Ryobi ONE+ 18V Lithium Ion Cordless 12" String Trimmer (Bare Tool Only, Battery & Charger Not Included) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought this cordless weed whacker from a well-known home improvement chain, whose orange colors are known to just about anyone. At the warehouse store, the package included the Li-ion battery and quick charger for the cost of an extra Andy Jackson, which is a nice deal since those two item--Ryobi 18V ONE+ P104 Lithium Battery and P113 Charger--go for 120 clams here alone on Amazon, which makes the warehouse store package unbeatable since the string trimmer is essentially tossed in as a freebie.

This Ryobi is my second cordless string trimmer from the company. My earlier model, a 12V Ni-Cad powered unit from several years ago (155VP, or something like that) never really lived up to its potential. Its battery never provided enough juice even for our smallish yard, and the thing was a relatively heavy beast. After two faltering batteries I had had enough of the 155VP's tantrums and returned to a cheap corded WeedEater unit. After a couple or so years of this, the underpowered WeedEater finally quit as well. I did grow tired of extension cord management, so I decided to step back into the tricky waters of cordless trimmers once again. And boy, so far I'm glad that I did.

The One+ is a literal featherweight compared to the 155VP, but packs a middleweight punch. Like most electric trimmers, it has a rough time with the wet stuff, but when conditions are dry the One+ so far cuts through everything I've put it up against. Battery charge of the 18V unit lasts an extremely long time relative my 155VP's anemic 12V cell; so much so that I can use the One+ over two lawncare sessions and into a third one without having to recharge the battery. And recharging times are phenomenal; the 18V cell charges in minutes, whereas the old Ni-Cad took an overnight pit stop.

Its design allows for a wide manner of adjustment to attempt to get the optimal length and control placement on the device, and although it never has been completely spot-on for me and my frame, I can get the One+ close to where I think it would work best for me. The telescoping shaft also works pretty well at getting the best user position possible. And of course there's the unit's lightness, even with the battery in place.

Downsides? Yes there indeed are some. The One+ doesn't use a bump feed system for the cutting string. Instead it automatically feeds out more line each time the unit's motor ramps up its operational spin speed...which for me actually WASTES a fair bit of string since I have a tendency to inspect my work as I go along which usually means that at many points the trimmer will be powered off as I check out the quality of my cutting. Also for me the trigger operation is somewhat awkward to maintain during extended cutting session; the trigger pull is long and tiresome to hang onto for extended periods. The locking ring for the adjustable slide rod is marginal at keeping a TIGHT locking hold on the shaft, where it's possible if given enough force to slide the rod down (or up) without meaning to.

While the forward hand hold allows for rotational adjustments (pivoting forward and back, and rotation around the shaft member), it does not allow for positioning along the length of the shaft. And as with my prior Ryobi, I don't understand why there's no provision for a shoulder harness or sling; it would certainly ease some of the load and vibration that the existing design forces one's arms and hands to take by distributing some of that through the shoulders and upper back. The motor's torque could be a bit stouter; thicker vegetation that my corded WeedEater could hustle on through can give the One+'s motor was real workout.

But by and large those are minor quibbles to me that easily can be worked around. This thing whacks away at almost everything I customarily put it up against, and the charge of the Li-ion is commendably great. Plus the integral charge meter built into the 18V cell gives good indication of how much power is on hand, and whether a freshening up on the charger is needed beforehand. And as an added bonus, the 18V cell works with other Ryobi tools in the One+ lineup...which would be PERFECT if it weren't for the fact that I don't have any other One+ power tools (typically a Bosch/Makita man myself).

Oh well, at least this string trimmer is solid enough at its intended mission, and in the end that's what is good enough for me. Four solid stars.

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Product Description:
Auto Feed Line Head - Causes no bumping. Fold out edge guide. 3 Position Trimmer. 2 in 1 Head Rotates for Edging. 12" Cutting Swath. GripzoneTM Overmold for Added User Comfort. Adjustable Upper Shaft To Fit User Height. Battery & Charger Not Included.

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