The universe works in funny ways. A few weeks ago we were publicly lamenting the death of our lawn mower on Facebook and Twitter (though we later brought it back to life with some basic DIY maintenance). After our social posts, helpful readers chimed in with suggestions — and our friends at Lowe’s noticed, too. Along with Fiskars, they generously sent us one of their newest reel mowers: the Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower, which happened to be a frequently recommended model. We gratefully accepted the offer, and Lowe’s kindly extended the opportunity to one lucky reader as part of a Father’s Day giveaway.
At first I was skeptical about a reel mower — it seemed low-tech, potentially laborious, and maybe inconsistent for a fairly large front and back yard like ours. But the consistent praise from readers and a bit of research changed my mind. A reel mower is friendlier to the environment (no gasoline or exhaust), kinder to the wallet (no oil, filters, or spark plugs to buy and no regular maintenance), and better for personal health (no fumes and some light exercise). I also appreciated that it fit easily in the back of the car for the trip home — a small but real perk.
Out of the box the Momentum impressed me with its simplicity. It assembled quickly — four screws and two cotter pins — and felt solid and ready to use in minutes.
A reel mower is human-powered: you walk briskly to spin the blades and cut the grass. Fiskars claims design improvements that make the mower easier to push, and their blade system is engineered so the blades don’t actually touch one another, which reduces the need for sharpening. While I don’t have extensive reel-mower experience for direct comparison, those features make the Momentum feel like a low-maintenance, high-quality choice in its category.
One immediate convenience I enjoyed was the single-lever height adjustment. My old Troy-Bilt required adjusting each wheel separately, which was clumsy and time-consuming. The Fiskars adjusts from about 1″ to 4″ with a single lever, and setting the mower toward 3″ or higher is generally better for lawn health since taller grass shades roots and retains moisture.
So how did it actually mow?
It was enjoyable. The mower is quiet compared to a gas engine, so you don’t have to crank music to hide the noise. The mower also distributes clippings out the front in a neat spray rather than blowing them back onto the operator or across hard surfaces like driveways. I tried to capture that effect on camera — flying grass against a green background is a tricky subject — but the motion and tidiness are obvious in person.
It’s light enough to push with one hand if needed, which surprised me and made the mowing feel manageable rather than grueling. I’m aware neighbors probably wondered why I was using a reel mower on a fairly large yard, but despite common advice that reel mowers aren’t ideal for large lots, I found myself enjoying the work. After the first mow I actually looked forward to doing it again a week later, and the second time felt even easier as I knew what to expect.
That said, the Momentum isn’t perfect for every situation. Here are a few considerations based on our yard and experience:
- Yard size and terrain: Our front and back yards add up to more than a third of an acre, with slight inclines. Pushing a reel mower over that area takes more time and energy than a self-propelled gas mower. If you welcome the exercise and have time, it’s a great green option. If you need a quick mow before sunset on a large lot, a powered mower may be more practical.
- Tall grass and tough weeds: The Momentum doesn’t always cleanly cut grass or weeds over about 6″. Tall or particularly resilient weeds may be flattened rather than sliced, meaning occasional hand weeding or a follow-up pass might be necessary. That trade-off can lead to a healthier lawn in the long run, but it requires a bit more attention.
- Sticks and debris: Like many mowers, the reel model can be stopped by medium-sized sticks or twigs. With a yard full of trees I had to pause a few times to remove obstacles. It’s quick and easy to clear, but it does add small interruptions to the job.
My verdict: the Fiskars Momentum will likely be my go-to mower for regular, greener maintenance, and I’ll bring back our revived gas mower when I’m short on time or want to mulch leaves in the fall. If your lawn is modest in size, relatively free of sticks, and you don’t regularly deal with very tall weeds, the Momentum is an excellent one-mower solution that leaves a crisp, attractive finish.
Do other Fiskars Momentum or reel mower owners want to share their experiences? If you have a mower that thrills you, please tell us about it. And keep an eye out for the Fiskars Momentum giveaway from Lowe’s later today — you might get a chance to try one yourself.