The Milwaukee wins this comparison outright. It cleared the 8 x 24 ft plot in 63 seconds, six seconds ahead of the DeWalt and 24 seconds clear of the gas Stihl FS 90 R, and it backs that up with the highest sustained head speed at 6,190 rpm, full throttle in 0.2 seconds, a 30-foot line capacity and the widest debris shield at about 12.5 inches. It is also one of only three trimmers that would re-feed line worn down to 3/4 of an inch. The bill for that performance is weight and noise: 16.41 lb, 99.1 decibels, 21 minutes of run time flat out, and $400 before a battery and charger.
The DeWalt is the closest thing to a rival, second at 69 seconds with the same 30 feet of line, a 0.5-second trigger response, the widest 17.5-inch swath and the same ability to advance very short line. It gets there on torque rather than head speed, turning only 5,100 rpm, and it pays for its narrow shield with the second-highest vibration in the group. For a trimmer that arrives ready to use, the EGO is the pick: $349 buys the trimmer, a 4Ah battery and a rapid charger, and it finished third at 80 seconds with 23.5 feet of line, a 0.8-second trigger and the quickest recharge at 47 minutes.
Below that, the choice depends on what matters most. The Ryobi is the value pick for cutting speed, taking 117 seconds for $259, though it is loud at 96.3 decibels and vibrates the most in the lineup. The Husqvarna is the one for endurance, running 35.5 minutes at 9.81 lb, but it is the slowest through heavy grass at 160 seconds. The WORX at $179 is quiet, light and long-running, and honest about being a light-duty trimmer. The CAT is the smoothest running at 6.7 mm/s, and the Kobalt sits mid-pack on almost everything at 119 seconds and 25 minutes. The Makita is the hardest to justify at $439 bare, with the shortest run time at 10 minutes, the narrowest shield at 7 inches and the only head here without a speed-feed reload.
