ECHO SRM-2620 vs STIHL FS 91 R: String Trimmers Performance & Value

What’s going on guys, this is Tyler with Clean Cut Lawns—hope you’re all doing well! If you haven’t been to the ECHO Means Business YouTube channel before, make sure you hit that subscribe button. Also follow them on Instagram, and check out the ECHO Means Business website as well. Today I’m going to do a product comparison on the ECHO 2620 string trimmer and the Stihl FS91 string trimmer.

I brought out here in this field the Stihl FS-91 R with the loop handle just to show you how it does in some thick grass, and I brought the ECHO 2620 as well. I just want to show you a little bit how they do in some tall grass. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] ECHO did send me these trimmers to use, so I did not pay for them with my own money. They did send them to me, and I’m going to try and give you the best feedback that I can on both of them after using them for several months now. I’m not really going to grade them, but I’ll tell you which one I like more in different categories. I don’t have the specs in front of me—you can look those up on the ECHO and Stihl websites to figure out exactly how much they weigh, how much power they have, and things like that.

First things first: comfort. When I think of comfort, I think of weight and handle placement. I’m going to have to say I like the ECHO better. It feels lighter; I can more easily grab it with one hand—whether I’m going down a hill or reaching up under something. I can do that with the Stihl too, but it is heavier. One thing about the ECHO: I like that the trigger is guarded a little more than on the Stihl. On the Stihl, the trigger is just kind of loose without any handle wrapping around it, and I’ve broken one of those triggers before. So for comfort, I’m going with the ECHO.

Now, let’s talk power. The Stihl FS91 does have more power than the ECHO when it comes to thick brushy stuff. If I were going out in a field to weed something really heavy, I probably wouldn’t pick either of these—I’d probably go with the FS130, FS240, or step up to the ECHO 2620T (more torque) or even the 3020 from ECHO. But for mowing every two weeks or thick crabgrass, either one will do the trick. Just stay away from real thick brush with these.

Now let’s talk about weed eater heads. On the Stihl, you’ve got the AutoCut head. On the ECHO, it’s the Speed-Feed head. 100%, I prefer restringing the ECHO head. I only have to make one cut of string, feed it through, and wind it up—it’s quick and easy. On the Stihl, you need two pieces of string, and if you drop the head during restringing, you’ve got to start over. That makes ECHO the winner here, hands down.

I do like how the Stihl stop switch resets automatically—you don’t have to flip it back on after shutting it off. I’m in the habit of switching it off and back on every time, but for people who don’t, that feature helps. On the ECHO, you’ll need to flip the switch back manually or you’ll be pulling the cord while it’s off.

As for reliability—truthfully, I really wanted to like the Stihl more. But even on the first yard I used it on, I had issues. I was trimming along a long fence line—about 20 yards in, the Stihl started acting up. It wouldn’t rev properly even with full throttle. It might need a carb adjustment, but I didn’t expect that so soon after starting to use it. I thought maybe a few tanks of gas would break it in, but that didn’t help. So it needs a carb adjustment at minimum. I’m no mechanic—I can run equipment, but I’m not great at working on it. Things like air filters and choke placement are similar between both. I like that on the Stihl, the choke turns off when you pull the trigger. On the ECHO, you have to do it manually. Fuel efficiency seems about the same.

In the end, they’re both good trimmers. But I’ll probably enjoy the Stihl more once I get that carb issue fixed. Even the people who work for me reach for the ECHO before the Stihl. So which would I choose? I choose the 2620. They’re in the same price range, but despite having a little less power, the ECHO wins overall.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this video and learned something. Be sure to check out some of the other product comparisons coming out—there are quite a few, and I’m excited to see them too. Thanks for watching, and have a great day! Make sure you leave a comment down below and let us know what equipment you run—or what’s your favorite string trimmer. Let us know in the comments below.