This machine seems fairly heavy, yet is average weight for a petrol hedge trimmer. It is noisy, smelly, and vibrates. Not for the delicate lady, more for the fit young man. Its performance is magic, and cuts like a hot knife through butter. For the first 30 minutes it took some getting use to, and had to turn the throttle screw up to increase the tick-over rev's to stop it from cuting out. Then it ran so sweet. I have just ordered a wire mesh and ear muffler head set for ear and eye protection as this is a really mean machine. It sliced through my privot hedge so quickly, the 150 foot long hedge hedge has never had such a fast 'short back and sides', and the face mask and ear protection will come in good use when I tackle my 20/25 feet high leylandii trees/hedge. Overall ~ Heavy, smelly, noisy and Very Happy, great machine ( and 2 year warrenty!)