Greetings all, another scorcher tomorrow apparantly. I'm slowly converting to cordless equipment and have gone for Stihl, purely from having previously always using their stuff and having now invested in their batteries, I suppose now I'll stay with Stihl for the rest of the gear. Anyway, I'll be getting a hedgetrimmer next. I used to use a petrol equivalent of the 86 and found it plenty enough. At under £300 I was going to get a HSA86. What I notice is the HSA94 uses the battery belt system which would make the unit much lighter, but it's an extra £200. I'll be getting the Kombi soon and that has the battery belt so that isn't really an issue. So, does anyone have any experience of the above gear and is the 94 really £200 better?
I should add, with my aching back and advancing years, anything that makes the job easier is always worth considering!!! As ever, all advice is gratefully received.
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There is an adapter available so you can use the battery belt/ cable and plug in to the standard AP slot.
Stihl description says it is for the AR batteries, looking around various sellers, it looks like it fits the battery belt also.
Keeps the weight off the trimmer.
Stihl AP Adapter
Thanks Scott. So I'm assuming this adaptor is lighter than the battery (which is sitting on my hip in the belt), and plugs into the HSA86 thus making the whole machine lighter?
For me, that would be ideal. The petrol version of the 86 was always enough for me and the only reason - unless anyone knows of any other huge advantage - to get the HSA94 might have been to wield something a bit lighter. And at an extra £200, the 94 really needs to convince me. If anyone wants to share their experience of these I'll be happy to listen.
It weighs about 300g, nothing really and much lighter than the AP batteries.
If you want to save your back you should get one of these.
I posted this recently in another topic. I have had the Easy Lift Harnes for three yeears now and it has changed my life. There is NO Weight in the hedgecutter at all. You only need to 'steer' it. It is brilliant at reaching out accross the top of a hedge, as you can hold the hedgetrimmer at arms lenghth and feel no weight.
There are three models available. If you are using a proffessional Stihl hedgecutter or an equivilant, you should only need the basic model of the three. The difference between them is only the gas struts, the frame is the same I believe. The basic model is designed to take the weight of up to 6.5 Kilos.
https://youtu.be/grF97n2VTo8
The 86 is pretty good but we had issues with one breaking down a lot. It's maybe not the most robust and is their first offering in battery range. It's shorter than the 94. I've not used the 94 but it is longer and looks more up to date and hopefully it is more expensive for a reason. If you do a lot of hedge cutting I would get the 94. It looks less bulky at the handle end. If you use the 86 with the adapter the cord comes out of the top of the machine which is annoying.
We have the HSA 86 and the HLA 65 and I prefer to use the latter as the weight is spread more evenly and you can rest it on your waist etc. when doing across the front or top of a hedge. I've even used it for trimming bruxus so I don't have to bend down so low.
I tend to hold it in a semi-fixed position and either pivot my body or just move along with my legs holding it in place.