Skil Brushless 20V 13 in String Trimmer Kit

First impressions and setup

Out of the box, the Skil 13-inch trimmer feels like a thoughtfully designed homeowner tool rather than a stripped-down budget special. Assembly is as simple as unfolding the shaft, tightening a couple of fasteners, and clicking in the auxiliary handle. It took me under five minutes before I was loading line and cutting. The foldable shaft and included wall bracket are nice touches if your garage is already a game of Tetris.

At about a touch over 6 pounds bare (under 8 pounds with the included 4.0Ah battery), it’s light enough to swing for a full yard without fatigue. The balance point sits just forward of the trigger hand, and the battery housing provides a natural forearm rest that helps steady the head. The lock-off button and variable-speed trigger are where you’d expect them; after a couple of starts they become second nature.

Power and cutting performance

This trimmer’s brushless 20V motor offers two speed settings: 5,000 rpm in low and 6,000 rpm in high. In practice, that translates to two distinct modes. Low is gentler, perfect for trimming around garden beds, siding, or delicate plants where you want control and fewer projectiles. High is for edging and knocking down thicker patches of grass.

As a 13-inch, dual-line machine running 0.080-inch line, it’s squarely built for lawn maintenance, not clearing saplings or thigh-high thistle. On typical suburban turf, it cuts cleanly, edges sidewalks with enough authority to leave a neat line, and handles fence lines and around posts without a fuss. In heavier, late-spring growth, I occasionally needed to slow my sweep or bump up to high. If you routinely battle thick, wet grass or heavy weeds, you’ll feel the limits of a 20V head; stepping up to a 40V+ platform may make more sense. Used within its lane, though, the Skil keeps pace and feels responsive.

Overload protection kicks in predictably—if I buried the head into matted, wet clumps or jammed line under a rock edge, the motor would shut off to protect itself. A quick lift and restart brought it back to life. That’s par for the course on modern brushless tools and easier on the drivetrain in the long run.

Line management: Twist Load head and bump feed

Line loading is often the pain point on string trimmers. Skil’s Twist Load head is one of the better homeowner solutions I’ve used. You feed line into the eyelets, then twist the head to wind it. It accepts standard 0.080-inch line and runs dual-strand; I was back up and running in about a minute without breaking out any tools or dealing with a finicky spool.

The bump feed is crisp. A firm tap on a hard surface releases enough line without overfeeding. Technique matters here: bump with the head at speed and keep it level. Bump too gently or on soft soil, and you might not get a feed. Cutting with the guard’s line cutter properly set keeps your line length consistent and reduces bogging.

A tip that helped: stick with quality round or twisted 0.080-inch line. Square or star-shaped line can cut a bit faster in some grass but is more prone to breaking on concrete and steel fencing, which just means more bumping and reloads. With dual line and smart speed choice (low for delicate trimming, high for edging), I didn’t miss the more aggressive profiles.

Battery life, charging, and the 20V ecosystem

With the included 4.0Ah battery, my run time ranged from about 38–45 minutes on a mix of low and high, with continuous high-speed cutting landing closer to the mid-20-minute mark. That’s enough to trim and edge a medium yard on a single pack; larger properties will want a second battery. Skil’s PWRCORE 20 system means the battery and charger play nicely with other Skil 20V tools, which is handy if you already own the drill or blower.

Charging on the included charger isn’t blistering, but it’s reasonable. I topped the 4.0Ah pack from one bar to full in under an hour. If you tend to mow and trim in one session, parking the pack on charge while you edge or blow is usually enough to keep you cutting.

Ergonomics, noise, and vibration

The variable-speed trigger has a gentle ramp and doesn’t feel twitchy. The two-speed selector is a real improvement over “trigger finesse only”; being able to set a top speed keeps you from accidentally over-revving around mulch or fragile edging. Vibration is well-controlled for a dual-line head—nothing that numbs the fingers after a session. Noise is what you’d expect for a 20V trimmer: clearly audible but far quieter than gas, and less harsh than some high-rpm 18V units I’ve used.

The adjustable front handle gives enough angle options for users of different heights, and the 58-inch overall length kept the head away from my shins without making the balance feel nose-heavy.

Durability and maintenance

Most of the head assembly is plastic, with a steel shaft and metal fasteners where it counts. After a season of use, my head shows scuffs and scratches—as any trimmer will—but the locking tabs and bump mechanism are still intact. I found that keeping the head clear of packed clippings extends smooth feed: tap it gently on your palm and blow out debris if you’ve been cutting wet grass. Make sure the cap seats fully after reloading; if it’s not clicked in, clippings can find their way inside and impede the feed.

The IPX4 rating is meaningful; I’ve used it after a light sprinkle and didn’t worry about errant splashes. It’s not a rain tool—don’t push your luck in a downpour—but for damp morning grass, it’s reassuring.

As for the drivetrain, the brushless motor and electronics feel well-tuned. If you do get frequent stalls, it’s worth checking line length (overlong line drags the motor), swapping to fresh line, or stepping down to low until you’re out of heavy patches.

Storage and portability

Between the foldable shaft and the wall bracket, storage is simple. The folded length makes it easy to tuck on a shelf or hang over a mower handle, and it fits across the backseat of a compact car without playing trunk Tetris. Little touches like that matter when you’re short on space.

Where it excels and where it falls short

Strengths:
- Easy line loading and reliable bump feed
- Useful two-speed selector with a smooth variable trigger
- Lightweight, well-balanced feel for extended use
- Solid run time on the included 4.0Ah pack
- System compatibility if you’re already in Skil’s 20V lineup
- Space-saving foldable shaft and included storage bracket

Limitations:
- Not the right choice for persistent heavy weeds or thick, wet growth
- Plastic head components demand a bit of care—don’t pry on the tabs or slam the bump knob against concrete
- With 0.080-inch line, expect more frequent reloads if you edge aggressively along concrete or chain-link

Tips for better results

• Use high speed for edging and thick patches; low speed for delicate trimming and longer battery life.
• Keep line at the guard’s cut length; overlong line reduces power and triggers overload.
• Bump on hard surfaces at full head speed to feed cleanly.
• Clear debris from the head if line starts feeding inconsistently, especially after cutting wet grass.
• Stick to quality 0.080-inch line; it’s what this head is tuned for.

The bottom line

The Skil 13-inch trimmer hits a sweet spot for homeowners who want an easy-to-use, cordless trimmer that handles routine weekly trimming and edging without drama. It’s light, balanced, and the line system is refreshingly straightforward. While it won’t replace a high-voltage or gas unit for heavy overgrowth, it delivers consistent results on typical lawn maintenance, and the two-speed design adds useful control you can actually feel.

I recommend it for small to medium yards, especially if you already own Skil 20V tools and batteries. If your property regularly demands more power—thick, wet grass, broad ditches, invasive weeds—you’ll be happier stepping up in voltage. For everyone else, this is a capable, user-friendly trimmer that respects your time, space, and ears.