stihl or echo ?

[edgeman2003]

stihl or echo, which is going to hold up better over the long run? which model to look for in both for edger and trimmer?

[FLAhaulboy]

I use both Stihl and Echo. I like both brands but I think Echo is alot cheaper in price and holds up in commerical use. I"ve bought the Echo's at Home Depot and the price was very fair, plus Echo has a good commerical use warranty. I've used Stihl for over 25 years. Their parts are more expensive and always have been!

[edgeman2003]

which echo model to get fot the trimmer and edger?

[jhakarter]

Get a PAS 265 I believe. Youll want the biggest thing out there for edging. I just baught a pas265 this last week with a edger and trimmer attachements. I have only used the edger because I have a stihl trimmer so theres no use right now to switch the ends, but the edger has worked wonderful so far!

[tinkz71]

I have an echo blower PB 650 and also echo trimmer a 261T. Both are incrediable no problems been using for 4 years. Plus Im not to big on the 4mix stihls its hard to beat a 2stroke.

[MikeRi24]

I have an Echo blower and trimmer. Seems like very nice equipment and a lot of guys i see around here use Echo. I have also worked at a local hardware store that sells and services a full line of Stihl products, so I've seen both sides. Each has its pros and cons.

In my spare time, I am a volunteer firefighter, and on 2 of our pumpers, we have Echo chainsaws, and on our 3rd pumper and on our rescue, we have Stihl saws. the Stihl saws are FAR superior to the Echos IMO, but in terms of everything else, I like the Echo. proven reliability, good service, and price thats pretty hard to beat for what you get.

[freshprince94]

Echo. I was on a Stihl kick for a while but hate the 4 stroke.

[lsu03]

get an echo srm230. very powerful and run well.

[edgeman2003]

I can get echo trimmer srm-251E @ $199.95. It has the 25.4cc power boost vortex engine, echomatic pro trimmer head, heavy-duuty cable drive. Is this a good deal? I know at home depot the medium-duty srm-210 trimmer cost $219.99 with a 21.2cc engine

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Stihl vs Echo, seems to be the eternal question on L.S.:)

[edgeman2003]

Which echo srm-230s or srm-260s? or the same models but without the ''s''?

[lsu03]

srm230, no s

you could even go with a srm210 if you wanted, but for $40 more, get the srm230.

[KGR landscapeing]

Stihl vs Echo, seems to be the eternal question on L.S.:)

and i dont know why It STIHL over echo everyday of the week and twice on saturday and sunday.

[Vero]

I just bought 5 Echo trimmers SRM265Ts, these are awesome and have a ton of power. I think they are much nicer than Stihl. Echo units have always been a lot easier to service then Sthil. Echo is 2 cycle , no need for 4 cycle.

[edgeman2003]

what about the edger? I see echo has a pe-200 w/plastic shield. pe-230 with a metal shield
clog- resistant.

[Vero]

Sorry, i don't use edgers

[TMGL&L]

I have a GT-200R, Srm 261T, and a 210 they all run great. I use the trimmer flipped over for edging which works great there isn't any need for an edger attachment if you are good at edging.

The GT is 3 years old and still runs like a champ. The 260 is stronger than what I need. Really the 210 is all I've needed so far for edging beds and sidewalks.

Before all those I had some Weed Eater... That thing was crap.

Overall Echo has worked great for me.

...Echo all the way baby.

[KGR landscapeing]

Sorry, i don't use edgers

what kinda of landscaping company dosent use edgers i guess i havent seen it all.

[JNyz]

what kinda of landscaping company dosent use edgers i guess i havent seen it all.

I never used one. In biz for 21 years. You don't need one if you have a 25cc line trimmer.

[Lynden-Jeff]

I never used one. In biz for 21 years. You don't need one if you have a 25cc line trimmer.

Not true. Try edging back 4 inchs of turf grown over a curb. Possible but its going to take you all day and most likely look like crap.

[JNyz]

Never ran into a situation like that. I work in a very high end area with most homes valued at over 1 million. If I did run into that I would just use my spade to cut it back then edge it with my line trimmer. Also 99% of my properties do not have sidewalks.

[LushGreenLawn]

I used to be one of you string trimmer only guys. One day I decided to give a stick edger a try, and I found that I saved enough time with it to add t lawns per day.

I thought I was pretty fast with edging with the trimmer. I didn't think I could possibly walk any faster and edge, but with the stick edger, I am almost jogging behind the thing, and the edges do look better, even if just a little. I seem to have at least a few properties throughout each day that are corner lots with alot of edging. I have timed it, and on those properties along I same about 6 minutes on average with the stick edger.

[capnsac]

I love my echo trimmer and blower. The trimmer is super comfortable and operator fatigue is minimal with the thing. I can trim for an hour straight with no back ache or shoulder ache. The power on my 265T is awesome too, I can hold it at quarter throttle and it eats through weeds no problem.

[S man]

Get both then decide what you buy from then on.

[RHill]

I use echo srm 230's

[J.Gordon]

My Favorite is an Echo 260 and wouldn’t switch brands without a good demo, brand X may have more power but Echo’s are well balanced and won’t vibrate your hands numb.

[edgeman2003]

okay I guess I dont need an edger right away. Defiantly need trimmer and a blower right away. so the 210 is good to start, what about a good blower to start?

[Atlantic Lawn]

It's always been Stihl for us. Not sure, but seems Echo seems to go after the homeowner market a bit more in our area.

[Reliable Lawn Care]

stihl or echo, which is going to hold up better over the long run? which model to look for in both for edger and trimmer?

I like the feel of echo better on the trimmers, but the stihl blowers seem to out blow the echos in my opinion.

[TMGL&L]

I don't mean to go to far off subject here, but my redmax blower rocks. I love it.

[Vero]

I had a sthil backpack before a 4x or something like that. It was a nightmare, tried a echo 755 tube throttle, working well may get some more, seams to be holding up so far. Anyone else had experience with that one?

[ed2hess]

I have a GT-200R, Srm 261T, and a 210 they all run great. I use the trimmer flipped over for edging which works great there isn't any need for an edger attachment if you are good at edging.

The GT is 3 years old and still runs like a champ. The 260 is stronger than what I need. Really the 210 is all I've needed so far for edging beds and sidewalks.

Before all those I had some Weed Eater... That thing was crap.

Overall Echo has worked great for me.

...Echo all the way baby.

They told us that the 260/261T is no longer in production this year and all the units are orange:confused: And they got more power but weigh more:dizzy:

[J.Gordon]

Ed, is the vibration about the same between the 260 and the 210? I have been thinking about getting a lighter trimmer.

A lot of the time I don’t need the extra power of 260, when I can carry less weight and use less fuel.

I am also comparing Husky, Shindaiwa, RedMax, Maruyama and Tanaka. Like I said before, I really like the way Echo feels and last very little vibes.

[Vero]

They told us that the 260/261T is no longer in production this year and all the units are orange:confused: And they got more power but weigh more:dizzy: I had 260's before also, i heard the weight was a little more, but my guys have not said anything, it must be very close, they like the grips and I think the balance is better

[MileHigh]

stihl or echo, which is going to hold up better over the long run? which model to look for in both for edger and trimmer?

The fact that Echo products can be bought @ The Home Depot, should tell you right there what brand name will provide better performance in commercial use. GO WITH STIHL ALL SEASON LONG....NO DOUBT!!!!

[J.Gordon]

You won’t buy a 260 in the box store. (at least around here)Just because HD sells Echo’s homeowner line doesn’t mean Stihl products are better. I would definitely buy a Stihl saw before Echo but handhelds is a different story. (My opinion)

I have two great Stihl dealers in my area, one sells Echo alongside Stihl the other dealer sells Shindaiwa and Stihl. On handhelds both dealers prefer the Shindaiwa and Echo over Stihl. (Their opinion)


You will pay just as much money at the box stores for the homeowner line as you will at a decent dealer anyway, so you should buy at the dealer for their service, even though my Echo’s haven’t needed a dealer for service.

Bar none Stihl has the very best dealer network in the country, at least around here. And that is worth a lot!

Like I said earlier try them all out and get what feels best for you, you’re the one that’s going to be running it.

[KGR landscapeing]

they guy i buy my mowers from sells Echo and kaw. the kaws r 5 billion times better then the echo but he carrys a huge supply of echos. the only echo you will ever see me use is a tiller i got it free. I think there junk. Buy stihl

[Happy Frog]

The fact that Echo products can be bought @ The Home Depot, should tell you right there what brand name will provide better performance in commercial use. GO WITH STIHL ALL SEASON LONG....NO DOUBT!!!!

OMG... I found some Toro and Honda equipment at Home Depot... Should I strike these brands from my list as well? :hammerhead: :dizzy: