Riding mowers are convenient for large lawns, but sometimes you just need something smaller. Whether it’s for mowing smaller in-town yards, navigating around obstacles in the yard, or tackling a slope too steep for a riding mower, walk-behinds are the best choice for the job.
The lawn care market is full of walk-behind mowers. In some ways, this is great because it gives you a lot of options to choose from. But it can also make it difficult to narrow down exactly which mower to purchase.
When you’re looking for a new walk-behind mower, we suggest you take a look at what Toro has to offer. Toro is one of the highest-rated lawnmower brands in the lawn care industry. Last year, Consumer Reports had the Honda HRR216PKA and the Toro Recycler SmartStow 21329 at number 1 and number 2 in their ratings for gas-powered push mowers. Toro is a brand that can stand-up next to other well-established brands. Their mowers also include some handy features that make them stand out from the crowd.
What Toro Offers
Toro offers a variety of homeowner lawnmowers in their Recycler, Super Recycler, and Time Master series. They also offer two types of battery-powered mowers. For commercial applications, they have Heavy Duty and Turf Master models. Here are some of the main features of each:
- Recycler – User-friendly features at a great value. Choose from push or self-propelled models with 21- or 22-inch cutting decks. On select models, the handles fold down and SmartStow engine technology lets you store the mower in an upright position to save space. Certain models also offer PoweReverse, which propels the mower backward as well as forward.
- Super Recycler – Commercial-grade toughness with homeowner-friendly features. Models are self-propelled with 21-inch cutting decks. Select models come with shock-absorbing handles to make it easier for you to use them on rough terrain.
- TimeMaster – Faster cuttings times and superior performance. These self-propelled mowers have a 30-inch cutting deck to dramatically speed up how fast you can cut your yard. These mowers include a feature that lets you stop the blade but not the engine if you need to step away for just a moment and don’t want to bother restarting the mower.
- eCycler – Compact model that’s virtually maintenance-free. This mower only weighs 77 pounds and has a 20-inch cutting deck. It features a 36-volt battery system.
- 60 V – More powerful battery-powered performance. These self-propelled mowers feature a 60-volt max system, with a smart battery that contains software to maximizes run time and performance. They have a 22-inch Recycler cutting deck. Certain models have SmartStow technology for easy storage.
- Heavy Duty – These models feature the Recycler cutting system and have 21-inch cutting decks. They’re designed for durability, featuring a tubular engine guard, replaceable steel deck wear plates and steel cable routing guards
- Turf Master – These models reduce cutting time with a 30-inch cutting deck. Their rugged design includes a durable cast-aluminum frame, heavy-duty steel deck, bull-nose front bumper, and commercial-grade wheels.
The Recycler System
One thing that makes Toro mowers stand out is their Recycler cutting system. This is a completely different cutting system developed by Toro to make lawn mowing better for your grass and for the environment.
In the Recycler, Super Recycler, and Heavy Duty mowers, the shape of the cutting deck keeps grass clippings airborne. The underside of the deck also has deflectors that “kick” the grass back through specially designed blades. This system ensures grass clippings are chopped into very small pieces. The blades also have “wings” on them that send these tiny clippings down into the lawn.
Why is this important? Because leaving grass clippings on your lawn is super-healthy for your yard. Grass clippings are full of nutrients and moisture and when you leave them on the lawn they return those nutrients to the soil. For them to do the most good, though, they need to be chopped up into tiny pieces so they break down quickly and don’t clump on the surfaces of the lawn.
When you leave clippings on the lawn, you don’t have to fertilize nearly as much and the soil stays healthier. Cutting back on chemical fertilizers is good for the environment. In addition, not sending your clippings out with the trash eliminates transport costs and landfill use.
Comparing Reviews
Of course, Toro is going to tell you that their mowers have top-quality design and innovative features. But what do independent reviewers have to say?
Consumer Reports
We mentioned in the introduction, Consumer Reports lists the Toro Recycler SmartStow as one of the top two lawn mowers of last year. In their review, they said the special Recycler blade system cuts grass just as fine as a similar Honda model cuts with a dual-blade design. The Toro is also easy to clean (with a wash-out port built into the deck) and to store. And it’s easy to maneuver, despite being a push mower instead of self-propelled. They rated the Honda slightly higher on reliability and bagging performance, but highly recommended both brands.
Top Ten Reviews
In their review for the Toro Personal Pace Recycler, TopTenReviews.com described it as “a sturdy gas lawn mower with a design that is both user-friendly and accessible. We tested it and found it to be one of the best lawn mower options for small and midsized yards, thanks to its design and ability to adapt to different environments.” They rated the mower 4.5 out of 5 stars, docking half-a-star for a fairly small engine that doesn’t give the mower enough power to handle overgrown grass easily. However, they note it works perfectly in well-maintained yards.
Best Reviews
In their Toro mower comparisons, BestReviews.com looked at two walk-behind mowers: the 21-inch Recycler and the TimeMaster Personal Pace mower.
They described the Recycler push mower as the “best bang for the buck.” It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, they say, but it’s affordable and reliable for those who have small yards. Also, it doesn’t require oil changes like many similar mowers.
They described the TimeMaster Personal Pace as “A walk behind lawn mower with features and capabilities that rival riding lawn mowers, making it a great option for major lawn cutting jobs.” They loved the features and cutting speed. Their only complaint is a small gas tank that needs frequent refills and a higher price point than most walk-behind mowers.
OPE Reviews
OPEreviews.com reviewed three of Toro’s lawnmowers: the 60 V Max electric lawn mower, the Personal Pace Recycler, and the TimeMaster Personal Pace mower.
For the 60 V Max electric, they say this line of mowers “makes servicing your own lawn pretty quick and easy with its simple startup, quiet operation, and all but absent maintenance requirements. Plus, with its ability to maximize efficiency and performance, you’ll be able to mow up to a 1/3 of an acre on a charge.” They also note that comparable models usually only mow 1/4 of an acre on a single battery charge.
They give the Personal Pace Recycler a slightly less enthusiastic review, rating it 3.7 out of 5 stars. Still, the reviewer described it as “a great addition” to Toro’s line of products and said it’s “a great choice for small to medium-sized yards. With the implementation of the all-wheel-drive self propel system, yards with moderate to medium slopes are a breeze.” Their favorite feature was the all-wheel drive. The only complaints were that it’s a bit heavy (though very sturdy) and the bagging system could be improved.
The TimeMaster Personal Pace mower scored a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. Build quality, ergonomics, features, and cutting power all scored 5 stars, though they only rated it 3.5 stars for run time. The powerful engine and wide cutting deck save time when mowing, but it also uses up a tank of gasoline in less than an hour. It’s also a heavy mower that’s difficult to move when turned off. In their final summary, the reviewer says the “Personal Pace Self-Propel system, 2 point height-of-cut adjustment, Quick Stow lever, and washout port add up to time-saving goodness. … The 30” wide deck, an engine that can support it, and the safety of the blade stop system make the Toro 30 in lawn mower worth it.”
Your Next Lawnmower
If you’re looking for a reliable walk-behind mower that will deliver superior cutting performance, Toro has a line of mowers to fit your needs. Whether you want a budget push mower or a time-saving self-propelled walk-behind, you can get one from Toro.
Richardson Saw & Lawnmower is the best place to buy a new Toro mower. We are a Toro Master Service Dealer. This designation is awarded to Toro dealers who staff factory-trained, industry certified technicians and meet Toro’s Master Service Dealer requirements. These dealers are evaluated annually to ensure that you, the customer, receive quality service you can trust. Just stop in today and we’ll be happy to help you find a walk-behind mower that perfectly fits your needs.
