5 Best Walk Behind Mower for Hills Buying Guide and Review

Getting the best walk behind mower for hills isn’t as simple as purchasing the first available. A few critical factors need to be considered to ensure a fully-working power tool to handle the job. For example, it should be durable and robust to handle hilly and uneven terrains and cut through different grass types.

One of the most versatile walk-behind mowers is the Sun Joe lawn dethatcher, a multifunction power tool that makes most yard maintenance jobs convenient and hassle-free. It works as a dethatcher and scarifier; all one might need to keep the lawn pristine and healthy.

This lawn dethatcher comes with impressive design features, a powerful 12-amp engine, capable of handling even the toughest thatches. It’s an electric power tool, so it doesn’t require gas or lubrication, relatively maintenance-free, especially with the rust-resistant deck.

The steel blades are also robust and retain their sharpness for a long time, ideal for small to mid-sized lawns.

Product Review:

Sun Joe AJ801E Lawn Dethatcher

Features:

• Electric mower
• 2-in-1 functionality (dethatcher, scarifier)
• Blade length – 13 inches
• Cutting width – 14 inches
• Cutting height – 0.4 inches
• Spring steel tines
• 12-amp motor
• Detachable collection bag
• Maintenance-free
• Rust-resistant deck

What We Like

An unappealing and unkempt garden will benefit from the Sun Joe AJ801E dethatcher. It features 13 inches stainless steel blades that can dig into the ground and remove thatch to let water, nutrients, and light into the grassroots. Thanks to its robust 12-amp electric motor, this push-behind tool can handle even the most annoying thatch.

This machine can quickly finish most lawn jobs with a single pass, thanks to its wider cutting width of 14 inches. It has a depth control knob to manage the raking depth up to 0.4 inches below and above ground, capable of handling most dethatching projects. Plus, it boasts an impressive AirBoost technology, an exclusive from Sun Joe, for optimum and efficient thatch pickup.

What’s even better is this power tool features 2-in-1 functionality. Besides dethatching, this machine also works as an efficient scarifier that cuts through grassroots for an overall healthier yard.

The dethatcher is also simple to use, powered up with a single press on the power button. It’s an electrical machine, which means it doesn’t need gas or oiling, remarkably maintenance-free. The steel tines are also robust and retain their sharpness for a long time, not requiring any sharpening from time to time.

This dethatcher is ideal for revitalizing and maintenance of small to mid-sized yards.

What Can Be Improved?

The 2-in-1 function of this power tool is extremely convenient, but switching between them isn’t. It needs manual involvement when changing from scarifying to dethatching and vice versa. Also, the collection bag can be a bit bigger to be sufficient, especially since it can handle medium-sized lawns.

The cable also limits the power tool’s reach, which is the usual problem for electric mowers. Using an extension cord will help, but there’s another issue of getting the cables messed up and tangled.

Black+Decker BESTA512CM Electric Lawn Mower

Features:

• Electric lawnmower
• 3-in-1 functionality (mower, edger, trimmer)
• Line diameter – 0.065 inches
• Cutting width – 12 inches
• Cutting height – 1.6 and 2.4 inches
• 6.5-amp motor
• Lightweight design
• Adjustable handle design
• Automatic feed spool
• Cord retention system

What We Like

The Black and Decker BESTA512CM electric mower can handle most jobs required to maintain a pristine lawn. It boasts 3-in-1 functionality, switching between a mower, edger, and string trimmer, capable of dealing even the most tedious lawn cutting tasks. Most multifunction mowers are super expensive, but this one is among the most pocket-friendly models available.

Despite its affordable price tag, this electric mower works exceptionally well and is reliable, built to last, thanks to its robust and compact form. It’s a space-saver and can cut through the lawn at 12 inches in a single pass, perfect for tight areas. Plus, it can handle overgrowth with its 2.4 inches maximum cutting height.

Its compact design also makes the mower light and comfortable to use, especially with its adjustable handles to cater to various height requirements. Other design features ensure convenience and safety, like the cord retention system that prevents accidentally knocking off the cord while working.

The power drive transmission is also advantageous for this machine, ensuring that it operates at maximum capacity to handle the toughest overgrowth, grass, and weeds. Another convenient feature that makes this tool stand out is its automatic feed spool, ensuring evenly fine mowing without requiring any adjustment.

What Can Be Improved?

Like any electric lawn mower, this power tool has limited reach, although using an extension cord will answer that. It would be convenient if the package already includes one, but it doesn’t. It needs an extension cord purchased separately, a shame.

The power tool’s narrow cutting path is also useful for tight areas, but it’s relatively small to work on more expansive lawns.

Worx WG743 PowerShare Lawn Mower

Features:

• Battery-operated lawn mower
• Deck width – 17 inches
• Cutting width – 16 inches
• Cutting height – (6 height settings) 1.5 to 4.0 inches
• Dual 20V batteries with PowerShare capabilities
• Rear discharge (mulching, collection bag)
• Up to ⅛ acre runtime in a single charge
• 2-speed Intellicut for extra torque
• 1-hour charging time for each battery

What We Like

The Worx WG743 lawn mower comes with innovation and refined design to offer maximum convenience in handling most lawn maintenance projects.

Worx is a top gardening equipment manufacturer, and it’s not surprising that this lawn mower boasts reliability and functionality. It’s incredibly convenient, ideal for those who want to leave hassling corded electric mowers and heavy gas lawnmowers.

Battery-powered gardening machines aren’t well-known for optimum power, but this mower boasts dual 20V batteries. What’s even better is it comes with a PowerShare feature, giving the machine enough capacity to handle a ⅛ acre lawn.

Functionality isn’t an issue in this power tool, thanks to its 17-inch cutting deck with a maximum cutting width of 16 inches. There’s also a single lever design that makes it quick to switch between the six cutting heights from 1.5 inches to four inches, perfect for trimming overgrowth. It also boasts Worx’s innovative Intellicut technology for added torque to get precise cuts.

Another advantage of this walk-behind lawn mower is its compact and lightweight design, making it extra maneuverable with less fatigue. Overall, this lawnmower is ideal for getting a perfectly manicured small yard.

What Can Be Improved?

This battery-powered lawn mower offers convenience, especially since it’s much lighter and easier to maneuver than gas-powered machines. It doesn’t have any inconvenient power cord as well, but the runtime is limited on battery power. Plus, it takes two hours to charge both batteries, which can be a hassle when trimming massive lawns.

Black+Decker BEMW472ES Electric Mower

Features:

• Corded electric lawn mower
• Cutting width – 15 inches
• Cutting height – (6) height settings from 1-3 inches
• 10-amp motor
• Winged blade design for 30% better clipping collection
• Single push-button start
• Pivot-control handle
• Rear bag collection
• Foldable design for neat and compact storage

What We Like

Taking care of essential lawn maintenance is hassle-free with the innovative Black and Decker BEMW472ES. It comes with impressively powerful features like a 10-amp engine that can handle most yard maintenance projects. It can cut through overgrowth without a problem, and even length grass and weeds, thanks to its versatile cutting height from one to three inches.

This mower is slightly heavier than most models, but it’s also what makes it the best walk-behind mower for hills. It can go around and over flower beds, tree stumps, tight spots, and uneven ground surfaces. It helps that this power tool features a wheel tread designed for rugged use, perfect for inclined lawns.

The pivot-control handle also makes the lawnmower comfortable to hold onto and maneuver. Plus, it comes with an innovative winged blade design that collects grass clipping 30% better than standard lawnmowers.

There are other convenient features in this mower, including a super east single-push button start. It also features a foldable design, making it compact and space-saving for storage.

What Can Be Improved?

The grass bag is a convenient feature for every lawn mower, including this Black and Decker model. However, it’s relatively small and could get filled quickly, which means it requires consistent emptying out when trimming larger areas. Also, the discharge chute tends to get clogged, especially when the grass is damp.

Another disadvantage is it doesn’t come with an extension cord, adding to the upfront price.

American Lawn Mower Company 1415-16 Push Reel

Features:

• Push-reel lawn mower
• 4-spider 5-blade ball bearing system
• Cutting width – 16 inches
• Cutting height – 1.5 to 2.25 inches
• 10-inch polymer wheels
• Scissor action cut
• Heat-treated alloy steel tines
• Manual grass cutter blades
• Tempered alloy steel reel, bed, knife blade, and side plate
• Low-maintenance, noise-free, pollution-free
• Lightweight and easy to use

What We Like

A reliable mower doesn’t have to be expensive nor filled with complicated functionalities. It can be as simple and straightforward as the American Lawn Mower Company 14-15-16 push-reel lawnmower.

It’s the best walk-behind mower for hills, thanks to its 10-inch composite wheels that can tread through uneven ground surfaces. It’s durable and features a radial tread tire, a lawnmower designed for rugged use.

The 4-spider 5-blade reel system makes it powerful enough to deal with most lawn maintenance jobs. It boasts a 16-inch maximum cutting width that allows it to finish the job quicker. It uses heat-treated alloy steel blades that stay sharp for an extended time, finely cutting through grass and weeds.

This mower boasts a scissor-action cutting method, which is efficient in evenly trimming blades of grass.

Overall, it’s an excellent lawnmower for smaller lawn areas with light to medium-heavy grass and weeds. It’s lightweight, which reduces hand fatigue when maneuvering the lawnmower. This power tool also requires little to no maintenance except for cleaning the times every after trimming sessions.

What Can Be Improved?

This lawnmower features a push-reel motion to start, which may be convenient enough for most spaces, but isn’t ideal for large lawns. The large composite wheels also make treading through hilly surfaces efficient, but it prevents the mower from getting close to edges.

This mower can handle most trimming projects, even the tall and thickest grasses, although it’s not as efficient as high-powered mowers. It may take a couple of passes before getting evenly trimmed lawns when dealing with tough weeds.

Types of Lawn Mowers

There are various ways to categorize lawnmowers, but they primarily differ in their operating method.

Push-Reel Mower

Push lawn mowers are the most basic or traditional mower type, which requires manual pushing throughout the yard to trim the grass. They mostly run on electricity and work quieter than most machines.

They are reliable and cut grass evenly without a lot of adjustment or maintenance. However, push mowers are only ideal for covering short-sized yards.

Self-Propelled Mower

This mower type is the hassle-free version of push mowers. It propels itself, and you only need to direct, so there’s less fatigue than when using a push lawnmower. With an efficient motor, this power tool can cover a wider lawn area quickly.

However, it can be sloppy when used in hilly areas or uneven surfaces. Self-propelled mowers are only efficient when trimming grass on flat ground.

Riding Mower

While self-propelled mowers can handle larger spaces, riding mowers are the fastest. It’s efficient and capable of handling most yard maintenance projects, especially with better cutting technology and increased traction. It’s also more convenient to use, and it only requires driving the machine around the lawn, perfect for older people.

However, all its convenience comes at a price, and any decent riding lawnmower has an expensive price tag.

Features to Consider in the Best Walk Behind Mower for Hills

Deck Size

Choosing the ideal deck size of a lawnmower will primarily depend on the intended purpose. A more expansive deck can get the mowing job done quicker, suitable for massive lawn areas.

Meanwhile, narrower deck sizes are more comfortable to control when mowing through uneven ground surfaces. They are also more efficient when running through tight areas but only suitable for small to medium-sized yards.

Weight

It’s tricky to choose the ideal lawn mower weight, as it has both advantages and drawbacks. A lighter lawnmower is more comfortable to handle and drive around, but they can be jumpy when going around hills, which results in a sloppy and uneven performance.

Meanwhile, heavier lawn mowers will have the necessary strength to tread around and over rocky surfaces, but require more effort to push around.

The key is looking for a lawnmower with the necessary power to do the job but is still comfortable to handle.

Power Source

Another critical feature to consider when choosing the best walk-behind mower for hills is the power source. Lawnmowers can be gas-powered, corded electric-powered, or battery-operated.

Gas-powered mowers have the required power to cover large areas, but they are mostly heavy machines and emit fumes harmful to health and the environment. This type is also high-maintenance.

Meanwhile, corded electric models boast quiet performance, but still packs power to handle most yard maintenance jobs. However, the major downside is the trailing power cord, especially when mowing sloping terrains.

Lastly, battery-powered lawn mowers are extra convenient and maneuverable. It’s hassle-free as it doesn’t use gas or oil, relatively maintenance-free. However, it has limited runtime depending on the battery capacity.

Wheel Size

The lawn mower’s wheel size will define how easy it is to push around, especially in inclined and uneven lawns. A heavy-duty and slightly larger wheel is more convenient to have when mowing steeper areas.

Height Adjustments

The height setting of lawnmowers will determine how versatile it will be in dealing with various lawn maintenance projects. Yards with overgrowth or long weeds will need a mower that can cut through extended heights.

Handles

A robust and ergonomic handle is convenient and safe to have in the best walk-behind mower for hills. It shouldn’t be slippery to avoid accidents while using the machine.

Also, an extendable handle is useful to get a comfortable and customized grip depending on your stature.

Safety Features

When buying a lawnmower, safety and security should also be among the top considerations. For example, a cord retention system will help avoid accidentally pulling the power cord while using an electric mower.

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Conclusion

There are many lawn mower designs and specs, but nothing beats the value for the price offered by the Sun Joe AJ801E dethatcher. It boasts 2-in-1 functionality with a robust 12-amp motor to handle even the most challenging yard maintenance projects. It’s ideal for keeping small to medium-sized lawns pristine and healthy.

However, there is no single lawnmower ideal for all yard maintenance jobs. Ultimately, choosing the best walk-behind mower for hills will depend on the intended use, lawn size, and feature preferences.

Last update on 2024-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API