DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless String Trimmer and Brushless Cordless Blower Combo Kit

What’s in the box and who it’s for

This DeWalt 20V combo pairs a 13-inch string trimmer with a compact, brushless handheld blower. It’s a straightforward setup aimed at homeowners who want grab-and-go convenience without the noise, weight, and maintenance of gas. If you’re already on DeWalt’s 20V MAX platform, the included 4.0Ah battery and charger are a nice bonus, and both tools play well with the rest of the line.

I used the combo across a typical suburban yard—walkways, driveway, a small patio, fence lines, landscape beds, and a bit of ditch grass. Overall, it’s a capable, easy-to-live-with pair that prioritizes ergonomics and simplicity over raw power.

Setup and ergonomics

Assembly is quick. The trimmer ships in two pieces; the coupler tightens easily and the guard bolts on in a couple of minutes. The blower just needs the nozzle clicked into place. Both tools are light enough for most users to manage comfortably, though once you add the 4Ah pack, the trimmer moves from “lightweight” to “moderately light.” Balance is solid and the main handles are generously overmolded.

Two small notes on ergonomics:
- The trimmer’s split shaft has a little flex at the coupler under heavy load. It never felt unsafe, but you will feel a hint of wobble if you’re really bearing down in tall grass.
- There’s no included shoulder strap. On flat ground you won’t miss it, but if you’re trimming on slopes or longer sessions, an aftermarket strap helps.

The trimmer: compact head, confident cut

The 13-inch cutting swath is on the smaller side, but the gear-drive head and .080-inch line give the trimmer more bite than the size suggests. In practice, it chews through overgrown lawn edges, thick patches of grass, and most non-woody weeds cleanly. It’s not built for brush-clearing, but for routine yard care it feels confident.

A few performance highlights:
- Variable speed trigger: I found myself feathering the trigger around fences and siding, then squeezing to full for open stretches. It’s responsive and helps stretch runtime.
- Bump feed: Line advance is consistent. One tap on the ground and you’re back to full cutting length, and the built-in cutter keeps both ends even.
- Spool reloading: DeWalt’s twist-load design (thread the line through the eyelets and twist the head) is genuinely easy. No disassembling the head, and it’s forgiving if you’re refilling in the yard.

Edging is the one area where the trimmer is limited. The head doesn’t rotate into a dedicated edger position and there’s no guide wheel. You can edge by rotating the shaft and “slicing” along sidewalks, but a dedicated edger will do cleaner, more consistent vertical cuts.

The blower: nimble cleaner with limits

On paper, the blower tops out at 400 CFM and 90 MPH. In hand, that translates to a nimble, controlled air stream that excels on hard surfaces and tight spaces. I used it to clear dust, sand, and dry leaves from the garage, patio, and driveway; it’s surgical around garden beds and between shrubs, where a high-output blower would just scatter mulch.

A few design touches stand out:
- Brushless motor and axial fan: Start-up is instant and smooth. The axial layout keeps it compact and efficient, though it trades absolute peak force for size and runtime.
- Variable trigger with speed lock: The “cruise control” is great for long passes on pavement, and you can still bump in more power with your index finger without releasing the lock.

Where it runs out of steam is wet leaf mats and deep leaf piles on grass. You’ll be able to push them, but it takes patience and multiple passes. If your yard sees heavy fall leaf drop or you’re moving debris across grass routinely, a higher-voltage blower (or a backpack unit) is a better fit.

Runtime and battery strategy

DeWalt lists up to 60 minutes of runtime, and you can flirt with that if you stay in low power and do light trimming. In realistic use:
- Trimmer: Expect roughly 20–35 minutes of mixed-speed trimming on the 4Ah pack, more if you’re mostly touching up edges. Dense, tall grass on high power will shorten that.
- Blower: On full trigger it lands closer to 10–20 minutes. Using the speed lock at a mid setting stretches runtime considerably for post-mow cleanup.

My recommendation: if you’re maintaining more than a small lot, budget for a second 4Ah–5Ah battery. Swapping packs keeps both tools productive without waiting on a charge.

Noise and vibration

The listed 61 dB(A) is on the optimistic side of what your ears perceive. Both tools are quieter than gas, but the blower in particular has a high-pitched whine at full speed that carries. I wear hearing protection out of habit and recommend it, especially if you’re working near hard surfaces where sound reflects. Vibration is low on both tools; the trimmer remains comfortable over a full battery.

Durability and maintenance

The trimmer head and guard have taken scuffs without issue, and the gearbox has stayed tight. Keep the line at .080 inch as recommended; heavier line reduces runtime and adds strain. Clean the trimmer’s intake vents and occasionally check the coupler bolts, especially if you separate the shaft for storage.

The blower’s brushless motor should, in theory, give it a long service life. Like many modern cordless blowers, it relies on electronic protection: if you stall the fan with debris or rapidly pulse the trigger, it may briefly cut power to protect the electronics. Pull the battery, clear the obstruction, reseat the pack, and you’re back in business. I didn’t encounter any hard failures during testing, and the included 3-year limited warranty plus 1-year free service adds some peace of mind, with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee if the combo isn’t a fit.

Day-to-day usability

The biggest win with this combo is how often I used it. No cords, no mixing fuel, and no pull-starts meant I grabbed the blower for quick five-minute jobs—clearing the entryway, blowing out the garage, or tidying the patio after dinner. The trimmer’s smaller swath actually helped in tight areas, and the variable trigger kept me from chewing up fences and edging stones.

If you’re accustomed to a bigger gas trimmer or a high-voltage blower, you’ll feel the step down in brute force. But you’ll also likely appreciate the lower weight, easier control, and quieter operation. It’s a classic trade-off: convenience and finesse over maximum power.

Where it shines and where it doesn’t

Shines:
- Small to medium yards with moderate growth
- Hard-surface cleanup, especially around landscaping
- Users already invested in DeWalt 20V MAX batteries
- Anyone who values easy spool reloads and good trigger control

Comes up short:
- Heavy fall leaf cleanup or wet leaf mats on grass
- Dedicated edging needs
- Large properties where longer runtime and wider swaths matter

Recommendation

I recommend this combo for homeowners with small to medium yards who prioritize convenience, control, and compatibility with DeWalt’s 20V system. The trimmer cuts cleanly, the bump feed is dependable, and the quick-load head is genuinely time-saving. The blower is excellent for everyday cleanup on hard surfaces and around delicate planting, and the speed lock makes longer sessions less fatiguing.

If your yard demands heavy leaf movement or you want a trimmer that doubles as a true edger, look elsewhere—higher-voltage blowers and dedicated edgers exist for a reason. Otherwise, paired with a second battery, this kit hits a very practical sweet spot: easy to grab, easy to use, and easy to maintain, with enough power for routine weekly yard care and the warranty coverage to back it up.