EGO ST1623T Review: 16 in LINE IQ String Trimmer Kit, Pros and Cons

The ST1623T is best at removing the annoying parts of string trimming on a typical residential lot: tapping for line, rewinding spools by hand and working with a shaft that is the wrong length for you.

• No bump feeding. LINE IQ monitors line length and feeds automatically, so the swath stays at 16 inches instead of shrinking as line wears.
• Fast reloads. With POWERLOAD you feed line through the head and press a button to wind it, which EGO says gets you back to work in seconds.
• Fit for different users. The telescopic carbon fiber shaft adjusts to your height, useful when more than one person in the house trims.
• Speed control. The digital variable speed selector lets you run slower around beds to save battery and faster in thick grass.
• Low hassle. A brushless motor, no fuel, no pull cord and a battery that runs every EGO 56V tool, including the EGO LB7654 blower.

The biggest drawback is paying for convenience features. If you already own an EGO battery, the tool-only EGO ST1500SF ($137.99) trims a 15 inch swath with .095 inch line for less than half the kit price; what it lacks is auto-feed and POWERLOAD winding. Whether that is worth the difference depends on how much line tapping and hand winding bother you.

The second drawback is runtime on bigger properties. Up to 60 minutes on the 4.0Ah pack is a best case at moderate speed; thick weeds and top speed shorten it. Properties with long fence lines, ditches or dense brush outgrow a single battery, and a gas trimmer such as the Husqvarna 130L with an 18 inch cutting width suits them better. The listing does not state the line diameter or the kit weight, so check the manual before buying line.

These are recurring themes in published owner reviews, summarized as consensus rather than our own use. Review volume and quality vary by listing, so read them as tendencies, not guarantees.

Praise themes

• Not having to bump or hand-wind line is the feature owners mention most.
• Cuts as well as the gas trimmers many owners replaced on residential lots.
• The telescopic shaft makes it comfortable for taller and shorter users.
• Quiet, instant starts and a shared EGO battery.

Complaint themes

• Line use can seem higher with automatic feeding.
• Heavier than lighter battery trimmers once the 4.0Ah pack is installed.
• Replacement heads and spare batteries are costly.
• Runtime falls short on large properties with thick weeds.

Buy it if

• You trim a suburban lot up to about a half acre every week or two.
• Bump feeding and hand-winding line are why you dislike trimming.
• More than one person in the house uses the trimmer.
• You own or plan to buy EGO 56V tools.

Skip it if

• You already own an EGO battery and want to save; the EGO ST1500SF is tool-only.
• You trim acreage, ditches or dense brush; the ECHO SRM-2620T is built for it.
• You are on Greenworks 80V; the Greenworks 80V 16 in. Gen 2 matches your batteries.
• You want one motor for trimming, edging and hedges; consider the EGO Multi-Head System.

Warranty: the listing states a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty. The trimmer head and line are normally treated as wear items, so read EGO's terms and register both the tool and the battery.

Electrical safety listing: the listing we drew from does not name a UL, ETL or CSA certification, so look for the certification mark on the rating label or in the manual before you plug it in, and use only the cord gauge and length the manual allows.

Recalls: check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model before you buy, and again once a year after you own it. Search by brand and model number, and register the product with the manufacturer so a recall notice reaches you directly.