Hitachi CG22EASSLP 21.1cc 2 Stroke Gas Powered Straight Shaft Grass Trimmer Review

The Hitachi CG22EASSLP 21.1cc 2 Stroke Gas Powered Straight Shaft Grass Trimmer (CARB Compliant) is one of the latest additions to Hitachi’s line of award winning string trimmers.  This model features a powerful 21.1cc commercial grade engine that delivers superior reliability and performance.

Thanks to innovative S-Start technology, the pull-force required to start the Hitachi CG22EASSLP is 50% less than standard gas-powered trimmers.  In addition, fatigue is minimized thanks to the built-in anti-vibration system, which ensures maximum comfort.  Finally, the four inch automatic trimmer head eliminates the need to manually advance the 0.095” copolymer cutting line, improving operation and efficiency.

My Experience with the Hitachi CG22EASSLP

I’ve been a big fan of the Hitachi brand for years.  Every product I’ve purchased from them has been well designed and well made, and I’m happy to say that the Hitachi CG22EASSLP continues that tradition.  Right out of the box I was impressed with this machine and how easy it was to assemble – I was literally up and running within minutes of unboxing.  To be fair I am very familiar with these tools but I doubt even novice users will need more than a few minutes to get up to speed thanks to the well written instruction manual.

As far as gas powered trimmers go, this is a very lightweight model, especially given how much power it has, and it has tons.  Even after a 45 minute trimming session that spanned both the front and back yards, I didn’t experience any arm, back or neck fatigue like I’m used to with beefier trimmers.

A big part of that, besides the light weight, is because the engine and power transmission is very smooth and it produces very little vibration even at full throttle.  Speaking of the throttle control, it’s very precise and a true pleasure to use.  I also love the string feeder and never had any issues with advancing the line as needed.

The line that came with the Hitachi CG22EASSLP was also pretty impressive, and didn’t shear off on cement or fencing as easily as others I’ve used in the past.  What I loved most of all though about this model is how easy it is to start, 1-2 pulls max and you’re ready to go!

Pros

• Easy assembly
• Powerful yet lightweight
• Very little vibration
• Well balanced and comfortable to use for extended periods
• Easy to start
• Comes with a 7 year warranty

Cons

• On/Off switch could have been placed in a better spot (you can accidently turn it off while trimming)
• Long straight shaft may take some getting used to if you’re coming from a curved shaft trimmer

Final Thoughts on the Hitachi CG22EASSLP

I’ve been through quite a few trimmers of the years so it takes a lot to impress me these days, but that being said, I can honestly admit that the Hitachi CG22EASSLP did just that.  Between the lightweight, powerful design and the easy startup, not to mention the smooth throttle and automatic string feeder, it’s clear that Hitachi really hit a home run with this model.  This is a powerful trimmer so it’s probably overkill if you have a tiny yard, but for everyone else with a standard size yard or bigger, the Hitachi CG22EASSLP is definitely worth your consideration.

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