I’m 6’5” and run an Stihl FS90R string trimmer. In the summer months I have about an hours worth of trimming every other week as long as it’s not too wet, otherwise I could easily trim every week.
When I got it I moved the loop handle up the shaft to minimize having to stoop when I trim, but I ran out of room and still have to bend over when trimming. Since it’s early in the lawn season I thought I would look for solutions, and see what the collective thinks. I saw some “tall person” trimmers from an off brand, and
this Darwin Handle. Is there anything out there that doesn’t look like google ad partner product?
I really thought a taller or even adjustable angled loop would help, but at this point I’d consider any ideas.
Not sure if you have found a remedy for your issue while trimming. Just saw this today and wanted to chime in. I owned a commercial mowing company for 35 years. Always tinkered with equipment trying to make it better. I came across Darwin’s Grip by accident, bought one…..then bought 3 more!! Have them on my trimmers edgers and pruners! Get the latest version and I think you’ll be pleased.
PS: I have no affiliation with the company. I’m a 50+ semi retired lifelong landscaper/mower. I carved out my ‘niche’ in maintenance of perpetual care cemeteries. Trimmed thousands of headstones weekly. After tinkering for years with pipe, pvc, harnesses and even a “roller guide”, the Darwin’s Grip made me realize if I’m standing up straighter, I’m able to maneuver the equipment more with my upper body, leaving
I’m 6’5” and run an Stihl FS90R string trimmer. In the summer months I have about an hours worth of trimming every other week as long as it’s not too wet, otherwise I could easily trim every week.
When I got it I moved the loop handle up the shaft to minimize having to stoop when I trim, but I ran out of room and still have to bend over when trimming. Since it’s early in the lawn season I thought I would look for solutions, and see what the collective thinks. I saw some “tall person” trimmers from an off brand, and
this Darwin Handle. Is there anything out there that doesn’t look like google ad partner product?
I really thought a taller or even adjustable angled loop would help, but at this point I’d consider any ideas.
Just saw this today. I don’t know what your tried or if you’ve given up but here’s my $0.02
I’m a 50+ y/o semi retired commercial lawn maintenance (etc) company owner. For 40 years I mowed and trimmed….maintained property. It’s how I made it to retirement! I always bought top of the line equipment but always tinkered and found ways to make it better. The one thing that stumped me was the trimmer shaft and how to make it fit me at 6’3”. I played with pvc, harnesses, counter weights and even a roller guide. All came up short of my goal. Then I stumbled across the Darwin’s Grip. First I resisted and said that’s a gimmick…probably because it’s what I tried to come up with but didn’t. Eventually, I gave in and bought one….then 3 more….then another!! I now have them on my trimmers, brush cutters, edgers and pruners. Now, I’m not just a guy with a truck and mower….I mowed hundreds of properties every week for years. I got started when I was 11 years old!! I sort of carved a couple niche areas to really make it. First was that I would take care of the lawns foe the people that went through 2, 3 or 4 others first. I would spend the extra time and rake out the footprints in the grass….yes, I developed a tool for that. I would spend the time and chat when I was done and take notes for the next week. My other area was cemeteries. Perpetual care cemeteries to be more accurate. The ones that paid 12 months a year and contracted for more than one year at a time! I learned early that the key to making money in cemeteries was to figure out the trimming. Small cemeteries had as many as 350 headstones while the largest (that I did) had over 2000. I
Got the patterns down pretty quick and kept tinkering with the equipment. When I installed the first DG, it hit me….if I can stand straight up, I can move my feet faster and be more sure footed, I can maneuver the trimmer with my upper body and use my lower body to transport me through it. I can’t tell you how much time it saved me but it was substantial. I only had it for the last couple years before I retired. To this day, the DGs are still on my equipment that I use at my house where we mow and trim our house on 3 acres. More than the time it saved, I think it helped save energy. After so many years of doing it, the soreness was gone years ago, so when teim
I got with a DG installed it just seems easier. I was hoping to get that first one and figure out how to modify it to make it even better. The attachment point was the only place I could improve on it and even that has been upgraded in subsequent versions. My Shindaiwa trimmers always had the loop handle with the rubber insert that made it flex. When I bought a new one ans that handle wasn’t available anymore, I moved my old one to the new trimmer. Today, my main trimmer is a Shindaiwa straight shaft and I still have the loop handle just below the DG and find myself grabbing it at times for when I’m on the low side of a hill trimming up or when flipping it over to ‘edge’ and short distance. For comfort, the single most impressive ‘mod’ for me in over 40 years….was the Darwin’s Grip. Well….it was second to moving to a gas trimmer from hand shears. When I first started (11 years old) my mother wouldn’t let me have gas powered equipment. So a manual real mower, hand shears, a 100 year old reel type edger and a broom on a piece of plywood with wagon wheels and a rope to pull it around the neighborhood. That is what I used when I started! .So yes, the step up to gas power is the most significant….sorry DG…. still in the the top 5 though.
PS: I am in no way affiliated with the designer or maker of Darwin’s Grip! In fact, the inventor is a thorn in my side for coming up with what I couldn’t!! I wouldn’t take the time to type all of this if not for the fact that “I’ve been there” and know that it helps me. I’m not getting paid for saying it and DG likely has no idea who I am!
I hope this helps a few of you who read it.
