Stihl HS45 (24

Bought this to replace a Ryobi Expand-It system, which was rubbish. The Stihl cost twice as much but is a million times better.

Starts easy for a 2-stroke - first pull after the winter storage. I've had it a year and OK so far.

I have some serious hedges (semi-wild, half a mile of sides, 6-8ft high). The Stihl goes like a hot knife through butter - it's awsome what thickness of stems it gets through. I go along at ground level at semi-walking pace, but it's the step-ladder for the tops that takes the time.

Only carp is that it kept stopping just after starting, with the ignition switch off. I found that the cord toggle, when you let it go, can hammer the switch off - it is in exactly the right position to do so!

Instruction book made me laugh - mostly