If you don’t want the noise and mess of a gas-powered trimmer, and tripping over an extension cord isn’t your style, take a look at these two string trimmers from a trusted name in power tools. They run off 20V Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries so you can work free from cords and with very little noise. Let’s look at them both and see which one will be the best for you.
Black & Decker LST400 12-Inch Lithium High Performance Trimmer and Edger, 20-volt
If you like to do yard work early in the morning, you won’t wake the neighbors with the LST400. Slide in the battery and start whacking those weeds. Then rotate the head and use the edger to neaten up alongside sidewalks. Users who love this tool have praised its ease-of-use, light weight, and low noise.
The orange wheel makes for a nice guide so you don’t have to guess how high to hold the edger. It keeps the automatic line feeding system working correctly because you can’t bump the edger to get more string on this tool. When it’s time to switch to trimming, the head only rotates in one direction, so there’s no worry that you’re doing it wrong.
The charge on the 4.0Ah battery lasts up to an hour in the extended runtime setting. (This is twice as long as the batteries that come with the LST420 described below.) Thumb the button up to high power for tough spots, but you’ll use up the battery faster. On the good side, this trimmer is compatible with a variety of Black & Decker batteries, from LBX20 and LBXR20 to LBXR2020 and LB2X4020. On the down side, the battery that comes with the LST400 takes ten hours to recharge on the included charger.Given this constraint, this tool is better for smaller yards, people who prefer to do a little yard work each day, or for those who are willing to buy extra batteries.
The LST400 is lightweight at just a bit over 6 pounds. (That’s a lot less than a gallon of milk!) The straight shaft extends out for taller users, which is a nice touch. Just pop open the clamp in the middle and pull the shaft out to the right length. There are two handles, one by the controls, and a bail handle on the shaft, that make it very easy to control. The switches are mounted in the middle of the upper handle, so it doesn’t matter if you are right or left-handed.
More features of the LST400 Trimmer and Edger
- 2-year limited warranty
- Comes with battery, charger, and spool, and needs just a little assembly before use
- Weighs 6.3 pounds
- Line size is 0.065” and cutting swath is 12”
Black and Decker LST420 20-volt Max Lithium High Performance Trimmer and Edger, 12-Inch
The LST420 is very similar to the LST400 described above, but it comes with two batteries instead of just one. Before you get excited, you should know that these two are only 2.0Ah, half the capacity of the single one included with the other trimmer. You’ll still only get about an hour of runtime in regular power mode, and less than that in high power mode. That might work well for you if you have a smaller yard, or don’t mind swapping the batteries. (This tool is also compatible with other Black & Decker batteries. See the list above.)
Black & Decker shaved a few ounces off the LST420. It weighs about half a pound less than the other edger described above. Other than these two differences, the tools are basically the same. They are both very simple to use. The shaft length adjusts by popping open a clamp and pulling or pushing on the barrel. The two handles are strategically positioned for good control and easy use by left or right-handers. Switching between edging and trimmer only requires rotating the head. The orange wheel guides the edger without you having to guess how high to hold the tool. And the line feed is automatic, so there’s no need to bump it.
More features of the LST420 Trimmer and Edger
- 2-year limited warranty
- Comes with battery, charger, and spool, and needs just a little assembly before use
- Batteries need about 5 hours of charging on the included charger
- Weighs 5.7 pounds (lighter than the LST400)
- Line size is 0.065” and cutting swath is 12”
Recommendation
If you have a small yard, consider getting the LST420. It comes with two lower-capacity batteries, but that may work well enough for you if you only need 20 to 30 minutes of runtime at a time. The bonus is that this is a very lightweight trimmer/edger, weighing less than the LST400.
If you estimate that you need close to an hour of runtime to finish edging and trimming in your yard, consider getting the LST400. The included battery has a larger capacity, so you won’t have to swap for a fresh one halfway through.
Click here to purchase Black & Decker LST400 on Amazon!
Click here to purchase Black and Decker LST420 on Amazon!