 for the 525HF3S model led us to believe that these trimmers are geared more towards commercial use than for residential homeowners. Despite having a more fuel-efficient engine, the pole model lacked a grip bar. It’s equipped with what can only be compared to as a knock-off of the hilt and guard for a Japanese Katana. Somewhat of a failure for German engineering on this. On a hot day when you’re out working and sweating, there is a higher probability of your hands slipping into the blade. The handheld version was slightly better with a blade guard but that too was disappointing compared to the size and shape of other brands. Husqvarna also puts out a line of toy replicas for children. If you’re shopping online at a site like Amazon there is potential to confuse the toy for the real deal. While doing our research for this article we noticed that this was the case when we looked up the bestseller list for Hedge Trimmers on Amazon. The replica toy was actually #1 on the list at the time!

You can see all of our reviews and comparisons in our article about gas-powered trimmers.