Very good 
× without battery
The Makita XRU02Z is a solid quality cordless string trimmer – lightweight, comfortable to use and offers many useful adjustments like an edger, tilting head or telescopic shaft.
** please note the reviews on Amazon are mixed from 2 different tools
Pros:
- Overall performance, power, battery
- Fast recharge
- Even for tall people
Cons:
- Expensive battery and charger
Key specifications:
- Edger:
- Weight: 6.4 lbs
- Battery time (according to users): 20-45 minutes
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Cordless
The XRU02Z offers all the advantages of cordless string trimmers – complete freedom of movement, no messing with the cord (and winding it up after trimming) or switching outlets. Also no maintenance, noise or vibrations typical for gas machines.
It is lightweight (only 6,4lbs with battery), well balanced and comfortable to use – even a shoulder strap is added but you won’t probably need it as the tool is light enough already.
The assembly is quite easy if you have any experience with similar tools – but if not, it may took you much more time as many users complain the manual is not clear enough.
Power and line feeding
For an 18V tool, it delivers quite a lot of power – of course, it can’t be compared to gas weed whackers but for cleanup or medium difficulty jobs it is completely sufficient. Also the smaller cutting swath predetermines it for these tasks.
Edger function
The trimmer uses bump feed to advance the line which works well. So – no comfortable autofeed system this time, but on the other hand there won’t be any problems with wasting too much line.
Battery
Users report between 20-45 minutes of work per one battery which is a solid run time. And also a very fast recharge – only 30 minutes, so with two batteries it’s more or less possible to create a trimming routine with one battery working, the other recharging – and then switching them and so on.
A slight disadvantage is that there is no power level indicator on the battery – only a light alert when the battery is getting depleted.
The XRU02Z is part of the Makita’s extensive 18V cordless system which includes not only garden tools (hedge trimmer, blower, chainsaw etc.) but also various other power tools like drills, grinders or a circular saw. And that’s both a big advantage and a disadvantage as well – because if you don’t need any of these tools, you’ll have to purchase battery and charger just for this trimmer which is quite expensive.
The tilting head
Edger and adjustments
Like most other battery powered trimmers, also the XRU02Z offers many adjustments (all tool-less):
The head can be rotated 180 degrees to convert into an edger – and also tilted into 5 positions to make cutting in tight places easier. A traditional metal guard is present and works quite well – doesn’t get in the way.
The shaft is telescopic so you can set its height just as you need to trim in an optimum pose – also, it extends quite a lot so you won’t encounter any problems even if you are taller. And the loop handle is adjustable as well.
Conclusion: If you already own some other Makita 18V tools (or plan to buy some) and need a solid weed eater / edger mostly for lighter or medium tasks, getting the Makita XRU02Z is a no-brainer – lightweight, with enough power and useful adjustments, it would be a nice expansion to your 18V collection.
But if your don’t plan getting any more machines from this lineup, we would rather recommend you the Black & Decker LST136W which is similar but slightly better in our opinion.
Also, if you need a tool for heavier trimming, brushless or gas machines are the way to go.
>> Read more or buy the Makita XRU02Z here
Specifications:
- Battery time (according to users): 20-45 minutes
- Battery power indicator:
- Weight: 6.4 lbs
- Cutting swath: 10-1/4"
- Line: 1/16″ single string
- Feeding: bump feed
- Warranty: 3 years (batteries 1 year)
- Includes: line, shoulder strap
Frequently asked questions:
How should I treat the battery to ensure maximum lifetime?
Always store the batteries inside your house in reasonable temperatures – never leave them on direct sun or outdoors during winter! Also recharge the battery as soon as it is out of power and don’t leave it in the charger for extended periods of time (after it’s fully charged).
What is included in the package?
The weed eater itself, prewound line and a shoulder strap.
Are there any accessories I should buy?
If you do not own any other Makita tools yet, you’ll have to buy the battery and a charger as well.
Is there any maintenance needed?
No, the motor is an enclosed unit so no maintenance is required. Just ensure a proper care to the battery (see above) and clean the machine from dead grass occasionally.
