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While this new technology is exciting, the jargon that comes with it tends to be a bit confusing. To help, we've put together a cordless garden tool buyers guide, with all the information you'll need to confidently choose the best cordless garden tool for you.
Looking for a new mower? Check out our round up of best cordless lawn mowers to buy this year. Or perhaps you'll be after a hedge trimmer, leaf vacuum or leaf blower this autumn? If so, we've got it covered with our pick of the best hedge trimmers, leaf vacuum buyer's guide and leaf blowers buyer's guide. For your next DIY project, take a look at our best cordless drills and best multi-tools.
Jump to:
Five reasons to buy cordless garden toolsThere are a number of cordless tool system brands, below we've listed some of the most popular. And if you're looking for specific cordless tool, you can see how various tools go head to head on test in our round-ups for the best hedge trimmers, the best cordless lawn mowers and the best pressure washers.
Worx's PowerShare outdoor tool range includes:
The PowerShare range uses a 20V battery, which can also be used with their DIY power tools in the same collection.
Read our Worx WG779E cordless mower review and Landroid S300 WR130E robot mower review, which both won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Worx cordless tools on Worx, Amazon and Ebay.
Stiga's cordless tool range includes:
Read our Stiga Collect 136AE Kit cordless mower review and our Stiga 500 Multi Tool System review, both of which won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Stiga cordless tools on Stiga, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.
Stihl's cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review, HSA 56 Hedge Trimmer review and iMow 422P robot mower review, all of which won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Stihl cordless tools on Stihl, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.
Bosch's Power For All cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Bosch Power For All 18V Cordless System review and Rotak 32Li review, as well as the ALS Leaf Blower review and EasyHedgeCut 12-35 review, which both won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards
Buy Bosch cordless tools on Bosch, Amazon and Tooled Up.
Makita Power For All cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Makita DLM460PT2 Cordless Lawn Mower review, which won a Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy award, and our Makita DUH551Z Hedge Trimmer review.
Buy Makita cordless tools from Amazon, My Tool Shed and Tooled Up.
Ryobi cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Ryobi One+ System review, which won a Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy award
Buy Ryobi cordless tools on Ryobi, Amazon and Ebay.
Greenworks cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Greenworks 24V Multi Tool review.
Buy Greenworks cordless tools on Greenworks, Amazon and Ebay.
Flymo cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Flymo 2 C-Link Multi Tool system review
Buy Flymo cordless tools from Flymo, Amazon and Homebase
These are individual tools, sold separately and usually with the choice of with or without a battery and charger. Therefore once you've bought your first tool, battery and charger from a particular range you only need to buy 'bare' tools from that range in the future. Tools available can include:
To find out more, watch our cordless tool system buyer's guide:
Cordless tools can require a bit of forward planning to keep your batteries charged - there's nothing more frustrating than waiting for batteries to charge when you're ready to start the job at hand.
If your cordless tool uses a rechargeable battery pack, it's often a good idea to have a spare, which can be charged while the other one is in use, but batteries can be expensive because they are complex to manufacture.
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries need a special charger to match the battery's specific size, but this can increase the costs. Some cordless tools don't come with the battery and charger included, while others have a range of different sized batteries that fit the range and provide more power - great news, but they will require a specific charger to fit their size.
Think about your garden and what sort of tools you'll need to tackle different jobs and choose your range accordingly.
Jump to:
Once you've chosen which type of cordless power tool you're looking for, it's time to think about power. Most brands offer a range of cordless garden tools, which vary when it comes to the power they offer, from entry level needs to a higher spec that is designed to be used in large gardens, and by professionals.
Three factors determine the power of your cordless power tool:
Sometimes cordless tools can be bought with an integrated battery, in other words the battery is built into the tool and you charge the whole tool as opposed to just the battery, but most often they come with a chargeable battery pack - usually lithium-ion - which is removed from the tool to charge and can be used to power other cordless tools in a brand's range. Integrated batteries are smaller than battery packs, making this type of cordless tool cheaper and lighter than those with removable batteries but the batteries don't hold a charge as long so they're ideal for smaller jobs.
Cordless tools with a chargeable battery pack might be a little heavier and more expensive but if you're happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range. While you can expect to pay a little more for them, if you're happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range assuming their size and voltage is compatible.
What do I need to know about Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?The most common batteries used in cordless tools are lithium-ion. Technology behind lithium-ion batteries has dramatically improved in recent years, because they're the same batteries used to power electric cars and energy storage. Significant investments have been made to develop the battery's efficiency and performance and you can now expect the same power from cordless tools as you would get with corded and petrol alternatives.
Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries are ideal for cordless garden tools because they provide a decent amount of power, and, despite being relatively small, can cope with being charged time and time again regardless if it's fully or half used, so you don't have to worry about charging it at the right time and in the right way.
While this will always depend on use and storage, lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.
Lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.
In the long term, lithium extraction may have a detrimental impact on the environment, (according to earth.org, Lithium is extracted through 'water-mining', which requires an enormous amount of water throughout the process and toxic chemicals are needed to process lithium, leading to frequent water contamination and shortage lithium-producing countries). Ultimately, if lithium could be recycled, this would help manage the demands and make it a more sustainable option. In the meantime, they are a much better alternative to fossil fuels and signify a move towards sustainable development.
Although these rechargeable batteries come with a healthy lifespan of several years, ultimately when they need replacing they must be recycled. Some manufacturers will have the batteries back and recycle them, otherwise find your local recycling depot that will accept them.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stiga 500 Series cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
Our testers found the SHT 500 AE Cordless hedge trimmer was able to cut woody growth well and the rotating head locked easily into five positions. The battery on this tool is quite large meaning it could be heavy for some users. The SGT 500 AE Cordless grass trimmer is easy to assemble and the wide head cuts efficiently. The tool is very adaptable as the shaft is telescopic, the handle adjusts and head also rotates, with a wheel for effortless edging.
This tool set sits at the higher end of the price-range and is best for committed gardeners. The tools performed every job well so we judged it a Best Buy.
Read the full review at: Stiga 500 Series review
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stihl Compact Cordless System product review
Pros:
Cons:
The hedge trimmer HAS 56 cuts woody growth efficiently and comes with a handy safety lock. The grass strimmer FSA 56 has an adjustable shaft and handle and copes with most rough lawn areas well. The leaf blower BGA 56 is light and quiet with an adjustable tube so it's suitable for most heights. There's only one speed setting but it handles leaves and smaller debris well.
There's no assembling as the tools arrived ready to go and the batteries charge in 80 minutes. We found the system was efficient and good value money and would suit regular gardeners or bigger gardens. We judged this a Best Buy through our expert cordless garden tools reviews.
Read the full review at: Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Bosch 18V Power for ALL cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
We found the Universal Hedgecut 18-500 and Universal Grasscut 18-260 from this cordless garden multi tools system were simple to set up and the battery was easy to swap and recharge. The charger has indicator lights to let you know when the tool is fully charged. The hedge trimmer felt well-balanced and the 'Antiblocking system' stopped growth jamming the blades. However, it was less powerful than other tools and felt a little flimsy, although the blades were longer.
The grass trimmer head rotates easily for trimming although the cutting diameter is quite small. We liked the ergonomically designed handle and the way the battery tucked comfortably under the arm during use.
Read the full review at: Bosch 18V Power for ALL Cordless System review
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Greenworks 24V Cordless Series cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
The 24 V string trimmer and hedge trimmer cordless garden multi tools set comes with battery and charger included, which is unusual for this style of tool.
The grass trimmer has a rotatable head for edging but a slightly small handle meant the tool was uncomfortable for some testers. The hedge trimmer also had issues with the handle, as testers felt it was insubstantial. It is a light tool but struggles with thicker growth. The leaf blower was more comfortable to use and felt powerful, with two speeds plus a nozzle for more focused blowing.
Read the full review: Greenworks 24 V Cordless Series review
Save £30.99 on the Greenworks G24HT 24 V cordless hedge trimmer on Mad4Tools
Save £50.99 on the Greenworks line trimmer in a bundle with the Greenworks cordless mower on Mad4Tools
Our experts have also put a number of individual cordless tools through their paces, from various tool systems, including:
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Are you tired of having to safely transport and store petrol in order to run your garden tools? Or are you driven mad by a tangled mess of intertwined cables and extension leads every time you try to extricate them from storage? For the ultimate user convenience, more and more people are choosing battery powered garden tools as the way forward. But don't hit the Buy button on that brand new lawnmower just yet, as we've compiled a handy buyers guide which will hopefully provide you with some information to help you make the best choice.
Compared with petrol and corded electric alternatives, battery powered garden tools can be said to give you the best of both worlds: you get the same freedom as petrol but with the low maintenance, ease-of-use of electric. Aside from tasks like sharpening and lubricating blades, there's not much you need to do to keep them in working order ' just store your batteries and charger in a dry, indoor environment (rather than the shed or garage) and charge them up in between uses. As long as you've remembered to charge your batteries, there's virtually no set-up time involved ' just pull the trigger and away you go.
Being electric, these tools tend to be a lot quieter than petrol machines, with less vibration and no exhaust fumes. As well as having obvious benefits to the operator, this means they are generally less of a nuisance to neighbours and anyone else in the immediate vicinity too.
Cordless tools are potentially safer than petrol or corded electric as well. Petrol is highly flammable, must be stored safely and can be a real nuisance to clean up after leaks and spills, while with corded tools you need to use appropriate extension leads that are rated for the appliance and have to always be aware of the cable to prevent accidentally cutting through it or tripping over it.
So those are some of the benefits ' but what should you look for if you're thinking of making the jump to a cordless tool kit?
Cordless tools are split into a variety of categories depending on the voltage they run on. Commonly this will be 12v, 18v or 36v for example, and the higher this number, the more powerful you can expect the machine to be. This means that a 12v chainsaw (which is probably going to be labelled a 'pruning saw' rather than a chainsaw) will only be able to run a very short chain, while a 36v chainsaw will enable you to saw through bigger branches, and with far greater speed and efficiency. That doesn't mean that bigger is always better though: more powerful tools need bigger, heavier (and more expensive) batteries. By contrast, a 12v battery is extremely compact and lightweight, meaning that a mini 12v chainsaw can be used comfortably with less fatigue, and will be ideal for use in tight spaces and on smaller branches where it would be impractical to use a larger machine.
Generally speaking, these tools can only be used with batteries of the same type ' that is, a 12v tool won't work with anything other than a 12v battery. For a long time now, 18v batteries have been the preferred middle ground for handheld power tools, providing a decent amount of power without being excessively large or heavy, and for this reason you'll probably find more tools available on 18v battery platforms than in other voltage classes. Wherever possible, it makes sense to try and standardize your tool kit on the same battery platform as then it means they can all use the same battery and charger.
You might notice another figure quoted on battery specifications and that's ampere-hours (ah). What this refers to is how much charge the battery can store inside it, and the higher this value, the longer the battery can keep going before it needs recharging. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that bigger is always better as you'll usually find the cost, size and overall weight of the battery increases as well. But if you have a large garden to maintain, or are a professional contractor working throughout the day, a high capacity battery can be an extremely convenient upgrade, enabling you to power through bigger workloads without the tool grinding to a halt before you've finished.
Another important thing to note here is that the type of tool you're using will affect how quickly your battery charge drops from full to zero. Some power tools don't have to work all that hard to fulfil their required function ' for example a typical grass trimmer only needs to be able to spin a thin length of nylon line around, and you'll probably find that one of the smallest batteries will keep it running for a decent amount of time. However, put this same battery into a rotary lawnmower with a big metal blade, and you might not get very far at all before its completely flat.
A common cause of complaints arises when people come to replace their old lawnmower battery and scour the internet looking for the cheapest price, only to find on arrival that their brand new battery performs much worse than the original ' leading them to assume that there must be something wrong with it. The reality is of course that they've purchased one of the smaller, cheaper options which can't hold the same amount of charge and is never going to be able to match the performance of the stock battery supplied in the box.
So remember, there's a big difference between a 1.3ah and a 9.0ah battery, but whether you need to splash out for the biggest and most expensive one available will depend on the type of tool you're using as well as the amount of work you want to get done in a single session.
This is a question we get asked a lot at Tooled-Up, and for a long time it was a very simple answer: no! However, times are changing and with a recent shift in the industry towards more universal battery platforms these lines are becoming more blurred. For instance, the PowerForAll 18v battery which started life in the Bosch Home and Garden range, can now also be used to power tools from Gardena and Flymo as part of a cross-brand initiative known as the PowerForAll 18v Alliance. Another notable exception is the Power X-Change system which is shared by cordless tools from Ozito and Einhell, but this is sure to become more widespread as time goes on. However, if in doubt assume that batteries aren't interchangeable between brands, and you'll need to acquire a suitable battery and charger from the same manufacturer.
You may come across cordless garden power tools which are labelled as 'Brushless' and wonder what this means. For a long time, practically all electric power tools were manufactured with carbon brushes, and these are essentially small consumable parts which are an intrinsic part of the motor assembly. Every time the tool is used, these brushes are subjected to a small amount of wear and eventually they will become completely worn out to the point where the motor will no longer start up unless they are replaced. This in itself is not a huge disadvantage as they can last a long time and are cheap and easy to replace. However, the friction caused by the wear on these brushes means that these motors are not the most energy efficient of designs; additionally, the brushes take up room inside the motor housing so they add a bit of bulk onto the tool.
With a brushless motor, the job of the brushes is instead performed by a separate controller on a circuit board ' this is essentially like a very basic computer on a chip, and is more expensive to implement. However, dispensing with the brushes means that designers can pack a more powerful motor into a smaller space, and the motor will run cleanly and more efficiently. In turn, this means that it won't drain the batteries as quickly, and one of the biggest advantages of a brushless tool is that you can get longer runtimes from your batteries.
Power tools are made to fit a wide variety of price points and to suit a diverse range of users ' from homeowners who trim their hedge a handful of times a year to professional landscapers who might use a hedge trimmer several times a week. The domestic grade machines will be a lot cheaper but as they're designed for infrequent use you may find they have a more limited warranty, while upgrading to a professional version should equip you with a more robust tool which is guaranteed for commercial use and will hopefully survive extended periods of heavy duty workloads without breaking down.
No matter which particular tool you're considering for your requirements, it's always worth taking a look at the brand in more detail to get an idea of what other tools (if any) can run on the same batteries. In some cases there may only be a small handful of products that run on a particular battery, while larger platforms like the PowerForAll 18v alliance give you access to literally hundreds of compatible machines, most of which you'll be able to pick up as bare tools (without battery and charger) ' a handy cost-cutting saving which also helps to reduce the clutter and inconvenience of managing multiple different chargers and batteries.
Due to the fact that most of these machines are part of a complete battery system- that is, they'll run on batteries the user may already own ' many of them are sold without a battery or charger included. This is great if you already own a battery and charger, as you'll get them for a cheaper price and won't have to accumulate a whole arsenal of un-needed batteries and chargers every time you buy a new tool. However, it's not so great if you don't already own a battery and charger and many people make the mistake of buying a bare tool only to find out they then need to source these separately ' while this is perfectly possible, you might not appreciate the inconvenience and to make matters worse you'll probably spend more money doing it this way rather than buying an all-in-one starter kit. So always take the time to research what's included and check you're not going to be missing anything when you open the box.
You may also find that you can buy the same tool with a whole variety of different battery configurations, in which case you just need to make a judgement call on what will suit you best. If you have a large garden to maintain you'll probably appreciate having that largest batteries you can get your hands on, but if you only need to trim a small hedge then a 1.5ah or 2.0ah battery may be more than enough.
You might have the option to buy more than one battery in a starter kit and there are a few advantages to this: Firstly, it enables you to always have one on charge while the other is in use, meaning you can swap between them and complete larger jobs relatively seamlessly. Secondly, its much more convenient when you need more than one tool for a job and means you don't have to share the same battery between them. But another reason why you might want to have two of the same battery is that in some cases manufacturers make tools which run on two batteries simultaneously: commonly this will be a 36v tool that runs on two 18v batteries, and the idea here is that you can step up to a more powerful voltage class but without having to buy into a completely new battery system.
Remember that power tools can be dangerous so make sure to read the manual before using any new tool. If you don't already own appropriate PPE for the task you're undertaking, you may want to try and purchase some at the same time so you're all ready to go. It is recommended to wear eye protection with most power tools, but depending on the job you may also require equipment like safety boots, ear defenders and a helmet.
Categories mentioned in this article:
Outdoor Power Tools
Garden Machinery
Battery Packs
Battery Chargers
Safety Eyewear
Hard Hats and Safety Helmets
Ear Defenders and Ear Plugs
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While this new technology is exciting, the jargon that comes with it tends to be a bit confusing. To help, we've put together a cordless garden tool buyers guide, with all the information you'll need to confidently choose the best cordless garden tool for you.
Looking for a new mower? Check out our round up of best cordless lawn mowers to buy this year. Or perhaps you'll be after a hedge trimmer, leaf vacuum or leaf blower this autumn? If so, we've got it covered with our pick of the best hedge trimmers, leaf vacuum buyer's guide and leaf blowers buyer's guide. For your next DIY project, take a look at our best cordless drills and best multi-tools.
Jump to:
Five reasons to buy cordless garden toolsThere are a number of cordless tool system brands, below we've listed some of the most popular. And if you're looking for specific cordless tool, you can see how various tools go head to head on test in our round-ups for the best hedge trimmers, the best cordless lawn mowers and the best pressure washers.
Worx's PowerShare outdoor tool range includes:
The PowerShare range uses a 20V battery, which can also be used with their DIY power tools in the same collection.
Read our Worx WG779E cordless mower review and Landroid S300 WR130E robot mower review, which both won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Worx cordless tools on Worx, Amazon and Ebay.
Stiga's cordless tool range includes:
Read our Stiga Collect 136AE Kit cordless mower review and our Stiga 500 Multi Tool System review, both of which won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Stiga cordless tools on Stiga, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.
Stihl's cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review, HSA 56 Hedge Trimmer review and iMow 422P robot mower review, all of which won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards.
Buy Stihl cordless tools on Stihl, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.
Bosch's Power For All cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Bosch Power For All 18V Cordless System review and Rotak 32Li review, as well as the ALS Leaf Blower review and EasyHedgeCut 12-35 review, which both won Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy awards
Buy Bosch cordless tools on Bosch, Amazon and Tooled Up.
Makita Power For All cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Makita DLM460PT2 Cordless Lawn Mower review, which won a Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy award, and our Makita DUH551Z Hedge Trimmer review.
Buy Makita cordless tools from Amazon, My Tool Shed and Tooled Up.
Ryobi cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Ryobi One+ System review, which won a Gardeners' World magazine Best Buy award
Buy Ryobi cordless tools on Ryobi, Amazon and Ebay.
Greenworks cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Greenworks 24V Multi Tool review.
Buy Greenworks cordless tools on Greenworks, Amazon and Ebay.
Flymo cordless tool ranges include:
Read our Flymo 2 C-Link Multi Tool system review
Buy Flymo cordless tools from Flymo, Amazon and Homebase
These are individual tools, sold separately and usually with the choice of with or without a battery and charger. Therefore once you've bought your first tool, battery and charger from a particular range you only need to buy 'bare' tools from that range in the future. Tools available can include:
To find out more, watch our cordless tool system buyer's guide:
Cordless tools can require a bit of forward planning to keep your batteries charged - there's nothing more frustrating than waiting for batteries to charge when you're ready to start the job at hand.
If your cordless tool uses a rechargeable battery pack, it's often a good idea to have a spare, which can be charged while the other one is in use, but batteries can be expensive because they are complex to manufacture.
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries need a special charger to match the battery's specific size, but this can increase the costs. Some cordless tools don't come with the battery and charger included, while others have a range of different sized batteries that fit the range and provide more power - great news, but they will require a specific charger to fit their size.
Think about your garden and what sort of tools you'll need to tackle different jobs and choose your range accordingly.
Jump to:
Once you've chosen which type of cordless power tool you're looking for, it's time to think about power. Most brands offer a range of cordless garden tools, which vary when it comes to the power they offer, from entry level needs to a higher spec that is designed to be used in large gardens, and by professionals.
Three factors determine the power of your cordless power tool:
Sometimes cordless tools can be bought with an integrated battery, in other words the battery is built into the tool and you charge the whole tool as opposed to just the battery, but most often they come with a chargeable battery pack - usually lithium-ion - which is removed from the tool to charge and can be used to power other cordless tools in a brand's range. Integrated batteries are smaller than battery packs, making this type of cordless tool cheaper and lighter than those with removable batteries but the batteries don't hold a charge as long so they're ideal for smaller jobs.
Cordless tools with a chargeable battery pack might be a little heavier and more expensive but if you're happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range. While you can expect to pay a little more for them, if you're happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range assuming their size and voltage is compatible.
What do I need to know about Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?The most common batteries used in cordless tools are lithium-ion. Technology behind lithium-ion batteries has dramatically improved in recent years, because they're the same batteries used to power electric cars and energy storage. Significant investments have been made to develop the battery's efficiency and performance and you can now expect the same power from cordless tools as you would get with corded and petrol alternatives.
Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries are ideal for cordless garden tools because they provide a decent amount of power, and, despite being relatively small, can cope with being charged time and time again regardless if it's fully or half used, so you don't have to worry about charging it at the right time and in the right way.
While this will always depend on use and storage, lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.
Lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.
In the long term, lithium extraction may have a detrimental impact on the environment, (according to earth.org, Lithium is extracted through 'water-mining', which requires an enormous amount of water throughout the process and toxic chemicals are needed to process lithium, leading to frequent water contamination and shortage lithium-producing countries). Ultimately, if lithium could be recycled, this would help manage the demands and make it a more sustainable option. In the meantime, they are a much better alternative to fossil fuels and signify a move towards sustainable development.
Although these rechargeable batteries come with a healthy lifespan of several years, ultimately when they need replacing they must be recycled. Some manufacturers will have the batteries back and recycle them, otherwise find your local recycling depot that will accept them.
Want more information on Cordless Power Tools Manufacturer? Feel free to contact us.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stiga 500 Series cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
Our testers found the SHT 500 AE Cordless hedge trimmer was able to cut woody growth well and the rotating head locked easily into five positions. The battery on this tool is quite large meaning it could be heavy for some users. The SGT 500 AE Cordless grass trimmer is easy to assemble and the wide head cuts efficiently. The tool is very adaptable as the shaft is telescopic, the handle adjusts and head also rotates, with a wheel for effortless edging.
This tool set sits at the higher end of the price-range and is best for committed gardeners. The tools performed every job well so we judged it a Best Buy.
Read the full review at: Stiga 500 Series review
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stihl Compact Cordless System product review
Pros:
Cons:
The hedge trimmer HAS 56 cuts woody growth efficiently and comes with a handy safety lock. The grass strimmer FSA 56 has an adjustable shaft and handle and copes with most rough lawn areas well. The leaf blower BGA 56 is light and quiet with an adjustable tube so it's suitable for most heights. There's only one speed setting but it handles leaves and smaller debris well.
There's no assembling as the tools arrived ready to go and the batteries charge in 80 minutes. We found the system was efficient and good value money and would suit regular gardeners or bigger gardens. We judged this a Best Buy through our expert cordless garden tools reviews.
Read the full review at: Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Bosch 18V Power for ALL cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
We found the Universal Hedgecut 18-500 and Universal Grasscut 18-260 from this cordless garden multi tools system were simple to set up and the battery was easy to swap and recharge. The charger has indicator lights to let you know when the tool is fully charged. The hedge trimmer felt well-balanced and the 'Antiblocking system' stopped growth jamming the blades. However, it was less powerful than other tools and felt a little flimsy, although the blades were longer.
The grass trimmer head rotates easily for trimming although the cutting diameter is quite small. We liked the ergonomically designed handle and the way the battery tucked comfortably under the arm during use.
Read the full review at: Bosch 18V Power for ALL Cordless System review
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Greenworks 24V Cordless Series cordless tool system product review
Pros:
Cons:
The 24 V string trimmer and hedge trimmer cordless garden multi tools set comes with battery and charger included, which is unusual for this style of tool.
The grass trimmer has a rotatable head for edging but a slightly small handle meant the tool was uncomfortable for some testers. The hedge trimmer also had issues with the handle, as testers felt it was insubstantial. It is a light tool but struggles with thicker growth. The leaf blower was more comfortable to use and felt powerful, with two speeds plus a nozzle for more focused blowing.
Read the full review: Greenworks 24 V Cordless Series review
Save £30.99 on the Greenworks G24HT 24 V cordless hedge trimmer on Mad4Tools
Save £50.99 on the Greenworks line trimmer in a bundle with the Greenworks cordless mower on Mad4Tools
Our experts have also put a number of individual cordless tools through their paces, from various tool systems, including:
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Are you tired of having to safely transport and store petrol in order to run your garden tools? Or are you driven mad by a tangled mess of intertwined cables and extension leads every time you try to extricate them from storage? For the ultimate user convenience, more and more people are choosing battery powered garden tools as the way forward. But don't hit the Buy button on that brand new lawnmower just yet, as we've compiled a handy buyers guide which will hopefully provide you with some information to help you make the best choice.
Compared with petrol and corded electric alternatives, battery powered garden tools can be said to give you the best of both worlds: you get the same freedom as petrol but with the low maintenance, ease-of-use of electric. Aside from tasks like sharpening and lubricating blades, there's not much you need to do to keep them in working order ' just store your batteries and charger in a dry, indoor environment (rather than the shed or garage) and charge them up in between uses. As long as you've remembered to charge your batteries, there's virtually no set-up time involved ' just pull the trigger and away you go.
Being electric, these tools tend to be a lot quieter than petrol machines, with less vibration and no exhaust fumes. As well as having obvious benefits to the operator, this means they are generally less of a nuisance to neighbours and anyone else in the immediate vicinity too.
Cordless tools are potentially safer than petrol or corded electric as well. Petrol is highly flammable, must be stored safely and can be a real nuisance to clean up after leaks and spills, while with corded tools you need to use appropriate extension leads that are rated for the appliance and have to always be aware of the cable to prevent accidentally cutting through it or tripping over it.
So those are some of the benefits ' but what should you look for if you're thinking of making the jump to a cordless tool kit?
Cordless tools are split into a variety of categories depending on the voltage they run on. Commonly this will be 12v, 18v or 36v for example, and the higher this number, the more powerful you can expect the machine to be. This means that a 12v chainsaw (which is probably going to be labelled a 'pruning saw' rather than a chainsaw) will only be able to run a very short chain, while a 36v chainsaw will enable you to saw through bigger branches, and with far greater speed and efficiency. That doesn't mean that bigger is always better though: more powerful tools need bigger, heavier (and more expensive) batteries. By contrast, a 12v battery is extremely compact and lightweight, meaning that a mini 12v chainsaw can be used comfortably with less fatigue, and will be ideal for use in tight spaces and on smaller branches where it would be impractical to use a larger machine.
Generally speaking, these tools can only be used with batteries of the same type ' that is, a 12v tool won't work with anything other than a 12v battery. For a long time now, 18v batteries have been the preferred middle ground for handheld power tools, providing a decent amount of power without being excessively large or heavy, and for this reason you'll probably find more tools available on 18v battery platforms than in other voltage classes. Wherever possible, it makes sense to try and standardize your tool kit on the same battery platform as then it means they can all use the same battery and charger.
You might notice another figure quoted on battery specifications and that's ampere-hours (ah). What this refers to is how much charge the battery can store inside it, and the higher this value, the longer the battery can keep going before it needs recharging. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that bigger is always better as you'll usually find the cost, size and overall weight of the battery increases as well. But if you have a large garden to maintain, or are a professional contractor working throughout the day, a high capacity battery can be an extremely convenient upgrade, enabling you to power through bigger workloads without the tool grinding to a halt before you've finished.
Another important thing to note here is that the type of tool you're using will affect how quickly your battery charge drops from full to zero. Some power tools don't have to work all that hard to fulfil their required function ' for example a typical grass trimmer only needs to be able to spin a thin length of nylon line around, and you'll probably find that one of the smallest batteries will keep it running for a decent amount of time. However, put this same battery into a rotary lawnmower with a big metal blade, and you might not get very far at all before its completely flat.
A common cause of complaints arises when people come to replace their old lawnmower battery and scour the internet looking for the cheapest price, only to find on arrival that their brand new battery performs much worse than the original ' leading them to assume that there must be something wrong with it. The reality is of course that they've purchased one of the smaller, cheaper options which can't hold the same amount of charge and is never going to be able to match the performance of the stock battery supplied in the box.
So remember, there's a big difference between a 1.3ah and a 9.0ah battery, but whether you need to splash out for the biggest and most expensive one available will depend on the type of tool you're using as well as the amount of work you want to get done in a single session.
This is a question we get asked a lot at Tooled-Up, and for a long time it was a very simple answer: no! However, times are changing and with a recent shift in the industry towards more universal battery platforms these lines are becoming more blurred. For instance, the PowerForAll 18v battery which started life in the Bosch Home and Garden range, can now also be used to power tools from Gardena and Flymo as part of a cross-brand initiative known as the PowerForAll 18v Alliance. Another notable exception is the Power X-Change system which is shared by cordless tools from Ozito and Einhell, but this is sure to become more widespread as time goes on. However, if in doubt assume that batteries aren't interchangeable between brands, and you'll need to acquire a suitable battery and charger from the same manufacturer.
You may come across cordless garden power tools which are labelled as 'Brushless' and wonder what this means. For a long time, practically all electric power tools were manufactured with carbon brushes, and these are essentially small consumable parts which are an intrinsic part of the motor assembly. Every time the tool is used, these brushes are subjected to a small amount of wear and eventually they will become completely worn out to the point where the motor will no longer start up unless they are replaced. This in itself is not a huge disadvantage as they can last a long time and are cheap and easy to replace. However, the friction caused by the wear on these brushes means that these motors are not the most energy efficient of designs; additionally, the brushes take up room inside the motor housing so they add a bit of bulk onto the tool.
With a brushless motor, the job of the brushes is instead performed by a separate controller on a circuit board ' this is essentially like a very basic computer on a chip, and is more expensive to implement. However, dispensing with the brushes means that designers can pack a more powerful motor into a smaller space, and the motor will run cleanly and more efficiently. In turn, this means that it won't drain the batteries as quickly, and one of the biggest advantages of a brushless tool is that you can get longer runtimes from your batteries.
Power tools are made to fit a wide variety of price points and to suit a diverse range of users ' from homeowners who trim their hedge a handful of times a year to professional landscapers who might use a hedge trimmer several times a week. The domestic grade machines will be a lot cheaper but as they're designed for infrequent use you may find they have a more limited warranty, while upgrading to a professional version should equip you with a more robust tool which is guaranteed for commercial use and will hopefully survive extended periods of heavy duty workloads without breaking down.
No matter which particular tool you're considering for your requirements, it's always worth taking a look at the brand in more detail to get an idea of what other tools (if any) can run on the same batteries. In some cases there may only be a small handful of products that run on a particular battery, while larger platforms like the PowerForAll 18v alliance give you access to literally hundreds of compatible machines, most of which you'll be able to pick up as bare tools (without battery and charger) ' a handy cost-cutting saving which also helps to reduce the clutter and inconvenience of managing multiple different chargers and batteries.
Due to the fact that most of these machines are part of a complete battery system- that is, they'll run on batteries the user may already own ' many of them are sold without a battery or charger included. This is great if you already own a battery and charger, as you'll get them for a cheaper price and won't have to accumulate a whole arsenal of un-needed batteries and chargers every time you buy a new tool. However, it's not so great if you don't already own a battery and charger and many people make the mistake of buying a bare tool only to find out they then need to source these separately ' while this is perfectly possible, you might not appreciate the inconvenience and to make matters worse you'll probably spend more money doing it this way rather than buying an all-in-one starter kit. So always take the time to research what's included and check you're not going to be missing anything when you open the box.
You may also find that you can buy the same tool with a whole variety of different battery configurations, in which case you just need to make a judgement call on what will suit you best. If you have a large garden to maintain you'll probably appreciate having that largest batteries you can get your hands on, but if you only need to trim a small hedge then a 1.5ah or 2.0ah battery may be more than enough.
You might have the option to buy more than one battery in a starter kit and there are a few advantages to this: Firstly, it enables you to always have one on charge while the other is in use, meaning you can swap between them and complete larger jobs relatively seamlessly. Secondly, its much more convenient when you need more than one tool for a job and means you don't have to share the same battery between them. But another reason why you might want to have two of the same battery is that in some cases manufacturers make tools which run on two batteries simultaneously: commonly this will be a 36v tool that runs on two 18v batteries, and the idea here is that you can step up to a more powerful voltage class but without having to buy into a completely new battery system.
Remember that power tools can be dangerous so make sure to read the manual before using any new tool. If you don't already own appropriate PPE for the task you're undertaking, you may want to try and purchase some at the same time so you're all ready to go. It is recommended to wear eye protection with most power tools, but depending on the job you may also require equipment like safety boots, ear defenders and a helmet.
Categories mentioned in this article:
Outdoor Power Tools
Garden Machinery
Battery Packs
Battery Chargers
Safety Eyewear
Hard Hats and Safety Helmets
Ear Defenders and Ear Plugs
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