When I start up a Husqvarna power tool, whether it’s an electric chainsaw, string trimmer, or hedge trimmer, I expect a certain level of performance and quality, so I had high expectations for the 320iHD60 hedge trimmer. It did not disappoint.

Similar to the Husqvarna PowerAxe 350i chainsaw, the Hedge Master 320iHD60 delivers impressive power and performance, but doesn’t make you feel like you’re using heavy machinery. It transfers little vibration to the operator and produces minimal noise–just 67 decibels. When I first cranked it up, I assumed it would be a lighter, less powerful machine.

Well… you know what they say about assumptions. At 3,800 cuts per minute and a set of high-quality blades, the 320iHD60 carved through my rose bushes easily, gliding through even thicker branches with little effort. It also features a boost mode, which speeds up the cutting mechanism even further at the expense of battery life.

It has a number of unique features that make life easier for veteran trimmers. Where many hedge trimmers use a rotatable handle for increased maneuverability, the 320iHD60 has a handle with three separate grips, each with its own trigger. The design allowed me to easily adjust cutting angles by switching from one grip to another, hand-over-hand.

And if you bite off more than the trimmer can chew, there’s a reverse button that allows you ease off a thicker branch when you get jammed. None of the other trimmers I tested had this feature.

Last but not least, this was the only hedge trimmer I tested that came with a sweeper attachment, which let me brush clippings aside as I worked.

While I generally had a great experience with the 320iHD60, it isn’t perfect. At nearly 13 pounds with a battery, this is a heavy trimmer. The weight is well-balanced, but I definitely started feeling the burn about 20 minutes into my trimming test. It is also notably more expensive than the other trimmers I tested. Still, if you don’t mind paying for the best–and maybe getting in a workout–you won’t find a better all around hedge trimmer.

Read Our Full Review of the Husqvarna 320iHD60 Hedge Trimmer Here

Key Specs

The Worx WG286 is surprisingly powerful for an affordable cordless hedge trimmer. Using two 20-volt batteries, it produces cutting speeds of up to 3,400 strokes per minute. That doesn't match the fastest trimmers on our list, but it isn’t far behind, either. I noticed only a small difference between its performance pruning my hedges, and what I got from trimmers that cost $100 more.

That said, when the going got tough and I faced thicker stems on my rose bushes, the Worx struggled to keep up. Still, I was impressed with the job, given its price. The build quality also leaves something to be desired: the plastic frame feels thin, and it lacks rubberized grips.

As with many of the cordless hedge trimmers I tested, this Worx Nitro features a rotating handle with five positions that you can adjust on the fly. It was particularly helpful when I trimmed large bushes, giving me the ability to switch angles easily as I worked around them.

This was the only hedge trimmer I tested in this round that runs on multiple batteries. I prefer it, frankly, as using smaller batteries generally minimizes weight, making it easier to use when going up high to make cuts above shoulder height or over longer hedge trimming efforts. Also, since I already had a couple 20V cordless tools, I had backup batteries in-hand to make quick swaps and keep trimming.

The Worx Nitro WG286 is an impressive lightweight option if you’re looking to keep your budget down to $200 or less. So long as you don’t have anything too gnarly to trim, it should outperform its price.

Read Our Full Review of the Worx Nitro Electric Hedge Trimmer Here

Key Specs

After my old (like 20-plus years) Black and Decker 18-inch corded hedge trimmer finally gave up last year, I sought out a new machine to replace it. Popular Mechanics had a Ryobi 18-volt cordless hedge trimmer in the garage, and since I have other tools that run on the Ryobi battery platform, this seemed like a good opportunity to add another tool to my arsenal.

Two aspects of this hedge trimmer really did it for me. The 24-inch cutting head on this Ryobi makes my hedge trimming much more efficient, allowing me to cover more width than before and spend less time on each bush. Meanwhile, the cordless aspect of the tool obviously is very freeing—not having to drag and reposition an extension cord as I move from bush to bush is another time saver.

It goes without saying that, since this trimmer was virtually brand new when I first got it, its cutting head was new-tool sharp, so it made clean cuts. Additionally, the tool is nicely balanced and not overly heavy, so articulating it in various positions to trim appropriately is easy rather than taxing.

As a new dad with more demands on my time, having tools that help me complete work efficiently is more important than ever. If you are established on the Ryobi 18-Volt platform and are in need of a new hedge trimmer, this 24-inch model is a straightforward pick and offers a lot of value considering its cutting length and overall ease of use. — Colin Aylesworth

The Ego Power+ HT2601 keeps with the brand’s tradition of producing powerful cordless electric yard tools. It out-muscled the competition in my tests, with a 26-inch cutting bar and a 56-volt motor, giving it the power to slice through stems up to 1.2 inches in diameter.

That added length and cutting capacity was particularly helpful when I went to tame a 6-foot tall bush that was horning in on the front walk of my house: The HT2601 had no problem slicing through both thin outer stems and thick interior branches.

Just remember that with more power, comes more weight. The Ego weighs nearly 10 pounds, which starts to feel heavier than you’d expect after a full day of yardwork. The weight is well-balanced, but I certainly felt it in my arms on test day.

Like the Worx, the Ego has a five-point rotating handle, with a trigger release that makes it easy to adjust on the fly. I was able to make horizontal cuts, then quickly rotate the handle to drop down the side of the bush with a vertical cut. I appreciated its durable build as well, with a sturdy plastic body that felt like it could take a beating, and a carbon fiber cutting bar.

If your property has a considerable amount of hedges and bushes to manage, the Ego’s high cutting capacity, long bar and ample power make it an ideal tool for the job.

If you need to extend your reach to trim the tops of hedges above your head, this Craftsman pole hedge trimmer is lightweight and produces decent cutting power in a pole saw-style form factor.

The entire pole saw measures 6 feet, 8 inches from the back of the handle to the tip of the blade, so I had no problem reaching the top of an 8-foot tall bush in my front yard. It’s a lot of reach, but the pole isn’t adjustable, so trimming small bushes and the lower halves of hedges felt a bit awkward.

The 18-inch cutting bar head adjusts to five different angles, which allowed me to adjust the head to suit the type of cut I was making. I kept the head straight while working down the sides then adjusted it to 90 degrees to trim the top. While I didn’t have anything taller to trim, I probably could have comfortably reached another 2- to 3 feet up without too much difficulty.

It weighs just under 11 pounds, which would be heavy for a standard trimmer, but is actually on the light side for a model with this kind of reach. I didn’t have any problem holding it up or maneuvering it around to maintain the hedge’s shape. It helps that the adjustable head made it much easier to be precise at a distance.

There is a trade off for the lightweight design, though: The Craftsman’s 20-volt motor is the smallest I tested, and I could feel the difference. The blades cut well enough, but at a lower speed. That forced me to move at a slower pace than I would have with a more powerful pole trimmer. Luckily, the battery gives you a surprisingly long run time. (Though the charge time is just as long.)

While it may not be pro-grade, the Craftsman V20 gives you great control and great reach. It’s a perfect fit for homeowners who have a few very tall bushes and hedges mixed in with their standard-height yardwork.

If you only have smaller ornamental shrubs to trim, then consider scaling down to Worx’ handheld trimmer. This 8-inch mini trimmer can cut through stems up to 5/16 of an inch, with enough power to shave small bushes effectively.

I trimmed a short hedge bordering my front walk with it. While the job certainly took longer than it would have with a full-size hedge trimmer, it was more than capable of handling the foliage. This small tool only weighs 2.4 pounds, including the battery, which made it easy to sculpt smaller bushes and reach into tight spots that would have been tricky to cut evenly with something larger.

In addition to the 8-inch trimmer, this kit includes a 4-inch shearing blade attachment. This enables you to make precise tweaks and other cuts that might be difficult to make with even a mini trimmer. I found the hedge shears were helpful when I went to prune a few small ornamental bushes bordering my patio. I also used them to trim weeds and grass from around some of the more delicate plantings in my garden with scalpel-like precision.

While I wouldn’t recommend the Worx Power Share as an alternative to a full-size hedge trimmer, it’s convenient if you need to trim potted topiaries or shape small ornamental hedges.