Today we are looking at the range Ryobi weed eaters and strimmers, we will be taking a look at what they offer, how they perform and which ones you will benefit from the most. Ryobi’s line of string trimmers gives you a huge selection to suit all jobs and budgets.
Ryobi are famous for the Ryobi One+ battery system which allows owners to benefit from owning 1 battery which fits all their tools. Be sure to check out of our reviews of Ryobi batteries when ordering any Ryobi products. This is something Ryobi are famous for and a reason why many people purchase more than one Ryobi tool.
Ryobi Weed Eater
For those looking for a good battery weed eater look no further than the Ryobi 40V weed eater here!
This included everything you need to get started including the tool itself, the charger and battery. Thanks to featuring a 40v battery instead of the normal One+ 18v battery this weed eater was capable of taking on a lot more challenging jobs and it just chewed through them.
On review I got about 55 minutes out of a single battery which is enough to do a large garden. The unit was light, easy to control and ate everything I threw at it.
I think this is an excellent unit, suitable for use of professionals looking for a battery powered option for quiet neighbourhoods and for home use.
If you have the budget, this is the one to go for. The only downside is it does not accept the Ryobi One+ battery system which may be a deal breaker, especially for people who already have bought into that system.
Features
- Attachment capable: accepts RYOBI expand-it attachments and other universal gas attachments to save time, money and space
- 40-Volt lithium-ion high capacity battery and 90-minutes charger included
- 13 in. to 15 in. adjustable cutting width for longer run time or wider cutting path
- Reel-easy bump-feed string head for fast and easy reloading
- Variable speed trigger for cutting control
This Ryobi model is powered by the ONE+ Battery range, making it 18v. This features many of the good things from the other weed eaters on review today, such as the changeable head, reel-easy bump fed string and the ONE+ battery as mentioned.
In addition to that, you also have variable power available to you through the trigger, allowing you to pick from a slow cutting speed which extends battery life or a faster speed to eat up that power quicker for those tough spots you may encounter in the garden.
The unit is light, easy to manoeuvre and we found the edge trimming to be brilliant. What improves this model over the other ONE+ 18v systems on review is the ability to change the speed with the press of the trigger, which really does help our complaints on other models of the strimmer feeling under powered.
Overall, for the cost and the features on display we think this is the best choice available. It features the ONE+ battery, has all the features you would expect and very few of the downsides. I would not rate this for professional use due to the battery life (35 minutes) but this could probably be improved if I wasn’t so heavy on the trigger.
This is an excellent product.
Features
- Pivoting head for a simple transition to edging
- Variable speed trigger allows more powerful cutting or longer battery life
- Premium 0.080 in. twisted single line
- Up to 1 hour of run time with a 4.0 Ah battery
If you’re looking for a small, lightweight and easy to use strimmer for around the garden then this does everything you need.
This Ryobi strimmer is capable of using both the older Ni-CaD batteries as well as the more modern ONE+ batteries, meaning if you have other Ryobi tools that use ONE+ batteries then you’re already going to have everything you need to get going. From one 4aH battery we got around 45 minutes of run time, which was just about enough for us to do the edges on our garden.
At times and especially towards the end of the battery charge we did find the strimmer lacked power and progress was slowed down some what. However, the easy to use edge trimming feature made up for this and it could have been resolved by simply changing the battery.
The ryobi weed eater has a cutting diameter of 10″ which is about what you would expect for a general use string trimmer, and changing the string in the head was very easy.
Overall this product was very good, and a brilliant option for home use. This is out budget pick!
Features
- Battery and Charger NOT included
- 20% more power then the previous model, yet only 6 lbs
- Variable speed trigger
- 10-12 cutting swath
- Auto feed 0.080 twisted line
This Ryobi weed eater is much like the previous model, but a little more “heavy duty”.
Running from a 40 volt battery you can expect a little more grunt from the electric motor, this model is far more suited to heavier use, larger gardens or professional gardening.
Unfortunately some little things let it down, this extra power comes at a cost to battery life. We managed to get 30 minutes from a 2.2Ah battery which is less than the 18v ONE+ models on review today.
The 40v batteries are also a pain, the whole point in going with Ryobi is usually because users already have the batteries and charging gear from other tools they have purchased in the past. If you have to go out and buy 40 volt batteries for your new weed eater than that is the point, you may as well go and get some other brand with more features like this.
Users are also not exactly thrilled with this particular model, there are reports of screws stripping and even fires… Although this is more than likely down to mistreatment of the lithium batteries.
Other all, we think there are better options in this list.
Features
- Sold on Amazon
Ryobi don’t just make electric tools, they also produce some excellent gas power tools and this Ryobi Gas weed eater is one of those.
Featuring a powerful 25cc engine, you can expect plenty of punch when working in your garden. Some people are put off by gas power tools because they fear they are harder to start and maintain but have no worries here.
This weed eater features several things designed to keep it going for many years to come with no issues such as a full crank engine, which should double the life of the motor. A very capable carburettor which we found high quality and easy to clean and a reel-easy bump feed string head for easy reloads.
This tool, while not featuring the usual Ryobi universal battery does have one other trick up it’s sleeve. You have the option of removing the head from the strimmer and fitting other items, using the motor and fittings from this tool to do other tasks such as trim hedges.
Overall we found this to be an excellent product, light, long lasting and very well made. We are happy to call this our Premium pick.
Features
- Durable full crankshaft engine for increased reliability and life
- Easily handles outdoor trimming needs for a manicured look
- Works with Expand-It attachments, turns trimmer into many tools
- Attachment capable: accepts universal brand fit attachments
- Straight shaft for extended reach around and under obstacles
This is one of the latest Ryobi weed eater models we have tested, so we were hoping it stacked up against some of the older models.
First off, we are looking at another tool that uses the legendary Ryobi ONE+ battery. No messing around with extra chargers or batteries, you have one already and therefore you’re ready to go.
Like other models on review this unit features a variable trigger, meaning we can increase and decrease the speed of the string trimmer for easier or harder cuts. This has another effect of boosting (or decreasing) the battery life. If you have a larger garden or need a weed eater for professional use to service multiple gardens then this should be music to your ears… With modest use we were able to get nearly 1 hour of run time from a 4Ah!
Other excellent features include the rotatable head, perfect for edge trimming and good power.
One thing that does let this product down though is the general feel. If we are being honest it didn’t feel as “solid” as other units on review. The ryobi weed eater flexed and bent very easily, it was really disappointing to see.
I don’t know if the model had been built with weight in mind, but I felt a bit let down by it. This is not something I would associate with Ryobi.
Because of this I can’t really fully recommend this product to anyone which is a shame.
Features
- Works with all ONE+ tools
- 10 in. cut width
- Simple one-time assembly for easy set-up
- Shaft rotates for easy edging
- 1 hour battery re-charge
Features
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
Features
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, and may arrive in a generic box
Conclusion
We covered everything we could in the reviews above, which option you go with depends on your needs and what you intend to use the Ryobi Weed Eater for.
If you’re looking for a professional piece of equipment capable of heavy duty use (ideal for light woodland) then the Ryobi 40v Weed Eater is what you need. This is a unit capable of basically everything you ever expect a weed eater to do. The battery lasts a long time and is included with the unit. The only downside is it’s not part of the Ryobi ONE+ range so if you’re looking for a bare tool unit because you already have a charger and battery is doesn’t make much sense.
The best value tool we reviewed and the one we recommend for an average house owner looking to do their garden in ease is the Ryobi P2080 Weed Eater. This gave us 45 minutes of heavy use, for a more moderate user (and not a maniac trying to break things for our test purpose) you can expect more like an hour of use from a single 4Ah battery. Speaking of batteries this features the Ryobi ONE+ system so your existing batteries should just plug in (although the listing linked does also include batteries). This is a product that is very well made, capable of professional use but is best used on grass rather than brush land.
For people on a budget looking for a simple weed eater for a smaller garden or infrequent use the Ryobi P20019A is for you! The product is built for a budget but without cutting too many corners. With a 12″ cutting head and the ONE+ Ryobi battery system this does exactly what it says on the tin. It weights at a very light 6lbs thanks to its plastic construction and has a variable speed trigger. I found the battery on this unit lasted over an hour but this is due to a slower cutting motor which seems to use less power. As stated if you’re cutting on a price or just want something for the garden, you can’t go wrong with this. It’s a good product, not the #1 performer but not everyone needs that. Ideal for smaller gardens where a slower cutting head won’t affect you too much.
Before you buy…
Keep in mind Ryobi work with the One+ Battery system. Many of the tools reviewed today will not include a battery or charger as Ryobi give people the chance to save money on batteries and chargers they may already own. For people out there who don’t already have Ryobi batteries or charger we have reviewed a number of Ryobi batteries here or you can simply buy a weed eater that includes a battery rather than the bare tool.
FAQ
Why would you want a battery powered weed eater?
Batteries offer a lot of advantage over gas weed eaters, they are quiet, more reliable, less dangerous and last longer without servicing being required. They are just as portable and thanks to advancements in battery technology they are just as powerful. Compared to corded weed eaters, batteries offer a lot more ease of use and simple storage.
Should I let my child use a weed eater?
Probably not but kids these days need to be out there doing shit, throwing stones, messing with caustic chemicals… Let them learn to be real people. My parents let me play with power tools as a kid and it never did me any harm, except for the scar on my knee from a skillsaw.
Can one battery last long enough for an entire garden?
Well it depends on your garden (size/how many borders) but yes, probably. Most of the products tested had at least 40-50 minutes of use on a single battery and I think that’s enough for 95% of people out there.
Ryobi do a gas weed eaters too right?
Yes, we reviewed it the 25cc model. It was good.
Do you really like the Ryobi ONE+ system?
Yes! I own a lot of Ryobi tools and having single batteries makes my life easier. It’s great… I know I review a lot of Ryobi products but I am critical of prices and things I don’t like. I’m not paid at all to do this by Ryobi, all reviews are honest as you get.
Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com
Great post but most of these units don’t have a battery included, why do they do this? Where can we get a battery?
Hey Ray,
Yes, I’m aware Ryobi do this and they do this in order for two reasons:
Batteries are not hard to get hold of, I have reviewed many of them here in this post. You can find them from $25 and up, there is no need to buy official Ryobi batteries as in my opinion they are a bit overpriced.