Many people who own homes talk about the WORX hedge trimmer a lot. So, I had to check it out. It has a good rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars. It has more than than 8570 reviews on just amazon. I bought this trimmer for $99.99. And started using it in my garden for one whole month. Just wanted to see how it works.
I wanted a cheap, light trimmer that works well. The WORX hedge trimmer 20V caught my eye. The WORX WG261 cordless hedge trimmer got high scores. It got 4.7 out of 5 for how good it is for the money, 4.5 for its quality, and 4.8 for how easy it is to use. But I wondered, does WORX last long? Many reviews for WORX tools say they are cheap compared to other brands. But I wanted to know if this cordless hedge trimmer really works well in a garden. I used it on different kinds of plants.
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What Is the WORX WG261, and Who Should Use It?
The WORX WG261 is a special tool. It helps cut and shape hedges and bushes. It uses a battery. So, you do not need a long cord or gas. This means you can move freely in your garden. WORX is a well-known company for tools. They make many things for your home and garden. This hedge trimmer is part of their “Power Share” family. This is a very good thing. If you want to see more strong tools, you can visit our blog section. If you want to know about other strong tools, you can read our review of the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hammer Drill.
The WORX WG261 is strong and easy to move. It makes trimming hedges easier. I used it in my garden for a month. Now I know its special parts and who should use it.
Cordless Setup and 22-inch Blade
The WG261 is special because it does not use cords or gas. This hedge trimmer uses a 20V lithium-ion battery. It works for about 45 minutes on one full charge. It weighs 5.5 pounds with the battery. I found it much lighter than many other trimmers.
The 22-inch blade is the main part. It has two actions. It was made to cut better and shake less when you work. These blades cut in two ways. They cut when going forward and again when coming back. WORX chose 22 inches because it is the best size. It helps you reach far and still control the trimmer well.
The blade can cut branches up to 3/4-inch thick. It handled normal hedge cutting easily. A tip guard on the blade helps keep it safe. It protects the blade when you cut near walls or fences.
Perfect Fit: New Gardeners, Older Users, and Casual Gardeners
In my tests, the WG261 works best for three kinds of people. New gardeners can use it easily. It needs no special care. It has an easy-to-grip D-handle. This makes it good for older people or those who are not very strong. You can cut at different angles without hurting your body.
This trimmer is also good for people with small or medium gardens. These are people who might say they “do not like yard work.” It makes trimming hedges easy. It is not a job you will not want to do. The WORX is good for keeping hedges neat. But it is not for very thick, overgrown plants.
Comparing It With Gas and Corded Trimmers
The WG261 works better than gas trimmers. It needs almost no care. You do not have to deal with fuel or bad smells. It weighs less than six pounds. This is much lighter than most gas trimmers.
Compared to electric trimmers with cords, this model is much easier to carry. I liked moving around my garden without worrying about long cords or finding power plugs.
But battery trimmers like the WG261 do not work forever like corded ones. The PowerShare system lets you use the same batteries on more than 75 WORX tools. If you already have some WORX tools, this can save you money. If you want to know more about batteries, check out our Milwaukee M18 Batteries Review.
Using the WORX WG261 After 30 Days in the Garden
Honestly, I found the WORX WG261 easy to use after a month in the garden. This surprised me. I am not very good with tools.
Setting It Up for the First Time
Most garden tools have hard instructions. But the WG261 is almost ready to use right from the box. To make it work, I just did a few easy steps:
- Put the safety guard on. It has slots that match the trimmer.
- Adjust the front handle. Unscrew it, move it where you want, and screw it back.
- Put in the battery pack after it is charged.
You must put on the safety guard and front handle before you use the trimmer. This is not just a suggestion. It is important for safety. The manual says this clearly. I liked how the design makes sure you cannot use the trimmer without these safety parts.
Using and Carrying It Each Day
I used it for a month. I found that its light weight (only 5.5 lbs with the battery) is one of the best things about the WG261. The D-shaped front handle makes it easy to hold. You can hold it at different angles. This is good for cutting up, down, or sideways. Its design made long trimming jobs much less tiring.
The dual-action steel blades made the shaking much less. Because of this, my arms did not hurt the next day after trimming. This happened many times with other hedge trimmers I used before.
Swapping Batteries with Power Share System
The PowerShare battery system is really good. The 20V lithium-ion battery gives steady power until it is empty. Older batteries lose power slowly. This one does not.
I liked that I could use the same battery for all my WORX tools. It helped me save money. It also made storing batteries easier. The battery has a light that shows how much power is left. This was helpful. I never ran out of power in the middle of working.
Cutting Power and Battery Runtime
I used the WORX WG261 on different hedges and bushes. The cutting power was clear right away. This cheap trimmer cuts much better than its price would make you think.
Handling Shrubs, Bushes, and Thin Branches
The 22-inch blade on the WG261 moves 2600 times each minute. It made clean and sharp cuts through different plants when I used it. Regular trimming jobs felt easy. I used single-action trimmers before. Compared to those, the dual-action setup made the shaking less. This made trimming feel smoother.
I was surprised how the blade caught branches twice. Once when moving forward, and again when coming back. This made clean cuts. My boxwoods and private hedges looked like a pro trimmed them, not me.
Runtime Per Charge and Recharge Time
The 20V lithium-ion battery worked for about 30 minutes with steady use. This was enough time for me to trim a few medium-sized hedges. Then the battery needed charging. I saw that charging took about 5 hours. At first, this felt long. But if you plan your garden work, it is not a big problem.
The battery light was helpful. It showed me how much charge was left. This stopped me from running out of power in the middle of a job. The PowerShare system works with over 75 other WORX tools. This made things even easier. I could use batteries from my other WORX tools if I needed them.
Handles Limited Thickness on Branches
The WG261 cuts branches up to 3/4 inch thick well. But it cannot cut anything bigger. When I found thicker branches, I had to use my pruning shears. This is normal for trimmers like this. Even with this small problem, I could do my usual hedge work without trouble.
To tell you more, other brands in this price range cut branches up to 1/2-inch thick. The WORX is special in its group because it can cut up to 3/4-inch. This is good.
Should You Buy It? Price and Lifespan
After using any tool for a month, it is important to see if it is worth the money. This hedge trimmer costs $99.99. This is 17% less than its normal price of $119.99. So, you should expect it to work well for its price.
- LIGHTWEIGHT BUT POWERFUL: Ergonomic perfection. Tough yet comfortable to use, and long enough to make short work of your…
- 22‘’ CUTTING REACH: Enough length for flat tops and long, even sides. Yet still nimble enough to round the corners. We d…
- SAME BATTERY, EXPANDABLE POWER: The same battery powers over 75+ 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools in…
How It Compares to Other Cordless Trimmers
The WORX WG261 is a good choice among cordless hedge trimmers. Customers give it 4.7 out of 5 for value. It is good compared to other 20V trimmers. Sometimes, stores sell it for even less. I saw it for $84.96 once. That is 29% off the normal price. Prices can change, so always check the latest price on the brand’s website or other trusted stores.
One way this 20V WORX hedge trimmer is special is its PowerShare battery system. This battery works with more than 75 WORX tools. These tools are in their 20V, 40V, and 80V lines. For people who already have WORX tools, this is very useful. If you are already using their system, you only need to buy the tool itself.
Blade Toughness and Overall Build
The dual-action steel blades worked well for a month of normal garden work. They did not show any signs of wear. These blades are made to cut and keep shaking low. WORX gives a good 3-year warranty and a 30-day money-back promise. This shows they believe their trimmer will last long.
People have different ideas about the trimmer’s build. Many say it is “strong and good for thick hedges.” But some think it is “flimsy and not for very hard work.” The quality is fair for its price. It is strong enough for most homeowners. But it is not a tool you would use for big, professional jobs.
Who Should Think About Switching to 40V
The 40V WORX hedge trimmer is better in some ways. It has a 24-inch blade instead of 22 inches. Also cuts stronger and uses two 20V batteries together.
Changing to this model is a good idea if you have bigger trimming needs. One buyer said, “You might want to think about a model with higher voltage/amp if you have harder trimming jobs.” The 40V version works great for big yards, thicker branches, or very overgrown areas. These need more effort to clean up.
The main problem is the weight. The 40V model, with its batteries, weighs 9.3 pounds. The lighter 20V version is only 5.5 pounds. Homeowners with smaller hedges will find the 20V WG261 strong enough. They will not need extra weight or to spend more money.
Conclusion
I used the WORX WG261 for a month. It shows why its customer reviews are so good. It costs $99.99. This hedge trimmer works great and has useful features. It is light and cheap.
This trimmer is special because it is light (5.5 pounds). It can cut branches up to 3/4-inch thick. And it has the PowerShare battery system. This system changes how people use their garden tools. The battery lasts about 30 minutes. This might seem short. But it handled normal hedge-trimming jobs easily when I used it.
But it has some small problems. You need to plan your garden work around the battery charging time. And for very tough branches, you still need old pruning shears. If you have bigger hedges, the heavier 40V model might be better. It has more power.
The WORX WG261 is a good mix of power, easy use, and good price. This cordless hedge trimmer seems made for people at home. They want good results without the trouble of gas, cords, or heavy tools. After using it for a month, I tell anyone to buy it. It is a reliable, easy-to-use trimmer that gives clean, nice results for a fair price.
One last good thing is the 3-year warranty. This shows WORX trusts their product. That trust is like how much I liked using this useful and strong garden tool.