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"  When it comes time to trim the lawn, a mower will only get you so far. For the finishing touches, you have to rely on a string trimmer, known in backyard vernacular as the weed whacker. At the moment, there are a number of different styles and brands on the market, each offering different capabilities. I recently had the opportunity to check out three new trimmers--two of which had cutting-edge fuel types--to see how they rated against one another. I tested the Worx GT Cordless Trimmer ($150), powered by an 18-volt lithium-ion battery; the four-cycle Lehr Propane Trimmer ($180), powered by a small 25-cc propane tank; and Troy-Bilt&amp;#039;s two-cycle TB80 EC, which launches in the next few months and runs on the traditional gas/oil mix. I set up a specific test to rate the power and stamina of the machines, but I also used each one around the yard under normal circumstances to get a general feel for ergonomics, noise, and ease of startup.  Raw Power To investigate the strength of these trimmers, I trekked a quarter-mile behind my house to an abandoned quarry and found an area filled with waist-high weeds, overgrown crab grass, and a host of other unwanted, sinister-looking plants. It reminded me of the terrain that Frodo and Sam traveled on their way to Mordor. For the test, I staked out three identical three-foot by 3-foot squares, and recorded the time it took for each trimmer to reduce its designated area to a putting-green level of growth. First up was the Craftsman-branded Lehr four-cycle propane trimmer. This one cleared the area in a hasty eleven seconds. The trimmer was very aggressive and went through the thicker weeds without pause. When I was done, it looked as if the area had been prepped for a helicopter landing.  The Troy-Bilt two-cycle gas/oil was next. It accomplished the task one second faster than the Lehr, clocking in at ten seconds. Once again, total weed devastation. Up last was the Worx 18-volt battery trimmer. Just looking at the light-duty tool, I knew it was out-matched by the tangled mess of growth, but I fired it up and had at it. The Worx put up a much better fight than I thought it would. In 30 seconds, it managed to cut all but the thickest weeds.  Run Time on a Full Tank To test the run time of the Worx, I clicked in a freshly charged battery, duct taped the trigger down on full throttle and started the stopwatch. Because the trimmer is so quiet, it was no problem running the test until the battery died, which occurred at some point during the 26th minute. I then taped up the Troy-Bilt trimmer and started the timer. This testing took place in a residential neighborhood at twilight, and it wasn&amp;#039;t long before I got a little wary about how long the experiment would last with the intense screaming of the fully engaged two-stroke engine. So I called it quits at about 20 minutes. But I recorded the gas/oil tank level at the start of the test, and what remained led me to believe that the fuel would last well over an hour running at constant maximum speed.  Lehr&amp;#039;s manufacturer claims a run time of about 2 hours (the opaque tank prohibits a visual check, and noise again limited the test length). Even if the Lehr didn&amp;#039;t last the complete two hours at full throttle, it&amp;#039;s safe to say that both the propane Lehr and the gas/oil Troy-Bilt can squeeze a single tank of fuel for at least twice as long as the battery-powered Worx. Ease of Startup Because of the different power sources, each tool has a different startup procedure. The Troy-Bilt has the same tedious procedure of all other two-cycle trimmers and chain saws; prime, choke, pull, choke, pull, curse, pull and finally throttle. With the Worx, once the battery charges (in about 30 minutes), it&amp;#039;s just a matter of clicking it into place and pulling the trigger. The Lehr also has an easy start--just connect a small bottle of propane to the engine and pull the starter cord. It takes a few pulls to get the engine running and warmed up, but it&amp;#039;s nice not having to deal with the messy aspect of mixing oil and gas. Noise Quotient As the endurance test above proves, this one is important for your own health and for diplomacy with your neighbors. The four-cycle Craftsman propane model emitted the low rumble of a Harley-Davidson pulling up to a stoplight, and the oil/gas Troy-Bilt had the familiar string trimmer whine, like a 30-pound mutant mosquito buzzing past your shoulder. I didn&amp;#039;t use a decibel meter to determine which was worse, but subjectively, the Troy-Bilt&amp;#039;s sound was the most annoying. (To be fair, we used a two-stroke--if noise is a big issue, go for a slightly quieter four-stroke model). But neither type of combustion engine can compete with the whisper-quiet Worx. Its 18-volt battery hummed away at volume lower than a hair dryer. The sound of the string whipping the weeds still makes a bit of a racket, though. Ergonomics The Worx was a clear winner in this category. First, there is no large motor to heave. Even though it has the shortest shaft, the trimmer head articulates, so it can be shifted to allow a six-foot five-incher to trim while standing up straight. The longer shafts of the other models left me working while hunched. The Worx is also the lightest by a long shot, weighing only 5.5 pounds. The Craftsman weighs more than three times that--17.5 pounds. The Troy-Bilt weighs a manageable 13.2 pounds. The Craftsman model does have a shoulder strap, which helps distribute the weight. I tested the Craftsman by itself throughout the summer, and it didn&amp;#039;t seem all that heavy. It was only in comparison to the others that it felt overweight.  Bottom Line The Worx was the winner in several of my tests--it had a very easy startup, it was light as a feather, effortless to maneuver around, and compared to the others it was quieter than a sleeping cat. But its ease of use sacrifices strength, and the trade off caused the Worx to suffer in runtime and overall power. Depending on your lawn, these may be the most important criteria. Yet for my needs, the Troy-Bilt works the best. I&amp;#039;m no fan of the oil/gas procedure, but the traditional tool has had more time to be perfected and has the most balanced combination of capable power and moderate weight. I just need to make sure I keep a good supply of ear plugs around. If you want all of the power with none of the gasoline emissions, the propane-powered Craftsman is a great choice. This new type of fuel, like the lithium-ion, goes up against an established oil/gas platform that&amp;#039;s slowly matured to a nearly optimum design. In many categories, these fresh technologies went toe-to-toe with the industry standard. I look forward to seeing how the technology has evolved by this time next year, when I&amp;#039;m waist-deep in another summer&amp;#039;s worth of weeds.    "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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