Black+Decker LST136 Review

The LST136 string trimmer is great for light yard work, detailed cuts, and edging. We did find that it can get a little overburdened when cutting through really dense vegetation, so it might not be the best cordless yard tool around if you have heavy-duty lawn maintenance tasks ahead of you.

Performance

Our most important rating metric for these cordless tools is how effectively and easily they cleared weeds and other nuisance plants. We compared and scored the weed-eating efficiency of each product, how much power they have, and how easy it is to make precision cuts around fragile plants or objects. The Black+Decker LST136 isn't the most powerful or heavy-duty option by any means, but it still scored quite well compared to the rest of the tools in the group.

We loved using the LST136 to trim up small areas of our yard. Its broad guard makes it ideal for clean and level cuts in average-height grass, perfect for those areas where you don't want to use a lawn mower. We found it to be very effective when cutting through grasses and weeds using a side-to-side motion.

It's more than up to the job of cutting down the occasional thick-stemmed brush, though. We found this trimmer to have plenty of power for most jobs, but it will start to slow down when cutting through very dense and high weeds. Still, for your average patch of weeds or rogue plant shoots, the LST136 has more than enough power.

We also found it pretty easy to make detailed cuts with this string trimmer, especially since it has a low-speed setting. Edging along our driveways and sidewalks was also a breeze, thanks to the pivoting head of this trimmer. Although there is no guide wheel, the front guard wire kept the head at the ideal height while edging.

Ease of Use

Next, we rated and ranked how user-friendly and convenient each cordless string trimmer is to operate, looking at the difficulty of replacing the line, the comfort and ergonomics, and the weight of each tool, as well as the effectiveness of the guard. The Black+Decker LST136 again did quite well, finishing just behind the top models.

The LST136 has an automatic feed to dispense more line, making it an exceptionally easy process. It also is very easy to replace, with a simple and straightforward design with only a single spinning string.

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We found this cordless tool to be very lightweight and extremely easy to handle, making it one of the least cumbersome string trimmers to operate. It is slightly less balanced than other models, and we wouldn't recommend it for marathon weed-eating sessions.

It's a very comfortable tool to hold with a grippy texture on the handle that allows you to securely hold the Black+Decker LST136 for both weed eating and edging. This trimmer is very maneuverable due to its lower weight, and it's easy to reach the speed controls with your thumb without letting off the trigger.

However, it is a bit on the shorter side compared to other models, so taller users will need to either hunch over a bit or trim a little closer to their feet. This trimmer's guard is also decently effective at stopping debris from getting thrown back at you, but it tends to get in the way a bit. This model also lacks a shoulder strap.

Battery

Our next round of tests dealt with how long each of these tools could last on a single charge. We timed how long each trimmer could last running freely on a fully charged battery for the majority of the score, as well as awarding points for different operating modes that let you balance power and battery life. The Black+Decker LST136 did fairly well, scoring in the upper half of the group overall.

The LST136 does offer plenty of adjustability — almost to the point of overkill. It has six different settings, providing plenty of ability to balance power and battery life for whatever your weed-eating application is.

The LST136 has a slightly above-average runtime, lasting for just under 45 minutes when using the stock battery — about half the time of the top trimmers.

Noise

The last series of tests looked at how loud the Black+Decker LST136 and the other cordless string trimmers are. We used an SPL meter to measure the sound levels for the operator when holding the trimmer.

Despite its volume output, the LST136 is unlikely to bother neighbors or pets when using it around the yard.

This string trimmer measured at 85.5 dBa for the operator on our meter, but it sounded louder to our bare ear than other models we tested.

Should You Buy the Black+Decker LST136?

For those who are shopping for a high-performance string trimmer that won't crush your savings account, the Black+Decker LST136 is a solid option. This model is a fantastic deal. It's light, it's affordable, and it does a commendable job of trimming up most types of grass. It is nowhere near the loudest trimmer and does fantastic work for smaller jobs.

What Other Cordless String Trimmers Should You Consider?

For those who are looking for penultimate trimming power, the Ego Power+ Powerload with Line IQ ST1623T is as strong as these tools get. We also highly think the Makita XRU15PT 36V is a fantastic choice for those who already own the batteries or who want batteries that work with a multitude of smaller tools. The Craftsman V20 Weedwacker is even more affordable than the LST 136 — if you're shopping on a budget, this model is the way to go.