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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Stihl GTA 26 Cordless Pruner review: This mini chainsaw makes tidying your garden easier than ever
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. Read more > What is the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner? The mini chainsaw (or powered pruner) is still a new concept to many gardeners. Designed to make cutting small branches quick and easy, they are a handy alternative to secateurs or hand saws, chopping up woody garden waste in seconds rather than minutes. Safety instructions are generally clear and simple to follow, meaning you'll soon be removing dead, diseased and damaged branches in no time. In fact, once you have tried one, you'll likely wonder how you ever coped without the garden tool. The Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner is the brand's first battery powered pruner, and our Best Buy. It has a high spec for a good price, at £154 for the tool, battery and a charger. Others tested ranged from £105 to £240. A cordless design, it stands out from its competitors (brands like Worx, Bosch and Stiga) for its clear instructions and strong performance. Its small slot-in battery and provided carry case and bottle of oil all make a sensible buy. JUMP TO: How we test powered garden pruners The test is hands-on and carried out in my working garden over several days. I trialled it alongside other cordless powered pruners, awarding it the title of Best Buy. Noting the 4cm cutting capacity, I used the pruner with a full battery, testing it against a five-point metric with the focus on general performance, power and battery life, safety features, design and ease of use. It was trialled on different types of wood and used to prune small branches from shrubs. I also tried it out as part of a DIY woodworking project. The battery was completely run down and recharged and the chain was tensioned. I did not fit a replacement chain in this trial. To note, Stihl recommends storing the AS System battery with about 40 per cent charge. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best gardening product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Performance Score: 10/10 The Stihl GTA 26 cuts up to a 1.57 inch (four centimetres) diameter. It tackled all types of wood that met this diameter with ease, including kindling and small firewood. I was left with a clean cut on branches, and I didn't have to exert any pressure to make the cuts. Thank to its lightweight and well-balanced design I was able to work easily among other branches and experienced no fatigue when using the tool. The vibration was minimal too, and while it's advisable to wear ear defenders, it made a relatively low level of noise; the sound pressure level of 77dB was comfortable (measured taking its surroundings into account) and the power level of 86dB (the noise it makes independent of any other factors) was akin to a household fan. Both measures are similar to those produced by a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower. Power and battery life Score: 10/10 Once the battery is charged, it slots into a dedicated compartment at the end of the handle. Handily, an LED indicator clearly shows you how much charge is left; two LED green lights mean it's between 40 and 60 per cent charged. The number of cuts that can be made with one charge depends on many factors: the sharpness of the chain, the type of wood (hard or softwood) and its thickness. On average I found Stihl's claim of 80 cuts per battery charge about right, but on occasion achieved a lot more on softwood. Once, I made an impressive 130 small cuts before the battery ran down. In terms of timings, I had approximately 25 minutes of use per charge, which is more than adequate for the domestic gardener. Safety features Score: 10/10 The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The tool is designed to be held with two hands while wearing gardening gloves and safety goggles. I was impressed with the chain guard which prevents it from kicking back towards the user. It is permanently in place and lifts to a 90-degree angle, so the chain can be cleaned. There is a left- and right-handed safety switch that must be pulled down in conjunction with the trigger, which is a sensible safety addition. Design Score: 10/10 At only 1.4kg with the battery in place, this mini chainsaw is one of the lightest models tested, and comfortable to use for as long as its charge lasts. The rubber handle is ergonomic, and the tool is well balanced overall. It's also small, meaning you can manoeuvre around branches with ease and work within dense shrubs. It comes with a heavy-duty case that is designed for carrying and storing the tool; it unfolds flat and everything is secured inside with elastic straps. Although not tested, other accessories are available including a holster and an extension shaft to turn it into a pole pruner. The galvanised cutting chain is 10cm in length and can be tensioned and replaced without requiring any additional tools. Ease of use Score: 9/10 Saw chains expand and contract during use, so checking its tension regularly is a must. It's a simple job; remove the battery and rotate the wing nut on the body twice in an anticlockwise direction. Then pull the guide bar until the drive links on the underside are still visible. If you can pull the chain around the bar, then it is correct. It is vital to lubricate the chain before use too. Stihl provides a bottle of oil, but while some powered pruners automatically apply it via a mini, internal oil tank, the GTA 26 needs it done by hand before each use. This is why I didn't award it a perfect score for this criteria. Everything else is similarly straightforward. The battery clicks neatly into its place on the handle and is released by the pinch of two orange buttons. To clean it, I wiped the body with a damp cloth and brushed debris from the chain and electrical parts with a paintbrush. Although tempting to use one-handed, the mini chainsaw is designed for two handed use. Technical specifications Another good powered pruner for amateur gardeners is the Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7. It was comfortable to use in testing and efficient, but like the Stihl GTA 26, it requires manually oiling. Here's how the two compare. Should you buy the Stihl GTA 26 Cordless Garden Pruner? This handy tool is a pleasure to use and lets gardeners keep on top of most pruning tasks effortlessly. It combines great design with safety and comfort. There are few gardeners who wouldn't appreciate having one in their shed. Yes if: You have a collection of trees and shrubs to prune You are working on a woodworking project You regularly cut kindling No if: Stihl GTA 26 FAQs
Telegraph
28-07-2025
- Telegraph
Stihl FSA 60 R Cordless Strimmer review: It's my go-to for blitzing light weeds and long grass
What is the Stihl FSA 60 R Cordless Strimmer? Strimmers are useful for cutting long grasses and weeds around the garden, especially in places where it wouldn't be possible (or sensible) to use a lawn mower or secateurs. Some are meant only for lighter-duty tasks like edging lawns, while powerful brushcutter models can handle thick weeds and shrubs. The Stihl FSA 60 R sits between the two, designed mostly for trimming long grasses but with sufficient power to cut soft weeds. It isn't meant for use on hard or thick plant stems. This is a high-end domestic strimmer, with high power and a price to match. It has a long shaft and loop handle, and runs on a cordless lithium-ion battery. You can buy it as a bundle with the strimmer and a charger. Or if you already have other Stihl tools, it is available on its own at a far lower price. JUMP TO: How we test strimmers We first reviewed the Stihl FSA 60R as part of our roundup of the best strimmers, where it won Best Buy. We tested all strimmers by using them as intended: mowing grass, trimming weeds and edging lawns. This helped us assess both cutting power and ease of use. We also considered design, battery performance (for cordless models) and value-for-money. A top scoring model should be simple to use, run for long enough to finish a job and offer solid performance for the price. For this in-depth review, I put the FSA 60R through some additional tests, focused on its weed-trimming capabilities. I wanted to see whether this strimmer could cut fairly tough weeds as effectively as the best models I've tested in previous reviews, and whether any new pros or cons would emerge during weeks of hands-on assessment. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best gardening product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Performance Score: 10/10 In testing, this strimmer was more powerful than most cordless models. It cut through long grass easily and dealt well with soft weeds. Dandelions and similar stems were shredded as the line hit them. The cutting swathe is wide at 350mm. This helps to mow a wide area efficiently, as it trims a lot of plant matter at once. You'll soon have plenty of fodder for your garden shredder. It does have limits. The supplied AutoCut C 6-2 mowing head struggled with woody stems over one inch thick, as the nylon line began to wear down fast. This isn't what it's built for. To cut thicker, harder weed stems, you could try fitting a DuroCut 5-2 mowing head (sold separately, £30.40), which is designed for heavier use. The thickest may require a mini chainsaw or good loppers. Design Score: 9/10 High-powered tools should be simple to operate, and the FSA 60 R is just that. It uses a clear three-stage start-up that feels both easy and safe. Assembly took around 20 minutes. You attach the loop handles and other parts using the included fixings. It's a quick and clear process. Changing the trimming line is usually fiddly, but here it's refreshingly simple. The spool is easy to open without tools, although you should remove the battery first. Even with its built-in safety features, this is a good habit. As this is a long strimmer with a fixed shaft, it occupies quite a lot of storage space, so check if your shed has a high enough ceiling to accommodate it. Handling Score: 9/10 This is an easy strimmer to handle, with a simple loop handle to guide the mowing head. Carefully positioning this handle during setup should ensure you can use the tool comfortably for years to come. As the shaft and mowing head are fixed, there's not much scope to adjust the strimmer to cut at different angles. This makes it less flexible. But its solid build adds stability, and the long shaft lets you cut wide areas of vegetation in one sweep. Some users will be put off by the FSA 60 R's three kilo weight. I'm accustomed to using heavy tools, and it made my forearms ache a little after around 20 minutes. You may well have finished your strimming by that point, but an optional shoulder strap accessory could have opened the FSA 60 R up to a broader audience. Energy performance Score: 9/10 One selling point of this strimmer (and some other Stihl garden tools) is a capability the brand calls 'Constant Power', which means the tool performs well regardless of its charge level, until the battery is completely depleted. I found the claim to be true throughout. The strimmer worked at the same outstanding level throughout its 30-minute runtime. Speaking of which, half an hour is a good running time for a cordless strimmer. Given this model's impressive power, it's more than enough to get a lot of work done around the garden. Recharging the battery takes around three hours, which is speedy considering its 4.0Ah rating. It provides a good user experience, slotting in and out of the strimmer or charger smoothly. There are LED indicator lights to show you its charge state. Price and quality Score: 9/10 If your previous strimmer was a budget model, you'll notice a significant step up in build quality with the Stihl FSA 60 R. It's well made and looks smart, with nice finishes to the loop handle, motor housing and metal shaft. The tool felt reassuringly weighty until I had been holding it for a long time, and it coped well with bumps and scrapes as I pulled it clumsily out of storage. The price of this strimmer will put off many buyers. For a domestic-use model, it's expensive, and you can find an effective alternative at a far lower price. However, the FSA 60 R (bundle with battery and charger) becomes good value when you start adding other cordless Stihl AK System tools to your collection. These include lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers and more, and they can all be purchased as a 'bare tool' and used with the same lithium-ion battery. Technical specifications Here's how the FSA 60 R's spec sheet compares to the Gtech GT50, another strimmer made mostly for grass cutting that also impressed us during testing and which comes at a lower price: Should you buy the Stihl FSA 60 R Cordless Strimmer? The longer I've used the Stihl FSA 60 R cordless strimmer, the more convinced I am that this is about as good as a premium cordless grass trimmer can be. If your focus is on mowing unruly lawn grasses and cutting down soft weeds, and you don't mind paying a premium price, this high-quality tool will serve you superbly well. Yes, if: You want to trim large areas of grass or soft weeds with maximum efficiency Superior build quality and performance matter to you You intend to economise by purchasing additional Stihl AK System cordless tools No, if: Thick weeds are your primary target, as these will require an even more powerful brushcutter design You only have a few strimming tasks to do and you might get away with using a budget model Using high-powered garden tools feels uncomfortable for you (or unsafe for family or pets) Stihl FSA 60 R FAQs What does the R mean on Stihl trimmers? In the name of a Stihl string trimmer, the letter 'R' denotes that the tool has a loop handle. Other types of string trimmer handles include 'bicycle', and 'J' handles. How long does the battery last on the Stihl FSA 60 R? If used with the AK 20 36V lithium-ion battery included in a bundle purchase, the FSA 60 R has a runtime of around 30 minutes on a single charge, according to Stihl. This was verified during our hands-on testing. Lithium-ion batteries gradually lose runtime as their components deteriorate over years of use. You can often restore a cordless tool's original runtime by replacing the battery, after an appropriate period. How do you refill a Stihl trimmer line? The method of replenishing the trimming line in a Stihl string trimmer will vary depending on the model. The FSA 60 R comes equipped with a AutoCut C 6-2 mowing head, which houses a spool of nylon trimming line. This can be removed without the use of tools, but you shouldn't attempt this until you've ensured the battery has been removed first. To replenish, you wind fresh nylon wire onto the spool and feed this out through the holes on either side of the mowing head. A blade feature on the underside of the guard cuts the string down to the appropriate length upon activation (if you fed too much line through the holes in the first place). What size string does a Stihl FSA 60 R use? The size of string compatible with the Stihl FSA 60 R is defined by its mowing head. The model supplied with the strimmer is Stihl's AutoCut C 6-2, which can accept replacement trimming line with a diameter of 2.0mm or 2.4mm.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Lidl is selling £9.99 garden gadget that will keep your lawn clear of clutter – and it's a fraction of Screwfix price
LIDL has a cheap outdoor gadget that will help keep your garden clear of waste and clutter. Being sold for under £10, it is a fraction of the price that other retailers are offering for their equivalent of the product. It is a 25L Incinerator that can be used to burn garden waste in an simple and safe way. A garden incinerator is a useful addition to the garden tools to dispose of organic waste, and they save having to make trips to the dump. Lid's Incinerator is made from durable galvanised steel, and measures 57 x 35 x 32 cm with a 25-litre capacity. It also comes with a chimney lid to keep the garden incinerator hot so it can burn effectively, whilst allowing for ventilation. Other outlets have garden incinerators available, however, cost almost double the price. At Toolstation, their 13L Incinerator is being sold for £18.98. Also made from galvanised steel, with ventilation holes on the sides and bottom for draught, it is smaller than Lidl's version. Both items though are smaller than the 80L Apollo Galvanised Incinerator Bin from Screwfix, which costs £28.99. They are therefore good for managing smaller amounts of garden waste, and do not take up too much room in the garden. Experts at Homebase have outlined some safety guidelines for using a garden incinerator. Parents race to Lidl for middle aisle bargains including 2 in 1 sandpit for £29 First of all, having gardening gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask are recommended. They also suggest incinerating away from any building or structure, roads, and trees, and being on stable bare ground. It is not advised to use the incinerator bin in very windy or very dry conditions, as burning embers can be blown long distances which can increase the risk of accidental fires. To light the incinerator, line it with scrunched up newspaper that is not scrunched up too tight, followed by a loose layer of dry twigs or grass. The paper can then be lit, and garden waste can be added as a blaze has started going. Things like plastic, food waste, wooden objects and furniture should not be burnt, only hedge or grass cuttings, leaves and twigs or branches. Ash that is left over from burning can then be left over night to cool, and removed into an airtight bag or container using a mug or trowel. This cheap garden buy from Lidl is among several good outdoor bargains being offered by Lidl, including some LED lighting, and toys. Transform your garden into a summer paradise BRITS are sprucing up their gardens just in time for summer and top gadgets are the secret to turning your outdoor space from drab to fab on a budget. A garden mirror is a game-changer, adding instant depth and style. B&M is selling a stunning arched version that looks almost identical to one at The Range – but at a fraction of the price. Why shell out more when you don't have to? For those who love a lush lawn, gadgets are your best friend. Aldi is offering a handy electric scarfier for £69.99, that's £120 cheaper than Bosch. B&Q's also got a budget £8.50 lawn aerator that'll keep your grass healthy so it will look in tip-top shape all season. It works by punching tiny holes into the soil, letting air, water and nutrients get right down to the roots basically giving your lawn a big breath of fresh air. Plant pots are another quick and easy way to elevate your space and there's no need to spend a fortune. IKEA and The Range are offering £5 affordable plant pot picks, while Get Potted is selling self watering plant pots from £13. The pots not only look good but are also equipped with a planter liner and watering system to ensure better plant growth no matter how small the decor surface. But if you really want to put your feet up, budget retailers are going high-tech with robot lawnmowers. One bargain version is £250 cheaper than a similar model at B&Q, and Currys has a wallet-friendly one too. Let the robot do the mowing while you soak up the sun. And finally, if you're looking to level up your outdoor cooking, VonHaus is serving up a red-hot deal. They've launched a dupe of the cult-favourite Ninja Artisan Pizza Oven but it's £180 cheaper. That's luxury alfresco pizza nights without the luxury price tag. So whether it's pizza ovens or lawn saviours, investing in a few smart garden gadgets could be the key to keeping your garden looking gorgeous all summer without spending a fortune.
