September 22, 2024I assembled this machine on April 13, 2024 and started using it shortly thereafter. I bought it to replace my Echo SRM-225 which I have used since June 2013. I bought this particular EGO model after reading great reviews about it. Both devices are used solely at my home.As this is my first battery powered piece of lawn equipment, I wanted to see how it handled several concerns that I had upon making the switch from gasolene to battery power, the first being just how it handled generally. I have to say that it handles very well. It is noticeably lighter than my old Echo and significantly quieter. It does a very good job of cutting the grass in either standard trimming such as along a fence line as well as along mulched areas where I have to hold it upside down. As there are more mulched areas than regular in my yard this second position is important to me and the EGO does very well in both areas. I have to say however that the inverted position is a little more cumbersome to me, but not a deal breaker.The second concern was how the EGO would handle a roughly 920 square foot area beyond the back boundary of my yard that contains weeds alongside a farm field. I go back there several times each summer to clean up the area. The EGO is excellent in this wild service actually better than my gas-powered Echo. This machine really goes after it. There’s more than enough power. It did have some problems with some big (3/8” diameter) Queen Ann’s Lace that I encountered on my most recent time in the field, but for the most part it was up to the task. This is the service where it earned the “BEAST” moniker.The third concern dealt with the auto-feed feature of replacing the line. I’ve only had to do so once so far, but it worked slicker than snot. So much easier to replace than my old Echo ever was.My final concern was battery charge life. There’s more than enough charge in the battery to do my whole yard, including the wild area in the back to do everything on a single charge. It also only takes a short time to fully re-charge. I always do the trimming before running the mowers so when done I put the battery on charge while mowing. It’s always fully ready to go by the time I’m done mowing. I don’t need to keep it on charge when away from the garage. The battery holds the charge very well too. We’ve been having a drought, particularly over the last month or so and I’ve let it set for about 6 weeks. When I used it this past week there was more than enough charge to do the whole yard with no problem.I’m extremely happy with this machine.