Best Articulated Hedge Trimmers?

[Whitey4]

I did some pretty big hedge trimming-pruning jobs this year. I have a 36" Husky, and it's turned out to be a solid piece of gear, rugged, powerful, reliable, and can handle some pretty big branches. Problem was, with a 12 foot step ladder, I still could not reach across 5' wide, 10' tall hedge rows.

Next on the buy list is an articulated hedge trimmer. It need not be able to handle any heavy stuff, I need it for those hard to reach spots. Reach is more imprtant than power for me, but it would be nice if it were a multi-tool, something I could use as a backup for my line trimmer, etc., but a dedicated unit would be fine too if the economics dictate.

Any recommendations? As a side note, I see a lot of LCO's with those 3 point step ladders.... seems like it would be useful for getting further into tall hedges vs. a standard step ladder... how stable are they? This is from a guy that HATES ladders... LOL.

Thanks in advance!

[Green Team Landscaping]

Stihl Kombi system. Its great. You just buy a powerhead, and the attachment you want for it. It has everything from a hedge trimmer, to a chainsaw, to a paddle-like thing that will take the plow's sand right out of the grass. You cant go wrong with this, and when you need an edger, you just buy that attachment, rather than a whole new and separte system.

[b121774]

I like the shindaiwa, is the lightest of all I tried.

[ALC-GregH]

I have the Echo 265 with a few attachments including a articulating hedger. It works great, alittle heavy but I've nibbled through thumb size branches with it no problem. The ability to change the cutting angle is awesome. Makes for getting the right angle and hard to reach stuff much easier. Echo is the only hedger I've used outside of electric hand held.

[CHoniglandscapes]

I have a Stihl combi and have had nothing but problems with it.. Believe it or not what I like best is the Mantis articulating power head, its only 82 bux brand new and has the same shaft as the redmax(pops right on to any redmax line trimmer), I have 2 of them on my old 2300's and they rip.. They also pivot both directions. You do have to be carefull not to toss them around or let them bang around on the trailer because I have broken one.

[railman]

buy a fs90r stihl trimmer and you can change the power heads like kombi system. cheaper than kombi system in my opinion.

[CHoniglandscapes]

I have a 110 kombi, and I have gone through 4 shafts.. I am ready to swap the motor and head onto a long shaft w/w and be done with it.

[Icepuck72]

buy a fs90r stihl trimmer and you can change the power heads like kombi system. cheaper than kombi system in my opinion.

I second this for sure. I have a fs90 trimmer and by all of my attachments. Plus it has more power than the km90.

Just 2 little screws and you pop it in.

Do it, I did and never looked back.

[Lazer_Z]

I second this for sure. I have a fs90 trimmer and by all of my attachments. Plus it has more power than the km90.

Just 2 little screws and you pop it in.

Do it, I did and never looked back. How? it's the same engine and thus carries the same 28.4cc rating.

[CHoniglandscapes]

How? it's the same engine and thus carries the same 28.4cc rating.

The shaft on the Kombi is a weak(in my opinion) spring flex shaft, the line trimmer has a solid shaft thus less joints and more power at head.

[Lazer_Z]

I haven't noticed anything weak about my KM 130. I love the power it has and it's nice not to have to carry 2 machines with me all of the time. I carry my KM 130, the string head and the straight shaft edger with me.

I forgot to add that I did the gear head switching deal with an FC110 and to me the KM is a ton faster, not to mention easier, the Kombi system is fool proof. I must also add that I own an FS 90 R as well.

[Icepuck72]

How? it's the same engine and thus carries the same 28.4cc rating.

2 connections rather than one. Just think about it mechanically. My dealer actually talked me out of getting it and just sticking with my fs90 and buying the attachments.

[CHoniglandscapes]

maybe mine was a fact lemon... I wish it wasnt because it lets me down every time I need it most.. the mantis head is 82 bucks, works on redmax shaft and cuts great, also pivots in both directions. Stihl is DEF a stronger machine but for the money just to do the tippy tops I love the Mantis head..

[Kilman's]

redmax, no problems

[CGlisson]

I use an Echo PAS-230 with the Articulating Hedge Clipper attachment. It is definitely a beast! A little heavy, but well worth it for efficiency if you don't mind sculpting the guns as you go...

[weve]

I have the Echo PAS-260 and an 11 year old Echo 2100SB. I have both the Articulating Hedge Clipper (HCA) and the non-articulating hedge clipper. I use the non-articulating attachment with the 2100SB power unit far more often than the articulating model because it is much lighter in weight.

Echo also makes a three foot long extension for the PAS system that can be added to any attachment. I use the extension mostly with the PowerPruner but used it once this year with my hedge clipper attachment when I needed the extra reach. Having the right tools for the job is usually much cheaper than going to the doctor after falling from a ladder, etc.

[S man]

Shindaiwa or redmax.

[justanotherlawnguy]

shindaiwa ah231 are light weight and have a great reach. I have had a pair for almost 5 years and they are awesome.....