Quick verdict
A 16-inch, five-blade push reel mower with steel blades, 10-inch front wheels and four cutting positions from 1 to 2.5 inches. It suits a small, flat lawn kept short and mowed weekly, by someone who wants no engine, no cord and no noise. The caveat is the narrow four-step height range, which stops at 2.5 inches and so excludes tall-kept cool-season lawns.
Strengths
- Five steel blades for a scissor cut that does not tear grass
- 10-inch front wheels roll easily over a flat lawn
- 16-inch width suits a small yard
- No gas, batteries or cord; silent and emission-free
- Four positions cover 1 to 2.5 inches
Weaknesses
- Only four height positions and a 2.5-inch maximum
- Cannot cope with tall, wet or weedy grass
- Weight, handle style and warranty term are not stated
- No sharpener or catcher mentioned
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this mower is for
LawnMaster is better known for corded and battery mowers, and the LMRM1602 is its entry in the oldest category of all: a 16-inch, five-blade push reel with steel blades, 10-inch front wheels and four cutting heights between 1 and 2.5 inches. It is for the owner of a small, flat lawn kept short and mowed every week, who wants a mower that needs no fuel, no charger, no cord and makes no noise, and who does not need to cut above 2.5 inches.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The listing specifies a 16-inch cutting width, a five-blade reel of steel, 10-inch front wheels, four cutting positions from 1 to 2.5 inches and a motorless design with no gas or batteries. LawnMaster describes the result as a scissor-like cut with no ripping or tearing of the grass blades. Not stated: the weight, the handle design, the rear roller or wheel arrangement, whether a grass catcher is offered, whether a sharpening kit is included, and the warranty term. The spec sheet is thinner than the maker’s electric mowers carry, so expect to learn some of this from the manual.
Cut quality
A reel shears grass against a fixed bed knife instead of chopping it with a spinning blade, and the result is a clean tip that heals quickly and browns less, which is the basis of the maker’s healthier-lawn claim and a fair one. Five steel blades is the standard count for a 16-inch general-purpose reel. The four height positions are the limiting spec: 1 inch at the bottom suits bermuda and zoysia kept short, 2.5 inches at the top is fine for bluegrass and fine fescue, and tall fescue kept at 3 inches or more is out of reach. With only four steps, the increments between settings are coarser than on reels with six or more positions, so matching the cut exactly to the season takes some compromise. As with any reel, grass much over 4 inches, wet grass, weeds with stalks and seed heads are all beyond it.
Pushing effort and handling
The 10-inch front wheels are a good size for a reel and roll over a flat lawn and onto paths with little effort; LawnMaster’s claim of easy navigation around the lawn is reasonable. The wheels drive the reel, so effort depends on the grass more than the mower: short and dry is easy, long or damp is hard work and eventually the reel skips. Weight is not stated; 16-inch reel mowers are generally light enough to carry up steps and to hang on a wall, which is one of the quiet pleasures of owning one. The handle is not described, so grip and height adjustment are unknowns from the listing.
Build and durability
Steel blades, a bed knife, wheels, gears and a handle: there is little to fail. The blades stay sharp for seasons if the reel is adjusted to just touch the bed knife along its full length. No sharpening kit is mentioned, so a backlapping kit will be a small later purchase. LawnMaster is an established lawn-tool brand with a parts and support operation, which is reassuring for a product that may need a replacement wheel or handle bolt years from now. Owners of 16-inch reel mowers across brands report long service with occasional adjustment.
Living with it
Mow weekly and take no more than a third of the grass height each pass. Skip wet days. Walk the lawn for sticks and pinecones first, since a reel jams on them. Check the reel-to-bed-knife contact once or twice a season and backlap when the cut starts folding grass. Clippings go forward onto the lawn as fine mulch; there is no catcher in the listing. Storage is as simple as it gets, and the mower can be used at any hour without disturbing anyone.
Alternatives to Consider
The American Lawn Mower 1415-16SK2 is the same 16-inch five-blade format with a hand sharpener in the box. The American Lawn Mower 2415-16 offers a wider 0.5 to 2.5-inch range and a T-handle. The Fiskars StaySharp Max is the step up, with an 18-inch reel, a higher top height and an inertia drive for thicker grass. The Earthwise 1715-14 is the smaller, cheaper option for a very small yard.
Verdict
Buy the LawnMaster LMRM1602 if the lawn is small, flat, kept between 1 and 2.5 inches and mowed weekly, and you want a silent, fuel-free mower from a brand with a support network. Skip it if you keep cool-season grass tall, if the lawn is bumpy or weedy, or if you want a sharpener, a catcher or finer height steps included.
Full specifications
LawnMaster LMRM1602 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower FAQs
Bermuda, zoysia and centipede lawns kept short sit comfortably inside it, as do bluegrass and fine fescue at the 2.5-inch top. Tall fescue kept at 3 inches or more does not fit.
On short, dry grass cut weekly, no; the wheels drive the reel and a 16-inch unit moves at walking pace with modest effort. Effort climbs quickly in long or damp grass, and over about 4 inches the reel rides up and skips.
No sharpener is included in the listing. Steel reel blades hold their edge a long time when adjusted to just touch the bed knife; when the cut starts folding grass, a backlapping kit with grinding compound restores it.
The listing mentions no catcher. Reel mowers throw clippings forward onto the lawn, where short weekly clippings dry and disappear.
