Review: The Best Strimmers and Grass Cutters for Your Garden

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There’s a fine (usually nylon) line between a good-looking garden and a great-looking one, and it’s attached to the best strimmers or brush cutters on the market. These tools form an essential part of any garden armoury, tackling everything from delicate jobs, such as delivering a nice crisp edge (which escapes most mowers’ blades), to taking on tougher tangled patches of thorns and ivy that quickly encroach on areas of the garden that don’t get much footfall.

Effortless Feed Mechanism

What’s also essential is the strimmer has an effortless feed mechanism, as a broken line is inevitable, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping to ensure there is enough cord spinning around for the machine to do its job effectively. No matter how efficient the feed, you will eventually run out of line, so, we assessed each model on how easy it was to respool – all the machines in our edit made the job of resupplying the line headache-free.

Ergonomics and Comfort

There aren’t too many extras when it comes to strimmers, apart from the overall ergonomics of each machine – from the shoulder strap or harness to the hand holds – so, we needed to find out if we could work in comfort, without having to fight the machine, as we put the finishing touches to lawned areas and battled the brush in our garden.

How we tested the best cordless strimmers and grass cutters

We had an acre of land on which to test all the machines. Within that space, there were dense patches of unruly vegetation, as well as a lawned area that had just been mown. We put each machine through its paces, using it to edge borders, taper up to walls, fences and around trees and scythe through areas that were hip height in long grass and choked with scrub.

The Best Strimmers for 2024

After thorough testing, we have compiled a list of the best strimmers and grass cutters for your garden:

1. Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 Grass Strimmer

Price: £398.99

Available at: Amazon.co.uk

This strimmer stood out as the best overall performer in our tests. It handled both delicate edging and tough overgrown areas with ease, thanks to its powerful motor and efficient feed mechanism.

2. Spear and Jackson S4528ET Strimmer

Price: £46.50

Available at: Argos.co.uk

For those on a budget, this strimmer offers great value for money. It may not have all the bells and whistles of higher-end models, but it gets the job done effectively.

3. Stihl FSA 57 Strimmer

Price: £144.99

Available at: Sam-turner.co.uk

If you have a small city garden, this strimmer is the perfect choice. It is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and delivers impressive results in tight spaces.

4. Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A Strimmer

Price: £155

Available at: Toolstoday.co.uk

For those with limited storage space, this compact strimmer is a great option. Despite its small size, it packs a punch and can handle a variety of tasks in the garden.

Overall, investing in a quality strimmer or grass cutter can make a significant difference in the appearance of your garden. Whether you have a small urban plot or a sprawling rural landscape, there is a model out there to suit your needs. Consider the features that are most important to you, such as power, feed mechanism, and ergonomics, and choose a strimmer that will help you achieve the garden of your dreams.