Einhell GC-HH 9048 Electric Long Reach Hedge Trimmer Review

Based on the design alone, it’s easy to see why someone would choose to purchase this hedge trimmer. For starters, its laser cut, diamond ground, steel blade is fantastic quality – it looks and feels stronger and sharper than the blades on the cordless hedge trimmers that I tested. That said, it’s not quite as long. Although the blade may technically be 48cm long, its cutting length is shorter at 41cm, making it the shortest blade of the five hedge trimmers that I reviewed.

However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it means that the machine feels more balanced when you hold it. This is helped by the fact that it can be used with or without its extension pole – some other hedge trimmers don’t give you the option of removing the middle piece. 

The seven positions that the head of this machine rotates to also add to its versatility, as does the twisting rear handle. The D-handle that comes with this hedge trimmer is adjustable too. This is quite an important feature, as some hedge trimmers don’t even come with a D-handle.

In terms of reach, add the extension pole in and this hedge trimmer stretches out to 2.6m long. As mentioned, it can be used without the extension too, which shortens it down to 2.1m.

Unlike some of the other electric garden tools that I’ve used in the past, this one comes with a lengthy cable. 10m gives you a fair bit of room to work with if your hedges are located near to a power socket. If they’re not, an extension lead will enable you to cover more distance. It’s worth mentioning that Einhell has also kindly provided two plugs with this machine – a 3-pin and a 2-pin.

When it comes to performance, this Einhell hedge trimmer more than shines. It’s much heavier duty than the cordless models that I tested, meaning that it’s able to effortlessly whizz through thicker branches. 

This is helped by the blade’s 20mm tooth spacing. In theory, this should allow you to cut through branches that are 2cm thick, but I found that it handled thicker branches just as well. Not only did it slice through the thicker branches of an overgrown beech hedge that other hedge trimmers struggled with, but it was also able to take down branches from tall sycamore and plum trees.

The downside to having a heavy duty hedge trimmer is the fact that they tend to be heavier in weight. This one weighs in at 5.1kg, making it one of the heaviest of the hedge trimmers that I tested. The shoulder strap slightly lightens the load and the adjustable D-handle helps with balance. However, your arms will still end up taking most of the weight, making long hedge trimming sessions feel pretty tiring.

Electric garden tools are usually more powerful than cordless models. So, I was expecting this hedge trimmer to be more powerful than the cordless ones that I tested, and I was right. 

As soon as you turn the machine on, you can feel that it really means business. At 240V/900W, you can’t even compare this motor to the 18V or even 40V cordless models – this one more than takes the lead.

Einhell claims that this machine delivers 2000 cuts per minute. While this wasn’t something that I could really test out myself, I would be inclined to believe them based on how quickly this hedge trimmer was able to get the job done when compared to others.

While the extra power provided by this Einhell hedge trimmer is definitely an advantage, this comes with one major downside; the machine is incredibly loud. 

Not only will ear defenders be needed, even if you’re only using it for short periods of time, but, if you have neighbours nearby, you’ll also need to time your hedge trimming sessions so as not to disturb them – they’ll more than likely be able to hear this machine from within their homes.

In terms of safety features, this Einhell hedge trimmer comes with all of the standards. It has a dead man’s switch to prevent anyone from accidentally turning the machine on, a plastic guard that slides over the blade, and plenty of safety stickers dotted around it.

It also comes with a shoulder strap, which is definitely needed for a machine that weighs 5.1kg. However, I was surprised to see that the shoulder strap had a quick-release clasp. I couldn’t work out why this was, and the fact that I might accidentally open up the strap while working, which could cause the machine to drop, did play on my mind while I was using it.

Another downside to the shoulder strap was that it simply wasn’t very good. It didn’t really help with how heavy this machine felt. Lighter hedge trimmers may be able to get away with a standard-style shoulder strap, but this one would have benefited from a strap that was better designed to take the weight.

When using an electric garden tool, you always have to be mindful of where the cable is – after all, you don’t want to accidentally slice through it. Unfortunately, Einhell chose to go with black for this machine’s cable, making it difficult to spot in long grass. A brighter colour would have instantly made using this machine much safer.

Although this hedge trimmer may have a couple of minor flaws, these are very easy to overlook once you see the machine’s price. This was the cheapest of the hedge trimmers that I tested, yet it was also the most powerful, and one of the most versatile. With that in mind, it offers fantastic value for money.

There are a few aspects to this hedge trimmer that may prove to be deal-breakers for some people; its weight and its noise level, for example. However, if you’re comfortable handling a heavier machine and would like a hedge trimmer that’s capable of tackling thin and thick branches on both hedges and mature trees, then the Einhell GC-HH 9048 Electric Long Reach Hedge Trimmer would be a great choice. Don’t feel dubious about its lower-than-average price – this hedge trimmer really does excel when it comes to power and performance!