STIHL HSA 26 Cordless Shrub Shears with AS2 Battery & AL1 Charger

STIHL HSA 26 Cordless Shrub Shears with AS2 Battery & AL1 Charger

By STIHL · Model: HSA 26 · Landscaping & Outdoors

Lightweight cordless shrub shears with interchangeable blades for hedging and topiary work, powered by a 10.8V AS2 lithium-ion battery.

  • 10.8V AS2 lithium-ion battery with AL1 charger included
  • Interchangeable shrub and grass blades
  • Lightweight design at only 0.65kg without battery
  • Ideal for topiary, small hedges, and ornamental shaping
  • Quick-change blade system without tools
  • Up to 110 minutes runtime on a single charge
Check Price on Amazon

Overview

The STIHL HSA 26 is a compact, battery-powered shrub shear designed for light trimming tasks around the garden. It ships with both a shrub blade and a grass blade, making it a versatile tool for maintaining neat borders, shaping topiary, and edging lawns. The included AS2 battery and AL1 charger mean you can get started straight out of the box.

In-Depth Look

The STIHL HSA 26 sits in the brand’s compact AS battery range, designed specifically for lighter garden maintenance tasks rather than heavy-duty professional work. It fills a useful gap for gardeners who want the convenience of battery power without the bulk of larger hedge trimmers.

Build Quality and Handling

The body is well constructed with a comfortable grip that allows extended one-handed use without fatigue. At just 0.65kg without the battery, it is one of the lightest powered trimming tools available. The blade changeover mechanism is straightforward and requires no additional tools, so switching between grass edging and shrub shaping takes only a few seconds.

Cutting Performance

The 200mm shrub blade handles soft growth and light woody stems with ease, making it ideal for maintaining box hedging, lavender, and other ornamental plants. The grass blade trims lawn edges cleanly, though it is best suited to finishing work rather than tackling overgrown areas. For anything thicker than pencil-width stems, a dedicated hedge trimmer would be a better choice.

Battery and Runtime

The included AS2 battery delivers a genuinely useful runtime. STIHL quotes up to 110 minutes, though real-world use with denser material will reduce this. Charging via the AL1 charger takes around three and a half hours. It is worth noting that the AS battery platform is separate from STIHL’s larger AK and AP ranges, so cross-compatibility is limited.

Verdict

The STIHL HSA 26 is a precise, well-made tool for light trimming and shaping. It will not replace a full-size hedge trimmer, but for topiary, small hedges, and lawn edges it is hard to fault. The dual-blade setup, long battery life, and featherweight design make it a strong choice for gardeners who value neat, detailed work.

Specifications
Battery10.8V AS2 lithium-ion
Blade Length (Shrub)200mm
Blade Length (Grass)120mm
Weight (without battery)0.65kg
ChargerAL1 standard charger
RuntimeUp to 110 minutes

Who It's For

  • Gardeners maintaining topiary, box hedging, or ornamental shrubs
  • Homeowners wanting a lightweight alternative to manual shears
  • Anyone needing a quiet, cordless tool for precision trimming tasks

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight and comfortable to use one-handed
  • Dual-blade system covers both shrub trimming and grass edging
  • Impressive battery life of up to 110 minutes
  • Very quiet operation compared to petrol alternatives

Cons

  • Not suited for thicker, more established hedge branches
  • AS system battery is not compatible with STIHL AP or AK ranges
  • Blade length limits speed on larger areas
Check Price on Amazon
Affiliate Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our research and keeps this site running. Full disclosure.

Related Products