Last week I had the pleasure of attending RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park near Manchester to view the new range of STIHL products designed for the everyday gardener.
I have certainly heard of the brand before but prior to my visit last week I had only ever considered them to be a brand only professionals would use, not your everyday common gardener like me.
On arriving at the event I was really pleased to discover that STIHL’s new Compact Cordless System ensures even the smallest of us could handle any gardening job.
Now I am not going to profess to know it all about garden tools but what I do know is keeping topside of my garden at this time of year is a tedious and if I am honest mostly a boring job.
I love the satisfaction at the end when it’s all neat and tidy but with a small boy and a baby in tow my time really is of the essence and so products that can help ensure I do a good job but quickly really is what it’s about for me.
So what is this new range and just how do I fit into this picture?
Well, its simple STIHL’s new Compact Cordless System is specifically for the everyday gardener, with is sleek interchangeable batteries and adjustable features to allow for even the shortest of gardeners use!
The range includes a grass trimmer, hedge trimmer, chainsaw and leaf blower and has taken aspects from their professional range and popped them into these compact versions but they are still packed with power and procession you would expect from this professional brand.
I personally like the weight and feel of all 4 new products but the grass and hedge trimmer were really great as these would be my most used pieces in my garden at the moments and the leaf blower and chainsaw nearer the Autumn months on the garden pack down (or that’s what I call it when everything gets a good sorting and chopping back)
For me I loved the overall feel of the new products and really liked the inclusive concept behind this set of products too. I think there was a really nice balance between the power aspect from each as many products that are battery reliant can fail to impress on the power front so its nice to see that these seem to have kept theirs, however the proof is in the pudding so to speak and with not having used any of them yet to actually carry out my garden jobs I can’t be 100% but my first thoughts are they will cope well.
Charging times for the batteries were also nice and relatively short, some battery reliant products can take multiple hours to charge but even with the 2 products with slightly bigger (in consumption not size ) the batteries from 0 to 80% charge will take 105 mins and 100% full 15o mins. Obviously the bonus of owning at least 2 products in this range would the option to interchange battery packs if needed, one on charge and one in use.
STIHL’s new Compact Cordless Systems RRP means they are not the cheapest on the block, the leaf blower, grass trimmer and hedge trimmer come in at £199 and the chainsaw at £249 but they have certainly not priced themselves out of the current market.
How products work in theory sometimes compared to real life can differ but I am really exited to be able share with you in a few weeks just how some of these products handle my garden and how I get on with them in a real life garden so watch this space! …
Disclaimer: I was invited to the event for the purposes of viewing this new products, all thoughts and opinions were independently formed by members of The Oliver’s Madhouse.
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