Best Whipper Snipper Australia - Battery & Petrol Models Included

The whipper snipper is the quiet hero among garden tools. Maintaining a neat garden is infinitely more difficult to do without one. For this reason, it’s important to find a reliable snipper that will not break down every time you try to use it.

This guide is about finding the best whipper snipper for your garden

What to Look for in a Whipper Snipper

Electric vs Petrol Operated Whipper Snipper

If you are here looking for the best petrol whipper snipper, we might have to disappoint you. We’re mainly focusing on electric whipper snippers because they are simply much more popular these days for non-commercial uses. The main advantage of petrol operated whipper snippers is the fact that they allow you complete freedom of movement so you can cover very large and/or remote areas. However, petrol line trimmers are heavier and louder than their electric counterparts, which is why most gardeners opt for electric or battery-powered trimmers.

If you choose to go electric, then you have the option to either use a cable or a battery-operated device. Cordless line trimmers tend to be the favourites, though, because no one likes dealing with long cables. Going cordless can be quite liberating and it’s hard to go back.

When shopping around for electric snippers, you’ll notice that electric trimmers with a cord have power expressed in watts, while battery-powered models talk about the voltage of the battery. The whipper snippers with a higher voltage are usually more powerful.

Feed Mechanisms

When searching for the best cordless whipper snipper, or pretty much any trimmer that uses a line, it’s important to consider the feed mechanism. As the line gets used up more of it needs to be released and various trimmers handle this differently.

When it comes to line feed, the most basic option is manual. These whipper snippers use shorter cutting lines that are more durable but need to be replaced quite often. Most grass trimmers these days use a longer cutting line that gradually unfolds. But what triggers the trimmer to feed more line?

It depends. The bump feed system is a somewhat outdated but still relevant option. These trimmers are basically fail-proof. When you need more line, bump the trimmer head against the ground.

Semi-automatic feed systems work in a similar fashion. However, instead of bumping, the line extends a little bit every time you press the button that turns on your trimmer. Once you get into the rhythm, this can feel so effortless that you get the feeling the trimmer adjusts the line automatically.

The final option is fully automatic feed systems. In these systems, the trimmer judges the weight of the remaining line and adjusts accordingly. While great in theory, these systems often don’t work perfectly which in the end forces you to stop working and adjust the cutting line manually.

Ergonomics

If you use your grass trimmer a lot, ergonomics becomes extremely important. After 30 minutes of work, being forced to hold the whipper snipper at an awkward angle starts to be a real pain. While the optimal fit will depend on individual differences and preferences, it’s usually best to choose a trimmer with adjustable height if comfort is important to you.

Another point to pay attention to in this regard are the handles. Besides the main handle, most trimmers will have a second handle. One option is an additional handle set a bit lower on the shaft of the trimmer. This position allows for better control but can get uncomfortable after some time. A comfier option are the v-shaped handles.

Features to Look for

Best Battery-Operated Whipper Snipper: Our Top Picks

Ready for our whipper snipper reviews? Below you’ll find the best options for every garden and every budget.

Features

Bosch offers a line of different grass trimmers, and this one is called ‘universal’ for a reason. If you want a whipper snipper that’s not overly bulky and heavy but can still handle some serious grass-cutting work, this trimmer is a great option.

Powered by the Bosch 18V 2Ah battery (compatible with other Bosch tools in the 18 V system), this snipper works steadily and reliably. It includes Bosch’s automatic line feeding system, so you’ll never have to stop and adjust the line.

The main selling point of this whipper snipper is the clever design which aims to make the machine as easy and comfortable to use as possible. First of all, the shaft is adjustable so everyone can find the ideal height. Moreover, this trimmer features a unique V-shaped handle (or rather, two handles). This way, you can hold the trimmer with both hands while standing upright which greatly reduces the stress using the trimmer will put on your back.

The Bosch UniversalGrassCut 18 is also very flexible. It features a foot-operated mechanism that lets you adjust the angle of the trimmer head. This way you can not only easily reach under objects such as benches by lowering the shaft, but you can also turn your trimmer into an edger.

To use the edger function, you’ll turn the trimmer head vertically. There is a helpful wheel on the bottom side to guide the snipper allowing for stability and precision. We’ve found this works great for working along concrete edges or paths, for example.

Features

This whipper snipper from BLACK+DECKER is another good universal option. While heavier than our top pick, this trimmer is still very manageable while also packing a decent amount of power.

What makes this trimmer stand out is the two modes you can use. For lighter work, set your trimmer on Eco to extend battery life and reduce noise. When you need to deal with some tough weeds, simply switch to the Turbo mode. Using the Turbo mode basically means taking full advantage of the BLACK+DECKER unique high torque gear system.

The whipper snipper is fairly easy to use too. The battery is powerful, the commands are intuitive, and the automatic line feed system ensures a hassle-free experience. While the handles are comfortable, we’ve found that using this snipper can get tiring after about 30 minutes due to the weight of the device.

Features

If you are looking for a basic whipper snipper that will get the job done without breaking the bank, this option from BLACK+DECKER is worth considering. This lightweight and budget-friendly trimmer is as simple as they come, but it works the same as any other whipper snipper.

The main downside of this trimmer is that it doesn’t have a battery, so you’ll need a power outlet nearby and probably a long extension cord. Still, we’ve found this is a workable option for people who don’t need to use the whipper snipper all that much. For the occasional trimming in a small garden, this whipper snipper might be all that you need.

Another peculiar thing about this trimmer is that it uses a bump feed system. This mechanism might appear to be somewhat outdated, as most new grass trimmers have automatic or semi-automatic line feed systems. However, some experienced gardeners still like the bump feed system for a simple reason - it practically never fails. All you need to do when you need more line is bump the trimmer against the ground.

Features

The EasyGrassCut trimmer from Bosch is the real champion of the lightweight whipper snipper category. It’s a fairly powerful tool that features a streamlined design that will help you take care of garden work with ease.

While this is certainly not the most powerful snipper on the market, we’ve found that it can still handle a lot. When it comes to trimming a well-maintained lawn, the Bosch EasyGrassCut will work seamlessly. It even features the edging function that lets you turn the head of the trimmer for detailed work and trimming around paths and other objects.

Furthermore, this trimmer is strong enough to deal with some stubborn weeds too. A patch of nettles growing wild is an easy task for this tool, but it might start struggling when it comes to overgrown areas densely populated with stubborn weeds.

This trimmer features a semi-automatic line feed mechanism. What this means is that the trimmer will not automatically feed the line on its own, but it might feel like it is. This is because this line feed system releases a bit more line every time you turn on the trimmer. It might take some time to get used to this system if you’ve never tried it before, but it is quite convenient.

Features

The BLACK+DECKER 18V is another great product from this well-known brand. BLACK+DECKER also makes a 36V grass snipper which is as powerful as battery whipper snippers can go. However, we’ve found that this amount of power is pretty much unnecessary for most standard gardenwork. The 18V can perform most everyday trimming tasks just as well.

This is probably thanks to the BLACK+DECKER signature E-Drive high torque gear system. It allows this 18-V whipper snipper to rotate at speeds of up to 7400 rpm making it extremely effective.

This trimmer is also quite comfortable to hold and easy to control. Besides the standard handle at the top of the tool, there is also the auxiliary handle for your other hand which greatly increases precision when controlling the trimmer. The length of the shaft is adjustable too so you can find the perfect working position.

Finally, this trimmer also has a convenient edging feature. What allows this trimmer to turn into an edger is a guide wheel on the front side of the trimmer head (or the opposite side from the guard). This wheel will allow you to trim around objects such as trees with ease when using the trimmer in the normal position. Furthermore, you can also flip the trimmer head so it stands vertically while the wheel guides you for precision work along edges of paths and other surfaces.

Features

WORX might not be the most well-known name in the garden tools industry, but this whipper snipper offers features that match those offered by the most famous brands. With 20V and a maximum rotation speed of 7600 rpm, this is a decent mid-range grass trimmer.

This snipper will do most everyday grass trimming jobs with ease. With a 30-cm cutting diameter, it will let you trim all the grass in a small garden relatively fast.

We’ve found this trimmer works great in smaller spaces due to its flexibility. The shaft is adjustable and so is the auxiliary handle. Moreover, the head of this trimmer pivots within a 90-degree angle range so you can easily reach all sorts of corners.

Final Verdict

The best whipper snipper? Depends on what you are looking for. In our battery whipper snipper review, the Bosch Cordless UniversalGrassCut 18 came out as a great universal option. This lightweight and easily maneuverable model can handle some serious tasks and it’s wonderfully flexible. On the other hand, if you are dealing with large surfaces and/or heavy overgrowth and want maximum power the BLACK+DECKER 36V Grass Trimmer will deliver.