If you are looking to stand with a pollution-free and noise-free mower then you might be looking for the Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower as the best reel mower out there with its awesome features and precise cutting power.
But if you want something a bit bigger in cutting width, the Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower might be a better option if you can afford such for your budget.
On the other hand, budget savers might look at the option of using the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower which is fit for smaller gardens and yards to mow.
The Best Reel Mower: Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower
Top Pick: Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower
The Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower is our best reel mower for the article due to its multiple features and user-friendly price. It has t-style handle that allows better grip and it has heat treated blades that give quality cut for your lawn grass. The cutting width of 16 inches makes it a balanced and ideal reel mower for any home.
For better mobility, the ball bearing wheels are at 10 inches. There is a 3 position height adjustment, ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 3/4 inch adjustment on height. Corrosion is not a problem because the handle is powder coated finish, accompanied by a very sturdy steel side plate. The reel mower weighs 25 pounds and much like every reel mower, it is eco-friendly without carbon monoxide – that means no noise, no need for battery, power cord, smoke, and no projectiles. It’s just you, the mower and the lawn – perfect for those who want a peaceful time cutting the grass by traditional means.
Step-up Pick: Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower, 18-Inch
Step-up Pick: Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower, 18-Inch
For those who are eyeing on a bigger machine, you can spend more for a larger value with the Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower, 18-Inch which is great for bigger lawns. It is 30% easier to push compared to other reel mowers, making mobility its best advantages. The reel mower is able to cut all grass types – even hard varieties! It has over 17 to 18 inch cut width and is able to make clean cuts.
And since it is a reel mower, it does not require gasoline, battery, electricity or engine noise, which overall makes it an eco-friendly and unique design for anyone in the family or household to use.
Budget Pick: American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
Budget Pick: American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
If you can’t really afford a bigger lawn mower or just want a smaller one for a smaller yard, you might like the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower which measures 8 1/2 inch diameter and has a 14 inch cutting width.
The mower’s wheels are made from polymer and it makes up a high impact reel mower. With its sturdy and high quality alloy steel construction, this small but terrible mower is able to make a clean and precise cut. With a total weight of 19 pounds, it has a 3 spider and 1 blade reel. The roller is highly adjustable to your preference. The mower comes with a 90 day warranty limited for its size and price.
A Little Background
Lawn mowers have been around since people wanted a better solution in cutting the grass and maintaining a lawn or yard without the use of scissors to trim under the blazing sun or pouring rain – and work on a solution to get the job done faster than before. Lawn mowers come in two most common variants: push reel mowers and motorized mowers. So what’s the difference?
Push reel mowers require the mower to be pushed to the lawn to be able to cut grass precisely. It does not require motor, gas, electricity and does not emit smoke or make noise, hence a traditional and quieter way of cutting the grass. However, since the technology has let people to innovate with motorized mowers, some have switched to them because of their speed and accuracy.
The only problem with motorized mowers is that not only are they not eco-friendly due to pollution and gas – a lot of mower related accidents have also been attributed to motorized mowers, as compared to traditional reel mowers. Some people might also feel overwhelmed with automatic mowers, since it might be hard to stop them once they start malfunctioning. That kind of thing doesn’t happen in reel mowers, because you have the total control of the mower yourself.
And this is particularly why most people nowadays are moving away from motorized mowers for a while and switching back to the traditional reel mowers to make their life easier and safer as well as simpler.
How We Picked
From the long list of reel mowers out there, we picked the best ones based from the following criteria:
The cutting width is the most important thing, but is most likely depending on what size of a lawn you are mowing. Small gardens can have 14 to 16 inches of cutting width, but bigger and wider lawns might want to have 18 to 20 inches cutting width. Therefore, it is important that you know the size of your grass field before you proceed to buy a reel mower.
Number of blades also matter when it comes to reel mowers. Some have 4 blades while some have 5 blades, but this, again, is dependent on its cutting width. Small sized mowers have 4 blades while bigger ones have 5. The blades must also be heat-treated so that they are as sharp as possible and must be made from high quality material so that they are easy to sharpen when they get old.
Safety and ease of use are very important, since that is what you are looking for in traditional reel mowers as compared to potentially dangerous machine mowers that when not operated properly, could cause accidents. The handle should be easy to grip and easy to push with. A foldable handle is also convenient for any reel mower so that you can easily store it elsewhere.
Durability is a big factor as well. A powder coat finish on any reel mower that is built with high quality steel should be able to resist corrosion well so that it can be further used.
A reel mower should be lightweight and easy to carry; otherwise it will be just like an ordinary motorized machine. It should be easily pushed against slopes – this is one of the reasons why more people like to use reel mowers over motorized ones due to the weight and ability to push it even by smaller people or the ladies.
The price and online reviews do matter when it comes to choosing the best reel mower. In this guide, we picked the best price for the best features and we kept in mind the pros and cons given by the reviewers of the products.
Our Pick
Top Pick: Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower
Our best reel mower is the Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower because of its balanced functionality as a grass cutter. It has an easy grip t-style handle.
The heat treated blades gives a high quality cut so that you would easily cut grass at high precision. As we mentioned in the criteria, the sharpness of the blades do matter when it comes to picking the best reel mower. The cutting width of 16 inches makes it great for small to mid-sized lawns to maintain.
In addition, the ball bearing wheels at 10 inches allow for better mobility for the reel mower. It has a 3 position height adjustment where you can choose between 1/2 inch and 2 3/4 inch adjustment on height. You don’t have to worry about corrosion because the handle is powder coated finish and the mower’s body also comes with a very sturdy steel side plate.
Overall, it weighs 25 pounds. This greatly eco-friendly lawn mower spends time cutting the grass without carbon monoxide. This particularly means you get no noise, no need for battery, power cord, smoke and no projectiles to worry about. There is also no requirement for carb cleaner.
You would enjoy using this because it is indeed very lightweight and compared to high priced ones, this one is very budget friendly. Overall, the Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower makes a great alternative to noisy engines because it really avoids injury and hazards.
Who Else Likes It?
People who might enjoy reel mowers like this are those who have a lot of time in the yard and would like to finely mow the lawn at precise cutting without the annoying smoke and noise pollution. For those who like to exercise and workout while mowing then this is the reel mower for you. Home owners who have small to medium sized lawns will definitely benefit from this mower as it is sized just right for your lawn and your budget with all of its features.
Flaws but Not Dealbrakers
Despite the good parts, there are a few things you have to note before you proceed to buy the mower. For instance, it is not that advisable for very tall grass. As part of its regular maintenance, the blades must be lubricated after every use. It works a little slower than gas propelled mowers, but works fine for people who are patient enough to cut the grass. After all, that disadvantage is with all reel mowers, so it’s not really for people who don’t like slow grass cutting.
Step-up Pick
Step-up Pick: Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower, 18-Inch
A further step up in the game is the Fiskars Staysharp Max Reel Mower. This mower is 30% easier to push compared to other reel mowers and is able to cut all grass types – even hard varieties. Therefore, when the first mower didn’t work for you, spending extra dollars for this bigger machine might do the trick for taller grasses.
With a 17 to 18 inch cut width, this mower definitely makes clean cuts and as with all reel mowers out there, it does not require gasoline, battery, electricity or engine noise. Bearing a very eco-friendly and unique design, it has an adjustable handle makes it user-friendly. For those who like to travel a lot, this mower is great for transport as the handle can be easily detached.
As expected with reel mowers, it is lighter than a regular gas mower and can cut as much as 4 inch tall grass. It is quiet and pollution-free and also works great for grass cycling due to its grass strip cutting. So for those who are more meticulous with lawn maintenance, they might want to get this step-up pick instead.
Budget Pick
Budget Pick: American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
But for those with smaller lawns, you might be interested in the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower. It is a roughly smaller but budget friendlier option for a reel mower measuring at 8 1/2 inch diameter.
With wheels made from polymer, it is bound to be sturdy and give the user more mobility. The high impact reel mower is made from very durable and corrosion resistant alloy steel construction that enables a clean and precise cut on your lawn. It is okay for smaller lawns with its 14 inch cutting width and is lightweight – it only weighs 19 pounds. As a 3 spider and 1 blade reel, the roller is highly adjustable. Coming at a 90 day limited warranty, this reel mower is good for small yards and for the ladies.
Wheels with Dual Tracking Motion for Better Mobility
Scotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
For those who want better mobility, the Scotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower comes with 10 inch dual tracking wheels that permit better maneuverability, especially on those lawns that have lots of curves and slopes. Added to that is a whopping 20 inches cutting width – making it ideal for bigger lawns. The rugged radial tires make this a great reel mower in terms of mobility.
It has a 1 to 3 inches height adjustment and you can easily choose from 9 grass heights. These height adjusters are quick snap so you can set them up hassle-free. Having 5 steel blades that are heat treated, this sturdy mower is easy to put together and uses a very precise blade technology. This dual tracking motion reel mower is under a 2 year warranty.
Sturdy and Comfortable Handle Design
Brill 78371 Razorcut 38 15-Inch Reel Push Lawn Mower
If a comfortable yet durable handle is what you are looking for then you might want to check out the Brill 78371 Razorcut 38 15-Inch Reel Push Lawn Mower which is silent cutting due to its versatile no contact blade design, which most reel mowers in the market unfortunately have. It does not require gas or give out fumes, just like most reel mowers.
The bearings are sealed, giving it less maintenance requirement and less contact with the grass debris. There is also a foam rubber handle that is ergonomically shaped. In addition, the steel blades are flame hardened so it takes a long time to sharpen them again. Cutting height is adjustable from 14 to 45 mm and includes measuring scale on mower sides
Being a 5 blade mower, it has 15.2 cutting inches and 8 inch wheels. This also has 17 pounds of weight, making it lightweight. Being a user-friendly mower, it can be assembled within 5 to 10 minutes so you can spend more time mowing the grass rather than just putting it together. Added to that is the mounted reel that has sealed ball bearing. For those who like to maximize their mowing experience, you can also attach a grass catcher at the back.
Another thing that makes it safe and convenient is the 7 inch metal cover helps keep away shrubs and flowers from getting accidentally cut. This mower is under 2 year manufacturer’s warranty.
Includes a Grass Catcher at the Back
Sun Joe Mow Joe MJ500M 16-Inch Manual Reel Mower with Catcher
For those who do not want the hassle of looking for the appropriate grass catcher to attach at the back, the Sun Joe Mow Joe MJ500M 16-Inch Manual Reel Mower with Catcher already comes with it. The reel mower is currently available in 16 inch, 18 inch and 20 inch, all at different prices and specifications, so you can pick the one that is best fitting on your lawn, be it small, medium or large scale. It has a grass catcher that can hold up to 6.6 gallons of content, and it can be detached.
Having a set of 8.8 inch wheels, this awesome reel mower is almost maintenance free due to its design and features. In addition, there is a manual height adjustment in 4 positions so you can feel at ease while mowing the lawn. Overall, this reel mower is quite easy to maneuver and push so almost anyone who can mow the lawn can use it.
Everyone loves reel mowers that are built with portability and durability in mind. The compact design is easy to use and accompanied by that is the grip handle that is made from comfortable foam. The 16 inches mower has 4 steel blades and 4 adjustment options, while the 18 and 10 inches mowers both have 9 adjustment options and 5 steel blades. This reel mower comes at a 2 year warranty.
Has a 2 in 1 Mulching Functionality
Remington RM3100 18-Inch Reel Push Mower
For those who want to have a mulching functionality for their mower, they would better pick the Remington RM3100 18-Inch Reel Push Mower which has a width of 18 inches cutting. The useful 2 in 1 mulching features for clipping collection while mowing. There is also a height adjustment using dual lever mechanism for any person’s convenience when mowing the lawn. Simply and easily adjust height from 0.75 inch to 2.5 inches with a few settings.
The 5 blade reel is adjustable and durable so that it can withstand a lot of usage in your lawn, provided that healthy maintenance and check-up on the blades and the reel as a whole is kept. This mower is also very eco-friendly without the requirement for gas or noisy motors. It works okay for light yard mowing and also includes a collection bag. In addition to those features, the steel handle is padded for comfort. This mower is under a 2 year limited warranty.
Folding Handle Design
Gardena 4024 15-Inch Silent Push Reel Lawn Mower with Folding Ergonomic Handle
Do you want a folding handle design reel mower? You might want to try the Gardena 4024 15-Inch Silent Push Reel Lawn Mower with Folding Ergonomic Handle which has a contact free blade reel that avoids noise and makes it a quiet mower.
The design of this mower makes it easy to adjust the height using controller and its ergonomic handle is easy to fold and push so that you spend more time focusing on whatever you are mowing. The conveniently folding handle has quick lock feature that makes the mower easy to store, especially if you have a garage or shed.
In addition to these portability and safekeeping features, the precision cut is backed by nonstick coating hardened cutting cylinder which makes it super durable. The complete set of 5 cutting cylinders is flame hardened so that you only get high quality cutting power. Measuring 22 by 14 by 54 inches in dimensions, it weighs 24 pounds. The bearings are sealed to prevent grass from getting inside the gears. The user is also safe and protected from debris due to aluminum shield. To top it off, the powder coated surfaces make it resistant to corrosion.
Specifically Made for Creeping Grasses
Great States 705-16 16-Inch Specialty Push Reel Lawn Mower For Low Growing Creeping Grasses With T-Style Handle
If you maintain Bermuda grass lawns, then you are in luck with using the Great States 705-16 16-Inch Specialty Push Reel Lawn Mower For Low Growing Creeping Grasses With T-Style Handle which comes with a 16 inches of cutting width and 7 blades that are heat treated and made from tempered alloy.
Having a 4 spider ball bearing reel and a set of 10 inch ball bearing wheels, with this reel mower, one can easily adjust the height easily from 1/2 inch to 2 1/4 inches. It is highly finished with powder coat to avoid corrosion.
The design is specifically built for creeping grasses, especially Bermuda grass, which smaller mowers cannot handle. It also has a flair style handle and the steel side plate is unbreakable with its durability finish. So if you maintain harder, creeping grasses like Bermuda and such, you’d better pick this mower.
A Five Blade Reel Mower
Great States Model 304-14 Five Blade 14 Inch Push Reel Lawnmower
For those who like a simple 5 blade mower for their garden or yard, they should have the Great States Model 304-14 Five Blade 14 Inch Push Reel Lawnmower which has an option to adjust the height from 1 to 1 3/4 inches. Made from material that makes it downright resistant to rust, it comes with plastic grips and zinc plated handle.
The cutting width of this mower is 14 inches so it’s okay to use on small and medium lawns. Having a total of 5 blades, made from alloy steel, heat treated to keep them sharp and give high quality cuts, this is one awesome reel mower you’d want to have. Its wheels measure 10 inches and it also has a T-style handle. With a balanced total weight of 21 pounds, it is also a 3 spider mower.
The Competition
Other reel mowers that did not make it to this list are mostly too expensive or don’t have enough functionality to fit their price. Some of them also do not have safety features that shield the blades and gears from debris, which a good reel mower should have. The blades aren’t the only question here – the ergonomic and comfortable design of the handles should be considered as well.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How beneficial are reel mowers over machine mowers?
A: According to this guide from Art of Manliness , push reel mowers are so beneficial in a lot of ways. For instance, they make less noise compared to machine mowers because they do not require gas or motors to run. Lawns that are mowed by traditional push reel mowers are also more evenly-cut and clean looking compared to ones run by gas mowers. These manual mowers are also eco-friendly because they do not bring out pollution, both in terms of noise pollution and air pollution. They are also generally cheaper than motor mowers and are also hassle-free in such a way that you don’t have to push some buttons or charge it with electricity or gas. It is also good for your health because it exercises you as you mow your lawn. Last, but not the least, push reel mowers are also safer because they are not automatic.
Q: How do you maintain your reel mower?
A: According to this article from Mother Earth News, it is important to sharpen your reel mower’s blades if they are getting old, so that they can effectively cut the grass like they should. If your mower does not have a grass catcher, you can buy one separately from hardware stores and just attach it to the mower for convenience. You should also check the wheels if they are moving smoothly, otherwise you should replace them or repair them. A reel mower with less movable wheels can mean trouble.
Q: Which is better, reel mowers or machine mowers?
A: According to this article from Flannel Guy ROI, it depends on your preference, whether you want to speed up work or just be eco-friendly. Push mowers don’t emit smoke or make any pollution of sort, plus it exercises you during mowing. However, it is relatively slower compared to machine work, which however, has the disadvantage of gas emissions. The said article calculates the costs of both reel mowers and machine mowers.
Wrapping It Up
For those who want a hassle free time at the lawn without causing pollution or needing to use gas to power up, the Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower is our best reel mower and the most ideal thing you will need for any lawn to maintain.
Jen Miller is a former electrical engineer and product specialist with more than 20 years of product design and testing experience. She has designed more than 200 products for Fortune 500 companies, in fields ranging from home appliances to sports gear and outdoor equipment. She founded Jen Reviews to share her knowledge and critical eye for what makes consumers tick, and adopts a strict no-BS approach to help the reader filter through the maze of products and marketing hype out there. She writes regularly and has been featured on Forbes, Fast Company, The Muse, The Huffington Post, Tiny Buddha and MindBodyGreen.