The Best Garden Multi Tools For Every Job Around The Garden

The Mitox 28MT-a is a 5-in-1 petrol multi tool with a 25.4cc two-stroke engine, and it's the one we'd recommend to most people going down the petrol route. In the box you get a hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, brush cutter, pruner and a 1 metre extension, which covers almost every job in a typical garden.

The split shaft system was practical in our testing, and swapping between attachments was easy. Mitox's smart pull recoil assist makes starting easier than on a basic two-stroke, and there's a soft rubber grip on the handle. With a 25.4cc engine against the 52cc units on the Hyundai and Parkerbrand, there's less weight to hold up at arm's length. Mitox backs it with a 3 year warranty.

The Einhell Power X-Change 4-in-1 is a cordless multi tool with a pole saw, a grass trimmer, a scythe head and a hedge trimmer. It runs on the same batteries as Einhell's other Power X-Change tools, and the attachments are built to the same standard as the power unit itself.

The pole saw uses an Oregon cutter rail and chain, which handled branches comfortably with the extension fitted. Swapping heads was straightforward. The weak spot in our testing was battery life, as the tool went through a charge quickly. Einhell sells a range of battery sizes, and we'd recommend having two sets of two batteries so one set can charge while you work. That adds a fair amount to the cost, so factor it in before you compare it with the petrol kits.

The Hyundai 5-in-1 is a 52cc petrol multi tool that comes with a hedge trimmer, pole saw, brush cutter, grass trimmer and a long-reach extension shaft. With the extension fitted, Hyundai says it reaches up to 4 metres, which brings tall hedges and lower tree branches within reach from the ground.

The kit is complete, with two-stroke oil, adjustment tools and a shoulder harness in the box, so you only need to add petrol. The soft-pull recoil starter takes the effort out of firing it up, and the engine meets Euro 5 emissions rules. In our testing it performed as well as tools costing a lot more. The bigger engine does make it heavy, so the harness is worth wearing for anything longer than a few minutes. Hyundai backs it with a 3 year warranty.

We've owned and used the Makita DUX60Z for the past year, and it's the best-performing multi tool we've had. It's sold as a bare power unit, and you build the kit you need from 11 Makita attachments.

The three speed settings came in handy for matching the power to the job, and the brushless motor adds a soft start with variable and constant speed control. Makita quotes up to 9,700 RPM and 600W maximum output. A reverse switch helps clear grass wrapped round the head, the two-stage trigger guards against accidental starts, and Active Feedback Sensing Technology shuts the tool off if the rotation slows suddenly. It runs on two Makita batteries at once, so you'll need a pair, and the cost climbs quickly once you add attachments.

Petrol multi tools have a reputation for being heavy, and the Draper 84706 tackles that with a 32.5cc engine. Draper says it weighs 5.9 kg with the hedge trimmer fitted, and less with the other heads fitted.

It comes with 4 attachments, and an easy-start recoil system with electronic ignition helps it fire up without a fight. The lighter weight pays off when you're holding a hedge trimmer at full stretch, and anyone who has given up on a heavy petrol tool halfway through a hedge will notice the difference. The trade-off is build quality. Draper's construction isn't as high quality as the Mitox or Hyundai, so it suits regular domestic use more than heavy weekly work.

The Parkerbrand 5-in-1 is one of the cheapest multi tools we'd still recommend. It's a TUV and CE approved petrol machine, and the kit is complete. You get a chainsaw, grass trimmer, brush cutter, hedge cutter and extension pole, plus a harness, a tool kit and a fuel mixing bottle.

It runs on a 52cc two-stroke engine, and with the extension fitted Parkerbrand quotes a total reach of up to 3.1 metres. The split shaft makes assembly easy, and there's plenty of adjustment to get comfortable. The weight is the downside, as that big engine makes long sessions tiring, and the finish isn't as good as on the more expensive kits. For a few jobs a year, though, it gives you every head you need for very little.