Here's The Best Battery-Operated String Trimmer You Can Buy, According To Consumer Reports

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When you want a neat and tidy lawn, a string trimmer (also known as a weed eater or weed whacker) is an essential tool. String trimmers quickly power through weeds in all the places the lawn mower can't reach and come in handy for achieving nicely manicured edges around driveways, sidewalks, and landscape features. But, in the world of outdoor power equipment, the options are almost endless; not only do features vary by model, but so does the power source. Traditionally powered by gas, string trimmers can also be corded electric or run on rechargeable batteries. If you're after a convenient battery-powered string trimmer to give you freedom of movement without the hassle of using fuel, Consumer Reports released its testing of the best battery-powered weed whackers. The winner? The Makita XRU15PT Brushless String Trimmer.

From a brand known for its quality and reliability, Makita's trimmer unsurprisingly excelled in the CR assessment. "It hits all our performance tests out of the park except for the one for ease of use, although it still rates above average," the report notes. But while this model earns a high rating, like most other products, it's not a one-size-fits-all unit. Before buying a Makita string trimmer, consider your budget and the size of your yard. Battery-operated string trimmers are more eco-friendly than gas models and much more convenient than corded electric models. However, because they run on batteries, their run time is limited, and they often carry higher initial costs, especially if this is your first foray into the Makita system.

The Makita XRU15PT is a brushless string trimmer that runs on two of Makita's 18V LXT batteries. Even though it runs on two batteries, it's still fairly lightweight at just over 10 pounds, making it easy to maneuver. It has three speed settings (low, medium, and high), and Consumer Reports found it lasted about 30 minutes in testing, providing enough time to tackle weed-eating in a small to mid-sized yard. Other standout features include a dual-port rapid battery charger (if you buy a kit that includes the batteries), the ability to automatically shift RPM for runtime or power, a 15-inch cutting swath, and a reverse rotation function for clearing stuck debris.

Of course, another true test of how a product performs in real-life scenarios lies in user reviews. On Amazon, this Makita string trimmer ranks pretty highly, with a 4.6-star rating from over 1,600 reviewers. Many users echo the same sentiment: The battery life is agreeable, the trimmer operation is quiet, and it gets the job done. The biggest drawback is the price. The string trimmer kit with two batteries is currently priced at $416.95, and the kit with four batteries normally runs more than $500. This is more than the best gas-powered weed eaters and even exceeds the cost of some other battery-powered string trimmers. That doesn't mean it's not worth it, though. Makita is generally regarded as one of the top power tool brands, offering excellent performance, product designs, and guarantees (their string trimmer has a three-year warranty). So, if you're after a highly rated battery-operated string trimmer and the price falls within your budget, it could be a reliable fit.