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The Best Trimmer Line On The Market? Here Are The Top 5 Brands!

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A Guide to Picking the Best Trimmer Lines

There are a lot to learn in life’s misadventures, I always say. This time, I was in need of a good, or rather better trimmer line as the one I had recently bought melted into itself after a couple of uses. A phenomenon trimmer experts call welding. I called it one big Titan Arum.

I had to look for the best trimmer line I could afford. What happened to the line that came with my trimmer (aka weed eater)?

​It was a sunny Wednesday morning as I went out into my yard to trim the remaining uncut grass from yesterday’s mowing. I readied my string trimmer (or and heard the familiar humming of the battery-operated engine as the trimmer head started to spin.

I’m quite thankful I had worn safety glasses that day because grass and plastic debris started flying towards my face.

Best Trimmer Line

I was told that my old trimmer line had become too brittle for use. I hurriedly, and mistakenly, bought a cheap replacement – that eventually melted. Apparently, cheap trimmer line doesn’t do well with the build-up of heat in your trimmer head. The first lesson learned.

The Top Five Trimmer Line Brands

Quick Tip: Before purchasing a line, Check your specific trimmer about the trimmer lines it’s capable of holding!

Quick Review Look

Here’s a quick look at the top five best brands. Under them, I’ve put in links to different sizes for round trimmer lines, as well as links to the other types of trimmer lines, if available.

1. Husqvarna Titanium Force

Round

2. Oregon Gatorline

Round

Multi-sided

Twisted

3. Echo Cross-fire

Round

4. Shakespeare Power Line

Round

Multi-Sided

Twisted

5. Arnold Extreme

Round

Multi-Sided


Best Trimmer Line On The Market

I didn’t want another welding incident, so I looked through tons of articles, guides and dozens of different trimmer line brands and products to find the best trimmer line.

I learned that most brands offer all the different types and kinds of trimmer lines that you might need, so I settled on reviewing the brands themselves over individual trimmer line products.

Best Trimmer Line

I eventually settled on Husqvarna’s Titanium trimmer line for light trimming jobs (more on this in the guide below), but of course you can choose for yourself which brand to buy from. In may take some trial and error, especially with the different line sizes, as you figure out which one will be perfect for you.

Here are, in my researched opinion, the top five brands:​

1. Husqvarna Titanium Force

Husqvarna string trimmer line Best Trimmer Line
Pros
  • Very durable
  • Even precise cut
  • Slick exterior
  • Fast acceleration
  • Flexible core
  • Welding resistant
  • Heat resistant
  • Good Balanced
  • Reduced Fuel consumption
Cons
  • Pricey
  • May not be suitable or higher torque string trimmers

2. Oregon Gatorline

Oregon Gatorline 1 pound Round String Trimmer Line Best Trimmer Line
Oregon Gatorline 1 pound Round String Trimmer Line Best Trimmer Line
Pros
  • Very Durable
  • Long-lasting
  • Powerful cutting
  • Great Value
Cons
  • Powerful can become risk to property, or limb
  • Easily unbalances
  • Prone to overheating / melting

3. Echo Crossfire

Echo 1 Lb.080 Cross Fire Trimmer Line Best Trimmer Line
Pros
  • Very Durable
  • Long-lasting
  • Clean cut
Cons
  • Noisy
  • May toss rocks or debris
  • Some products are prone to brittleness
  • Thick

4. Husqvarna Titanium Force

Shakespeare Power Line .065 Round 50 Loops Best Trimmer Line
Pros
  • Clean cut
  • Reduced drag
  • Durable
Cons
  • Hard to find in stores
  • Frays

5. Arnold Xtreme

Arnold Xtreme Best Trimmer Line
Arnold Xtreme Best Trimmer Line
Pros
  • Long lasting
  • Durable
Cons
  • Overheats

Trimmer Line Guide

I’ve learned that not all trimmer lines are equal. Its brand is significant, but success will rely heavily on the chosen trimmer lines’ shape, line size, and planned use. If you want that clean, manicured look. You have to consider these factors.

Best Trimmer Line

Line size

You may have noticed the line size in 0.085 or 0.130 inches in the quick look table. The diameter measurement of a trimmer line is its line size or gauge. It ranges from 0.065 to 0.155inches. The line size that you will need depends on how dense or heavy the trimming will be.

  • 0.065” to 0.080” – These trimmer line sizes are designed for light and minimal trimming in residential and other small properties.
  • 0.085” to 0.105” – The medium-sized lines are for denser weed, grass, and shrubbery trimming in large properties. It’s also used in light commercial lawn care.
    • Experts say that the safest line sizes to use is up until 0.095inches. Any higher and you’ll risk damaging property. Thicker sizes can greatly damage your curbs, fences, and sprinklers!
  • 0.110” and above – the thickest and heaviest of the line sizes best suited for vast properties with very dense grass/weed/woody plant growth. You’d see these being used in golf courses.
    • I wouldn’t recommend trimmer lines thicker than 0.110” for homeowners, but if you own a commercial lawn care business, these are a great investment.

Trimmer Line Shapes

In addition to the variety of trimmer line thickness, they also come in different shapes, serving different purposes. Each of these has their own pros and cons.

1. Round

Oregon 23 395 Professional Red Gatorline Round String Trimmer Line Best Trimmer Line

The round-trimmer lines are the most common line type and what you would usually get with a new string trimmer.

They’re made for everyday use and are commonly utilized in residential areas. Thicker lines, however, are available for commercial use.

Pros
  • The most durable
  • Long lasting
  • Easiest to replace
  • Forgiving on concrete
  • Most affordable
Cons
  • Uneven cut
  • Prone to welding

2. Multi-sided

Shakespeare Replacement Parts 13989A Ultra Edge Premium Square Line Best Trimmer Line

As suggested by its name, multi-sided trimmer lines are ribbed and shaped to have corners. The shapes can come it squares, pentagons, and stars.

These are usually utilized by professionals for medium to large properties with heavy lawn care needs. They cut cleanly through thick weeds and grass.

Pros
  • Pristine, even cut
  • Keeps edge longer
  • Weld-resistant
  • Tough on dense grass and woody shrubs
Cons
  • Can snag on grass blades or leaves
  • Easily breaks on hard surfaces such as stones and concrete

3. Twisted

Shakespeare Pro Torque Best Trimmer Line
Shakespeare Pro Torque Best Trimmer Line

Many communities frown at and even prohibit, loud machinery and power tools so a gas-powered weed eater is not recommended. Weed eaters powered by batteries or electricity will be used in these areas as they have much quieter engines.

Twisted trimmers lines are designed to emit very little noise, so these are a favorite with quieter trimmers. Interestingly, they have all the advantages of both round and multisided lines with the added benefit of reducing your weed eater’s vibrations.

That may be a small thing, but a great amount of fatigue is spared when vibrations are weaker.

Pros
  • Reduced trimmer vibration
  • Very DurableEven cut
  • QuietWeld-resistant
  • Great for foliage
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Hard to find

4. Serrated

Shakespeare Replacement Parts 13989A Ultra Edge Premium Square Line Best Trimmer Line
Shakespeare Replacement Parts 13989A Ultra Edge Premium Square Line Best Trimmer Line

Like shark teeth or your favorite steak knife, serrated trimmer lines are designed for thicker blades of grass, heavy and dense lawn maintenance and very large plots of land.

Pros
  • Perfect for thicker branches and very dense foliage
  • Quick cut
  • Durable
Cons
  • Risk of property damage
  • Pricey

What are trimmer lines made of?

Trimmer lines are made up of two different materials:

1. Nylon

  • The most common
  • This will be your go-to trimmer line
  • Cheapest

2. Titanium

  • Superior Durability
  • Cleaner and more powerful cut
  • Faster
  • Less fuel consumption

Are lines made of Titanium worth the investment?

With the titanium trimmer lines I’ve used, I can say that they are worth the investment. They’re durability, and more efficient fuel consumption will add up in the long run.

Best Trimmer Line

Are trimmer line colors important?

No, line performance is not affected by its color. However, you may want to get dark green lines if possible.

As their ends wear out and eventually break off the line, the dark green plastic pieces will disappear into your lawn. Unless you want colorful specks in your garden, then yellow, or red are good too!

Safety First!

Whenever you use a string trimmer / weed eater, always wear protective gear. Keep yourself safe from flying debris! This is your safety checklist:

Best Trimmer Line
  • Long-sleeved shirts and long pants
  • Safety glasses or goggle
  • Face masks
  • Ear plugs
  • Gloves
  • Take periodic breaks. The vibrations emanating from weed eaters can severely fatigue you and affect your muscles and nerves during prolonged use.

Tips and Tricks

Now that you know how to pick a good trimmer line let’s see how you can best maintain them.

Best Trimmer Line
  • To avoid melding or brittle trimmer lines, you can soak them in water for at least 24 hours. The lines will absorb the water and result in greater durability and flexibility.
  • Avoid running your line trimmer or weed eater at maximum power. This generates a lot of heat and can lead to me melding.
  • Try to trim foliage with or closer to the ends of trimmer line during operation.
  • Trim grass from tip to root.
  • When trimming very thick or heavy branches, and weeds, you can opt for a metal weed blade attachment instead. Unlike trimmer lines, you should run these at full throttle.
  • Rinse trimmer lines thoroughly after use.
  • Don’t expose your trimmer lines to direct sunlight which will make them brittle.

Conclusion

You’re now fully equipped to pick the best trimmer and keep it in good condition. It’s not really about a specific product but the one that will be the best fit for your intended use, under a very good brand.

Happy trimming and keep those safety glasses on?

Did we miss something? Comment below!

John Palmer

Wednesday 30th of June 2021

You have highlighted many good things. I hope those who read your post will know a lot and it will be easy to buy trimmer lines. The points of your content are very useful and practical. I am really happy that every post has been presented with great care. Thank you so much for such an informative post.

Lexi

Friday 24th of January 2020

I feel you are seriously misleading readers by stating that titanium is used in the manufacturing of trimmer line. Products that use titanium in the name are not made from titanium, instead they use titanium oxide to get the gray color. They then mislead the consumer into thinking that actual titanium is used. Their is only a trace amount of titanium oxide in the color. The line is made of PA 6, PA66 or a combination of both, not titanium. It admittedly is generally a better line than the cheaper line but that is due to the profile and nylon used in the extrusion process.