The Craftsman 79957 electric hedge trimmer continues to be a good investment for the budget-minded homeowner, but it is noisier and does vibrate more than several of the more expensive electric models available on the market.

With its 22-inch blades, the Craftsman 79957 offers a long reach that can help save time if you have high or wide hedges to tame. A 3.2-amp electric motor runs the dual-action, single-sided blades at a speed of 3000 cutting strokes per minute. The blades are constructed of hardened steel, so they should hold a sharp edge well and endure several trimming seasons. The unit weighs just 7.6 pounds.

We found the Craftsman 79957 hedge trimmer to be a good, basic model. Its long blades let us quickly cut lots of hedging. Craftsman says it will cut up to 3/4-inch diameter branches, and we learned it easily cut branches of at least 1/2-inch. The lock-on switch made it easy to keep cutting without having to hold the trigger down all the time. We liked the ease of use of an electric model as long as we didn't need to venture beyond the 100-foot cord. We also liked the trim design of this light model. However, the unit seems noisier than some other electric models, and we didn't like the amount of vibration the unit generated even though the manufacturer says the unit includes an anti-vibration feature. That vibration can lead to operator fatigue.

A cord retainer helps prevent the Craftsman 79957 hedge trimmer from coming unplugged from an extension cord. And a lock-off switch helps prevent accidental starts.

The Craftsman 79957 offers a relatively low-cost solution to your hedge trimming needs. It will do what more expensive models can do -- that is if you don't mind the noise and vibration.


Pros: Price, long reach, trim design, lightweight
Cons: Noisy, vibrates significantly