Craftsman V20 Weedwacker Review
Our Verdict
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Craftsman V20 Weedwacker | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $140 List $134.00 at Amazon | $399 List Check Price at Amazon | $195 List Check Price at Amazon | $129 List $139.00 at Amazon | $179 List $105.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Lightweight, relatively quiet, easy to service | Easy to use, great battery life, low noise | Inexpensive, quiet | Fantastic at weed eating, easy to use | Relatively inexpensive, exceptionally powerful |
Cons | Not super powerful, short battery life | Not the lightest tool around, pricey | Not the most powerful | Requires additional motorized head, decently loud | Loud, throws debris everywhere |
Bottom Line | If you need a string trimmer in your tool arsenal but don't have much money to spend, this one is the one to buy | Ergonomic and easy to use, this is one of our all-time favorite cordless yard tools to use when clearing weeds | If you are shopping on a budget and don't need an extra powerful tool, then this is the string trimmer for you | This versatile tool takes out dense vegetation with ease | If you don't mind sacrificing some comfort in order to save some cash, this is a good value option |
Rating Categories | Craftsman V20 Weedw... | Makita XRU15PT 36V | Black+Decker LST136 | Ego Power+ STA1500... | Ryobi 40V Expand-It |
Weed Eating (30%) | |||||
Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
Battery (25%) | |||||
Noise (15%) | |||||
Specs | Craftsman V20 Weedw... | Makita XRU15PT 36V | Black+Decker LST136 | Ego Power+ STA1500... | Ryobi 40V Expand-It |
Line Feed Mechanism | Button | Bump | Auto | Bump | Bump |
Cutting Path (in.) | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13-15 |
Shoulder Strap Attachment | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Measured Sound Level from 36" Away | 84 dBa | 85 dBa | 85.9 dBa | 104.6 dBa | 105 dBa |
Measured No-Load Runtime | 35 min. | 88 min. | 43 min. | 21 min. | 43 min. |
Number of Speed Settings | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Measured Weight | 7.0 lb | 10.4 lb | 7.8 lb | 12.4 lb | 12.1 lb |
Nominal Voltage | 20 | 36 | 36 | 56 | 40 |
Tested Amp-hours | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2.5 | 4 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
For folks on a budget (and who isn't?), the Craftsman V20 Weedwacker is a rock-solid option. While this string trimmer won't be able to reclaim your backyard from the jungle, it handles basic tasks with ease. Its 35-minute run time is plenty for the delicate edging work your mower leaves behind, and at 7 lbs, the whole family can get in on the yard work.
Performance Comparison
Weed Eating
When it comes it comes to the task of rendering undesirable plants into rakeable detritus, the V20 Weedwacker is up to task for grasses, dandelions, or even very young bamboo shoots. It has plenty of power to eat through short, thick grasses, though it gets tangled if the grass is too thick and too tall. The low-speed setting is excellent for detailed edging (e.g., around sprinkler heads), and you can turn the head sideways to clean up bushes and hedges, so long as the branches are very thin. It also does a nice job of cutting close to the ground.
The V20 Weedwacker isn't the most powerful trimmer in the game, and we wouldn't recommend it to a professional landscaper. It gets tangled in tall, thick stands of weeds, and the battery life is fairly short. Additionally, the guard is large enough that it gets in the way of some detailed work.
Ease of Use
The V20 Weedwacker is tailored for at-home DIY yard maintenance, so it's easy to carry, easy to use, and fairly easy to service. There isn't a shoulder strap attachment, but at a scant 7 pounds, our testers felt comfortable hanging on to this string trimmer as it whacked its way through grass. The V20 has a button to feed the string and when it's time to replace it, it's relatively simple to pop the cap off the spool head, as there is only one line to feed. The spool head will eventually wear out as it's dragged and scraped across the ground, and Craftsman offers an inexpensive replacement.
The ergonomic telescoping pole makes operation comfortable for all but the tallest of users, while the guard does an excellent job keeping flying debris below knee level.
Battery Life
Our independent testing reveals a 35-minute battery life per charge. This isn't an impressive amount of time in a professional setting, but if you refer to your property as a "yard" rather than an "estate," we're willing to bet you can cut those pesky weeds around the gas meter and over by the deck posts with time to spare.
There are models that will keep on whackin' for more than twice as long as the V20 Weedwacker, but they also cost quite a bit more.
Noise
We measured 84 decibels at arm's length from this tool, which is objectively low compared to some of the competition that measured in the low 100 decibel range. For reference, 85 dB is around the same volume as the subway going by, or standing next to a diesel truck. Subjectively, it has a medium-high pitch, and the string thumps fairly loud when we first turn it on.
You'll want to wear ear protection if you're using the V20 Weedwacker for more than a few minutes, but you won't bother the neighbors if you're doing yard work at a reasonable hour.
Value
We think that for the average homeowner, the Craftsman V20 Weedwacker presents an excellent value. It's more than up to the task of cleaning up after a mowing job on small to medium yards, and while it lacks the power and battery life for professional jobs, it's easy to service, easy on the back, and easy on the wallet.
Conclusion
This is an excellent string trimmer. There are models that we prefer because they have longer battery life and more power, making them more versatile tools. However, a string trimmer is key for keeping your yard looking its best, and the V20 Weedwacker is more than up to the task, without being too painful on your wallet.
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