Stihl HLA 40 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer Review

Design and features

• Light
• Uses the AS 2 battery system
• Excellent build quality

Many of us don’t need big and clunky cordless tools with large batteries, and for lighter jobs without compromise, Stihl’s range of AS 2-powered devices is a good choice. Using the tiny 10.8V battery that now powers an impressive array of tools, the Stihl HLA 40 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer is great for lighter jobs where reach is important.

This tool comes without the battery and charger, but you can buy these separately or just use a battery from a different AS 2 accessory instead.

There’s a little bit of assembly to be done before the tool is ready for use. First, the loop handle has to be secured in place using the tool-free screw. I’m a fan of loop handles, as they offer better handling.

This hedge trimmer comes in two sections, which simply clip together and are secured by a locking collar; it’s as easy to take the tool apart for storage.

Stihl has used a telescopic pole here, allowing the Stihl HLA 40 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer to adjust from 200cm long to a massive 260cm.

There’s a simple locking collar, and then the pole slides out. There’s a spring for tension, and to make reducing the length easier.

There’s also an included harness that clips onto the body and goes over your shoulders. This is particularly useful at full length.

It’s interesting to note that the telescopic pole and harness are bundled here as standard, where as the more expensive and powerful Stihl HLA 56 has neither; I should point out that the comfort handle on the HLA 56 means that you don’t really need the harness at its standard length, and extension poles are available.

Here, the harness attaches to a rotating collar. It’s a sensible choice, as it stops the harness from getting tangled no matter how you move the trimmer.

The 10.8V battery clips into the end. It’s a very light battery, so overall the entire system weighs just 3.7kg, which is exceptionally light for a pole trimmer. 

This trimmer is also made with Stihl’s usual attention to detail: it’s incredibly robust and tough-feeling, and up there with the more expensive tool the company makes.

The controls are well thought out. A thumb slider needs to be pushed forward before the trigger comes into play, so both right- and left-handed people can use the tool with ease.

There’s a handy battery meter located on the side, so you can see at a glance roughly how much power is left.

At the business end is a 45cm-long blade, with the teeth spaced 20mm apart. For storage, there’s a solid scabbard that slides into place and locks.

For comfort, there’s an adjustable head, which can tilt 45° back, so you can trim near the ground, or up to 70° forward for dealing with the tops of hedges.

Performance

• Easy to use
• Good for lighter growth
• Impressive battery life

Long-reach trimmers are always slightly less comfortable to use than regular ones, because of the sheer length involved. However, as the Stihl HLA 40 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer is so light and has a loop handle, it’s much more comfortable to use than many others.

With its head tilted back, it’s easy to use for trimming along the bottom of hedges, clearing out growth and weeds there.

Titled forward and extended, I found the Stihl HLA 40 Cordless Long-reach Hedge Trimmer comfortable to reach the top of an overgrown buddleia.

As with the HSA 40 hedge trimmer, which uses the same battery,  the HLA 40 can cut through branches up to around 8mm in thickness. For your average hedge, such as a privet, that’s more than enough and this hedge trimmer makes short work of regular growth.

It does struggle with thicker, woodier growth. Cutting back an overgrown rosemary bush that was protruding over the lawn, for example, I found that the HLA 40 handled the fresh growth easily, but it got stuck with the older, thicker growth.

Battery life is rated at up to 40 minutes, which seems about right in my tests. That’s enough to tackle the typical jobs that this hedge trimmer is designed for.

Should you buy it?