If you’re looking for a way to keep the hard-to-reach lawn edges in check, a gas powered trimmer might be exactly what you’re looking for. These hardcore pieces of machinery are one of the best ways to make your lawn look clean all the way around. Husqvarna vs Stihl Trimmer is two chainsaw brands taking on trimmers!
If you’re shopping around for trimmers, there are many on the market, such as hedge trimmers, weed eater, shaft trimmers, gas trimmers, string trimmers and electric trimmers. Two of the more popular ones that you might see, however, are those made by Husqvarna and by Stihl.
These two companies are the global leaders in power tool manufacturing. Their products are known to get the job done well and last for a long time. In this article, we’ll look at two of their trimmers that are available on the market today.
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Husqvarna vs. Stihl: Company Histories
Husqvarna and Stihl are two global giants. Each makes hundreds of different models of tools and their products can be found all over the planet. From loggers to homeowners these companies have inspired dedicated followings. In many cases, when you buy one, you become a customer for life.
Husqvarna Company History
Husqvarna is a Swedish company that was founded in 1689. It originally made military-grade weapons back in the day. However, its focus for the last 100 years has been primarily on power tools and outdoor power equipment. It’s the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products. You can find a Husqvarna tool in over 100 countries.
Stihl Company History
The Stihl brand is a German company that was founded in 1926 in Stuttgart. Its main base of operations is still in Europe, it does have a major global headquarters in Virginia Beach, Virginia. At this location, the company employs over 1,900 in manufacturing, marketing, and developing these products. It helps keep the production and the profits local.
The Husqvarna trimmer 128LD and the Stihl trimmer FS 56 RC-E are gas-powered that a good choice for anyone that needs to cover a lot of area. If you have a large yard or a landscaping business it might be the tool for you. However, many yards might also benefit from smaller electrical models.
If a gas model is what you are looking for, Husqvarna and Stihl offer a lightweight solution and long runtimes. While you’ll get a trimmer that takes care of the edges of the grass for you no matter what, there are a few key differences to highlight between these two products.
Husqvarna & Stihl Parent Companies
Husqvarna Group
This is the parent company of Husqvarna. They own a wide variety of brands:
- Husqvarna
- Gardena
- McCulloch
- PoulanPro
- Weed Eater
- Flymo
- Jonsered
- Klippo
- Diamant Boart
- RedMax
- HTC
- Blastrac
Stihl Holding AG & Co. KG
Stihl Holding AG & Co. KG just owns Stihl. It’s one of the few remaining power tool brands that is not owned by a larger company.
Husqvarna vs. Stihl Product Lines
Both Husqvarna and Stihl sell a wide variety of products. Below, you’ll find what each brand’s product line consists of.
Husqvarna Product Lines
Husqvarna also sells outdoor power equipment, but they have a wider variety of products available.
Here are some of the specific types of products you can purchase from Husqvarna:
- Robotic Lawn Mowers
- Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers
- Riding Lawn Mowers
- Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers
- Push Lawn Mowers
- Stand-On Lawn Mowers
- Chainsaws
- Pole Saws
- Forestry Clearing Saws
- Axes
- Personal Protective Equipment
- String Trimmers
- Leaf Blowers
- Combi Trimmers
- Hedge Trimmers
- Lawn Edgers
- Snowblowers
- & More
Stihl Product Lines
Stihl sells a variety of outdoor power equipment.
Here are some of the specific types of products you can purchase from Stihl:
- Chainsaws
- Hedge Trimmers
- Pole Pruners
- Head Trimmers
- Blowers
- Lawn Edgers
- Folding Saws
- Sharpeners
- Axes
- Concrete Cutters
- Power Washers
- Sprayers
- Drills
- Wet/Dry Vacs
- Helmets
- Gloves
- Batteries
- Chargers
- & More
Husqvarna vs. Stihl Brand Reputation & Cost of Tools
Here we’ll go over the reputations and cost of the tools of each brand.
Husqvarna Reputation and Tool Affordability
Husqvarna is one of the most reliable and durable outdoor power equipment brands on the market. Not only that, but their lawnmowers also come with plenty of sought-after features. Some of those features include pedal-operated speed, ergonomic seating, and direction control.
Most recently, Consumer Reports recognized Husqvarna as one of the most reliable lawn mower brands on the market. Consumer Reports recommends multiple Husqvarna lawn mowers also. Perhaps the only downside to this lawn mower brand is that its products typically come with a premium price tag.
Stihl Reputation and Tool Affordability
Just like Husqvarna, Stihl is a very popular chainsaw brand. Stihl chainsaws are preferred by homeowners, require less routine maintenance, and have reduced weights. These chainsaws are great for dealing with tough, dense wood and brush.
Stihl is a privately owned company, and that allows them to control their prices without much influence from outside sources. Because of this, Stihl products tend to be cheaper than Husqvarna products.
Husqvarna Trimmer 128LD
The Husqvarna trimmer is a lightweight straight-shaft trimmer that can be used with a variety of in-home purposes. Its detachable trimmer head makes it extremely versatile. It has a 17-inch cutting width and a 28 cubic centimeter engine. This trimmer is backed by Husqvarna’s 5-year domestic warranty. You can rest easy knowing that if something breaks, the company can fix it.
Stihl Trimmer FS 56 RC-E
The Stihl FS 56 RC-E Trimmer is also a straight shafted lightweight trimmer. It has a fuel efficient 27.2 cubic centimeter engine and a cutting width of 16.5 inches. It’s engine is “low exhaust” which the company defines as being cleaner than the EPA emission standards. The Stihl trimmer is also made in the United States. The Stihl product offers a limited warranty on all of their products.
Head to Head
We’ve looked at a few important factors that you should consider before buying a trimmer, then we compared the Husqvarna Trimmer 128LD to the Stihl FS 56 RC-E across all points.
Power and Engine
In terms of power and engine type, the Husqvarna and the Stihl are fairly similar. Both come in at roughly one horsepower and have displacements of 27–28 cubic centimeters.
As a result, we can’t say that there is a clear and definitive winner on which trimmer will help you cut your grass more quickly.
Instead, you can know that no matter which one you choose you’ll receive top-of-the-line power ratings.
Ease of Use
Trimmers are somewhat intuitive to use, but their design matters a lot in making them comfortable and fun.
You ultimately want something that doesn’t cause too much strain on your body. However, you also want something powerful enough todo a good job.
Both the Stihl and the Husqvarna are lightweight. Husqvarna coming in at 11.11 pounds with the cutting equipment and the Stihl at 10.6 pounds.
The cutting equipment does add some extra pounds. Overall though, both of these should be okay to use for long periods of time.
Each machine is also designed to make starting a breeze.
Husqvarna has some proprietary technology called Smart Start®. It helps make the whole process easier, and both machines have air purges that remove air from the carburetor and fuel system to make it easy to turn the machine on.
The controls for each machine are conveniently located on the handle.
Comfort also impacts safety, as a tool that’s uncomfortable to use will automatically become less safe to use as well.
Husqvarna and Stihl have thought of this as well. They’ve taken measures to reduce the amount of vibration and noise that each trimmer makes.
In terms of comfort, Stihl truly stands out for its handle design. It’s adjustable and can rotate a full 360 degrees.
It also comes with shoulder straps and an additional support strap. These make carrying the trimmer easy over long periods of time.
Versatility
If it’s possible, you want a trimmer that can do more than just trim. At its base, a trimmer is just an engine attached to a longer pole. There is a ton of potential for uses beyond just keeping your grass tidy.
In this sense, the Husqvarna wins because of its detachable trimmer. It can be easily replaced with one of several other attachments.
It’s extremely easy to use, and it expands the possibilities that are available with the tool.
Though you do have to buy the other attachments separately. We recommend it because it has the ability to transform the toolkit that you currently have.
It can not only save you from buying more tools down the road, but it also might free up some space that’s been taken up by several of these similar machines already.
This is something we really like about the Husqvarna. It makes us feel like we’re getting a better deal than we are with the Stihl.
Husqvarna vs. Stihl Warranty Comparisons
Husqvarna Warranty
The standard Husqvarna warranty lasts one year and covers any defects in workmanship or materials when the machines experience normal use. Basically, if the machine, motor, trigger system, or engine breaks, it will most likely be covered.
Stihl Warranty
Stihl products include warranties anywhere from 1 year to 3 years. It all depends on the product. For chainsaws, it varies on the model. Any failure due to defects in materials or workmanship occurring during the applicable warranty period is covered. However, this is subject to exclusions.
Final Thoughts
If we had to choose one model out of these two, we would go with the Husqvarna. Its versatility is a huge bonus to us and it gives it more of a place in our tool shed.
Husqvarna vs. Stihl Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stihl a good brand?
Yes, Stihl is a good brand. Lots of homeowners like them because high-quality products are available at reasonable prices.
How long do Husqvarna products last?
Tools need regular maintenance. Assuming you take good care of your tool, your Husqvarna products can last up to ten years.
How long do Stihl Chainsaws last?
Stihl chainsaws generally last slightly less than Husqvarna products. They tend to last 6 or 7 years, with repairs in between, of course. However, yours could last longer as we don’t know all the information since this comes from reviewers.
Who makes Husqvarna?
Husqvarna Group is the parent company and manufacturer of Husqvarna products.
Does Husqvarna own Stihl?
No, Husqvarna does not own ECHO.
