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If you rent or own a house, lawn maintenance is something you’ll be facing every spring, summer, and fall. One big part of that is stopping your grass from growing wild. If you’d prefer not to deal with the cost and fumes of a gas mower and are looking for something cheaper than an electric option, you might be wondering what’s left. Well, we’ll tell you!
Reel mowers are the most compact and affordable type of mower, and they rely on muscle power to run rather than gas or electricity. They’re easy to store, very simple to use, and require essentially no maintenance throughout their lifespan. Plus, they give you a workout while you use them. Don’t they sound great?
If a reel mower sounds like the right move for you, but you’re not sure how to find the right one, we’re here to help. Reel mowers will vary in things like price, cutting path, wheel size, number of blades, weight, and much more. Every feature will affect how well suited it is to your needs, so we recommend that you think about all of them.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best reel mowers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Runner-Up: Earthwise 1715-16EW Push Reel Mower
Upgrade Pick: Fiskars 1015649 Staysharp Plus Reel Mower
Large Pick: Scotts 2000-20 Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
Budget Pick: Greenworks 25052 Reel Lawn Mower with Grass Catcher
The Great States 204-14 Hand Reel Push Lawn Mower is an easy one to appreciate. With a lightweight design and T-grip handle, it’s easy to carry and push along on grass. Plus, since the blades are exposed, it’s really easy to pull out any twigs or long grass pieces that get stuck. It’ll take seconds to figure out how it works, too. We love simplicity.
If you’re concerned about longevity, this reel mower is still a great option. It’s made out of a tough alloy steel that will resist corrosion and wear and tear. You’ll be able to use this mower for years without worrying about damage or dull blades. Speaking of blades, the ones on this mower are highly effective at cutting grass, so you won’t ever have to make multiple passes for an even cut. Thank goodness.
Although we really like this reel mower, there are a couple of reasons why it won’t be perfect for everyone. Its height adjustment system is difficult and quite limited, so if you’re particular about your grass height, you might not get the settings you need with this one. The 14” cutting width is also fairly small, so you’ll be spending a lot of time on bigger properties. It’s best for small to medium lawns.
All in all, the Great States 204-14 Hand Reel Push Lawn Mower is a fantastic option for maintaining well-cared-for lawns. It boasts a great price, a comfortable grip, effective blades, and a simple design. What more could you want?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a very good opinion of the Great States 204-14 Hand Reel Push Lawn Mower. They appreciate how light it is and how easy it is to push along once it gets going. They don’t ever have to backtrack over the same patch of grass twice, and it’s easy to turn as well. They would appreciate an easier method of adjusting the cutting height, though, and more options.
Buy If…
You’re looking for something simple and easy to care for
You like the feel of a T handle
Durability is important to you
You want something that cuts well the first time
Don’t Buy If…
You’re very particular about your grass height
You have a large property to mow
Weight: 20 lbs
Colour: Silver and blue
Cutting Path: 14”
Front Wheel Size: 8.5”
Height Positions: 3
Cutting Height Range: 0.5” to 1.5”
Number of Blades: 4
Warranty: 2 years
We like all of the features offered by the Earthwise 1715-16EW Push Reel Mower. One of the ones you’ll appreciate most is the hand grip design. Rather than small and hard handle grips, this one offers thick, cushy pads to wrap your hands around. You won’t have to worry about stiff or cramping fingers, even on long jobs. Finally.
The 16” cutting path and 7-blade design guarantee two things: you won’t need to spend a lot of time maintaining your lawn, and it’ll be effective on all grass types, even ones that are dense with thick blades. It’s great for every lawn. With multiple cutting heights offered between 0.5” and 2.5”, plus an easy lever for adjusting it, you’ll be able to cut your lawn perfectly every time, even if it’s a bit overgrown.
One of the only concerns we have to mention with this one is the cost. It isn’t the most expensive reel mower out there, but it isn’t the most affordable either. If you’re shopping on a tight budget, it might not work for you. Also, while the 16” cutting width is great for most properties, it’s still quite a bit smaller than the largest reel mowers. You can definitely find one that’s more efficient if that’s a priority for you.
All in all, the Earthwise 1715-16EW Push Reel Mower is another one of our easy favourites for this year. Whether you’re prioritizing hand comfort, efficiency, or longevity, this option has what you’re looking for. It offers great cutting height options, too. It’s perfect for every lawn.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Earthwise 1715-16EW Push Reel Mower. They were surprised at how easy it is to push and turn the mower, and it cuts through a variety of grass types with ease. They appreciate how comfortable the grips are, too. Most agree that it’s worth the money and would choose this one again.
Buy If…
Hand comfort is important to you
You don’t want to spend more time on your lawn than necessary
You’ll need to adjust the cutting height often
Your lawn has dense/thick grass
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a tight budget
You’re mowing a really large property
Dimensions: 45.9” x 21.9” x 27.8”
Weight: 26 lbs
Colour: Dark grey
Cutting Path: 16”
Front Wheel Size: 10”
Cutting Height Range: 0.5” to 2.5”
Number of Blades: 7
Warranty: 5 years
The Fiskars 1015649 Staysharp Plus Reel Mower is pretty impressive. It’s able to cut through every type of grass and won’t jam up on weeds or small twigs — you won’t have to pause as often with this one as you would with other reel mowers. This option also moves a lot better than the competition — it’ll feel like it’s self-propelled! It’s a great option if you’re not as mobile or you have a big property to do.
One of our favourite features is the lift handle. Rather than struggling to lift your reel mower by the long handlebars, this one comes with a small handle on the mower housing so you can lift effectively. Doesn’t that sound nice? A wide range of cutting heights (10 options between 1” and 3.9”) means it is well-suited to different preferences and overgrown lawns that need a few passes.
There are two reasons why this reel mower might not be your perfect fit. In the literal sense, the larger size and heavier weight of this mower might mean it won’t fit in your storage space or might be too heavy for you to carry/lift when needed. This mower also has a pretty expensive price tag, so if you don’t want to spend a lot, you can do better price-wise.
Overall, the Fiskars 1015649 Staysharp Plus Reel Mower is one that we highly recommend if you’re able and willing to spend a little extra. It offers one of the best mowing experiences you can get with a reel mower, and it’s still really easy to use. That’s a pretty desirable combo, isn’t it?
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are very happy with the Fiskars 1015649 Staysharp Plus Reel Mower. Multiple people mentioned that it moves so easily, it’s like it’s self-propelled, and they haven’t had many issues with it getting stuck on twigs or in thick grass. The lift handle helps turn the mower around in tight spaces, and they appreciate how many cutting height options there are.
Buy If…
Easy pushing is important to you
Your lawn is home to twigs, thick grass, and weeds
You’d appreciate an easy way to lift your reel mower
Cutting height adjustability is a priority
Don’t Buy If…
A lightweight and compact mower is what you’re after
You don’t want to spend much
Dimensions: 63” x 43.3” x 19.7”
Weight: 41 lbs
Colour: Orange and black
Cutting Path: 17”
Front Wheel Size: 10”
Rear Wheel Size: 5.9”
Height Positions: 10
Cutting Height Range: 1” to 3.9”
There are a lot of things to like about the Scotts 2000-20 Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower. One of the first things that caught our eye was the 20” cutting path. If you have a large lawn or just want to get this chore done as quickly as you can, you won’t find a better partner than this one. Since the handle is designed with ergonomics in mind, you won’t get sore or stiff, either.
This 5-blade mower cuts flawlessly on most grass types, so as long as you keep up with the mowing, you won’t ever have to make multiple passes for an even cut. And if you do let the grass go a bit too long, the 10-setting height adjustment range will make sure you can hit the right heights to make your grass perfect again.
We have two things to mention that might sway you in a different direction. First, the cost of this reel mower is quite a bit higher than other options, so if you’re shopping on a budget, there are definitely better choices out there. The durability of this one is also a bit questionable — there are some locations where connections between two parts are prone to falling apart. Not ideal.
All in all, the Scotts 2000-20 Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower is the best choice if you want to get through your mowing chores as quickly as possible. With a wide cutting path, effective 5-blade design, and tons of height options, this mower is great for all standard grass lawns.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 3/5
Quality: 4/5
Reviewers have mostly positive things to say about the Scotts 2000-20 Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower. Some users have experienced issues with the handlebar frame not securing well to the mower, but otherwise, all their comments are favourable. This mower works effectively on most grass types, is very easy to push, and features a nice handlebar setup along with a good height adjustment range.
Buy If…
You like to be precise with your lawn height
Efficiency is your main priority
You want to be comfortable while you mow your lawn
You don’t want to make multiple passes
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a budget
Colour: Green
Cutting Path: 20”
Front Wheel Size: 10”
Height Positions: 10
Cutting Height Range: 1” to 3”
Number of Blades: 5
Warranty: 5 years
The Greenworks 25052 Reel Lawn Mower with Grass Catcher has more to offer than you’d expect at such a great price point. In addition to an affordable price tag, this mower comes with a highly effective 5-blade design that cuts through standard grasses with ease. The four-wheel design and comfortable loop handle also guarantee that you’ll be able to use it easily — it isn’t difficult to push.
The handle frame on this one also folds down for more convenient storage — you can even fit it in your car if you need to travel with it to other houses. Of course, one of the best features is the included grass catcher — this mower will mulch and collect the grass clippings so you don’t need to tidy up your lawn after. It makes great compost, too.
We have a few shortcomings to mention before we wrap up. The first one is its durability — multiple areas of this mower have been known to arrive damaged, so it isn’t a super reliable buy. It’s also better suited to smaller properties due to the smaller 16” cutting width. Lastly, the cutting height range is very limited, so if you’re choosy about your grass height, this one won’t be a good match.
Overall, the Greenworks 25052 Reel Lawn Mower with Grass Catcher is the best option for shoppers on a budget. It has its flaws, but for the price, it comes with a great cutting width and effective blades. It’s very user-friendly, too.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Reviewers have mixed feelings about the Greenworks 25052 Reel Lawn Mower with Grass Catcher. It does a great job of cutting uniform, short grass, and the grass catcher helps to keep things neat. It’s also really easy to push. However, many people received defective mowers for a variety of reasons, and it isn’t made with the highest-quality materials. It struggles with long grass, too.
Buy If…
You don’t want the grass clippings flying everywhere
Affordability is your main priority
You’re short on storage space
You prefer a loop handle instead of a T handle
Don’t Buy If…
You’re taking care of a large property
You’re looking for something durable
A wide cutting height range would be nice
Dimensions: 22” x 47” x 29.75”
Weight: 26 lbs
Colour: Green
Cutting Path: 16”
Front Wheel Size: 10”
Rear Wheel Size: 2”
Height Positions: 4
Cutting Height Range: 1.1” to 2.25”
Number of Blades: 5
Warranty: 3 years
Some reel mowers cost less than $100, but others will cost closer to $400. Generally, more expensive reel mowers will have more blades, a wider cutting path, a more versatile cutting height range, and better durability.
The cutting path of a reel mower typically lands between 14” and 20”. A narrower cutting path will be linked to a cheaper price tag, but it’ll also take you longer to cut your lawn. Reel mowers with wider cutting paths are more efficient, but they’re also more expensive and bulkier to store.
The cutting height range of a reel mower can fall anywhere between 0.5” and 4”. More expensive mowers tend to offer wider height ranges. Reel mowers with limited height ranges won’t be as versatile.
The number of height positions offered by a reel mower is another important factor to consider. Some only have two or three, others have eight to ten. Of course, the more positions you have to choose from within a certain range, the more exact you can be with the grass height.
The number of blades on a reel mower affects how well it cuts through different grass types. You’ll see 3-blade, 5-blade, and 7-blade models most often. The more blades a reel mower has, the more effective it will be on thicker or denser grasses (and some weeds, too), but the price tag also goes up as the number of blades goes up.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.