Precise, lightweight, yet powerful the Stihl HSA 26 hedge shears and grass trimmer is recommended for maintaining hedges, topiary and lawn edges. The Dirt News trialled it for over 12 months, on an extensive, cloud-pruned topiary hedge, as well as maintaining edges on a formal lawn. The grass trimmer, though also trialled of use on lawn edges was also used to cut back perennials and ornamental grasses early in the year – a job we hadn’t considered it for initially but proved to be very effective for.
Technical specs
The STIHL HSA 26 kit consists of a battery-powdered charger with interchangeable shear (shrub cutter) and grass trimming attachments. Compatible with Stihl’s AS System (AS 2 battery), the HSA 26 is designed with rubberised handle for comfortable working, rapid tool-free blade change and battery charge level indicator. The shears, allow for cut and maintaining evergreen hedges and small-leafed ornamental trees of up to 8 mm branch thickness. The grass trimmer attachment is designed for edging around smaller lawns, patios and flower beds.
The STIHL HSA 26 AS 2 battery provides up to 110 minutes of runtime, which according to Stihl translates to roughly 30 boxwood spheres being trimmed on a single charge. The AS 2 battery has a charge level indicator, and the manufacturer states that it can be fully charged in about 70 minutes, or to 80% in 55 minutes.
What’s included?
When purchased as a system, the HSA 26 set includes an AS 2 Lithium-Ion battery (28 Wh 10.8 V), standard charger shrub cutter with cutting length of 20 cm (with blade scabbard), a grass trimmer with cutting width of 12 cm (with blade scabbard) and rectangular carry bag.
Review location & duration
At our request, we reviewed the HSA 26 shears and trimmer set for a duration of 12+ months, with the main focus of the review on the shears attachment. However, though the grass trimmer proved very effective on the lawn edges, it was used more as a means for the annual cutting back of perennials and ornamental grasses. This, it did superbly and is highly recommended for this purpose. Cutting back dense growth is tough with secateurs and shears, but with the HSA 26 trimmers this proved a quick and simple task.
The Stihl HSA 26 shears (sometimes referred to as shrub cutters) were selected as an additional and/or replacement for manual shears for precise topiary maintenance of an extensive, complex shaped, cloud pruned hedge. Due to the scale of the hedge, the HSA 26 shears were chosen as a potential aid for the maintenance, and the review focussed on its ability to replicate the cut, precision and flexibility of manual shears.
For reference, the reviewer is experienced with topiary but tended to work with manual tools. To date, the cloud pruned hedge was only cut with a selection of shears, of varying length of blade for larger, smaller and tighter surfaces. The review therefore functioned as an experiment to see if the handling of a battery operated tool could match the precision of shears, to see if it would encourage more frequent use by said reviewer and if they would change annual maintenance habits.
This is an independent review, we have no commercial arrangement with Stihl, nor any affiliated links. The HSA 26 set was provided, on our request, as a press sample for review.
Our review
Initially skeptical that any battery (or petrol operated) tool could replace conventional shears for their clean cut, flexibility and precision, we were not only surprised by the Stihl HSA 26 shears in terms of the accuracy of cut and ability to maintain fine, detailed shapes, but also how quickly they became the preferred tool for the job. For, larger even surfaces it performed even better, ensuring even, consistent lines. Being light weight (0.7kg), paired with smooth blade action, low noise, easy to use and carry (key when ladders are involved), it’s an impressive piece of kit.
The battery life is extensive, allowing for full operating power throughout the charge cycle and charged back up in just over an hour. We found that a fully charged battery lasted between 90-100 minutes, depending on the depth/intensity of cut required. For extensive jobs such as this one, we could recommend having two batteries to allow for uninterrupted working. There was limited to no (hand & arm) fatigue compared to using shears, nor any pain or discomfort experienced during or after working with them. During operation, the blades glide smoothly, ensuring little vibration transferring to the operator’s hand.
The assumption that any form of mechanised shears would tear or cut through leaves, leading to browning, untidy appearance was proved incorrect with the Stihl HSA 26. The cut was clean and due to its size, one can be just as precise as using a pair of shears. Granted, when the blades became duller due to extensive usage, this did happen but that would also be case for a pair of blunt shears. Some have suggested that with mechanised shears, mistakes can easily be made, but we don’t see much in that argument as a wrong snip with manual shears can do just as much damage and due to its small size, the impact of an erroneous cut is minimised.
After extensive trialling, there is no doubt that the small, but mighty HSA 26 has become a staple in our kit for maintaining and shaping the topiary hedge. Manual shears are still involved, but now more so for shaping new, or revising shapes. As a bonus, the hedge is now also cut more often, as the workload has been substantially diminished with the use of the Stihl HSA 26.
The price point of the set (with battery) is comparable to a top of the range pair of shears, but considering the flexibility of application and speed of use, we think it’s worth the price tag. Additional AS 2 batteries can be purchased for around £35 from Stihl, which for extensive jobs is recommended. The batteries are compatible with a range of Stihl tools including the ASA 20 cordless powered secateurs and GTA 26 cordless garden pruner.
Niggles
Few niggles to mention apart from that in terms of sharpening the blades, there was little recourse but to buy replacement blades. If out of stock, that can prove problematic. Understandably the tight tooth spacing makes this tricky, but some form sharpening guidance/tool to extend blade lifecycle would be preferable. With that perhaps, the possibility of some form of exchange/recycling option to return blunt blades to Stihl. For reference, replacement blades cost around £32 (from Stihl).
Curiously the bag, which is important to ensure proper kit maintenance and storage is not very satisfactory. Open at both ends and a tad flimsy, it could be vastly improved.
