Thanks for taking your time to read our review on the Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ cordless hedge trimmer. This is an 18 Volt trimmer from the high end Ryobi brand.
This trimmer is sold as a tool only, so if you already own a compatible Ryobi18V battery, then buying this model makes very good sense. If you don't own the battery, then you will have to also purchase that, along with a charger.
That does make this an initial expensive choice. That said, once you own a compatible battery, it opens up a wide range of Ryobi power tools, where the battery can be put to good use.
In a Hurry?
Below we have reviewed this hedge trimmer in a lot of detail. However, if you don't have time to read all of the information, then you can check the availability at Amazon UK by clicking the button to the right.
How Online Buyers Rate this Model
- On average over 300 online buyers rate this hedge trimmer with an excellent 96% buyer satisfaction
- 88% of those same buyers gave this a full 5 star review
- Only 1% of all buyers have given this a low review.
What Online Buyers Say -Pros & Cons
Just below we have summarised what online buyers had to say about this hedge trimmer, once they had bought and used it. This information provides a good insight into the quality of any product.
Ryobi Hedge Trimmer Quick Summary
With over 300 online buyer reviews and a buyer satisfaction rating of 96%, it is hard to ignore the popularity and quality of this cordless hedge trimmer.
Available at Amazon UK
The Battery
Specifications at a Glance
- The model number is OHT1845
- It is an 18V cordless hedge trimmer and part of their Ryobi ONE+ range
- Measures 93 x 260 x 180 cm
- Weighs 2.9 Kg - (2.5 kg without the battery)
- High torque motor
- 45 cm blade and can cut up to 18mm stems
- The blade surface has non-electrolyzed nickel plating which will not rust and helps keep the blades sharp
- Compatible with the Ryobi One+ batteries
- You need 2 hands to switch this on for safety reasons and the motor will only be activated when the switch and top handle are engaged at the same time
- It has an electric brake which helps stop the blades quicker
- Comes with a slide on black blade cover
- All one+ products come with a 3-year warranty for quality assurance.
Hedge Trimmer Main Review
We have completed a full review just below, and we have concentrated on the key features that you should consider before buying this model.
Value for Money
This is sold as a tool only, so as we mentioned earlier, if you own a compatible Ryobi 18V battery, then this is excellent value for money. If you have to buy this trimmer, a battery and charger, then yes, it is going to be an expensive initial purchase.
The trimmer is on average £85, the battery and the charger is around £80. That adds up to around £165 so most certainly an expensive buy first time. The only saving grace is that going forward, if you like to own and use high quality tools like Ryobi, then a whole range of cordless tools can be used with the same battery and charger.
We have shown above the compatible battery and charger and buying those together is cheaper than buying them as individual items. This hedge trimmer will work with the 2.5Ah up to 5.0Ah batteries. The bigger battery you buy means more hedge cutting time.
Battery Life
You can use the full Ah range of Ryobi batteries and they all have excellent life. The 2.5Ah battery will last for around an hour and the 5.0Ah battery will last for 3 hours without needing a charge.
This of course will depend on the thickness of the hedge, but as a general guideline, you will get at least an hour of trimming with any of the compatible batteries.
Ease of Use
The OHT1845 is equipped with 2 handed operation switch; the motor will only be activated when the switch and top handle are engaged. Once you have mastered this then it's just press and go, couldn't be any easier. The blade is double sided and will cut through your hedge with ease both ways.
We found that this hedge trimmer will easily cut until you get up to branches around 1.5cm in diameter. After that you will need to use a saw or lopper.
Important Basic Features
Most people just want a trimmer that will take care of their hedges. The beauty of a cordless hedge trimmer is that you can use it anywhere, and you never have to worry about accidentally cutting through another electric lead again. (If you have ever done that, you know what we mean!)
The Blade
The blade length on this is 45cm (just under 18") so a pretty good size and big enough for most hedges. The blade is sharp and coated to stop it from sticking, and the blades are very easy to replace should you ever need to. 45cm It is a diamond-ground blade with a 18mm cut capacity
The Cutting Stroke Speed
At 1,500 strokes per minute, this is fast and will quickly trim hedges. This trimmer cuts on both sides which you will find extremely handy.
The Battery Life
We have already explained this above, but Ryobi hedge trimmers have one of the longest battery life of any of the branded hedge trimmers.
What Features Make this a Better Choice?
There are lots of these cordless hedge trimmers on the UK market. So what makes this one different from the rest?
Great Build and Construction
When you think of top quality tools then Ryobi will definitely be one of the makers that comes to mind. This hedge trimmer is superb quality in every way a bargain price. The casing is strong, sturdy and built to last. The stain free shear blade is nickel plating with a high anti-abrasion surface for long lasting coating.
Compatible with other Ryobi Power Tools
If you have a range of Ryobi tools then you will know all about their batteries. All their batteries are compatible with both old, current and new Ryobi ONE+ tools, giving you access to the use of over 40 garden and power tools.
Our Verdict on the Ryobi OHT1855R Hedge Trimmer
96% online buyer satisfaction based on 1,500+ online buyer reviews
It's very hard to look past this Ryobi cordless hedge trimmer. Most buyers got this to replace an older cordless or petrol model and they were amazed at how well it worked.
The battery is brilliant, it is a two handed operation that cuts on both sides and will go through branches up to 18mm thick
The fact that the majority of buyers are surprised that this cordless trimmer works so well, is a great sign that it over delivers on performance. There is a natural tendency from buyers to think that cordless garden tools are just not as powerful as electric or petrol.
Thanks to the advances in battery technology, they really are very good indeed.
If this is not the cordless hedge trimmer for you, then check our top 10 list of hedge trimmers here.
