Gas Weed Eaters
Learn about the Better Lawns & Garden Team’s Favorites.
Bottom Line
About
Editor's insights
Husqvarna 128LD
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Straight Shaft Gas String Trimmer
Bottom Line
Husqvarna products are always going to deliver great quality, and this 128LD weed eater is no exception.
About
It offers a 28cc engine, a 17” cutting width that uses .095 diameter trimming line, the air purge system to remove air from the fuel system and carburetor to allow for ease of starting, and much more. This weed eater is a 2-cycle product, so you’ll have to mix the appropriate amount of gas and oil for it to work properly. It’s also easy to work with since it weighs less than 11 pounds and even has a detachable shaft for space-saving when not in use.
Editor's insights
Out of the hundreds of customer reviews, most of them at least touch on how reliable this weed eater is, as well as how powerful it is. While it’s designed for moderate trimming work, customers say it’s very effective when it comes to weed eating through thick grass, clearing small tree branches, trimming hedges and more. One of the most common problems with weed eaters in general is how hard they can be to start, but customers don’t indicate that being an issue with this one. Some customers have mentioned the weed eater dying out on them in the middle of using it after their first couple of uses, but those complaints are definitely the minority.
Troy-Bilt TB42
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Gas Brushcutter with JumpStart Technology
Bottom Line
If you have some tough brush or vegetation to clear from your land, then this Troy-Bilt brushcutter may be exactly what you need.
About
This is not a regular string trimmer like most standard weed eaters, so it’s designed specifically for the tougher jobs. It has a 27cc 2-cycle engine and a 4-tip steel blade with a steel cutoff guard. You also have the option of adding different attachments to it, so you can handle a variety of jobs with one tool. The straight shaft is helpful for reaching under bushes and shrubs. Durability, power, and performance are all the main characteristics of this brushcutter, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with every use.
Editor's insights
The main theme with the customer reviews on this product is to not underestimate this brushcutter’s size. It’s lightweight and easy to handle, but can cut through anything from brushes to small trees and more. Regular string trimmers can get tangled or damaged when used on tough vines, but this brushcutter hacks them up easily. One of the difficult things about this product is the cutter head is somewhat difficult to take off. Some people also say there are design flaws with it, since your arm and elbow are very close to the motor and spark plug, which could be very hot or even shock you a little bit if you touch it in the wrong spot.
Husqvarna 324L
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Straight Shaft String Trimmer
Bottom Line
If there were such a thing as a luxury weed eater, this one may fall into that category.
About
One nice feature is it’s a 4-cycle engine, so you don’t have to worry about mixing oil and gas to use it. The 25cc/324L engine is also powerful enough to handle virtually any trimming and edging job around your house with ease, and even commercial jobs. The Smart Start feature, combined with the air purge feature, allows for easy and quick starting with very little effort from the operator.
Editor's insights
Power is the one word you can use to describe this Husqvarna weed eater. In fact, it’s so powerful that customers say it’s a good thing for their large jobs, but can be a little too much for their easier jobs. The weed eater weighs 17 pounds, so it’s a bit on the heavier side. However, the performance is explained best by one customer who says it cuts through grass like a hot knife through butter. It’s the perfect weed eater for large jobs that require some extra power, but customers say it may not be necessary to have that much power if all you do is standard weed eating and edging around your medium-sized home.
