Clipper Fan
David A. Dodson

Black & Decker's Hedge Hog 18V Cordless 22" Hedge Trimmer

Let's just get this out there… Trimming hedges is not fun. It's usually hot, time consuming work and the equipment doesn't do much to make it any more enjoyable. Gas trimmers are heavy, messy and keep an ever-present exhaust cloud around your face no matter how you hold them. Not to mention the constant hassle and upkeep that all small engines entail. Electric hedge trimmers are all right, but you have to make sure that you are near an outlet or generator and that you have plenty of extension chord. Then there's the chord itself: always ready to get into a bind, snag on every stray limb until it manages to find its way into the blade. There must be a way to combine the light weight and convenience of an electric hedge trimmer with the freedom and mobility of a gas powered unit. Well rest your weary arms, for those Prodigies of Pruning over at Black & Decker have you covered with their Hedge Hog 18V Cordless 22" Hedge Trimmer.

The big idea: An 18V rechargeable battery powers the twenty-two inch cutting blades. No pull ropes. No extension chords. No precarious mixing of gas and oil. No hunting for outdoor outlets. No harmful emissions of any kind. Simply pop in the battery, pull the trigger and carve some foliage. And the twenty-two inch, dual action blades ensure that there is no stray sprig out of reach. They boast the smoothest, sharpest cut on the market.

All that sounds great on paper, but how well do they actually cut? It's the closest thing you'll get to taking a light saber to your bushes. We tested a set and were blown away by these clippers. After the initial overnight charge, we were able to trim a constant stream of hedges for over three hours before they started to slow down at all. The instructions say that you should be able to cut about 1,200 square feet of hedge per charge; we got at least that. And since the Hedge Hog 18V Cordless Hedge Trimmers weigh in at a svelte 6.5 pounds, there was never a second of strain. Another bonus to the twenty-two inch blades is that our strokes produced smoother cuts with much fewer uneven spots than traditional clippers. And a full two-year warranty, Black & Decker guarantees that these are the sturdiest, most reliable clippers on the market.

Bottom line is if you have hedges to maintain, then you must have Black & Decker's Hedge Hog 18V Cordless 22" Hedge Trimmers to maintain them. Nothing can make it fun, but these babies will get you as close to it as possible. For about eighty dollars you can grab a set wherever lawn tools are sold or at one of the retailers listed at www.BlackandDecker.com.