EGO ST1300E vs Makita DUR368LZ
Both are sold bare and both run line only, but they chase different priorities: EGO bets on raw 56V power, Makita on class-leading low weight. Here's the real difference.
In short:The EGO ST1300E is a 56V brushless line trimmer with a 33 cm cut and 2.0 mm bump-feed line, weighing 2.7 kg without battery (EGO UK). The Makita DUR368LZ is a twin-18V LXT brushless loop-handle trimmer with a 350 mm cut, three speeds, ADT and a reverse switch, with a 3.2 kg bare item weight on Amazon. Both are sold bare and both are supplied for line work. Choose by the batteries you own: EGO 56V or Makita LXT.
Neither of these is a blade-ready brush cutter, and neither comes with a battery — so the comparison isn’t about which one clears rougher ground, it’s about which cordless platform and which trade-off suits you. The EGO ST1300E leans on a big 56V platform for near-petrol cutting power, while the Makita DUR368LZ leans on a lighter, brushless build that’s easier on the arms over a long session. Both are line-only, both are bare tools, and both ask you to already have — or be willing to buy into — their respective battery ecosystems.
At a glance
| EGO ST1300E | Makita DUR368LZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 56V ARC Lithium | 36V (2× 18V LXT), brushless |
| Cutting width | 33 cm | 35 cm (350 mm) |
| Weight (bare) | 2.7 kg (EGO UK) | 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight) |
| Controls | Two-speed on ST1300E-S | 3 speeds, ADT, reverse switch |
| Cutting head | Line only, no blade option | Supplied with nylon head |
| Battery supplied | No — bare tool | No — bare tool |
| Battery ecosystem | EGO 56V ARC Lithium | Makita 18V LXT (huge, cross-tool) |
| Best suited to | Longer grass, wants raw power | Long sessions, wants low weight |
Power vs weight: the real trade-off
This is where the two machines actually separate. EGO’s 56V ARC Lithium platform is a genuine step up in voltage over most cordless trimmers, and the ST1300E is built to show it — it holds cutting speed through longer, denser grass rather than bogging down, closing much of the gap to a petrol trimmer. The Makita DUR368LZ answers with features: its twin-LXT brushless motor has three speeds, Automatic Torque Drive that adjusts speed to the load, Active Feedback-sensing Technology and a reverse switch to throw off wrapped grass. On weight, the bare EGO (2.7 kg) is lighter than the bare Makita (3.2 kg), and it carries one battery rather than two.
Cutting width and capability
The EGO’s 33 cm and the Makita’s 35 cm put them in similar territory for day-to-day lawn and rough-grass work. Both are supplied as line trimmers with loop handles, so brambles, woody saplings and dense scrub are off the table for both. If your garden includes that kind of growth, you’d need to look elsewhere — Makita’s own blade-capable DUR369AZ is the natural step up within the same brand, or a petrol brush cutter if you want more headroom still.
Bare tool, twice over
Neither trimmer includes a battery or charger, so the number on the box is only part of the real cost. The EGO ST1300E takes a 56V ARC Lithium battery, a platform that’s less widely spread than Makita’s but shared across EGO’s broader 56V range of mowers, blowers and chainsaws. The Makita DUR368LZ takes two 18V LXT batteries — arguably the largest cordless battery ecosystem in the trade and DIY market, covering everything from drills to saws. If you’re starting completely from scratch, either investment is defensible for the long term, but check what you (or your household) already own before adding up sticker prices, because the “cheaper” tool on paper can easily end up costing more once batteries are included.
Choose the EGO ST1300E if…
- You want the lighter, simpler tool
- Your grass tends to be longer or thicker rather than a tightly maintained lawn
- You already own — or plan to build — an EGO 56V tool collection
- Quiet, fume-free running near a house matters more than outright lightness
Choose the Makita DUR368LZ if…
- You want three speeds, ADT and a reverse switch
- You already own (or plan to buy into) Makita’s 18V LXT battery system
- You mainly trim grass and light growth rather than dense, overgrown patches
- You value a brushless motor and Makita’s professional-grade build quality
Which should you buy?
If you’re on EGO’s 56V platform, or want the lightest simple tool, the EGO ST1300E is a strong choice. If you’re already in Makita’s LXT ecosystem and like its electronics — three speeds, ADT, reverse switch — the Makita DUR368LZ is the better long-session companion.
Either way, remember both are sold bare and both are line-only. Price up the batteries you’ll actually need before comparing totals, and rule both out if brambles or woody scrub are a regular part of your garden — that’s a job for a blade-capable machine, not either of these.
Full specifications
| EGO Power+ ST1300E | Makita DUR368LZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cordless | Cordless |
| Engine / power | 56V ARC Lithium | 36V LXT · Brushless |
| Type | Cordless line trimmer | — |
| Power | 56V ARC Lithium, brushless | 36V (2× 18V LXT), brushless |
| Cutting width | 33 cm | 350 mm (nylon head) |
| Line | 2.0 mm, bump feed | — |
| Weight | 2.7 kg without battery (EGO UK) | 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight, bare) |
| Cutting head | Line only, no blade option | — |
| Battery system | EGO 56V ARC Lithium (shared across EGO range) | — |
| Speeds | — | 3, electronic |
| Handle | — | Loop |
| Supplied | — | Bare tool (no battery/charger) |
| Best for | Homeowners who want petrol-like cutting power in a quiet cordless trimmer for lawns and edges | LXT owners who prioritise low weight and comfort for grass and light growth. |
| Our rating | 8 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
Strengths and drawbacks
EGO Power+ ST1300E
- + 56V brushless motor holds speed in long grass
- + Light for its class — 2.7 kg before the battery (EGO UK)
- + Much quieter than any petrol trimmer, with no fuel or fumes
- + Shares batteries across EGO's wider 56V tool range
- − Usually sold bare — battery and charger are a separate, non-trivial cost
- − Line only, so it can't take a metal blade for brush or brambles
- − Bump feed with open-and-wind reloading, not EGO's quicker loading heads
Makita DUR368LZ
- + Light for a twin-battery machine
- + Brushless, three speeds, ADT and reverse switch
- + Runs on standard 18V LXT batteries
- − Sold bare — batteries and charger extra
- − Line-focused; less bite than the DUR369AZ
- − Premium price for the class
Frequently asked questions
Is the EGO ST1300E more powerful than the Makita DUR368LZ?
Neither maker publishes a directly comparable power figure. Both are brushless and both hold speed well in long grass; the Makita adds three speeds, Automatic Torque Drive and a reverse switch, while the EGO is simpler and lighter.
Which is lighter, the EGO or the Makita?
Bare, the EGO: EGO UK gives 2.7 kg without battery, while Amazon lists the bare DUR368LZ at 3.2 kg. The Makita then carries two LXT batteries against the EGO's one 56V pack, so compare with the batteries you'd actually use.
Do either of these come with a battery included?
No — both are sold as bare tools. The EGO ST1300E needs a 56V ARC Lithium battery and charger, and the Makita DUR368LZ needs two 18V LXT batteries and a charger. Factor that cost in before comparing sticker prices.
Can either cut brambles or scrub?
No. Both are line-only machines with no blade attachment, so they're built for grass, lawn edges and light overgrowth rather than woody brush. For brambles or saplings, look at a blade-capable brush cutter such as Makita's own DUR369AZ.