The Bottom Line
My biggest complaint is that the Isio is hard to find. You can purchase it online and, supposedly, at Lowe's, but I didn't find it at my local store.
Pros
- Cordless
- Comfortable Handle and Weight
- Dual Function - Hedge Pruner and Grass Shears
- Makes Clean Cuts
- ENERGY STAR qualified battery charger
Cons
- Down time while charging
- Trimmer blade could be longer
- A bit cumbersome to change blades
- Not easy to find locally
- Not suitable for thick, woody shrubs.
Description
- Comes with two interchangeable blades: shrub trimmer and grass shears. Blades can be changed without the using tools.
- Laser-cut diamond-ground blades make clean cuts without tearing the plants.
- The lithium-Ion battery lasted through about an hour of use. It's listed as holding its charge for up to 18 months.
- The included battery charger is ENERGY STAR qualified. It takes approximately 5 hours to fully charge the 3.6V battery.
- Specs:
- Weight; 1 lb.
- Trimmer Blade is 4.33 in. long
- Shear Blades are 3.15 in. across
- 3.6V Rechargable Battery
- Wall mountable. Comes in a tin storage box that holds the tool and all accessories.
- Retails for around $80.
Guide Review - An Ergonomic, Battery-Powdered Hedge Trimmer / Grass Shears (Model #8120-01)
NOTE: I'm very sorry to say that the Isio is no longer being manufactured. I thought this was a great tool and I still use mine. I hope they reconsider.
--------------
I suspect I'm not alone in saying that pruning hedges and shearing grass are not on my list of enjoyable tasks in the garden. I approached testing the Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool with limited enthusiasm.
It turns out the Isio can work miracles. Before I had a chance to test it out, my husband, who is decidedly not a gardener, couldn't resist playing with it. It's been a good decade since he's trimmed a shrub, using the argument that larger shrubs mean more privacy. So I don’t know what possessed him to pick up the Isio and start shearing. He'd finished the entire row without complaint and only stopped because the battery was drawing down. His verdict: It's good. He felt it could have used a longer blade, but I suspect that would have taken away from the ergonomics of the design.
We shear down fading perennials in a local display garden. Someone had suggested using a hedge sheer, but they're heavy and cumbersome to control. The Isio was an immediate hit. It's like working with a sharp scathe; run it through the clumps of plants and you’re done. Clean-up is easier if you grab the tops of the plants, before shearing.
I have used the grass shears and they work quite well too. I don't really have a lot of need to shear grass, but it's nice to know they're there.
You change the blades by sliding the lock latch and snapping the new blade in place. I had a little trouble with the oil getting on my hands and grass trimmings getting under the cover, but all in all it wasn't too bad.
I think it's the lightness of the Isio that makes it so convenient to use. I have hand pruners that weigh more than the Isio. It even fits into my gardening bag. I'm not a big fan of power tools, but the Isio has been a nice rest for my wrist and I'm especially impressed by how cleanly it cuts. If it didn't do that, no other features would make it worth using on my plants.
