Looking for one of the best gas weed eaters for trimming your yard with? If so, you've clicked through to the right article because all weed whackers are not created equally and we've done the research for you.
In this buyer's guide for gas weed eaters, we discuss not only our top picks for the best models but how they work and what to look for in the one that's right for you as well. Or, if you prefer, take a look at our reviews of the all-around best string trimmers.
Top Five Gas-Powered Weed Eaters in 2021
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Why You Can Trust Us
Here at BYB, we take product reviews and recommendations seriously because they are our job and our passion as well. All the staffers here are chosen for their life experience and expertise in the backyard, home, garden, and DIY niches; from gardeners and homemakers to landscapers. When it comes to whacking weeds, most of us BYB staffers have more than a bit of experience. As for myself, I have owned and operated half a dozen weed eaters.
That said, we haven't physically tested every weed whacker on the market (how crazy would that be?) and we don't claim to have. What we do claim though is that we have done the hard work of researching, comparing, selecting, and reviewing all of the very best weed whackers currently available on the market.
Best All-Around
This trimmer is not only more powerful than most, it is easier to use as well - even more, it makes a great choice for seniors.
- Detachable head
- Curved-shaft design for easier use
- See-through fuel tank
- Brand-specific fuel must be used
- High-speed settings drain duel fast
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Why We Like It: Weighing in at 17 lbs, with a big 28cc gas-powered motor, and a more than adequate cutting diameter of 17-inches wide, the 128CD Curved Shaft Husqvarna Trimmer is our pick for the best all-around best gas powered weed eater.
Due to the size and power of this unit, and its curved shaft and see-through gas tank, as well as its high-end parts and components, the trimmer is not only more powerful than most, it is easier to use as well. Even more, it makes a great choice for seniors. The downside is that a very specific fuel must be used for this trimmer. In addition, if you are afraid of spending too much fuel, this may not be the weed eater for you either - it will take a bit of gas to trim your yard each year.
Who Should Buy It: If you are looking for an all-around tool, and you don't mind using fuel, this product is a perfect fit.
Best Heavy-Duty
A powerhouse weed whacker that somehow uses the same amount of fuel as units with smaller engines.
- Durable metal plate
- Quickstart technology
- Straight-shaft and fixed-head
- Heavy-duty parts and components
- May cost more
- Slightly heavy
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Why We Like It: The second item on our list is our pick for the best heavy-duty gas-powered weed eater, a commercial-grade Remington. It packs an even more powerful motor than our all-around best pick and still manages to use around the same amount of fuel. One major difference is that it is designed with a straight shaft rather than a curved one.
The weed eater is a powerful cutter and makes extremely quick work of even the toughest trimming jobs. Even more, the head is a bumper. Meaning, all you need to do to let more string out while trimming is simply bump the unit's head on the ground. A J-handle design along with a shoulder strap makes the weed eater even a better choice. It gives better control and comfortability while weeding.
Who Should Buy It: This model is compatible with a wide variety of attachments for additional outdoor work like edging and pruning, so if those things are important to you, consider buying it.
Best Ergonomic
An easy to use ergonomic design with a big cutting diameter.
- Flex cable
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Advance bump feed
- Slightly smaller motor and gas tank
- No strap included
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Why We Like It: If it's an ergonomic gas-powered weed eater you're after, we highly recommend giving this model a closer look. Manufactured by SRM, this gas trimmer sports a durable gasoline motor and streamlined fuel tank as well as a much lighter-weight design than other trimmers in the same class.
The weed eater has a big cutting diameter, at least equal to most heavy-duty and commercial trimmers. However, motor-wise, it measures a few cubic inches smaller than other gas-powered weed eater engines on our list.
Who Should Buy It: It is a great unit for small yards or even as a backup or secondary unit for commercial landscaping or yard cutting business. Its ergonomic design makes it more fuel-efficient and comfortable to handle as well.
Best Commercial
Heavy-duty, yet easy to use and highly effective, this unit is perfect for commercial jobs
- Two-step start design
- Less noisy
- High-end components
- No need to mix oil with the gas
- May use more fuel
- No electric start
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Why We Like It: The 4-stroke weed eater reviews online praise this weed trimmer up and down for being the best. Obviously, its 4-stroke engine makes it almost super-powered compared to other units. Other gas-powered trimmers in this class run on a mix of oil and fuel. This one runs on straight gas, giving it more power.
The Craftsman weed eater is easy to start, thanks to its two-step start design. And when you're done, the air is pushed out of the system, letting you start it more easily next time. Possibly best of all, you can use any size string with this unit, which is a really big deal.
Who Should Buy It: It is a great tool for those looking for a powerful yard trimmer or a secondary tool for their commercial trimming jobs.
Best Curved Shaft
An underrated powerhouse with a convenient 2-in-1 trimmer and edger design.
- Takes straight gas, no oil needed
- Curved shaft design
- Full crank-shaft motor design
- Shoulder strap included
- Slightly heavy
- Uses a good bit of fuel
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Why We Like It: A dual-line bump head, a .095-inch line, and a big powerful motor are among this weed eater's most impressive features. It is more than enough for small to medium yards. In a pinch, it might even do the trick for commercial operations.
The weed eater has a 15-inch cutting diameter, which is a bit smaller than some but is more than wide enough to clear several square feet of even the tallest weeds in just minutes when combined with its powerful 4-stroke engine.
Who Should Buy It: If you aren't the tallest person, or are not as strong as you once were, the Wild Badger could be the top pick for you.
Types of Weed Eaters: Gas vs. Electric and How to Choose
Image Credits: miakihiro0 from Pixabay
Shop for your gas-powered tool with confidence in knowing what key features to look for and what determines the good from the bad.
Plugin Electric
The first type of weed eater you might see at a hardware store would be an electric one. These are usually cheap and can be used after purchasing a long extension cord to plug them in. Remember to always keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Plug-in electric weed eaters are cheap because they aren't built to last or for their brawn.
There is also the extra hassle of having to deal with a long cord when you are already doing back-breaking work. If you only need one occasionally or have a very, very small yard, it might be worth the investment. One good thing about these weed eaters is they tend to be lighter in weight, and therefore easier to maneuver, but the good parts stop there.
Battery Powered Electric
Battery-powered weed eaters are a lot like their cord-trapped counterparts. They are lightweight and easy to move around your yard and they also produce zero emissions. So, they are very good for the environment, if you're into that sort of thing.
What you have to worry about with these is the charge in the battery dying… frequently. Battery-powered trimmers are also relatively cheap, so the chances of a dead battery halfway through your work are very likely. The plus side is that the batteries are rechargeable, so you could always go the extra mile and buy a second one.
Gas Weed Eaters
Now we come to the best of the three options, in our opinion; the gas weed eater. Remember when we said you get what you pay for? Well, the best gas trimmer will be a big investment that definitely won't leave you disappointed if you're looking for a piece of outdoor power equipment that will stand the test of time. Even more, you may even end up actually wanting to do yard work.
Gas-powered weed eaters are better than electric for a few reasons. First, they last for as long as the gas within them lasts, as does the power, which is usually much longer than an electric or battery-powered trimmer.
They are also usually more heavy-duty, which can mean they aren't as lightweight, but they are a lot more powerful and cut more than basic electric trimmers. They can hold more cutting string than electric weed whackers and you aren't limited to the length of a cord.
The only downside to a gas trimmer though is that they are a lot noisier and heavier than electrics, so you may need to take breaks. They are also not stellar for the environment, but you give a little and take a little when choosing your best option.
What to Look for in a Gas Weed Eater
Image Credits: icsilviu from Pixabay
To fully understand how and why a gas-powered weed eater is so great, we should break down the other options as electric and battery operated. But, don't take our word for it, see for yourself:
Engine Size and Fuel
Gas-powered weed eaters come in various sizes. For an all-around great gas trimmer that works well at jobs of all sizes, a 25cc engine is highly suggested. That said, you also need to take into account the size of the gas tank and how often it will need refueling as well.
Cutting Width
The larger the cutting width, the less time it will take to cut down large amounts of grass and tall weeds. The smaller the cutting width, the more time it will take to get the same job done. That said, many properties aren't large enough to really need a massive cutting width like 18-inches wide.
Shaft Style
The shaft style goes a long way in dictating the overall ease of use of any weed eater. Straight shafts for example are great for taller, stronger, folks, while curved shaft weed eaters are typically better suited for people with smaller frames and senior citizens as well. Make sure to keep this point in mind while shopping for the best gas-powered weed eater for you.
Price and Warranty
Prices for weed eaters are going to vary depending on what you want. The more money you are willing to spend, the better trimmer you will wind up with. Electric ones are far on the low side of the price range at somewhere around $40 to under $100. This is going to get you a weed eater, but not a decent one.
Gas-powered weed eaters are more expensive, the best ones costing over the $200 range. But, spending the extra money is worth it, and a nice gas trimmer will last you at least ten years if not a lifetime.
Extra Features
Some gas-powered weed eaters come with some pretty neat features if you're willing to splurge. Because they are slightly heavier, it's not unusual to find ones that have shoulder straps that would help you when using them.
Some of them have blades instead of wire or plastic for the cutters, and a few even have double blades, making it easier for them to cut through tough things. Even more, some have speed changers so you can control how fast you want to be trimming based on where and what you are working on.
And last, but far from least, some of the best gas-powered weed eaters have ergonomic handles or anti-vibration handles to reduce fatigue and add comfort.
How We Picked
We hit the internet hard and heavy, searching high and low, near and far... ok, ok, you get it. We looked at just about every major retailer online, including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, HomeDepot, and Lowes in our search for the very best gas-powered weed eaters. Once we chose a group, we had a closer look and slimmed the pickings down to less than a dozen.
After further reviewing and in-depth research, of these units, we eliminated everything but the best. The units you see here in our review and guide are those models that made it through the vetting process. That is how you know each weed eater on our list is worth your consideration, if not a purchase.
Which Gas Weed Eater Is Best for You?
Finding a good weed eater can be a challenge. Finding a great one that will last you for years can be an even bigger challenge. We hope that our guide, and recommendations, help you to make the best-informed purchasing decision possible.
These five reviews were the very best we could find and all of them offer great performance in at least one category, if not more. Just remember that the price of what you buy also reflects the quality.
Gas is definitely the way to go, in our minds, and though it may seem like a large sum of money, it's a good investment that will last many years and you will be happy you made it. And, again, this Husqvarna 4 stroke gas string weed eater is our top choice when it comes to an all-around best gas weed eater.