Ryobi's top-of-range hedge trimmer pairs a 26 inch blade with a 40V HP brushless motor and ships as a complete kit with a 2.0Ah battery and charger. The long blade covers a flat top in the fewest passes of any model in this guide, and the brushless motor holds speed better when the blade meets thicker stems.
The cost of that reach is weight at the end of your arms. A 26 inch head is long enough that overhead work tires you quickly, so it is best used at waist to chest height. The 2.0Ah pack is also modest for a blade this big, so a long boundary hedge will want a second battery.
The 40V HP platform is the newer, higher-output line, and its packs do not fit the ONE+ 18V tools. If you own 40V batteries already, this is the obvious pick. If you do not, count the pack and charger in the price against the 22 inch ONE+ models. Wipe the blade after each use, check the guard and store the pack indoors. On a blade this long, keep the cut slow and let the dual blades do the work, because forcing the head through a dense section is how owners stall brushless motors. Buying a second 40V battery early is the single best upgrade you can make to this kit.
What works
- 26 inch blade covers tops in fewer passes
- Brushless motor holds speed in thick growth
- Complete kit with battery and charger
- High-output 40V HP platform
Watch out for
- Long blade is tiring above shoulder height
- 2.0Ah pack is small for a blade this size
Spec sheet
- Blade length
- 26 in.
- Platform
- 40V HP
- Motor
- Brushless
- Battery
- 2.0Ah and charger
- Type
- Handheld






