One of the biggest complaints people have about the riding mower is its wide turning radius. This severely limits mobility and also causes you to waste time as you continually have to reposition the mower for your next pass. This wide turning radius also limits the traditional riding mower’s ability to get in close to trees and other obstacles, often requiring the use of an edger or a smaller mower to finish the job.
The zero turn mower addresses this problem head on by giving you control over each wheel. As a result you have the option of doing a complete 180 or 360 degree turn in place. That kind of maneuverability reduces the time it takes to mow the lawn, and often produces a finished product that doesn’t need as much touching up. Our zero turn lawn mower reviews should help simplify the process of picking the right zero turn mower for you.
Our Zero Turn Lawn Mower Reviews
If you're still on the fence about whether or not a zero turn mower is the right choice for your yard, have a look at the pros and cons we've listed for you below. They might help you come to a conclusion.
Advantages of Zero Turn Lawn Mowers
Maneuverability
Zero turn mowers are renowned for their maneuverability. In fact, it is probably the most popular reason people pick them over standard riding mowers/lawn tractors. Because of their ability to turn in place you don’t have to be bothered with backing up and adjusting your return trajectory when you’re doing long straight rows. They also allow you to effectively hug trees, light poles and other obstacles you can’t approach with a lawn tractor.
Relative Affordability
Zero turn mowers are not cheap by any means. But they are usually 10-20% less than comparable lawn tractors. That can add up to a significant chunk of change when talking about the larger, more deluxe models. Beside maneuverability, it’s this relative affordability that attracts a large number of customers.
They Save You Time
Independent tests run on zero turn mowers indicate they are 20-30% faster than regular lawn tractors when it comes to mowing the average lawn. That’s largely because you don’t need to waste time constantly repositioning the mower. The fact that they often eliminate the need for edging is another time saver.
Fuel Efficiency
Because the zero turn mower is able to mow the average lawn faster it burns less fuel than the average lawn tractor. They are also lighter than comparable lawn tractors, which also helps when it comes to consuming fuel.
Cons of Zero Turn Lawn Mowers
Lack of Versatility
This might seem a strange thing to say after we just talked about how maneuverable this type of mower is. But, in this case, we’re not talking about maneuverability. We’re talking mostly about attachments. Or rather, the lack thereof. Lawn tractors offer numerous attachments that will turn them into everything from a mulcher to a snowblower to a front end loader. That’s not the case with the zero turn mower. There are precious few attachments available.
The Learning Curve
A lawn tractor uses a familiar steering wheel setup that is very simple. The zero turn mower uses a more complex twin handle navigation system that can take some time to get used to. Once you do master it, you’ll be good to go. But it could take some time, so beware.
Not Great on Hills
Zero turn mowers do an outstanding job on level ground, but begin to falter a bit on hills. Compared to the lawn tractor the zero turn mower has a harder time grasping uneven terrain, likely because there is no drive capability in the front wheels. It’s also possible to inadvertently pop a wheelie with this kind of mower since the front end is so light. It’s not common, but it can happen, especially on hills, if you accelerate too quickly.
They Add to Your Carbon Footprint
While a zero turn mower is usually more fuel efficient than a comparable lawn tractor, it nonetheless burns fossil fuels and releases its share of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Storage Issues
Something you don’t always see mentioned in zero turn mowers reviews is that this type of mower has a pretty wide footprint. As such it can be difficult to find an existing place to park it safely and securely.