Skip to content

Echo brush cutters

The landscaper's petrol workhorse

Echo, part of Japan's Yamabiko group, makes professional petrol trimmers and brush cutters sold through dealers. We don't review an Echo machine yet.

By · Updated · first published

In short:We don't review an Echo brush cutter yet. Echo is the professional petrol brand of Japan's Yamabiko Corporation, formed in 2008 when Kioritz (Echo's maker) merged with Shindaiwa, and it is sold mainly through garden-machinery dealers. For a professional-grade petrol brush cutter, the closest machines we review are the Stihl FS 131 (36.3 cc 4-MIX, 1.4 kW, 5.8 kg), the Husqvarna 129R (27.6 cc, 0.85 kW) and the Makita EM4351UH (43 cc four-stroke, 1.5 kW).

OriginJapan (Yamabiko) · pro petrol Best known forProfessional petrol trimmers & brush cutters

Echo is the brand name of Yamabiko Corporation, formed in Japan in 2008 when Kioritz — the company behind Echo — merged with Shindaiwa. Its range is built around professional petrol handheld tools: trimmers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, blowers and chainsaws, sold mainly through garden-machinery dealers rather than online marketplaces.

Our coverage

We don’t review an Echo brush cutter yet, so we can’t give you verified specs or prices. If you are considering one, ask your dealer for the engine size, power in kW, weight without cutting tool, the handle type and which blades and harness are included.

Petrol brush cutters we do review

  • The Stihl FS 131: a 36.3 cc 4-MIX engine producing 1.4 kW, a bike handle and 5.8 kg without guard or cutting tool. It is our best brush cutter overall.
  • The Husqvarna 129R: 27.6 cc, 0.85 kW, 5.4 kg, supplied with a trimmer head, a grass blade and a double harness.
  • The Makita EM4351UH: a 43 cc MM4 four-stroke rated at 1.5 kW, with a bike handle and a universal guard.
  • The Honda UMK 435 UE: a 35 cc GX35 four-stroke that runs on unmixed petrol.

Echo’s own replacement heads are covered in our accessories, including Speed-Feed 400 pattern heads.

What to check before buying any brush cutter

  • The job. Line is enough for grass and nettles; brambles, scrub and saplings need a metal blade and a machine whose manual allows one.
  • Power. For petrol, about 25 cc suits grass and light growth, and 1 kW or more suits brambles and big plots. For cordless, look for a twin-battery or high-voltage brushless machine if you want to fit a blade.
  • Handle and harness. A bike handle and a double harness make long sessions with a blade far less tiring than a loop handle and a strap.
  • What is in the box. Battery, charger, blade and harness are often extras. Compare complete kits, not headline prices.
  • Parts and service. Check that line heads, blades, air filters and spark plugs are easy to buy in the UK, and who handles the warranty.

Who might buy Echo

Landscapers and serious users with a good local Echo dealer. Compare against the machines above in our professional brush cutter guide and petrol guide.

Our Echo reviews

We don't review any Echo models yet. In the meantime, browse our petrol, cordless and electric brush cutter guides.