The more you get into gardening, the clearer it becomes that you might need a veritable plethora of tools to really get to grips with taming the natural world, even with a small garden to manage.
The strimmer is a key weapon in this arsenal, although you might know it by many names, from brush cutter to weed-whacker. It's a smart little tool, whipping around a wire that will make quick work of any weeds or overgrowth that you want to thin out or eliminate.
There are loads to pick from, and thankfully you can increasingly rely on cordless options being available to free you from the tyranny of wires. To that end, we've rounded up the very best options available for you to pick from.
Our Top Pick: Best Cordless Strimmer
Black+Decker Cordless String Grass Trimmer
Superbly built
This is a strimmer that will get any job most people need doing done - what more could you ask for?
BLACK+DECKER 18V Cordless 28 cm String Grass Trimmer 2.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery
For
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Strong battery life
Against
- Charging takes a while
This Black+Decker string trimmer makes the top of our list largely as a result of its powerful motor and sleek design - it's exactly what you expect from a strimmer, just cordless (not wireless, of course, because strimmers are all about the wire!).
It also represents solid value, although as you'll see, most cordless strimmers are fairly similar in price. A high RPM of 7400, when maxed out, will also see powering through even tough weeds and knots, too.
Bosch UniversalGrassCut 18
Great trimming
If you want a slightly lower cost, Bosch's strimmer still gives impressive performance.
Bosch UniversalGrassCut 18
If you want a slightly lower cost, Bosch's strimmer still gives impressive performance.
For
- Uses the Bosch interchangeable battery system
- Ergonomic design
Against
- Not the most powerful
Bosch is next, with a dead-simple trimmer. After all, most people don't need a hyper-powered machine, but simply an easy-to-use strimmer to take care of borders and weeds, and this is perfect for the job.
It's got an adjustable handle to make it easier to use for different people, and while all those handles might look a bit intimidating, they actually mean that it's comfortable to use without bending over.
GTech GT50
Impressive performance
With a great design and solid cutting, GTech's got a real contender to offer up as well.
RYOBI P20101BTL One+ 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Attachment Capable Brushless String Trimmer (Tool-Only)
For
- Nicely designed
- Easy fit plastic blades
Against
- Battery life could be improved
GTech's strimmer has a pleasing, slightly futuristic look to it, with its brushed finish and lime-green accents, but it's the performance that wins out. With great cutting and an incredibly lightweight build, it's a doddle to use for long stretches.
That's worth considering if you're not the strongest, or if you know you've got many hours of trimming ahead of you.
Ryobi OLT1832 ONE+
Great value
If value is your priority, you needn't look much further than this great package.
RYOBI P20101BTL One+ 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Attachment Capable Brushless String Trimmer (Tool-Only)
For
- Adjustable cutting width
- EasyEdge technology
Against
- Battery and charger sold separately on some versions
This Ryobi string trimmer has something really obvious going for it in the form of its hugely impressive price - it's a superb value option that undercuts all the others on this list by a good whack.
A wide cutting diameter also helps with speeding up your work, and it's also nice and adjustable. However, it's important to note that you need to buy a version with the battery and charger included, which will take that price closer to its competitors.
Worx WG163E GT 3.0
Really great option
Worx might not be as big a name, but it's got a great strimmer on offer here.
WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare 12" Cordless String Trimmer & Edger, 12in
For
- Two-in-one design
- 90-degree head adjustability
Against
- Assembly can be a little tricky
Worx has made a really solid and impressive trimmer here and impressively comes with two battery packs to let you swap in a new one if you run out of juice. It's also nice and lightweight, plus that little edge guard near the wire lets you see where your trimmer maxes out.
That's despite a nice and competitive price, so you're getting really good value for your money. Plus, we quite like that distinctive orange and black colour scheme, too.