80V 16" String Trimmer (Tool Only) - GST80320

As with many of these products, nothing's perfect. I wish Greenworks would just let you buy some of the add ons like the commercial products from the 82V line and swap 'em out. Will get into more details below.

Overall, compared to just about anything else this competes with, it wins. You might find a better price on something, but most don't run on the ~ 80V batteries, or have that power accessory head so you can swap in something else. Get it, you'll appreciate the power this thing has, especially if you've never run gas. Compared to anything else electric, this has so much power!

Pro:
-power
-ability to swap out accessories on the head
-80V battery system
-gets you into the Greenworks 80V ecosystem (especially if you're buying with the mower & blower kit)
-doesn't have gas motor related maintenance
-runs reasonably quiet for what it is

Con:
-ergos not as good for a taller guy, just my opinion
-tool only, with an extra battery, can get quite pricey
-doesn't have gas-like runtime

Suggestions for improvement:
-enlarge the trigger area just a smidge; I've got slender, but L sized hands as per most gloves I wear, and it just feels like if you've got XL sized glove hands, that area feels a bit cramped... I'd love just a bit more space there
-change the battery orientation to sit in the same axis as a the shaft, not perpendicular to it; others have noted as well, putting in a 5Ah battery changes the balance and makes it want to topple/rotate, which would put additional stress/strain on whatever hand is holding the trigger since it's also fighting the balance of the battery's weight distributed rotation
-consider lengthening the shaft slightly, or just changing the attachment points to allow for more versatility in the placement of the handle and strap; I'm taller, and would love for just another few inches so that I can wear the shoulder strap just a bit longer/lower to improve the balance and ergos

Some background/context. I'm 6' and about 170lb, slender build, and I use this to manage about 2-3 acres on my property as I walk around. I've used it for about 2 years, so I've got a lot of cycles on it. I've got several other 5Ah and 4Ah batteries due to owning a few other Greenworks tools, so I'm usually never short on runtime - just gotta go back and swap out the battery - forces me to take water breaks.

Depending on if you get this via a kit, via Costco, whatever, you'll have slightly different setup.

Right out of the box, it feels great, till you pop the battery on - then it's a little heavy. But it's a battery, so at least the weight doesn't shift on you and you don't have to worry if you turn the thing at an angle. If you're using the shoulder strap, it probably won't bug you too much unless you're like me - a little taller, and might complain about the ergonomics. Totally not a deal breaker if you're using this in short sprints - around a garden bed, up and down a sidewalk, etc. then you'll never notice it. The balance is good, especially with a 4Ah battery in - sits flush with the battery compartment. A 5 Ah sits a bit tall/proud, and will make the unit want to rotate a little more. Not a big deal because of how your hand's likely gripping the trigger area anyways... But if you're taller, and use it for longer periods of time, you'll find the placement of where they put some things is just a bit short, and doesn't allow you to get the trimmer head closer to the ground so you can get a good cut.

However, experience led me to solution 1: Took me some time, but I realised after watching some pro videos, especially the fancier units with the bicycle handles, they tended to wear a harness that was on both the shoulders, and the clip point placed the unit at the waist. So I tried using the shoulder strap as a belt, and I honestly found that worked a lot better for me - I could get the right balance I needed, keeping the machine lower. I later discovered a better solution with an aftermarket fix that I'll discuss below.

I've tried the unit with various string sizes just because I happened to have, and this thing's got plenty of power. For comparison, I have a weaker Ryobi unit that runs off their 18V batteries, and though that thing feels like a toy because it's so light, it does well enough. But comparatively, this thing's a beast - when the motor spins and flings something back at you - I've always got boots and overalls, else I have no doubt the rock/stick or whatever coming back at me is going to leave a mark.

Tried accessory blades, 3rd party harness strap, and extension bar. Greenworks has a character limit. Needless to say, they helped ergos and provide more versatility.

Good product after 2 years

I just got his as part of a combo pack with mower and trimmer. It seems to have a ton of power although it is bigger and heavier than my 40v blower.

I have owned this Greenworks trimmer for at least 18 months. I use it mostly for trimming grass and weeds in areas inaccessible to my lawnmower but I also invested in two attachments from another brand: a pole chainsaw and a hedge trimmer. This Greenworks machine uses the universal drive system so it is able to power attachments from many other brands making it much more versatile than normal string trimmers.I also own a number of other Greenworks tools and batteries. As I need to maintain large areas I prefer to use 4Ah batteries vs the smaller lighter 2Ah ones. My only complaint with this model trimmer is that the batteries are loaded into the power head from the side. The longer 4Ah batteries protrude from the battery compartment enough to cause the entire trimmer to tilt to one side requiring moderate effort to keep it level. (This is not an issue if using the shorter 2Ah batteries or the new generation compact 4Ah batteries)Aside from the tilting issue I am very pleased with this trimmer. Since the motor is in the power head the business end of the machine is lighter and easier to maneuver than trimmers with the motor at the bottom end. And the motor has sufficient power to run my pole saw and hedge trimmer making it a wonderfully versatile outdoor tool. The best feature is that it's cordless: no fuel oil or carburettor issues and it can be used where no electrical outlets are available.The only improvement I wish for is that the batteries would load from the top. Then it would not matter which battery is used the trimmer would always be balanced side-to-side. But in every other regard this is a very good yard maintenance machine.

Pros: Powerful trimmer! Nice balance. Love the attachment versatility. Great battery life. Cons: Slightly heavy mainly because 80v battery is heavy. Takes about 1-2 seconds to full spin up/powerOverall: Definitely an outstanding buy!