Gadgets: Battery-powered trimmer

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Stihl, a company with a strong reputation for durable, professional-grade outdoor power equipment widely used by professional landscapers, also has a powerful line of battery-powered lawn equipment. While Stihl hasn’t moved away from traditional gas-powered equipment, it continues to expand battery-powered products designed for homeowners who need to trim light vegetation.

The latest model I tried is the Stihl FSA 70 R battery-powered grass trimmer, which performed better than expected. My expectations were based on other brands of battery-powered trimmers I’ve tested and liked, but after just a few minutes, I knew the FSA 70 from Stihl stood out as the industry leader.

The FSA 70 R battery-powered trimmer, with its AK 20 36-volt battery and AL 101 charger, is simple to use and worked well for the trimming tasks. But where it far exceeded many of its competitors was the daunting task of reloading the trimmer line.

Stihl has designed the FSA 70 with a rapid click system to remove the trimmer head. It’s listed to work with both 0.080-inch and 0.095-inch trimmer line.

With the battery removed, it has a tool-free, industry-leading Rapid Click System that easily removes the head in seconds. Stihl’s advanced EasySpool system re-spools the line with a simple twisting action. Before testing it, as I often do on devices like this, I found a YouTube video demonstrating how it works. It looked too easy. A few minutes later, I confirmed it was easy and hassle-free.

Stihl rates the trimmer with a charged battery and a line mowing head to run 25-45 minutes. The battery features a four-light LED power indicator showing how much power remains. I also noticed that when you're charging the battery, the charging turns off upon completion, which is a nice safety feature.

The trimmer is built with two power levels with variable speed control; the higher speed obviously needs more power. With the battery installed, the FSA 70 weighs 10.4 pounds.

It has a 16-inch cutting width and an ergonomic design with balanced weight distribution. The tool-free adjustable loop handle makes it easy to carry. The controls for turning it on and selecting the power level via a variable-speed trigger are easy to access while holding it. A shoulder strap is available to purchase.

With all these features, the most important question is: How does it operate? That’s an easy answer: Excellent!

Trimming along fence and house lines, around trees and other vegetation, and along lawn edges was no match for the Stihl FSA 70. I used it at both power settings, depending on the thickness of the area I was trimming.

Since it's battery-powered, there’s no gas or oil to add. Plus, there is no pull-starting, no need to warm up the engine, and it's so much quieter thanks to its built-in brushless motor compared to gas models.

Low noise and low vibration are two of the biggest benefits. If you have used two-cycle engine trimmers, you’ll instantly see the difference.

For operation, make sure the adjustable loop handle is in a comfortable position, then insert and lock the charged battery. The trimmer’s battery compartment has a pair of locks. The first is a transport position for the battery, allowing you to insert the battery so it stays in place but won’t power up. The second position locks it in place for powering the trimmer.

Then release the safety control and squeeze the trigger to get it going. The cutting head reaches full speed instantly. To turn it off, release the trigger.

Stihl’s battery system is designed to be used across multiple Stihl equipment models. For example, the AK 20 battery for this trimmer is the same as the one used in their leaf blowers and other battery-powered lawn equipment.

As Stihl notes, improper use of any power tool may cause serious or fatal injury, so know the tool before using it. This includes proper eye protection, among other things.

https://www.stihlusa.com/en/p/brushcutters-grass-trimmers-clearing-saws-fsa-70-r-battery-powered-grass-trimmer-1027575$329.99, which includes the battery and charger; extra batteries are $149.99