The straight-shaft Stiga SBC-232D offers the sort of power and handling that will be familiar to commercial landscapers, but is nevertheless priced at a point justifiable for the keen amateur gardener with large areas of rough to maintain.

Driving it is a 32.6cc (1.2hp) Stiga air-cooled two-stroke motor with a butterfly-valve carburettor for optimum regulation of power-output and engine-speed; and a performance muffler that makes for a less stressful working-environment.

Stiga’s Easy-Start system drastically reduces the amount of pulling-force needed to get things going; while their provision of a large 0.8-litre-capacity tank means interruptions for refuelling are few and far between.

The Stiga SBC-232D Brushcutter is fitted with a ‘cowhorn’ handlebar, which is the sort favoured by professionals due to the low-effort manoeuvrability they confer.

It boasts AVS vibration-damping, so the operator’s body is subjected to very little strain; and it’s supplied with a double shoulder harness for enhanced safety and superior user-comfort.

Suitable for both strimming and brushcutting applications, the SBC-232D comes as standard with a 43cm twin-line head and a 25.5cm three-tooth metal blade (line advance is via a handy ‘Tap & Go’ system).