The Toro 51467 8-inch cordless trimmer is lightweight and delivers an ergonomic design.

For small trimming jobs -- particularly those that require the convenience and mobility of a cordless tool -- the lightweight, less-than-$50 Toro 51467 cordless trimmer is definitely worth a look. Its 8-inch cutting width is among the smallest on the market, but this model comes with several user-friendly features that more than make up for its tiny cutting swath.

The major improvement on this model over a previous incarnation is the stationary front handle. A discontinued version came with an adjustable square handle mounted near the front, but the front handle on the Toro 51467 8-inch cordless trimmer provides considerably more control. It's an ergonomic addition that significantly improves the balance of the tool. The redesign also shaves a full 3 pounds off the trimmer's weight, leaving a sleek and maneuverable 6.4-pound machine.

If you're looking for a trimmer that can tackle the toughest grass and weeds your yard has to offer, though, you'll want to consider a heftier -- and probably more expensive -- unit. The Toro 51467 cordless trimmer relies on a fairly basic 12-volt power system. Unlike some trimmers that run on removable batteries that recharge in a cradle, this model is powered by a battery that's built right in -- it just plugs into a wall outlet with the included cord. A charging light switches from red to green when the trimmer's back up to full strength. Once you drain it (after around 45 minutes of trimming), you will be waiting a while before it's ready to get back to the backyard. The battery takes 24 hours to fully charge right out of the box.

Replacing the line on a trimmer can often be a pain, but the no-tool spool replacement on this model is as easy as it gets: Just spin off the spool cap, pop in a new spool, and replace the cap. The Toro 51467 8-inch cordless trimmer uses a bump-feed line advance, which releases line simply by tapping the head on the grass. This model is covered by a 2-year warranty.


Pros: Low price, ergonomic design, lightweight
Cons: Small 8-inch cutting swath, long battery recharge time

Warranty
2 years