We've had dozens of similar threads. One of the replies went something like, I love my Stihl? It never breaks down, plus there is a shop a mile from my house.

My Stihl MS170 has served me very well for a 16" saw. 20" Stihl Farm Boss is a beast and neither saw has had any issues over the last 6 years. That said my Echo lawn equipment has been reliable with more frequent use so pick your pleasure. The Echo Timberwolf in 20" has great reviews and some have put it over the farm boss.
Either way go to a dealer and not a big box store. Talk to them, hold both brands, and enjoy.

I have Echo and Stihl gear. The Echo weed eater is fine, but the Echo polesaw is going to make me crazy with its finicky workings. The Stihl chainsaws are working great, with the oldest being maybe 15 years old.

One thing I believe to be true is that the rubber used in Stihl fuel lines is better than that used in Echo gear when used with gas containing ethanol.

BigPig, i never knew you had an issue with that. Sometimes I forget that y’all forget about the mechanical genius I’m workin’ with

When I was running them hard, I never could kill the echo I was using. Cold natures lil things but once they fired, they ran

I’m a forester and the loggers that run 8-10 tanks a day all run either Stihl or Husquvarna. They buy them from a saw shop that works on them if needed. I see more Stihl but those who run Husquvarna love the lighter saw. Both hold up well to hard use on a daily basis.

Pro model Husq.
Our 372 XP is a beast.

After the 32,000 acre wildfire in Bastrop in 2011, I bought two cheap Poulans 18" and 20" for helpers to use to start clearing 4 acres of large standing dead pines. (I lived across from Bastrop State Park - same woods) We had a LOT of 18"-24" diameter trees, so I considered them disposable.

Yes, pine is quite soft, but those two saws just kept cutting and cutting. All told, we cut down over 200 trees, then cut them into manageable 15' to 20' long pieces to drag out. I cannot say enough about the reliability of both saws - fast start and lots of power. I sold my 2008 Stihl to a neighbor and gave the 20" to my BIL. The 18" Poulan is still my go-to saw.

Marc

Yep. I'm not a pro so it just works for me.

I have echo 16” bar and stihl now with 20” bar. Dad gave me his Husqvarna 16” bar.

Each has its place. I will say that I’m about to buy an electric Stihl after using one not long ago, specifically to keep in my truck. Pretty impressive

Think I’m going to sell the husqvarna eventually, and maybe the echo only because it’s smaller then the Stihl.

I went all cordless back in the summer.

I have a 80v kobalt to keep around the lease. I have been overly impressed. A lot of the guys at the lease have borrowed it and we’re impressed also.

The handiness and lack of maintenance required makes it’s a no brainer. Stihl was a touch above the kobolt but I bet money wise Kobalt probably a better buy but I haven’t priced either

If the Kobalt is anything like their 80V leaf blower it will be impressive. I was shocked. On hi it outperforms my backpack unit. Well, for 12 minutes anyway.

Stihl 361

I have a Milwaukee 18 volt fuel chainsaw and a 42cc (I’d have to go look to be sure) craftsman also.

I have the 40v ryobi trimmer and blower. Love them!

My Poulan is 21 years old, still doing what I need it to do.

I have burned up three cutting mesquite. Let’s just say Poulan the last 10 years isn’t what it once was

If you’re burning up saws from cutting Mesquites, you’re using the wrong chains or they are dull

I have a Stihl 036. I like the decompression start feature, the chain break and the fact that it is a pro series.

I do not like that it weighs a ton. Could have gotten a lighter saw in a consumer model.

Pull on cause it aint running.

Stihl 362, which has cut down hundreds of trees over the last 9 years.

Sounds like the problem was operator error.

Don't try to one up me.

Not possible, Bill, not possible.