Consumer Reports Considers These Two Hedge Trimmers The Best You Can Buy







Cordless yard equipment is quickly becoming the norm in many households as battery technology becomes cheaper and more efficient, making it more practical to use it over more cumbersome gas-powered or corded electric tools. Two of the biggest names when it comes to battery-powered lawn equipment are Ego and Greenworks, so it’s no surprise that both companies top the list of the best hedge trimmers you can buy according to Consumer Reports.

The nonprofit organization rates tools like hedge trimmers by combining data from owner surveys with its own expert lab testing, which is why it’s built a strong reputation for its reviews. Of the several hedge trimmers it ranks, including corded and battery-powered models, Ego and Greenworks are tied with the exact same top score. Other brands, like Ryobi and Stihl, also fare well in the ratings and earn recommendations from Consumer Reports, but there is a distinct gap between these and the Ego and Greenworks models when it came to overall scores.

Based on these findings, you’re probably not going to have major issues with either hedge trimmer, and your choice may come down to which brand you already have in your tool shed, since each has a proprietary system of interchangeable batteries and chargers. However, it’s still fair to compare Ego and Greenworks cordless tools directly, and even Consumer Reports’ findings suggest that, despite the exact same score, one hedge trimmer is a little better than the other.

The Greenworks 60V 26 Cordless Battery Hedge Trimmer

The Greenworks 60V 26-inch Cordless Battery Hedge Trimmer (model HT60L211, though Consumer Reports refers to it by its SKU, 2212002) has an MSRP of $229, including a 2Ah battery and charger. The tool can run up to 45 minutes per charge and takes another 50 minutes to recharge, which should be enough time for many residential properties. It can provide up to 3,200 strokes per minute and weighs around 11.5 pounds.

The tool scores so well overall in Consumer Reports rankings because it has very high marks when it comes to run and charge time, as well as performance and safety features, which includes a safety trigger switch. Overall, it also receives high marks from professional publications like Pro Tool Reviews, which praises its “design tweaks” and says that it has the power and “performance to tackle tongue hedge trimming than many of its competitors.”

Similarly, users also give Greenworks’ tool high scores. On Amazon, over 2,100 customers rate it an average 4.4 stars, highlighting its quality and ease of use among the aforementioned strong points. It’s not a perfect trimmer, though; Consumer Reports faults the tool for being heavy and knocks points off for its handling. It also finds the operational noise of the trimmer could use improvement.

The Ego Power+ 24-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

These slight flaws are partly why Ego’s hedge trimmer has a slight edge over Greenworks, despite both having the same high scores from Consumer Reports. It has a higher score in handling, likely due to it being over a pound lighter, which makes the tool easier to maneuver for extended periods of time. The Ego Power+ 24-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer (model HT2411) also has a slightly shorter bar than Greenworks, but the company calls it the industry’s first cordless trimmer with a 1-inch cut capacity.

Available for $239, it includes a 2.5Ah battery and charger and is similarly priced to Greenworks’ tool. It delivers up to 3,000 strokes per minute, which is slightly less than its competitor, though that doesn’t seem to matter to reviewers, whether professional or not. Lowe’s customers, for example, rate the tool exceptionally highly; over 8,300 of them have scored Ego’s trimmer an excellent 4.8-star average user score.

Many of these positive reviews note its well-balanced design and easy handling, proving that its lighter weight is indeed an asset. You’ll find similarly high praise from Amazon shoppers. Even Consumer Reports admits that “this model had no discernible flaws in its performance” during its testing. The weakest link in CR’s review was its operational noise. The trimmer runs a bit loudly for a battery-powered lawn tool, but its score in this category is the same as what Greenworks earned, so the flaw doesn’t hurt the tool when comparing the two head-to-head.





Source link

Leave a Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.

Recent Reviews


Forza Horizon 6 has already launched on Xbox Game Pass as a day one release, making May a big month for the subscription service. Still, what Microsoft gives, it also takes away, as two phenomenal JRPGs – Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden – will leave the service at the end of the month. 

Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month. 

Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in May. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in April, including Hades 2, and more options in our list of the best gaming subscriptions.


Forza Horizon 6

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Forza Horizon 6 is the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. This time, players can speed around Japan, from the busy cities to the countryside roads. More than 550 cars are available to collect via races, seasonal events and online challenges. The game continues the arcade-style racing the series is known for, and with more car customizations, a deeper progression system and dynamic weather changes affecting road conditions. 


Dead Static Drive

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Dead Static Drive mixes road trip exploration, survival horror and action gameplay in a strange post-apocalyptic world filled with supernatural threats. Players travel across highways and down while scavenging supplies, upgrading vehicles and fighting bizarre creatures. The game combines tense combat with quiet exploration, creating an eerie atmosphere with retro graphics. 


Pigeon Simulator

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Pigeon Simulator is a sandbox game unlike any other. As a pigeon, it’s up to the player to create as much disruption as possible in order to complete objectives, annoying pedestrians out for a walk and making use of the game’s unique physics systems. Players can fly over streets, knock over objects and find hidden secrets in this absolutely absurd game. 


Remnant 2

 On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

The soulslike subgenre is popular among gamers, and the Remnant franchise does a little something different by replacing swords with guns. In Remnant 2, players will fight off monsters and giant bosses in a world filled with secrets and loot. The sequel improves on the original by having more ways to customize your character and larger-scale battles intended for solo or cooperative play. 


Luna Abyss

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Luna Abyss is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a mysterious underground colony. The sci-fi horror shooter has players descending deeper into a massive prison facility while battling enemies and learning the secrets of what happened here. The game offers stylish combat with fast movement as the story is told via the environments, which creates a tense and exciting experience built around shooting and exploration. 


Escape Simulator 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 26.

Players work together to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues in Escape Simulator. The cooperative escape room experience puts players in themed areas such as mysterious labs or fantasy dungeons. Each room introduces new mechanics and requires teams to work together to escape. The game’s online community can also contribute to the game by creating their own rooms with custom scenarios. 


Echo Generation 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 27.

Echo Generation 2 continues the voxel-inspired RPG series with a new adventure focused on supernatural mysteries with turn-based combat. Players explore strange towns, investigate paranormal events and battle bizarre enemies. The sequel expands on the original game’s storytelling and combat system while keeping the colorful visuals and quirky humor.


The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 27.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the complete, remastered version of the 2019 sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This version includes the previously released DLC, a higher level cap, better graphics, improved performance, additional animations and more improvements on the original game.  


Crashout Crew

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 28.

A mix of party game chaos and cooperative action, Crashout Crew throws players into unpredictable arenas filled with traps, obstacles and physics-based mayhem. Players race to complete objectives while trying to survive the hectic action. Fast matches, colorful visuals and multiplayer gameplay make it easy to play online with friends or strangers. 


Kabuto Park

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 28.

Collecting rare insects and exploring colorful outdoor environments are at the center of Kabuto Park. You have to search forests and parks to find new species while upgrading equipment to compete in bug tournaments. The cheerful art style blends with exploration and creature collection, making for a relaxing game about finding bugs. 


Final Fantasy 6 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Final Fantasy 6 is not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but it’s also one of the best games ever. First released on the SNES in 1994, the game follows a cast of characters out to save the world. This version is part of the Pixel Remaster for the older Final Fantasy 2D games that improves on the visuals, updates the audio and adds modern gameplay improvements so new and returning players can enjoy. 


Jurassic World Evolution 3

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Building and managing a dinosaur theme park returns in Jurassic World Evolution 3. As the park manager, you’ll have to balance guest entertainment, scientific research and park security while also dealing with those giant dinosaurs just waiting to take over the island. Expanded customized tools, a new management system and improved creature behaviors improve on the previous games while adding more depth to the simulation gameplay, giving players a taste of what running a dinosaur park could feel like. 


Watch this: Your Phone is Disgusting: Let’s Fix That


Games that are leaving the service

While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it will also remove five games, including two amazing JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden. If you want to finish either of these games before the end of the month, now is the time as these games take many hours to beat.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.





Source link