Purchased by me
I compared three EGO weed eaters: the bare-bones ST1500SF, the Powerload ST1510T, and the carbon-fiber ST1620T. For most people, I think the ST1510T is the one to get.
EGO ST1510T String Trimmer
The verdict
Buy it if
you want the ST1510T’s Powerload reloading and telescoping handle without paying up for the carbon-fiber model.
Skip it if
you want the bigger 4Ah battery, a 16-inch cut, and Line IQ, in which case I’d step up to the ST1620T.
What’s good
- Powerload works great: insert the line, press the button, and it winds itself. No more fighting the spool.
- Telescoping handle so you can set the length where you want it.
- Still pretty lightweight even though it’s aluminum, not carbon fiber.
- Plenty of power, and the bump head works really well when you want extra line.
The catch
- 15-inch cut instead of the ST1620T’s 16 inches, though I didn’t notice a real speed difference.
- In a kit it comes with the smaller battery, not the 4Ah pack the ST1620T includes.
- No Line IQ auto-advance. I actually don’t mind, the bump mechanism works well, but it’s not there if you want it.
What they share
All three are EGO string trimmers with plenty of power, and honestly they perform about the same when you’re actually cutting. Two of them, the ST1510T and the ST1620T, have Powerload so you can wind fresh line by pressing a button. Both of those also have telescoping handles.
Where they differ
The ST1500SF is the stripped-back one. Lots of power, but you feed the line by hand and there’s no telescoping handle. The ST1510T adds Powerload, the telescoping handle, and a multi-speed selector, still in aluminum. The ST1620T goes further with a carbon-fiber build, a 16-inch cut, a digital speed selector and Line IQ auto-advance, and its kit comes with a 4Ah battery.
In practice, the carbon fiber didn’t feel dramatically lighter to me, the digital speed selector didn’t add much, and Line IQ was hit or miss. The bigger battery is the real reason to jump to the ST1620T, especially if you want to run it in a mower too.
Who I’d tell to buy which
Most people should get the ST1510T. The ST1510T has the features that matter (Powerload, telescoping handle, a great bump head) without the price of the carbon-fiber model. Get the ST1620T if you want the bigger battery, the 16-inch cut, and Line IQ. Only drop to the ST1500SF if budget forces it, because Powerload is worth the step up. Can you get by with the cheaper one? Sure. Do I think you’ll miss Powerload? Yeah.
How it did in testing
This is a hands-on comparison of three EGO trimmers, not a lab test. Below is what I found using them and how I’d pick between them.
The short version: all three have plenty of power and perform about the same in the yard. The differences are in reloading, weight, battery, and cut width.
| Test | What happened | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Power in the yard | All three performed about the same. I didn’t notice one being clearly stronger. | Power isn’t the deciding factor. |
| Reloading the line | ST1510T and ST1620T have Powerload. The ST1500SF makes you feed it manually. | Powerload is the big upgrade. |
| Weight | The carbon-fiber ST1620T is lighter on paper, but I didn’t feel a big difference in real use. | Aluminum ST1510T is still light enough. |
| Battery in the kit | The ST1620T kit includes a 4Ah pack. The others come with a smaller battery. | Nicer if you also run a mower. |
| Line advance | The ST1620T’s Line IQ auto-advance is hit or miss. The bump head on the others just works. | I like the bump mechanism. |
Which one I’d get
For most people, I think it’s the ST1510T. You get Powerload, the telescoping handle, and a bump head that works well, and it’s still light enough in aluminum. The 15-inch cut has never bothered me.
Step up to the ST1620T if you want the bigger 4Ah battery in the kit, the 16-inch cut, and Line IQ. Only get the ST1500SF if it’s all you can afford, because you really do miss the Powerload.
