One of the benefits of attending the recent Garden Writers Association annual Symposium is the opportunity to test-drive brand new products before they hit the market. I’ve been thinking about getting a reel mower. However, I’ve always heard about how difficult they are to push, and, well, I’m kinda lazy. I also have a pretty big yard. Most of the time, when you think of reel mowers, you think of postage-stamp sized yards. I’ve changed my tune. And, all because of Fiskars.
Momentum is here
Almost. it is supposed to hit the market soon. It will probably be early spring–January/February 2010. I’ve been pretty dismissive of Fiskars, in general. As scissors, fine. Pruners? Not a chance! I’m a Felcos gal. However, trying the mower changed my mind.
We all had the chance to try the mower at GWA, first in the exhibit hall, and then on actual grass. The fine folks at a rose garden in Durham were kind enough to let us loose on their well-manicured lawn area to try the mowers. We were all giddy with excitement! The mower did not disappoint. The momentum comes from within the gardener, not from a heavy, smelly, polluting gasoline powered engine. The Momentum mower is likely to be a best-seller. Here’s why:
- You only have to adjust the blade height on one side. A major drawback of other reel mowers is that you have to adjust the cutting blades on both side of the mower. That wouldn’t be a problem if the blades were easy to maneauver. But, generally, they’re not. Fiskars has made mower blade adjustment as easy as using a pair of scrapbooking scissors.
- You don’t have to sharpen the blades for seven years. SEVEN YEARS. You have to sharpen rotary mower blades about every seven WEEKS during the summer, if you mow a lot. Basically, what the sales guy told me is that by the time you need new blades, you can recycle the mower and get a new one. It is supposed to retail for between $200 and $250, not bad.
- It is clean and green. Green is the rage now, but as gasoline prices continue to spike and we all legally have to reduce our emissions, if we want grass, we’re going to have to care for it in a more earth-friendly way.
Look for this new mower in stores soon. I predict they’ll sell fast!
The official product page for The Fiskars Reel Mower is updated with plenty of information.
You are right! The Fiskars reel mower is as great as promised. There 3 features that should be noted in addition to the above :: 1. the Fiskars reel mower is the only reel that cut grass at heights above 3″. 2. With it’s unique momentum design (see video below), the Fiskars has 2X More Cutting Power to power through small twigs, weeds, or dense grass that would jam other reel mowers.
and 3. it is 30% Easier to Push in long grass due to it’s non contact blade cutting system combined with the weight and balance of the blades.
You can see a video of the features and watch the mower in action here : Video: New Fiskars Momentum Reel Mower in Action