My Ryobi petrol strimmer finally blew up - threw a lump off the engine. Killed it's hedge cutter unit 2 years ago thanks to a crappy plastic gear. Will not be buying their stuff again...
So my latest toys are:
(Bosch 36V Li-Ion hedge trimmer)
and
(Black and Decker 36V strimmer).
The hedge cutter is fantastic. The supplied battery went through 1/3 of my hedge which hasn't been cut since last summer, on a single charge - it's also a bastard hawthorn. The cutter really does chew through quite heavy branches. Not in one bite like a petrol unit, but I'd say it has the same capacity (15-20mm). Feels almost like a mains unit.
I do have a second battery for it so with a 1 hour recharge time, I can go more or less non stop but I've run out of wheelie bin space until the dustmen come.
The strimmer is just as good as the Ryobi for capacity and better in every other way - lighter, quieter, no buggering about with petrol and burning my arm on the engine. Run time is adequate but as I can alternate with hedge cutting it's not really a problem.
Very very impressed... Now to see how long they and their batteries last.