The Flymo Contour 500E is a mains-powered electric grass trimmer designed to tidy lawn edges and reach awkward corners that a mower can’t touch. With a 500W motor, 25 cm cutting width and a 10 metre cable, it’s clearly aimed at typical UK gardens rather than sprawling plots.
Flymo has long been a familiar name in affordable garden kit, and this model follows that formula: practical features, bright orange styling and straightforward operation. User reviews sit at around 4 out of 5 from a solid number of ratings, suggesting most owners are pleased with its performance, with a few caveats typical of corded trimmers.
If you’re after a simple, plug-in trimmer that makes edging easier and won’t overwhelm you with controls, the Contour 500E is a sensible, mid-range option worth a close look.
The Flymo Contour 500E suits homeowners with small to medium-sized gardens who mainly need to tidy lawn edges, paths and the odd patch the mower can’t reach. The 25 cm cutting width and 10 m cable make most average gardens manageable without constant plug moving, but it’s not aimed at heavy-duty or very large plots.
It’s a good fit if you prefer the reliability of mains power over cordless batteries. You’ll get consistent performance without worrying about run time or charging, as long as you’re happy to work around the cable.
First-time trimmer users and those who don’t want anything overly complicated will appreciate the telescopic, adjustable handle and shrubbing mode, which make it easier to get comfortable and reach under benches, bushes and garden furniture. The plant guard is a reassuring touch if you have flowerbeds bordering your lawn and don’t want to shred your hard-earned blooms.
If you’re on a sensible budget and want something more capable than a very basic strimmer but don’t need a professional-grade tool, the Contour 500E sits in that practical middle ground.
The 500W electric motor offers enough power for typical domestic trimming, so grass edges and lighter weeds are taken care of without the trimmer feeling overworked.
A 10 metre mains cable gives decent reach for most small to medium gardens, with none of the run-time limits of a battery model. For many homes, one extension lead will comfortably cover the rest.
The edging wheel is a standout feature at this level, helping you keep paths and flowerbed borders looking neat without having to rely on a perfectly steady hand. It makes achieving straight lines noticeably easier.
Shrubbing mode and the body-flattening design mean you can tilt the trimmer head to work under benches, bushes and trampolines, so you’re not constantly bending or contorting to reach awkward spots.
The telescopic, adjustable handle and plant guard add to the user-friendly feel, letting you set a comfortable working height and trim close to plants without hacking them to pieces.
A 2-year manufacturer warranty, as long as you register it within 28 days, offers a bit more peace of mind than the one-year cover found on some budget tools.
Being mains-powered, you’re always working around a cable. That means more care to avoid cutting the cord and less freedom than with a cordless trimmer, especially if your garden layout is awkward or you lack outdoor sockets.
The 25 cm cutting width is adequate rather than generous. It’s fine for tidying edges and smaller lawns, but if you’ve a large plot or long, overgrown areas to tackle, a wider, more powerful trimmer would save time.
Construction is mainly plastic, which helps keep the weight down but doesn’t feel as robust as some more premium, heavier-duty models – particularly if you tend to be rough with your tools.
The twin autofeed line system is convenient when it works well, but line-feed mechanisms can be a frustration point on many trimmers. Expect to spend a bit of time learning its quirks and replacing line when it wears down.
Finally, the specification focuses on core trimming features, without extras such as variable speed or interchangeable batteries that some modern cordless systems offer.
Day to day, the Flymo Contour 500E is designed to be straightforward. Plug it in, adjust the telescopic handle to suit your height and you’re ready to go. The light, mainly plastic build helps keep fatigue down, particularly if you’re edging for longer stretches.
The 10 m cable gives a reasonable working radius from your socket or extension lead, but you’ll need to stay aware of where the cord is. Threading it safely around beds, furniture and play equipment quickly becomes second nature, though it can be a bit fiddly at first.
Switching from regular trimming to edging is helped by the dedicated edging wheel. You can roll along paths and borders, using the wheel as a guide, which feels far more controlled than hovering the line by eye alone.
Shrubbing mode, which lets the body flatten and the head angle change, is genuinely useful for reaching under benches, trampolines and low shrubs. Combined with the plant guard, it makes it easier to tidy up close to delicate plants without constant fear of scalping them.
Maintenance is limited to keeping the guard and head clean and replacing line when needed. The twin autofeed system aims to reduce manual faffing with the spool, though, like all line trimmers, you should expect occasional pauses to sort the cutting line.
With a 500W electric motor, the Contour 500E delivers respectable cutting performance for domestic use. It’s well suited to lawn edges, around trees and along fences, with enough punch to cope with longer grass and light weeds, though it’s not built for tackling very tough, woody growth.
The 25 cm cutting width is a sensible compromise between precision and speed. You can navigate around garden features without too much risk of collateral damage, while still covering ground at a decent pace. The twin autofeed mechanism is designed to keep the cutting line at an effective length automatically, reducing manual adjustment.
One of the key features here is the combination of edging wheel and shrubbing mode. The edging wheel makes it much easier to get smart, straight borders along paths, patios and beds – something many basic trimmers struggle with. Shrubbing mode lets you angle the head and flatten the body to reach under obstacles, increasing the range of jobs this trimmer can realistically handle.
Comfort and adjustability are also part of the package. The telescopic handle and adjustable grip positions let you tailor the tool to your height and preferred stance, which is particularly welcome if you share it between household members. The plant guard gives a visual and physical barrier when working close to plants, helping protect shrubs and flowers from accidental nicks.
As an electric, mains-powered trimmer, there’s no battery charging or fuel mixing to worry about. You get consistent power for as long as you need, which is ideal if you tend to do all your lawn edges in one longer session. The trade-off is the reliance on extension leads and sockets, which won’t suit everyone but does keep things mechanically simple.
At around £70, the Flymo Contour 500E sits in the affordable to mid-range bracket for electric grass trimmers. It’s not the absolute cheapest plug-in model you can buy, but the feature set is more generous than bare-bones budget options.
You’re paying for practical extras like the edging wheel, shrubbing mode, telescopic handle and plant guard, along with a decent 500W motor. These touches make it easier and more comfortable to get a neat finish, which adds real value if you take pride in your lawn edges.
The two-year manufacturer warranty, provided you register within 28 days, strengthens the value proposition compared with some rivals that only offer a single year of cover.
With owner ratings averaging around 4 out of 5 from a good number of reviews, there’s solid evidence that most buyers feel they’re getting their money’s worth. If you have a typical UK garden and prefer mains power, it offers a good balance of price and capability, though heavy users or those with very large gardens might be better served by a more powerful or cordless system.
The Flymo Contour 500E is a well thought-out electric grass trimmer for everyday garden maintenance. It combines a capable 500W motor with genuinely useful features such as an edging wheel, shrubbing mode, telescopic handle and plant guard, all wrapped up in a lightweight, easy-to-handle design.
It’s best suited to small and medium gardens where mains power is readily available and you value neat edges and tidy corners over brute-force brush cutting. The 25 cm cutting width and corded design mean it’s not the fastest choice for large or heavily overgrown plots, and the largely plastic build won’t appeal to those who want a truly rugged, professional-grade tool.
Overall, if you’re looking for a reliable, no-fuss trimmer that makes edging easier and offers good comfort and control for a sensible outlay, the Flymo Contour 500E is a strong contender. Gardeners with big or very demanding spaces may want something more powerful or cordless, but for typical domestic use it strikes a pleasing balance of performance and value.
