Scotts Classic Reel Mower Review

In this article I will provide a detailed review of the Scotts Classic Reel Mower, review the pros and cons of the mower, and provide information about the assembly and upkeep of this product. If you are here looking for information on the Scotts Classic Reel Mower then you are probably dissatisfied with some aspect of your traditional gasoline or electric mower. Perhaps the price of gas is making it cost-prohibitive to run the mower, maybe you’re tired of the noise and the smell, or you simply want to help protect the environment. If you have an electric mower you may be fed up with constantly moving the cord out of the way as you try to navigate the yard. Whatever your motivation for seeking to replace your traditional mower, I hope this review of the Scotts Classic Reel Mower can provide some insight as to whether or not you will want to make the switch.

Product Details

The Scotts Classic Reel Mower has a 20″ wide cutting track, is relatively lightweight at 34 pounds, and has 9 grass heights to choose from, ranging from 1-3 inches, which can be selected with quick snap adjustments on the sides of the rear wheels.

Assembly

Assembly of the Scotts Classic Reel Mower is quick and painless, taking in the neighborhood of 20-30 minutes. Much of that is spent wrestling the foam handle onto the machine, which may require some dish soap to accomplish. Careful doing this, as it is not the most rugged material and may tear. The Scotts Classic Reel Mower feels strongly constructed for the most part, but the handle does feel a little wobbly. Still, after more than a year of use my reel mower handle has held up, and hasn’t required tightening. Besides the height adjustment you can also adjust the distance between the cutting blades. This has been preset at the factory for optimal cutting, but may require some occasional tweaking.

Maintenance

Maintaining the Scotts Classic Reel Mower is even simpler than putting it together. Simply wipe the blades down after mowing, and spray with a little WD-40 to keep blades sharp. Voila! You’re done. I’ve read that it is a good idea to take the reel mower in for sharpening every second year, but as I’ve only had my Scotts Classic reel mower a little over a year I’ve yet to find that necessary.

Performance

The Scotts Classic Reel Mower performs adequately, if not outstandingly on small to mid-size lawns. It is light and maneuverable, and cuts through low grass very well. However, if you allowed your grass to get too long, or you have dandelions or weeds you may find mowing with the Scotts Classic Reel Mower to be an exercise in frustration. Rather than cut these long or thick stalks the reel mower will simply bend them, and they simply spring back up after you’ve passed. Regular mowing is a must if you don’t want to have to follow up your mowing with a week-whacker. For those with a perfectly manicured, weed-free lawn the Scotts Classic Reel Mower will be ideal. Of course, those people probably have a landscaping company maintain their yard. Read on for a review of the pros and cons of this handy little mower.

PROS

Noise and pollution free
Dead simple to maintain
You’ll save money on gas
Easy to push
Compact to store

CONS

Pricey, for a mower with no engine
Doesn’t cut well through long or thick grass. Can’t cut dandelions
Jams frequently if you have twigs or other debris

Overall, in my review of the Scotts Classic Reel Mower I give it 3.5 stars out of a possible 5. If you have a reasonably sized yard, and are disciplined about keeping it weed free and mowed weekly then this reel mower should serve you admirably. If your lawn resembles the rough more than a golf green though you might want to stick with your traditional gas-powered mower.