I’ll admit it, I am a sucker for yard work. My wife makes fun of me when I moan about having to go out and mow the lawn. She’ll say, “Don’t act like you don’t like it.” Honestly, she’s right. If I do have a complaint, it isn't in the work, but in some of my tools. My current tools, like my trimmer and leaf blower, are corded. I've learned what a relief it is to use a battery-powered leaf blower compared to a corded one. I wondered if it would be the same testing out the Sun Joe 24V-ST14 Cordless String Trimmer.

I tested the Sun Joe Cordless Trimmer by edging and weed-eating my lawn. I have a big front lawn with a perimeter that measures close to 200 feet (60 m). To edge my entire front and back yard, this aspect of lawn care usually takes me 20 minutes. My front porch, admittedly, has some unsightly thick weeds. After trimming the yard's perimeter, I used the Sun Joe Trimmer to cut down those weeds. I also used the trimmer to trim down tall grass around the fence line in my backyard. So how does it compare to the best string trimmers? Read on to find out.

First Impressions

The first thing that caught my eye when I unboxed the Sun Joe 24V-ST14 String Trimmer was the telescopic pole and rotating head. By being able to adjust the length of the pole, you also manipulate the weight distribution, making the job feel easier when you’re holding the weed whacker for long periods of time. The rotating head also looked like it would come in handy when trying to get between specific areas around my house, like my spigot and front porch. My current string trimmer hasn’t got adjustable anything, so these were two major features for first impressions.

The prospect of not having to unwind a lengthy cable, move it around, and wind it back up after the job is finished, thanks to a battery-powered unit, was desirable. One thing I was curious about with a battery-powered unit, though, is whether it would have enough power to cut through some of the thicker weeds around my home.

I was also curious how well the wheel edger feature would work out. Again, my current trimmer does not have wheels to roll along the sidewalk to conveniently edge the yard. I wondered how well it would work, and if it would make trimming the perimeter of my yard a much easier task.

Pricing & Availability

Score: 3 out of 5

Design

The adjustment features and the operation of the design were well thought out. As mentioned, the length of the trimmer can be adjusted to suit your size, strength, and preferences. I prefer the trimmer to be a little closer to me to provide more control. With this in mind, I really enjoyed having the telescoping pole length feature.

I had a little difficulty getting the handle attached to the telescoping pole during the installation. The instructions say the handle should slide onto the corresponding tabs: it did not. I needed a rubber mallet to "slide" the handle in. After checking customer reviews, I’m not the only one who had this issue. Once the handle is attached, though, there will never be a reason to remove it. It's just something to consider when installing.

Another design feature I thought was smart was the safety button’s disengagement ability on either side of the handle. To start the machine, you must press the safety button before pulling the lever to start the motor. As you hold the handle, with your middle, ring, and pinky finger on the lever, you can use either your thumb to push the safety button inward or your index finger on the other side of the handle to push it outward. Either way, this activates the ability to pull the lever and start the motor. It’s a small thing, but I thought it was very convenient.

The head also has the ability to rotate. You can quickly press down on the tab near the head and rotate the head to your desired angle. I found this useful when trying to trim between two objects, like the spigot in my front yard and my porch.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Key Specifications

Performance

After unboxing the trimmer, I immediately powered up the battery. Once it was powered, the first test I performed was the battery test. I taped the trigger down and ran the motor at full speed until the battery was fully drained. The battery lasted for an impressive one hour and 26 minutes of non-stop use. Next, I tested how long it would take to recharge the dead battery. It took one hour and 46 minutes to fully recharge.

Once the battery test was complete, I took the trimmer to the yard. One of the first things I tested was the edging feature, and adjusting the head so I could roll the wheels along the cement to the edge of my yard. I'm not sure if my lawn is tall enough compared to the sidewalk, but edging my yard this way didn’t do anything. The line never got low enough to edge my yard, and there wasn’t any way to adjust the height of the wheels. So, a feature I was excited about turned out to be a bust. I also removed the metal flower guard on the front, which I found got in the way while trimming.

With both the wheels and the flower guard removed, it was time to edge the lawn. I was delighted by how much precision the telescoping pole and rotating head provided as I edged my lawn. With my corded trimmer, I usually have to trim sections, moving back and forth as I go, but with the Sun Joe 24V-ST14, I could mostly walk in one direction and trim exactly where I wanted. For anyone who has issues mowing tricky spots, this trimming tool offers a lot of control.

Another thing that sped up the trimming process was not worrying about a cable. A battery-powered motor free of a cable provides a great deal of mobility and freedom that helps make quick work of trimming and edging. Speaking of the battery, there is a button on the battery that, when pressed, displays how much battery life is left. This is convenient if you’re unsure if the battery has enough life to finish the task.

I noticed that the motor wasn’t as powerful as my corded trimmer, which was to be expected. When trimming the thick weeds around my porch (don’t judge me), I could feel the motor really working to cut through. Now, the weeds I was cutting through weren’t necessarily that thick, not comparable to brush or anything. The Sun Joe 24V-ST14 could still trim the weeds but took a few passes over an area short enough. Regardless, it could do a decent job of lawn weed control, but I wouldn’t trust it to attack a field full of tall brush.

Score: 4.5 out of 5

Should You Buy Sun Joe 24V-ST14?

 Buy it if…  

 Don’t buy it if….

Editor's Note: The official Sun Joe 24V-ST14 spec features a dual-line auto-feed spool design. However, because of how the spool is wound, it can feel like handling a single-line trimmer. If raw, heavy-duty dual-line clearing is your top priority, you might prefer a premium brushless upgrade.

How Does the Sun Joe 24V-ST14 Cordless String Trimmer Compare?

The cordless string trimmer market is competitive, but there are some decent 24V and 20V battery-powered options worthy of consideration. This curated trio of options all have easy, gas-free handling, but each offers a unique advantage, whether that is an accessible entry price for a full kit, specialized inline wheels for sidewalk maneuvering, or a terrific battery ecosystem for seamless tool expansion. Here is how they stack up against the Sun Joe 24V-ST14 for power, pricing, and everyday backyard reliability.

How I Tested the Sun Joe 24V-ST14 Trimmer

I tested the Sun Joe battery by tapping the trigger and running the motor at full speed until the battery died. I also timed how long it took to fully charge the depleted battery. I tested the Sun Joe 24V-ST14's ability to edge and trim by using it for the full landscaping duties around my yard. I tested the weight distribution and accuracy. I also tested the ability to maneuver around tight areas around my yard and house. Finally, I tested the power of the motor cutting thick weeds around my front porch. From extensive testing, I was able to write this in-depth review for potential buyers.

• First reviewed: October 2023

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