I have a great relationship with my cheap Homelite zip start. We're about the same height and have an understanding: I won't use it often, and it starts when I pull it's cord. We're going into our third year together. I fully divluged my history of whacker abuse and rage-driven whacker murder as I assembled it, so maybe that's the trick. The bump-feed string mechanism even continues to work. If I had acreage, I'd buy one designed for a harness with the curved bicycle style handles, and have that same initial chat. I rented one once and used it all day (probably a total of 9 hours) without any lasting pain. Those models also hold more fuel, which could be a real bonus on a large property. Definately skip the power cable.

I am not short, but I do have acreage to manage. I have about 1 1/2 hours of weed whacking to do each week. I used to have a cheap ryobi and it burned out after a year. I then purchased a commercial Redmax. It is one of the lower end ones and cost about $280. It has a harness that is adjustable as most of them do. The Redmax is more powerful than the Ryobi and you have to pay attention, but it's not overly dangerous. Long pants and a face shield are a must.

Deffinitely go with a gas trimmer. Recommend you go and try some of them on. Adjust them and see if they are comfortable.

jb

At 5'4" I'm not much taller, but didn't really look for something that would fit my size as rarely do manufacturers consider smaller gardeners and landscapers. I'm also left handed, but in this world made for right handed people I have had to adapt and can use my right almost as well as my left.

I hate weed wacking, it's hard on my back using one that is too big, but I make do.

If you're in Seattle, go to The Sharp Sharp (near 6th S.and S. Lucille). They are a Stihl dealer. A friend who is a pro landscape maintenance guy recommended I go there, which I did. Great product, great SERVICE, which they do not have at Home Depot. They even put gas in it and fired it up to make sure it was made right. I bought the cheapest short handled gas trimmer.

If you're not in Seattle, go online and find another Stihl dealer in your area. They are not sold at HD.

Thanks so much for your suggestions, everyone! I will check into the brands you mention....

...the weeds are calling me...

Sweetpea

I find the best brand for a short woman is DH. Lacking a sufficiently motivated Dear Husband or other saintly taller partner, a teen who wants something. When all else fails, 1-800-LANDSCAPER. I *really* hate weed whackers. :-D

My only real comment is stay away from Mantis in any form, and make *sure* it starts easily. Those things with the pull cords are very difficult to deal with if you have short arms. The ones I've used pull out too far for short arms to get a good yank.

Sweet Pea.... Did you ever get a weed wacker? If so .. what brand and what kind. I am shorter than you and know the problem. Please let us know :) Thanks

mkirkwag, I'm with you. I've never used a weed whacker and don't plan on it. DH can have at it.

I am not short but I got a gas Stihl. It is great. The main thing is just getting it balanced where the harness attaches. I used an electric one for awhile, dragging cords all over my 2 acres, until I was weed whacking in a drizzle and touched a bare spot on the power cord. You wouldn't want to know how that feels. Fortunately it tripped the circuit breaker, but it would have shut off faster plugged into a ground fault isolater. Anyway, the trimmer line gets snarled etc much less with the Stihl, so there is less frustration and down time.

I am a shorty, but have not used my weed wacker since it picked up a stone and shattered my sliding glass door! :-o My backyard will have a wild, untamed look until I get around to dealing with it.

I'm not short but I am old and weak. :) I "drive" a DR Sprint from Country Home Products. It has wheels and you use it like a small lawnmower. Any hand-held string trimmer powerful enough to handle my weeds and brush would be too heavy to work with comfortably for very long. Been there, done that.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sprint String Trimmer

Ditto on the problem of the pull cords being too long and I'm 5'5''not 5'1"! I got a Homelite and had so much trouble with the pull cord that I got it off the reel during the first hour of use. Took it in and had it repaired and had the same thing happen the next time. It is a lost cause for me. It is physically impossible to hold it down and pull the cord all of the way out....totally enfruiating and I don't give up easily....I can start my Troybilt and our snapper mower with their pull cords. Everyone I know has told me to get a Stihl and so I'm saving for one.
My all time FAVORITE power tool is my DR All Terrain Mower (12.5 hp Enduro)). I call it my full body workout machine and have used it extensively on rough ground for 5+ years......nothing is better on blackberries...it gets into all of the places that are too tight or too scary (tippy) for the John Deere 750. jwww

I'm looking for the same thing, for my 5'3" 99lb, daughter. She is currently wearing a brace on her elbow, and convinced the strain occured using the weed wacker. Her property is only a 1/4 acre but there is a LOT of trimming to be done. You'd think these mfg's would consider the female clientele? Anyone have a follow-up for this thread?