Narrowed it to Echo Vs Stihl long-reach

[MisterBoy]

In an earlier post people rated the Stihl electric stuff and the Echo stuff both very highly. I need the longest-reach polesaw and trimmer I can find to maintain my hedges and trees so I've narrowed my options down to:

 

Stihl HLA 85 + HTA 85 + AP300 battery + charger: my local Stihl dealer quotes £985 which looks close to 3rd party online prices

Or

Echo PPT-2620ES + HCAA-2402A LW Hedge Trimmer: £1008 on echo's site, I can see about £800 online. 

 

These seem pretty comparable in reach and For £120-150 more I can get the extension pole for Echo which gives a big reach advantage for about the same overall price as the Stihl gear. 

 

My concerns are:

1. The Echo is ~10kg, I'm guessing more like 13kg if you swap to the hedge trimmer, whereas the Stihl are both 6-6.5Kg including battery. I don't have direct experience with this but I know working above head-height is never easy. Can any pros give me an idea how much difference this will make for an average guy?
2. I cannot find any information how swapping the heads works on Echo. If it's a 30s job or a 3min job or a 30min job.

 

I don't want to drop a grand on kit I end up dreading using. The Echo mainly attracts me due to the option to add the extra extension for rare use. Being realistic, is the lighter, easier Stihl electric kit going to be better for me? You can be candid I won't be offended  

[MisterBoy]

On 12/06/2020 at 22:21, Stere said:

Get a jap tripod ladder also.

 

 

 

 

Although, how much does something like that cost? Close to a grand?

 

I'm still interested, if my Stihl dealer can't match an online supplier, what are the pros and cons? I assume a dealer can assemble everything, etc?

[rapalaman]

Wouldn’t be without my tripod ladders, an 8ft and a 14ft both with all 3 legs extending giving an extra 18inches. Around 300 and 600 with extra rubber feet.

Any decent dealer will assemble and pdi machines. And mine has just beaten online price for a 161t without even asking to price match ? can’t wait for it to arrive

[SteveW1000]

Worth considering the Stihl RTS harness as well.  Makes it much easier to handle  a pole saw or long reach hedgecutter, supports the weigh so you just need to steer.

[MisterBoy]

Worth considering the Stihl RTS harness as well.  Makes it much easier to handle  a pole saw or long reach hedgecutter, supports the weigh so you just need to steer.

One thing I was really impressed with the Stihl battery kit was the backpack batteries. I doubt if ever need one but are batteries and tools and harnesses all cross compatible?

[SteveW1000]

On 23/06/2020 at 23:54, MisterBoy said:

On 23/06/2020 at 21:48, SteveW1000 said:

Worth considering the Stihl RTS harness as well.  Makes it much easier to handle  a pole saw or long reach hedgecutter, supports the weigh so you just need to steer.

One thing I was really impressed with the Stihl battery kit was the backpack batteries. I doubt if ever need one but are batteries and tools and harnesses all cross compatible?

Don't think that there is currently anyway of using the backpack batteries with the harness.  Think you would have to try wearing both which is likely to be impractical.  I've the older RTS so things might have changed with the newer version.

[Stere]

Bacho pole  system has  a  counterweight to balance it

 

Counterweights for BCL115 Telescopic Hedge Trimmer | BAHCO

WWW.BAHCO.COM

---

{ "1": "Counterweights for BCL115 Telescopic Hedge Trimmer" }

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by Stere

[MisterBoy]

Just in case anyone cared I went for Stihl:

HTA 85
HLA 85
AP200
AL300 charger

[Stere]

Hey big spender  ?

[MisterBoy]

Hey big spender  [emoji846]

Tell me about it. But my local dealer was as cheap as anywhere online and I figure every time I use it, that's money I'm not paying one of you guys
Going for pro kit it's an investment I expect to last a long time... Actually what is the Stihl warranty deal? Do I need to register my kit online somewhere?

[Stubby]

16 hours ago, MisterBoy said:

Just in case anyone cared I went for Stihl:

HTA 85
HLA 85
AP200
AL300 charger

Now get to work . ☺️