My EGO MST1501 review has a clear verdict: buy this kit if you want a 15-inch battery trimmer on a power head that can take an edger or a pole saw later, and skip it if you want the newest EGO system. I used the kit along the tree rows, the fence lines and the gravel edge of my orchard, so each note below comes from a real edge. Here is what the trimmer does well, where it falls short and who should pass.
EGO MST1501 Review: Who Should Buy It
The kit holds three parts: the PH1400 56V power head, the STA1500 15-inch string trimmer attachment, and a 5.0Ah battery with its charger. I recommend it to a homeowner or small-farm owner who trims a lawn edge and a fence line today and may add an EGO edger or pole saw next season, because the same power head and battery then run every tool. According to EGO, one charge lasts up to 45 minutes with the included battery.
- Who it is for: an owner who wants a 15-inch trimmer now and room to add EGO attachments later.
- What it does best: it puts a 15-inch swath and a 5.0Ah pack in one box, with the maker’s 0.095 in. line.
- Main trade-off: a bump head with hand-wound line, and no push-button reload.
What Comes in the Box and the Key Specs
The box has the PH1400 power head, the STA1500 attachment with its guard, the 5.0Ah battery and the standard charger. Two rows of the table decide most purchases: the 15-inch swath and the maker’s 45-minute run time.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Power source | Battery, 56V, brushless motor (according to EGO) |
| Cutting swath | 15 in. (38 cm) |
| Line | 0.095 in. twist line recommended, 0.080 in. listed as compatible |
| Feed | Bump head, line wound by hand |
| Shaft | Straight, joined to the power head by a coupler |
| Weight, attachment only | 3.51 lb (1.59 kg) |
| Run time, maker’s figure | Up to 45 minutes with the included 5.0Ah battery |
| Attachments in the PH1400 manual | Extension pole EP7500, edger EA0800, string trimmer STA1500, pole saw PSA1000 |
| Warranty | 5 years on the tool, 3 years on the battery |
EGO lists the weight of the attachment only, so the power head and the battery add to the 3.51 lb in the table. Plan for a heavier tool than that number suggests. If weight decides it for you, my lightweight string trimmer picks set each model’s stated weight side by side.
How the Multi-Head System Works
An EGO multi head string trimmer keeps the motor, trigger and battery in one power head and moves the working end to an attachment. On the MST1501 the attachment joins the power head through a coupler, so changing tools is a mechanical job, not a new purchase.
The manual’s fitting steps start with the motor stopped and the battery out: loosen the wing knob, line up the arrows, push the shaft in until it clicks, check that it is locked in, then tighten the knob. The motor runs only while the lock-off button and the trigger are both pressed, and I noticed that two-step start every time I lifted the trimmer out of the grass. A switch on the power head sets low or high speed, and the trigger varies speed inside each setting.
EGO’s manual for the PH1400 lists four attachments: the extension pole EP7500, the edger EA0800, the string trimmer STA1500 and the pole saw PSA1000. Only the trimmer is in this kit. EGO has approved newer attachments for the PH1400 since, such as the SSA1200 snow shovel, so check EGO’s current compatibility list for the attachment you want before you buy. EGO says never to operate the power head without an attachment fitted.
Performance in Real Work
The STA1500 is a plain, predictable trimmer, and the manual’s cutting tips describe it well: hold the line parallel to the ground, let the very tip do the cutting, and work in small steps.
Cutting Swath on the Tree Rows
Along the tilled strips under the plum and apricot rows, the 15-inch swath clears a wide band of grass in each pass, so the number of passes follows the width of the strip. I set that width before I start and keep the head well off the trunks. EGO warns that the line damages tree bark, and the trees I planted in 2016 still have thin bark at the base.
The drip lines lie close to the strip edge, and a spinning line can cut or snag them. Near the lines I switch to the low speed setting and keep the head higher than on open lawn.
Fence Lines, Walls and Tall Growth
EGO’s manual says wire and picket fences wear the line faster, and stone, brick and wood wear it quickly. On the fence line I load the 0.095 in. line, the size EGO recommends, and I expect to tap out more line there than on the lawn edge. For growth taller than 8 inches the manual says to cut from the top down in small steps, taking off no more than 8 inches per pass, which keeps the head from binding and the motor from overloading. For overgrown ground, my string trimmer for tall grass roundup lists nine picks to compare.
The Gravel Edge and Thrown Stones
At the grass side of the gravel yard the guard earns its place, and it never comes off. EGO’s manual for this attachment keeps people and pets at least 100 feet away and calls for ANSI Z87.1 eye protection, so I wear glasses and ear protection for the whole job and stop the tool when anyone walks up. The eye is where this tool class hurts people: US emergency departments treated an estimated 81,907 lawn trimmer injuries from 2000 to 2009, and the eye accounted for 42.5% of them (1). Published eye trauma cases include bystanders as well as operators (2).
Bump Feed and Line Loading
The STA1500 head feeds line when you tap it lightly on the ground while it runs. EGO’s page calls it a Rapid Reload head, but it is not the push-button POWERLOAD of the newer system. The manual says to tap on bare ground or hard soil, because tapping in tall grass can overheat the motor, and line gets harder to release as it gets shorter.
At the end of a strip I tap the head on bare soil, never in the tall grass. When the line runs short I load a new one by hand: one 16 ft piece, wound onto the spool until about 5.5 in. shows on each side. Before I touch the head I switch off, wait for it to stop, and take the battery out.
Run Time and the 5.0Ah Battery
EGO says one charge lasts up to 45 minutes with the included battery and does not state the conditions. I do not plan a job around that number. I split the house lawn edge and the row ends into sections and check the pack between them, so a short run costs me a pause, not a half-finished edge. For other cordless options, my battery string trimmer picks cover nine models for different yards and budgets.
The manual lists a battery or trimmer hotter than 152 F (67 C) as a reason the tool may stop, so I keep the pack in the shade and let it cool before the next section. For storage, a modelling study of lithium-ion cells found large degradation after 36 months at high temperature and a high state of charge (3). I keep the spare pack in a cool room, away from the sun on the concrete pad.
Safety and Care in Daily Use
Gear comes first: ANSI Z87.1 eye protection, hearing protection, long pants, sturdy boots and gloves, every time. Battery power helps with the noise side of the job, since NIOSH sampling of landscaping workers found significantly more noise and carbon monoxide exposure with fuel-powered string trimmers than with battery versions (4). EGO publishes no sound or vibration figure for this kit, so I judge it only against the gas tools I know by type.
Vibration is real work for the hands. A laboratory test of grounds equipment found that a grass trimmer gave higher hand vibration than a backpack blower, and that gloves lowered it (5). After a long edge I take a break and swap hands on the front grip.
Care is quick. I switch off, wait for the head to stop, take the battery out, then brush the grass off the head and shaft and wipe the body with a damp cloth. EGO says to trim only when the grass and weeds are dry, and not to wash the tool with a hose or use it in the rain. The guard’s cut-off blade is sharp, so I wear gloves when I change line.
Who It Suits and Who Should Skip It
The MST1501 fits a clear buyer and misses a few others.
Choose It If
- You want room to grow: you plan to add an EGO edger or pole saw from the PH1400 list.
- You trim long edges: you want a 15-inch swath and a 5.0Ah pack in the box. For a big property, my roundup of trimmers for a large yard lists nine long-run picks.
- You like a simple head: you are happy to tap to feed and wind line by hand.
Skip It If
- You want the newest EGO power head: the MHC1603 kit below uses the newer PH1420.
- You want push-button reloading: this head has no POWERLOAD.
- You need a published tool weight: EGO gives the attachment weight only.
- You clear brush or woody stems: this attachment has no blade and takes line only.
Drawbacks
These are the limits that change how you use the kit day to day.
- Weight is only half published: EGO lists 3.51 lb for the attachment and nothing for the power head or the set with the battery, so the tool feels heavier at the end of a long edge than the table suggests.
- Feeding needs bare ground: tapping the head in tall grass can overheat the motor, so on a tall stand I cut from the top down first and feed line at the edge.
- Dry grass only: EGO says to trim when grass and weeds are dry, which rules out early mornings with dew on the strips.
- The bystander distance is long: EGO asks for 100 feet with this attachment, so I trim when the yard is empty.
- It sits in the premium tier: the kit costs more than a basic trimmer, so the attachment option is what you pay for.
How It Compares With Alternatives
Two choices sit next to the MST1501: EGO’s newer kit and a trimmer built as one tool.
EGO MHC1603 Multi-Head Combo Kit
The EGO Power+ MHC1603 Multi-Head Combo Kit uses the newer PH1420 power head with a 16-inch trimmer, an edger and push-button line loading. Pick the MHC1603 if you want that reload and an edger in the box. The MST1501 is the one to buy for the 5.0Ah pack and a 15-inch trimmer. My DeWalt DCST970X1 and EGO MHC1603 comparison weighs that newer kit against a DeWalt trimmer kit.
| Spec | MST1501 | MHC1603 |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting swath | 15 in. | 16 in. |
| Power head | PH1400 | PH1420 |
| Line feed | Bump head, hand-wound | Bump head with POWERLOAD |
| Battery in the kit | 5.0Ah | 4.0Ah |
| Attachments in the kit | String trimmer | String trimmer and edger |
| Run time, maker’s figure | Up to 45 minutes | Up to 45 minutes with the trimmer |
EGO Multi-Head System vs a Stand-Alone String Trimmer
A trimmer built as one tool suits a buyer who only trims and never plans an edger or a pole saw. If that is you, the multi-head power head gives you nothing you will use. The MST1501 earns its place only when a second attachment is part of the plan.
Common Problems
The troubleshooting list in EGO’s manual is short, and most causes are simple. Release the trigger, wait for all movement to stop and take the battery out before you check any of them.
- The tool stops: look for a missing guard, line that is too long, a head bound with grass, or a motor overload. Remove no more than 8 inches of growth per pass.
- The line will not advance: the head may be dirty, the line tangled or too short, or there may not be enough line on the spool. Pull the lines by hand while you press and release the head.
- It overheats: the manual lists a battery or trimmer hotter than 152 F (67 C) as a cause of stopping. Let it cool in the shade below that temperature.
- A bare power head: never operate the power head without an attachment fitted, as EGO says.
My Final Verdict on the EGO MST1501
I recommend the MST1501 to an owner who trims long edges and wants one power head for more than a trimmer. The 15-inch swath and the 5.0Ah pack handle tree-row strips, fence lines and gravel edges, and EGO’s manual keeps the safety steps clear. Skip it if you want push-button line loading or a published tool weight. My EGO MST1501 review ends with one tip for a buyer: learn the tap-to-feed head on a short edge before the long runs. For more options, I compare nine models for different yards and power types in my best string trimmer picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to use an EGO string trimmer?
With the battery out, fit the guard and put on ANSI Z87.1 eye protection, hearing protection, long pants, boots and gloves, with people and pets 100 feet away. Then fit the battery, grip the tool with both hands, press the lock-off button, squeeze the trigger and keep the line parallel to the ground.
How to clean an EGO string trimmer?
Switch the trimmer off, wait for the head to stop completely and take the battery out before you clean anything. Brush the grass off the head and the shaft, wipe the body with a damp cloth, and never wash the tool with a hose or use it in the rain.
How to edge with an EGO string trimmer?
The STA1500 string trimmer in this kit has no edging mode, so edging calls for EGO’s edger attachment EA0800, which is on the PH1400 list and sold separately. With the string head, keep the line parallel to the ground, wear eye protection, and keep people and pets at least 100 feet away.
Why is my EGO string trimmer bump feed not working?
A bump head that will not feed line usually has too little line, a dirty head, tangled line or line that is too short. Release the trigger, wait for the head to stop, take the battery out, clean the head, and pull the lines by hand while you press and release it.
Is an EGO multi-head system better than a stand-alone string trimmer?
An EGO multi-head system is better when you plan to add the edger or pole saw from the PH1400 list, because one power head and one battery then run each tool. A stand-alone trimmer suits a buyer who only trims, since it has no coupler and no extra attachments to carry.
References
- Leinert J, Griffin R, Blackburn J, McGwin G. The epidemiology of lawn trimmer injuries in the United States: 2000-2009. J Safety Res. 2012;43(2):137-139. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2012.03.001
- Lubniewski AJ, Olk RJ, Grand MG. Ocular dangers in the garden. A new menace: nylon line lawn trimmers. Ophthalmology. 1988;95(7):906-910. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(88)33076-9
- Asiri M, Kedhim M, Jain V, et al. Impact of temperature and state-of-charge on long-term storage degradation in lithium-ion batteries: an integrated P2D-based degradation analysis. RSC Adv. 2025;15(28):22576-22586.
- Alexander BM, Graydon PS, Pena M, Feng HA, Beamer BR. Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2025;22(3):189-202.
- Oh J, Chen N, Boyd C. Laboratory evaluation of occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) during grounds maintenance equipment operations. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2023;30(2):384-389.
Safety Note: Read your manual first. A string trimmer or brush cutter throws debris with force, so clear stones, glass and wire from the area before you cut. Wear impact-rated eye protection with side coverage that meets ANSI Z87.1, hearing protection, gloves, heavy long pants, long sleeves and sturdy slip-resistant boots (steel-toe where your manual says so). Keep people and pets at least as far away as your manual says (50 feet in some manuals, 100 feet in others), and stop if anyone comes closer. Keep the correct guard fitted, use only the cutting attachments, handles and harness the maker approves for your exact tool, and never replace trimmer line with wire. A blade can kick sideways when it hits a stump or a thick stem, so fit the handlebar and harness your manual requires for blade work, hold both handles firmly and keep secure footing. Before you clear a jam, clean the tool or change line, a blade or an attachment, switch it off, wait for all movement to stop, then remove the battery, unplug the cord or disconnect the spark plug wire. Refuel a gas model outdoors with the engine off and cool, away from flames or sparks, and move away from the fueling spot before starting, as far as your manual says (often 10 to 30 feet); never run it in a garage, shed or other closed space. For a battery model, use only the maker’s battery and charger, charge it within the temperature range in your manual and never use a damaged or swollen pack. For a corded model, use a GFCI outlet, keep the cord clear of the cutting line and avoid wet conditions.