Cutting down weeds. Seems to have lots of power for a short time.

My old trimmer had a battery that was so heavy, it was uncomfortable to use. This trimmer is lightweight and has enough battery change to do my entire yard easily. The adjustable speed is convenient for some areas with thicker growth. Would recommend.

Love the new weed wacker. No more bumping to feed the spool. Easy to rewind spool. It has a power control from 1 to 6. I can do my 1/4 acre lot, with power setting 3, on one charge. Not bad. The key to keeping these in good operating condition is to keep them clean. It's amazing how many people do not maintain stuff, and then complain that it fails. Had mine for two years, and it still is working like new. I hope that it lasts several more years. NO MORE STUPID CORD!

When I first bought this I was very excited to use it. It was very quiet and did a great job, even bought another battery so I did would always have a spare in case I needed one. After 2 summers of using it for only about 1/2 hour every week for 2 months it stopped working. It started by making this weird high pitch noise and then stopped spinning completely. When I opened it up I found that all the gears were plastic and the had gotten so hot that they melted together. Now the warranty is expired and I am left with two batteries and a broken trimmer. Would not recommend getting this unless you want to replace your trimmer every 2 summers.

I have nearly an acre lot and was getting tired of blowing up consumer grade gas trimmers by overheating them, plus the ying-ying-ying chainsaw-like noise they make is annoying. I thought I'd try this machine because I have a really impressive Black and Decker 40V Max hedge trimmer. This thing is just as impressive quality-wise and is even up to the job of ditch trimming where it has to deal with the occasioanal cat-tail (the weed, not the body part lol). But it's actually a way better machine because of the speed control and edging features, which a lot of electric trimmers don't have. Speed control is nice for working close to trees, deck posts, the pool, etc. I haven't tried the edging feature, but I plan to do some professional landscaping in the next few years and it will come in handy for maintenance. These machines are rock solid, quiet, safe, lightweight, powerful and you get a lot of work out of a battery. If, like me, you have the hedge trimmer with the same battery, you can work the machine hard for an hour or more. Finally the automatic string feed works flawlessly, even when you hit something like a branch that it lashes around and tries to grab. No annoyances whatsoever after two weeks of frequent use (my cheap gas one blew up again so the yard was getting pretty overgrown). It's a keeper!

I've had a Ryobi Professional gas trimmer for 15 years. Possibly one of the best lawn tools I've ever had. When I bought it, I was trimming a 5 acre lot. Now, I have a 1/2 acre lot. It takes me about 10 minutes to do all of my trimming.I wanted something lighter and easier to maintain and operate. I needed something I could grab off the wall and use without worrying about reloading a spindle or mixing more fuel when either are needed.I got sucked in by the Worx GT 2.0 commercials. I purchased the 40v model. After putting the Worx together, I knew immediately it was not the right trimmer for me. It's length was a tad shorter than I needed (I'm 5'8") and a few key features were missing that I only found in the Black & Decker. While I had been waiting on the Worx to be delivered, I was in a local big box and looked at their battery operated models. The Kobalt (40v) and Black & Decker (36v) models had a nice look and feel.After the Worx was delivered and my initial disappointment set in, I went to the web and did some more research on the Kobalt and Black & Decker. I found a few too many negative or mediocre reviews on the Kobalt. The Black & Decker line seem to have more positive reviews and more desirable features.So, I decided to order the LST136W 40v from Amazon. Upon opening the box, I started getting positive vibes. Assembly was quick and simple. After attaching the battery, only the handle and debris shield needed to be affixed. The box also contained the charger.The LST136W is slightly longer than the Worx GT. I don't think the units are greatly different in length, but the position of the handle on the B&D makes the unit position longer than the Worx. I'll admit the B&D isn't as "gas trimmer" looking as the Worx, but it doesn't take long to realize looks aren't everything. The B&D has a few superior design advantages I've found should be "must" haves on any battery operated trimmer.1) Battery level indicator. Wonder how much charge you've got left in your battery? The B&D has you covered. A little push button is located on the battery. Push it and any of 4 LEDs on the power meter light up. 4 LEDs is a full charge. It's an under stated feature needed on battery operated equipment.You may not realize how much you look at the gas tank to estimate your job time until you don't have it any more. Trimmer been sitting for a while? Don't remember how much time/battery you consumed last time you used it? Push the battery and immediately know if you've got enough charge to finish the job. After using it 10 minutes on Level 1, I still have 4 LEDs.2) Power level selector. Here's a feature I thought was trivial when I ordered the unit. Then after assembling the unit and giving it a few whirls on different power levels, I realized this is a great power saving little feature for the average home owner. Most home owners who trim regularly will never need more than Level 1 or 2. But, if you've got a few or more weeks of over growth, it's nice to know Level 6 will rip through it. Obviously, it's nice to know Level 6 is there, but I just did my first trimming on normal growth using Level 1 without an issue. Save battery and get the job done. Try that with most other units that have one speed.3) Fixed flip flower guard. Why is this better than the "adjustable" flower guards? After using it the first time you'll understand that most adjustable guards will push in when you start bumping it on the basement concrete blocks, landscaping/retaining wall blocks, other landscaping fixtures, trees and even the mailbox. Adjustable guards will slowly slide backwards with each bump. The B&D's flip guard isn't going anywhere.The B&D's weight distribution is a little front oriented, but I'm sure if I moved the handle's position I could balance it better. But so far, I'm very impressed with this general/light duty trimmer.Overall, it's the little differences that make the B&D LST136W a much better cordless trimmer. If you're thinking of making the switch from gas to battery, make sure you match your expectations and needs to the right drive type. If you trim a lot of heavy grass or rough areas, you'll want to stick with the raw power and cutting ability of a gas powered trimmer. But if you need a general/light duty trimmer and want the convenience of a battery operated trimmer... make sure the B&D LST136W is on your short list.

So I was skeptical (as most are) that this would not have the power and/or battery life to meet my expectations, but to try to eliminate the need to mix gas/oil etc, I decided to give it a shot. I also wanted something that my wife could easily use - light weight and no pull start.I have only used this once, but here are a few of my observations that will hopefully help you make a decision as to whether this is something you want to purchase or not.1. Battery Life - the trimmer has 6 different power levels, so you control how long the battery lasts. I used level 4, and didn't really need to bump it up any higher. I was able to groom all of the landscaping around our house on one battery using level 4. The battery was pretty much drained after that, and it took me around 30 minutes. I did buy and extra battery for $50, which I always have ready in case the battery loses its charge, or I simply need more power.I feel like no matter how long the battery lasts, it isn't going to be good enough for some people. The way I see it, you need to look at the job you are trying to accomplish. If you can get it done in 30-45 minutes, then this trimmer (with two batteries) is going to be sufficient for the job. If you are looking at 0.50 acre+ jobs, that might take an hour or more to complete, then you are probably going to be disappointed, because the batteries might not make it the entire job. Make sure you evaluate your situation before making the investment.2. Power - the power is extremely good for a battery powered trimmer/edger. I was able to cut through some thick grass/weeds around a fence line without even increasing the power to level 6. I could see if you are living in a rural area, you may choose a gas powered trimmer, as you are probably going to be dealing with a larger area and thicker, more rigid vegetation.3. Lightweight - this is very lightweight. My wife is able to use it without complaining that it hurts her hands or back. It does have a lot of plastic on it, so if you are going to be throwing it in and out of a truck, it most likely will have broken parts. This wasn't made for heavy duty, commercial use.4. Line Feed - B&D has a very nice auto-feed spool/line system. The line automatically feeds itself out as more line is needed. This is extremely nice, because you don't have to contantly be pulling on the line to feed more through as you bump up against fences, landscaping rocks, etc.5. Value - this is where you have to make your decision. At $40-$70 per battery, you are commiting to around $200 for this trimmer and two Li-Ion batteries. Most gas powered trimmers run around $80-$100, and you are going to get more power out of them. You could argue that for this alone, this is not worth the money. Assuming the batteries are good quality, I am hoping to make up for it in the long run.I have only used this once, but with the two batteries, I don't see myself having any problems. As I said, the trimmer has PLENTY of power for an urban/suburban setting. I actually shaved a few spots on power level 4, because I got too close.5 Stars for the kind of lawn I have. Plenty of power, sufficient battery life & lightweight.