If you have places in your yard that your lawnmower can’t reach, you need a string trimmer! Also dubbed as weed whackers and weed eaters, string trimmers are handy tools to cut grass and weeds that grow in locations you cannot access with a lawnmower.
Walk-behind string trimmers or wheeled string trimmers are the same as conventional trimmers only that they come with a set of wheels that make it easy to maneuver across lawns or uneven terrain.
Buying the best walk-behind string trimmer can be an overwhelming task owing to the many options available, each with its own unique features like different types of engines, handles, deck quality, type of blades, height, price, and warranty.
But after carefully researching this segment and comparing several models including battery-powered models, I’ve narrowed down the 8 best walk-behind trimmers that can be used without hiccups on rough terrain and on larger lawns.
Best String Trimmers
1. Southland 2 Cycle Wheeled String Trimmer
The Southland Outdoor Power Equipment wheeled string trimmer is equipped with a superior quality trimmer head that allows you to make a head adjustment between 20° – 30°. Adding to this, it also comes with a beveled trimmer head feature that can be adjusted between 5° – 10° for precise trimming along any obstacles.
In terms of power, the Southland Outdoor Power equipment field trimmer provides more than 35 lbs more torque than 25 cc handheld trimmers and can be fitted with a 31 percent larger 0.105″ dual quad trimmer string, allowing you to tackle bigger jobs with ease.
The Southland Outdoor Power Equipment walk-behind string trimmer is compatible with 0. 095 in. and 0. 105 in. strings, making it easy to choose the right one for your task.
It comes with an integrated trimmer string cut length guide to ensure you get the perfect 17 inches cut swath each time you use the tool.
The Southland wheeled trimmer features an ergonomic loop, height adjustable handle complete with a spring-loaded thumb actuated throttle control for added comfort and to prevent user fatigue.
To top things off, the Southland wheeled trimmer offers onboard storage for the trimmer string, and is backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
Pros:
Cons:
- The southland wheeled string trimmer features a 20° - 30° trimmer head swivel to trim along a wall or fence in a straight line.
- It also has a 5° - 10° trimmer head bevel feature for precise edge trimming along an obstacle
- This wheeled string trimmer provides over 35% more torque vs. A typical 25cc hand held string trimmer
Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2023-03-29
2. Craftsman Walk-Behind High-Wheeled String Trimmer
The Craftsman walk-behind string trimmer is powered by a159cc heavy-duty engine that helps you get rid of the tallest, toughest grass and weeds without any hiccups.
Apart from its onboard robust 159cc 4-cycle gas engine, It offers a wide 22-inch cutting swath, which makes it easier to trim around fences, garden beds and landscaping borders. The Craftsman walk-behind string trimmer is equipped with an off-set trimmer head that helps trim in hard-to-reach places, and large 14-inch ball-bearing wheels to help you move easily in any type of terrain including rough terrain.
The Craftsman walk-behind string trimmer comes with a comfort folding handle for convenient storage and transportation, and is compatible with a standard 0.155” trimmer line.
Pros:
Cons:
- 159cc OHV GAS ENGINE: Powerful 4-cycle gas engine helps you clear the tallest, toughest grass and weeds.
- 22-INCH CUTTING SWATH: Unique shape makes trimming around fences, garden beds, and other landscaping borders easier cutting bigger jobs down to size.
- USER FRIENDLY: Off-set trimmer head feature helps to trim hard-to-reach places while the 14-inch ball-bearing wheels help you move easily through rough terrain.
Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2023-03-29
3. Earthquake Walk-Behind String Mower
The Earthquake walk-behind string mower is in a league of its own with its class-leading 163cc 4-Cycle Briggs & Stratton engine, which chops the most stubborn grass and weeds with a smile.
It features a patented one-piece steel deck that provides top-notch strength and stability while greatly reducing vibrations. It uses a super tough nylon line that has a 22-inch cutting swath to help you get the job done quickly.
The Earthquake walk-behind string mower offers toolless handlebar adjustment knobs for easy storage and transportation, and never-go-flat wheels. This walk-behind string trimmer is backed by a 2-year warranty against any manufacturer defects.
Pros:
Cons:
- POWERFUL - Powered by a strong, 163cc 4-Cycle Briggs & Stratton engine. The Earthquake M605 Walk Behind String Mower chops down your unsightly weeds and stubborn brush with ease. The large 14-inch wheels allow you to float through thick grass, weeds, brush, nettles, and other foliage too difficult for push mowers to overcome.
- DURABLE - Our one-piece steel deck provides strength and stability while reducing vibration. Super tough nylon line has a cutting swath of 22” to get the job done quickly.
- CONVENIENT- Tool-less handlebar adjustment knobs provide compact storage and easy transportation. Never-go-flat wheels ensure that your equipment is ready to go when you are.
Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2023-03-29
4. Tazz Walk-Behind String Trimmer
The Tazz walk-behind string trimmer not only looks stunning but offers superior power under its hood, thanks to its onboard 150 cc engine. When fired up, this gasoline-powered walk-behind string trimmer allows you to easily clear thick grass, weeds, and other foliage around fence lines, tree lines, and shorelines.
It is equipped with a one-piece steel deck that provides unmatched strength and stability while reducing vibration. The Tazz walk-behind string trimmer comes with a .155” diameter nylon line and offers a 22-inch cutting swath to perform jobs quickly.
Furthermore, the Tazz walk-behind string trimmer is factory-equipped with large 14-inch wheels that allow you to use the tool easily over rugged terrain. Adding to its long list of features are foldable handlebars for convenient storage.
Pros:
Cons:
- FAST AND FRIENDLY: Perfect for mowing and trimming around your yard and property. Easily muscle through the toughest weeds and most stubborn brush without having to carry your equipment or strap it to your back.
- POWERFUL VERSATILITY: Our 150cc engine has plenty of power to easily clear thick grass, weeds and other foliage around fence lines, tree lines and shorelines. This mower is also great for cleaning-up the edges of your yard in hard to reach corners where your mower doesn’t fit.
- HEAVY DUTY DECK AND LINE: Our one-piece steel deck provides strength and stability while reducing vibration. Super Tough . 155” diameter nylon line and has a cutting swath of 22” to get the job done quickly.
Affiliate links and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on: 2023-03-29
5. Poulan Pro PR22WT Wheeled Trimmer
No products found.The Poulan pro wheeled string trimmer is equipped with a 675 EXI Series Briggs & Stratton engine that delivers 6.75 lbs of torque. It features ReadyStart for no prime, no choke starting, and requires no more than two pulls for a startup.
It features Just Check and Add technology for a clean running engine that never requires a single oil change, so there’s no mess to deal with.
The Poulan Pro wheeled string trimmer offers a 22-inch cutting width and comes with six adjustable cutting heights to choose from. It rolls smoothly on rough and uneven terrain owing to its 22-inch wheels and can easily tackle heavy-duty trimming with causing user fatigue.
Pros:
Cons:
No products found.
6. Remington Walk-Behind High-Wheeled String Trimmer
No products found.The Remington walk-behind string trimmer comes with a high-quality 159 cc OHV gas engine that is ready to get the job done effectively and efficiently.
It offers a 22-inch cutting path, making it easy to trim around fences, garden beds, and other landscaping borders.
The Remington walk-behind wheeled string trimmer comes with an off-set trimmer head to help trim in hard-to-reach places, and 14-inch ball bearing wheels to help maneuver in rugged and uneven terrain.
The Remington walk-behind wheeled string trimmer is fitted with a comfort folding handle and is compatible with a 0.155” diameter line.
Pros:
Cons:
No products found.
7. Husqvarna HU625HWT 163cc High Wheel Trimmer
No products found.The Husqvarna wheeled string trimmer is equipped 163cc Briggs and Stratton engine, and offers a wide 22-inch cutting width. The trim height of the tool can be adjusted easily between 1.6 inch to 3 inches and is great for areas with limited access.
Pros:
Cons:
No products found.
8. Cub Cadet ST 100
The Cub Cadet ST100 is fitted with a 173cc commercial-grade Kohler engine, which provides superior performance and power and reduced noise.
It can cut up to 22 inches wide, making it easy to trim large areas of grass or weeds. Further, the handle of the Cub Cadet ST100 walk-behind string trimmer can be adjusted between three positions and is equipped with rubber bail grip for added comfort during use.
The cutting height of the Cub Cadet ST100 walk-behind mower is adjustable between 2.375″ to 4.375″, so you can tackle thick grass with ease.
It features a thoughtfully designed offset deck to easily trim around obstacles such as corners and fences while walking in a straight line.
Pros:
Cons:
What to Consider when Buying a Walk-Behind String Trimmer?
Walk-behind string trimmers can be big-ticket purchases, but here are a few factors to consider to ease your buying decision.
Different Types of String Trimmers
When shopping for the best walk-behind string trimmer to use on your lawn and uneven ground, you ideally have three options to choose from:
- Corded,
- Cordless,
- Gas-powered walk-behind mowers.
A decade or so ago, you only had one option when it came to cutting around edges in your lawn and garden. But today, just like gas-powered lawn mowers and cordless electric lawn mowers, there are myriad different options to trim stubborn weeds, unwanted plants, and grass around uneven surfaces and edges.
For sprawling yards that are more than 14,000 square feet, I’d recommend buying a gas-powered walk-behind string trimmer that’s equipped with a powerful engine.
- Gas walk-behind string trimmers are robust machines, but on the downside are the noisiest of the three types. So you really won’t be able to crank up a gas walk-behind mower in the wee hours of the morning because your neighbors won’t really appreciate roughly 95 decibels of racket – similar to the sound of a motorcycle running.
Newer gas walk-behind string trimmers are making significant improvements with regard to noise but still have a long way to go.
- Battery-powered walk-behind trimmer such as models from the Greenworks stable offer less power but on a brighter note customers say operate on a low noise level since they lack a motor. This range of walk-behind string trimmers is an ideal choice for smaller yards under 1,500 square feet, and requires less effort to trim hard-to-reach areas in your yard.
- With electric walk-behind string trimmers, you’ll never run out of power but you can only use the tool as far as the length of the electric cord, which is approximately 50 to 100 feet.
Size of Your Lawn
It’s important to keep the size of your lawn in mind when shopping for the best walk-behind string trimmer for your needs because the last thing you want is to haul around a heavy tool for hours on end.
Corded Trimmer – Even with a lightweight handlebar and high-quality trimmer head, corded walk-behind string trimmers weigh just 35 to 55 lbs, making them a joy to push around. But again, you have to drag around a pesky power cord during the entire time to power the tool.
The power cord offers limited operation, and also makes it difficult to maneuver around trees and flowerbeds while keeping the cord out of the way.
Adding to this, the power cord can also be a safety hazard if you accidentally run over it, chopping it in half, exposing the live wires, or in worse cases blowing a circuit breaker.
Gas walk-behind string trimmers are much heavier than their corded or battery-powered counterparts, making it difficult to push them on slopes and inclined rough ground, and even ground.
Gas walk-behind string trimmers also require you to store flammable gasoline somewhere in your house, which is something to think about if you have kids and pets. Further, they also require more maintenance compared to electric and battery-operated walk-behind string trimmers, given most come with a brushless motor, air filter, and spark plugs.
Battery-powered walk-behind string trimmers boast a lightweight design and are easy to maneuver, without having to constantly look out for a cord, but can only be used until the battery power lasts such as the Greenworks 40V battery lasts approximately between 35-40 minutes.
Plus, by using corded or battery-powered walk-behind string trimmers, you are also making an excellent choice to reduce your carbon footprint and create zero emissions.
The Gauge of The String Trimmer Line
Just as the name suggests, a walk-behind string trimmer uses a string to cut unwanted grass and weeds instead of a twin blade or high-lift blade that comes with blade trimmers.
This monofilament line spins at a high speed to cut through grass and weeds, and is available in different sizes. There are three common walk-behind string trimmer line diameter/weights namely:
- Light,
- Medium
- Heavy.
Light diameters measure between 0.065- to 0.080 inches and are great for trimming tall grass, tough grass, wet grass, stubborn grass, and other types of grass around the house and whacking down common lawn weeds and tough weeds from around driveways, fences, and walkways.
Medium lines measure 0.080 to 0.110 inches and are great for larger lawns or lawns that are plagued with stubborn weeds that have tough, heavy stems.
Heavy walk-behind string trimmer lines measure 0.110 inches and above and are usually used by professional landscapers for big jobs.
Walk-Behind String Trimmer Line Shapes
The shape or style of a walk-behind string trimmer line is as important as its size/diameter, and here you have five options:
- Round trimmer line,
- Twisted trimmer line,
- Squared trimmer line,
- Multi-sided (star-shaped) trimmer line,
- Serrated trimmer line.
Round trimmer lines are commonly used for residential purposes and don’t wear or break as easily as the other shapes. It is also the easiest to replace and has a longer service life than other styles.
Twisted trimmer lines are stronger than round lines, and are a preferred choice to cut back thick, heavy weeds.
Squared trimmer lines cut through wet grass, stubborn grass and other types of grass rather than ripping.
Multi-sided trimmer lines cut through thicker weeds easier but also breaks easily when striking stones, rocks, concrete, and fences.
Quality of Wheels
Some walk-behind string trimmer mowers are similar to walk-behind lawn mowers, in that they are fitted with four wheels. The wheels of the best walk-behind string trimmers are made from high-quality rubber, making it easy to trim on any type of terrain.
Adding to this, the wheels of walk-behind string trimmers are large, somewhere in the range of 12 inches to 16 inches in diameter.
Versatility
If you’re looking to perform several functions with one tool such as mow, trim and edge, choose a walk-behind string trimmer that offers 3-in-1 functionality. This range of tools easily converts from a mower to a trimmer or edger and comes with an adjustable height deck and trimmer position and pivoting handlebar.
Warranty
Walk-in string trimmers can come with several different types and lengths of warranties such as limited warranties, a 2-year warranty, a 5-year warranty, or a 3-year warranty against manufacturer defects.
Apart from the manufacturer warranty and competitive price, it’s still a good idea to read customer reviews and check out customer ratings before making a purchase.
With regards to customer ratings, 10 or more ratings over 4.0 indicate that the respective walk-behind string trimmer is worth the investment.
How to Use a Walk-Behind String Trimmer?
Using a walk-behind string trimmer may seem like a pretty straightforward process similar to using a lawn mower like a reel lawn mower, cordless lawn mower, or self-propelled lawn mower but there’s a right and wrong way to go about this task.
If you’re trimming grass along obstructions, hold the trimmer head of the tool to trim grass flat and even. For trimming along the edge of a flower bed, rotate the string trimmer vertically to use as an edger if this feature is available.
Even though it may be tempting to cut grass against tree trunks, the line of the trimmer could slice into the bark and kill the tree.
The monofilament string of your walk-behind string trimmer is susceptible to wear and tear, and should be replaced in the event of damage for continued optimum performance.
The process of replacing the spool can vary across walk-behind trimmer models but commonly entails removing the spool from the off-set trimmer head, beveled trimmer head or any other type of trimmer head, cutting an 8-feet long piece of new string, feeding the string through one end of the spool, securing the string in the spool and lastly reattaching the spool to the string trimmer.
How to Maintain a Walk-Behind String Trimmer?
Before you perform any maintenance on your walk-behind string trimmer, it’s important to wear safety gear such as glasses and gloves, power off the trimmer, disconnect the spark plug or empty the gas tank if you’re using a gas wheeled string trimmer.
Replacing the trimmer line is one of the most important parts of maintenance and it’s best to refer to your user guide for the exact process.
Walk-behind string trimmers can get dirty, so it’s a good practice to give the machine a good wipe-down every season. You can use a mixture of water and dish detergent to get rid of any grease, dirt and debris, after which use a dry soft cloth to dry the trimmer.
The air filter of a string trimmer should ideally be replaced every 90 days but could be longer depending on wear and tear.
The spark plug of a walk-behind string trimmer should be replaced if it’s black and checked to ensure it’s in good working order every three to four months.
After using the walk-behind string trimmer for the last time in the season, empty its fuel tank before storing it away. You should also keep tabs on the oil levels and add only the appropriate amount of oil without overfilling.
For more maintenance tips, refer to your owner’s manual.
Final Thoughts
A walk-behind string trimmer is a handy tool to have in your lawn care tool arsenal and proves handy for a wide range of tasks in your lawn and garden.
When shopping for the best walk-behind string trimmer, you’ll be spoilt for choice given the many options available. But the 8 models mentioned on this list won’t disappoint in terms of performance, features, and durability.
Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.
