Lawn Mower Reviews
Written by admin on June 22, 2009 – 9:32 pm -The reviews below are a synthesis of reviews conducted by ConsumerSearch.com, an independent research firm. They compile the results from multiple sources such as Consumer Reports, Consumer Digest, Amazon, Smart Money and others and synthesize the results to draw their conclusions.
Best Gas Push Mower
*Est. $225
If you can get by with a push mower (instead of self-propelled), the Craftsman 38905 is a good blend of performance and value. This model can mulch, side discharge or bag clippings (bag included), but in comparison reviews, it mulches and bags better than it side-discharges. This Craftsman mower gets especially good reviews for its recoil start, which owners say almost always fires up on the first pull. The 38905 has a more powerful Briggs & Stratton engine than the cheapest Craftsman mowers, so owners give the engine better reviews. The easy-to-change bag is another plus. The Craftsman mower comes with a two-year warranty. One drawback is that changing the cutting height requires adjusting all four wheels.
Budget Self-propelled Lawn Mower
*Est. $400
In comparison reviews, experts say that the Toro Recycler 20333 does pretty much everything well, from mulching to bagging and side-discharging clippings. You can even do a little of both, switching back and forth frombagging to mulching with the flip of a switch. A blade brake means you can pause mowing briefly without cutting the engine. Owners say the recoil start generally starts on the first pull (Toro even guarantees this for three years). Most owners like the Personal Pace drive system, which powers the back wheels to match your walking pace, but many say that this takes some getting used to. The Briggs & Stratton 190cc engine is the same engine used in the Craftsman 38905 above.
Best Luxury Lawn Mower
*Est. $900
It's expensive, but reviews praise this top-ranked Honda self-propelled gas mower for both mulching and bagging grass clippings. Instead of choosing one or the other mode, you can set the mower to bag a certain percentageof clippings. This electric-start lawn mower meets even California's strict standards for emissions, and it's available in the other 49 states as well. The mower carries a three-year warranty and has a rustproof deck, but it's expensive -- and hard to find, except from specialty dealers. The less expensive Honda HRX2172HXA (*est. $800) just lacks the electric start.
Electric Lawn Mower
*Est. $250
Although you have to deal with a power cord, electric mowers are quiet and almost maintenance-free -- they're an option for those with small, relatively flat lawns. Reviewers like the rotary blades on Black & Deckerelectric mowers, plus conveniences like one-lever height adjustment. The handle on the Black & Decker MM875 folds down for storage and the polymer deck has a lifetime warranty. As with all corded electric mowers, the maximum cord length is 100 feet, so it's best for small lawns. We did find a few recent owner-reviews warning of durability issues, but in performance tests, the Black & Decker electric mower mulches, side discharges and bags very well (a bag is included).
Cordless Lawn Mower
*Est. $400
According to reviews, the cordless Black & Decker CMM1200 actually does a better job than most corded electric mowers, mulching more effectively and cutting more evenly (bagging isn't its strong suit, though a bag isincluded). It can mow about 1/4 acre per battery charge. The CMM1200 has a folding handle, one-lever height adjustment and a polymer deck with lifetime warranty. The downside is that it costs more than a corded electric mower, and you'll need to buy a new battery in a couple of years.
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Black & Decker MM275 *Est. $180
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Tags: black & decker lawn mower, cordless lawn mower, craftsman lawn mower, electric lawn mower, gas lawn mowers, honda lawn mower, lawn mower, self-propelled lawn mower, toro lawn mower
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