Why I Bought an EGO Cordless Trimmer Even Though My Electric One Still Works

I didn't buy my EGO cordless string trimmer because my old electric weed whacker stopped working.

Actually, I fixed it.

So why buy another trimmer?

For me, it came down to one thing: having the freedom to trim areas of my yard without dragging an extension cord behind me.

The EGO isn't replacing my electric trimmer. It's giving me another option.

And after using both, I think that's the better way to look at cordless yard equipment.

My Electric Trimmer Still Has a Job

My repaired electric trimmer will continue to handle much of my regular weed cutting.

It works.

If I'm close enough to the house, using an extension cord isn't a big deal. There's no battery to charge, and I already know what to expect from the tool.

But the farther I move away from the house, the less convenient that setup becomes.

That's where the EGO comes in.

Instead of figuring out how far the extension cord will reach, I can grab the cordless trimmer and go.

Simple.

Why I Wanted a Cordless Trimmer

I've used gas-powered equipment, and I know the advantages.

Gas can provide plenty of power, especially when you're dealing with tougher vegetation.

But there are trade-offs.

You have gasoline to deal with. There can be fuel storage, fumes, starting, and the general maintenance that comes with a gas engine.

Corded electric equipment has a different problem.

The cord.

You don't have gasoline, but now you're managing an extension cord while trying to work around the yard.

For me, cordless sits somewhere in the middle.

I get away from the cord and gasoline without giving up the ability to get normal trimming work done.

Is the EGO as Powerful as a Gas Trimmer?

This is where I want to be honest.

Not in my experience.

The EGO does the job, but if you're accustomed to using a gas trimmer, you may notice a difference in power.

That doesn't mean the EGO can't handle normal yard work.

It means I wouldn't buy one expecting it to feel exactly like a powerful gas machine.

There is a trade-off.

You're giving up some of that gas-powered experience in exchange for cordless convenience.

For my yard, that's acceptable.

Independent testing of EGO's cordless trimmers also evaluates performance across ordinary trimming, edging, tall grass and weeds, handling, ease of use, runtime, charging, and noise—useful categories to consider when comparing battery equipment with other types of trimmers.

Where the EGO Makes Sense for Me

My plan is pretty straightforward.

Electric trimmer:
Most of my regular weed cutting.

EGO cordless trimmer:
Areas farther away from the house, places where the extension cord becomes inconvenient, and as a backup when I don't want to deal with the cord.

That doesn't sound dramatic.

But that's exactly why I bought it.

I don't need every tool I own to replace another tool.

Sometimes having two tools that serve different situations makes more sense.

The Biggest Advantage: No Cord

This is probably the biggest reason I like having the EGO available.

When you're trimming a yard, an extension cord becomes part of the job.

You have to keep track of it.

You have to make sure you have enough length.

You have to work around it.

And you have to pay attention to where it is while you're moving.

With the EGO, that problem disappears.

For work farther away from the house, cordless is simply more convenient.

That's also one of the reasons cordless trimmers remain popular with homeowners. Retailers consistently emphasize the freedom from cords and gasoline as a major benefit of battery-powered yard equipment.

No Gasoline Is Another Plus

I'm not against gas-powered equipment.

Gas has its place.

But sometimes I just want to cut weeds without dealing with fuel.

With the EGO, I don't have to pour gasoline into a tank, deal with the smell, or prepare fuel before I start.

Put in the charged battery and get to work.

That's the kind of convenience I was looking for.

The String Is a 50/50 Situation for Me

Now for something I'm not completely sold on.

The string.

For me, this is about a 50/50 experience.

Getting the string too short can be easy to do, and without an automatic feed doing the work for me, I have to pay attention to the amount of line available.

I wouldn't call it terrible.

I also wouldn't call it the best thing about the trimmer.

It's something I'm still getting used to.

And that's how I'd rather describe it than pretend it's either fantastic or horrible.

Other EGO owners have reported both positive and negative experiences with line feeding and replacement, so this is one area where individual experience can vary.

Why I Didn't Need Another Corded Trimmer

Once I fixed my electric trimmer, I could have stopped there.

But fixing one tool doesn't solve every situation.

I wanted something that could travel farther around the yard without an extension cord.

That's the real reason the EGO makes sense in my collection.

It's not about having the newest tool.

It's about having the right tool available when the situation calls for it.

My EGO Is More of a Second Tool

I think this is an important point for anyone considering a cordless trimmer.

You don't necessarily have to replace your existing equipment.

If your electric trimmer works, keep it.

If your gas trimmer works and you like it, keep using it.

A cordless trimmer can serve another purpose.

In my case, the EGO gives me a cordless option while my electric trimmer continues doing most of the regular work.

That actually makes more sense to me than throwing away a perfectly usable tool.

What I Like About the EGO

So far, the biggest positives for me are straightforward:

• Cordless operation

• No gasoline

• Easy to take farther around the yard

• Useful as a backup

• Good enough power for the work I'm doing

• Less hassle when I don't want to deal with an extension cord

Those are practical benefits.

Nothing fancy.

What I Don't Like as Much

There are trade-offs too.

The power doesn't feel like a strong gas trimmer to me.

The string situation is only a 50/50 experience so far.

And because I still have a working electric trimmer, I don't expect the EGO to be my only trimming tool.

But none of those things make the EGO useless.

They simply define where I think it fits best.

Who Might Like This Type of Trimmer?

Based on my experience, cordless may make sense if you:

• Don't want to deal with gasoline

• Don't want an extension cord

• Have areas of the yard that are inconvenient to reach with corded equipment

• Want a backup trimmer

• Prefer grabbing a battery-powered tool and getting started

• Have normal residential weed-cutting needs

If your number-one priority is maximum power for heavy vegetation, I'd look more carefully at the alternatives before buying.

That's where the gas-versus-battery trade-off becomes important.

My Take After Using It

I'm glad I bought the EGO.

But probably not for the reason someone might expect.

I didn't buy it because my electric trimmer failed.

I bought it because my electric trimmer works, and I wanted something that could do the job when the cord wasn't convenient.

That's an important difference.

The EGO does what I need it to do.

It isn't as powerful as what I'm accustomed to with gas equipment, but it doesn't need gasoline, and I don't have to drag an extension cord across the yard.

For me, that's a worthwhile trade.

My electric trimmer remains part of the lineup.

The EGO gives me another option.

And sometimes that's all you really need from a tool.

I'll Keep Testing It

I'm not going to pretend this is the final word on the EGO.

I'll keep using it.

I'll pay attention to battery performance, trimming time, string handling, comfort, and how often I actually reach for it instead of my electric trimmer.

That's when this article gets more interesting.

Because this isn't a laboratory test.

It's my yard, my tools, and what happens when I actually use them.

Related DIY Handymen Articles

If you're comparing electric and gas-powered lawn equipment, you can also read my Gas vs. Electric Lawn Mower: Which One Truly Lasts Longer?, where I compare my long-term experience with gas equipment against my newer electric equipment.

You can also visit the DIY Handymen Resources page for more homeowner projects, tool experiences, maintenance information, and DIY guides.

Where to Check the EGO

If you're considering an EGO cordless trimmer, compare the current model, battery configuration, and price before buying. EGO offers several trimmer configurations, and features can differ between models.

If an eligible retailer or affiliate program is available, links to the product can be included here. A purchase through an affiliate link may provide DIY Handymen with a commission at no additional cost to you.

Final Thought

A tool doesn't have to replace everything in your garage to be useful.

My electric trimmer still works.

I'm still going to use it.

The EGO simply gives me something my corded trimmer can't:

the freedom to walk farther into the yard without bringing the cord with me.

And for the way I maintain my yard, that's enough reason to own both.