Been using battery trimmers in the burbs but the farm weeds and grass just laughs at it and pretty sure is mocking me when I try. So gonna make a purchase on a good trimmer. Already have a big brush cutter but don't want to change back and forth and don't want the handlebars for just doing trimming. Budget around 400 bucks-ish. The brush cutter is a stihl and has been great so leaning them but hearing good things about the echo as well. Any recommendations?

I have a Stihl that is like 25 years old and still works great. Bought a new one for regular weedeating and put a blade on the old one for brush cutting. Used Stihl my entire life.

Shindaiwa. Mine will be 30 years old in February and still performs like the day it was new.

My echo is about 15 years old. Did replace the carburetor a couple years ago but it still runs great. Don't think either is a bad choice.

I own an Echo Trimmer, blower, and chainsaw. I've never had one lick of trouble with any of them, have had all 3 going on 10 years. I really don't think you can go wrong with either brand.

Can't go wrong with either - sort of like Milwaukee vs Makita.

I have a mix of both, but lean Stihl mainly because of the many dealer/service outlets nearby despite my father being an Echo dealer years ago.

It sounds like we have similar needs. I own the monster sized Stihl FS 560 and it works great in the mountains of WY and down on our place in TX but dang, it will wear you out. I recently picked up their largest battery powered FSA 200 brush cutter and it definitely holds its own and very easy to switch from the line to the knife blades. I'm cutting some nasty stuff too around the ranch.

It's good to have more than one. Again, both brands are great but I do believe the latest battery powered ones can hold their own.

I have a Stihl and it's great but I honestly think you couldn't go wrong with either. I'd look for best buy for the money.

They are truly commercial grade. Built like tanks.
They also make a true harness that makes all day trimming a lot less tiring.

Never even heard of shindaiwa. Gonna look into those right now. Thanks for the info everybody. Sounds like I'm on the right track.

flipper94 said:

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Never even heard of shindaiwa. Gonna look into those right now. Thanks for the info everybody. Sounds like I'm on the right track.

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apparently they're manufactured by ECHO

I've got 2 echo chainsaws and 2 echo trimmers. Different size saws and one trimmer is string while the other has brush and weed cutting blades. All work well.

I have a stihl kombi I can sell, in houston

flipper94 said:

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Never even heard of shindaiwa. Gonna look into those right now. Thanks for the info everybody. Sounds like I'm on the right track.

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Shindaiwa is well-known in the commercial landscaping industry. But as they are not really "consumer-grade", they are not sold in the stores that attract the average homeowner and therefore most people haven't heard of them. If you have access to a dealer, it would be well worth your time to investigate.

C

I have an echo I have never picked back up now that I have an EGO trimmer. Not sure how it wouldn't go through anything the echo would go through… plus no carb, gas or maintenance.

I have a stihl trimmer and it's amazing for farm weeds. As a matter of fact my son will be running it in a few minutes to cut some weeds that got away from us after a big rain while I was out of town.

We use it primarily for string trimming around the house but it really shines with the blade on in bigger weeds around our irrigation wells and center pivot points on the farm. We haven't gone so far as to trim the fence line (4 4 miler perimeter but that is on the agenda for this summer before winter sets in to reduce the snow drifts.

Nothing but echo for me. They are the best when it comes to easy starting and lasting for many years.

Went and picked up a stihl 70R. Works like a champ and less vibration/fatigue than he Ryobi one trimmer that bit the dust.

Thanks for all the info, went with the closest and easiest pick up this morning.

Either one should work, as stated.

I've always been an Echo guy. Bought a Stihl once and didn't like it due to it being tough to start when first purchased. I'm sure it needed to be adjusted but I ended up taking it back, got an Echo and never looked back. That was 25-plus years ago. Have had roughly 10 Echo gas products since then. Never had a serious issue with any. If they got wonky, I did the tune up or carb rehaul and it fixed. Sold a few a decade or so ago, then bought new ones again a year or two ago. They start right up and now I'm using better gas.

Echo has a better warranty -- 5 years for consumers.

But with that said, if you find a good deal on a Stihl or like its features, there's probably nothing wrong with it. Just run good gas in it. Most Ace stores sell them and will provide better service than the typical Home Depot if you want that. Or, you can get either at a small engine dealer -- which is what I recommend.

Whichever way you go, two things:

1. DO NOT run the canned gas. Youtube videos with small engine mechanics have shown that stuff to be junk. Find ethanol free gas and get 2-5 gallons and use that.

2. Let the engine warm up for a minute or so before going to town with it. Just let it idle or trigger it gently. It will extend the life of the unit.

Which ever brand has a good small engine shop near you.

Do not buy from big box stores. Those units are not the same.

I own 4 Stihl products. But can't go wrong with either.