Bosch AHS41 Cordless Hedge Trimmer

I previosly had a flymo hedge trimmer for many years.

I decided to purchase a Bosch trimmer and can only add that it was the worst purchase I have ever made.

It is completley useless, the only thing it is fit for is in the dustbin.

Some years ago, I was delighted with a birthday gift of an electric hedge trimmer and later by a battery version. However, when I got around to cutting the hedge for the first time this year, I found that it was really hard going. The battery, although charged, didn't last for the full length of the hedge and I had to make a second trip to finish the job. Even when recharged it was still hard work and I began to feel that it would have to be replaced. I certainly didn't fancy the idea of resorting to the shears again - definitely too much like hard work! Of course, the whole idea was sidelined until the hedge began to look as though it hadn't been cut in years, which was when I decided to check out a couple of websites and see what was on offer.

One hedge cutter that I found on a couple of sites (Amazon and Argos) was the Bosch AHS 41 Accu - on both sites priced at £39.99 which was apparently a reduction on the usual price. We decided to order from Argos which meant that we could collect it from the nearest store the same day - and also pay with some vouchers that we had accumulated, which seemed like a good idea!

This Bosch Hedge Cutter is the smaller of two similar models that they make, the only difference being a slightly shorter cutting length and a fraction lighter weight.

The first thing to do, of course, is to charge the battery. I found this battery smaller and lighter than the one on my previous hedge trimmer but even so the cutting time was substantially longer - averaging at 55 minutes instead of 30 on the old one. Charging time is approximately 3 - 4 hours.

I have to say that I was very impressed with the performance of this item. It was well balanced and easy to use and very much quieter than my old one. I found that it cut the hedge very easily - especially after the difficulty I had with the previous cutting efforts. The whole hedge was done in no time - as opposed to the two attempts I had to make for the previous cut. On an 'easier' hedge - privet for instance - the job would have been really simple. I had thought that the other hedge cutter was newer than it was and really felt that I shouldn't be replacing it at all. However, on checking, I found I had had it longer than I thought so replacing it wasn't too extravagant.

All in all, I have to say that I am really pleased with this purchase and would thoroughly recommend it.

Two batteries came with the machine but each lasts only about 35 minutes if one is lucky. The spec says that it can cut twigs up to 15mm. No way - it struggles with 50mm particularly at the end of the battery cycle. I bought it last October and it performed reasonably well but not as good as the spec says. This month I tried to use it again - last time was in February.

I may keep it for cutting a hedge of 2 metres in length as long as the twigs are new growth and not 'woody'. I am off to buy a new machine tomorrow - a petrol one.

I think that if the Bosch AHS41 came with a more powerful battery as standard, it would be a good selling point. I'd rather pay a few pounds more for it to come with a more powerful battery as standard as buying a new one afterwards is too expensive.

I paid £40 for my Bosch AHS41 Cordless Hedge Trimmer and think it is good value. As a woman I love the lightweight of these hedge trimmers. Bought mine with 2 batteries which is essential if you have hedges and shrubs to trim as 1 battery only lasts about an hour.