Best Electric Whipper Snippers
Stihl FSE 71
- Price (RRP) $199
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeBent and Extendable / Telescopic
- Power SourcesElectrical
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If you want to spend more time trying to coax the line out of the spool, constantly re-feeding the line because it’s disappeared inside AGAIN, all… Read more
the while practising your swearing, this is the line trimmer for you. The tap and release feature has NEVER worked so the line constantly disappears inside, resulting in you having to take it apart and re-feed the line several times while trying to work on the garden. Nightmare piece of kit and a waste of money.
Ozito LTR-529
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeExtendable / Telescopic
- Power SourcesElectrical
Great price, works well with thicker line – I bought this so I could keep my driveway and footpath edges tidy and straight. I've used it 3 times and the cutting cord was annoying as it kept… Read more
breaking and freying. On the 3rd use I changed the cord to a thicker one and it worked great. The handle is a bit short for me as I am 180cm tall but I only use as an edger so no lifting or bending. For the price I think it is easy to use and works well and is quite light . It beats using our petrol one as I find it hard to use. I recommend this product for small jobs.
Bosclip BAP/ELE/002
- Price (RRP) $449
- Power SourcesElectrical
Best lawn edger – I have been using this product for the last 40 years and it does a great job. It is fast and easy to use. The only hassle is the extension cord. I think this company should seriously look at manufacturing a rechargeable battery model. Show details
Stihl FSA 45
- Price (RRP) $199
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeExtendable / Telescopic
- Power SourcesBattery (Built-In)
Stihl's claim of 20mins running is rubbish. The best I've had is 10mins, average would be 7 mins if lucky. And you have to endure over 2 hour charge… Read more
just to get that. After about 100 uses it now runs intermittently even though the battery is charged. Absolute garbage. They should reclaim them all and give us our money back. Too much of this sort of poor quality foistered on the public these days.
Ryobi R18LTR24
- Price (RRP) $229
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeExtendable / Telescopic and Straight
- Power SourcesBattery (Removable)
Lightweight, suit small/courtyard garden. I got this 'for my wife' a few years back, but after recent ill-health, this is all I can manage. (The… Read more
30-year-old shaft-drive Stihl 'Still Going' too heavy for now, much more powerful.) The original 'blue string (1.6mm?)' doesn't last well for harder work; the green 2mm string seems to be a better deal. It works, and uses the standard 18V batteries, if one is building up 'a Ryobi collection'. The string comes out one side only; for heavier work one should look at a different tool. Tip: the 2mm string comes in 3X 3.3m lengths in prepacked canisters at $28; Ryobi string by itself is $12 for 15m, and a Saxon round line is $5.50 for 15m. That works out at $2.80/m, $0.80/m, and $0.37/m respectively. A bit of DIY saves $$.
Ozito LWE-1405
- Price (RRP) $99
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeExtendable / Telescopic and Straight
I love this, it has saved me so much time when I'm doing my lawn. The edger is powerful, easy to control, and gives very clean, straight edges along… Read more
the lawn edges. It feels well built for the price and makes lawn maintenance much quicker and easier. Highly recommend for anyone doing regular yard work and not wanting to use heavy equipment.
Ryobi 18V One+ R18LTR52
- Price (RRP) $149
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeStraight
- Power SourcesBattery (Removable)
This Ryobi weed whacker is lightweight and extremely handy; you can even hang it on a solid sized coat hanger! However, while a capable performer, be… Read more
warned; this is one for small spaces as the 18V battery power falls woefully short. With a longer lasting battery, this would soar beyond a merely average rating. Be further warned, that consumables are not covered under warranty. So the story goes like this…
Buy product from Bunnings. Register for extra warranty with Ryobi. Within 6-7 months of use, overheats and part holding snipper falls off. Contact Ryobi, who tell me to contact Bunnings. Contact Bunnings, who contact Ryobi. Conclusion; Not covered under warranty.
As a comparison, a company like Dyson offers you parts and labour for 2 years upon registering for the second year. This, however, is particularly poor from Ryobi (false expectations) and especially poor from Bunnings, who usually have much higher standards in customer service; when you have bought a mower and two weed whackers you are pretty much all in and would expect better, (as from past experiences they have rarely disappointed and actually surpassed expectations!)
Performance
While a little short compared to other Ryobi whipper snippers, performance is solid and if you haven't got a lot to do, you'll have a good-ish time in the process, but more demanding gardens will leave you with 10-15 minutes battery if you are lucky. The battery takes around an hour to charge, and there's an indicator via a switch on the battery for how much power remains. While this machine is capable of impressive results in bigger spaces, it comes at the detriment of the battery, more prolonged efforts and aches and strains. Certainly, researching the right technique enhances productivity. Be sure to buy some extra spools, also, as these will need changing for more demanding lawns; you can buy Ryobi or aftermarket ones from Bunnings, eBay etc.
Warranty
Ryobi offer a warranty (see the photos) with a further 2 years if you register online within a month.
Battery
If you want a bigger battery and have bigger spaces or a gigantic garden, then go with the 4Ah battery, which will also five you a longer reach, but keep in mind the heavier weight. This 2Ah battery version will delight those with extremely compact gardens / paths etc.
Weight
For those who want something not too heavy on the wrists or arms, this probably the go to first choice. Get this right, as the wrong pick may also impact you with repetitive strain, so choose your tool wisely. There's plenty of options, but it might be wise to research before buying. as the lightest model and with continued, from experience, with regular use, you will get used it and those teething aches and strains should stop occuring. The 4Ah battery version trades weight for power, but you will feel it a lot more so choose wisely.
First time users...
Also be sure to have the right gear to wear (e.g. PPE, long pants, proper footwear) beware of the great outdoors (sunscreen, bug spray etc) and keep in mind common sense practices (extreme heat will degrade the battery, don't use in wet conditions, clean the guard and always remove the battery when doing so.)
Overall, but for the calamity breakage, performance and convenience wise this offers a steady introduction if you are dipping your feet into Ryobi and / or gardening waters and will encourage you to explore other options that might be better suited.
Stihl FSE 52
- Price (RRP) $149
- Handle TypeLoop Handle
- Shaft TypeStraight
- Power SourcesElectrical
Poor design – Beware, the trimmer head of this model is poorly designed, and even worse it cannot be removed/replaced. I got sick of endlessly having to stop work… Read more
due to constantly losing the line feed due to the unreliable 'bump' mechanism so bought a replacement 'unbreakable' head that had good reviews. Unfortunately the design of my FSE 52 doesn't allow the head to be removed. According to the manual, some FSE 52s have a separate fanwheel and the head is replaceable. Other types, like mine, have an all in one fanwheel/head that can't be removed. Wish the dealer had mentioned this...