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Easy on the back

The best brush cutters for back pain

When a bad back rules out anything heavy or jarring, weight, starting and harness support matter more than power. These picks are ranked from lightest and gentlest.

By · Updated · first published

In short:For a bad back, choose a light cordless machine with no pull start and set it up so you stand upright. The Makita DUR190LZX3 weighs 2.7–3.0 kg with battery and takes plastic and metal blades; the Makita DUR368LZ is 3.2 kg bare; the Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V 4.1 kg with battery with a 23 cm blade; and the Worx Nitro WG186E 4.1 kg bare with a steel disc. If you need petrol, the Husqvarna 128R (Smart Start, double harness) and Stihl FS 70 C-E (ErgoStart, 5.4 kg) ease starting.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Makita DUR190LZX3 18V LXT brushless brush cutter metal blade capable
    18V blade-capable

    MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless

    Makita DUR190LZX3

    An 18V LXT brushless loop-handle trimmer that runs line, plastic blades or a 230 mm metal blade, with three speeds and ADT — sold bare.

    7.9/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    Makita DUR368LZ 36V LXT brushless cordless brush cutter lightweight loop handle
    Light twin-18V

    MAKITA · 36V LXT · Brushless

    Makita DUR368LZ

    A light twin-18V (36V) LXT brushless trimmer with a loop handle, three speeds, ADT and a 350 mm cut — comfortable for long grass sessions, sold bare.

    8.4/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V cordless brush cutter lightweight line and blade
    Entry 36V

    BOSCH · 36V Power For All

    Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V

    A brushless 36V cordless brush cutter with a line head and a laser-cut metal blade in the box — 4.1 kg with battery, sold bare or as a kit.

    8.3/10
    Read the review
  4. 4
    Worx Nitro WG186E 40V brushless cordless brush cutter metal blade DriveShare
    Brushless + blade

    WORX · 40V PowerShare · Brushless

    Worx Nitro WG186E.9

    A brushless 40V cordless brush cutter with a metal blade and interchangeable heads via DriveShare — versatile and capable, sold bare.

    8.0/10
    Read the review
  5. 5
    Husqvarna 128R 28cc 2-stroke petrol brush cutter Smart Start bike handle harness
    Entry petrol

    HUSQVARNA · 28 cc · 2-stroke

    Husqvarna 128R

    Husqvarna's 28 cc petrol brush cutter with Smart Start, a bullhorn handle, double harness, trimmer head and grass blade — for grass and light growth.

    7.9/10
    Read the review
  6. 6
    Stihl FS 70 C-E petrol brush cutter with ErgoStart and bike handle
    All-rounder

    STIHL · 27.2 cc · ErgoStart

    Stihl FS 70 C-E

    20% more power than the FS 55 (0.9 kW vs 0.75 kW), effortless ErgoStart and an AutoCut 25-2 head — the best Stihl compromise for homeowners.

    8.4/10
    Read the review

What matters for a bad back

With back pain, cutting power matters far less than how the machine feels after ten minutes: total weight, how it hangs on you, vibration, and how hard it is to start. A machine that forces you to hunch, or jerks your spine on every pull start, will undo any cutting ability.

Our picks

  • Makita DUR190LZX3 — 2.7–3.0 kg with battery, loop handle, three speeds; plastic blades supplied and a 230 mm metal blade option.
  • Makita DUR368LZ — 3.2 kg bare twin-18V trimmer with Automatic Torque Drive for rough grass.
  • Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V — 4.1 kg with battery; brushless, 23 cm metal blade for nettles and light scrub.
  • Worx Nitro WG186E — 4.1 kg bare, brushless, 25 cm steel disc and an adjustable handle.
  • Husqvarna 128R — petrol with Smart Start and a fuel pump to ease the pull, bullhorn handle and double harness.
  • Stihl FS 70 C-E — petrol with spring-assisted ErgoStart; 5.4 kg without fuel and cutting tool, bike handle.

Set it up to protect your back

  1. Stand upright: adjust the shaft and handle so the head is just above the ground with your back straight.
  2. Use a harness or strap and adjust it so the machine hangs balanced, not nose-down (how to adjust a harness).
  3. Swing from the legs and hips, in short arcs, rather than twisting your spine.
  4. Take breaks every 15–20 minutes and keep sessions short.
  5. Start on the ground, not on your knee: cordless avoids the pull altogether.

More options

See the best lightweight brush cutters and the best brush cutters for seniors.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Makita DUR190LZX3 Cordless 18V LXT · Brushless 2.7–3.0 kg with battery (Makita UK) 7.9 / 10
Makita DUR368LZ Cordless 36V LXT · Brushless 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight, bare) 8.4 / 10
Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V Cordless 36V Power For All 3.4 kg bare, 4.1 kg with battery (Bosch) 8.3 / 10
Worx Nitro WG186E.9 Cordless 40V PowerShare · Brushless 4.1 kg bare; about 5 kg with batteries 8 / 10
Husqvarna 128R Petrol 28 cc · 2-stroke 5.8 kg excl. cutting equipment 7.9 / 10
Stihl FS 70 C-E Petrol 27.2 cc · ErgoStart 5.4 kg (without fuel and cutting tool) 8.4 / 10

Weights are as stated by the maker, UK retailers or Amazon, so some include a battery or cutting gear and others don't — see each review for details.

Compare our picks head to head

Frequently asked questions

Cordless or petrol for a bad back?

Cordless usually wins: no pull start, lighter weight and less vibration. If you need petrol, choose an easy-start model and always use a harness.

Does a harness help with back pain?

Yes. A double harness puts the weight on both shoulders and keeps you upright rather than hunched over the head. Even a light machine feels better with a strap on longer sessions.

What weight should I choose?

As light as covers your growth: about 3 kg for grass and light weeds (DUR190LZX3, DUR368LZ bare), about 4 kg for a blade-capable cordless brush cutter. Check with your doctor or physio about what suits you.