The 7 Best Reel Lawn Mower
I think you’ll agree with me when I say…Finding a good durable reel lawnmower is quite difficult nowadays because there are too many options available and it just seems confusing. So for this article, I’ll review 7 of the best reel lawnmower and I’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.
1) Great States Reel Lawn Mower
Design and build
Great states 415-16 is a feature-rich and very compact reel mower. The mower is quite looking and has a very durable build that is good for any heavy use. It houses a 16-inch cutting deck that is perfect for small to medium-sized yards.
Along with this, the blade of the mower is made up of steel that has been heat-treated to increase its toughness. Moreover, The deck of the mower is mounted on a 4-spider ball bearing system. This set up makes it much easier to get the blades rolling even with a gentle push.
Ease of use
Talking about the ease of use, the mower is quite easy to use. Despite its solid build, the mower is quite lightweight. Which makes the mower very easy to push around the yard. Apart from this, the mower has 10-inch ball-bearing wheels with radial rubber tires.
This provides excellent traction on the grass and allows the mower to easily maneuver around obstacles. Lastly, the mower has cushion padding on top of the T-styled handle making it very comfortable while using.
Mowing Performance
As for performance, the mower consists of 5 blades setup that provides nice cutting performance. But due to its deck size, the mower has its limitations and it is not suitable for large-sized lawns. Moreover, it features a height adjustment system. That can easily adjust the height from 0.5” to 2.75” according to your need. This comes really handy when you need to cut the grass according to the weather condition and growth of the grass.
Pros
Cons
2) Scotts Outdoor Reel Lawn Mower
Design and build
Scotts 2000-20S reel mower has a pretty straightforward and functional design. This also reflects while assembling the mower. It mostly comes assembled from the factory, you just need to fasten up the wing screws and it is done.
Moreover, the deck of the mower is one of the biggest deck on our list of 20 inches. Due to its bigger size, it can easily cover large areas in less time and allow you to finish your work faster. However, the foam padding on the mower needs improvement as it is slightly lower quality than other mowers.
Ease of use
Similar to other mowers on our list, this mower is also quite lightweight. It also features a set of big wheels on the front as well as on the back. Due to this setup, it is quite easy to mow around the yard without worrying about the surface debris.
A combination of all these factors makes the mower quite easy to use for the small to medium-sized yard. Not only this but the mower is also safe to use. The blades automatically stop turning when you pull it backward, preventing any mishap. This way children can also use it and you don’t have to worry about them getting hurt.
Mowing Performance
As far as performance is concerned, the mower features 5 blade set. The blades are made of helix steel that is heat-treated for additional strength. On the normal growth, the blades of the mower just cut through the grass and leave an impressive finish. But when it comes to tall grass, the mower suffers like any other mower including gas ones.
You have to do quite a few passes in order to get a decent finish. But the good this is that it has a very easy height adjustment system. With only a single lever, you can cycle through 9 cutting positions ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches.
Pros
Cons
3) Fiskars Stay Sharp Max Reel Mower
Design and build
Fiskars stay sharp max reel mower is a simple but unique-looking mower. It has a very sleek design that makes it very attractive for a gardening tool. Due to its simple yet functional design, the mower is easy to assemble. All the parts come nicely packed in a cardboard box and you only take 10 min to assemble it properly.
You even don’t need the manual but in case you need it, it is very easy to understand. Moreover, the mower consists of clipping direction control. Which is a very functional feature in my view. Along with you also get an option to attach a grass catcher to it. A combination of both these will allow you to cut the grass without creating a mess.
Ease of use
When it comes to ease of use, the mower is quite easy to use. Due to its lighter weight nature, the mower is quite easy to push making it suitable for old people. Along with this, the mower consists of the nicest pair of wheels on both the front and rear end. These wheels provide good traction even of wet and make the operation of the mower nice and smooth.
This way you don’t feel dead tired after cutting the grass for quite some time. Apart from this, the handle of the mower is also very ergonomic and consists of padding. Padding not only makes the handle comfortable. But also prevents potential blisters from all the pushing.
Mowing Performance
Talking about the performance, the mower has a 5 blade setup. The blades are super sharp that cuts the grass very precisely and provide a good finish. Along with this, it features a huge deck of 18 inches that allows you to cover large areas in less time.
This not only lightens your work but also allows you to finish your work faster. But if you grass this thick or has too many obstacles, you need multiple passed to get an even finish. Apart from this, the mower also has a height adjustment. That enables you to adjust the cutting height with just one level. You can choose from 4 different positions which range from 1 to 4 inches according to your liking.
Pros
Cons
4) Greenworks 18-Inch Reel Lawn Mower
Design and build
Greenworks reel mower is a quality reel mower that design to last for a long period of time. All the parts of the mower are built from high-quality materials which make it very sturdy. The overall dimension of the mower is 25×43.5×33.8 inches. Due to the smaller design, it is very good on tight corners that are a bit harder to reach with any other reel mower. Not only this but its compact size also makes it easy to store in your garage among other tools.
Ease of use
The mower features a nice set of wheels on the front as well as on the back. The front has a big wheel of 10 inches and rare wheels have small wheels of 6 inches. Due to this setup, the mower achieves good stability which is helpful while pushing it. It also provides traction and maneuverability, especially on bumpy or uneven areas. Along with this, the mower is lightweight in nature which makes it less tiring to work with. Apart from this, the handle of the mower is covered in padding making which makes it very comfortable.
Mowing Performance
The Greenworks 25062 mower comes with an eighteen inch wide cutting deck. It is one of the bigger deck that you can find in the market today and make it comparable to power mowers. Due to its bigger size, you can finish your yard work soon compared to the mower with small decks. Moreover, the deck houses five durable steel blades.
These blades provide a smooth and clean cutting performance even after regular use. But despite it good performance, you have to do a couple of passes over thicker patches of grass. Apart from this, the mower comes with a functional rear grass catcher bag. It prevents your lawn from becoming a mess. But the bag is small so you need to empty it quite frequently if you have a medium-sized yard.
Pros
Cons
5) Earthwise Reel Lawn Mower
Design and build
Earthwise 1715-16EW is a simple reel mower that does its job flawlessly. The mower comes in a nice finish with a very sturdy build. The build is durable enough to last you a long time even after using it for heavy jobs. Moreover, the mower comes in a box and you have to do a minor assembly before using it. There is not much to it, you just need to attach the handles and then set the blade accordingly and it’s done.
Ease of use
From the start, you will notice how easy it is to push the mower. It is greatly due to the lightweight nature. Before using it, we have this perception that it will be bulky and need a great amount of physical effort. But it is quite easy to use for just about anyone and does not stress your body that much. Moreover, the mower consists of a foam grip on the handle which makes it comfortable for long hours. Along with this, it features a combination of big and small tires. That provides good maneuverability to the mower. A combination of these factors makes it very easy to use, even for old people.
Mowing Performance
As far as performance is concerned, the mower consists of 7 blades set up. The blades are made up of steel alloy that cut the grass finely similar to a pair of scissors. They fitted on to a 16-inch deck that is a good size for a mower of this kind. The mower, unlike other reel mowers, cut each strand of grass-like pair of scissors. This helps to keep the grass healthy as well as green which makes your lawn look very attractive. And the good thing is that the cutting height of the mower can be easily adjusted from 0.5” to 2.5”.
Pros
Cons
6) American Reel Lawn Mower
Design and build
American Lawn Mower 1815-18 has a very simple design similar to any reel mower. The mower has a nice finish with a very sturdy build that will last you for a long time And the good thing is that it has one of the largest cutting reels of 18 inches. Along with this, the blades of the mower are made out of alloy steel. That has been heat-treated to increase its durability. Due to this, it delivers precise cutting even under heavy load.
Ease of use
People have this perception that reel mowers are bulky. And often need a good amount of physical effort. It is true up to some extent but when it comes to the American 1815-18 mower, things are very different. The mower is quite lightweight and has a foam grip on the handle. Which makes it relatively easier to push around the yard.
Along with this, it features large 10-inch tires that provide good maneuverability to the mower. A combination of these factors makes it very easy to use, even for old people.
Mowing Performance
As far as performance is concerned, the mower consists of 5 super sharp blades. The mower, unlike other reel mowers, cut each strand of grass-like pair of scissors. This helps to keep the grass healthy as well as green which makes your lawn look very attractive. And the good thing is that the cutting height of the mower can be easily adjusted from 0.5” to 2.75”. This makes the mower quite flexible for scenarios. When you want different finishes according to various conditions.
Pros
Cons
7) Sun Joe MJ Reel Mower
Design and build
Sun joe MJ503M is a simple reel mower that comes in attractive looks. It has a 16-inch cutting deck that is perfect for small to medium-sized yards. Along with this, the blade of the mower is made up of alloy steel which increases its toughness and durability. Moreover, the mower comes in a box packaging and needs minimal assembly. Assembling is quite easy to get the blades rolling in under 10 minutes.
Ease of use
Talking about the ease of use, the mower is quite easy to use. The mower consists of a rugged all-terrain wheel which makes the mower very easy to push around the yard. It also provides enough traction and maneuverability to easily mow tricky areas. Lastly, the mower has padding on top of the T-styled handle making it very comfortable while using.
Mowing Performance
As for performance, the mower consists of 5 blades setup that provides nice cutting performance. Due to its decent size deck, the mower finishes the job faster in the small to medium yards. But it has its limitations and it is not suitable for large-sized lawns. Moreover, it features a height adjustment system through two levers on both sides. You can choose from 9 different positions and easily adjust the height from 1.1” to 2.9” according to your need. This comes really handy when you need to adjust the blades according to the terrain or weather conditions.
Pros
Cons
Reel Lawn Mower Buying Guide
These are a few things that you have to focus on before buying a Reel Mower.
Number of blades
The number of blades in a mower plays a big factor in the effectiveness of the mower. It will determine which type of grass you can cut with the mower. Thus, it is very important to look for the number of blades before buying. For heavier grasses like Bermuda or St. Augustine, choose a mower with five to seven blades. For thinner grasses go for four or five blades accordingly.
Swath width
Next comes swath width, it is the cutting width of the mower. Most of the reel mowers come from 15 inches to 20-inch range. It is very important to consider the swath width before it will determine how fast you can cut the grass of a given area. The Faster the width, the faster you will be able to cut the grass and use the saved time to do something else. However, more width also means more resistance so choose according to your needs.
Cutting height
After swath width, look for a cutting height of the mower. Choose a mower the variable cutting height however small it may be. Because different conditions need different cutting setups thus giving you a bit of flexibility. Therefore, choose a mower that gives you maximum height adjustments by moving a few levers.
Weight
You should also consider the weight of the mower. Less weight means less fatigue so always consider the weight of the mower.
Wonderful views on that!