I have the split carbon fiber shaft unit described in this article and it has proven to be a joy to use load. While the split shaft design could be beneficial to the end user for storage and transportation, I imagine the design is aimed at the retail stores for easier greenworks pro storage, display and shipping. The split shaft gave me pause as well, but in practice it has not been an issues as the hinge point is robust and immovable when the screw is in place. I bought one of their string trimmers, the low end mower, and a couple batteries.
We think the vast majority of people will be able to get by with a cordless string trimmer. But in some extreme cases, the nonstop power of a gas model is a better fit . For this, we like the Echo SRM-225 String Trimmer. It’s normally priced comparably to the Ego ST1521S, so it’s on the low side for a high-quality gas trimmer. In our own tests, the Echo handled waist-high weeds and 3-foot-tall grass with no problem, and it has a tremendous amount of positive feedback on Home Depot’s website. Compared with other cordless trimmers, the Ego ST1511T Power+ String Trimmer with Powerload is on a different level.
The 15-inch EGO Power+ PowerLoad string trimmer features a telescoping aluminum shaft that keeps the weight down while ergonomically matching your height. This feature automatically winds your trimmer line with the push of a button. Nathan, yes the auto winder, Ego calls it “PowerLoad”, does use the motor to load the string via a ratchet mechanism much like what you described. There is a large green button where the head attaches to the carbon shaft, that you hold down to wind the string into the head after you feed a 15 foot piece of string halfway through the head.
The Ego ST1502-SA Power+ String Trimmer was previously our runner-up pick. It has similar capabilities to the other Ego trimmers, but it also has a manual line load, which is more tedious than what’s on the newer models. This trimmer is usually a little less expensive than the others, but not enough to make it a more appealing option. Lightweight, with a full assortment of ergonomic adjustments, the Worx is not as powerful as the others, but it’s a great fit for small lawns. Many EGO products are not available from local Home Depot stores—only online at the Home Depot website.
Not all options listed available on pre-owned models. Priced at just $199 with a 2.5 Ah battery included, EGO is looking for this to be a competitive model in the residential and commercial markets. It’s covered by both a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty. The build quality of most of the battery operated chainsaws, trimmers, blowers that I’ve held do not feel very skookum. I’d like to see them bring out an attachment system capability with the CF shaft but I wonder how the real weight savings over the AL shafted products actually is.
I’m still using it—in fact, I got rid of my corded blower and haven’t missed it at all. I’m now reviewing the new EGO Power+ 15” POWERLOAD String Trimmer and let’s just cut to the chase. In fact, it’s better than my trusted Stihl gas trimmer in every way—except for usage time. The greenworks pro Powerload and carbon fiber shaft features are really nice. However, it’s also the performance of this string trimmer that has consistently kept it on top of our ratings since its launch. EGO made a couple of major leaps forward in string trimmer technology with their ST1520 model.
In 2021, a tree worker borrowed it in a pinch and was impressed with how easy it was to use. In general, we were impressed with how all of the attachments performed when attached to the cordless tool. The Ego ST1521S is very similar to our main pick, but it lacks the telescoping shaft and quick handle adjustment.
I currently live in New Hampshire and have about 2 acres of mowable lawn. After each cut, I spend roughly 30 minutes using a string trimmer around stone walls, flower beds, pathways, and the chicken coop. I also have about a half-mile of electric fence that needs to be maintained with a string trimmer all summer .
You could do without them, but personally I am really liking the auto-winding head. Having experienced it, I’d pay the premium for this feature. With a 16-inch cutting swath, the EGO 56V string trimmer mows through the grass and weeds with ease. And, there’s plenty of power from the 56-volt arc-lithium battery and brushless motor. A button above the trigger allows you to select Low or High speed. Using a 4Ah battery, the EGO string trimmer will run on Low for about an hour.
So it’s nothing more than a whirrr followed by a quick little pop as the line is cut. The other trimmers we looked at all had slower motors, which resulted in a loud smacking noise as the string slapped against the cutter, until it reached cutting speed. This really sounds awful, and in one case, we actually thought the trimmer was broken. Ego Powerload String Trimming is such a start-stop activity that having to deal with a less-than-perfect auto-feed system got old really quickly. The Worx is powered by a 20-volt battery and has no problem with grass, but it struggled with thicker, stalkier weeds. It comes with a 2.0 Ah battery, which gave us a bit over 20 minutes of cutting time.