Popular Mechanics - USA (2020-09 & 2020-10)

We put the latest tools, outdoor gear, and tech through the wringer

every day in the Pop Mech Test Zone. Only the best of the best earn the

Editors’ Choice Award. Every product here has been thoroughly evalu-

ated by our team, and each offers exceptional performance, durability,

value, or innovation—or a combination of all those traits. This is the

stuff that makes every project or adventure easier and more enjoyable.

▶ Weber Spirit II

E-210 Grill

Traditional gas grilling

doesn’t get any easier

than with the E-210.

Weber earned points for

the generous stainless-

steel side shelves and

the straightforward

assembly, complete with

thoughtfully rendered

illustrations. As for

performance, the two

burner tubes provided

good heat distribution

and were protected

from drippings by

removable inverted

V-shaped Flavorizer

Bars that sit below the

cast-iron grid. These

deflectors’ porcelain

coating made cleanup a

cinch. $379

◀ Makita 18V X2 LXT String Trimmer Kit

We’re partial to gas string trimmers, but this quiet,

nearly vibration-free Makita, powered by two 18-volt

batteries, left us questioning our allegiances. Three

speed settings lent more control than the average

weed whacker, with the lowest delivering a high

degree of precision across the 15-inch cutting swath

while preserving battery life and the string. And we

love the reverse feature, which clears grass and weeds

as the head spins backward briefly with the push of a

button. $389 for tool, four batteries, and charger

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR RAAB September/October 2020 69