Quick verdict
A steel-tined rake whose head expands from 8 to 23 inches and locks anywhere between, on a telescopic steel handle that runs from 32 to 63 inches. It suits gardeners who rake between perennials, under hedges and along fences as much as across open lawn, and anyone short on storage. The caveat is that adjustable rakes trade some rigidity for their range, and the maker says plainly it is not for heavy debris.
Strengths
- Head width locks anywhere from 8 to 23 inches
- Telescopic handle from 32 to 63 inches suits any height and folds for storage
- Galvanized steel wire tines resist rust
- Narrow setting works under hedges and between plants without damage
- Collapses small enough for a car trunk, RV or shed hook
Weaknesses
- Not meant for cement, gravel or heavy wet debris, per the maker
- Adjustable heads flex more than a fixed fan on big leaf piles
- Twist locks on telescopic handles can loosen with use
- Weight and tine count are not stated
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this rake is for
A fixed 24-inch leaf rake is the wrong tool for half the raking in a planted yard: under the hedge, between the hostas, along the fence line where the leaves drift, inside a raised bed. The Tabor Tools J16A is an adjustable rake, with a steel fan that closes to 8 inches for that work and opens to 23 inches for the lawn, on a telescopic handle that collapses for the trunk or the shed. It is for the gardener with more beds than lawn, the townhouse yard with no room for long-handled tools, and anyone who wants one rake for two jobs.
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 states a head that expands from 8 to 23 inches and locks in any position between, a telescopic steel handle that runs from a collapsed 32 inches to a full 63 inches and locks at any length with a twist, galvanized steel wire tines to resist rust, and a fan that folds to a tight profile for storage. The maker is explicit that the rake is not meant for cement or heavy-duty debris. Not stated: the weight, the tine count or the handle diameter. Tabor Tools offers spare parts and support on request, which matters more for an adjustable tool than for a one-piece rake.
Head width and tines
The range is the selling point. At 8 inches the fan slips under a shrub, between perennials and along the base of a fence without flattening plants, and the narrow setting is also the one for pulling leaves out of a corner where a wide rake just pushes them around. At 23 inches it is a shade narrower than a standard leaf rake and does the open lawn well enough for a small or medium yard. Galvanized steel wire tines are springier and more durable than poly in the narrow settings, and they resist rust, but wire tines are thinner than a poly fan and an adjustable head has more joints; the trade is some flex on a heavy pile of wet leaves. A recurring complaint with adjustable rakes in general is tines bending when the rake is used to drag heavy debris, which is exactly the use the maker warns against.
Telescopic handle
A 32 to 63 inch range covers a child helping in the yard and a tall adult who would stoop over a standard rake. The twist lock holds at any length, so the handle can be set short for working in a bed on your knees and long for the lawn. Telescopic handles share one weakness across brands: grit in the joint and hard prying loosen the lock over time. Tighten it with a firm twist, keep the joint clean, and pull rather than lever. The steel handle is described as built to withstand sunlight and weather, which is a point in its favor over wood left outside.
Build and durability
Steel handle, galvanized steel tines, and a folding fan: there is more going on than in a one-piece rake, and more that can wear. Owners of this pattern generally describe it as sturdy for its intended work and quick to damage when used as a gravel rake or a dethatcher. The maker’s own note about cement and heavy debris should be read as the limit of the design rather than small print. Tabor Tools is an established mid-range Amazon garden tool brand with responsive support, and spare parts are offered.
Living with it
Fold the fan and collapse the handle after use; stored compact, it hangs from a hook or rides in a trunk, which is the reason RV and camping users buy it. Rinse mud off the tines, let it dry, and give the telescopic joint a wipe so grit does not build up. Keep it for leaves, clippings and light material. Pair it with a wide fixed rake for a big lawn.
Alternatives to Consider
The Gardenite adjustable garden rake covers a similar width range on a fixed 63-inch handle for people who do not need the telescoping. The Corona RK 62061 fixed-tine shrub rake is an 8-inch steel rake with no moving parts for anyone who only wants the narrow job done. For the open lawn, the True Temper 30-inch clog-free leaf rake moves far more leaves per stroke and is the natural partner to an adjustable rake.
Verdict
Buy the Tabor Tools J16A if your raking is mostly beds, hedges, fence lines and small lawns, if storage is tight, or if several people of different heights share the tools. Skip it if the job is a large open lawn under mature trees, pine straw or gravel paths, where a wide fixed rake or a spring-steel rake does the work with less flex and fewer joints.
Full specifications
Tabor Tools J16A Adjustable Metal Leaf Rake with 8 to 23 Inch Expandable Head and Telescopic Handle FAQs
The maker says the tines expand from 8 to 23 inches and lock at any width between, which is wider than most adjustable rakes. On rakes of this pattern a slider on the handle spreads or gathers the fan; the listing does not describe the exact mechanism, so check the product photos.
For a small lawn, yes. For a big lawn under mature trees, a 23-inch adjustable fan flexes more and moves less per stroke than a fixed 26 or 30-inch rake, so most owners pair this with a wide rake and use this one for beds and edges.
No. The maker states it is not meant for cement or heavy-duty debris. The steel wire tines are built for leaves, clippings and light material; gravel and thatch will bend them.
The handle locks with a twist, and a recurring complaint with twist-lock telescopic handles in general is that they loosen over time or slip under a hard pull. Tighten firmly, keep grit out of the joint, and avoid prying with the rake.
