What the Orbit 56667 Tripod Zinc Impact Sprinkler Does Well and Where It Falls Short

Who this sprinkler is for

A ground-level sprinkler loses half its reach to the first row of tomatoes or the picket fence between it and the lawn. A tripod lifts the head above that clutter, and an impact head on top throws water farther than any oscillator from the same spigot. The Orbit 56667 is the zinc-headed, lower-priced version of that classic setup, meant for a large open lawn, a side field or an orchard row where there is no in-ground system and the hose has to do the whole job.

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

You get a metal impact head with a precision high-pressure nozzle mounted on a folding tripod with adjustable height. Orbit describes the head as a full 360-degree water distributor and the build as heavy duty for residential landscapes and field irrigation. It is covered by a one-year limited warranty for private use. What the listing does not state matters too: there is no coverage diameter, no height range and no flow figure, so the numbers below for reach are class estimates rather than Orbit’s. The brass tripod in the same family lists a 22 to 48 inch height range, which is likely similar here but is not confirmed.

Coverage and throw

Impact sprinklers earn their place by distance. A single nozzle fires a stream that the spring-loaded arm breaks up as it ratchets the head around, and from a raised tripod that stream clears beds and fences that would block a ground sprinkler. At typical household pressure and flow, tripod impacts in this class cover a circle several dozen feet across, with reach growing on a strong well pump and shrinking on a long, thin hose. The listing describes the head as full circle; impact heads often allow a part-circle setting via trip collars, but Orbit does not state that for this model, so position it for a full circle and expect to water the driveway edge if you set it too close.

Height and adjustment

The telescoping legs are the reason to buy a tripod rather than a spike or sled base. Set it low for an open lawn so the stream stays under the wind, raise it to throw over a vegetable bed or a hedge, and fold it to carry to the next spot. The flip side is stability: owners of tripod sprinklers consistently report tipping when the legs are extended fully on soft or sloped ground, especially as the hose tugs when the water comes on. Spread the legs wide, push the feet in, and run the hose straight back rather than across the legs.

Build quality

The head is zinc, which is the material choice that separates this model from Orbit’s brass tripod. Zinc machines well, costs less and lasts a few seasons without trouble, but brass resists corrosion from hard or mineral-heavy water better and generally survives longer when the sprinkler is left in the sun and rain all summer. The one-year warranty against six years on the brass version tells you how Orbit sees the difference. Owners’ complaints beyond tipping are the usual impact-head ones: a leak at the hose connection fixed with a fresh washer, and an arm that needs the spring tension nudged after a hard season.

Living with it

Flush the hose before connecting so grit does not lodge in the nozzle. Drain and bring the sprinkler in for winter, since trapped water in a zinc head and a frozen night do not mix. If the arm stalls, work it by hand a few times and check for debris. Watering a big lawn with a single impact head takes time, so pair it with a simple hose timer and move it on a rotation rather than babysitting it.

Alternatives to Consider

The Orbit 58308 brass tripod impact sprinkler is the same idea with a longer-lived brass head, a stated 22 to 48 inch height range and a six-year warranty, and is the better buy for a sprinkler that stays out all season. The Melnor 65030-AMZ metal impact sprinkler on a sled base costs less where there is nothing to throw over. A Rain Bird 25PJDAC brass impact head on your own riser is the choice for a permanent spot.

Verdict

Buy the Orbit 56667 if you want elevated, long-throw watering for a large lawn or garden at the lowest tripod price and you are willing to bring it in each winter. Skip it if the sprinkler will live outside all year, where the brass version and its six-year warranty earn their premium, or if your yard is small enough for a ground-level sprinkler.