Customer Reviews

WORX GT WG151 18-Volt Cordless Electric Lithium-Ion String Trimmer/Edger

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

I bought the WorxGT 151i string trimmer for two reasons: (1) I got completely fed up with my existing gas/oil 2-cycle string trimmer. It always seems to ooze the gas/oil mixture which invariably got on my shirt. It was occasionally difficult to start,. It required me to bump the trimmer on a hard surface to advance the line which was always an issue when trimming along the fence line in my backyard as I had to go back to the patio to tap it. My 2-cycle trimmer is a well-known, highly rated brand and all of these issues are common to 2-cycle machines. And (2) I wanted a greener solution to string trimming. My existing 2-cycle trimmer put out a lot of exhaust smoke into the air which I was never happy about, particularly in terms of not wanting to breathe it.
The WorxGT solved all of these issues. It is relatively green by using a Lithium Ion battery for power. To advance the line you only need turn the machine off and back on and the line advances automatically to the correct length. No more spools to wind either. When the spool runs out you merely put in a new one (about $1 each from the WorkGT website). Is the WorxGT as powerful as my 2-cycle trimmer...no, but it is more than adequate to meet my trimming needs. It has many good features, including a guard you can use to run the trimmer along fences or flowerbeds to protect them from damage. It's very lightweight and easy to hold and use. The trimming head has a number of positions available for whatever angle you need. The handle is also adjustable as is the length of the machine. It performs nicely as an edger too. Just tilt the head 90 degrees and roll it along the built-in wheels. I used it in the edger mode to sharpen up the edges on my mulch beds and it did a nice job.
Is the WorkGT capable of being used by commercial landscapers every day? No, not in my opinion. Though well-made it probably is not made for such heavy use. Nor is it good for anyone who needs to string trim large thick grassy areas that haven't been mowed in months. But I am very satisfied with it and I think it is a great option for the average homeowner. My property is about 1/3 of an acre and the lithium ion battery has plenty of life on a single charge to handle that size. So far I have used the trimmer three times after the initial charge without recharging it and it is still going strong (just wanted to see how long it would last on a single charge).

I purchased this to replace a 5 year old B&D cordless string trimmer. I have been impressed by the built quality of this unit compared to the B&D. It is light weight however it is built with quality materials. It has plenty of power and the power does not degrade quickly like the B&D. Since this unit uses lithium batteries, the power is consistent from beginning to end. The items that I did not like about this trimmer is that it is only 10" compared to 12"-14" found on most cordless trimmers and the spool is small. The spool will need to be replaced frequently since it is a less than 1/2 the size of a standard spool string container. The string that this unit uses is of highly quality and is textured which does cut through grass and weeds easily. Even though it is only 10", the quality of the string and power provided by the motor makes up for it only being 10". B&D did recently release a lithium powered trimmer. I was able to check out the B&D trimmer at my local hardware store however the quality construction and ergonomics of the Worx is superior to the B&D lithium trimmer. On the down side of having the Worx instead of the B&D is that replacement spools will need to be ordered online since no one that I know in my area carries them. B&D lithium trimmer uses the spool string as the non-lithium model that is easy to find. One thing I do want to point out about the B&D lithium trimmer is that the string is very thin and wears out quickly. It does not have the same cutting power as the Worx string.

First off I want to say I do like the engineering of this trimmer, that is why I bought it. I am however concerned that the lithium battery or the battery charger may have a problem. I also think that the instructions that come with the product are inadequate so I have no reference for how long the battery should last. I just know that my previous electric trimmer that did not have a lithium battery lasted longer than this one before running out of power.

I have only had the opportunity to use the trimmer three times and two of the three times the battery has worn out before I have finished my lawn, and I don't have a very big lawn. I'm talking the trimmer shutting down after approximately 5 min of use. Maybe something else is going on, not sure yet, so I'm reserving judgment until I have used it a half dozen times. If I continue to have the problem, it will be interesting to see how the WORX customer service (and Amazon as well) responds to my issue.

If I did not have this battery concern, I would rate the product at 4 stars. I could not give it a 5 star rating as I think it is a bit expensive.

thx, jp

I bought the WorxGT for trimming my garden and edging the sidewalk. This is my one-month review, and I encourage you to read it completely. I think you'll agree with my 2-Star rating by the end. Here we go...

The claim: Long battery life, enough to go around an outdoor running track THREE times (that is 1320 yards if you do the calculation)!!!

The truth: This is a lie. I live on a corner lot and there-and-back, this is about 400 yards. On a 24-hour charge, this machine has trouble making it there and back. This cannot POSSIBLY last 1320 yards. Under ideal circumstances, expect no more than 600 yards at the very most. I guess if you buy an additional battery, though, it would come close.

The claim: Cuts through anything you have on your lawn!!!

The truth: This is a lie, unless all you have is thin blade grass that is not in clumps. The WorxGT had no luck with crabgrass or clumps of thick grass. Anything that is difficult to pull by hand, the WorxGT will not be able to handle. Trust me, it just won't. You'll need a gas-powered trimmer for that in my experience. I am impressed, however, with how it does edges where the grass is relatively thin. There it works as advertised.

The claim: This is entirely bumpless, so no more hassles with line feeding!!!

The truth: This is true, but there's a CATCH. There is a little metal guide underneath that, when the line is longer than 4.5 inches, it cuts it down to length. The problem is that when the line gets shorter (as it does whenever it hits something hard and gets cut down to a smaller size), it does NOT feed any more line out. Every 30 seconds, I have to stop, turn it over, and press a button (yes my dear readers, there is a BUTTON on the side of the spool specifically designed for you to push) to feed out any line. I have to stop, push the button about 3-4 times, and it is about 4" again. Then, as soon as I start using it, I notice immediately it stops cutting edges, or reaching down into the space (gutter) between the sidewalk and grass, because with the line constantly about 1-2", it just isn't long enough to cut anything. So, back over it goes, push the button, turn it back over, edge/trim for 30 seconds, lather, rinse, repeat. I think you get the idea. To say this is bumpless is a joke. It is no such thing. Autofeed means YOU feed it every 1 minute. If you don't mind doing that, then this is the one for you. And this isn't just an idiosyncrasy of my use. It is DESIGNED that way, which is why the BUTTON is there! Why else would they include a button if they did not intend for the user to push it???

I have attempted every day for two weeks to get their comment on this matter through their website query line, and I have not received a response. Not very encouraging.

The claim: It has wheels which make lawn edging a snap to roll along the sidewalk!!!

The truth: This is TRUE. The wheels make it super easy to guide it along the edge of the lawn. Of course, I'm turning it over so often to advance the line with the button, it really doesn't matter much that it has wheels. But it is true, when the line is fully deployed (after pushing that dreaded button four times), it does cut through thin grass as the wheels guide it merrily on its way along the sidewalk.

The claim: Their braided cutting line is far superior to standard line!!!

The truth: This is a lie. Regular blue 0.065" trimmer line from Lowe's works exactly the same. I WISH it were true, but it is not. In fact, I think the braided line is a BAD thing, as it makes feeding line out more difficult than necessary.

The claim: It flips from edger to trimmer with just the simple touch of your foot!!!

The truth: This is a lie. If you try to flip positions by holding the head steady with your foot (as they do in their video) and pull/pushing the handle, I can guarantee you will break off the plastic edge guard. The fact is, there is no place to even PUT your foot to accomplish this task. Rather, you have to flip it over and move the head position with your hands. I tried every conceivable way to flip it back and forth, and every time I used my foot, it came close to breaking. As in, a part was about to literally break off. No kidding. I would NOT advise you try at home what they do on their infomercial. Of course, since you only have to switch it once per session (I do my edging then trimming) this is not a big deal, but it IS a misrepresentation of the facts (and physics for that matter) to say it is easy to do with your foot.

The claim: Free spools for life!!!

The truth: This is a lie. There is shipping and handling of about $6. If FREE means "without cost", then this is not true. As in, "gotcha".

The claim: It telescopes in/out to find the most comfortable length for any user!!!

The truth: This is a lie. It telescopes, but not very much. I'm about 5'10" and with the WorxGT fully extended, I still have to bend a bit, making it uncomfortable to use over extended periods of time.

The claim: The Lithium battery maintains peak power, with no power drop off until it is used up!!!

The truth: This is TRUE, but that is a property of ALL lithium batteries. They maintain peak power supply until they run out of juice. So, as long as the battery is powered up, the WorxGT spins and cuts the same in the first as the last minute. But when it is OUT of juice, POOF!! It just stops. This is to be expected. Lithium batteries are far better than NiCad, which slowly peter out until they die. That's why I hate NiCads and love lithiums.

The claim: This is the very best edger/trimmer you'll ever buy!!!

The truth: This is a lie. My neighbor has an electric one that is much more powerful and cuts a much better edge. But since I live on a corner, I can't run it off a plug unless I have about 300 feet of power cord, and I'm not going to bother with that. But this claim is so out of line it's quite remarkable the FTC has not fined them for actually putting it in their advertisements (TV and print).

I wish the guy who does the infomercial could come to my house so I can steal his, because he obviously has a supercharged one. Or, more likely, somebody off camera is changing his batteries out and pushing the darned button to feed more line like a mouse pushes the lever for cheese to pop out of the chute in a lonely metal cage.

I give this 2 stars ONLY because it does a decent job on lawn edging with the wheels. Otherwise, I feel this product is GROSSLY misrepresented in all their ads, and I really hope the FTC looks into this product more closely.

If you buy it, be prepared to get carpal tunnel syndrome from pushing the line feed button so often. And when I write OFTEN, I mean it.

Good luck, and write me with questions.

I bought this trimmer because I was sick of pulling the extension cords around the yard. Stringing 4 or 5 cords together was just ridiculous! I wanted something new but didn't want to smell like gas or use cords. The Worx trimmer is awesome. The charge lasts about 1 hour with constant use. I love the self-feeding mechanism for the string, it saves so much time compared to my old one which just ate up the string every time I used it. You can also get six free spools of string from the Worx website for only the cost of shipping. The power is great for what I'm using it for, lawn/yard work. I was amazed at how light it was, light enough for my 8 year old to use it. This is a trimmer that is worth its weight in gold!

I have used the WORX GT WG151 for about a month and am happy with all of its advertised features except for the battery life. The advertised longer battery life with the new Lithium-Ion battery is not any better for me than the earlier model that my neighbor has been using, without Lithium-Ion. I charged the battery overnight for the initial charge yet I only get about 15-20 minutes of run time. Charges now take only about 3-4 hours. In order to complete all of the trimming for our average size yard, requires it to be done in phases over two days. One solution is to of course invest in a second battery and have both charged and ready to go.

Finally, I have found that the string does not index consistantly. Frequently I must manually pull out string. Appears to be stuck on the spool.

First off, before use of this item be sensible and protect yourself with safety glasses (a must), sturdy shoes, and long pants! I've found the battery power lasts only 20-30 minutes, (but it is powerful) and probably drains faster when triming tall, thick grass. The power does not wan during use, but stops immediately when depleted. The instructions that come with the product are inadequate (pictures too small) and there is no reference for how long the battery should last. I used the trimmer/edger 3 days in a row (as it had to be recharged) and find it does cut well once you figure out how to use it. My lawn is not large. The video runs too fast, and is difficult to follow on how to make the proper adjustments or changes. I was unable to reach customer service via the telephone.

It is a nice product, and I like that the line does not break, but because the battery is too short-lived to do the job adequately (and the product is expensive for the job it does, and the instructions poor, I gave it 3 stars. With shipping cost, and the "free" six spools of cord, I shelled out $152.00. I ordered from the Worx site.

Worx should slow down the video and actually show how to change from trimmer to edger, and/or include clearer written instructions. It would also be nice if they told how long to expect the charge to last, but then, they probably would not sell as many trimmers.

Over all I like the product and it does ease the burden of using my older, corded trimmer. It's takes getting used to, so try the trimmer/edger in a less visible area first.


UPDATE: 21 Apr 2011

Only used product about 4-5 times as the drought last year left the yard dry and burnt away. Attempted to use trimmer last week and today, and battery would only stay charged less than 2 minutes tops. I contacted WORX via e-mail over a week ago with no reply as of today. Company is impossible to reach by telephone.

While product design is promising, it is useless without a battery to supply power. Clearly this was money down-the-drain. I was going to invest in another battery, but after reading reviews on Amazon for a replacement battery I decided it will be an additional waste of money. WORX does not stand by their product, and I guess they don't respond to inquiries because of the many complaints they receive.

Take the negative reviews seriously. The product starts out fine, but the end product is a dud and you lose money. I'm down-grading my review from a "3" to a "1" because the product is useless if the battery won't hold a charge longer than 2 minutes.

UPDATE: 08 July 2011

Okay, I received an updated replacement battery and decided to use it a few times to see if it works. It does, but will it work next year? I have to admit when the little machine works it works well and shortens my time of edging. You have to move fast, though, if you have a lot of edging to do, which gets easier with experience. Around a football field twice? Maybe. If you walk at warp speed! Hopefully, the updated battery will perform better.

Pointers from Worx to make the battery last:

1. Do not leave the battery on the charger for extended periods after it completes charging as it can overheat.
2. Let the battery cool to room temperature before use.
3. If the battery is flashing "green" when put on the charger it means the internal temperature is higher that 113 degrees. Permit to cool for 10-15 minutes before charging.
4. Always store battery at room temperature (no extremes of hot or cold.)

I decided to leave my review at "3" because I'm not sure how the battery will perform next season. Regardless of how well the machine works it cannot work without a battery! I hope the new battery will last and last. Great machine when the battery is full of life.

I still love the Worx trimmer but I have had a not so pleasant experience with the WORX customer service representatives....I was out of town for approx three weeks and when I came back my trimmer lasted for 10 seconds with little power...when I emailed the problem a person told me I had to call to get help----Well I ran into a rather unpleasant gentleman by the name of Michael who made it look like I had the problem because I didn't take the battery off the charger after 5 hours-oh excuse me--I will set my alarm for 11:00 pm to get up and take it off the charger...previously I've left it on the charger for a week with NO problem! He spoke with a very condesending tone-perhaps because I am a woman???-I've been getting that pattern - a lot lately-- So as of 8/2/10 I am extremely disappointed with the customer service but I wish my WORX Gt worked as it did for the last few months, hopefully with the new battery, it WILL- Please forgive me if I've led anyone astray!- I still think it's a great alternative to lugging a cord around...... I bought The Worx GT 151.5 battery powered trimmer based on some of the reviews; I was looking for something lightweight that I could easily do my edging and trimming with, after dragging corded ones around the yard for the past 26 years. I tried neighbors gas powered models, but they were all to heavy for an older person like me. The Worx GT weighs about 5 pounds and is very easy to use, to switch from trimmer to edger and back in seconds-what used to take me what seemed like forever is completed in 30 minutes! I am so impressed with this trimmer I've "borrowed" it to other people who have the same issue with strength in the arms and shoulders! For 30 minutes straight, the power (speed) of this little trimmer never slows! INCREDIBLE! The only draw back that I have found and it really isn't a problem for me is that it doesn't telescope out very far, in my opinion if you are over 5'7" tall it may be too short for you to do a job easily! I love my Worx GT and will continue to brag about it's abilities; power, lightness, and ease to change from one position to another! Thanks for a great product and Thank you Amazon for a GREAT price!

I'm telling you, right here and now, the TV just doesn't do the Worx GT justice. This machine is clearly over the top--SIX stars, if there was such a thing! It has, by far, exceeded and surpassed my greatest hopes and expectations. It is THAT good! I had three worthless trimmers in my shed up until three weeks ago; a 12 v B&D cordless, with no power, too heavy, and short battery life; a high power electrical trimmer--too heavy, tangling cords, and finally a gas trimmer--designed for high-wire circus acts, tropical jungle removal, and trimming the Everglades. Because of my back, they are all rendered useless.

Now, about the Worx GT. I have the single charger, and the one Lithium battery. There was no problem with the spool installation or auto-feed. Yes, the machine does have 15-20 minute useful life on the Lithium battery, but if you think about it that is about ¾ of a mile walking, which is three times around a football field.

What this machine CAN do, is take a level 5 yard (level 1 is jungle, level 10 is superior) and turn it into a level 10 yard. People walking down the street have stopped and taken notice. The edging function is superb. Nothing does it better! What this machine CANNOT do, is take a level 1 yard and make it any better at all. If you haven't trimmed in three months, then this isn't going to work. But let me tell you, when you get up to a level 5, the Worx GT will take you to the highest level.

Finally, yes, there are going to be a couple of unlucky people out there that are going to get a bad battery, or bad machine or a bad charger. That goes with ANY product. That's the nature of the beast. But you need to know that, for me, this spool works great; the charger works great and the battery is great, too. I can't go much more than 20 minutes anyway. You might be the same way, too.
Anyway, I've used this through four recharges. No problems whatsoever.

It has been worth every dime, and I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

The trimmer/edger is a great device and works very well. My only complaint is that the battery life is not all they make it out to be. I made sure to charge the battery over night before use. After about 10 minutes of use the battery was dead. I was only able to do half the amount of work i was intending to do. Now it looks like I will have to either buy an additional battery or buy the 30 minute charger.