TOP 12 best hedge trimmers: review, quality, price

You can also trim a bush or cut off young shoots on the site using hand tools.But only if you have to do this a couple of times a year and in a small area. In other cases, brush cutters come to the rescue. It is with their help that you can free your beds or lawn from annoying growths.

What to look for when choosing

A hedge trimmer is the general name for a mechanized device for cutting off dense, solid remains of grass, branches, and shoots that make their way through the ground. Which hedge trimmer is best to buy depends on the purpose of use. In general, it is heavier than traditional trimmers and electric trimmers, as it uses a more powerful motor and a special cutting tool. Moreover, the shape and dimensions of the cutting parts may differ between different models, depending on the capacity and main purpose.

Typically a milling cutter, a long serrated rod with a sharp edge, or a short comb-like knife with several teeth is used.

The most common option is a long rod with moving teeth on it. The size of the rod and teeth, as well as the speed of movement, depends on the specific model and the nature of the material that is planned to be trimmed on bushes or trees.

It is clear that pruning requires a certain amount of physical effort, so when choosing a hedge trimmer you need to pay attention to the grip of the handle.Gasoline and high-power corded models are usually designed for two-handed operation. Brush cutters are simpler, battery-powered, usually made for one-handed grip and with a small cutting edge.

When choosing a model, you need to pay attention to:

• tool weight;
• engine power;
• quality of the cutting edge, some manufacturing companies make blades from special steel;
• knife format - single-sided or double-sided;
• engine features;
• Duration of operation depending on battery charge or tank capacity.

It is clear that the most powerful models are made with a gasoline engine, usually a two-stroke. If possible, it is better to choose the option with a light gasoline engine. The lighter the weight, the easier it is to work. Usually you have to hold the tool at arm's length to reach the tops of bushes or trim the top of a hedge.

The classic version is designed more like a regular chainsaw or a large hair clipper.

There is another type of tool that can roughly be classified as trimmers. These are rod models; instead of a flat knife, they have a milling cutter installed on the rod. It can also be used to form the volume of bushes, select shoots or trim the crown of trees.

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Manufacturers and models of brush cutters

The market for gardening and special manual equipment for plant care is a huge business.Traditionally, large companies producing garden tools occupy a leading position in this niche:

• Bosch;
• Makita;
• Black&Dekker;
• Gardena.

The tools of these companies are valued primarily for the high quality of mechanics, saw drives, gearboxes, engines, both electric and gasoline.

You can also buy a cheaper Chinese version. Most often, manufacturing companies from China copy far from the worst models. Such a tool turns out to be cheaper, but the reliability and service life remain low.

Therefore, you can either purchase a obviously high-quality, but very expensive device, or limit yourself to its Asian clone.

If we compare tools in terms of reliability and quality of work, then the leaders in the niche of gasoline-powered hedge trimmers will be Makita, Gardena, and Ryobi. They usually hold first place in the ranking of the best hedge trimmers in terms of reliability and ease of use.

The best gasoline hedge trimmers

When choosing a gasoline version of a tool, first of all you need to pay attention to 2 main parts - the knife-saw and the engine itself. Both parts must be as reliable, durable and easy to customize as possible. You will have to do this constantly, much like what happens with a chainsaw.

In addition, you need to pay attention to the presence of protection from flying cuttings, sawdust and pieces of leaves. A tool with a gasoline engine is one of the most powerful, so debris flies away at great speed.

Husqvarna 545FX

Today, Husqvarna is the top of the best gasoline devices that can be found on the market. Primarily because of the engine.If the gearbox or drive of the cutter knife can somehow be replaced or adjusted, then with a poor gasoline engine, the brush cutter will create a huge number of problems with frequent stops and unstable operation.

Swedish indestructible engines are expensive, but they last a long time and withstand the most barbaric maintenance. All thanks to the high quality of metal, assembly and special coating of parts. It is clear that Husqvarna hedge trimmers have a reliable drive and tool itself.

If you need a tool for large volumes, then you can choose the Husqvarna 545FX. Classic boom design, the engine is at the top behind the back, at the bottom of the console there is a drive with a rotating cutter. Exhaust gases do not interfere with work, and the brush cutter's suspension system on wide belts with support on the back and shoulders makes trimming branches and dead wood more comfortable.

Characteristics:

1. Weight in working position – 8.4 kg.
2. Gasoline engine power is 2.3 kW (3 hp).
3. Fuel consumption – 1.2 l/h.
4. The cutting width of the brush cutter knife is 24 cm.
5. The suspended boom design is more convenient to operate than gasoline versions with flat serrated blades.
6. Less vibration.
7. Less strain on the hands, since the entire weight of the engine and frame is transferred to the belt suspension-equipment.

Easy starting of a gasoline engine. For powerful motors with a serrated knife located on the engine, starting with a recoil starter, even when hot, requires significant physical effort.

The only disadvantage of the Husqvarna 545FX is the smaller size of the cutting edge of the cutter. You have to make several passes with a pole hedge trimmer, whereas a flat knife cuts everything in one go. In addition, the price for Husqvarna 545FX is clearly overpriced - 87 thousand rubles.

Stihl HS 45

A popular model for use on the property, in the garden or in the country. The Stihl HS 45 is designed according to the classic design with a double-sided flat blade, 60 cm long. In its appearance and drive design from a gasoline engine, the Stihl is in many ways reminiscent of a regular chainsaw, so using a brush cutter will require strong hands. The weight of the tool prepared for work is 5 kg.

The blade is covered with a cover, so it is safe to work with. True, you need to do this with headphones, since the sound level during the exhaust reaches 110 dB. Thanks to the high quality of the metal and the special shape of the teeth sharpening, the blade easily cuts branches up to 10 mm thick.

Characteristics:

1. Engine power – 0.75 kW (1 hp).
2. Total length – 110 cm (motor plus knife).
3. Fuel consumption (gasoline plus oil) – 350 ml/h.
4. Built-in 225 ml tank.

The main purpose of the Stihl HS 45 is to trim hedges and ornamental shrubs. Use in landscape design. You can briefly cut dead wood and large stems of woody shrubs. But this type of work should not exceed 5% of the operating time.

If you use Stihl HS 45 only for thin branches, then the tool life will be at least 2 thousand hours. At least Stihl provides a 24 month warranty on the hedge trimmer. from the moment of purchase.

Husqvarna 122 HD45

Another version of the brush cutter from the Swedish company of the same name. In this case, the unit is made according to the more familiar cantilever mounting scheme for flat knives. The Husqvarna 122 HD45 has a double-edged tool with a length of 60 cm.

The main part of the brush cutter - the engine - is made according to the traditional Huksvarna design. In fact, this is a standard 0.82 liter gasoline engine. With. (0.6 kW).Similar two-stroke engines are used for manual electric mowers and trimmers.

Characteristics:

1. Weight – 4.5 kg.
2. Fuel consumption at maximum load is 300 ml/h, at idle 180 ml.
3. The maximum diameter of a branch that can be cut with the tool is 20 mm, while a pair of teeth opens up to 28 mm during operation.
4. The sound pressure at the engine exhaust is 101 dB, at the level of the operator’s ears – 97. So, when working with a hedge trimmer, you must use headphones.

In general, the cutting speed is quite high. Despite the fact that the Husqvarna 122 HD45 has the lowest engine power compared to its competitors, the engine is responsive and picks up speed very quickly. It is clear that it is far from the level of electric models, but, according to reviews from owners, the sensations when cutting bushes are approximately the same as when working with a network hedge trimmer.

The Husqvarna 122 HD45 is manufactured in factories in China, so the build quality is lower, and the company’s warranty is only 12 months. Price – 31 thousand rubles.

PATRIOT SLP 800

Heavy, but at the same time powerful and reliable device made in China. Developed by the parent company in the USA, manufactured in a factory in China. Like most American models of hand tools with a gasoline engine, the Patriot is distinguished by its large weight, dimensions, endurance and fuel consumption.

Characteristics of PATRIOT SLP 800:

1. Weight (motor plus flat knife) – 6 kg;
2. Motor power 1.4 hp;
3. Dimensions of a double-sided knife: length 80 cm, cutting thickness 10 mm;
4. Fuel consumption (A92 gasoline plus oil for two-stroke engines) – 380 ml/h. A tank with a capacity of 450 ml is enough for 60-70 minutes of work.

This is more than enough, since working with a huge blade with a brush cutter weighing 6 kg is difficult even for a physically strong person. The main advantage of the Patriot is its high torque at low speeds. If a thick branch (more than 25 mm in diameter) gets under the blade of the hedge trimmer, the tool will not stall, but will bite into the dead wood to the end.

But this is still not a chainsaw, so experimenting with material thicker than 25 mm is not recommended. The tool copes with all types of overgrowth, dead wood, and shrubs, but cannot be used for cutting wood. The design of the knife is such that the cut is made to a shallow depth, the motor is powerful, so if you do not comply with the size restrictions, you can simply break the gearbox or the fastening of the cutting part of the tool.

Price RUB 18,900, 3-year warranty.

The best corded hedge trimmers

The category includes tools equipped with a DC electric motor powered by a 220 V mains. Corded hedge trimmers are gradually replacing gasoline models for several reasons:

1. No need to breathe fumes from burnt gasoline. There is no need to fuss with gasoline and lubricating oil.
2. More comfortable working conditions, less noise, no need to use headphones.
3. Electric corded models are lighter than gasoline models.

A corded tool is typically used for trimming branches or trimming hedges near a home. Therefore, the fact that connecting a hedge trimmer requires a long carry does not particularly affect the level of comfort. But the carrying network extension cord must have conductors with a cross-section of at least 1.5-2 mm2 and no longer than 30 m.Otherwise, the voltage drop across the extension cord will be large, and the electric motor will not develop the required power.

GARDENA ComfortCut 550/50

The hedge trimmer is manufactured in Germany, so the reliability of all parts of the tool is higher than that of Chinese competitors. But at the same time the price is higher. Today GARDENA ComfortCut 550/50 costs 16 thousand rubles. This is the option when a brush cutter is purchased once for 20 years of use, so as not to have problems with engine repair and maintenance.

Characteristics:

1. Weight – 3.6 kg.
2. The length of the cutting edge of the knife is 50 cm, the blade has one-sided teeth.
3. Engine power – 550 W.
4. At the same time, the force on the moving part of the knife is approximately twice as high as that of most gasoline versions.

The design is reliable, the handle is not telescopic and not adjustable, but the grip is comfortable, so you can work with the device without experiencing discomfort from the weight of the tool.

Black&Decker BEHTS301

A more powerful version of the corded hedge trimmer from the once popular Black & Decker brand. Now the brand and the instrument itself belong to the PRC. Price – 7700 rub.

In terms of basic characteristics, BEHTS 301 is somewhat inferior to Gardena. For example, the motor power is only 500 W, while the competitor has 550 W. But at the same time, the brush cutter turned out to be much lighter, 2.47 kg, and an additional handle appeared in the design for a more secure hold with both hands.

Another advantage concerns the design of the knife. It's two-sided. Moreover, at the end of the blade there is a saw with a fine notch. That is, using a brush cutter you can easily cut dry branches with a diameter of up to 35 mm. So, in addition to cultivating the appearance of a hedge, the Black+Decker BEHTS301 can be used for pruning trees in the garden and even sawing brushwood.It will not be possible to cut firewood like an electric saw, but it is possible to remove dead wood and cut dead wood to light the stove.

Ryobi RH5150

The hedge trimmer is a popular Japanese brand, but the tool is manufactured in China. Its characteristics roughly correspond to the standard medium power model:

1. Motor – 500 W.
2. Weight – 2.4 kg.
3. Tire length – 500 cm.
4. The maximum cutting diameter is 22 mm.

There is an additional handle and a protective shield. But the main advantage of the Ryobi RH5150 hedge trimmer is the quality of the knife. It is double-sided, the blade is forged, with a specially shaped edge sharpened and additionally polished with a diamond disc. The brush cutter cuts very gently, even dry branches are cut without much effort.

There is an additional trigger on the front handle. It must be pressed with your hand when working with a hedge trimmer. If you drop it or simply let it go, the engine will instantly turn off.

The price of the tool is 5,600 rubles, a guarantee from the manufacturer for 5 years of operation.

Makita UH5580

A Japanese brand famous for its high-quality and durable power tools. Makita UH5580 is produced at the company's factories in China. Most of the components are from Japan. A powerful and heavy brush cutter designed to withstand continuous loads for several hours of trimming bushes.

Characteristics:

1. Weight – 4.2 kg.
2. Electric motor power – 670 W.
3. The length of the double-sided knife is 55 cm.
4. Pruning is possible for shrubs with branches up to 21 mm thick.

The hedge trimmer uses a release clutch, similar to the one found on electric and gasoline chain saws. To operate, you need to hold and press the trigger so that the clutch of the engine disks transmits torque to the knife drive.

A special feature of the model is the use of copper-graphite brushes in the engine with an increased service life.

Price 14,500 rubles, 1 year warranty, subject to registration of purchase.

The best cordless hedge trimmers

Despite the lower power of the electric motor, battery-powered tools are becoming increasingly popular. Battery-powered hedge trimmers are more convenient to use; there is no power cord getting tangled under your feet or the acrid burning smell from the exhaust of a gasoline engine. Therefore, the rating of the best cordless hedge trimmers is only growing. Perhaps in the future all garden tools will be cordless.

Model Greenworks G60PHT 60 B

A brushcutter of a boom design with a flat, double-sided blade. It can be used as a garden one, you can take it to the dacha, to a country house, to mow the lawn in front of the porch.

Thanks to the rod design and the relatively short length of the knife, cutting grass and even weeds with Greenvox is more convenient than with a regular trimmer with a fishing line. The only inconvenience is that if you cut short grass with a brush cutter, the nature of the load on your hands changes. You need to get used to this method.

On the other hand, a long telescopic rod of 2 m makes it possible to trim branches at great heights, where gasoline and corded hedge trimmers obviously cannot reach.

Characteristics:

1. Weight – 4.29 kg.
2. Power – 250 W.
3. Double-sided knife 35 cm, with attachment – ​​51 cm.
4. Cuts branches and bushes up to 19 mm thick.
5. Li-Ion batteries with an operating voltage of 60 V are used.

The design feature is the ability to change the angle of the knife relative to the bar and fix it in 7 different positions. The brush cutter has protection for the electric motor against overheating and a locking trigger against accidental starting.The design uses a brushless electric motor, so the life of the brush cutter is quite long.

Price - 12,000 rubles, warranty on the device - 3 years from the date of purchase and registration.

Ryobi ONE+OGS1822

Universal model of cordless scissors. Essentially, these are hedge trimmers. Ryobi ONE+OGS1822 comes with 2 types of attachments. The first is short, comb-shaped, and can be used to trim the tops of grass or ornamental plants. The second attachment is a regular flat knife, 20 cm long. It can be used like a regular hedge trimmer. The tool has a low center of gravity, so during work the hand gets tired less than even if you cut bushes with ordinary mechanical scissors.

Characteristics:

1. The weight of the brush cutter is 1.52 kg.
2. Motor – 80 W.
3. Can cut branches up to 10 mm thick.

A Li-Ion battery with a voltage of 18 V and a capacity of 1.3 A*h to 5 A*h is used. In the first case, the battery lasts for 35 minutes of cutting, in the second – for 2 hours of work. Overall a convenient and practical tool. It should also be noted that the blades are sharp, so you need to work with the hedge trimmer carefully.

Price RUB 5,400, manufacturer's warranty for 5 years.

Patriot CSH361

An unusual version of a hedge trimmer. It's called hedge trimmer scissors. One device combines battery-powered hedge trimmers for cutting grass and improving hedges, trimming tree branches in the garden and at the dacha.

Externally, the hedge trimmer resembles a low-power cordless lawn mower. But if you remember the features of the Patriot brand tools, you can be sure that the energy reserve and engine capabilities will be enough for normal operation.

Characteristics:

1. The weight of the device is 1.3 kg.
2. Dimensions of the cutting tool: width 80 mm, knife length 120 mm.
3. Battery (Li-Ion) 3.6 V, capacity 1.3 Ah.

The battery-powered hedge trimmer uses removable wheels and a telescopic handle. The brush cutter has a comfortable grip for working with gloves. When cutting brush cutters, the battery charge lasts for 15 minutes, if you screw on the telescopic bar and mow the grass, then 20 minutes.

The battery charges within an hour. That is, for normal operation of the hedge trimmer you will need at least 3 batteries. This is the optimal solution if you need to remove grass on the site with a brush cutter. Instead of carrying a huge 5 Ah battery, you can install a small one. Moreover, the hedge trimmer has a connector for a standard tablet power supply. Therefore, making a supply of charged batteries is not difficult.

Today these are one of the most convenient low-power brush cutters to use.

WORX WG260E.9

A classic version of a hedge trimmer with a long flat blade, a compact drive and a handle for a two-handed grip. The WG260E.9 differs from gasoline and mains models only in the presence of a 100 W low-voltage electric motor and a 20 V battery.

The result is a lightweight and powerful hedge trimmer without a power cord or a heavy gasoline engine. If necessary, the tool can be used with one hand, for example, when trimming trees at height while standing on a stepladder.

Characteristics:

1. Weight – 2.1 kg.
2. The length of the flat knife blade is 61 cm.
3. Width – 19 mm.

The high quality of the mechanical drive can be noted. For most similar models of hedge trimmers, the drive has to be repaired more often than the battery or electric motor needs to be replaced. In WG260E.9, the life of the gearbox and drive is approximately at the level of the electric motor, i.e. 1200 hours.

There are no spare batteries included with the hedge trimmer, but one battery lasts for 40 minutes. work at an average pace. The blades are quite sharp, so an additional accessory is used for transportation - a cover that fits directly onto the knife.

Price 11 thousand rubles, warranty from the manufacturer for 3 years.

Each hedge trimmer is good in its own way. Typically, the choice of a specific model depends not only on engine power and weight, but also on the level of comfort in working with the tool. You need to choose a tool depending on the planned amount of work and your own physical capabilities. Gasoline models have the largest resource, but the purchase of such a brush cutter is justified only if the volume of shrub trimming is required.

Tell us about your experience of choosing a hedge trimmer - which model, in your opinion, can be considered the most successful?