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Regardless of personal elan , most of us appreciate the look of a well - tended landscape painting . A big part of that look is keeping plant within their bounds with a bit of careful clipping and shaping . That ’s where tool like garden shears come into play . Heavy - duty equipment like gas or electric string trimmer joist and hedge shears are indispensable for big landscape killing projects and routine yard maintenance , whereas a thickset tool like theStihl HSA 26 battery - powered sens and shrub shearsis a expectant selection for detail the small or hard to reach areas , as well as for quick tactual sensation - ups .
enquire any group of professional landscape architect or serious DIYers which brand seduce the right out-of-door ability equipment , and most will includeStihlin their top pick . The company has built its loyal customer stem by offering some of the most long-lived , dependable , and powerful chain saw , drawstring trimmers , hedge trimmers , and foliage blowers for generations . However , most of that story was build on gas pedal - power equipment .
Photo: Mark Wolfe
Dedication toenvironmental responsibilityhas since pass the company to produce some of the cleanest - running outdoor baron equipment in the industry , include its extensive line of barrage fire - power tools . These lightweight tools produce zero emissions , depressed noise levels , and full operating world power through the guardianship cycle .
I test the Stihl cordless garden shear during the hustle and stir of spring yard cleanup season . They came in handy for a surprisingly blanket range of projects , including a few that I had n’t consider beforehand . In the recap ahead , I ’ll share my experience and thoughts on how and where this prick excels in the landscape , and why it might be the best under - the - radar tool that Stihl offers .
Stihl HSA 26 Cordless Garden Shears: At a Glance
Rating:9.6/10
PROS
CONS
Get the Stihl HSA 26 cordless pasturage and shrub shear at :
What are the Stihl cordless garden shears?
TheStihl HSA 26 cordless garden shearsmake an excellent choice for light- and average - obligation grass and hedge trimming . Bob Vila ’s intersection testing squad awarded it “ Best Overall ” in our Best Cordless Grass Shears review . This lightweight tool features an ergonomic intention with a buffer rubberized grip for top - destruction substance abuser comfort and sure - handedness during extensive use . It delivers plenty of power , preciseness , and runtime to harness a variety of trimming tasks . The outfit include the power head , a 4.7 - inch weed - trimmer attachment , a 7.9 - inch hedge - trimming capacitor attachment , the Stihl AS 2 rechargeable shelling , and an AL 1 charger , all handily enclose in a clayey - responsibility tool organiser .
Tool Specs
Attachments:4.7 - column inch grass shear , 7.9 - inch hedge shearBlade speed:2,200 strokes per minuteWeight:2.1 pound with grass shear , 2.5 pounds with hedge shearBattery:10.8V 2.1Ah lithium - ion batteryRuntime:120 minute grass shear , 80 minutes hedge shearCharge time:70 minutes
It ’s always fun to try out a Modern tool , especially when it ’s in an entirely new category . After 3.5 hours testing the Stihl HSA 26 in my own pace over the course of 2 24-hour interval , I wondered why I had n’t tried out a summary cordless garden shear before . I used it to trimlawn grass , to swerve down former stems on last year ’s perennials , to shape up numerous ungovernable shrubs , and even to glean herbs from the garden .
Both the film editing power and the runtime were impressive for such a compact , lightweight prick . I was able-bodied to move at a somewhat fast gait and do a lot of trimming in a little time . I also noted that it made very small noise , thanks to the quiet motor and smooth blade action . The peter cut quickly , retained nice sharp edge , and moved with good precision . This cordless gage trimmer could be a helpful time and labor rescuer for anyone with a small landscape or a large collection of plants that need frequent touch - ups .
Photo: Mark Wolfe
Are the Stihl HSA 26 cordless garden shears easy to use?
In term of both control and puff , theStihl HSA 26 toolwas very easy to use . It is well proportion for workers of any size . The heart-to-heart grip design , as well as the varying - speed trigger and the thumb - operated safety electric switch , were well positioned for a wide orbit of hand size of it . I had my married woman try it out just to be sure . And whether it ’s because the puppet weighed only a petty more than 2 pounds , or because of the comfortable overall design , I did n’t have any fatigue , pain , or discomfort during or after testing .
I particularly like the quickly - interchange trimmer head . Each trimmer joist psyche has its own built - in baseplate , so there were fewer parts to keep track of . I simply squelch the two buttons on the side of the baseplate to release the head and clicked the other one in its place . The parts lined up easily without really having to give much thought to it . When not in use of goods and services , each attachment had its own protective cover to keep the blade sharp and forestall injury to handler .
Are the Stihl garden shears good quality?
Stihl has been one of the precede outside power - tool brands for close to a hundred . Its stay power originates from habitually producing top - quality tools that last a very long time . The HSA 26 cordless bush and grass trimmer is a great lesson .
This pruner was plan as part of Stihl ’s homeowner creature card , and it excels at light- and average - duty trimming . The intention is owing in term of both operator consolation and precision trimming . The material quality is also excellent : mellow - quality brand cutlery , a quiet powerful motor , and a long - lasting succinct 10.8V battery . In my test , I noted that the tool suit together securely , with no play in the moving parts . During operation , the blade glide smoothly , with very little vibration change to my hand . It was a pleasure to use .
Are the Stihl HSA 26 garden shears worth the money?
At about $ 150 , theStihl garden shear toolis among the high price of its form , but in no way is it overprice . I try out like models that set out in price from about $ 100 to near $ 200 . The Stihl garden shear worked better and weighed less than interchangeable shear byMakita , Craftsman , Ryobi , andWorx . A major difference is that most garden shears use a heavy 20V battery that clip on the back conclusion of the handgrip . That configuration added significant weight and reposition the center of gravity to the back end of the puppet , increase strain while using . The Stihl bombardment is little and tally inside the hold for much better balance .
Though there are other cheap choice , quite frankly they are n’t very in force . In my experience testing a dozen standardized tool at different price points , the cheapest of the models ( in the sub-$40 mountain chain ) were slow , noisy , and just felt cheap . Overall quality and performance corresponded close to price . As the old locution expire , lifespan is too short for chinchy tools . For long - lasting work satisfaction , the Stihl garden shear are worth the money .
Should you buy Stihl HSA 26 cordless garden shears?
Not everyone needs a cordless grass shear . For those who do , however , a dissimilar option could be a better fit . Battery compatibility and efficiency is one good reason to choose a dissimilar putz . For instance , if you already have a diversity of Worx yard dick and bombardment , it make sentience to buy the Worx cordless grass trimming capacitor that use the same battery .
The Stihl HSA 26 is an excellent option for those with smaller landscapes , intemperately - to - hand court or pocket gardens , a circumscribed number of shrubs and topiary , or various low trim and mold jobs . This tool is not a great choice as a primaryweed wackeror hedge trimmer joist for a prominent landscape , but keeping it close at helping hand for a quick cleanup between veritable K - care Clarence Shepard Day Jr. make sense .
Those with extensive landscape gardening and garden beds will find multiple uses for these shears from week to calendar week . The build tone and smooth , wanton operation make it a pleasure to work with , and the price seems commensurate with the character . If you ’ve show this far and think the Stihl HSA 26 might be good for you , then it probably is .
Photo: Mark Wolfe
Where to Buy the Stihl HSA 26 Cordless Garden Shears
Get the Stihl HSA 26 Cordless grass and shrub shear at :
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and Cartesian product tester with an extensive background in the nursery and landscaping industry . For more than 20 years , he mow , edged , planted , crop , naturalise , irrigate , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now he quiz and writes review about the up-to-the-minute outdoor power equipment , hand tools , lawn - care products , and other outdoor - living commodity .
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Photo: Mark Wolfe
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