This is a review for the "EGO Power+ HT2601 26 Inch Hedge Trimmer with Dual-Action Blades, 2.5Ah Battery and Standard Charger Included, Black."Pros:- The battery came partially charged, and displays the charging process via a ring of green LEDs. I've read that some of Ego's older batteries don't have this feature, yet are included in some of its products if old stock is sent to a customer.- The hedge trimmer worked well for me during its first major test: cutting down a grove of bamboo (in a cemetery, behind a gravesite). It cut through the numerous and very thick shoots with reasonable ease.- And when I got home, the battery still had most of its charge remaining, indicating to me that the battery has a decent duration per charge.- The position of the rear grip is adjustable -- rotates -- and this can be done easily, without any tools.- The overall weight, with the 2.5 amp battery, was reasonable.- The safety features seem well thought out and the triggers are easy to engage.Cons:- The instruction manual says to sharpen the blades periodically. This seems like a very onerous task, and also seems to me likely to make the trimmer worse if done incorrectly (which seems likely to me). This is probably true of all hedge trimmers, and I'm not sure what my plan is, regarding that; I doubt that I'll attempt to sharpen the blades myself.- The keyhole mounting holes for the charger are about three inches across, i.e., sideways. If you want to mount the charger on a stud behind wallboard in a garage, for instance, this can't be done (at least not securely); I think that's regrettable, because such mounting seems the most likely scenario to me (and is the way I have mounted chargers from other brands). Ego should have also incorporated vertical slots for mounting the charger!In sum, I was pleased with the hedge trimmer. I would NOT buy an extra battery, as I think one is sufficient for most tasks, and also because spare batteries (of any amperage) are extremely expensive, given the cost of the trimmer.
