7 Best String Trimmer Harnesses

Save your shoulders and back with a handy harness for your string trimmer. Here are seven top options to consider.

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Mow grass with a string trimmer harness
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Buying a String Trimmer Harness

String trimmers, AKA weed whackers, are incredibly useful yard maintenance tools that make quick work of grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas. The problem is, these tools are notoriously large, heavy and awkward. Even newer, lighter models will make your arms burn after an hour or two of trimming in the hot sun.

That’s when a string trimmer harness comes in handy.

Worn over the torso, these harnesses take the weight of your string trimmer off your arms and distribute it evenly over your back, shoulders and core. I can tell you from experience as a nationally ranked powerlifting athlete, no matter how strong you are, you don’t want to do serious string-trimming work without a harness!

When choosing the right harness, here are some things to consider:

  • Comfort and style: Designs vary greatly. A sling-style harness is more or less a single nylon strap that holds up your trimmer. While they’re often padded, they aren’t as comfortable for long jobs as a full, front-and-back padded harness.
  • Adjustability: Most string trimmer harnesses adjust, but the range of varies. Try one on before buying it, if possible, or make sure it can be exchanged.
  • Hook location: Depending on your height and arm length, the location of the support hook impacts how handy and comfortable that harness will be. Although some have adjustable hooks, many don’t. You don’t want a harness with a hook that’s too low or high.
  • Right-handed vs. left-handed design: Many harnesses easily adjust for right- and left-handed users, but not all. Some are only meant for right-handed use. If you’re left-handed, make sure the harness you buy will work for you.
  • Cost: This varies greatly, from around $12 to $200. Decide ahead of time what you’re willing to spend.

Keep reading for our top picks and why we like them.

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Akuatuz Trimmer Strap Weed Eater Shoulder Ecomm Via Amazon
Via Merchant

Best Sling-Style String Trimmer Harness

A strong and simple design, easy adjustability and an adapter attachment that supports other devices all make the sling-style Akuatuz Trimmer Shoulder Strap stand out from the rest.

The padded 1-1/2-inch-wide strap handles even the heaviest trimmers. I’ve used this harness myself and find it comfortable, strong and easy to manage. One verified Amazon reviewer writes: “Nice feature to have an attachment for securing the strap to other devices. Love it.”

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Black Comfort Padded Belt Double Shoulder Strap Trimmer Ecomm Via Amazon
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Most Comfortable String Trimmer Harness

Exceptionally high-quality design, ample support and great comfort make the Dunhil Comfort Trimmer Harness shine. With plenty of padding on the front and back, this will let you happily trim weeds for hours without feeling much strain. It’s also got a handy quick-release hook to detach your trimmer when needed.

“I am very pleased with the quality and wearing comfort of this harness,” writes one verified Amazon reviewer. “I do a lot of heavy brush cutting with my Husqvarna weed eater. The terrain I work on is mostly hills and steep creek banks. With this harness I am able to work about one to two hours without significant fatigue.”

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Hipa String Trimmer Full Harnass Ecomm Via Amazon
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Best Value String Trimmer Harness

A simple design and great value (less than $19) make this Hipa String Trimmer Full Harness special. The strong nylon straps are reinforced with tough plastic, and the trimmer hook features a protective plastic guard to keep your legs safe as you work.

Although it’s meant for Stihl brand trimmers, it works just as well with others according to verified Amazon customer reviews. “I use this with both a Stihl FS 131 and a Stihl Kombi system with various attachments,” writes one verified Amazon reviewer. “The harness does what it’s supposed to do, is reasonably priced and has held up through a full season.”

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Husqvarna Trimmer Harnass Ecomm Via Amazon
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Best Splurge String Trimmer Harness

The Husqvarna Balance XT Trimmer Harness ($100) is one of the most comfortable, supportive and high-quality string trimmer harnesses I’ve seen. With twice as many straps, pads and supports as most other models, this will keep you comfortable and pain-free for long periods, even if you’re using a big, heavy trimmer.

“I would never weed eat again without this full back support harness!,” one verified Amazon reviewer writes. “It adjusts to any size and it covers and supports the lower back. In my opinion, this is a must-have for any man or woman who wants to save their back while weed eating. It is easy to put on, after the initial adjusting period. If you think it is priced too high — after purchasing and using — it is worth every penny!”

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Trimmer Shoulder Strap Kisstaker Ecomm Via Amazon
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Best Budget String Trimmer Harness

The Youshares Trimmer Harness delivers most of the benefits of a high-end harness with a price tag in line with sling-style units. At just $15, you’ll get a lot of arm-saving bang for your buck.

“Fits trimmer and helps me hold it securely,” writes a verified Amazon reviewer.

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Echo 4 Point Brush Cutter Harness Ecomm Via Homedepot
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Best Echo String Trimmer Harness

In my experience, Echo makes high-quality yard tools, including string trimmers. The Echo Four-Point Premium Brush Cutter Trimmer Harness works great with most of Echo’s machines.

My favorite Echo string trimmer came with a flimsy plastic harness. This one is much better. It’s comfortable, extremely supportive and great for taller people like myself. Keep in mind that it’s only meant for right-handed use.

“I definitely recommend this harness for the Echo SRM-410U brush cutter,” writes a reviewer on homedepot.com. “It is far superior to the one that comes with it.”

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Weight Absorbing Trimmer Strap Ecomm Via Amazon
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Best Innovative String Trimmer Harness

The Good Vibrations Weight Absorbing Trimmer Strap might look like a simple, sling-style harness, but its built-in self-tensioning bungee system makes it a whole lot more. When properly set up and balanced, the system reduces the effective weight of your string trimmer to nearly zero, all without the bulk and expense of multiple pads and straps.

“It took just a couple of minutes to get everything together,” writes a verified reviewer on Amazon. “Very easy to attach to trimmer. Biggest thing is taking the time to balance the trimmer right. Do not get me wrong, it works and is comfortable no matter how you put it on. But with a little patience you can literally have it hanging from your shoulder where all you have to do is a slight swing of your arm to get a nice even trim.”

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Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell has been a passionate DIYer since the mid-1990s, when he received his first childhood tool set. His rural upbringing gives him a lifetime of experience in all things DIY, from carpentry and fine woodworking to welding and vehicle repair, all of which he practices regularly from his self-built cabin in the woods in Northern Ontario, Canada. Robert has been a regular contributor to Family Handyman since 2020, where he writes from firsthand experience on a surprisingly wide variety of DIY topics.