In general, you want to be looking for a hedge trimmer with battery life of at least 30 minutes to give you a good amount of time to get your hedge trimming done. Some models can only achieve around 20 minutes, whilst others might get around an hour. Assembling this hedge trimmer is simple – just like the others that I tested, it only takes a couple of minutes and you probably won’t need the instructions. As you put it together, you’ll notice that the extension pole is optional, allowing you to use the machine at a shorter 210cm or extended out to 260cm. The blade’s 41cm cutting length may not be as long as some of the others out there, but the 7 positions that you can rotate the cutting head to, along with the rotating rear handle and adjustable secondary D-handle, more than make up for this. This may make them harder to use for more ‘everyday’ hedge trimming, when the extension isn’t required. So, either look for a manageable ‘un-extended’ length, or consider having a separate trimmer for close-range jobs. Battery Life Standard hedges tend to be approximately 2 m tall, so a n extension range of around 2.4 m is generally adequate. Having a longer trimmer will give more flexibility in terms of what job you can do – especially if you want to reach trees too. For me, the main downside to this hedge trimmer was how unbalanced it could sometimes feel, especially when fully extended. Due to its heavy head but lightweight body (it only weighs 3kg), it took a fair bit of effort to hold steady, and the provided shoulder strap didn’t really help with this.

Reach aside, I was very pleased with the power behind this machine. You get about 45 minutes of runtime with a 2.0aH battery, which is actually pretty impressive! Even better, this isn’t an overly noisy machine either – it’s ideal if you need to trim a hedge that’s in close proximity to your neighbours.This is how long the hedge trimmer itself extends to, but their ‘range’ includes the length of your own arm on top of that. Einhell might not be quite as well known as Bosch, but they’ve still been around since 1964. They’ve made a name for themselves by making honest, solid, reliable tools that don’t break the bank. A lot more DIYers have started to take notice of Einhell since they came out with their range of 18 volt Power X-Change cordless tools (a line of tools with interchangeable batteries).

Immediately recognisable for their atomic-green tools, Japanese firm Ryobi have fans all over the world. One thing that immediately sets this company apart is their ONE+ battery system; you can power more than 70 different tools with the same interchangeable battery. In our quest to find the best telescopic pole hedge trimmers, we tested a selection of hedge trimmers, considering a range of important criteria to ensure we identify top-performing models. Our testing process included various aspects: design, performance, power noise, safety, and value for money. Here is an overview of how we evaluated these categories: They reduce the time spent on hedge cutting, because you don’t have to waste precious minutes repositioning ladders; plus, their extendable pole handle makes it possible to reach more of the hedge from ground level.The safety features included in this machine were pretty standard, but, unlike the others that I tested, this one comes with a metal guard over the tip of the blade. For me, this was a little annoying as it means that the tip can’t be used for cutting. However, if your hedges are near a wall or are growing low to the ground, then the tip protector will save your blade from undergoing a fair bit of damage. More often than not, hedge trimmers will be used for cutting conifers. To comfortably cut a conifer hedge, you’ll need a trimmer that can handle at least 14 mm branches . Look for models that stretch to 16 – 18 mm for additional power. If you know you’re going to have to charge the battery partway through the job, a shorter charging time will be useful. Safety: Weight is an important factor of safety, as tools that are too heavy can cause injuries or be unsuitable for less able-bodied people. Trimmers that weighed less than 3.5 kg were given higher marks, and those that accounted for additional weight with a shoulder strap were rated higher. In all mains-powered models, safety was also a top priority, as the power cord can pose a safety risk. However, models with a 10 m cable are sufficiently safe, so these were given better marks. The main advantages of cordless hedge trimmers are their manoeuvrability and their weight. They can be taken anywhere because you’re not tethered to a plug, and they can be used for prolonged periods without causing fatigue.