BLACK+DECKER LSTE525 20V MAX Lithium Easy Feed String Trimmer/Edger with Extra 4-Ah Lithium Ion Battery Pack (LSTE525 & LB2X4020)

Solid 5-stars on this one. This weed whacker is hands down the best I've ever owned.Battery/ies DO come with it.Fairly solid construction - it's got plenty of plastic pieces, but they aren't too flimsy or easily breakable.Battery power and life are excellent. I've got a small to medium-sized yard with a fence around it, and one battery takes care of it all. Just in case it were to run out, the second battery (which comes with, if you choose that option) is on the charger.There are two battery "modes" - power and battery life - and they do exactly what they sound like. Power mode gives you more cutting power (at the expense of battery life) and battery life gives you longer cutting time (at the expense of cutting power). I've found that the vast majority of my weekly weed whacking needs are taken care of using the battery life mode. You can quickly and easily switch between the two modes if you need a little more oomph.Battery runs about 20-30 mins (of actual cutting) on the power saving mode, a bit less on power mode. If you find you need more run time or power, you can always upgrade to higher capacity Black+Decker universal battery (available at hardware stores, Amazon, etc).As for the string/cut wire, there are easily-replaceable pre-loaded heads that simply click into place. From what I've read in other reviews, there are ways you can string it yourself with whatever string you like. Personally, I'll stick with the pre-wounds - I'm 3 weeks into this product and still using the first pre-loaded cartridge that came with it. Plus you can get a three-pack of replacements on Amazon here for about $9 (product number is AF-100-3ZP).The product description doesn't say this unit has an auto-feed feature, and says it has a button on the handle that releases more string; the button sure does work, but I've found that the unit seems to be auto-feeding itself most of the time too. I've rarely had to to "tell it" to let out more line. It's been quite convenient and thus far hasn't tangled or anything.Additionally, the unit can be extended to make it taller/shorter. You just twist the lock, shorten or lengthen as-needed, and twist the lock back into place. Very quick and simple.There is a "safety" on the handle that you need to hold down with the side of your thumb before you can pull the trigger. It's very conveniently placed and doesn't make it hard to use.My only minor complaint with this unit is the handle (the one mid-way down, not the one with the trigger). It functions just fine, but it's got "lock" points (to set the angle how you like it) that occasionally come loose. It has to be set to one of these three lock points and sometimes, if you've been using it awhile, it'll vibrate out of the lock and slip to the next one. Takes all of about 2 seconds to set it right again, so it's certainly not a deal breaker, just a little annoying when it happens.

I am surprisingly pleased by this weed whacker/trimmer! Despite all the positive reviews, I just couldn't shake the notion that a battery-powered tool like this would be underpowered, or run out of batteries quickly.I am very happy to report that the positive reviews are right! This is VERY powerful and was able to handle very thick weeds, tall overgrown grass, and also delicate grass. I was also impressed by the edging -- it went very quickly!We already own a gas-powered trimmer, but it took all my arm strength to just hold the thing... I had no muscles left to aim it! This is so lightweight and relatively quiet. I'm thrilled that now I can trim around the garden and walkways when I need to, instead of nagging my husband.I purchased the set with 2 batteries which I definitely recommend. They last a very decent amount of time (about 15-20 mins for me before it starts slowing down) so having 2 saves it from being a frustrating experience. I also like that the manual specifically and explicitly states that you can leave the battery on the charger with no ill effects, and encourages you to charge it frequently rather than letting it drain down. It's much more convenient.In summary, two thumbs up!

I purchased this trimmer to replace a 13 year-old corded Black&Decker electric corded unit. I bought the model with the two batteries and used it for the first time about a week after receiving it. I paid around $100 for it. First, I have to say that the cordless feature added more convenience and versatility than I expected. I was so used to dragging around the cord I thought it was no bid deal. I am REALLY glad to have it gone. This trimmer is also pretty quiet and I appreciate that. However, I miss the power of the corded trimmer though. My yard has St. Augustine and the corded trimmer could cut through it with ease. This model takes a couple of passes to cut through everything. Finally, the batteries did not really last for very long. I used both batteries to do my relatively small yard and walkway. Between the two of them I got it done, but it was close and I was disappointed they did not last longer. Time will tell how long the line spool lasts. In summary, this is a good, but not perfect product.

Enjoy the lightness of this string trimmer.Long lasting cutting cord and easy string advancementfrom the pistol grip.Works on 12" weeds for about 15mins,then 20voltbattery gets slower&slows to stop in 31 minutes.Other batterys at higher capacity and less expensiveare on Amazon... I didn't want to whack for extended time anyway.JB

I bought this product because of the light weight. My husband has very bad shoulders that ache constantly, so I decided to try this weed eater out. It came with enough batteries to, I hoped, do at least most of our field. He used it for the first time yesterday and he wasn't pleased. He went through all three batteries before he was even close to being finished and he said that the motor is in the bottom piece that cuts, so it's not balanced. You're holding all the weight out in front of you so even a small weight gets really heavy in just a little while. It was worse on him than his old Featherlite, so he switched back. I guess if you're young and uninjured, and you have only a very small yard, this would be a good product, but it's not for older people nor for people with more than a quarter of an acre to cut. I won't recommend it due to its design and the lack of battery life.

It took 3+ hours to charge each of the batteries after taking them out of the box. The, battery #1 lasted 45 minutes and battery #2 lasted 20 minutes, and got very hot. I used the less powerful setting with both batteries. The instructions say the batteries have no guarantee, and that I should go to a dealer with them, to do what, I don't know. I am not going to fool around with batteries when I have yard chores to do. I am returning this.

My husband and I have purchased many trimmers over the last 40 years, and I believe this is the best one we have ever owned. The battery lasted longer than any other we ever owned.....we purchased a couple of back up batteries, so we are never needing to stop what we are doing to wait for a recharge. It is light weight and so easy to handle. I purchased for myself because the one my husband had was too heavy, but now he uses mine all the time. He loves it. Great product.

I bought this because my old one was a Black & Decker and I figured it should be fine. But upon receiving it, I noticed that the batteries are only 1.5 AH and that the trimmer cord only comes out one side. It also feels poorly balanced, with too much weight down at the trimmer head.So I dug around for more reviews and there were enough negative reviews to convince me that I'm better off buying something of higher quality.And Amazon is charging me $23.22 to return it, so I'll buy another one somewhere else. Otherwise I would have bought another one from Amazon.

I was looking for a trimmer that was lightweight, easy to replace string, easy and convenient button to release string, battery that lasted at least 40 minutes of operation. This was the only machine that ticked most boxes. I wish the charge lasted a little longer. I may need to purchase a third battery to cover my large yard. otherwise I am delighted with the product.

Love this thing. It's quiet, don't have to worry about gas, its super light and the line already spooled is awesome. Only thing is that it came with 2 batteries which I'm glad and is great, but I only get about 10 mins out of the one battery. Other then that, this is perfect for smaller yards and love the easy switch to the edger.

Had a B & D trimmer for the past 10 years with no issues and this newer version is worth the money. Lighter with longer battery life, completely satisfied.