7 Best String Trimmer Harnesses

Buying a String Trimmer Harness

String trimmers, AKA weed whackers, are incredibly useful yard maintenance tools that make quick work of grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas. The problem is, these tools are notoriously large, heavy and awkward. Even newer, lighter models will make your arms burn after an hour or two of trimming in the hot sun.

That’s when a string trimmer harness comes in handy.

Worn over the torso, these harnesses take the weight of your string trimmer off your arms and distribute it evenly over your back, shoulders and core. I can tell you from experience as a nationally ranked powerlifting athlete, no matter how strong you are, you don’t want to do serious string trimming work without a harness!

When choosing the right harness, here are some things to consider:

• Comfort and style: Designs vary greatly. A sling-style harness is more or less a single nylon strap that holds up your trimmer. While they’re often padded, they aren’t as comfortable for long jobs as a full, front-and-back padded harness.
• Adjustability: Most string trimmer harnesses adjust, but the range of varies. Try one on before buying it, if possible, or make sure it can be exchanged.
• Hook location: Depending on your height and arm length, the location of the support hook impacts how handy and comfortable that harness will be. Although some have adjustable hooks, many don’t. You don’t want a harness with a hook that’s too low or high.
• Right-handed vs. left-handed design: Many harnesses easily adjust for right- and left-handed users, but not all. Some are only meant for right-handed use. If you’re left-handed, make sure the harness you buy will work for you.
• Cost: This varies greatly, from around $12 to $200. Decide ahead of time what you’re willing to spend.

Keep reading for our top picks and why we like them.