Probably best to go with whichever gives you the best and/or most convenient service. And impresses you the most with the demonstration and sale.

Good Luck.

Dave

Hi
I am going to say something you might not like.

I would go a little higher to get the real commercial trimmer and blower. I use to get the middle of the road stuff and I am in the process changing to the commercial even I am only a home owner.

The Echo GT-200 and PB 251 is the lower line which have only one compression ring. Also the GT-200 is a curve shaft trimmer. Make sure you try the position. I paid $200 for a Troy Bilt, which is middle of the road. Now I bought a Honda. It work so much better, it is so much more comfortable to use. If you are tall, it is particular important.
I bought the HC-151 which is the low line Echo. It really don't cut that well. It just don't cut through and the cut is very uneven. I did not realize until just today, I drove by a saw a gardener trimmer the bushes with a hedge trimmer, it just go through the branches like butter, look so straight!!!! The 21.2cc Vortex engine is not as easy to start.

The Stihl you mensioned are home owner version only. I hear complain on the forums. From the posts, they are absolutely not the same as the higher line.

Go check for sales, this is a good time. I live in San Jose area, I just went to a store and find out Stihl FS90 for $249!!! I know good old Home Depot have Echo SRM 260 for about $269. These are real pro model. For about $260, you have a lot more good ones to choose from. Redmax, Echo, Tanaka. I still won't go for the Shindaiwa home pro series. You use the equipment for 10+ years, don't try to save $60. It will pay off. I am a perfect example. You don't know how big a difference is. I was totally surprised.

For blower I'll choose Echo PB230 which has the 2 ring engine. I personally would get a bigger one. I paid $259 for my Shindaiwa EB3410, 34cc 4 cycle. I know Home Depot sell Makita hand held blower for $200. It is a 25cc 4 cycle engine. It is a Robin blower.

These are the low end commercial equipments. I would not go below this. I personally like Redmax and Echo over Stihl just because the 4 Mix engine need more routine maintanence than regular 2 cycle engine.

Just my 2 cents. Wait for more replies here and good luck.

I've had the Echo trimmer and backpack blower for 2 years now and can't say enough good about them. They start right up, do what they are supposed to do, and didn't cost me a fortune. I'm a homeowner, so I'm not gonna pay commercial prices for a once a week tool that's already been proven to be a good product.

Hi,

My 2 cents are:

Redmax EZB 8001 Blower

Honda HST 31 trimmer. I think you can only get the HST 35 cc one now. Slightly larger engine.

Both have worked well. Now on my third season. I am a home owner not a professional.

Best, Mike.

I think it is more important for a home owner to get a very good trimmer. The reason is chances are you are not very good in controlling it. You really don't need the equipment to fight you!!!!

That was exactly what happened to me. Exactly, I got the Honda HHT31SUNB with bike handle. It is soooooo much easier to control than the Troy Bilt TB475 I have. First time I trimmer for 2 hours and don't have back pain!!!! I am not tall, but those cheaper shorter trimmer, you have to bend a little to trim and it hurt the back. Also, for home owner that only use 20 minutes at a time ones a week, don't worry about the weight. Pros use it all day long, they have to have light equipment, home owner don't, so don't make that an issue.

I never have a cheaper blower because I learn my lesson already. But for handheld blowers, they are so much more useful than just leaf blowing and it is relative cheap that I would get a more expensive commercial one. Blower are not just for leaves. I use it to dry water on window after washing, If you have a black car, you'll really appreciate the blower, hard to wipe shine after washing, just blow dry will leave less water marks. It has been a year round equipment for me.

These kind of equipment don't go out of style, with good care, it last long enough to be past down to next generation!!! How many times you hear people talk about their father's equipments!!!! In 10+ years, what is $100 dollars. The worse is those cheaper stuff don't last and if you have to buy another one later, where is the saving?

Bottom line, if you are not a pro and you are not very good at it, you don't need to have the equipment fighting you. This was my lesson, don't make my mistake!!!

Well thanks for the replies. My reason for looking is that my Craftsman(Poulan)blower quit recently. I checked the compression and it was low. I took it apart and found scoring on the piston and cyl wall.

I still am not sure what to get other than I do like the 2 piston ring setup of the Sthils. I really do not need a trimmer now (my old Ryobi is still kicking but who knows for how long)but thought if I could get a deal on both I'd do it.

If you are not in a hurry on the trimmer, put the money on a good blower first. All the ones I mensioned are 2 rings, I would not suggest any single ring. All Echo that use Vortex engine have only one ring, be aware of it.

Ryobi is not bad for the price. I was talking to someone who uses Ryobi to do jobs, He average 500 hours each.

BTW what did you do before your blower quit? what oil and ratio you use. Does it has carbon buildup? I just want to get some data into my collection.

I was mixing the recommended ratio of 40:1 using Poulan synthetic 2 stroke oil. There was carbon buildup on the head.

When it quit, I was blowing some leaves around my 1 acre property. Thanks for your information.

Good luck, please post what you end up buying......And who said only women are noisy!!!!!!