Ego Power+ 15-Inch String Trimmer with Powerload Review

On paper, there's a lot to love about the Ego Power+ 15-inch Powerload with its lightweight carbon fiber shaft, auto feeding spool, and variable speed settings. However, this is one of the heavier models in our comparative testing, it is somewhat cumbersome to use, and it lacks a lower speed setting, actually making it too powerful for many smaller tasks.

Performance Comparison

Weed Eating

This string trimmer is most in its element when tackling thick weeds and grasses. It's one of the most powerful battery-powered trimmers in our tests and rips through the neglected, brushy corners of the yard. If the brush is thick enough that the trimmer doesn't blow it flat, the Ego Power+ is wonderfully effective (for up to 30 minutes per charge).

For lighter jobs that will make up the majority of most homeowners' need for a string trimmer, this model is overpowered. We found ourselves holding this trimmer at odd angles to clean up edges and stray weeds because even at its lowest setting, it's so powerful that it blows grasses flat to the ground before they can be trimmed.

Ease of Use

Cumbersome is the word that comes to mind after working with this string trimmer throughout the yard. Since we had to hold it at various awkward angles when trimming thinner brush, it's not the model we want to use for bigger jobs, despite its power. It weighs 10 pounds, 10 ounces, putting it in the middle of the pack in terms of heft.

Loading the string on the Ego Power+ is relatively easy thanks to the Powerload feature. To load, you merely need to insert the string and press a button at the base of the shaft, and it will wind the string for you. This method is easy and efficient, though we found the spool difficult to open in the event of maintenance. To feed out more string, you need to lightly bump the trimmer head against the ground, allowing for uninterrupted weed-eating action. Speed settings are adjusted by changing the pressure on the trigger, though the range is essentially high speed and then higher speeds.

Battery Life

We got 30 minutes of runtime out of the included 2.5 amp hour battery. Again, we actually longed for a less powerful speed setting for efficiency on light-duty jobs. With the included charger, the 2.5ah battery can be ready for another 30-minute job after about 50 minutes of charging.

Ego sells larger batteries for longer jobs, as well as a rapid charger, and these are pricey, especially if you're not committed to the Ego line of tools.

Noise

Quiet operation is one of the main reasons to choose a battery-powered tool over their gas counterparts, and the Ego Power+ 15-Inch Powerload doesn't disappoint in this respect. We measured 87 decibels when holding it at arm's length, and when spinning, this string trimmer produces a pleasant, even sounding hum.

Value

This string trimmer is expensive on its own, though it may be worth it if you already have Ego batteries and tools in your garage. An alternative to consider is the Ego Power+ STA1500 Attachment, which pairs with the Ego Powerhead, an electric motor that can pair with several useful attachments.

Conclusion

If you feel like you're trying to reclaim your yard from the jungle every summer, then the Ego Power+ 15-Inch Powerload may be a good choice. It has power to spare as it chews through thick brush, but we believe it's too powerful for the average edging and clean jobs folks generally associate with string trimmers.