BLACK+DECKER String Trimmer / Edger, 13-Inch, 5-Amp (ST8600)
Best for
Best with edger conversion
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Current price
$59.99
Updated May 16, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
5 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Black+Decker ST8600 is positioned as the corded model to buy specifically if edging matters as much as trimming. The 5-amp motor and 13-inch cutting head are the headline specs, but the feature reviewers actually talk about is the wheeled edger conversion — flipping the head 180° and rolling the unit along a walkway on its guide wheel. Walmart and Amazon verified-purchase reviewers report cleaner edge lines than they got from rotating a head without a wheel guide.
What reviewers liked
- Wheeled edger conversion produces cleaner edges than head-rotation-only designs, per retailer review consensus
- Solid 5-amp motor sits in a useful middle ground for typical residential trimming
- Over 5,000 verified-purchase Amazon reviews provide a deep consensus base
- Multiple reviewers report multi-year ownership without major failures
Where it falls short
- Auto-feed spool, like other models in this lineup, draws intermittent failure complaints
- 5-amp motor lacks headroom for thick brush versus the 6.5-amp BESTA510/BESTE620
- Specialist community discussion of this exact model is thin, so consensus rests largely on retailer reviews
- Corded tether limits range on larger lots
Across the reviewers we read, the Black+Decker ST8600 is positioned as the corded model to buy specifically if edging matters as much as trimming. The 5-amp motor and 13-inch cutting head are the headline specs, but the feature reviewers actually talk about is the wheeled edger conversion — flipping the head 180° and rolling the unit along a walkway on its guide wheel. Walmart and Amazon verified-purchase reviewers report cleaner edge lines than they got from rotating a head without a wheel guide.
Reviewer consensus on the trimmer side is competent but not exceptional: the 5-amp motor falls between the 3.5-amp ST4500 and the 6.5-amp BESTA510/BESTE620 models, and that's how reviewers describe it — enough power for grass and light weeds, less headroom for thick growth. The automatic line feed gets mixed reviews here as it does elsewhere in the Black+Decker corded line.
The long-tail signal worth flagging: an eBay reviewer describing this as their second ST8600 after the first lasted five years, and similar multi-year ownership notes on Amazon, suggest reasonable durability for the price point. Specialist community evidence is sparse, so weight the retailer-review consensus accordingly.
- Highlight 1
- 2-IN-1 - Corded electric Trimmer and Edger cuts along borders, sidewalks and flower beds and easily converts between trimmer and wheeled edger.
- Highlight 2
- EASY HANDLING - Lightweight and easy to handle with adjustable height handles, Edge guide provides precise edging
- Highlight 3
- MORE LINE, MORE CONTROL - Automatically feeds more line with no bumping necessary thanks to AUTOMATIC SPOOL FEED technology
- Highlight 4
- HIGH POWER, LOW NOISE - POWERDRIVE Transmission delivers more power from the motor to the cutting string so you can get the job done faster
- Highlight 5
- WIDER TRIMMING AREA - 13” Trim radius lets you cover more ground faster
For a more modest cutting way and somewhat more slow rpm than the BLACK+DECKER BESTA510, attempt the BLACK+DECKER ST8600. The corded weed ...
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“Black & Decker ST8600 5 Amp 13 in. String Trimmer/Edger” · YouTube
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