Hilly terrains can enhance the aesthetics of your lawn. However, you may find it difficult to maintain them, especially if you do not have a lawn mower. With many mowers in stores, getting the right one may not be easy. Majority of mowers lack the traction required to prevent slipping backwards or fall short of the needed power.
To make your shopping experience easy, we have compiled a list of the best mowers for hills. We have also included a guide to help you know the features to pay attention to when choosing your mower.
Our Top Lawn Mower for Hills Review
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EGO Power + LM 2000-S
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EGO Power boasts a powerful LM 2000-S 20-inch lawn mower. The model is powered by a 56 voltage lithium-ion battery. This ensures you don’t run out of power while mowing your lawn.
The most outstanding feature of this model is the large cutting deck. it reduces the mowing time required to work on a large lawn. The LM 2000-S mower has other remarkable features that make it stand out from other lawn mowers.
For instance, the speed and power from the battery coupled with the big 20-inch cutting deck shreds twigs and grass to mere clippings. The 600 torque motor ensures there is enough force to cut grass.
Like most lawn mowers in its class, this model is equipped with a 3-in-1 feature for bagging, clippings, and mulching grass. It has a side discharge to ensure proper discharge. For convenience purposes, this lawn mower folds up effortlessly to make cleaning and storage easy.
Additionally, the model comes with LED lights to provide light in poorly lit areas. It is worth mentioning that additional space is included to store a spare battery for people who may need runtime extensions.
The compact design of this model is one of its incredible features. It does not occupy a lot of storage space. EGO Power values the environment and safety. As such, they design units that are friendly to the environment as they operate with little noise and emit fewer fumes.
Overall, the wide cutting deck combined with the lithium battery power ensures only a few passes are required to cover large areas.
What We Like
- 56 voltage lithium-ion battery system
- 600 wattage power speeds
- 20-inch cutting deck
- Folds up effortlessly for storage
- Eco-friendly, no noise or fumes
- Compatible with all EGO Power batteries
What We Don’t Like
- Batteries require constant recharging and drain out easily
- Expensive
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Greenworks Pro GLM801600
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Greenworks is a household name with an unmatched reputation of crafting high-quality machines in the lawn mower industry. Nowadays, it is difficult to get a cordless lawn mower with battery power required for long runtimes.
However, the GreenWorks GLM801600 unit is a reliable battery-powered lawn mower with long runtimes. The mower is equipped with a high capacity 80 voltages battery. This increases runtimes of up to one hour without stopping.
You can expect high performance as long as you have charged the 4.0 amperage batteries fully. The reliability and 21-inch cutting deck of the GLM801600 mower can be compared to those found with lawn mowers that are powered by gas.
This model has a patented brushless motor. It powers the interior workings of the lawn mower. The brushless motor offers high torque powers to cut through the grass while ensuring less wear and tear.
It is important to note that you will have to separately buy the battery that powers this mower. However, it is compatible with several chargers and battery models including GCH8040, GBA80400 and GBA80200.
When it comes to Greenworks commitment to greener policies and safety measures, this unit is equipped with a low maintenance feature. This feature ensures that it provides optimum performance. The model boasts of low noise, less oil mess, and low vibrations.
If you are looking for a lawn mower that is compatible with multiple chargers and batteries, the Greenworks lawn mower is an excellent option. It also has a reliable battery system that will give you up to 60 minutes of mowing runtime.
What We Like
- 21-inch cutting deck
- Universal battery compatibility
- 80 voltage battery system
- The brushless motor system
- Operates with less noise and vibration
- Long runtimes of up to one hour
- Easy storage
What We Don’t Like
- Does not come with batteries
- Not self-propelled
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American Lawn Mower Company 50514
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The American Lawn Mower 50514 has a small 14-inch cutting deck. This makes it perfect for small to medium-sized lawns. This product made to our list of lawn mowers due to several reasons. These include the ease at which you can operate it and its several design features that are not available in other units within its range. The 11 amperage motor can work effortlessly on uneven terrain.
If you want some customization experience, you can adjust the cutting deck in 5 increments. This will help you to adjust the cutting heights of grass and also improve functionality. Unlike the 3-in-1 feature that top lawn mowers have, the 50514 model is equipped with a 2-in-1 feature that allows for a mulching system and rear discharge.
The mower’s bagging system comes with a big 1.6 grass bag and an indicator to make disposing grass a breeze. If you want a reliable mower to tackle hilly terrains, consider the level of comfort of this lawn mower. On hills you will be exerting a lot of energy. Therefore, a model that makes your work difficult should be avoided.
Fortunately, this unit comes with comfort features to make mowing routines enjoyable. To begin with, the model is a no-tools assembly mower. After completing the purchase, pick the parts and screw them in using your bare hands.
It is also built with a push start button and an ergonomic handle to ensure a cushioned grip. Additionally, you can adjust the handle height to suit your needs. These comfort features make using this lawn mower easier than other models.
The American Lawn Mower is also equipped with 7-inch roll wheels at the rear and front to handle downhill lawn mower spillage. Thus, worry no more if that is a concern for you.
The 2-in-1 feature for disposing of grass is incredible because it gives you the option to either collect grass clippings in a 9.25-litre rear bag or mulch them. Consider getting this model if you have a small lawn.
What We Like
- 7-inch composite rear and front wheels
- 2-in-1 feature for disposing of grass
- 9.25-litre rear bag
- Ergonomic handle design with push start button
- Adjustable handle height
- 11 amperage motor system
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Coverage area is determined by cord length
- 14-inch cutting deck
- Extension cords can sometimes interfere with mowing
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Black+Decker BEMW482ES
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The Black+Decker BEMW482ES is designed to offer maximum comfort and maneuverability. The most striking feature of this lawn mower that makes it stand out from the competition is the pivoting handle.
Additionally, the ergonomic push handles will allow you to navigate obstacles and tight corners while the enhanced winged blade increases collections of clippings by 30%. The mower is equipped with an adjustable 17-inch cutting deck.
You can adjust the deck in 6 increments from 1 to 3 inches. The cutting deck also houses powerful wing blades that cut easily through thick grass. Simplicity is a core value of Black+Decker as the brand is committed to ensuring their products are easy to use.
So, once you plug this mower in a power outlet, you will be set and ready to start mowing. The left wheel also has a single lever that comes in handy especially when you want to adjust the deck cutting heights.
You can cut effectively grass heights of 1½ to 4 inches using this mower. The cutting deck is equipped with the EdgeMax system to enable you to mow hills and get a cleaner look.
The BEMW482ES comes with a big 13-litre grass bin and a visualization port to help you know if the bin is full. You will not have to stop mowing in between to empty the bin due to its large capacity.
For support and traction, the threaded front and rear wheels are designed well to offer the mower the most friction.
What We Like
- Threaded rear and front wheels
- Pivot handles for maximum maneuverability
- 6 height deck cutting adjustments
- 17-inch cutting deck
- Impressive wing blade system
- Easy installation process
What We Don’t Like
- Mowing part depends on extension cord length
- Small cutting deck
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Snapper SXD19PWM82K
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Snapper is a reputable brand when it comes to manufacturing powerful and reliable yard equipment. The Snapper SXD19PWM82K features a high-performance Briggs and Stratton engine that runs on 82 voltages motor system. The motor produces enough energy to cover large lawn areas within a short period.
Another incredible feature of this lawn mower is the brushless motor system that uses efficient magnets to increase durability and runtimes. The 21-inch cutting deck comes with 7 incremental steps you can adjust from 35 to 95 millimetres.
Therefore, you can cut grass depending on the goals you may have set for your yard. You can also adjust to your preferred lawn height. The cutting deck is equipped with a 19-inch steel blade to slice grass in ultra-thick pieces.
Other remarkable features include the load sensing system that stores power efficiently. It does this by adjusting itself to the grass thickness level. Additionally, the 3-in-1 design incorporates a big 60-litre rear bag, mulching capability, and side discharge.
The dual battery system will offer you up to 1½ hours of runtime. If you want to speed things up, use the rapid charger included to reduce charging time to half. Snapper XD comes with easy to reach touchpoints and soft rubber handles to ensure smoother operation and to minimize the hassles of pushing the mower uphill.
The front and rear wheels are covered with tire treads to ensure the mower grips well on your lawn while mowing uphill and to make maneuvering easy. The push-button also makes starting the mower a breeze. If you have confined places, the Snapper mower has a vertical storage position to make storage easy.
What We Like
- Speed charger and two batteries included
- 21-inch cutting deck
- 90 minutes of runtime
- Powerful Briggs and Stratton motor
- Load sensing technology
- Self-propelled lawn mower
- 5-year warranty period
What We Don’t Like
- Wet grass can reduce mowing runtimes
- Replacement batteries are expensive
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Mower for Hills Features and Considerations
There are several mowers crafted for various purposes since not all mowers are designed to work on steep hills. This makes finding the right model tailored to your needs challenging. Here are the factors you need to consider while shopping to ensure you choose the best mower for hills.
Drive Type
When it comes to hilly terrains, the most crucial factor to pay attention to is the type of wheel drive. To get the job completed within a short period, you need good traction and maximum maneuverability.
It’s important to consider the wheel drive system. You will be working on a difficult task against gravity. The wheel drive systems include:
Front-Wheel Drive System
Front-wheel drives are not as popular as rear wheels. A front lawn mower will ensure you have few grass clippings littered around your lawn. Their design will help you to tip around and over obstacles. This makes them the most maneuverable lawn mowers in the market.
However, they are not ideal for mowing hills despite the positives. They are not equipped with the required traction for providing support because hilly terrains require front wheels that are rooted in the ground firmly.
Rear Wheel Drive System
Rear-wheel lawn mowers provide great traction. Good traction is a factor that cannot be overlooked when thinking about mowing uphill lawns. Rear wheels provide the required traction to work on hills and ensure support with the ground is increased.
With rear-wheel drive, it is also easier to bag clippings of grass because most of the model’s weight tends to rest on the rear wheels. The wheels are also perfect for mowing in straight lines due to their increased traction.
If you want pristine cuts as well as great traction and support, choosing a mower that comes with rear-wheel drive is an excellent option.
All Wheel Drive Mowers
These types of mowers combine the merits of the front and rear-wheel drive systems. The mowers are designed to provide support both to the rear and front wheels. The four wheels of an all-wheel-drive lawn mower are rooted firmly to the ground to offer great traction for both hilly and flat terrains.
All-wheel-drive models are not as common as their rear-wheel drive counterparts. It is not easy to build them.
Overall, front-wheel drives are perfect for maneuverability and flat terrains. Rear wheels are ideal for hilly terrains. All-wheel-drive systems combine the benefits of both rear and front-wheel drives.
Investing in an all-wheel-drive system is a good option if you don’t mind the hefty expensive tag. While more expensive, this is a vital component when you’re looking for the best lawn mower for hilly yards.
Type of Lawn Mower
There are three types of lawn mowers which include:
Zero Turn Mowers
These mowers are the quickest and can move at speeds of 8 miles per hour. They are also perfect for tackling obstacles as they can easily make 360-degree turns. However, they tend to be expensive.
Garden/Lawn Tractor
With these lawn mowers, you will only get a lot of power and not speed. They are great if you have attachments you plan to move around your home such as snow blowers. The models also have larger engines however their performance is poor in lawns with obstacles.
Rear Engine
These mowers are the smallest and are an excellent choice for people with medium-size lawns and limited storage space. They are also perfect if you have narrow paths in your lawn and are pocket-friendly. Generally, they move slower and have smaller cutting decks.
Weight of the Mower
This is another important factor to consider especially when shopping for mowers to tackle hilly terrains. It will be more difficult to push uphill a heavy lawn mower than lightweight mowers. It will be a good idea to choose a lightweight mower if you do not have funds to buy a self-propelled model.
However, the tradeoff is that lightweight models are not as efficient as bulky mowers. This is because they are less powerful. You will have to decide whether weight or power is important to you when making your purchasing decision. An ideal option will be to go for lightweight lawn mowers that are powerful.
Size of Cutting Deck
This factor can greatly impact the maneuverability of your lawn mower. It is important to note that if the size of the deck is big, it will be more challenging to maneuver around obstacles.
If you have large areas to cover, pick a mower that has a big deck size. However, go for a small deck size if your lawns are narrow. For instance, a deck size measuring 54 inches in width is perfect for large open lawns.
The wide cutting width will enable you to cover larger areas. Remember to factor in your lawn size and try to compare it with the right-sized lawn mower before making a purchase.
Ease of Use and Safety
Mowing is a difficult task. When looking for a lawn mower, choose one equipped with features that will make your job easier. For example, features like ergonomic designs, easy to reach controls, seats, and cushioned controls are essential factors that make using a mower easy.
Also, check whether the mower navigates past obstacles with ease or difficulties. See if it is easy to start the mower. To determine this, have a hands-on approach to test the performance of the lawn mower.
Consider a riding mower for hills if you have a lot of terrain to manage. This will make it a lot easier and faster to mow your lawn.
It will also be a good idea to look for mowers equipped with the 3-in-1 feature. It will come in handy during mowing as you will find it very convenient.
The mower should also have safety features. It should have a sitting deck that is rugged with safety belts and features for reducing the risk of injuries if it is a riding lawn mower.
Adjustable Cutting System
Though you need a lawn mower for tackling hills, in your daily work you will have to deal with mowing different types of projects. There will be times when you will have to mow flat lawns and other times you will have to navigate many obstacles to work on a small lawn.
That is why it will be good to focus on those mowers that come with adjustable cutting systems. Such mowers will allow you to adjust the cutting height to enable you to slice different types of grass without experiencing any challenges.
Some mowers will also allow you to change the blades effortlessly and be able to adjust the cutting area size. This way, you can use a smaller cutting deck when you want to mow narrow spaces and a larger one when you are considering slicing larger areas.
Transmission
This is one feature that most people often ignore. It is used to transmit power to the wheels from the engine and comes in two forms:
- Manual transmission
- Automatic transmission
Manual Transmission
It is more reliable and affordable. However, you will have to keep changing the gears especially if you will be mowing steep hills.
Automatic Transmission
Models with automatic transmissions do not have a clutch or gear shifter because the mower carries out the gear change. You only need to steer and control its speed.
Engine Power
This factor impacts fuel consumption, the speed, and grass cutting performance of the lawn mower. Models that are equipped with powerful engines can slice through dense vegetation easily and also cut tree stumps.
Robust engines also makes the lawn mowers to work faster. This means you can do more mowing work within a short period. The only issue with powerful engines is that they consume a lot of fuel which can affect your profit margins if you are a professional.
Mower Size
Generally, larger mowers are more expensive and difficult to maneuver compared to the compact mowers. However, small models take more time to complete grass cutting projects.
Before buying a mower, consider the amount of work you intend to handle daily or occasionally. This will enable you to know whether a larger mower will be ideal to do the job or a smaller one.
The Turning Radius
It is not easy to turn the mower when working on hilly terrains. You should look for a model with a small turning radius since it will make maneuvering easy. Zero turning models are the best.
However, their weight and engine power would be other factors you may need to pay attention to before making the purchase.
Size of Your Lawn
While there are some mowers designed to mow hills, the best option for you will be determined by your lawn size. For instance, rear-engine mowers are perfect for safety. However, they take longer to cut grass on a larger lawn. If your lawn is sloped, you will have to balance safety and power to find the right mower for you.
Center of Gravity
Mowers with a high centre of gravity are likely to flip over. Opt for models with lower centres of gravity like the rear engine ones. On the other hand, lawn tractors have high centres of gravity. You just need to research thoroughly before making the purchase.
Good Traction
Great traction comes in handy when navigating hills. It is determined by how large the wheels on the mower are, the number of wheels propelling your model, and the traction left on the tires. Be sure to check these things while shopping.
Warranty
The warranty period is another factor worth considering because lawn mowers are expensive. It is important you understand the warranties before buying any model. For instance, mowers that come with short warranty periods may have durability issues.
Most models have a two year warranty period. However, warranties above that are considered to be good. Additionally, pay attention to the warranty details since some mowers have different warranties for the chassis and engine.
Wrap Up
The ideal lawn mower for you is the one that suits your needs. Consider whether the types of hills you intend to cut are shallow, steep, long, or short. Opt for a model that is lightweight if you have steep hills to allow you to maneuver your mower. For shallow hills, go for self-propelled lawn mowers to make your job easier.
All the mowers on our list offer high performance as we only recommend quality products. Therefore, use the guide while shopping to help you choose the best mower for hills.
