If you want a weed eater that is hungry, you have come to the right place with the ECHO Weed Eater SRM 225. This is one of the best-selling, timeless weed eaters on the market – for landscapers and homeowners alike.
I have been burned with bad trimmer purchases before, so this is a soft spot for me. Today we will review all the aspects of this ECHO weed eater and help clear up any remaining doubts you may have. Let’s get started:
- Features of the ECHO SRM 225
- Common criticisms (with pictures)
- Trimmer line replacement on the SRM 225
- Cost and value
- The Official Review
Main takeaway: The ECHO SRM 225 is a reliable, powerful string trimmer that will last you over a decade. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Features of the ECHO SRM 225 String Trimmer
To properly review the ECHO SRM 225, we need to evaluate its power, ease of use, line advancement and added functions. Let’s get started with power:
Power output of the ECHO SRM 225
The ECHO SRM-225 has a two stroke engine, boasting 21.2 ccs. While on the lower end of its peers for cubic capacity, this machine still packs quite the punch. Often described as a “workhorse” weed eater, this thing can go as long as you will let it.
I wouldn’t let the lower-end of the cc’s bother you. A lot of the competitors are used for commercial landscaping. If you’re a homeowner and using this around your yard, this is going to be a beast and almost certainly more powerful than any battery-powered weed wacker.
In fact, ECHO is so certain in the power and durability of their machines that they provide a 5 year warranty for normal consumers like you and me.
Also – this thing has a 17 inch cutting swath. 17! That is probably the widest cutting swath I’ve seen on any residential weed eater. Cutting swath is used to measure the diameter of the string trimmer when it’s spinning. Larger swath means you have a larger cutting area.
Comfort level and ease of use
The ECHO SRM-225 weighs in at about eleven and a half pounds and 71 inches when fully assembled. It has anti vibration technology and a shoulder strap that is sold separately. For those of us that love straight lines, the shoulder strap provides a great way to keep a solid line to trim around your beloved garden, shed, or chicken coop.
Line advancement on the ECHO SRM-225
Something else I love about this trimmer is the automatic line-advance system. While most trimmers come with this technology, the line is way easier to feed and reload than some of the competitors.
If you have any experience with trimmers, you will know that if you bump into something with the head of the trimmer, it will spit out a little bit more line. This process tells you to “back off” a little bit and provides the extra room you need.
Another trimmer we reviewed, the Stihl FS 56 RC, has similar features if interested.
Gas vs. electric trimmers
The gas power on the ECHO SRM 225 is unbeatable. I have toyed around with electric trimmers before, and while they can be handy, they do not come close to gas. My electric trimmer (the RYOBI 40V trimmer) feels like it bounces around or slows down whenever there is any bit of pressure applied.
Gas powered trimmers like the ECHO weed eater mentioned here are ruthless. They will cut through whatever you want them to until they run out of line. If you have never used a gas powered weed eater, start with the ECHO and experience the difference.
There is a reason every landscaping company uses gas powered weed eaters. Next time you drive by a landscaping company, check out what they are using. I almost guarantee one of them is using an ECHO trimmer.
Ability to add attachments
There is the ability to add a blade package to this device for super dense brush. I personally don’t use this, but it is nice for those with acreage and brush.
While some of the electric trimmers have multiple attachments that can be convenient, the ECHO weed eater is just one tool with one purpose. And it absolutely crushes that purpose.
Criticisms of the ECHO weed eater SRM 225
As does any best-selling product have some negative reviews, so does the ECHO weed eater. Something I have consistently seen but not experienced is the blowback from the power of this trimmer. The machine does have a small shield at the bottom (especially compared to its peers) that does not fully protect against dirt and rocks kicking up into your face.
If you are wearing safety glasses as recommended, then this should not be too much of an issue for you. After all, dirt is good for you, right?
Another criticism I have seen is with inability to get it started. With the proper 50:1 gas to oil mixture, this should not have any reason getting started.
Replacing the trimmer line
When you do run out of line on the ECHO weed eater, make sure to replace it with .095” weed eater string. This line is easy to load. Simply align the holes on the head of the trimmer, insert the line through to the desired length on the other side, then spin the head until the appropriate amount has fed through.
We developed our own string trimmer line that absolutely slaps and made our ECHO SRM 225 even better. Check it out here!
Cost and value
The ECHO weed eater SRM 225 costs about $220 to $250 at the time this article was written. Compared to other similar weed eaters and trimmers, this is about middle of the pack for price.
You can grab the ECHO SRM 225 from Home Depot for the best price I’ve seen.
For the value, I believe this is one of the most valuable purchases you can make. The ECHO will last you many years and as many jobs as you will need it for. Continue to take care of it and it will take care of you.
Looking for more? We broke down the all of the biggest and baddest trimmers in this post about ECHO products
The official review: The ECHO weed eater SRM 225
| Feature | Rating |
| Difficulty to use | More difficult than electric |
| Durability | More durable |
| Maintenance | Some maintenance required |
| Value | High value |
| For lots <10,000 sq. ft | Highly recommended |
| For lots <1 acre | Highly recommended |
| For lots >1 acre | Highly recommended |
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in a weed eater
When looking to purchase a weed eater there are a few key things to keep in mind. It is always important to understand the power of the machine you are wanting to buy. Other considerations are comfort level, how the line in the trimmer advances, gas vs electric, and whether or not it has the ability to add attachments.
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Gas vs Electric Weed Eaters
When purchasing a piece of lawn equipment in 2023 it’s important to understand your power source options. It basically boils down to gas or electric. Electric trimmers are typically easier to start and require little to no maintenance
. They also have less of a noise and environmental impact. Electric trimmers are usually a good bet for small jobs.
Trimmer powered by gas usually end up having more power and are more suitable for larger, more commercial type applications. Because some electric trimmers receive power by a cord they’re not super mobile, gas powered weed eaters can go where you can go. If you want to trim up the moon, it can go with you.
Gas weed eaters can usually handle thicker weed eater string sizes as well.
ECHO weed eater SRM 225 manual and parts
Manual: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/f1/f1900441-69a2-45f2-a7e3-aea572044e4f.pdf
Parts: WWW.ECHO-USA.COM make sure to have your model and serial numbers ready to review.