Is the hedge trimmer easy to set up and use? We rate machines on 18 criteria, including how easy they are to carry, how simple they are to use for vertical or horizontal cutting and whether noise, weight or balance are a problem. Other features worth noting include a medium-sized hand guard and a sheath for protecting the blade when you're finished in the garden.

What's the battery life like? We cut the same hedge types as with electric and petrol models but, rather than stopping after 10m2, we carry on until the battery is empty. We note how many minutes this takes and calculate how many metres of hedge we've cut in this time. A brushless electronic motor runs more efficiently than brushed types. This can help reduce the tool's energy consumption. Equipped with a 50cm double sided cutting blade this cordless hedge trimmer offers reliability, power and efficiency teamed with excellent value for money. The variable speed control allows you to have full control over the cutting of hedges (3 speed + trigger) whilst the rear handle can be rotated through 5 positions to allow the user to have a more comfortable working position when cutting at awkward angles. Featuring an ergonomic soft grip handle offering additional comfort.

Makita DUH502Z Cordless Hedge Trimmer

As you're making progress in the garden, you can glance at the on-board battery indicator lights to see how much juice is left. The Makita DUH502ZZ 18V 50cm Brushless Hedge Trimmer is a precise and accurate gardening tool guaranteed to deliver excellent results. The trimmer features triple-edged cutting teeth specially designed to easily catch and firmly hold branches. Its curved blades reduce friction resistance to suppress energy loss and offer an increased run time. This tool is also equipped with a Battery protection circuit, which protects the battery from damages sustained by high temperature or overload current. Handling is made easy and comfortable thanks to an ergonomic soft grip, allowing better control for a more efficient result. Designed for professional tradesmen and gardeners alike. Features and Benefits: The Karcher HGE 18-50 weighs in at just 2.7kg, so you'll likely be able to use it for long periods of time without taking a break. Plus, a rotating handle will help you cut at an angle – it can be set in five different positions and we found it particularly easy to use. To use this cordless hedge trimmer, you'll need to make use of all three switches. Thankfully, we found they were all easy to reach with one hand, leaving your other hand free to grip the looped handle. To discover which hedge trimmers stand out from the crowd, visit our guide to the best hedge trimmers .

The Makita DUM111ZX 18v cordless LXT grass shear is a lightweight and compact tool perfect for keeping grass edges tidy. Its design enables users to navigate tight corners and contours, making landscaping tasks a breeze. The EGO HT2000E uses the brand's Ego Power+ 56V battery, so if you already have one in another Ego tool, you can swap it out. This hedge trimmer has a 51cm long, double-sided blade with teeth spaced 25mm apart. The short, 45cm blade on this Stihl hedge trimmer means you'll have no trouble manoeuvering it around smaller hedges. This model runs off a 36V 2.8ah battery, which can also power many of the brand's other cordless gadgets.Equipped with Battery protection circuit: designed to protect the battery from damages due to over discharge, high temperature or overload current See just how well this hedge trimmer scores with our full Stihl HLA 56 Cordless Long-Reach review . Makita DUH502Z 18v LXT 50cm Brushless Hedge Trimmer Bare Unit The Makita DUH502ZZ 18V 50cm Brushless Hedge Trimmer features triple-edged cutting teeth and curved blades specially designed to reduce friction and suppress energy loss.