Every homeowner enjoys taking advantage of their parcel of land on a nice day. On that pleasant day, you sit facing your perfect lawn. You enjoy your favorite beverage, read your favorite form of media and watch as the sun gives your grass that green shine it always has. Next week, however, things won’t be as rosy. You'll find that the beautiful symmetrical grass is slowly becoming the next local prairie and the only thing that stands between you and it is a good lawn mower.

Lawn mowers come in various types, electric, gas, and even battery-powered. However, none is more synonymous with the classical image of lawn mowing like the reel lawn mower, the polar opposite of the riding lawn mower. Reel lawn mowers are a type of manual mowers that have existed long before the other types, and up until this day are still used by many people who have small to medium-sized lawns. Manual lawn mowers come in various designs and sizes that fit what you desire and being able to choose the one you want for your lawn means you have to know what you should be looking for in a push reel mower.

The Backyard Boss Best Reel Lawn Mower 

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Fiskars Stay Sharp Reel Mower - $$title$$

Fiskars Stay Sharp Reel Mower

  • Handle Type: Loop
  • Weight : 51.7 Pounds
  • Warranty: Limited 3 Year

Check The Price!

Scotts Push Reel Mower - $$title$$

Scotts Push Reel Mower

  • Handle Type: Loop
  • Weight: 30 - 35 pounds
  • Warranty: N/A

Check The Price!

Great States Push Reel Mower - $$title$$

Great States Push Reel Mower

  • Handle Type: T
  • Weight: N/A
  • Warranty: Limited One Year

Check The Price!

American Lawn Mower Company Push Mower - $$title$$

American Lawn Mower Company Push Mower

  • Handle Type: T
  • Weight: 20 pounds
  • Warranty: Limited one year

Check The Price!

Earthwise 7-blade Push Mower - $$title$$

Earthwise 7-blade Push Mower

  • Handle Type: T
  • Weight: 26 Pounds
  • Warranty: Limited One Year"

Check The Price!

Why You Can Trust Us

My dad has one of those walk-behind mowers. It's ancient. Almost as ancient as him. He comes from the generation where you fix stuff if it's broken, not throw it away. It's a pity in this case because that lawnmower is a disaster. If it goes, it leaves a lane of uneven lawn behind you. Every now and then it administers an electric shock to make sure you're not napping behind the controls. As a teenager, mowing the lawn was the worst chore of them all. The biggest blessing was when that hunk of junk broke down for the day and I could take it, yet again, to the repair shop.

When I became an adult and found myself reigning over a lawn of my own, you better believe I was on the hunt for a good mower. I was well acquainted with the worst. Now I wanted the best. I've tested cheap lawnmowers, fancy ones, and everything in between. I've yet to find my perfect traditional mower, but I've tested a lot. My search continues while my knowledge and experience grow.

Best Heavy And Durable

Fiskars Stay Sharp Reel Mower

    This reel mower is anything but simple. It comes with all the bells and whistles that make it easier to push, more effective to mow, and a pleasure to behold.

      Pros:

    • 60% easier to push
    • Direct clippings forward, backward, or downward
    • One-touch Height Adjustment
      Cons:

    • Manoeuvrability problems
    • Expensive
    • Noisy"

Why We Like It: The Fiskars StaySharp is a 50-pound reel mower made for clearing out any obstacles in its path. Featuring a forward grass spray mechanism, so you can enjoy a prick-less mowing run while leveraging its weight, makes it more than capable of cutting through any tough spots that stop any other mower in its place.

Furthermore, its StaySharp cutting system (which cuts grass without touching it) ensures that the blades last while giving a great performance. The StaySharp also comes with a height adjuster (between one and four inches) and a patented system that makes pushing this reel mower much easier than it should be with its colossal weight.

Who Should Buy It: If you've got some unruly turf that needs the heavy hitters to keep it in check, you may have found the answer. This push reel lawn mower is used for large flat turfs and will never give up before its operator as long as it's taken care of.

Best Middle Ground

Scotts Push Reel Mower

    The classic Scotts push mower. Lightweight, simple, and reliable.

      Pros:

    • 10 year lifespan of blade edge
    • Quiet
    • Easy to assemble
      Cons:

    • Not suitable for large yards
    • Not suitable for bumpy terrain
    • Not suitable for long grass"

Why We Like It: Weighing right between Fiskars and the weight of the Great States 415 (35 pounds) nothing can stand in the path of this mower, be it rocks, twigs, and thick grass.

Featuring a nine-height level adjuster that goes from one to three inches and five heat-treated durable steel blades, as well as a four-wheel setup that keeps the mower even while cutting through sloped turf or uneven grass. This mower boasts the medium between what the Staysharp can achieve and what the Great States mower is capable of while having a wider blade length to cover more grass at the same time.

Who Should Buy It: The Scotts 2000 is a 20-inch reel mower for all terrains and all types of grass. If you're looking for a middle ground mower that can take on tough terrain without weighing the same as a small dump truck, then you've found your mower.

Best Light And Flexible

Great States Push Reel Mower

    Push reel mower with quick and easy blade height adjustment. Make mowing the lawn a peaceful activity with this push mower.

      Pros:

    • Manoeuvrable
    • Smooth, even cut
    • Easy to assemble
      Cons:

    • Not suitable for Bermuda Grass
    • Lawn may require multiple passes
    • Blades get stuck on anything thicker than grass"

Why We Like It: The lightest of our current selection weighing in at only 25 pounds, the Great States 16-inch mower is one of the best light reel mowers around. Featuring easy height adjustment from 1/2 to 2 1/2″, a T-style handle for comfortable operation, and treated blades that are rust-proof.

Who Should Buy It: Anyone with light grass (such as Bermuda) and a constant mowing schedule. The tool-less assembly makes this one of the best push reel lawn mowers for anyone with a small lawn filled with light grass.

Best For Regular Mowing -- American Lawn Mower Company

American Lawn Mower Company Push Mower

    The scissor-like motion of the blades will keep your lawn looking pristine, so long as you cut regularly and keep your grass under four inches tall.

      Pros:

    • Only requires sharpening every 3-5 years
    • Light enough for teenagers to operate
    • Lightweight
      Cons:

    • Doesn't handle long grass
    • Twigs stop the blades
    • Not good on bumpy lawns"

Why We Like It: When a company has been making the same products since 1895, it's probably worth sitting up and taking notice. This light, affordable push mower will get the job done as long as you do the job regularly. The lightweight, easy to maneuver mower is a breeze to assemble and a grass catcher is sold separately.

Who Should Buy It: This mower is not suitable for long grass. So if your lawn is 4 inches or shorter, and you plan to keep it that way, then it's worth considering. Have a toddler that likes to help with the yard work? This mower makes mowing the lawn safe around children. Like to hold a beer lemonade in one hand while you mow the lawn with the other? This mower is light enough to push one-handed. Want to hold a conversation with someone while you mow the lawn? This silent mower means that mowing the lawn can be a multitasking activity.

Best For Bermuda Grass

Earthwise 7-blade Push Mower

    This mower is designed specifically for mowing bent grass, and it does so without noise or fumes. Keep your Bermuda lawn pristine with this eco-friendly push mower

      Pros:

    • Low cut
    • 7 blades for superior cutting ability
    • Easy to use
      Cons:

    • Handles are too close together
    • Noisy
    • Blades spin slowly"

Why We Like It: This seven-blade mower will keep that Bermuda grass looking fresh. Designed specifically for bentgrass, like Bermuda grass, this mower will get the job done. The blades are adjustable without the need for tools and you're relying on a hundred years of experience when you buy one of these.

Who Should Buy It: If you have Bermuda grass, and you're intent on keeping it in carpet-like perfection, maybe this mower can help. You can also adjust the blades a lot lower than most other reel mowers so if you're looking for a short lawn, this is the way to go.

How to Choose the Right Reel Lawn Mower for You

Reel Lawn Mower

Image Credits: Gardening Solutions on CreativeCommons

After going through this section you’ll be able to properly go through our reel lawn mower reviews and select the best reel mower for your garden. There are seven criteria that separate reel mowers from one another:

Grass Cutting Height

Each reel mower comes with a specific height that it cuts its grass in, some going very low (up to half an inch) and others capable of going as high as 4 inches in height, and others are adjustable to provide you with the height you want.

Grass Cutting Width

How wide do you want the mower to be? This usually kicks in when your yard or lawn becomes quite big for the small lawn mowers to cut through. Usually the wider you get a mower the more length you cover per run, but the more likely you will tire out due to the weight (as wider blades are heavier). If you're picking a lawn mower from our reel lawn mower reviews, make sure you use the blade length that fits you.

Grass Type

The type of grass in your yard can largely determine the type of reel lawn mower you should buy. Thick strands of grass require thicker blades and light grass will require lighter mowers.

Slope

If you have a level lawn, you can purchase whatever reel mower you desire. However, if you have a bumpy or sloped lawn, you should look for a lawn mower that can cut at any angle so you don't have to spend multiple runs on the same path.

Blade Durability

As with all blades, reel mower blades will also dull after continued usage. Finding a lawn mower with durable blades will keep your mowing hassle-free and focused on the task at hand.

Grass Spray

All the cut lawn will need to go somewhere. If you like to mow with shorts, for example, you might look for a reel mower with a grass catcher or invest in a reel lawn mower that has frontal grass spray.

Weight

Weight can be a very big impediment the longer you keep mowing. Sometimes for big lawns, it's wise to consider finding the middle ground between weight and slower cutting performance.

Woman mowing the lawn with a reel lawn mower

Image Credits: Mklipovsky on CreativeCommons

How We Picked

As per usual, we combed the internet for all the most important features of the products we reviewed. The features for this post are as follows.

Weight: Since manual reel mowers are self-propelled, weight is important. Nobody wants to manhandle a hundred-pound mower around their yard.

Cut Height: Different strokes for different folks, and lawns are no different. Some people like a long, lush lawn. Others like to keep it close and tight. The mowers we reviewed have adjustable blade height to satisfy your needs.

Blade Sharpness: Having a sharp blade is a no-brainer when you want to cut stuff. These products all have blades with a long life span or there are sharpening kits available for each specific product.

Price: The price of something is almost always a factor when you're looking to buy something. We included a range to satisfy the bargain hunters as well as those who are prepared to pay for quality.

The Final Cut

The Fiskars Stay Sharp Reel Mower is our top pick. Although heavy, this mower is easier to push thanks to some fancy patented technology. The fancy technology doesn't stop there though. This thing is capable of cutting tall grass without even touching it. Who knows how that works, but it means the blades stay sharper for longer. It's built tough, so it can take on unruly lawns stretching over large expanses of real estate. This is a premium product, and while a bit more expensive than the other options, it should be the last push mower you buy.