BLACK+DECKER 20V Max String Trimmer/Edger, 12-Inch (LSTE525)

Solid 5-stars on this one. This weed whacker is hands down the best I’ve ever owned.Battery/ies DO come with it.Fairly solid construction – it’s got plenty of plastic pieces, but they aren’t too flimsy or easily breakable.Battery power and life are excellent. I’ve got a small to medium-sized yard with a fence around it, and one battery takes care of it all. Just in case it were to run out, the second battery (which comes with, if you choose that option) is on the charger.There are two battery “modes” – power and battery life – and they do exactly what they sound like. Power mode gives you more cutting power (at the expense of battery life) and battery life gives you longer cutting time (at the expense of cutting power). I’ve found that the vast majority of my weekly weed whacking needs are taken care of using the battery life mode. You can quickly and easily switch between the two modes if you need a little more oomph.Battery runs about 20-30 mins (of actual cutting) on the power saving mode, a bit less on power mode. If you find you need more run time or power, you can always upgrade to higher capacity Black+Decker universal battery (available at hardware stores, Amazon, etc).As for the string/cut wire, there are easily-replaceable pre-loaded heads that simply click into place. From what I’ve read in other reviews, there are ways you can string it yourself with whatever string you like. Personally, I’ll stick with the pre-wounds – I’m 3 weeks into this product and still using the first pre-loaded cartridge that came with it. Plus you can get a three-pack of replacements on Amazon here for about $9 (product number is AF-100-3ZP).The product description doesn’t say this unit has an auto-feed feature, and says it has a button on the handle that releases more string; the button sure does work, but I’ve found that the unit seems to be auto-feeding itself most of the time too. I’ve rarely had to to “tell it” to let out more line. It’s been quite convenient and thus far hasn’t tangled or anything.Additionally, the unit can be extended to make it taller/shorter. You just twist the lock, shorten or lengthen as-needed, and twist the lock back into place. Very quick and simple.There is a “safety” on the handle that you need to hold down with the side of your thumb before you can pull the trigger. It’s very conveniently placed and doesn’t make it hard to use.My only minor complaint with this unit is the handle (the one mid-way down, not the one with the trigger). It functions just fine, but it’s got “lock” points (to set the angle how you like it) that occasionally come loose. It has to be set to one of these three lock points and sometimes, if you’ve been using it awhile, it’ll vibrate out of the lock and slip to the next one. Takes all of about 2 seconds to set it right again, so it’s certainly not a deal breaker, just a little annoying when it happens.