On the Heavy Side with the bigger battery (4.0 amp) while operating but on the plus side it last much longer. String IQ is another incredible experience and the extendable shaft. Ultra easy String wrapping - takes about one minute max !!! Decent amount of power provided and the combo includes a spare battery (2.5 amp) which is perfect if your main battery dies. Battery charger a bit louder than expected but no issues. Recommending a harness (sold separately) for ease of operation Overall experience: Extremely Satisfied with EGO Power+ ST1623T. Trust me guys, you are gonna love this unit because my wife asked me to try it out just to see how it works and she ended up really liking it and she trimmed the sides and back instead of me. I said, "you go girl", LOL

Like others have said, this is an awesome for a string tool in taking down tall grass, weeds and small stalk bushes. I did not find it hard to use at all and bought the strap thinking it would be heavy and it was not for me and I am 70 years old. I used it for an hour and half but did have to charge the battery in between twice. I like the fact that the battery is strong all the way until it needs charging. And it charges quickly. I got about 30 - 40 min per charge but was using it in the high power mode as my grass and and weeds were thick. The string loading is cool and easy and I never had it jam. I took the bottom cover off to check when my string ran out to make sure it really did and there was none left. The only downside I see is that a string only lasts for about 20 minutes or so. And that was not going against any concrete walls so it does wear down quicker than I thought it would given its thickness. Maybe it would last longer in less dense grass and weeds. But overall, A+ as it will not disappoint you in how quickly this takes stuff down. Be careful as it does throw stuff tens of feet so goggles and long pants are a must and make sure no one else is around. I had a stone or something bounce back and put a cut in my arm as this is very powerful. Maybe they should consider making the shield a little wider as it is narrower relative to others I have used in the past. But as I said, 100% satisfied with its performance! It is pricey but worth it as it is pretty effortless to use given the automatic string deployment.

It’s a little heavy but it helps to cradle the battery end under the arm. You cannot do that with a gas model. I ordered the shoulder strap which appears to be padded. It was about $10. Gas modes have always been a bothersome hassle and I almost smile when I see people struggling with the typical gas units. If they only knew! Much I like about it and I rarely give 5 stars, but will here. I bought this to replace a “Worx” 20v. This Ego 56v runs circles around it like a blur and works as well as any gas model I have experienced. I have a ranch home with attached three car garage and surrounded with nice landscaping. I have landscaping in other areas of my property as well to include a long and wide driveway. This new Ego56v unit that came with the charger and battery was the best price than anywhere else. If you’re not careful you could get this same unit at the same price of $229, but…without the charger and battery. And they aren’t cheap. Unlike the old 20v Worx I used for about four years requiring two batteries to do everything, this new Ego did it all without any disruptions and I found I could run it without even releasing the trigger throughout the entire job. And point of fact, after I finished and cleaned the unit, the battery only took about 12 minutes to completely recharge and that includes the charger fan stopping. That cooling fan on the charger is a very smart and wise engineering move. With a large 56v battery that’s necessary. Well done! The string does extend as you trim or cut as advertised without requiring bumping it on ground. It says it will self wind any new string when it runs out of string but it will be a while I believe before I will see how well that works. I am not sure how long I ran it, perhaps about 40-45 minutes and it never wavered or lost any spinning power. I recommend this particular unit. But you must have a place to sit the charger cause it’s large and heavy. It says you can hang it on the wall but I don’t want to do that, so it sits on my work bench with two other charges for other tools. It does seem pricey perhaps, but when you consider the large 56v battery with charger it’s really not a bad price. I haven’t owned a gas model for years and would never again, especially with the cost of gas and lubricants and parts.

So far the trimmer works great. Assembly was quick & easy, well thought out. I got the version with 4ah battery. A word about the charger... it is NOISY. There is an internal fan to cool the battery while charging, which is understandable because charging causes the battery to heat up. I just wasn't expecting it to sound like a blender. Well not that bad... but close enough that you won't want it on your nightstand or in any room where you're trying to have a conversation. It took about 1 hour to put a full charge on the 4ah battery... but the fan ran for about 15 minutes after charging finished, to finish cooling the hot battery. It is recommended to allow this to finish as it contributes to battery lifetime, I'm told. My neighbor lady picked it up and commented on the weight. For context, she is 5'2" and 70 years old. I didn't notice it being really any heavier than my previous gas powered trimmer. But then I'm an able-bodied 6' male quite a few years younger than her. Unlike gas-powered trimmers, the motor is in the trimmer head. EGO has placed the battery at the opposite end to provide balance. I would suggest that anyone who finds this trimmer too heavy to invest in the sling that is made for it. That makes the weight negligible, and the tool is well-balanced enough that it's easy to use when held or slung properly.