If you need a lightweight cordless string trimmer that's easy to use, this 12-inch model from Worx is perfect for the average yard.
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Worx Lightweight String Trimmer: Testing the Best Battery-Operated Weed Eater
Updated on Mar. 22, 2024
In case you’re not up with the popular memes on social media, there’s a common one about middle-class dads who love lawn care constantly batting around Instagram and other outlets. It’s not one I identify with. I’m not a fan of lawn care. In fact, one great selling point for me about living in the desert after years in the Midwest is that I don’t have to mow a lawn anymore. But I do have to run a trimmer regularly to keep things tidy so as not to incur the wrath of the neighborhood association.
I don’t have much space to take care of, so when it was time to replace my unwieldy corded trimmer, I wanted a cordless yard tool that was also easy to run and maintain. I decided to give the Worx 12-inch String Trimmer a try. After all, it’s Amazon’s best-selling string trimmer with a 4.5-star rating after more than 24,000 reviews.
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What is the Worx String Trimmer?
Well, as it says, it’s a string trimmer. But it’s actually more than that, too. It converts to an in-line lawn edger with a turn of the head, which makes it easy to quickly take care of grass and weeds growing over your concrete sidewalk or other areas where you might want a crisp line.
The Worx String Trimmer is battery-powered and weighs less than six pounds, so it’s easy to use without worrying about refilling with gas or straining your arm.
Worx String Trimmer Product Features
The trimmer’s head tilts a full 90 degrees, and the telescoping body adjusts with a quick-release lever. That makes it ergonomic to use, and also lets you make necessary adjustments to run it on a hill or squeeze into hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
It comes with two batteries and a charger, which is a nice bonus for a piece of equipment that’s very reasonably priced at just over $120. Plus, Worx Power Share makes the battery compatible with other Worx equipment.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- 2-in-1 trimmer and edger
- Ergonomic handle
- Push button spool system for instant line feeding
- Battery compatible with all Worx 20v and 40v tools
- Two 20V Power Share MaxLithium batteries included
- Head tilts 90 degrees for use in hard-to-reach places
- Rubberized wheels for straight, clean cuts
- Spacer guard helps avoid plant damage while trimming
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
How We Tested It
I used it to trim the property around my house over six weeks, so about four times, thanks to some surprising summer rains that came a little early.
Right out of the box, setup is easy. It took me less than five minutes to snap the few parts together. After that, I put one of the batteries onto the charger and let it fully charge before using it.
I started with a long stretch of green space between the sidewalk and the street. It’s not a landscaped section by any means, just a random collection of Bermuda grass and desert weeds. This was the first cut of the season too, probably a week or so past due for a trim, so everything was getting a little bushy. You don’t have to have the power of a gas trimmer to take care of that space, but some of those weeds are tough enough to chew through string and get a cheap trimmer twisted up. The Worx trimmer had no problems with them. I didn’t even have to let out more string while cutting them.
Next, I moved to a part of my yard where grass grows between the large landscaping rocks. There’s not a lot of stuff to cut there, but it can be tricky for a trimmer with the stones. Again, no problems with the Worx trimmer. It got in as close as I needed it to against the rocks and whacked the weeds without leaving me a tiny nub of string once I finished. Along the sidewalk, the in-line edger helped make a nice, even cut.
I’ve used it four times, at about 20 minutes per session, since getting the trimmer, and the battery is still holding its initial charge. That’s an added convenience I appreciate about the Worx trimmer.
The caveat is that I don’t have a lot of yard to take care of, so I can’t speak to how well this product would do for large yards or those with a particularly stubborn, out-of-control weed patch.
What Other Reviewers Have to Say
“Awesome little weed eater! I bought this after struggling over and over to start and restart our gas-powered weed eater,” said Aggie, a verified Amazon purchaser. “This one is so lightweight and literally starts with the push of a button!”
Kimber, another verified purchaser, had this to say: “So how does it perform? I love it. A friend stopped by the other day and complimented me on how nice the yard looked. The trimmer is lightweight, and I have a health issue that causes chronic pain at forty-something. The weight, or lack thereof, is a huge relief compared to the gas trimmer collecting dust and spider webs in the garage. I realize the batteries will lose some steam, but right now I have enough to take care of my yard. It is so easy to feed line to that a child could do it.”
Final Verdict
This is a solid cordless trimmer that gets the job done for most yards. It might not be as powerful as a traditional gas-powered string trimmer, but it’s easier to use and doesn’t require the same kind of upkeep. The Worx String Trimmer’s featherweight design and adjustability make it accessible to more users.
Where to Buy the Worx String Trimmer
The Worx 12-inch Cordless String Trimmer is available on Amazon. So, if you’re a Prime member, you can have your yard trimmed in the blink of an eye. In other words, you can have your Worx trimmer in no time with free and fast delivery.
