Best Battery Powered Weed Eaters - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide
by Scott Miller Updated on
In case you are tired of those heavy gas-powered weed eaters, and you need a lighter version to clear a small area, we have to suggest you buy a battery powered weed eater.
This is the period when there are so many options available thus the price has lowered, while the performance has gone up significantly.
As you are reading this we believe that you might not be sure which model is right for you, so we are offering you all the useful information related to the best battery powered weed eaters.
Our aim is to help you find one that meets your needs.
Number one on our list and definitely the best of all is the BLACK+DECKER LST136.
We can say that this is a powerful battery powered weed eater designed for small or medium-sized weed eating tasks in your yard.
You should not expect it to do the heavy duty task for you, but what you can is to transform it from a weed eater into an edger.
What you get are two different tools in one unit.
The speed setting is great as it allows you to change six power levels, thus extending the battery life, or raise the power when necessary.
There is an automatic feed spool used for replacing the trimmer line easy and fast.
The fully charged battery offers 30 minutes to an hour of runtime, depending on the heaviness of the task, and it takes about an hour to charge, which is also considered good.
Users did not notice any weaknesses so it can be concluded that this is a great choice for almost anyone.
What is great about this model is that it has the lowest price.
Users appreciate the fact that this machine is a dual edger/trimmer and that you get a telescoping handle.
Being able to adjust the height is an extra-useful feature for both tall and short users.
It uses the Worx 20V battery system, which is not as quality as DEWALT’s but still is good enough for a small to medium tasks.
If you own any other Worx 20V tools, you can use their batteries to extend how long you can run this machine without recharging.
Now, we need to mention some disadvantages.
Firstly, it comes with small wire spools so its trimming line wears down quickly.
This means that you will need to replace the line too often, and that raises the cost of operation.
It is true that the low initial price is attractive if you are looking to save money, but other characteristics might lead to additional unexpected expenses.
Greenworks has also the system based on interchangeable batteries.
The Greenworks 2101602 uses a 40V battery so you will get the same options that you get with other brands that use interchangeable batteries, but the weakness is that the batteries does not last as long as they should.
Half an hour runtime is all that you can get from this weed eater.
There are users who claim that the tool worked for only 20 minutes which was not enough for a small garden.
The tool is equipped with a variable speed trigger, so you can boost the power output when necessary.
One more disadvantage of this unit is the quality control problems with the batteries which can lead to them dying altogether/
In conclusion, this model is not at all cheap, and it does not offer what is expected from this kind of tool so we could place it no higher than fourth on our list.
We have to say that this model is a disappointing unit.
And we will start with weaknesses.
The tool does not come with a battery or a charger, thus you will need to get it and spend more money to be able to use this unit.
It is true that it is the lowest-priced model on our list, but when you add the price of batteries and chargers, it turns out to be as expensive as some more valuable units.
It also has a short total string length, and the thin gauge which is not long lasting.
The users claim to have problems with the motor burning out.
The manufacturer is not famous for great warranty periods so the buyers are suggested to avoid this model.
The initial saving of money would turn out into spending too much later on.
Battery Powered Weed Eaters: The Ultimate Buying Guide
Once you get acquainted with the characteristics of different models, we want to make you think about the features that you might want in your next battery powered weed eater.
After you check out this buyer’s guide you will be sure which one you want for yourself and you will not regret your decision.
What should I know about the weight of this tool?
Being that a battery-powered weed eater is that tool which is constantly in our hands, you will need to get the least heavy device possible.
You are aware that battery powered ones are much lighter than their gas-powered counterparts.
If you can find a model which weighs less than ten pounds, you will make your job easier and more efficient, while being less tired after the task is done.
Battery powered models sometimes are not lighter than the gas powered one due to their design.
Actually, motors in these models should weigh less than gas-powered ones.
If the case is that the motor weights more, you can be sure that the manufacturer has included the parts made of heavier, but cheaper materials.
It could also means that the tool is using the old battery technology, being that the lithium-ion batteries have a much higher energy while put into a smaller and lighter package.
On the other hand, some devices use nickel-cadmium batteries which are cheaper and far heavier.
You will not get the same amount of power, slow charge and less runtime relative to a lithium-ion battery of the same size.
What about its power?
If you are the person who is switching from a gas-powered weed eater to an electric one we understand your concern related to its power.
You cannot expect the same amount of power from electric tools, but the producers are doing their best to make electric models become much closer to gas in terms of power.
When the power is in question, we have to tell you that for yard work a battery powered weed eater will be sufficient, but if you plan to work on an industrial scale, you need to go with a gas-powered model.
This does not mean that electric models will not do the job well, but the process will be more time consuming and slower as you will need to recharge or change out batteries frequently.
So, if you plan to use it for a home lawn, you do not need to waste money on something more powerful, being that an electric model would be sufficient.
The regular runtime of even the average batteries is half an hour, while the best models can run for more than an hour on a single battery.
The power is measured in volts and 20V and 40V models are the most frequent.
The 40V are more powerful, but the fact is that they drain the battery faster, but you can always use a bigger battery, or by having a backup battery charged.
Battery sizes are measured in ampere-hours or amp-hours.
The best powered weed eaters will have about 5 amp-hours of power inside their batteries.
How important is the battery life?
There are two types of battery and getting lithium-ion batteries is the wisest choice.
By getting this kind of model, you will have both lightweight model which will also last for a good amount of time on a single charge.
And even better, if you have another charged battery ready to go, you do not have to stop working at all.
The only drawback of these batteries is that they are expensive, so many people tend to get batteries at affordable costs.
What we suggest is to get a line of tools that all use the same voltage, and thus can all use the same batteries which will be a good investment.
For example, if you get a battery powered drill, chainsaw, and weed eater, all made by DEWALT, you will have three batteries which are interchangeable and can be used on all three devices.
Once you finish the project, you can recharge them when not in use.
You can consider this before you make your decision on a battery powered weed eater.
If you have a dilemma between two battery powered weed eaters, choose the one that is compatible with the batteries of the tool you already possess.
Is guard quality significant?
The guard is a very important part of the weed eater, being that it can happen that small rocks or other debris are launched at your legs.
When the safety is in question, you should get a weed eater with a high-quality guard. The proper clothes should be worn, such as jeans, but if you are doing the task on a hot day, having a good guard can protect you from cuts on your legs.
You should be aware of the fact that the bigger the guards are, the protection is better, but at the same time the weight of your tool will be greater.
So, usually a very light weed eater has a smaller guard, while a bit heavier ones have a larger and more effective guard.
Additional advantage is the ability to switch between weed eating and edging modes in some models, but you should know that the guard that comes with these models tends to not be the greatest.
What are feed reloading features?
Replacing of the trimmer line at some point will be required, no matter which tool you decide to get.
The users claim that with some models this was an inconvenient task while with the others it was a simple one.
What we want to draw your attention to is that thicker trimmer line gauges hold up better and need to be replaced less often.
Its disadvantage is that they are heavier and require more power to use.
There are models which include an automatic feed and this feature greatly decreases the frequency that you have to replace trimmer line.
The next best variety features a bump mechanism, meaning that by tapping the spinning head on the ground, you can release more trimmer line as needed.
This is considered great as other models release trimmer line when they are turned off, and you do not want to turn your weed eater on and off while you work.
Additionally, the startup is nearly instantaneous on electric models.
You will not need to pull a cord repeatedly.
You have to know that there are models which will require that you feed the wire and set the length by hand, so our suggestion is to get models with a better system for the same price.
How to know which one is the right for me?
When determining which battery powered weed eater is the right for you, you need to figure out how long it would take you to clear weeds from your yard and thus decide which battery would satisfy your needs.
Those who own a gas-powered model can easily measure how long it takes to finish the task and thus determine the necessary runtime of the battery, the kind of power and battery life that you will need to clean up your yard.
By reading the reviews of both satisfied and dissatisfied users, you can do your own research of the batteries available on the market.
You should get acquainted with the price of replaceable batteries or the quality of the other tools that use the same batteries.
Being that the same batteries can be used on some other products from that line, it can be a valuable investment in the future.
You can even choose to get the cheapest model, as long as it has all of the features that you need.
Conclusion
In the conclusion, we can say once again that the BLACK+DECKER LST136 is our top choice.
This is due to its dual trimming and edging modes, the option to maximize power, runtime and excellent battery longevity.
The runner-up – the DEWALT DCST920P offers good battery life, but has some quality control issues.
The Worx WG163 is the best value for the money, coming with a telescoping handle for length adjustment.
What we found bad about the Greenworks 2101602 is poor runtime and quality control problems.
The last one on our list – the Ryobi RY40204 2016 is cheap but should be avoided due to numerous issues.
After reading our reviews and buyer’s guide we believe that you are armed with information and able to make a well-informed decision.
by 
