No one likes buying new equipment, but it’s a necessary evil to get the job done and bring home the bacon.
During the summer, your equipment gets bruised and abused… which is a good thing, but it also means you have to replace your equipment more frequently.
As anyone successful in the lawn care industry knows, your budget is important. However, buying cheap equipment will render cheap results and maintenance. Which means, you can’t charge as much for your services.
It’s important to find your perfect balance between quality and budget. This is why we’ve created a list of the best, most reliable trimmers lawn owners swear by.
Welcome to Part 3 in the lawn care gear series! Take a look at the top 7 lawn trimmers your money can buy:
Troy-Bilt Trimmers
Pros:
- Affordability: ≈ $240
- Multiple models to choose between
- Most powerful model: TB6044 XP
- Engine displacement (cc): 32
- No mixing of oil and gas, because it’s a 4-cycle engine
- Choke system: Prime & Go™
- SpringAssist™
- JumpStart Capability™
- Cutting width: 18 inches (so it’s fast)
- Versatile: has an attachment cable, so you can purchase additional TrimmerPlus® attachments
- Limited commercial warranty: 3 years
- Quick Change™ head
- Aero-Flex® head with fixed line (included)
Cons:
- Doesn’t have anti-vibration
- Heavyweight: 18.8 pounds
Who’s it for?
If you’re just getting started (and you’re only doing residential properties), this trimmer might be a great model to add to your collection. It’s affordable and has a lot of unique capabilities that make it versatile for your business.
However, if you’re an established lawn and landscaping business (or you have commercial properties), this trimmer’s weight and lack of anti-vibration make it a poor fit for you. You and your team will grow tired much more easily with this trimmer.
Redmax Trimmers
Pros:
- Multiple models to choose from
- Our top choices:
- Strato-Charged® engine
- Engine displacement (cc): 29.5
- Horsepower: 1.4
- Maximum torque: 5,500
- Nm maximum torque: 1.37
- Clutch engagement speed (±120): 4,000 rpm
- Maximum output shaft: 6,261 rpm (BCZ3060TS) - 8,208 rpm (BCZ3050S)
- Lightweight: 12.19 (BCZ3060TS) - 12.3 (BCZ3050S)
- Reduced vibrations: the BCZ3060TS is equipped with a steel drive shaft damper
Cons:
- No reduced vibrations: BCZ3050S
- Higher end of the pricing scale: ≈ $450
Who’s it for?
Anyone can benefit from using these Redmax trimmers. They’re powerful, efficient tools that will make it easier for you and your team to complete your long list of jobs. Although, its price point might deter some newer lawn care owners from purchasing.
Husqvarna Professional Trimmers
Pros:
- Multiple models to choose between
- Our top choices:
- Engine displacement (cc): 25.4 (525LST) - 34.6 (535LS)
- Horsepower: 1.34 (525LST) - 2.15 (535LS)
- Lightweight: 10.36 (525LST) - 12.57 (535LS) pounds
- Clutch engagement speed (±120): 4,000 rpm (525LST) - 4,300 rpm (535LS)
- Maximum power speed: 8,500 rpm (525LST) - 8,400 rpm (535LS)
- Idling speed: 3,000 rpm (525LST) - 2,900 rpm (535LS)
- Maximum rpm output shaft: 5,500 rpm (525LST) - 8,220 rpm (535LS)
- Quiet sound level at operator’s ear: 98 dB(A) (525LST) - 100 dB(A) (535LS)
- Anti-vibration: 535LS
Cons:
- No anti-vibration: 525LST
- Higher end of the pricing scale: ≈ $340 - 480
Who’s it for?
While the higher price tag might be an issue for some lawn care owners, anyone can benefit from using the Husqvarna trimmers. They’re lightweight and put out a great amount of power.
Shindaiwa Trimmers
Pros:
- Multiple options to choose between (and at different price ranges!)
- Different price point options:
- Affordable: ≈ $250 - 300
- Premium: ≈ $320 - 420
- Most powerful trimmer: T344
- Engine displacement (cc): 34
- 2/4-stroke engine: unique hybrid between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine technology
- Get the power-to-weight advantage of a 2-stroke but the cleaner-burning engine of a 4-stroke engine
- High torque design: creates more power
- Vibration reducing handle mounts
- Cutting width: 20 inches (one of the largest cutting widths on the list)
- Limited commercial warranty: 2 years
- Versatile: optional additional purchase of trimmer accessories (attachments)
- Attachments examples: hedge trimming, brush cutting, powerbrooming an etc…
Cons:
- Heavyweight: 15 pounds
- Limited landscaping accessories (somewhat reduces versatility)
Who’s it for?
These trimmers are for
Honda Trimmers
Pros:
- Most powerful trimmer: HHT35SLTA
- Engine displacement (cc): 35
- No mixing of gas and oil, because it’s a 4-stroke engine
- Cutting width: 17 inches
- 17-inch semi-matic bump feed head with Ultra Quiet® line
- Lifetime warranty: durable flex shaft
- Equipped with an automatic line cutter
- Anti-vibration: built into the engine clutch
- Can operate with optional 9 and 10-inch cutting blades (barrier kit needed)
- Safety glasses and harness (included)
- Deflector designed to protect you and provide maximum visibility
- Maximum power speed (without the head): 10,000 rpm
- Idling power speed: 3,100 ± 200 rpm
Cons:
- Limited commercial warranty: only 1 year
- Heavyweight: 15.5 pounds
- Higher end of the pricing scale: ≈ $360 - 440
Who’s it for?
These Honda trimmers are for anyone at any point in your business, but the higher price point might be a dealbreaker for some new owners. These trimmers are among some of the most powerful in the market, so it’s definitely something that can grow with your lawn business.
Echo X Series Trimmers
Pros:
- Wide variety of models and trimmer lines
- Affordable options (but they’re not X Series): ≈ $150 - 300
- Most powerful X-Series trimmer: SRM-3020T
- Engine displacement (cc): 30.5
- Horsepower: 1.8
- Cutting head: Speed Feed® 450
- Cutting width: 20 inches
- Lightweight: 13.9 pounds (with cutting head and shield)
- Limited commercial warranty: 2 years
- Magnesium fan housing: reduces weight
- Flex cable drive: reduces vibration
- 2:1 gear reduction: 28% more torque than SRM-3020
Cons:
- X Series is at the higher end of the pricing scale: $320 - 430
Who’s it for?
No matter where you’re at in your business, you can find the right Echo trimmer for you. The SRM-3020T can work for any sized lawn and landscaping business, but its price tag (≈ $430) might be a little too expensive for some owners.
Stihl Trimmers
Pros:
- Multiple options to choose between
- Most powerful trimmer: FS 240 R
- Engine displacement (cc): 37.7
- Anti-vibration system
- Upright translucent fuel tank
- Reduced-emission technology
Cons:
- Heavyweight: 14.6 pounds
- Small cutting width: 16.5 width
- Higher end of the pricing scale: ≈ $600
Who’s it for?
With so many options to choose between, there’s no doubt a Stihl trimmer to best suit your needs. All of these trimmers are powerful in their own way, you just have to pick the right one for you.
Conclusion
As always, finding the right lawn care gear is super individualized. You have to consider your needs, your budget, and your location. Considering your location is
Just remember, the higher quality product isn’t always the most expensive product. And the cheapest product isn’t always what’s best for your wallet, because it just might cost you more in repairs in the long run.
While I’ve done the majority of the legwork here, it’s also important that you do your own research as well.
Evaluate your business’ needs and finances to discover which trimmer is right for your business today.