Push Reel mowers Vs Electric mower

Before we start to understand the differences, it would be worthwhile to understand the fundamental technology that moves these mowers.

As the name suggests, the push reel mowers are powered by humans, usually with a cylinder of angled blades and a central shaft that drives it. Many models also have a facility to attach a grass catcher.

The electric mower, on the other hand, are corded or cordless, with the latter being powered by a rechargeable battery.

The cutting technique however is entirely different. They usually have what is called a rotary cutter, which spins high speed under the mowers hood, driven by a motor.

Cutting technique:

When it comes to this, the reel mowers deploy a cylinder of blades that rotate as you push. The cylinder blades precisely meet a stationary counter plate where the grass get neatly cut.

This is more like cutting the grass using a pair of scissors.

This key feature that sets a reel mower apart, is the wound where the cut occurs in the grass leaf, is quite minimal, enabling them to heal faster, and thereby you end up with a healthy lawn through growing the season.

The electric mower on the other hand, almost always feature a rotary blade that spins parallel to the ground, under the mower hood.

If the blade is maintained in good condition – properly sharpened and balanced – it can still deliver a good cut, but it’ll never be quite as clean a cut as what a reel mower gives you.

The high spinning rate of the blades captures fine grass particles that accumulate very quickly during the initial few minutes of mowing, and results in wounding the grass leaf with poor cuts.

This results in a lawn with poor health and grass.

Maintenance:

This is where the plot thickens, well, not really. Whilst both these mowers are considered low maintenance, the push mowers usually have very minimal compared to the electric mower.

The structure of the push reel mower, for example, the Fiskars StaySharp Reel mower, is often very simple and uncomplicated.

A quick clean of the blades after mowing, will be more than sufficient to keep the unit functioning without any issues.

The electric mower, on the other hand, battery maintenance, blade sharpening and lubrication are crucially important to keep the unit going.

The battery charging cycle will have a big impact on the battery life, during dormant months, when the unit is not in use.

Similarly, if the blades aren’t cleaned properly, the shredded grass is usually caked on the blades and the unit hood, directly affecting its performance.

Storage:

Whilst the push reel mowers don’t occupy much space, due to their slim and light weight profile, the electric mowers are mostly heavy and bulky.

But most electric mowers will require a bit more storage space. Lots of models do now allow you to fold over the handle completely to save some space though.

The Fiskars StaySharp reel mower comes with a movable handle to save precious storage space.

Noise levels:

Whilst electric mowers are renowned for their quiet operation, when it’s compared to a Push lawn reel mower, it may be an earful! Typically, an electric mower produces anywhere between 55 to 75 decibels, the push mowers are literally quiet with less 1 decibels, the sound produced by cut grass!

Running costs:

Aside the upfront cost, there are no running cost in a Push Reel lawn mower. You are the power and fuel for this mower. As the Fiskars reel mower’s tagline goes, ‘all it takes is you’.

The electric mower on the other hand, do require you to pay for, well, electric. Whether that’s to charge the batteries or to power it directly from the mains. This is still normally very economical, but it is an ongoing cost

Our say: With more and more drive towards a cleaner environment, battery operated electric mowers are a good replacement to gas or fuel powered mowers.

However, production of batteries and power used to recharge them, do have their own carbon footprint, no matter however small they may be. A cleaner and healthier alternative may well be the human powered, push reel lawn mower, after all.