The Black + Decker LSTE525 is a lightweight, user-friendly string trimmer built to do a great job trimming long grass and relatively soft weeds in small- to medium-sized lawns and yards.
String trimmers are also known as ‘weed eaters,’ ‘weed whackers,' and ‘line trimmers,’ all of which perform the same task of cutting long grass using a rapidly spinning trimming line tucked away behind the guard on its trimming head. Think of the best string trimmers as the modern equivalent of a scythe but with less armache and rustic vibes.
The LSTE525's cordless design, running off an 18V lithium-ion battery, enables convenient handling, although it might not offer reliable runtime. However, purchasing an additional Black + Decker 18V battery can significantly extend the duration of trimming sessions. Customers in the United States get this second battery bundled in at no extra cost, which seems like a great deal.
One feature I particularly appreciate is the trimmer's auxiliary handle and edging wheel, which allows for vertical trimming, lawn edging, and horizontal grass cutting. It's great to have all the capabilities needed to keep hard-to-reach parts of the garden tidy in one versatile tool.
Black + Decker LSTE525: Key specs
- Engine Type: 20-volt lithium-ion battery
- Line Feed System: Automatic feed spool
- Cutting Line Type: 0.065 inches
- Cutting Width: 12 inches
- Battery life: 60 minutes
- Weight: 9.3 lbs
Black + Decker LSTE525: Pricing & availability
The Black + Decker LSTE525 is a moderately priced line trimmer – more affordable than some premium cordless and petrol-powered models but costlier than others from the Black + Decker range.
Considering that you get a lithium-ion battery and charger bundled in with the trimmer (plus another bonus battery if you’re in the United States), we believe the LSTE525 offers very good value for money. The lithium-ion battery and charger can be used with other compatible products from Black + Decker’s range, which includes drills, sanders, vacuum cleaners, and many other products for the home and garden.
Stockists of the LSTE525 include Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot.
Score: 4.5/5
Black + Decker LSTE525: First impressions & Setup
As soon as I took the Black + Decker LSTE525 out of its packaging (which is almost 100% recyclable), I sensed that this is a high-quality, thoughtfully designed line trimmer. The tool is incredibly lightweight, at just 2.6 kg, making it perfect for users who prefer not to deal with heavy equipment in their gardens.
It's a Black + Decker product that comes in the classic orange-and-black colorway. Most components are tough, lightweight plastic, and the brushed-metal shaft is a notable exception.
Before using the trimmer, I had to charge its lithium-ion battery, which was slow. Charging the 2.0Ah battery from empty to full took over four hours. However, after charging, the battery had more than enough runtime for comprehensive trimming sessions in my garden.
Setting up the trimmer was remarkably easy. The only assembly required was attaching the guard to protect my legs and feet from the trimming line. With the guard in place, I could configure the trimmer to suit my needs. I could extend the shaft to make the strimmer longer, ensuring that I didn't need to stoop while trimming, and I could adjust the auxiliary handle to a position that suited my grip using the orange lock button at the left-hand side of the handle.
Black + Decker LSTE525: Design
Overall, this string trimmer is a pleasure to use. The ergonomics are on-point – especially on the handle and trigger, which are molded from soft, somewhat rubbery, textured plastic.
Once I adjusted the telescopic shaft length, I ensured that I'd properly locked it. Otherwise, it could have slid up and down while I was carrying the trimmer around the garden.
Remember to hold the trimmer at an angle of 5-10° during trimming. A steeper angle will likely cause the trimming line to strike the ground dangerously.
The trimmer has a wheel on the top of its trimmer head. This is an edging wheel whose purpose is to guide the trimmer steadily while you trim the edge of the lawn vertically. I pushed and twisted the ‘flip to edge collar’ on the shaft to switch the trimmer into its edging orientation. This turned the trimming head so the guide wheel could run along the ground, enabling accurate, reduced-risk edging. It’s a great feature for users who need to trim overhanging grass around the edges of their lawns.
There are two trimming speeds: a faster, more powerful ‘turbo’ mode and a slower ‘eco’ mode, which conserves battery power. A switch at the top of the tool’s handle conveniently toggles between the two speeds.
Score: 4.5/5
Black + Decker LSTE525: Performance
During my hands-on testing, I found that the Black + Decker LSTE525 performed well when I used it to trim weeds and long grass around the yard. It easily tackled most weeds but struggled with thicker ones, for which a trimmer with a heavy-duty line attachment would have been more suitable. The compact trimming head made it easy to target individual weeds in hard-to-reach places.
I was impressed with how the trimmer handled wider areas of long grass and weeds, making the yard look much neater and less overgrown. Its guard helped me trim close to obstacles such as trees, fencing, and lawn boundaries.
Despite its 28 cm cutting width, I could trim wide areas quickly and easily, especially over slightly uneven terrain. The trimmer also operated comfortably below the advertised noise limit, a plus.
The trimmer is convenient and compact in terms of storage, taking up very little space in the garage or garden shed. I appreciated the absence of a power cord, which eliminated the risk of tangling.
After use, I removed grass clippings to prevent blockages and rusting, which could impact the trimmer's performance and lifespan. Note that using the trimmer in wet conditions should be avoided.
Lastly, the trimmer comes pre-loaded with a trimming line, which wears down over time and may need to be replaced occasionally.
Score: 4.5/5
Black + Decker LSTE525: Expert opinion
Joe Handley, an Outdoor Product Marketing Manager at Black + Decker, recommends the LSTE525 cordless lawn trimmer for customers with a smaller or medium-sized garden where the area that needs trimming is manageable.
“The ability to move around the garden without the restriction of cords is great for users with numerous obstacles such as trees, shrubs, flower beds, or structures,” said Handley.
“The trimmer’s maneuverability and lack of cords make it easier to navigate around these obstacles and reach areas that may be challenging to access with a corded strimmer,” he added.
Should you buy the Black + Decker LSTE525?
| Attribute | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | Widely stocked; moderately high price point; battery set included | 4.5/5 |
| Design | Great ergonomics; useful choice of settings; suitable for small-medium yards | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | Very good trimming performance; adequate battery life for most yards; convenient storage | 4/5 |
I enthusiastically endorse the Black + Decker LSTE525 Cordless Lawn Trimmer for use around relatively small and manageable gardens. It was a simple, user-friendly trimmer capable of doing pretty much everything I needed it to. It cut effectively—although not quite as powerfully as some competing models did—and demanded very little specialist skill or knowledge from me.
With all that said, I found that if I had a large garden to take care of and wanted to tackle many thick weeds, I should have considered buying a heavier-duty trimmer. And if I were a professional gardener, I should have looked for a more formidable tool.
As with all line trimmers, I exercised proper caution while using the LSTE525. It was only used for trimming grasses and soft weeds, and it was important to wear goggles during trimming. I also kept children and pets well away from the area.
How does the Black + Decker LSTE525 compare?
It may be a small and friendly tool, but the LSTE525 is just as effective as most higher-powered, premium line trimmers – provided you use it for modest tasks around a domestic garden.
Another Black + Decker trimmer you might want to consider is the GH3000 33 cm Lawn Trimmer 700 W, a powerful, corded model that runs off household electricity. If you have a large garden to maintain or dislike the uncertain runtime of a cordless trimmer, then the GH3000 might be a better option for you.
Alternatively, the petrol-powered Troy-Bilt TB25C Curved Shaft String Trimmer offers cordless operation and more reliable runtime. We awarded that particular trimmer a prestigious 4.5/5 rating.
How I tested the Black + Decker LSTE525
I received and assembled a Black + Decker LSTE525 unit and then used it to perform a comprehensive range of trimming tasks around my garden lawns and paving.
In particular, I used the trimmer to trim isolated weeds, tidy up patches of long grass around my main garden lawn, and cut long grass and weeds that had grown up around a tree in a separate lawn area. In the process, I tested the trimmer’s full range of features and use cases.
See more about how we test.
